“It is the first principle of the Gospel to know for a certainty the character of God.” —Joseph Smith In “The Character of Christ,” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles describes an experience he had years earlier while serving as a stake president. He was… Continue reading
I may not be spending my money in ways that drive me from God like the prodigal son did, but how am I spending my time? Nearly every Christian knows the story of the prodigal son, but many may not know what prodigal actually means. If you had asked me… Continue reading
During his Last Supper, Christ washed the feet of Judas Iscariot. By doing so, Christ set the ultimate example of what it means to “love your enemy.” For over a millennium, the teachings of Jesus Christ have inspired spiritual growth for those who study and accept his words. During his… Continue reading
Being an “agent unto yourself” balances doing things of your own will and seeking God’s will. When we think about agency, we imagine the divine gift of the right to choose for ourselves. We often hear of agency in connection with being an agent, someone who actively makes decisions and… Continue reading
Christ’s light shines within us when we choose to love others through word and deed. As I come to know my Savior better by reading about his life and ministry, I am always inspired by his capacity to love so abundantly. When Christ healed and blessed those in need, his… Continue reading
Our journey to return to our heavenly home is not aimless. God has provided us with several gifts, including scriptures, prophets, and personal revelation, to help us return to him. Every New Year’s, my family watches The Lord of the Rings. I’ve always loved the sweeping story, not just for… Continue reading
It can be hard to stand out in a crowd as a disciple of Jesus Christ, but we are promised great blessings if we rely on Christ anyway. In our often intellect-based world, we can place a lot of value on being seen as “smart” and “logical.” Anything that doesn’t… Continue reading
Stop overthinking. Start doing. Through small acts we see big results. I, like so many others, tend to complicate the small things. When I am faced with a problem, I overthink. I come up with every possible solution: I Google it, I pray, I read the scriptures, and the list… Continue reading
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
Embracing childlike qualities can help us see who we really are. This fall, I’ve been reading a lot of children’s literature for one of my classes, and it has caused me to reflect deeply on what it means to be childlike. In her general conference address titled “Become as a… Continue reading
