What Is God Like?

A person reaches out towards a sunrise over the ocean.

Sometimes God feels distant and unknowable, but he doesn’t have to be! Restored scripture and prayer can show us what he’s like. Humanity has wondered about the nature of God for thousands of years. The stories in the scriptures sometimes endear him to us, but other times seem to paint… Continue reading

Stop Judging, Start Loving

A vibrant rainbow in pink and blue skies going over a bridge in a lagoon.

When we let the love of God fill our hearts, we find strength to forgive others—and ourselves. It’s easy to notice when others judge, gossip, or hold grudges. Yet recognizing those same tendencies in ourselves can be far more difficult. We often justify our anger as righteous or dwell on… Continue reading

What We Tell Ourselves

A woman with dark hair stares into a mirror

I knew that the words I said to others mattered, but what about how I talked to and about myself? A few years ago, I had a unique opportunity to work as an actor in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Basically,… Continue reading

A Safe Place to Land

A group of people sitting around a bright fire in a refugee camp.

As disciples of Christ, we must show empathy and compassion for those driven from their homes—because Christ taught us to relieve human suffering. As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I taught the gospel to Cambodian Americans in Tacoma, Washington. They were the most welcoming… Continue reading

Defining Charity

Father holding laughing little girl.

Charity is defined not only by the action itself, but by the love that inspires the action. Ever since I was a little girl, I have struggled to understand what the word charity means. Of course, it does not help that the term has multiple definitions. For example, the word… Continue reading

Compassion: A Meaningful Way to Love and Serve

A woman in a striped shirt with short blond hair in a ponytail cradles the head of another woman with dark hair in comfort. They are both sitting on a bed.

When those we love are suffering, we may not be able to remove their struggles, but we can still offer something truly valuable. When a close family member was grieving a sudden, unexpected job loss, I felt useless as I watched them struggle. Without financial resources, professional connections, or extensive… Continue reading

Tuning to the Key of F(aith)

A violin is laid next to a spread of sheet music

God wants everyone to be in tune with the sacred music of faith. We get in tune by following Christ’s example and following the Spirit. I’ve played violin since I was ten years old, and the first thing my teacher taught me was how to play in tune. With the… Continue reading

Living Harmoniously with Others

People standing in front of a blackboard with their arms around each other

In a world full of varied beliefs, the Savior asks us to live in harmony with everyone.  Today’s world is full of different religious beliefs and identities, differences that can often lead to contention. How can we go about combating that contention? In his general conference talk “Loving Others and… Continue reading