Remembering Who You Are

Young Japanese girls in graduation kimono

“Many traditions can reinforce gospel standards and principles.”  —Elder Donald L. Hallstrom When I was growing up, my family didn’t celebrate a lot of the traditions of our Mexican culture. I think a lot of it was because my parents and extended family members didn’t want to stand out more… Continue reading

The Second Miracle: Made Confident through Christ

Jesus hugging the man who was born blind

There’s no shame in simply starting with what you know. If you just continue moving forward, Christ will help you build your confidence. When we doubt, we may think that we lack faith; however, we do not need to be ashamed of our doubt. The story in John 9 about… Continue reading

Remembering Our True Identity

Person standing in the middle of a road

When we remember our true identity, we’re better prepared to serve our spiritual brothers and sisters. I’m the type of person who, during a one-hour drive, can listen to all sorts of music—classical, country, rock, indie, pop, opera, and Broadway. So, I easily connect with people who also love all… Continue reading

Faith in Christ, Faith in Yourself

an image of a woman sitting at a table with a cell phone

When you feel you’ve fallen short, you can combat discouragement by having faith in Jesus Christ and by remembering that he has faith in you.  We hear repeatedly that faith is the first principle of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Most of us are pretty good at remembering… Continue reading

We Are More Than Survivors

White flowers on a green stem.

When bad things happen to us, such as abuse, bullying, or trauma, we must remember what Christ said: “I know your sorrows, and I have come to deliver you” (Exodus 3:8–9). Survival stories come in many different forms. Some may think of natural disasters, wilderness survival, or plane crashes, while… Continue reading

Rolling with the Punches

Lighthouse at sunset.

Learn not only to adapt to unexpected situations in life but also to find joy in them too. We’ve all had those days—something breaks, the dog makes a mess inside, we’re late for work, the traffic is endless. Everything that can go wrong, does. Sometimes these days stretch into months,… Continue reading

Eternal Truths Provide Eternal Perspective

Woman standing in front of a field at sunrise.

The perspective we gain from God’s plan helps us recognize how God’s love for us motivates Church policies. When an Apostle feels the need to reemphasize something he said just three and a half years before, I can’t help but feel that it must be very important. In President Dallin… Continue reading

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

an image of a group of people holding hands in a room

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

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