Stop Judging, Start Loving

A vibrant rainbow in pink and blue skies going over a bridge in a lagoon.

When we let the love of God fill our hearts, we find strength to forgive others—and ourselves. It’s easy to notice when others judge, gossip, or hold grudges. Yet recognizing those same tendencies in ourselves can be far more difficult. We often justify our anger as righteous or dwell on… Continue reading

Families: All Shapes and Sizes

A man holds a child's hand while they stand in the ocean during sunset

Families are essential to the plan of salvation, but what do we do if our family doesn’t fit the traditional mold? Every birthday as a little girl, I would wish to become a fairy-mermaid when blowing out my birthday candles. When I was older, I asked my mom what she… Continue reading

The Blessings from Connecting with Our Ancestors

hands opening a black and white family picture book

Connecting with and learning from our ancestors is a simple way for us to receive a multitude of blessings, including increased faith and strength. Family history work—the act of learning and discovering more about our ancestors—is a way that we can connect with our family. The simple effort of researching… Continue reading

Creating Peace on Earth

Two candles labeled peace and joy sit on a reflective black surface.

As Christians, we can honor Christ by striving to develop peaceful characters—and through that, create more peace for the world. Christmas is my favorite time of year for a variety of reasons, but what I love most is how my priorities get realigned. There’s lots to do, of course—the holidays… Continue reading

Lyrics of Light

a woman holds onto white headphones on her head and listens to music outside

Whenever life feels dark, we can turn to sacred music to let in the light. From the time I was a little girl, I have loved singing. I would burst into song at completely random moments, filling my home with lyrics from movies, Church, or my imagination. Singing filled me… Continue reading

The Final Words of a Prophet

President Nelson of the LDS church shakes the hand of a child

What can we learn from President Nelson’s last general conference address and from the legacy he left with us?  President Russell M. Nelson left an impressive legacy, from his amazing career as a heart surgeon to his incredible role as prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.… Continue reading

Back to the Basics: The Power of Primary Songs

a boy in a blue and green vest listens to music on his headphones while standing in a yellow forest

Primary songs teach simple truths that bear powerful testimony of God’s love and can guide and comfort us during difficult times. The greatest building blocks of faith often come from the most basic truths. Through music, those basic truths can be better identified, remembered, and shared. Songs that are taught… Continue reading

The Miracle of Self-Forgiveness

White and purple crocuses poking out of dead winter leaves.

Through Christ’s Atonement, we can remember our past without letting it define who we are. I sometimes wonder if I’ve been truly forgiven. Even after praying, repenting, and striving to apply the Savior’s Atonement, I still feel weighed down by guilt. I know Christ can forgive others—even me—but that truth… Continue reading

We Can Be the Works of God

Two people reaching out to hold hands.

Every person on earth will face the trials of mortality, but we can have the works of God manifest in our own lives, and we can help manifest them in the lives of others.  The complex heart defects I have had all my life have at times felt like a… Continue reading

Finding Growth Through Failure

Scrabble tiles on a white background that spell out “learn from failure.”

Experiencing failure is part of our mortal existence, but through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can grow through those mistakes and progress toward perfection. We will all make mistakes and experience failure at various points in our lives. It is an inevitable part of being a human in this… Continue reading