Service Starts with Self-Love

Girl skipping through a field

When the daily to-dos of life overwhelm us, contributing good to the world can be as simple as practicing self-love. Attend a team meeting, schedule an appointment, complete a ten-page essay, call mom, make dinner, stop by a friend’s movie night, clean the apartment—for many of us, the list of… Continue reading

Is Media Always Bad?

Apple Remote for Apple TV

Media is bad—at least, that’s what we hear. What if we focused more on improving our media use rather than reducing it?   I remember a specific Sunday that was particularly dim. I was frustrated with my spirituality and couldn’t seem to connect with the teachings I had learned that… Continue reading

Authentic, Happy, and Beautiful: The Virtues of Cheerful Discipleship

Although everyone feels sad or angry at times, we can color our days with more happy moments as we stay on the gospel path. In the talk “Three Sisters,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf tells the story of three sisters: one sad, one mad, and one glad. He notes that at times,… Continue reading

Instant versus Slow Poison: Rationalizing Entertainment

If a show or movie isn’t “as bad” as another, does that really make it okay to watch? There are a lot of movies and TV shows out there, and the majority of them seem to be straying far from gospel standards. With all of this entertainment surrounding us, it… Continue reading

Sunday Blues and Sabbath Delights

I dreaded Sundays. I wanted to enjoy them, but I didn’t until I learned to focus on my relationship with God. In his talk “The Sabbath Is a Delight,” President Russell M. Nelson uses the word delight sixteen times. To me, delight meant eating ice cream or watching a romantic comedy; it did not… Continue reading

One Day, Maybe

A planning book

If you think a faithful life sounds great—but not right now—here are some ways to procrastinate developing your testimony. You’re young. You’re free. This is the time to live for the moment—no commitments, no restrictions. Of course, there’s that lingering feeling that the gospel is in fact true, but you don’t… Continue reading

Creativity: A Link to Father in Heaven

man crouching on a rock overlooking a the tops of clouds and a sunrise.

Not everyone is a master in the arts, but everyone is born with a spirit bursting with creativity. Unlocking this gift can help us establish a closer connection to our Heavenly Father. Some people don’t think they are very creative because they can’t play a musical instrument or have never… Continue reading

Seeing Stones As Bread

Hard times are now a reminder to me that God loves me. Through these difficulties, he is giving me opportunities to develop and express my faith.  Life is hard. But I have learned that life is hard because God loves me. On my mission in Malaysia, my companion and I… Continue reading

Don’t Let Virtual Reality Deceive You

Satan minimizes the importance of our bodies through virtual reality experiences and encounters.  If we are to become like Heavenly Father, we must gain a physical body, prove our faithfulness to the Lord, and, after this life is over, present our bodies to God. We can’t achieve our purpose—eternal life—without… Continue reading

The Power of Patience

Patience involves waiting for the Lord’s guidance, but it also includes acting with a positive attitude.  Hillary Olsen was sick and wasn’t getting better. She wanted a miracle, but all she heard was “we bless you with patience.” Her August 2015 article, “Patience: More Than Waiting,” was published in the… Continue reading