Simple Acts of Faith

sun rays through the clouds

What do the small and simple things have to do with the trials we find ourselves facing?  For some reason, we balk at simplicity. As humans, anything too easy makes us suspicious. With this tendency, sometimes we overlook the building blocks of the gospel, even though these building blocks are often what we need… Continue reading

On Waiting and Walking

Man walking on a train over a mountain vista.

Bravery and courage are demonstrated not only by facing big trials, but also by maintaining daily persistence. When I think of pioneers, my mind jumps to stories of frozen rivers; bundled and bloody feet; and death, faith, and perseverance. It’s overwhelming to think of the trials these good people suffered because of their faith. I… Continue reading

Accepting the Lord’s Timing and Standing Firm

Hand holding a pocket watch

As we accept the Lord’s will and timing with faith, we can drink from the “bitter cup” of soul-stretching trials and not shrink. In the August 2016 Ensign article entitled “Accepting the Lord’s Will and Timing,” Elder David A. Bednar shares the story of John and Heather, a newlywed couple facing John’s frightening prognosis… Continue reading

Choosing Joy

Top view of blue umbrella

We can choose to have faith, trust in God, and find joy during the storm. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf‘s talk “Living the Gospel Joyful” was exactly what I needed to hear. I was halfway through my mission, and I felt that my obedience determined any hope of success for my mission area and… Continue reading

Taking Back My Faith

man looking at mountains at sunset

I used to believe blindly. But then I found out you can’t believe everything you hear from a Church leader.  Whenever I got a calling, I used to think, “I don’t need to pray about it because of course the answer will be yes.” If I was told something in sacrament… Continue reading

Blessings of Religious Diversity

person looking at a view of old city and sunset

When we realize that Latter-day Saints don’t have a monopoly on spiritual truth, we can learn truth and insight from members of other religious beliefs. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up less than one percent of the world’s population. This means that over seven billion… Continue reading

Let God Lead the Way

Two people walking through the mountains

The way we face our trials contributes to how happy and successful we are. But how do we face trials that seem impossible to overcome? We all experience disappointment, sadness, sickness, and heartache. Why would a loving Heavenly Father want us to face such adversity? He does not give us… Continue reading

Faith in Revelation: Learning from Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy

Statue of Joseph Smith

Sometimes the revelation we receive can be confusing. But we can learn how to overcome our doubts from the experience of Joseph Smith. Just before Christmas in 1832, the South Carolina legislature established tariffs that challenged the federal government’s right to enforce its own laws. US president Andrew Jackson warned the… Continue reading

Shot Down but Soaring

If you are someone who participates in gospel lessons, even to the point of making your imperfections apparent, thank you. You’re fully engaged in the lesson and desirous to contribute. You raise your hand and bravely offer a comment. It soars into the discussion with all the beauty, strength, and… Continue reading

3 Ways to Explain the Unexplainable

We can still have faith in Christ, even when we struggle to understand the gospel. With modern technology, we have so much knowledge at our fingertips—yet, having resources that are only a few taps away doesn’t mean we can answer all of life’s questions. Our current scientific theories can’t explain… Continue reading