The Temple Altar and Other Sealing-Ceremony Symbols

A view of the Meridian Idaho Temple and the Boise River at sunset.

By learning more about symbols in the sealing ceremony, we can strengthen our relationship with Christ. Jeffrey R. Holland’s BYU devotional address “How Do I Love Thee?” discusses the love that’s needed in order for romantic relationships to last. Long-lasting relationships often begin in a temple sealing room, where families… Continue reading

The Divine Nature of the Nurturing Man

Tajik boy

We often hear about the divine nature of women as nurturers. Why don’t we always apply this characteristic to men? We are all loved by our Heavenly Father. To him, we have infinite worth and potential, and we are capable of immense acts of service and love. However, as both… Continue reading

The Healing Power of Family History

A woman laughing with her grandmother in a garden

As we link generations by doing family history work and performing temple ordinances, God promises to send us healing blessings. Shortly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Russell M. Nelson addressed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a talk entitled “Hear Him.” Due to government… Continue reading

Lessons from Quarantine on What Matters Most

We can use the lessons we’ve learned from months of quarantine in order to remember what things matter most. As I watched the world shut down around me in March 2020, I felt my individual world shut down as well. Weeks of quarantine turned into months and even a year.… Continue reading

The Secret 4-Ingredient Recipe for a Happy, Eternal Marriage

Couple makes Christmas cookies.

Just like the ingredients for cookies, each ingredient for marriage is essential in achieving the best results. COVID-19 has brought a lot of trials, but in the Church, the pandemic hasn’t hindered (and maybe has even increased) the number of people getting married. Marriage comes with a lot of new… Continue reading

Divinely Connected Families in a Socially Distanced World

Happy family laying in the grass posing for a family picture

The social distancing brought on by COVID-19 has made many of us feel lonely and isolated. But God’s plan—focused on families—is designed so that we don’t ever have to be alone. I remember the day that COVID-19 started affecting my life. I was sitting on my couch, and my husband… Continue reading

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

Erase the Anxiety of Perfection

A puzzle that shows bright yellow and pink two-story houses.

Perfection means something different to Christ than it does to us. Does your heart rate jump when you hear the word perfection? If it does, you’re not alone. Many of us panic at Christ’s mandate to “be ye therefore perfect.” Being a good disciple of Christ already involves service and… Continue reading

Competition and Contention: Fighting Pride in Our Relationships

Angry woman in front of a poster

 “Pride is ugly. It says, ‘If you succeed, I am a failure.’” —Ezra Taft Benson Today, conflict has become an acceptable aspect of our culture. Society has normalized stereotypes like contentious family dinners and mud-slinging political debates, as if fighting were just a fact of life. But this is not… Continue reading

Space for Agency: Loving Our LGBTQ Brothers and Sisters

An egg with the words "Come Together" and a wreath of flowers painted on it.

God’s call to love one another and his call to stand for truth seem to clash, but that’s only because we don’t understand that we can love people without conforming to their choices. When I reconnected with an old friend online, she stated that she was saving up for sex… Continue reading