Are You There, God?

an image of a person holding a loaf of bread in their hands

Sometimes when it seems like God is silent, we need only to be patient, and we will see his hand in our lives. “Are you there, God? It’s me, Mackenzie.” “Heavenly Father, are you really there? And are you hearing and answering my prayers?” I know I’m not the only… Continue reading

Letting Your Light So Shine: Uncovering Your Spiritual Gifts

A small candle is lit on a wooden fence, with a few other candles blurred in the background

We don’t need to wander in darkness—by learning to recognize the Spirit’s influence in our lives, we can uncover and use our spiritual gifts for good. During Christ’s Sermon on the Mount, he teaches us to let our “light so shine before men” as an uncovered candle shines its light… Continue reading

7 Strategies for Tackling Tough Spiritual Questions

an image of a man climbing a rock on a mountain

We shouldn’t be afraid to ask tough questions, but we should expect to work hard for a good answer. All Latter-day Saints can expect to face difficult questions regarding the Church and its history. Many people struggle with topics such as gay marriage and polygamy. Most people also have personal… Continue reading

The Absence of Answers

road with rainbow

At times, Heavenly Father does not answer our prayers for guidance because he entrusts us to make decisions for ourselves. As young adults we are often asked, “Where are you going to school?” “What are you planning to do after graduation?” “When are you getting married?” Figuring out the answers to these… Continue reading

Humility Will Take Us Home

Man sitting with hands clasped to cover his face

We are taught to “be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48), but is this actually attainable? With the help of Christ, it is—in time. We’ve all experienced feelings of pressure or stress. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with simple everyday tasks, school, work, or the expectations of family and friends. My to-do… Continue reading

Moments of Awe, Moments of Faith

Sunlight shining through the clouds with a silhouette of a tree.

When God’s light feels dim, he asks us to have faith by remembering moments of past light. In a moment of enlightening awe, I saw God’s plan for me in clear focus. I stood up after receiving a priesthood blessing and knew that Heavenly Father was guiding me through the… Continue reading

Simple Truths in President Monson’s Short Talks

Rose against a white background

I learned a lot from reading the simple truths in the testimony of the Prophet of God.  “Why is the world so complicated?” I asked my husband one day after getting home from school. This question was the result of hours of school discussions, research projects, and social media scrolling… Continue reading

Choosing Faith

A woman sitting on a bed, stressed.

Choosing faith can be difficult, especially in the face of personal doubts and frustrations, but choosing to keep trying will bring us closer to our Savior. Asking questions is good. Asking questions can help strengthen our faith. But there are a lot of thorny questions about Church doctrine, history, or… Continue reading