Disciples with a Dash of Salt

A hand holding a handful of white salt.

Learning to purify ourselves through Jesus Christ and become examples of refined faith leads us to seek out those who are ready to “be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32). Christ teaches us that we “are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) and that we are his disciples according to… Continue reading

Learning Through Grief and Finding Happiness

A melancholic woman sitting in a windowsill, looking sad and worried.

In a world full of unexpected grief and trials, finding happiness comes not from avoiding sorrow, but from turning to Christ in the midst of it. I often ask myself how to hold on to joy when tragedy strikes. In moments of helplessness, optimism feels out of reach. I felt… Continue reading

How to Develop Our Talents

girl studying

We are all blessed with talents. Through three divine steps, we can develop our talents and use them to benefit the kingdom of God. All of us are blessed with unique abilities. Based on the Savior’s parables, we know we should develop our talents, but we don’t always know how. … Continue reading

What Is True?

Man grabbing head in frustration

When you are flooded with conflicting messages and instructions, faith it ‘til you make it. Discerning truth can be difficult. Years ago, Elder Bruce R. McConkie shared some valuable insights that are just as relevant today as they were then. In his Brigham Young University devotional discourse “The Seven Deadly… Continue reading

Who Are You? Identifying the Devil

Thoughtful man looks up from smartphone.

Discerning whether something is from God or Satan will give us the power to make conscious decisions that will help us overcome the devil. One night I was feeling very discouraged. I was in a whirlwind of doubt, self-loathing, and worthlessness until something occurred to me: these thoughts were from… Continue reading

Stewardship and the Holy Ghost

White dove with blue sky

As we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, he will guide us in our efforts to help loved ones come back to the fold. One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the Holy Ghost. Jesus taught that he would give his disciples the Comforter to “guide… Continue reading

Finding Belonging as a Child of God

One dandelion in a field of purple flowers

Finding belonging can be difficult, especially for those who are shy. By identifying with our true identity as a child of God, we can find true belonging as we become more like him. When my husband and I—both shy introverts—attended our first nonstudent ward for the first time as a… Continue reading

Our Intuition Is a Gift: Judge Righteously

a gavel on a white marble background

Spiritual promptings and our own intuition are gifts from God to keep us safe. Let us trust ourselves while still respecting others as children of God. Recently, I took my car to the dealership for a routine service appointment when an older man approached me and struck up conversation. As… Continue reading

Befriending Our Missionaries

spiderweb over water

Missionaries are more than just the name tags they wear; they are individuals who need support just like us. When I returned home for the holidays last year, my family invited four missionaries over on Christmas Day: three that currently served in the ward, and one that had served in… Continue reading