Helaman 7

"And behold, now it came to pass that it was upon a tower, which was in the garden of Nephi, which was by the highway which led to the chief market, which was in the city of Zarahemla; therefore, Nephi had bowed himself upon the tower which was in his garden, which tower was also near unto the garden gate by which led the highway" (10).

Sometimes we need to have a private moment to ourselves. Nephi spent a moment in the tower in his garden. While it is near the highway, he still had a moment to himself. Maureen Ebert Leavitt wrote a wonderful article entitled "Privacy and a Sense of Self."


It's a really helpful article for those with roommates and having a hard time trying to have time to oneself. Leavitt said:

"We need solitude to find out who we really are. As one freshman explains, 'My feelings about myself depend a lot on the people I’m with during the day. And because everybody’s different, I get as many reactions from people as there are mirrors in a fun house, all of them a little bit distorted. But in the prayer relationship, which offers a true reflection, I cannot be deceived unless I fool myself. Being alone—with just me and my Heavenly Father—helps me understand myself and where I fit into the big picture.' . . .

Everyone needs the opportunity for secret prayer and meditation away from family members or roommates who can be heard even above the hum of a bathroom fan or through a closed bedroom door. Respect the rights of those who are praying or who just need a few moments to think in silence. Moments alone can be some of the most precious in our day. 

Some ways to gain privacy would be to go on long walks, to wake up earlier than your roommates. Sometimes you have to seek it out, even when it's a crazy day.