The Current That Carried Me

 

THE WATER CURRENT 4-2015

I did not record this dream immediately after it happened, so some of the details have faded. But the feeling of it, and the message it carried, has stayed with me.

I was sitting in the passenger seat of a car when it suddenly began rolling backward. I tried to reach the driver’s side to stop it, but I couldn’t get to the controls. The car rolled straight into a stream. As the water rose around me, I realized I was going to drown. The car was sinking, and I was trapped in my seat, unable to free myself.

Then something astonishing happened. A strong current came rushing through the water. Instead of pulling the car deeper, the current lifted it. It raised the car up from sinking and pushed it all the way back to shore. I was spared from death by a force I could not control, predict, or command.

When I woke up, I knew exactly what the dream was telling me. It was a reminder that God is in control, even when I feel powerless. Even when I cannot reach the wheel. Even when the water rises and I cannot save myself. He is the current that moves in unseen ways, the strength beneath the surface that carries me when I cannot carry myself.

This dream taught me that I am never left to drown. Even in moments when life feels like it is rolling backward, slipping out of my hands, or sinking fast, God’s power is already moving toward me. His current is strong enough to lift what I cannot lift and guide me back to safety. He is always there, whether I recognize His hand in the moment or only see it afterward. He is the current I need in my life, the One who keeps me from going under.

The Rings Stayed With Us - Marriage Covenant Remained

THE BREAK INS 5-2013

This dream took place late one night with Kelly and me in our home. Someone knocked on the door, and although we never open the door unless we know who it is, Kelly answered it. As soon as he did, several men pushed their way inside. I felt immediate fear. We managed to convince them that we were not the people they were looking for, and eventually they left. Still, we knew they were dangerous and capable of harming us.

After they were gone, we talked about the importance of keeping our doors locked and never letting strangers in. But as soon as we turned to check, we saw the back door standing wide open. Two more men were already coming in. Kelly recognized them as people he had associated with before. In the dream, they came to him when they needed their “drug fix.” The drug appeared as hot chocolate powder, but I knew it symbolized something far more harmful. Kelly reassured me that we would be safe as long as we let them get what they came for.

Immediately after they left, a large group of young kids poured into our home. They were searching for gold and silver. We didn’t have anything of value except our wedding rings, but they tore through the house anyway, destroying everything in their search for treasure. They eventually left, leaving behind a physical and emotional mess. But soon some of them returned, insisting they hadn’t gotten everything, and they began ransacking the house all over again.

Throughout the dream, I worried they would take our wedding rings. They even looked directly at them, yet they never touched them. Our rings were worth more than anything else in the house, but they remained safely on our fingers.

Some harmful influences did enter our home in real life, forces that tore at the peace and stability we had built. We eventually lost our home, and the damage left its mark. But in the dream, the one thing that remained untouched was our marriage covenant. The rings stayed with us, protected, unclaimed by any intruder.

Looking back, I believe the dream was showing me that while earthly things can be broken, stolen, or destroyed, the eternal parts of our lives cannot be taken. Our home may have fallen, and outside influences may have caused pain, but the bond Kelly and I shared, the love, the promises, and the eternal nature of our marriage remained untouched. The rings staying on our fingers was heaven’s quiet reminder that what God seals cannot be stolen, and that even in loss, some things remain forever ours.

Three Dreams in Three Days

 1. Cannot Find the Right Map to Reach My Destination

First of three dreams, April 2013

In this dream, I was trying to reach a specific destination, but every tool I tried to use failed me. Nothing worked. Whether it was an electronic device or a paper map, I could not access anything that would help me find my way. At one point, I was studying a paper map of Texas, searching and searching for the road I needed. Then I realized the reason I could not find it. The road I needed was on the very top of the map, and that entire section was missing. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get to where I needed to go. The frustration was overwhelming, and I woke up still unable to return to the place I was trying so desperately to reach.

At the time, I was staying at Ben and Alison’s home in Utah. Choices by another individual had deeply hurt me, and I was there to heal. I kept thinking about going back home, but this dream felt like a message. It was not time to return.

2. Cannot Get Everything Together to Make the Trip

Second of three dreams

The next night brought a similar struggle. Again, I was trying to get to a certain location, but nothing would work. Either the car would not start, or the person who was supposed to drive could not drive, or I simply could not figure out how to make the car run. Just like the night before, I was trying to return somewhere, and once again, I could not get there.

