Do you believe in the Atonement? So do I...

Our marathon date on April 13 was awesome! Throughout the night, we made references to the our pasts and why we were divorced but didn't dig too deep. Zane kept saying, "When I know you better and you are ready to see me cry, I will tell you all about it." I wasn't coming into this with my eyes shut. I am 41 years old and I am divorced. Most people at my age who are divorced are divorced for a reason. And it isn't just one person's fault. It takes two to get divorced. I knew I had faults and struggles and was part of my own divorce. It would be unfair of me to think that Zane would have no baggage or be completely innocent in HIS divorce. Of course we would cry as we talked about broken marriages and families. Those aren't reasons to rejoice.

I know we all make mistakes. In my dating experiences, I looked for one thing...what direction are they heading? Are they heading towards God or away?

About 3am, Zane and I were still sitting in the parking lot of IHOP talking. He had made some references to his past. I finally stopped him from saying anything else and I asked him two questions that, I believe, were put into my mind to ask him. I felt inspired. This is how the conversation went...

Me: Can I ask you a question?

Zane: Sure.

Me: Did you ever serve time in jail?

Zane: Yes, I did.

Me: Are you currently a member of the Church?

Zane: No, I am not.

Then he followed that up with, "Buckle up, it's about to get good."

For the next few hours we talked about his life. The mistakes he had made and the consequences that followed. He held NOTHING back. I heard all of it. He may have missed a detail or two but I heard as much as he could share.

He says that I kept trying to get closer and closer to my door as he spilled his guts but I don't think that is true. I listened. And felt at peace. I was so impressed with the way he was trying to overcome the challenges and struggles in his life. He was arrested. He was served divorce papers. He was ex-communicated. All in a short amount of time. Then the waiting period for the trial. The verdict? Go to jail for a year, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

Through it all, his TESTIMONY did not falter. His love for God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, DID NOT falter. The shame he felt. The sadness he felt. The anger he felt. I can't even imagine all of those feelings. Yet, Zane never gave up.

He finished his story by saying he had a great time on our date and he would completely understand if I never wanted to see him again. He was grateful to have met me and he had a wonderful time. Maybe we could be friends.

I just looked at him and asked him this simple question...

Me: "Do you believe in the Atonement?"

Zane: "Of course, I do."

Me: "So do I."

I have an unfaltering testimony of my Savior and what He did for all of us while He was here on this Earth. He overcame all of our weaknesses. We aren't meant for failure here but we ARE here to learn. Some of us have bigger lessons to learn than others. But as long as we get up, learn from our trials, and continually move closer to our Heavenly Father, we are on the right path. Grace is good. The Atonement is real. With all of his mistakes, Zane was the first man I dated who was on the right path and committed to staying on it. He impressed me.

He was exactly who I wanted to link arms with and move forward in life. We have the same eternal perspective and I am grateful. I know he is sad to be where he is at. It's true that there are blessings that we can't have right now in our lives. We can't be sealed together for eternity. But we will. I have no doubts.

I am grateful he chose me to share this path with him. I consider myself to be extremely blessed to have him in my life.

Isn't it such a fluke? No, I like to call it FATE.