Writing Sample

A Long Way from Home

I wrote this article as a sample of writing that fits the style of the New Era. I studied past
issues of the magazine to get a feel of the language and types of subject matter included in the
publication. I related a life event to gospel principles, using scriptures and quotes as support.

A Long Way from Home

When I was in middle school, I had to ride the bus. Id never had to ride a school bus
before; my elementary school was within walking distance from my house. I hated riding the
bus. I was afraid that Id miss the bus or that Id get on the wrong one. Then Id be left at school
or a random bus stop without a way to get home. I didnt have a cell phone, so I wouldnt even
be able to call home and get help.
I never did have any school bus emergencies, but I was always nervous that Id be
stranded a long way from home.
Can you imagine how scary it would be if we were placed on this earth without a way to
get home or a way to call home? However, Heavenly Father loves us and He hasnt stranded us
here. He may give us trials (like riding the bus), but He never leaves us alone. We have the
scriptures as a road map to help us get back to Him. He has also given us something better than a
cell phone: prayer.
With prayer, we can always call home. Heavenly Father wants us to pray to him. He
will never reject our calls or send us to voicemail. He is always there and listening. He cares
about all aspects of our lives, even the little things, like auditioning for the school play. Even
though we are a long way from our heavenly home, we can always communicate with our
Heavenly Father.
How Prayer Works
Our spiritual cell phone, prayer, works a little differently than the smart phones we carry
around in our pockets.
J. Devn Cornish reminded us that, It is our privilege to approach our Father directly
(The Privilege of Prayer, General Conference, Oct. 2011). God is our father and He loves us.

He allows us to pray directly to Him. Because of this privilege, we use respectful language when
we pray to Him.
We are reminded to pray always and have a prayer in our hearts. Joseph Smith was
guided by James 1:5, which reads, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to
all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him (James 1:5). God will answer us
when we ask.
Receiving Revelation
We all communicate in different ways. Some people give hugs to express love while
others write notes. Just as we all communicate in different ways, we all receive revelation a little
differently. Our relationship with God is individual, so the way that He speaks to us is also
personalized.
However, D&C 9:8-9 gives us some general guiding principles about receiving
revelation. First, we are counseled to study it out in your mind (D&C 9:8-9). This means we
need to ask specific questions and do some work on our own. Rather than praying and just asking
where we should go to college, we should first do some work on our own. We should weigh the
pros and cons and try to decide for ourselves what is right. Then, once we have studied the idea,
you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within
you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings,
but you shall have a stupor of thought (D&C 9:8-9).
The Lord will guide us, but He also allows us opportunities to learn to make decisions.
For more thoughts on prayer and guidance, watch the Mormon Message Wrong Roads, found
at https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-09-016-wrong-roads?lang=eng.
Faith

Praying and waiting for an answer takes faith, but Heavenly Father hears and answers us.
He wants us to be happy and He wants to guide us. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, God is
eagerly waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always
has. But He cant if you dont pray, and He cant if you dont dream. In short, He cant if you
dont believe (This, The Greatest of All Dispensations, Ensign, July 2007).