My Second Life … As a Latter-day Saint

The Salt Lake City Temple

The first time I heard the story of Joseph Smith and the First Vision was at Temple Square in Salt Lake City during a guided tour. I believed it. But my family didn’t. My father said it was the most bogus story he had ever heard. I was crushed and… Continue reading

Giving the Gift of Receiving

an image of a stack of three gift boxes with lights on them

As we give gifts to bring happiness to the people around us, we must also receive gifts cheerfully and thankfully, especially the ones from God.  About 1,990 years ago, Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and died on a cross. His life on Earth was spent giving gifts of joy and… Continue reading

Rein It In: Controlling Our Anger

Lightning in the sky at night above a city

To build a testimony of Jesus Christ, we need to control our anger toward His other children, even when we don’t share the same opinions. When I was a child, one of my father’s favorite spiritual lessons was about bridling passions (Alma 38:12). He would explain what the function of… Continue reading

We Always Have a Place with God

an image of a man and a child walking through a forest

Although sometimes we may feel like we do not belong, we always have a place as God’s children.  Deserved or not, lasting or temporary, major or minor, we have all probably had the terrible experience of feeling like we don’t belong. It’s an emotion to which we humans are all… Continue reading

The Blessings of Conflict

young boy holds his fist up in a fighting stance

None of us are immune to conflict. When approached the right way, conflicts can present the opportunity for us to better ourselves and magnify our faith. Conflict is abundant in today’s world, and it’s all too easy to walk away from an argument sure that we’re right and that the… Continue reading

Losing Your Life to Find It

Jesus and his followers gather for the Sermon on the Mount

Sometimes we need to give up what we want so we can have what Heavenly Father knows we need most. When we don’t know how to get to where we think we want to be in life, we should remember the Savior’s counsel that “he that findeth his life shall… Continue reading

The Power in Fast Offerings

Loaves of bread with blue background

When we choose to sacrifice more through fast offerings, not only will we be blessing others, but our own lives will be blessed as well. In a world of monthly expenses, credit card bills, and student loans, the decision of how much to donate for fast offerings can be a laborious… Continue reading

Maintaining Balance: Loving Others While Defending the Faith

an image of a couple of people walking down a train track

In a world where having a different opinion is often laughed at, it is possible to follow Jesus Christ’s example of loving others, being kind, and avoiding contention while standing up for the gospel. It can be intimidating to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.… Continue reading

Caught in a Trap: How to Escape Feelings of Lust

one red rose

The best way to combat feelings of lust is to recognize and avoid them early—but how? Although it’s common knowledge that lust can damage relationships, it’s still difficult to define, recognize, and avoid feelings of lust. In his article “Love versus Lust,” published in the Ensign and Liahona, Joshua J.… Continue reading

Mormons and Muhammad

religious text

When studying Islam in a world religions class, I couldn’t deny the gospel light I found in Muhammad’s teachings—but how was I to reconcile the truth in Islam with my own faith? Continue reading