Joy Through His Perspective

Sunlight over Brown Bamboo Trees.

How can we be happy in difficult circumstances? When we align our vision with God’s, we find joy through his perspective. If we see an eight-ounce glass with four ounces of water sitting on a table, our perception of the glass at half capacity tends to vary—it could be half… Continue reading

Wanting Eternal Life

The blessing of eternal life becomes infinitely more attractive once we understand what it entails. The promise of eternal life can sometimes be difficult to want. When we face hardships in life, the last thing we want to imagine is life, the seeming root of all our problems, lasting forever.… Continue reading

It’s Time to Let Go of Your Past

Silhouette of tree against sunset

If we don’t let go of the past, we run the risk of committing the greater sin of focusing on the past  instead of enjoying the present. Do you know what it’s like to have your past mistakes loop through your head repeatedly? I do. After you’ve done all you… Continue reading

Four Tips to Love Yourself

woman greeting sunrise with arms spread

Here are some ways you can love yourself, starting today. I hated myself for a long time. I hated my imperfections, my mental illnesses, my poor choices. It became hard to love myself because I believed that everyone around me expected me to be a perfect woman.  One day I… Continue reading

Failure—It’s All Part of the Plan

A woman writing on a chalkboard.

When failure becomes motivation, we can learn and grow from any outcome. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at BYU, Matthew O. Richardson failed a chemistry test.  He hurried out of the classroom after stuffing the test with the red “76” scrawled at the top into his backpack. In disbelief, he… Continue reading

Creating a Community of Covenant-Keeping People

Temple building

By keeping our covenants with God, we open the doors to a shared community of belonging with God and with each other. In an increasingly individualized society, it may be difficult to see how any of us can truly connect with and understand one another. However, we can create a… Continue reading

Studying the Scientific Details of Creation

Selective Focus Photography of Green Fern Plant

Both scientific and religious viewpoints of creation can contribute to a meaningful understanding of the world around us. The debate between creationism and evolution is a rhetorical minefield, and adherents on either side would have us believe that reconciliation is impossible. Yet Dr. Daniel J. Fairbanks has a foot in… Continue reading

Our Identity Gives Us Purpose

A group of people standing in a line, supporting each other and facing away.

Our identity isn’t determined by worldly labels or arbitrary divisions. We all inherit a divine identity and purpose from our eternal parents. I’ve always had a lot of identities. I’m a Southern Californian, a redhead, an oldest sibling, a student, a book-lover, a woman, and a daughter. There are so… Continue reading

Called to Be an Apprentice

A man using woodworking tools.

Because we are not yet masters, God has not asked us to produce a masterpiece. Instead, he invites us into his workshop as apprentices to Jesus Christ. At age 17, I struggled to pound and twist and mold my messy life into a masterpiece. Alone, I strove to right my… Continue reading

The Greatest Blessing

person folding hands

In a world where distractions constantly compete for our attention, giving our whole selves to the gospel of Jesus Christ leads us to receive the greatest blessing—the gift of eternal life. In Mark 10, when the rich young man denies the Savior’s counsel to sell all his belongings, take up… Continue reading