This Seat Is Yours

If you feel like you don’t belong, just remember there’s a seat for you here—and it’s not going anywhere. Growing up as a member of the church, I felt excitement about worshiping in a congregation, but I often felt like my family didn’t belong. Having a brother with special needs… Continue reading

The Dangerous Pursuit of False Perfection

A young woman sitting in a public place with sunlight shining on her face through the blinds of a nearby window, in black and white.

When a demanding secular world tells us who to be and what to do, we can let the gospel of Jesus Christ be our guide and our primary source of comfort. In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with checklists: what to eat, what to wear, what to do with… Continue reading

Hope: The Key to Propelling Our Faith

Cristo Blanco Statue in Cusco, Peru.

Impatience, uncertainty, and fear can all be overcome through hope. We can see the blessings God offers us more clearly when we put hope into action. God is good. Sometimes we forget that. In the moments when we seek answers, wishful thinking can become our greatest enemy, making us feel… Continue reading

God’s Love Is BIG

Milky way amongst stars

Bigger than anything we may face, carry, or worry about. God’s all-encompassing love is vaster than we can comprehend. Sister Kristin M. Yee emphasizes this truth in her worldwide Relief Society devotional message, “Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice Was and Is for You.” To begin her talk, she shares an anecdote from… Continue reading

Find Christ in the Temple

Woman standing near yellow flowers.

Sincere seekers of Christ are promised they will find him in the temple. Relief and answers to questions can come through him. I have had my fair share of personal experience with anxiety and panic attacks. Particularly, this last month has been one of acute anxiety as I have sought… Continue reading

Hope When Hope Is Gone

Candle burning in darkness.

Mary and Martha lost hope after the fourth day that Lazarus had been dead. Sometimes our trials leave us feeling hopeless and out of options, but even then, Christ can be a source of hope. Four days after Lazarus’s death and burial, Mary and Martha had given up hope. When… Continue reading

Proved Before God and Yourself

Silhouette of Man Raising His Hands

As we trust that trials are for our good, we will be proved before God and ourselves.  Life can be a struggle, a pain, and a test of endurance. Sometimes it’s easy to view the trials in our lives as evidence that God doesn’t care about the difficulties we face—or… Continue reading

The Good in Grief

Small purple flowers poke through newly fallen snow and dead leaves.

When we understand our part in God’s plan, the pain we feel at the death of a loved one can be more meaningful and help us grow emotionally. We all have our share of everyday setbacks that make us exclaim “good grief.” These troubles can range from just annoying to… Continue reading

Beat the Blues by Serving Others: President Spencer W. Kimball

elderly couple reading.

Learn from President Kimball how serving others and sharing the gospel can help you—and help you help others—stride over hurdles in your life. “Lengthen your stride.” You’ve probably heard this quote from President Spencer W. Kimball’s (1895–1985)  October 1974 address urging members to engage in missionary work. (Also see “Lengthen… Continue reading