This Seat Is Yours

A young woman feeling stressed and alone in a crowd full of people.

If you feel like you don’t belong, just remember there’s a seat for you here—and it’s not going anywhere. Growing up as a member of the church, I felt excitement about worshiping in a congregation, but I often felt like my family didn’t belong. Having a brother with special needs… Continue reading

The Dangerous Pursuit of False Perfection

A young woman sitting in a public place with sunlight shining on her face through the blinds of a nearby window, in black and white.

When a demanding secular world tells us who to be and what to do, we can let the gospel of Jesus Christ be our guide and our primary source of comfort. In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with checklists: what to eat, what to wear, what to do with… Continue reading

Hope When Hope Is Gone

Candle burning in darkness.

Mary and Martha lost hope after the fourth day that Lazarus had been dead. Sometimes our trials leave us feeling hopeless and out of options, but even then, Christ can be a source of hope. Four days after Lazarus’s death and burial, Mary and Martha had given up hope. When… Continue reading

The Gift of the Fast

Dinner table with plates and cutlery

There is power in sacrifice. Fasting and prayer can bring us closer to our Savior and grant us greater access to his power. Recently, my family and I fasted and prayed at the request of two of my brothers. They needed to make a difficult decision for their company and… Continue reading

Stronger with the Savior: Battling Suicidal Thoughts

an image of a man standing in a field of tall grass

Even when it feels like life is at its darkest point, we can lean on Jesus Christ to receive the strength we need to overcome our greatest battles.  When facing a seemingly insurmountable trial in our lives, it’s easy to feel hopeless and alone. One mother from Iceland shares her experience… Continue reading

The Good in Grief

Small purple flowers poke through newly fallen snow and dead leaves.

When we understand our part in God’s plan, the pain we feel at the death of a loved one can be more meaningful and help us grow emotionally. We all have our share of everyday setbacks that make us exclaim “good grief.” These troubles can range from just annoying to… Continue reading

No Scars Remain

an image of a woman with glasses and a hoodie on

Christ wants to heal our spirits completely—all we have to do is repent.  When my six-year-old brother broke his arm, he immediately thought, I bet Dad can fix it! My dad is not a doctor, but in my brother’s mind, he can do anything. While my brother was a little… Continue reading

How Are Mormons “Saved”?

an image of a man carrying a child in a sling

Many other Christian denominations talk about being saved. Do Mormons believe in being saved? What is the Mormon definition of “saved”? Some Mormons may be confused when friends ask them, “Have you been saved?” We are Christians. We believe in a Savior. But what does it mean to be saved? Jesus… Continue reading

The Enemy of Your Soul

man staring out the window

The natural man is an enemy to God, but society would tell us otherwise. Only through Jesus Christ can we control the part of ourselves that separates us from God. Society teaches us to indulge and enjoy, to live out the mantra “YOLO” (you only live once). We are encouraged… Continue reading