The Transforming Power of Service

A group of people.

When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we can overcome personal anxieties and insecurities. At times we all experience loneliness, anxiety, or despair. How do we overcome these feelings? In his article “A Holier Pattern of Service,” Elder Patrick Kearon related a memorable experience from his youth that… Continue reading

Adoption and Family History: Questions and Answers

Pictures and books with flowers.

How can adopted members of the Church pursue family history and temple work? Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the opportunity to perform vicarious ordinances in the temple for their ancestors. While temple work can be a great blessing to members who were adopted into… Continue reading

Belonging to God’s Family

People leaning together.

How I found belonging as a single member of the Church It was my first week in a family ward when the Relief Society president asked me to introduce myself. I offered a brief spiel, and after a moment’s pause, an older sister asked, “Are you married?” I felt several… Continue reading

How You Can Be A Missionary by Using the Correct Name of the Church

young women walking

Using the correct name of the Church brings more spiritual blessings than we realize. Since President Russell M. Nelson’s reemphasis on using the correct name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Church has updated everything from email domains to teaching materials in order to follow the… Continue reading

Should We Think About Gratitude in a Different Way?

Two people praying together.

Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. Have you ever tried counting your blessings? Counting your blessings can be uplifting, but what if you lose some blessings on your list? Perhaps you lose a prized possession or a loved one.  Life changes quickly, and we… Continue reading

Emma’s Faith: A Letter to Her Husband

handwritten documents

Despite hard trials and difficult separations from her husband, Emma Smith remained faithful to the Lord. It is well known that Emma Smith was the wife of Joseph Smith, the first president of the Relief Society, and the compiler of the first LDS hymnbook. Yet we don’t often hear her words directly. In… Continue reading

Missed Me Already?

While coming home early from a mission can be devastating, being proactive can help turn your homecoming into a step forward instead of a step back.  When Jenny Rollins, author of “Dealing with Coming Home Early,” returned home from her mission nine months early because of consistent medical problems, she struggled… Continue reading

Coming to Terms with Polygamy

How can we come to terms with issues like polygamy in the early Church when we do not understand all of God’s reasons for them?   When an angel asked Nephi about a vision he received, Nephi responded, “I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know… Continue reading

3 Ways to Explain the Unexplainable

We can still have faith in Christ, even when we struggle to understand the gospel. With modern technology, we have so much knowledge at our fingertips—yet, having resources that are only a few taps away doesn’t mean we can answer all of life’s questions. Our current scientific theories can’t explain… Continue reading

Finding the Light

In times of trouble or despair, the Light of Christ is never far from us. As we strive to stand in the Savior’s light, we will find it—no matter our circumstances. Genocide in the Middle East. Political upheaval in multiple countries. Stories of abuse, violence, injustice, and death. It is… Continue reading