“O God, Where Art Thou?”: The Trials of Liberty Jail

icicles on a wooden beam

When everything seems to go wrong, has God left us to face our trials alone? On December 1, 1838, six men, including the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, were wrongfully imprisoned in the dungeon of Liberty Jail in Clay County, Missouri. One of the other innocent captives charged with… 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

Facing Discouragement with Faith: Susa Young Gates

Susa Young Gates

Despite divorce, mental health issues, and the burdens of family life, Gates used her talents to defend women’s achievements as well as her beliefs. Susa Young Gates’ motto “keep busy in the face of discouragement” proved to be a recurring theme throughout her life. Though she faced both physical and… Continue reading

Asking Hard Questions in the Gospel

Rosemary Wixom describes a spiritually healthy way to respond to tough answers we may receive when asking questions about the gospel. “As the questions [grow] harder, so [do] the answers. And sometimes there [are] no answers—or no answers that [bring] peace.” Rosemary Wixom points out in her April 2015 general… Continue reading

Joseph Smith’s Example of Accepting the Lord’s Will

Pen laying on a piece of paper with old script writing

In a letter to his wife, Emma, the Prophet Joseph Smith shows his willingness to humbly submit to the will of the Lord. In 1832, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders traveled from Ohio to Missouri and back. They were delayed in Indiana for one month on their journey home because Newel… Continue reading

A Trial of Faith: The Beginning of Plural Marriage in Nauvoo

Nauvoo temple

Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo journals include brief references to the revelation about plural marriage that tried his faith and the faith of the Saints. How can we make sense of plural marriage or explain it to others? One place to begin is the introduction to Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo journals found on… Continue reading

Failing on the Path to Perfection

mountain road railing

Why keep trying if we just keep failing? BYU’s new president, Kevin J Worthen, explains the surprising role failure can play in our quest for perfection. In a January 2015 devotional, Brigham Young University president Kevin J Worthen addresses the tricky relationship between perfection and failure. Jesus Christ taught us to… Continue reading

When Hard Work Doesn’t Seem to Be Worth It

Field at sunset

If you keep working and waiting without getting anything back, don’t give up. You may be making a long-term investment. “What’s the use? What am I getting out of this? Am I really willing to keep working even though I’m getting nothing in return?” President Henry B. Eyring, while serving… Continue reading

Enduring Trials of Our Faith

Trials sometimes cause us to cry, “Why me?” But instead of asking the Lord to remove our trials, we can learn to recognize them as opportunities to become more Christlike. “Whatever the form the test takes, we must be willing to pass it,” said Elder Neal A. Maxwell in a 1974… Continue reading

A Formula for Healing

sun shining through a grassy field

Healing is possible for all people and all problems through courage, action, and the Savior’s grace. In a world of ever-increasing suffering, many of us find ourselves searching for relief. Some feel marginalized as we struggle to overcome challenges that may be considered uncommon, extreme, or even taboo. For example,… Continue reading