Befriending Our Missionaries

spiderweb over water

Missionaries are more than just the name tags they wear; they are individuals who need support just like us. When I returned home for the holidays last year, my family invited four missionaries over on Christmas Day: three that currently served in the ward, and one that had served in… Continue reading

How to Tap a Forgotten Female Power

Headshot of a woman looking intently at the camera with one hand on her chin in front of a white and blue tiled background.

Remembering the history of the Relief Society has the potential to strengthen us more than we might think. The Relief Society is made up of 7.1 million women, making it one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. And that number only constitutes living women. Imagine if we counted… Continue reading

Changing Life Directions?

Child with crayons

Life circumstances change constantly. Sometimes we get caught in an unexpected flow, but we can make that a good thing. In a devotional given at Brigham Young University, Sister Janet G. Lee told a poignant story about her daughter’s kindergarten registration. When Sister Lee and her daughter Stephanie arrived at… Continue reading

First, You Gotta Want It

Person walking through snow

With countless worldly voices vying for our time and attention, shifting our focus and priorities toward eternity is more important than ever before. The key is desire. As human beings, what do we really want? We all have basic human needs—food, shelter, sleep, friendship (to name just a few). Most… Continue reading

Patience Is Active and Humble

clock in the road

“Patience is not indifference. Actually, it means caring very much but being willing, nevertheless, to submit to the Lord.” —President Neal A. Maxwell When I was younger, I remember learning about Christlike attributes during a lesson at church. Our teacher listed a few attributes on the board: faith, hope, charity,… Continue reading

Breaking News: There Is No “One and Only”

Bride and groom's hands

Deciding whom to marry isn’t easy. But part of what makes it special is that both spouses use agency to choose their one and only companion. After three weeks of dating, he knew. After three months, he told me he wanted to marry me. But I wasn’t sure. I’d been… Continue reading

God Is in the Gaps

Seeing the sun through a gap

Though we may not see the whole picture, God shows us enough that we can have faith in him. How can people have faith in something they can’t see? How can the small pieces of evidence that we occasionally receive form the foundation of a firm faith? President Steven J.… Continue reading

Enduring to the End of the Day

Foggy view of trees and mountains

Enduring to the end is a big task—especially when it’s difficult just to get through the day. Luckily, we don’t have to do it alone. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, but sometimes the commission to endure to the end seems like a daunting and impossible task. There are… Continue reading

Our Intuition Is a Gift: Judge Righteously

a gavel on a white marble background

Spiritual promptings and our own intuition are gifts from God to keep us safe. Let us trust ourselves while still respecting others as children of God. Recently, I took my car to the dealership for a routine service appointment when an older man approached me and struck up conversation. As… Continue reading

Sunday-Self vs. Thursday-Self

Paintbrushes in a cup

Have you ever walked out of an especially spiritual experience wishing you could hold on to that feeling forever? My Sunday-self and my Thursday-self are sometimes very different people. I cannot count how many times I’ve walked out of a church meeting on Sunday with a fire in my bones… Continue reading