Depression diminished my feelings of gratitude and left me feeling guilty, but a talk reminded me that I don’t have to feel guilty for being depressed. Most people think depression is a constant, deep sadness. It’s not. At least, for me it’s not. When my depression is at its worst,… Continue reading
Build up your spiritual preserves by following four emergency preparedness principles. Self-reliance is sometimes defined as having adequate food storage, water, and other necessities in case of emergencies. It can also mean being financially independent and responsible. But self-reliance extends beyond temporal matters; being spiritually self-reliant involves nourishing our faith… Continue reading
Because of the strength and resilience of Filipino members, the Philippines now has more than 100 church stakes. The growth of the Church in the Philippines has been a miracle. Since the first missionaries arrived in 1961, more than 100 Church stakes have been organized in the Philippines. It’s the the… Continue reading
In a sex-saturated world, it’s important to remember the true doctrine of human intimacy. There are so many mixed messages and misconceptions about sex—what it is, when it’s okay, and what it should be like. We see sex portrayed in movies, books, and TV shows, and with all these messages… Continue reading
Sometimes it can take seconds to gain faith in certain aspects of the gospel, but what if it takes twenty years? For twenty years, I didn’t have a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet. During these years, I served in numerous callings and even went on a mission. Despite… Continue reading
Instead of trying to change your family members, try changing yourself. During my junior year of high school, most of my close family members decided they didn’t want to be a part of the Church anymore. When I noticed their feelings changing, it was like a punch in the gut.… Continue reading
Sometimes, letting God help us means accepting help from unlikely places. Continue reading
Our view of the gospel’s truth is sometimes blocked by distractions; we can see past these distractions by looking at life through a spiritual lens. Without a doubt, life is busy. With our attention being pulled in so many directions, it can be hard to keep spiritual goals in view.… Continue reading
When to start a family and how many kids to have are personal decisions. People’s well-meaning questions can create unhelpful pressure—and even pain. “So are you planning on having kids soon?” The first time I was greeted with this question, I had been married for three weeks. My husband and… Continue reading
In life, we have moments when we love ourselves . . . and we have moments when we don’t. The world tells us we should find our self-worth in the money we make, the clothes we wear, the house we own, the car we drive, and so on. Because of… Continue reading
