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

The Final Words of a Prophet

President Nelson of the LDS church shakes the hand of a child

What can we learn from President Nelson’s last general conference address and from the legacy he left with us?  President Russell M. Nelson left an impressive legacy, from his amazing career as a heart surgeon to his incredible role as prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.… Continue reading

Why Does It Matter That No One Sits Alone?

an image of a woman holding a silver ball with red nails

We are often encouraged to reach out to those who are alone and forgotten, but what is the true motivation behind that? When I taught a church lesson on Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s talk “No One Sits Alone,” I was struck by something that had never previously occurred to me.… Continue reading

What We Tell Ourselves

A woman with dark hair stares into a mirror

I knew that the words I said to others mattered, but what about how I talked to and about myself? A few years ago, I had a unique opportunity to work as an actor in the Missionary Training Center (MTC) for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Basically,… Continue reading