December 13

In December 2024, I fasted and prayed, asking Heavenly Father to guide me to someone who matched my heart and spirit. I didn’t know when or how my prayer would be answered, only that I trusted Him. A month later, in January 2025, I was working at the front desk during a university event when I saw her for the first time: Magdalene. She was beautiful, kind, and her smile stayed in my mind long after she walked away. I had been at the university for three years, yet somehow, our paths had never crossed until that moment. Something about her felt different, almost familiar in a spiritual way. After that day, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I asked her friends who she was, what she was like, and if she was seeing anyone. They told me she was simple, kind, spiritual, worked in the Temple, and was single. Every answer only drew me in deeper. When the spring semester began, Heavenly Father placed us in the same role as NSO mentors. Then one day, Po told me Magdalene had asked for my Messenger contact. She messaged me first. I couldn’t believe it. On the first day of NSO, we were on the same team, and I finally got the chance to talk to her. The next day, during the NSO Date Night, I saw her standing in front of Banyan Hall. She looked so beautiful that my first thought was, She looks like an angel. When I approached her, she told me, “Tommy, you never know; maybe you’ll find your partner here tonight.” I replied, “You never know, Magdalene; maybe we could be partners.” Something shifted in me. From that moment, I knew I wanted to pursue her. On my birthday, I gathered my courage following Scott Stiles’ advice to “shoot your shot” and asked her out. She said no. But instead of discouraging me, it made me more determined to show her my intentions were sincere. Without planning it, we ended up being classmates twice. Looking back, I know Heavenly Father was gently weaving our lives together. After praying and listening to President Kauwe share how he too was rejected the first time he asked someone out, I felt a quiet confirmation: Try again. So I did. I invited Magdalene to North Shore, and this time, she said yes. When I picked her up at Hale 11, she stepped out looking so beautiful and formal that it took my breath away. That evening we watched the sunset, ate ice cream, and talked. I knew without a doubt that I loved her. Before the night ended, I found the courage to confess my feelings and told her I wanted to be serious about her. From then on, we grew closer every day. She said yes each time I asked her out. We introduced each other to our friends, shared our stories, discovered how much we had in common, and spent evenings talking, stargazing, and praying together. I made sure our relationship was built with intention, prayer, and a love that felt guided and protected as it grew. After a month, she agreed to be my girlfriend. Knowing I was her first boyfriend humbled me. I felt honored, grateful, and even more committed to cherishing her heart. Everything felt right. As I learned more about her. her kindness, her strength, the little things that made her unique. I realized Heavenly Father had answered my prayer in a way more beautiful than I ever imagined. When I knew it was time to ask her to marry me, I wanted the moment to be special. I planned a simple surprise, though I admit I’m not the best at keeping secrets. On the day of our engagement, we went to the temple. There, I told her how much I loved her, how grateful I was for her, and that I wanted forever with her. Then I asked her to marry me. She said yes. And in that moment, I knew my prayer from December 2024 had been answered in the most perfect way. I had found my partner, equal in heart, in spirit, and in the life we want to build together.

I first met Tommy at the front desk of the Lorenzo Snow Building while visiting my friend Eloida. I noticed a new face, so I said hi. Having worked there for nearly three years, I introduced myself and welcomed him to the team. He smiled kindly, and that was it, we didn’t cross paths again until March at APCC. I had gone to ask Eloida for help, but Tommy stepped in and offered to assist with my application. We weren’t close, yet he didn’t hesitate. The next day, after APCC ended, I saw him in the cafeteria. His smile was so bright and warm that I felt instantly at ease. That’s when I began to feel comfortable around him. We ran into each other again at graduation, he was working the teleprompter, and we chatted briefly. I still saw him as just a friendly coworker. I even forgot his name during NSO mentor week and had to ask his teammate so we could all meet up. But everything changed that week. Tommy seemed to be constantly around me, smiling, lighthearted, and effortlessly funny. Even El teased us. I brushed it off at first, but on date night, something changed. I caught him watching me. Though he was asked to mingle with others, he stayed close, choosing to talk only to me. Later, he admitted that was his plan all along. What struck me most was his quiet confidence and faith. When I joked about him finding a potential partner at NSO, he simply said, “You never know, Magdalene, we could be partners.” He spent the entire evening by my side, talking deeply and sincerely. When assigned to speak with other girls, he asked for my permission first; he didn’t want me to feel anything. And true to his word, he came right back. At the end of the night, he walked me home, with Abelia teasing us the whole way. That was the first time I told my family about him. The next day, he messaged me asking to have lunch. Later, he asked me on a date, which I initially declined. But since his workstation moved near mine, I saw him every day. He’d greet me with a smile, talk to me, and show up consistently, kindly, and persistently. When the spring semester began, I discovered he was my classmate twice. I asked why, and he said he believed it was destiny since neither of us had planned it. One day, I borrowed his pen and thanked him. He replied, “Of course, anything for you.” That’s when I began to suspect he truly liked me. We worked together at a devotional, and he asked me out again. This time, I said yes. On our first date at North Shore, I saw how genuine his intentions were. He confessed he had a crush on me and shared that he was a “date to marry” kind of person, just like I am. His values and goals aligned with mine. I didn’t have feelings for him yet, but I saw his goodness, his kindness, and how much of a gentleman he was. What amazed me was that before our first date even ended, he was already talking about our second and third. And he followed through. He kept asking me out, including me in his plans, and making sure I felt valued. He messaged me daily, called me at night, took me to watch the stars, recited his written poems for me, and showed me, through words and actions, how much he cared. And slowly, my heart began to open. I started noticing the things that made me fall for him: his courage, consistency, loyalty, gentleness, patience, and the emotional safety he gave me. He wasn’t afraid to tell me and show how he truly felt. Because he chose me every day, I found myself choosing him too. His sincerity, his faith, and the way he genuinely cared for me made my feelings deepen in ways I couldn’t explain. He’s different in all the ways that matter. He became my best friend, someone I wanted to build a future with. At first, I told him it might take six months to answer his courtship. But after just one month, on June 26th, when he asked me to be his official girlfriend, I said yes. Because by then, I already knew: there won’t be another Tommy in this lifetime. And I’m forever grateful God allowed our paths to cross.