Golden Ticket.

Recalling the children's story “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” President Uchtdorf said people were looking for a golden ticket in a candy bar. Unfortunately, the candy bar itself became an utter disappointment if it did not contain a gold ticket, he explained.

"So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket — the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home; or perhaps, freedom from stress and worry. There is nothing wrong with righteous yearnings."

The problem, he added, comes when a person puts their happiness on hold as they wait for some future event — or gold ticket — to appear.

"The happiest people I know are not those who find their golden ticket; they are those who, while in the pursuit of worthy goals, discover and treasure the beauty and sweetness of the everyday moments."

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I was reading this morning and I immediately thought of the world today, this girl at my work in particular, and how people want an immediate fix to their happiness.  Yesterday I was working later than I normally do and a co-worker came up to me to tell me all about this spiritual healing she had with shakras and gems and blah, blah, blah, yes, I pretty much tuned everything else out.  She went on to say that this woman, who charged her $120.00, told her about all her past lives and how she believes that is why we meet people and we feel connected to them because we knew them in a past life. 

I have to stop there because my instant thought is yes, pre-existence.  We knew people in pre-existence and we are reminded of them in this life by certain aspects of their personality and who they are. But as I look past that to her situation in general and how she believed this woman gave her happiness, it was somewhat saddening.  What an insult to our Savior for another person to believe that spirits and sprays and "healings" can make one happy and take away their problems in life.  First off, nothing can take away our trials, we are human, we will always be faced with trials, but we can have peace in the midst of our trials. I can't help but chuckle that people think Mormons are weird or out of the norm but things like these seances are completely acceptable... oh Los Angeles!