Persecution, Faith, and a Gold Bead

gold beads in a hand

Sometimes the smallest objects can symbolize the greatest faith.   In the Church’s early days, Joseph Smith and his family faced nearly constant persecution. An article by Heidi Bennett on the Church history website shares one story that demonstrates their courage despite enormous pressures to deny the gospel.   One… Continue reading

He Will Heal Us

Flower for heal article

Even though we may have suffered the damaging effects of abuse, our spirits can be lifted and healed and our burdens can be removed when we rely on the Savior. Many of the challenges we face in this fallen world arise not from our own mistakes but from the mistakes… Continue reading

Faith to Not Be Healed

Sometimes faith isn’t found in receiving desired blessings but in accepting the will of the Lord regardless of the outcome.  John and Heather were recently married when they discovered that John had cancer. His prognosis was bad. However, the couple had confidence that everything would work out. When Elder David… Continue reading

Lessons Learned from a Broken Bow

When Nephi breaks his bow in the Book of Mormon, he teaches us by example how to deal with adversity. The first part of the Book of Mormon follows the journey of Lehi and his family out of Jerusalem, through the wilderness, and across the ocean to the promised land.… Continue reading

Curve Ball or Careful Pruning?

shrub

At times, God may seem to throw you a curve ball that is unfair or causes hurt. Those are times of “pruning.” He is preparing you for something greater. You probably have something you are working toward right now. It might be a degree, a job, a trip, or some… Continue reading

Have Hope: The Light Will Come

brilliant light shines at the end of a row of white columns

I thought this new calling would be my worst nightmare. Instead, it was exactly what I needed.  The first few years of college were hard for me. Really hard. Three years into college, I still found myself struggling. It wasn’t just schoolwork. I felt strangely drained. My workload was what… 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

Comprehending Death

Rose sitting on a headstone

When my friend Malori passed away, my beliefs about life after death were put to the test. Did I really believe in the spirit world? We all will eventually face the reality of losing a loved one. Until recently, though, I had never had to experience that pain. It was… Continue reading

You Can Have a “Happily Ever After”

you can have a happily ever after

The world may teach us to stop believing in “happily ever afters,” but Heavenly Father has encouraged us to believe otherwise. As children, we were taught to hope. We believed in happy endings. But as we grew up, hope started to seem juvenile, and happiness felt impossible. “Happily ever after” became… Continue reading

12 Steps to Hope and Healing

a woman walks on the beach, leaving footsteps in the sand

Watch a powerful video series depicting the true accounts of recovering addicts who found hope through the 12 steps of the Church’s Addiction Recovery Program. (Warning: Videos address mature addiction-related topics.) Addiction is a serious condition—one that should be addressed with both frankness and compassion. The Mormon Channel accomplished this… Continue reading