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

Embracing Our Quirks on the Path to Perfection

An aerial view of many different, multi-colored ceramic bowls

Our quirks and peculiarities are a strength as we strive to become more Christlike. I wear a dinosaur backpack around my college campus. I always arrive ridiculously early to the airport. Every year I celebrate several made-up holidays, such as the anniversary of the first time I got stitches. My… Continue reading

Learning What Inner Beauty Looks Like

A woman stands in front of the sunset while looking up to the sky

I believed beauty was only determined by what is on the outside, but I have learned that it is our inner goodness that makes us beautiful. “Suck in your stomach.” “Straighten your hair.” “Those clothes don’t look good on you.” Hearing these comments from those around me was normal. Physical… Continue reading

Believe that You Are Beloved

Christus Statue

Truly believing in and accepting the constant care of the Shepherd empowers us to become more like him and share his love.  You are held, supported, and adored by the Good Shepherd. You are his lamb. Jesus loves us eternally, but sometimes we imagine that Jesus will love us less… Continue reading

How Do I Know if I Am Worthy?

man in black hoodie sitting on bench near green trees

Feelings of doubt and guilt can make us feel as if we aren’t doing enough to be worthy. If we are honestly trying our best to follow Jesus Christ, we are worthy. In the struggle of mortality, it can be hard not to stumble over even the tiniest of things.… Continue reading

Foreordination: An Invitation and a Promise

Girl standing on platform as train speeds by

Foreordination is a doctrine that we cannot fully understand in this life, but learning what we can will empower us to have faith in God’s plan for us. In Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s BYU address “Meeting the Challenges of Today,” he explains the importance of trying to understand the doctrine… Continue reading

What Does God Feel for Millennials?

an iPhone rests against a tree

It’s not easy to live with millennial stereotypes, but knowing who you really are and what God thinks of you can make all the difference. If you are reaching adulthood in the new millennium, society considers you a “millennial.” Modern statistics and surveys provide superficial perspectives on millennials, but in… Continue reading

Divine Nature: A Virtue Not Just for Women

Seeing others’ divine nature means seeing them as God does. This perspective helps us develop Christlike attributes and makes our service meaningful. In Elder Dale G. Renlund’s first general conference talk as an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he spoke of the importance of remembering that a… Continue reading

How Do I Know if I’m Good Enough?

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?” —Jörg Klebingat  We have all surely asked ourselves at some point, “How do I know if God is pleased with what I’m doing?” We know the commandments, but no matter how hard we strive… Continue reading