Instant versus Slow Poison: Rationalizing Entertainment

an image of a mushroom with a very large open mouth

If a show or movie isn’t “as bad” as another, does that really make it okay to watch? There are a lot of movies and TV shows out there, and the majority of them seem to be straying far from gospel standards. With all of this entertainment surrounding us, it… Continue reading

Can I Ever Be Good Enough?

an image of a person writing on a notebook with a pen

With the commandment “be ye therefore perfect” ringing in our ears, we can still be cheerful and hopeful as we seek for eternal life. With all our weaknesses, how can we know if we are acceptable to God? And with so many commandments to follow, where should we even start?… Continue reading

Can I Ever Be Good Enough?

Girl in beanie staring into the distance

Even with the commandment “be ye therefore perfect” ringing in our ears, we can still be cheerful and hopeful as we seek eternal life. With all our weaknesses, how will we know if we’re acceptable to God? And with so many commandments to keep track of, where should we even… Continue reading

Learning to Love Ourselves

an image of a couple of young boys are hugging each other

We can overcome fear and learn to love ourselves by following President James E. Faust’s six keys to strengthening self-esteem. Loving ourselves can be even more difficult than loving others. Although we are sons and daughters of a Heavenly King, we are imperfect. Rather than allowing our weaknesses to discourage us, we can choose… Continue reading

On Trial: Our Dedication to Truth

building with lots of columns

When we come across difficult gospel questions, how do we manage the court proceedings to come to the correct verdict? In a court of law, the phrase “leading the witness” is used to refer to a tactic some lawyers employ, in which they use carefully crafted questions to put words in a witness’s mouth or suggest… Continue reading

Prayer: Approaching the Throne of God

an image of a man standing on top of a mountain at sunset

I wanted to know how God spoke to me. But instead, I learned how to speak to him. When we talk about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, we often marvel at how young Joseph was when God and Jesus Christ appeared to him. On one hand, I do think it’s incredible… Continue reading

How Death Strengthens My Testimony

Creepy graveyard

With faith in Jesus Christ and in his resurrecting power, we know that death is not the end. I’m familiar with death. My parents were older than many parents when I was born, so my grandparents were older than many of my friends’ grandparents. Now that I am twenty-three, many… Continue reading

Missed Me Already?

an image of a view of a plane from the inside

While coming home early from a mission can be devastating, being proactive can help turn your homecoming into a step forward instead of a step back.  When Jenny Rollins, author of “Dealing with Coming Home Early,” returned home from her mission nine months early because of consistent medical problems, she struggled… Continue reading