Not My Feet Only: Accepting the Lord’s Service

Two hands cup water as it pours in

When we struggle to accept the Lord’s help, let us follow the example of Peter at the Last Supper when Christ washes Peter’s feet. My parents were recently called to serve as a mission president couple in California. While they’ve been preparing for their mission, I’ve thought a lot about… Continue reading

How to Become a Spiritual First Responder

an image of a firefighter ' s gear and helmet on the steps

God sometimes asks us to be a first responder to a spiritual emergency, but how do we open our hearts to hear his Spirit’s call? In emergencies, first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are usually the first ones on the scene. Just as they are called to… Continue reading

Suicide Doesn’t Define Eternity

Hand reaching out over ocean

When someone we love takes their own life, how do we respond? I always tried to be sensitive to the complex emotions and pain of people who were affected by suicide, but I never truly felt those emotions myself until recently, when a close friend decided to end his life.… Continue reading

6 Ways Your Pride Is Controlling You

Dying Roses

To conquer pride and develop humility, we must first understand pride and its consequences and then choose to be humble. We’re all plagued by pride. Despite our valiant efforts to be humble, pride always seems to slip in, perhaps because we don’t fully understand pride and how it can be… Continue reading

When Feeling Happy Just Isn’t Possible: Reasons to Hold On

an image of a wooden figure holding a wooden spoon and a wooden spoon

Depression affects everyone at one point or another. When those times hit, we need a reason to hold on, a reason to keep going, a reason to stay. Sometimes life isn’t all we hoped it would be. We face disappointment, fear, and devastation. Sometimes we can’t explain why we’re feeling… Continue reading

How Does the Resurrection Affect my Discipleship?

an image of a doorway leading to a stone building with a light coming through it

Having a knowledge of the Resurrection gives us hope and strength to live the gospel more fully. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was one of the most important events in human history. It was an integral part of the plan of salvation, one that prophets looked forward to for centuries.… Continue reading

Trials: Mercies in Disguise

an image of a woman in a blue dress talking on a cell phone

What if we stopped seeing our trials as burdens and started seeing them as blessings? How often do we go through trials and ask, “Why me?” While this is natural, it is not the way Heavenly Father wants us to react. In a devotional given at BYU-Idaho, Brother Larry Richman… Continue reading

The Power Behind the Change

an image of a group of three men in suits posing for a picture

Changes don’t come only by consensus among leaders of the Church, but also, more importantly, by divine revelation from the Lord. Change isn’t easy, but it’s an inescapable part of life. Lately, there have been several major changes in the Church, like replacing home and visiting teaching with ministering, and… Continue reading

Not Ordained but Called: Women and the Priesthood

an image of a woman with a hat and scarf looking at a river

For a long time, I believed that women didn’t exercise the priesthood. But a class I took at BYU taught me how wrong I was. I’ve often grappled with women’s roles in the priesthood. For the majority of my life, I thought the priesthood was something that only men had… Continue reading

At a Crossroads: Learning by Study and by Faith

When two of my greatest dreams seemed to be at odds, the Holy Ghost taught me they could complement each other beautifully—but only if I remembered to put God first. As I walked home in the rain, I found myself dreaming about gathering around a mahogany table stacked with books… Continue reading