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

The God Who Notices

Even when life feels overwhelming, God sees me—every effort, every struggle, and every step forward. My senior year of college has brought unexpected changes—new roommates, shifting schedules, and feelings of isolation. Loneliness can weigh heavily, especially when it seems like no one notices or understands. In those moments, life seems… Continue reading

Broken and Better for It

A broken plate, mended with gold in between the cracks.

The wounds that seem too deep to heal are what Christ uses to make us the best version of ourselves. In his general conference address “Broken Things to Mend,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speaks to people who feel their lives are broken beyond repair. After nearly losing a loved one… Continue reading

Three Gifts That Guide Our Journey Back to God

Three lit candles on dark and rainy windowsill.

Our journey to return to our heavenly home is not aimless. God has provided us with several gifts, including scriptures, prophets, and personal revelation, to help us return to him. Every New Year’s, my family watches The Lord of the Rings. I’ve always loved the sweeping story, not just for… Continue reading

How We Can Rise from the Fall

apples growing on a tree with the sun shining through

The Fall of Adam and Eve opened the way for us to be lifted to eternal life. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden and separated from the presence of God, they entered a fallen world filled with sin and death, enabling the entire human… Continue reading

Learn to Love Like God

Hand reaching up into trees, sunlight peeking through the fingers.

In a world where loving ourselves and others feels like a fading dream, we can learn how to love through Heavenly Father’s example. Without a doubt, one of the most pervasive problems in today’s world is a lack of love. Individuals experience this lack of love as they struggle to… Continue reading

Jesus Christ: The Coauthor of Our Story

A woman sitting and writing in a notebook.

Having a hard time forgiving yourself for past mistakes? Let the Savior help rewrite your pain into your purpose. I saw the arrow turn green and I accelerated while glancing down at my phone’s GPS. I expected to be able to look up in time to turn. Instead, my car… Continue reading

Learning Through Grief and Finding Happiness

A melancholic woman sitting in a windowsill, looking sad and worried.

In a world full of unexpected grief and trials, finding happiness comes not from avoiding sorrow, but from turning to Christ in the midst of it. I often ask myself how to hold on to joy when tragedy strikes. In moments of helplessness, optimism feels out of reach. I felt… Continue reading

Compassion: A Meaningful Way to Love and Serve

A woman in a striped shirt with short blond hair in a ponytail cradles the head of another woman with dark hair in comfort. They are both sitting on a bed.

When those we love are suffering, we may not be able to remove their struggles, but we can still offer something truly valuable. When a close family member was grieving a sudden, unexpected job loss, I felt useless as I watched them struggle. Without financial resources, professional connections, or extensive… Continue reading

Turning Tragedy into Victory

Person stands on a mountain and looks over more mountains with a river running through them

Our trials may seem senseless, but by transforming them from tragedy into victory, we can find inherent meaning. My life has taken many unexpected turns, often as a result of sudden challenges. One of my toughest moments was when I started my full-time proselytizing mission in March of 2020—just ten… Continue reading