The feeling was the same. It was not time to go back.

3. Wanting to Leave but Seeing I Was Protected and Safe

Third of three dreams

In the third dream, I was on a hill or mountain top with family. A friend was preparing to leave when I noticed something unusual in the sky. No one else saw it at first. As the friend and their child began to walk away, we all suddenly saw what I had seen. It looked like a ripple in the sky, something striking the atmosphere. Yet we were surrounded by a protective bubble. We were safe from that danger. 

Then we began to see destruction on the ground below, like missiles landing on cities. The friend had a choice to make. They could leave the protection of the bubble or stay within it.

For me, the message was clear. I was in a safe place, and it was not the right time to leave. This reminded me that I was exactly where I needed to be.

Crushing the Serpent: A Dream of Hope and Deliverance

 Last night, I dreamed that a poisonous snake with a piranha like head was lurking outside my home. It was a constant threat to my family, always near, always taunting, always stirring fear and despair. Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I was done letting this creature intimidate us.

So I walked straight up to the snake. I stretched out my hand, fully aware it would bite me, but I did not care. I had a greater purpose in mind. As expected, the snake clamped down with all its sharp teeth. But that was the moment I needed. With my hand still in its mouth, I pressed its head against the concrete with all my strength. I crushed the head of the snake.

To some, this might seem like just a dream. But to me, it was hope.

The dream continued. I went to the doctor to see what damage the bite had caused. The amazing result was that the only injury was to the flesh where the teeth had touched. No poison had entered my body, none at all.

But there was one part of the dream I did not like. A few days later, I walked through the same area, and the snake I had crushed was moving again. It was severely damaged, barely functioning, but still alive. This time, I stepped on its head and crushed it completely. I wish the first crushing had been the end, but I cannot ignore that it took more than one attempt to finish the job.

There will always be more snakes to face in life. But I knew that if I could crush the head of the one threatening my family right now, I would feel such relief and joy.

This leaves me wondering: What about the snakes other people are battling? Can I crush someone else’s snake? It seems that each of us has our own serpent to defeat, our own fear, temptation, burden, or darkness. Yet I hope that the snake in my dream, the one harming my whole family, is the very one I have the power to crush in real life. After all, it was not just attacking me. It was affecting everyone. I was simply the one positioned to stop it.

Whether or not others believe that dreams can carry meaning, I do. Since childhood, dreams have helped me see things I might not have understood any other way. I am still learning how to apply this one, but I know it filled me with hope. And that hope rests in my Savior Jesus Christ. He is the One with true power, and through His atoning sacrifice, He gives me strength.

This dream reminded me of Genesis 3:15:

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

In Hebrew, the word bruise means “to crush or grind.” The very heel that was bruised will ultimately crush Satan. Through Christ, we can overcome the world and return to our Father.

Satan has no physical body and therefore no literal children. His seed are those who follow him, both the spirits he led away before this life and those who choose his enticements now. The seed of the woman refers to Jesus Christ, the only mortal ever born of both an earthly mother and a Heavenly Father.

Christ is the One who crushes the serpent’s head. And through Him, we can crush the snakes in our own lives too.

Leading by Example

This dream occurred right before I was called to serve as YW President.

Years ago, I woke from a good night’s sleep with a dream lingering vividly in my mind. Most of my dreams make little sense, but this one stayed with me with clarity. As I replayed the scenes that had unfolded in my mind, I felt strongly that there was a message in it, something the Lord wanted me to understand.

The dream began with a car that had driven off a nearby cliff and plunged into a lake below the towering landscape. Deep in the cold water was a young woman who had escaped the car and was desperately in need of help.

I stood on the bank wanting to jump in and rescue her, but I knew that doing so would put both of us in danger. If I tried to reach her myself, neither of us might survive. So, I stayed on the shore, helpless in one way but determined to help in any way I could.

I shouted for her to swim toward me, but she couldn’t hear my voice. I could see her and hear her, but she was too far away to hear me. Desperate to guide her out of the freezing water, I waved my arms and jumped up and down so she could see me. It worked. She began moving in my direction.

I kept signaling, bigger movements and more urgency, anything to keep her attention until she was close enough to hear my voice. Finally, she reached a point where she could hear me calling out encouragement, urging her not to give up. Slowly, she made her way to the bank, and I was able to take her into my arms. She was tired, cold, and injured from the fall, but she was alive and grateful to have survived.

