Dear Mother Earth

A cloudy mountaintop at sunset

Being stewards of the earth is one of the best ways we can practice our discipleship. Dear Mother Earth, who day by day Unfoldest blessings on our way, Alleluia! Alleluia! The flow’rs and fruits that in thee grow, Let them his glory also show, Alleluia! Alleluia! (“All Creatures of Our… Continue reading

Can Gratitude Bring Happiness?

Small daisies blooming

Genuine happiness feels so hard to find sometimes—but maybe if we slow down a bit and consider our lives with gratitude, we can be “made glorious.” Everyone wants to experience happiness—but sometimes we get so caught up in searching for it that we forget to appreciate what we already have.… Continue reading

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

Peace Is an Action, Not a State

Man standing on hill looking at mountains in the distance

Peacemaking requires courage, restraint, and faith as we respond to conflict in a way that reflects the Savior’s example. Recently, while reading comments on a news article, I watched an argument spiral. One person tried to calm everyone down, but they were quickly dismissed. “Now is the time for action,”… Continue reading

Discover Your Own Path: Steps from Jesus Christ’s Young-Adult Years

group on top of mountain

Jesus doesn’t just understand young-adult life, he has lived it—perfectly. When we imagine the Savior, we typically visualize him as an adult––full beard, broad shoulders, and traces of wrinkles showing the joys and sorrows of 33 years. Kent F. Richards instead paints us a portrait of Jesus during his young-adult… Continue reading

A Pearl, a Penny, and Christ’s Infinite Grace

pearl in oyster

A medieval poem sheds light on the New Testament parable of laborers in the vineyard, showing us that the Savior’s grace can satisfy all who seek it. In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard in Matthew, chapter 20, laborers and readers are left unsatisfied. The lord of the… Continue reading

Humility Deepens Covenant Connections

Boy bowing in prayer

Christ is the ultimate example of handing his will to God in humility, and we can follow his example in our covenants to draw closer to God. As a newly endowed member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I found—and sometimes still find—the temple covenants to be… 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

Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice

A white sheep with a black head stands on a rocky mountaintop

The most important decision we can make in our lives is to hear the Shepherd’s voice. In our lives, we are often called upon to make decisions. Decisions about careers. Decisions about family. Decisions about relationships. The decisions we make on a daily basis are innumerable. Yet, the most important… Continue reading