Contest Winner: Trusting the Lord through Anxiety and Depression

young woman bowing her head in a field.

When depression feels like it is taking over, faith can make our trials worth it. I could see sympathy in the doctor’s eyes as she explained to me, “It’s not uncommon for the medication to not only heighten your symptoms of anxiety and depression, but also to hinder the effectiveness… Continue reading

Contest Winner: When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan

mother and child in big city

When life doesn’t go according to my plan, maybe it’s going according to God’s plan. From a very young age, I had a general plan: make it through school, attend BYU, marry an attractive returned missionary, have a fantastic career, raise a family, and live happily ever after. Up until… Continue reading

Contest Winner: As If You Had Never Sinned

Man adjusting his orange tie

Do you sometimes forget the miracle of repentance and forgiveness? Through the Savior, you don’t just have your sins washed away. You become as if you had never sinned. “And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we… Continue reading

Contest Winner: Of Ducks and Destinies

an orange duck standing on grass

Although we might prefer our lives be as neat and cozy as a duck pond in a manicured garden, we must navigate the wilderness of uncertainty guided by the Spirit if we are to discover our personal promised lands. While hurrying home one October day, I was struck by the… Continue reading

The Pornography Problem: Unavoidable, but Not Unconquerable

chain on rusted beam

For those who have been wounded in the trap of pornography, there is hope for healing, no matter how serious the injury.  The word “pornography” is often associated with addiction. Pornography addiction is a serious and real problem. However, “addiction” doesn’t necessarily describe every user, and the term shouldn’t be… Continue reading

The Power of Patience

Patience involves waiting for the Lord’s guidance, but it also includes acting with a positive attitude.  Hillary Olsen was sick and wasn’t getting better. She wanted a miracle, but all she heard was “we bless you with patience.” Her August 2015 article, “Patience: More Than Waiting,” was published in the… Continue reading

Remember to Remember

dad and little boy in his arm

The principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot change us if we do not remember them. Almost everyone has lost something important—car keys, a cell phone, that thing you just know you saw five minutes ago. The search becomes frantic as memory fades. Then finally, it clicks.… Continue reading

Failure Is Part of Success

Girl doing tree pose on rock outcropping.

The things I thought were failures in my life were actually my best opportunities to grow—and God didn’t love me any less for them.    We all have those moments when something we have heard our entire lives finally clicks, really sinking into our minds and hearts. I had that… Continue reading

Joseph Smith’s Journals: Records of Revelation

Black and white image of Joseph Smith's handwriting

Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration, provided a clear view into the roots of our faith through his detailed record keeping. There are many unanswered questions surrounding Joseph Smith, the Latter-day prophet and founder of the LDS Church. Inquiries arise consistently about his character, his actions, and his role… Continue reading