At one point she was too far away to hear my words, but my actions still helped her move in the right direction.

This dream reminded me that sometimes our actions reach people long before our words ever can. There are moments when someone is too overwhelmed, too hurt, or too far away spiritually or emotionally to hear what we are trying to say. In those moments, the way we live, the way we show up, and the way we quietly keep pointing toward safety can speak louder than anything we could shout across the water.

Our example can become the signal that helps someone move in the right direction. Long before they can hear our voice, they can see our faith. Long before they can understand our counsel, they can feel our love. And when they finally draw close enough to hear the words, they already know the way because our actions have been leading them there all along.

Sometimes the most powerful guidance we offer is not spoken. It is live.

There are times in life when we feel like that young woman. In those moments, we may need to reach for the hand reaching toward us. And sometimes, we’ll be the one on the shore waving, encouraging, helping someone find their way.

There is always someone who cares. It may not be the person we expect, but someone is there. 

We all need people who care. And we all need to be that person for someone else.

Whether we are the one reaching out or the one being rescued, the message is the same:

We need each other. 

We Can’t Do It Alone and  

We’re Not Meant To!

 “Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.”  (D&C 121:9)

Robert D. Hales taught: “It is also God’s plan that we cannot return to his presence alone, without the help of someone else.  We each have a mission in this life of which cannot be embarked upon successfully without the help of others. Birth requires earthly parents. Our blessing as a child, our baptism, our receiving the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, our receiving membership in his church, ordination to the priesthood, going on a mission, being married, having children of our own, blessings during illness and times of need—all require the help of others. And all these are acts of love and service which require the help of others and the giving of help to others.” (Robert D. Hales, “We Can’t Do It Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 1975, 90)

The Chain That Saves

 Just before I was called to serve as Relief Society President, I had a powerful dream.

A group of sisters and I were leaving a grocery store when a man suddenly grabbed one of the women, trying to pull her away. Without hesitation, we locked arms forming a chain of protection and refused to let go. Even as we got into the car and began to drive, the man clung to her. But we held fast to each other, and together we escaped his grasp.

This dream was more than a warning, it was a call.

As families and brothers and sisters in Zion, we must lock arms spiritually and emotionally. The adversary seeks to isolate and pull us away, but united in faith, we are stronger. We protect, uplift, and deliver one another through love, courage, and covenant strength.

This was a reminder that we must remain vigilant, courageous, and full of love. We need to cling to one another in prayer, in service, and in the strength of our covenants. When we do, we not only escape the grasp of darkness, we move forward together toward the light, linking arms with each other and with our Savior, who leads us safely on. 

Mosiah 18:21 “And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.”

Which Door

 As a teenager, choices are a big part of your life. This dream may be a classic, but it felt anything but ordinary. I was in a large room, surrounded by doors. Each one seemed like it might be the way out, but I didn’t know which to choose. I was truly conflicted and afraid.

The room was quiet, but the pressure was loud. I felt the weight of decision pressing in. What if I chose the wrong door? What if I stayed stuck forever?

This dream speaks to the heart of youthful years. So many paths, so many voices, so many expectations. And in the middle of it all, a young soul trying to find the way forward.

Sometimes we stand in rooms of uncertainty, surrounded by options that all look the same. We feel the urgency to move, but the fear of choosing wrong keeps us frozen.

But here’s the truth: God doesn’t leave us alone in the hallway. He knows every door, every outcome, every step. He doesn’t rush us. He invites us to trust Him to help us make the right choices.

The right door isn’t always the one that looks easiest. It’s the one that leads to growth, peace, and purpose. And even if we choose a door that leads to more waiting, He walks with us there too.

I was living or standing in a room of choices. I felt alone.  Sometimes we may all feel alone, especially when there are choices to be made, but we aren’t alone.  We can always ask for guidance and then trust the whisper that leads us toward peace, not panic. If we choose wrong, He will help us learn and choose right.

We don’t have to choose alone.

“And it came to pass that I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.” 1 Nephi 4:6

He Knows The Way

This dream was definitely a nightmare.

I was outside my home in a neighborhood, and I couldn’t find my way back. I searched and wandered around, but nothing looked familiar. Every turn I took led me further away from the safety I longed for. And as I tried to find my way, I was being chased. I was being chased not by a person, but by a construction claw excavator.  A large, mechanical machine that loomed behind me, threatening to crush or trap me. It wasn’t fast, but it was relentless. No matter where I went, it was there.

