Agency: Putting Choices in Context

A man facing a split path where one is dark and one is light

Agency is not the power to make choices in a vacuum—it is the power to make choices in relationship to our surroundings. We as children of heavenly parents have agency, or the ability to choose. The hymn “Choose the Right” expresses succinctly what we are to do with this ability:… Continue reading

Perfection and Spiritual Wholeness: How Can We Obtain It?

Girl on a swing looking over the water

Wholeness does not necessarily mean physical and emotional restoration in this life. Wholeness is born of faith in and conversion to Jesus Christ. Throughout my life, I have struggled with the idea of needing to be perfect. On my mission, I strove to follow every rule in the missionary handbook… Continue reading

Upholding Your Standards When Others Might Mock You

Red flower on green grass field

It can be hard to stand out in a crowd as a disciple of Jesus Christ, but we are promised great blessings if we rely on Christ anyway. In our often intellect-based world, we can place a lot of value on being seen as “smart” and “logical.” Anything that doesn’t… Continue reading

God Will Amplify Your Effort

Baskets full of flatbread and fish

If our job is to provide the loaves and fishes, what loaves and fishes can we actually provide? Believe it or not, Dallas Jenkins, the creator of The Chosen, started in the same place as you and me: as a young adult with a dream, unsure how exactly to achieve… Continue reading

Trust in God’s Plan for You

Orange van with suitcases tied to the top on pavement.

When facing stress, confusion, disappointment, and more, seeing the bigger picture can be a challenge. But God has a better plan for us than we can imagine. Everyone has expectations for life: make good friends, graduate college, serve a mission, marry and have a family, own a business, become a… Continue reading

Not So Bad

an image of a person in black rain boots splashing water

When life doesn’t make it easy to sing “all is well,” try “not so bad.” Science and religion agree about the benefits of gratitude. Research and scripture alike show that grateful people are happy people. But what about when I fail a test, have a bad day at work, or… Continue reading

Navigating Grief and Death: Finding Hope Through Jesus Christ

A graveyard on a hill

It’s never easy to lose a loved one, but with a sure understanding of Christ’s Atonement, we can find peace and hope while in the midst of grief and death.  Imagine being one of Jesus’s disciples standing on the hill of Calvary witnessing his Crucifixion. Their friend, teacher, exemplar, and… Continue reading

How Can I “Think Celestial”?

The Christus statue from the Salt Lake Temple visitor's center

In the face of adversity, it can be difficult to believe that God loves and wants the best for us. We can manage this doubt by thinking celestial. I had a rough year in 2019 (little did I know what 2020 had coming for us all!): my family moved from… Continue reading

Get on Your Knees and Face It

Woman wearing red sweatshirt looking at top between trees near grass during daytime

When life is beating you down, relying on the Lord through prayer can help you confront your trials. A highlight of this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson is the classic scripture 3 Nephi 5:13, which starts off, “For behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.” It’s clear why this… Continue reading

Discovering Light in the Dark: The Power of the Book of Mormon

Light comes from the Book of Mormon.

We can know through the example of the brother of Jared that the Book of Mormon is a radiant source of light, guiding us through life’s darkness and illuminating the path ahead.  What does absolute physical darkness actually look like? It’s hard to imagine that kind of darkness when modern… Continue reading