Steady in Faith

Stormy sea rushing up to a coastline.

Now is the time to build a firm foundation of faith. When strong storms occur, we can stand steady on our rock of faith in Jesus Christ. Because God intends for us to grow and progress in our earthly journey, we will inevitably face trials throughout our lives. Furthermore, we… Continue reading

How to Overcome the World’s Distractions

An Island inside a lake.

The world will always try to distract us from our spiritual pursuits, but we can learn to overcome worldly temptations while building a life centered on what our Heavenly Father wants for us. Have you ever wondered how you can have a life filled with deep, abiding joy? We can… Continue reading

Building the Best You: Live with Intention

Architect jumping in front of a house.

You can be so much more! Don’t just “find yourself.” Build yourself into the person you want to be. We’ve likely been told that progress comes through hard work—through time set aside for dedicated practice—rather than natural talent. While natural talent certainly influences the skills we master, it doesn’t guarantee… Continue reading

The Secret to a Successful Life

Side view of the Kirtland Temple in summertime.

Sometimes we have to give up our good plans for God’s better ones. I remember standing in a little room above the Newel K. Whitney Store in Ohio, looking out the window at the beautiful temple up the hill. My missionary companion and I were sharing a story with a… Continue reading

The Secret Behind Cultivating Inclusivity at Church: Charity

A colorful picture frame with the words “You Belong.” The frame is surrounded by big green leaves.

Charity is cultivating inclusivity at church—it’s recognizing the signs of exclusion and learning to be inclusive toward excluded members. Moving to a new location usually means moving to a new ward. For shy people like me, the thought of starting over fills us with dread. Will I make friends? Will… Continue reading

We Are More Than Survivors

White flowers on a green stem.

When bad things happen to us, such as abuse, bullying, or trauma, we must remember what Christ said: “I know your sorrows, and I have come to deliver you” (Exodus 3:8–9). Survival stories come in many different forms. Some may think of natural disasters, wilderness survival, or plane crashes, while… Continue reading

Embracing Mondays and the Mundane

Family making breakfast together in a kitchen.

Happiness and peace can be found daily through Jesus Christ, no matter the circumstances. Monday. It’s safe to say this is one of the most universally dreaded days of the week. With Mondays come blaring alarms, project due dates, long commutes, and the weight of a stressful week ahead.  If… Continue reading

Eternal Truths Provide Eternal Perspective

Woman standing in front of a field at sunrise.

The perspective we gain from God’s plan helps us recognize how God’s love for us motivates Church policies. When an Apostle feels the need to reemphasize something he said just three and a half years before, I can’t help but feel that it must be very important. In President Dallin… Continue reading

Rolling with the Punches

Lighthouse at sunset.

Learn not only to adapt to unexpected situations in life but also to find joy in them too. We’ve all had those days—something breaks, the dog makes a mess inside, we’re late for work, the traffic is endless. Everything that can go wrong, does. Sometimes these days stretch into months,… Continue reading

Choosing Faith in the Face of Uncertainty

Scrabble pieces spelling “faith over fear”

When faced with moments of spiritual silence, how do we maintain our faith and hope? Uncertainty is a universal constant that stems from unknown future variables, such as schooling, careers, spouses, finances, health, or other life plans. As Erin Kramer Holmes says in her BYU devotional, “Waiting Upon the Lord:… Continue reading