Families: All Shapes and Sizes

A man holds a child's hand while they stand in the ocean during sunset

Families are essential to the plan of salvation, but what do we do if our family doesn’t fit the traditional mold? Every birthday as a little girl, I would wish to become a fairy-mermaid when blowing out my birthday candles. When I was older, I asked my mom what she… Continue reading

The Blessings from Connecting with Our Ancestors

hands opening a black and white family picture book

Connecting with and learning from our ancestors is a simple way for us to receive a multitude of blessings, including increased faith and strength. Family history work—the act of learning and discovering more about our ancestors—is a way that we can connect with our family. The simple effort of researching… Continue reading

Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice

A white sheep with a black head stands on a rocky mountaintop

The most important decision we can make in our lives is to hear the Shepherd’s voice. In our lives, we are often called upon to make decisions. Decisions about careers. Decisions about family. Decisions about relationships. The decisions we make on a daily basis are innumerable. Yet, the most important… Continue reading

Creating Peace on Earth

Two candles labeled peace and joy sit on a reflective black surface.

As Christians, we can honor Christ by striving to develop peaceful characters—and through that, create more peace for the world. Christmas is my favorite time of year for a variety of reasons, but what I love most is how my priorities get realigned. There’s lots to do, of course—the holidays… Continue reading

Laboring in the Eleventh Hour

Vineyard field at a pink sunset.

The parable of the laborers in the vineyard isn’t just a lesson about unfairness; it’s about how Christ promises to make all things fair. As I read the parable of the laborers in the vineyard found in Matthew 20: 1–16, the unfairness of the situation stood out to me. On… Continue reading

Accessing the Enabling Power of Jesus Christ

A sparrow on a branch

Jesus Christ’s divine grace is available to all of us, but we have to be willing to put in the effort to access it. When Isaiah told Hezekiah, the king of Judah, to prepare for death, Hezekiah cried out to the Lord. He asked the Lord to remember his righteousness,… Continue reading

All or Nothing? Physical Health Is Not About Extremes

A father and his son plank together in their living room.

Physical health should not be a spectrum of extremes, but how can I be healthy when extremes feel like the only options? I consider myself an athlete. I’ve played nearly every sport under the sun and find immense joy in being physically active. But when I graduated high school and… Continue reading

Weekly Promises, Daily Decisions

Young boy passing the sacrament in a church meeting.

Through the sacrament, we invite the Savior’s influence into our week, one decision at a time. A few years ago, I sat in a church meeting and silently prayed that my friend would understand at least part of what each speaker was saying. She had recently moved to the United… Continue reading

Positivity: The Golden Ticket to a Better Life

A roll of admission tickets.

Hardships and trials in life can drag us down. How can we lift our spirits and find access to the golden ticket of life? A year ago I attended Sister Wendy W. Reese’s address “The Power of Positivity” at Brigham Young University where she spoke about the strength that can… Continue reading

Lyrics of Light

a woman holds onto white headphones on her head and listens to music outside

Whenever life feels dark, we can turn to sacred music to let in the light. From the time I was a little girl, I have loved singing. I would burst into song at completely random moments, filling my home with lyrics from movies, Church, or my imagination. Singing filled me… Continue reading