Choosing to Trust God Unconditionally

Ocean waves and a zipline over a beach.

When we learn to trust God completely, we can move forward with faith, knowing that he will support and guide us through life’s most challenging moments.  The higher I climbed, the more I questioned my sanity. It was the end of summer break, and I had decided to go zip-lining… Continue reading

Choose to Forgive

Close up of grass in a field during sunset.

When we make the choice to forgive those who have hurt us, we free ourselves from unnecessary pain. We all face hardships in our lives, and many of those hardships come as a direct result of other people’s actions. It is easy to wallow in victimhood when we find ourselves… Continue reading

And Yet, Hope Persists

Small yellow flowers in a pile of rocks.

The world sometimes feels so dark and full of despair. And yet, even in darkness, hope persists. Lately, I have found myself feeling anxious and depressed when I read the news. It seems like every day there is some new tragedy happening somewhere in the world. With hard things all… Continue reading

You Are Deserving

Woman sitting on a dock.

Though sometimes it may feel impossible to continue on, we can never be so broken that the Lord can’t make us whole again. In times of trial and affliction, it can feel as if there is no end in sight. For those who suffer from mental illness, the struggles can… Continue reading

Testimony: Our Divine Motivation

Hands clasped on a wall

Testimonies can be far more than checkboxes on a developmental to-do list. We can experience promised blessings and enact meaningful changes in ourselves when we are motivated by our testimonies. “Get a testimony” is only one of many tasks on our spiritual to-do lists, but it is arguably the most… Continue reading

Stormy Days and Mountain Waves: Finding Strength

Ocean waves at sunset.

We were created to withstand and overcome even our most challenging trials. Have you ever asked the question, “How could God let this happen?”  I have. I was 17 and struggling with severe depression, and I couldn’t understand why God didn’t just take it away and help me feel normal… Continue reading

Choosing to Identify as a Child of God

Jesus walking with a child in a forest.

When we identify first and foremost as children of God, we are able to see ourselves as God does—individuals with eternal divine worth. When I was five years old, I believed with the utmost confidence—as only a child can—that I was Heavenly Father’s favorite child. As I grew older, however,… Continue reading

You Can Have a “Happily Ever After”

you can have a happily ever after

The world may teach us to stop believing in “happily ever afters,” but Heavenly Father has encouraged us to believe otherwise. As children, we were taught to hope. We believed in happy endings. But as we grew up, hope started to seem juvenile, and happiness felt impossible. “Happily ever after” became… Continue reading

Remembering Who You Are

Young Japanese girls in graduation kimono

“Many traditions can reinforce gospel standards and principles.”  —Elder Donald L. Hallstrom When I was growing up, my family didn’t celebrate a lot of the traditions of our Mexican culture. I think a lot of it was because my parents and extended family members didn’t want to stand out more… Continue reading