Finding My Way

I think I just had a major epiphany with regard to a couple of verses. As a preface: You know that verse in Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9 that first gives a mild rebuke to Oliver Cowdery for merely asking not and doing any of his homework ahead of time? Then the Lord tells Oliver that he needs to study it out in his mind and after he has done that, ask God if it is right. Understandable, God is telling him to use his own brain first. He wants him to figure it out as much as possible and then come to God for further witness on the matter. God tells him that once he asks, if it is right, he'll feel a burning in his bosom and he'll feel that it is right.

I've always wondered what the burning in my bosom was. I have felt it before, but I thought it only came at really spiritual moments. I thought it only came while I would pray or during church. It didn't occur to me until now that I have had the burning in my bosom to know if a thing was right often and during very ordinary days in my life.

Lately (as in the last few years, but particularly the past year), I have been wondering what path I should take with my songwriting and music. I have always believed that if you feel inclined toward something and it brings goodness to the world or a person in some way, to just do it. I have felt inclined toward many things in my life...to become a teacher, go to college, exercise, eat well, produce music, travel, write songs, build stuff, etc.

Now that I am looking back, I am realizing that the burning in my bosom was that same inclination that drove me toward a certain action that would bring satisfaction. Producing an album brought deep satisfaction. Now I'm going on a Summer House Concert Tour playing in people's backyards and living rooms. I feel a deep desire to do this as well. It feels like the right step forward. I've been doing other research and study about things that I feel I need to do. I have recently become a mother, which I love and cherish. All of these things have been the result of a burning in my bosom to act.

I think that the term fire under your bumb is in a way a variation of fire in your bosom. If you have the fire or need to do something and it is good, if you do it, you will not have regret. If you have that fire or desire to do something good and do not do it, I believe that is when there is regret.

Over the course of my life, I have taken very careful note that when I feel inclined toward something good, I should do it. When I do, I don't have regret. I believe the inclinations that drive us are the burning in our bosom. When we don't drive forward toward the inclinations, we miss out on greater blessings and perspective.