How to Get Through the Isaiah Chapters
The Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi can be difficult to understand—but if we break down the reasons why Nephi included them in the first place, we can get more out of them. In the latter half of the Book of Mormon when Jesus Christ visits the Nephites, he commands them...
Choosing to Be Chosen
Being an “agent unto yourself” balances doing things of your own will and seeking God’s will. When we think about agency, we imagine the divine gift of the right to choose for ourselves. We often hear of agency in connection with being an agent, someone who actively makes decisions and...
Seeing Samson as a Messianic Prototype
Archaeological digs have uncovered mosaics and prayers suggesting Samson as an important messianic prototype in ancient Galilee. Samson of the Old Testament is revered for his strength and wit in his endeavors to deliver Israel from the Philistines. But his affair with Delilah made the biblical judge a controversial character,...
What I Learned From Not Serving a Mission
While not serving a mission, I learned more about myself, my Heavenly Father, and the places he is leading me. As waves of missionaries return home, lots of things have changed, such as housing, dating, school enrollment, and marriage. President Thomas S. Monson’s 2012 general conference announcement lowering the ages...
Obtaining Salvation for You and Your Ancestors
By doing temple work for our ancestors, we develop gratitude and love for them and recognize the significant role we play in their salvation. Cynthia Doxey, associate professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University, says that we are “noble and great ones” who can help our ancestors...
Spreading God’s Love on Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day can be a lonely holiday for many of God’s children, but we can help the people in need all around us to feel God’s love on this holiday. When I was young, Valentine’s Day was my favorite holiday. My mom would get up early in the morning to...

