Catching a Vision of Your Future

an image of a little boy sitting in a car seat with his hand up

Preparing for your future starts with the decisions you make now. Young adulthood has been described as a decade of decisions, but it can also be a decade of dreams. As Elder Erich W. Kopischke counsels in “What Do You Envision in Life?” it is important to have a clear vision… Continue reading

The Power of “Ponderizing”

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Even in the midst of our busy lives, we can be spiritually enlightened by “ponderizing” the scriptures daily. When our lives get hectic, it’s tempting to put scripture study on the back burner. We might skim over a few verses before bed or just skip our scripture study altogether. Either way, we… Continue reading

Charity Revisited

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For the longest time, I didn’t think I had any charity. Whenever I heard about charity in Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, Relief Society, and even many of my university religion classes, the message I always got was that charity was service. Charity was going out and giving, working, and… Continue reading

Peacemakers and Children of God

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As a people who have decided to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, Mormons should seek opportunities to make peace in the political world. Ernest Benn once said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble [and] finding it everywhere.” With the political world becoming more and more polarized, it’s… Continue reading

Faith to Not Be Healed

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Sometimes faith isn’t found in receiving desired blessings but in accepting the will of the Lord regardless of the outcome.  John and Heather were recently married when they discovered that John had cancer. His prognosis was bad. However, the couple had confidence that everything would work out. When Elder David… Continue reading

Graduating Life with Honors

an image of a group of graduates throwing their caps in the air

Decisions to take the higher road can make us feel disadvantaged; but when in doubt, consider what the Anti-Nephi-Lehies did.  In the Book of Mormon, Aaron presents his account of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies—a people who, when they had come to a knowledge of their Savior, promised never to lift their swords… Continue reading

Lessons Learned from a Broken Bow

an image of a green arrow and a red bow on a table

When Nephi breaks his bow in the Book of Mormon, he teaches us by example how to deal with adversity. The first part of the Book of Mormon follows the journey of Lehi and his family out of Jerusalem, through the wilderness, and across the ocean to the promised land.… Continue reading

Curve Ball or Careful Pruning?

shrub

At times, God may seem to throw you a curve ball that is unfair or causes hurt. Those are times of “pruning.” He is preparing you for something greater. You probably have something you are working toward right now. It might be a degree, a job, a trip, or some… Continue reading

Strong in Spite of My Weakness

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Our weaknesses aren’t meant to beat us down or make us discouraged. They can help us to eventually become strong. During my freshman year of high school, I memorized—and promptly forgot—Ether 12:27: “And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness… Continue reading

Tithing: More Than the One Thing I Do Right

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As we faithfully pay tithing, it becomes not only a habit but a meaningful ritual of service to the Lord. Tithing often brings to mind the miracle stories: A poverty-stricken family pays their tithing and is miraculously blessed. Some are suddenly given just the amount of money they need to survive. Or they… Continue reading