More Than an Ugly Duckling

If we could see ourselves clearly, we would know that we are worth more than we ever thought possible. Too often we compare our hidden weaknesses to others’ displayed strengths. Our inadequacies glare beneath the spotlight of our own scrutiny, and we start doubting our worth. However, in the talk… Continue reading

Turning Trials into Opportunities

We cannot learn by study alone. We must also learn through experience and action. Chronic illness. Natural disasters. Premature death. Many trials surface in our lives, often seeming random, with no one to blame for their appearance. It’s easy to ask, “Why? Why do good people suffer such hardships?” In… Continue reading

Weaving Discipleship into Our Spiritual Tapestry

Being a disciple isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are. When I’d hear the word disciple, I used to imagine the ancient apostles Mark, Peter, and John literally following in the Savior’s footsteps. Since two millennia separated me from when Christ lived on the earth, I felt that… Continue reading

Divine Masculinity: What It Means to Be a Man

dad holding baby

Despite the false messages the world offers about masculinity, the masculine roles of husband and father, established and exemplified by God, are sacred and noble.   What does it mean to be a man? Representations of men and masculinity in the media offer many definitions—definitions that are often harmful or unrealistic. Men… Continue reading

Coming to Know the Savior

Jesus with a child

We know how we can learn about Jesus Christ, but how can we come to know him?   Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, but he is also our personal Savior. I struggled with this distinction for most of my adolescence. I learned about the Savior—who he was,… Continue reading

Learning to Love Whatever Comes

At a time when my life was filled to the brim with challenges, I learned a life-changing lesson about the value of cherishing each day. Since returning home from a Church mission and marrying my sweetheart, my life has been filled with wonders—and inevitable trials. Learning to love whatever comes my… Continue reading

Enjoy the Ride

train

Life isn’t all sunshine and bliss. Whatever life throws at us, the trick is to enjoy the ride.    In a world where advertisements and Instagram posts promote the idea that everyone around us is happy and we can be happy too if we just apply ourselves or buy a certain product,… Continue reading

Finding Redemption through Prayer

Just when life felt unbearable, a man found courage through prayer to keep living and to start changing. At one point or another, each of us has made mistakes that result in the absence of the Spirit, leading to a feeling of darkness. If we don’t address these mistakes quickly… Continue reading

Does the Church Tear Families Apart?

With the Church’s emphasis on eternal families, how do we reconcile the fact that some people are forced to choose between church participation and their parents, siblings, or spouse? It’s an uncomfortable truth: sometimes it seems like our faith can drive a wedge between us and the people we care… Continue reading