Four years ago, my friend Wendy asked me to write a story to be distributed at a Happily Ever After-themed event for all the Activity Day girls (ages 8-11) in our stake. She wanted it to feature four princesses (Princess Hope, Princess Faith, Princess Grace and Princess Charity) whose father, the King, sends them on a journey through the land. The story was to be about what they encountered and learned on their journey back to him, a parallel of our journey from the pre-mortal life, to earth and then back to our Father in Heaven. (A bit more about the Plan of Salvation here if you’re not familiar).
Your Happily Ever After: A Message for Young Women
by Amber Johnson
Chapter One: Once Upon a Time
By Amber Johnson
Once upon a time, there were four beautiful princesses: Princes Faith, Princess Grace, Princess Hope and Princess Charity.
They lived in a kingdom of light. There was laughter. There was happiness. But even in this beautiful kingdom, they always felt like something was missing.
One day, their father, the King, assembled them together.
“Because I love you, I am going to send you on a journey far away. This kingdom will be much different than our own. You will have many amazing adventures but beware, you will encounter difficult times during your journey that will help you truly learn what it means to become a princess….
The princesses were overjoyed to go to a new land, to meet new creatures and have new adventures.
“But how will we find our way back to you, Father?” they asked the king.
He replied, “I will send each of you with a map. But this is not like any map. This magical map is a part of me. As you listen and follow its directions, it will lead you home where you will live with your sisters and me, forever.”
Chapter Two: The Journey to an Unknown Land
The four sisters tearfully yet joyfully said good-bye to those they loved in the kingdom and to each other. They then went their separate ways.
At first, the map was the most important part in their journey but as time went on and they became more familiar with this strange land, some of the sisters looked at the map less and less.
And before they knew it, many of them did not know how to find each other or return home to their Father, the King.
After wandering for many years, Princess Faith grew more and more lonely. One day, she encountered a strange creature on the roadside. Its mouth breathed fire, its eyes shone like diamonds, and it stood as tall as two buildings.
“Are you lost, little girl?”
Not wanting to admit to the dragon she had indeed lost her way, she defiantly declared, “I am not” and tried to race past him.
“Where do you think you are going? You are NOTHING, Little Girl!” the dragon roared.
As Faith became more fearful than she had ever been, she remembered. She was not “a little girl.” She was not “nothing.” She was a princess, the daughter of the most powerful, loving King in the universe.
Her fear turned to faith. “I am a princess who is on a journey to return to my father, the King,” she shouted. And then, for the first time in a long time, she looked at the map.
And Princess Faith remembered her Father’s words: “You alone have special talents, Faith. You are able to hope and have faith in things others cannot see.”
And her faith returned that if she stayed close to the map, she would return to live with her Father, the King.
***
Princess Hope had always relied on her sisters for everything she needed in the Kingdom. Now that she was on her own, she didn’t think she could survive in a strange land. She consulted the map regularly. Some days, she felt it gave her the guidance she needed, other days she felt discouraged and didn’t want to look at it at all.
Was she really worthy of the map’s guidance? Surely, her older, stronger, more righteous sisters were doing so much better than she was.
Everywhere Hope looked around her in this strange land, she found promises of happiness. Television commercials promised total bliss if she would only buy certain clothing. When she watched movies, girls looked like they were the best of friends, even though they were saying mean things about each other behind their backs.
In a world where evil is portrayed as good and good as evil, Hope thought it was difficult to know the truth.
Despite her confusion and discouragement, a little voice inside of her told her to never give up on that map. Her persistence paid off for one day, the map gave her this answer: “Your beloved King seeks for your good and your happiness. But you will not find lasting happiness in the things of this new world.”
Then her Father’s words pierced her heart, “Princess Hope. Your name has a very special meaning. ‘Hope’ means longing…and wanting and never giving up on the promised blessings of eternal life through your faith in Jesus Christ.”
And Princess Hope never, ever forgot it.
***
When Princess Grace arrived at this strange land, she was very popular and made many friends immediately. There was always a party and always fun on the horizon. She consulted the map from time-and-time and felt like she was living a good life.
Until some of her friends noticed.
“Do you really think that is a magical map?” they teased. “Don’t you know there’s no such thing?”
And with time, Princess Grace believed them until one day, a strange, small woman—so unlike the beautiful people Grace had grown to know—arrived in her village.
“I hear you have a magical map,” she inquired of Princess Grace.
“I have a map,” Grace replied. “But it is not magical.”
“Then what is your price?” asked the old woman.
Reluctant to part with the map, Grace replied, “It’s not for sale.”
And as she said that, Grace remembered her Father’s words. Grace is the help or strength we are given through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through His grace, the Lord also enables those who live His gospel to repent and be forgiven.
Grace burst into tears as she realized she had thrown this gift, this map, without price to the wolves. She repented and from that moment on, she only stayed with friends who believed in the map’s magic as she did.
****
Princess Charity traveled a much different path than her sisters. She never went even one day without looking at her map. And even though she became lost, made mistakes, encountered creatures in the woods and at times, wondered if she would ever find her way home, she never forgot her Father’s parting words to her.
“My dear Charity. Your name means the pure love of Christ. This is the love that your brother has and is the highest, noblest and strongest kind of love.”
And she lived every day, striving to become one step closer to her Father.
Chapter 3: Happily Ever After
After many years, the princesses were summoned to return home by their Father, the King.
The reunion was joyous. They were hugs and many tears as these dear sisters celebrated being together once again.
And then their father stood to speak.
“My dear daughters,” this father—their Heavenly Father said. “Many years ago, I sent you on a journey. Though it was difficult for me to see you go, I knew this journey to the strange land was the only way you could grow to become the true princesses I’ve always known you could become.”
As the sisters looked at each other, they noticed for the first time how each had changed. Their eyes were wiser, their confidence stronger and most importantly, they no longer felt like something was missing from their lives.
Their Father continued. “But I did not send you on this journey alone. This map was a representation of the Holy Ghost, prayer, the scriptures and your Elder Brother, Jesus Christ. It was a guide for you in this new world. Some of you relied on it every day. Others of you did not.”
And then their Father paused, finding the words.
“But my dear daughters, I am overjoyed that though your journeys and challengers were so different, that each of you remembered the special gifts that only you possess. And it was those talents, along with the map, that helped you return to live eternally with me. You are now true princesses.”
Like Princess Faith, Princess Grace, Princess Hope and Princess Charity, you are the daughter of a King. And this Father has given each of you special talents and a map to help guide you home.
Always remember that if you stay true and close to your Father in Heaven that someday you will live your Happily Ever After with Him.
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Wendy’s official invitation for the event. I was the “Special Presentation” at the end when I read this story.
I'm a Canadian-born mom of two, former Denver Post columnist, family travel writer, editor of MileHighMamas.com and 9News contributor. Expert on all things Utah, Denver, family and travel. Lover of laughter and life. Happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin. 