The Jury’s Not Out: Avoiding Judgment of Ourselves

The Righteous Judge

Jesus never condemned; we don’t need to condemn ourselves. Have you ever heard someone say, “Well, it’s too late for me, I won’t be saved”? Or even, “I’m already going to hell, so what’s the point of trying?” It feels like people are prone to making judgments of themselves that… Continue reading

Finding Peace in Imperfection

A harvested field

Why should we even try to be perfect when we have been taught that perfection is out of reach in this life? Many of us find the concept of reaching perfection incredibly confusing. We are told to try to be like Jesus, but we are also told that Jesus was… Continue reading

Stuck in Place

Blue door

It’s easy to feel like you’ve tried and can’t change, but no one is ever beyond the help of Christ’s Atonement. This life is about improving, and while we all have a long list of Christlike attributes we’re working on, sometimes it can feel as if our efforts are wasted.… Continue reading

Turning Trials into Temples

Silhouette of man sitting on grass field

Revelation can come at any time in our lives—even the hardest times—if we stay close to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I was preparing to go on my mission when the COVID-19 pandemic started. My life was turned upside down in a matter of days, and I was miserable… Continue reading

They Have Done What They Could

The Widow's Mite

Christ instructs us to be “perfect,” but when we study his words and actions, it’s clear that he looks at our effort more than our outcomes. The modern world preaches that outcomes are the key indicators for success. What counts is whether or not we hit a metric, achieve a… Continue reading

Healing from Addiction

Hand reaching to the sun through the trees

When pornography addiction makes us feel broken, we can find healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When a plague of fiery serpents befell the ancient Israelites, the Lord gave Moses a solution: make a serpent of brass, fix it to a pole, then invite those who have been bitten… Continue reading

No Trial Is Wasted

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Just as our Savior came to know us through his suffering, we come to know and love our Savior through our trials. A few years ago during a scripture study, I realized that as the Jaredites traveled across the sea, they encountered “furious wind” that created “mountain waves.”  This must… Continue reading

Where You Look Is Where You’ll Go

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Setting our focus on our Savior and our eternal potential can give us the direction we need to help us navigate our lives. Eat. Sleep. Work. Repeat.  There are times when that is all my life feels like. I go to work, I go to class, I come home, and… Continue reading

It’s Not Bad; It’s Just Wrong

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When we act badly, we sometimes think we are bad. But more often than not, the root of our bad actions is misunderstanding. By increasing our knowledge, we increase our ability to do and be better. Many people at the time of Christ thought the Messiah would save them from… Continue reading