I remember the desperation most of all. I wanted to get home. I wanted to be safe. But I couldn’t find it. I couldn’t escape the danger.

It was a nightmare, but it also felt like a message.

Sometimes in life, we lose sight of home. Not just the physical place, but the emotional and spiritual safety we long for. We will all wander in unfamiliar paths that may bring grief or fear, and the way back seems so hard. We may feel like something heavy and relentless is chasing us, like circumstances we didn’t choose, pain we didn’t expect, or burdens we don’t know how to carry.

But even when we can’t see the way home, God does. Even when the road is unfamiliar and the threats feel overwhelming, we are not lost to God.

Sometimes the home we’re searching for is not a location, but a spiritual refuge, a place of peace that only He can provide.

I may not always know the way back. The world is always chasing me for its attention. But I can trust that He knows the way and is there to lead me, guide me, and walk beside me. He is the One who knows every path, every turn, and every hidden door that can lead me back home.

“And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you… and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.” 1 Nephi 17:13

He Will Guide Our Steps

In my teenage years, I had a dream that involved a car and snakes.

In the dream, I had just stepped out of a car. As my feet touched the ground, I realized the earth around me was covered in snakes. They slithered in every direction, surrounding me. I knew I had to walk forward, but I couldn’t just rush ahead. I would have to learn when to move, where to step, and how to reach my destination without letting those snakes bite me.

I didn’t know what the dream meant at the time. I still don’t know for sure. But the image of stepping out of the car and facing a ground full of snakes has stayed with me. It felt like a warning, or maybe a lesson that life would require discernment. That I would need to learn how to walk forward with wisdom, not fear.

There are seasons in all of our lives when the path is not clear, and danger seems to surround us. Not always physical danger, but emotional, spiritual, relational. The kind that bites at our peace and tries to poison our hope. In those moments, we must learn when to move, where to step, and how to keep walking toward our destination without letting the adversary strike.

I’ve come to believe that even the dreams I don’t fully understand can carry purpose. They remind me that life is not always smooth or safe, but it is navigable. With God’s help, I can walk through the tangled places. I can step carefully, prayerfully, and faithfully trusting that He will guide my feet.

Proverbs 3:6  “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

A Car Ride as a Little Child

A Childhood Dream That Stayed With Me

There is a dream from my childhood that has never left me. It was the first dream I can remember, not because of its imagery, but because of the impact it had on my young heart. I was very small, yet this dream has stayed with me all my life. 

In the dream, I was riding in a small car. In my mind today, it feels like a red Volkswagen bug. Mom and Dad were in the front seat, Dad driving, Mom beside him. I sat in the middle of the back seat, leaning forward so I could be part of their conversation.

But behind me, something was wrong.

From the back seat came a constant irritant. I was being poked and prodded by an evil spirit. As a child, I somehow recognized this to be the devil, though I cannot explain how I would have understood that at such a young age. He would not leave me alone, and I could not escape his constant prodding.

Whether I understood it then or only later, the message of the dream became very clear to me:
Satan would never leave me alone.

I know I am not unique in this. The adversary pursues anyone who seeks to follow God. But as I look back over my life, I can see the pain and heartache he has caused as his temptation has been present throughout my life.

I can testify of the adversary’s power, but even more, I testify of the power of God and the right I have to call upon His strength to bring me through the storms of mortality.

Facing hard times can break us or build us. I try to let it build me. 

As I look back on that childhood dream,  it taught me early that opposition is real and relentless. But it also taught me something else, something far more important: if the adversary is constant, then so is God.

Through every season of my life, even the ones that felt unbearable, I have felt moments of quiet strength that were not my own. I have felt peace settle over me when nothing in my circumstances had changed. I have felt the Lord steady me when I could not steady myself.

And I have learned that while Satan may prod and poke and whisper discouragement, he does not get the final word.

God does.

I still think of that little red car sometimes. I think of my small self sitting between my parents, leaning forward toward safety and love, while something dark tried to pull at me from behind. And I realize now that the dream was never about fear. It was about truth.

There will always be opposition. There will always be moments when the adversary presses in close. But there will also always be a Father at the wheel, a Savior beside Him, and a path forward that leads me toward light.