Cultivating a Spirit of Thanksgiving

porcupine among food

During a two-month internship in Brazil, I had difficulty developing feelings of gratitude for the very things that made my experience so amazing. As I stood under the pathetic, lukewarm trickle of the shower, struggling to rid my hair of the last of the fruity shampoo suds, I was struck… Continue reading

How I Faked Conversion

a girl wearing a backwards baseball cap gazes out toward the ocean

I wasn’t even close to being a disciple of Christ, but I was able to fake it. Fortunately, God saw straight through me.  I think you should know right off the bat that I was born into a super-normal Mormon family. We went to church, we had family prayer, we… Continue reading

Learning to Let It Go

an image of a woman standing in front of a train

Vulnerability does not mean weakness. Being open and honest may be the cure to the disease of perfectionism. Have you struggled with comparison, perfectionism, or the need to keep up a façade of someone who seems to have it all together? Brené Brown, a researcher whose work is highlighted in… Continue reading

Marriage: Should I Be Worrying About It Right Now?

Man hugging woman

I know I should get married eventually, but should I be worrying about it as a young single adult? In this world of selfies, self-love, and selfishness, young adults are postponing marriage in favor of other activities and personal development. In fact, many young adults are not marrying until they… Continue reading

Inspiring Others With Your Identity

The backs of four women hugging

Having a unique identity can seem important, but what’s more important is loving those who choose different paths than we do. We live in a world with ever-increasing controversial opinions and views. Each of us may want a strong sense of individual identity, including our political perspectives, social outlooks, and… Continue reading

Your Spiritual Superpower

Little boy in superhero mask and cape.

The greatest superpower of all—God’s power in our lives—comes from keeping our covenants and receiving the power to change. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? It might be a hard choice! But there is a superpower you already have. In her address “The Power to Change,”… Continue reading

We Can Find Truth in All Religions

Boy praying in Buddhist temple

As Latter-day Saints, we can embrace our heritage as truth seekers as we identify and appreciate God’s light in other religions. Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints revere the personal, truth-seeking process highlighted in James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask… Continue reading

How to Face Unanswered Questions

Stone bridge

When we face difficult questions, we can look to the undoubtable truths we already hold dear to strengthen our patience in God’s timing. The world has a tendency to pull the rug out from under us. Just when we think we have life figured out, friends and family may walk… Continue reading

How to Serve Even When We’re Busy

Two people putting groceries in car

Even when you have a lot going on in your own life, there are always opportunities to serve. When the Savior taught that we should “lose our lives for [his] sake,” he was telling us to dedicate our time to serving others (Luke 9:24). While we want to follow this… Continue reading

What It Really Means to Have Hope

Light shining through the dark

What’s the secret to having hope in dark times? Sister Chieko N. Okazaki explains that having hope means finding meaning and light in life because of Jesus Christ.  When life gets overwhelming and the skies feel dark, it can be hard to know where to find hope and how to… Continue reading