Competition and Contention: Fighting Pride in Our Relationships

Angry woman in front of a poster

 “Pride is ugly. It says, ‘If you succeed, I am a failure.’” —Ezra Taft Benson Today, conflict has become an acceptable aspect of our culture. Society has normalized stereotypes like contentious family dinners and mud-slinging political debates, as if fighting were just a fact of life. But this is not… Continue reading

Facing Ambiguity with Faith

Person sitting at a bench with head down

The problems we face aren’t always black and white. How we respond to the gray areas and the moments when reality doesn’t measure up to our ideals can greatly influence our faith. To kids, the world can seem pretty simple. They work and play; learn the difference between right and… Continue reading

General Conference Roundup: April 2019

an image of a woman smiling while standing on a balcony

“May [Heavenly Father] bless us to strive with patience and persistence toward the ideals we have heard proclaimed this conference weekend.” —Elder Jeffrey R. Holland The 189th Annual General Conference has come to an end. But that doesn’t mean the learning and loving that happens during this sacred weekend has… Continue reading

When Acquainted with Grief

woman sitting at a window

Welcoming grief as a natural expression of love helps us understand the Savior as we search for peace and healing. “I never cried for her once this week until the funeral” was what I wrote in my journal after my grandmother died. My emotional indifference was an accomplishment for me.… Continue reading

Strength in Spiritual Sensitivity: What to Do When You Feel Spiritually Numb

Close-up of old-style lightbulbs in a warehouse

There may be times in our lives when we become numb to feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost. Here are three questions to ask when we feel far away from Heavenly Father. Demands for our attention are everywhere; schoolwork, friends, social media, jobs, family, and more all compete for… Continue reading

Was That the Spirit?

Twelve scrabble game squares that spell out, "If not now, when."

We often wonder how to distinguish between the Spirit and our own thoughts. By acting on our first impressions, we can know that God is, in fact, communicating with us. “Get her ice cream tomorrow,” I thought when I saw a girl in my ward sitting alone during church. “What?… Continue reading

How You Can Experience a Miracle Daily

an image of a person holding their hand out with a rainbow on it

Trials often arise, even after great faith. We may wonder, Where is my miracle? We can recognize miracles daily when we understand the true definition of the word. In the scriptures, we read of miraculous births, healing, and protection experienced by obedient and faithful followers of Christ. Because of these… Continue reading

Lessons from Quarantine on What Matters Most

an image of a woman holding a child in a field

We can use the lessons we’ve learned from months of quarantine in order to remember what things matter most. As I watched the world shut down around me in March 2020, I felt my individual world shut down as well. Weeks of quarantine turned into months and even a year.… Continue reading

How Christ’s Atonement Applies to Body Image

an image of a woman is smiling in front of a mirror

We’ve been taught to treat our bodies as sacred gifts from God. But what help has God promised us when we struggle to love our bodies and ourselves? We’ve all had those days—or maybe even months or years—when we just aren’t happy with how we look. Maybe we wish we… Continue reading

How Can Your Gospel Questions Make You Stronger?

A man, whose upper body is hidden from view, squats down to hold and lift a barbell.

Just like the soreness of muscles after a hard workout, the pain of the questions we ask is a sign of growth, not of weakness.  During my first year of classes at Brigham Young University (BYU), I was confronted with complexities in the Church’s history and doctrine that I had… Continue reading