Today's thought comes from my brother Dallas Peterson, who by the way built this whole website and is one of the smartest people I know. I share it with you now with his permission
The only truth I have found that is actually true is that Jesus is The Christ. Beliefs and thoughts and ideas, no matter how much you believe in them, it does not make them true. I have found with mental illness your emotions are in the extremes and when you pair that emotion with thoughts and beliefs, you can believe very strongly in something that isn't true, like the belief “if you take lithium you would find the hope and be free from the pain of extreme depression.” But the reality is we all have different journeys through life, we have different ways Christ heals us, and it was never about the lithium it was the path Christ showed me that I could take that would allow me to have everything I ever wanted in life. I had way more support than I deserved through my journey with depression. In the moment you can't see, feel, or appreciate any of it, but it's there - the prayers, the help from those across the veil, family, friends, doctors, therapists, random strangers, the spirit, Father in Heaven, Christ. You are free to believe their support doesn’t exist and no matter how strongly you believe you are alone, it does not make it true. Despite all my stubbornness to be independent and do things on my own and try not to be a burden, the only way to find help is to seek help. To ask, to accept help when it comes and try any and everything under sun till you find out what actually works for you. Edison didn't see that he failed 1000 times; he saw that it took 1000 steps to build the light bulb. I failed many times, many different medications, therapists, natural remedies. If something isn't working in your life, that is the best thing to realize because now you know it doesn't work, and the trick is not to try and keep doing the same thing expecting different results (if i just try hard or be better this way will eventually work). No. You can change your habits, traditions, beliefs. The principles that Christs teaches will lead to the most fulfilling and joyous and peaceful life. I have found that life and it's real and it's worth the effort to set aside the pride and let go of certain beliefs and habits that prevented me from such a life. After thirteen years of knowing for sure this was all life was and will ever be, to finally seeing there is hope and happiness and whatever kind of life I truly want can exist. It really is dependent on the gift of agency. Choose to see when you can't do things on your own. Just driving to the temple at 2 AM probably saved my life countless times when life got way too hard. That was my way to find peace. As silly as it is to look at a serpent and be healed (for me it was to take lithium), Christ knows the remedy for your life. It's worth seeking out the serpent on the staff and you’ll be surprised that it might actually be as little effort as to just look and be healed. Is it easy to let go and change? No, but it's worth it. The adversary can duplicate or mimic any feeling except for peace and peace is only found through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
