First, You Gotta Want It

Person walking through snow

With countless worldly voices vying for our time and attention, shifting our focus and priorities toward eternity is more important than ever before. The key is desire. As human beings, what do we really want? We all have basic human needs—food, shelter, sleep, friendship (to name just a few). Most… Continue reading

God Is in the Gaps

Seeing the sun through a gap

Though we may not see the whole picture, God shows us enough that we can have faith in him. How can people have faith in something they can’t see? How can the small pieces of evidence that we occasionally receive form the foundation of a firm faith? President Steven J.… Continue reading

Enduring to the End of the Day

Foggy view of trees and mountains

Enduring to the end is a big task—especially when it’s difficult just to get through the day. Luckily, we don’t have to do it alone. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, but sometimes the commission to endure to the end seems like a daunting and impossible task. There are… Continue reading

Our Patient Savior

field of red poppies

The Savior is on our side, and he gives us as many second chances as we need. Peter once asked Jesus how many times he was supposed to forgive his brother. Peter suggested seven as a reasonable answer. After all, forgiving someone seven times for the same mistake seems like… Continue reading

The Beauty and Value in Messiness

Life is messy. Luckily, there is holiness in the mess. In her essay titled “This Holy Mess,” Sharlee Glenn shared an experience she had while in Italy. Glenn’s tour guide said something that struck her as they were rushing to make it to mass: “Hurry!… We can’t be late for… Continue reading

Struggling Through Life Together

Sunrise over a field

We all go through hard things in life, but when we make time to help other people, we can better overcome difficulty. Someone who has never struggled through hard times has never lived. We all face challenges, and many of them are not easily fixed. Trials and challenges are part… Continue reading

Inclusive Language: The Key to Promoting Belonging at Church

Promoting belonging at church requires examining why certain people feel isolated and implementing more inclusive language. Differences in ethnicity, heritage, profession, age, and many other characteristics are what make each community member unique, and this diversity has tremendous potential to cultivate meaningful connections between church members specifically. However, these differences… Continue reading

Finding God in Our Storms

In our storms, God is with us. Though he doesn’t always calm the storm, he can calm us to be able to bear the storm. Have you ever felt like a sailor lost at sea in the middle of a storm, like your life is chaotic and frightening and lonely?… Continue reading

God Knows. Why Pray?

God knows our needs, but we still need to pray for them. It’s through our efforts and our Savior that he answers our prayers.  Imagine a child trying to lift a heavy box on his or her own. The child may strain and struggle, small arms not able to reach… Continue reading