God can seem like an impersonal, unknowable being in the sky. But we can find peace during our hardest times as we seek to understand him as our Father, who loves us individually. My pre-teenage concept of God was perhaps a little irreverent, but it nonetheless sculpted my dutiful, strained relationship with… Continue reading
I didn’t have depression, but it still left me broken and in need of Christ’s healing power. The first time I heard the conference talk “Like a Broken Vessel” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in 2013, I was touched. I felt empowered by the usual general conference “afterglow,” but I didn’t give… Continue reading
A general conference talk gave me hope for my wandering son’s future. My husband and I have six children. They all bring us joy, but parenting them has also provided us with trials and learning experiences. In 2003, our fourth child was fourteen and was struggling with many issues. Although I never learned… Continue reading
As I’ve implemented President Nelson’s invitation to be a peacemaker, I’ve found that it’s not about avoiding conflict or staying quiet—it’s about actively spreading love, joy, and understanding, even in the middle of chaos. Being a peacemaker is energetic, intentional, and often messy—it’s choosing kindness, patience, and encouragement every single… Continue reading
One night a few years ago, I was busy doing something many teenage brothers find entertaining: annoying my sister. As usual, she tried many things to get me to stop. Eventually, she pulled out her phone and started looking at scriptures. She checked Genesis chapter 6 and moved on when… Continue reading
When I needed advice, King Lamoni’s wife provided an example that taught me how to receive personal revelation. One courageous woman in the Book of Mormon who sometimes gets overlooked is the wife of King Lamoni. Her husband believed what the missionary, Ammon, taught him about Jesus Christ and his… Continue reading
The Savior’s path is the only path that can take me somewhere that matters, so I’ll always choose to stay with him. I don’t always feel that the Savior is walking with me, that the man who lived a perfect life would care to tag along as I stumble my… Continue reading
Jesus said, “Thou art mine” (Isaiah 43:1). Those three words have changed the way I think about myself. I’m sure those words had an impact on the first people who heard them as well—the Israelites. Because of their unrighteous decisions, the scattered Israelites were afflicted, robbed, and trapped by their… Continue reading
The first time I heard the story of Joseph Smith and the First Vision was at Temple Square in Salt Lake City during a guided tour. I believed it. But my family didn’t. My father said it was the most bogus story he had ever heard. I was crushed and… Continue reading
How I found belonging as a single member of the Church It was my first week in a family ward when the Relief Society president asked me to introduce myself. I offered a brief spiel, and after a moment’s pause, an older sister asked, “Are you married?” I felt several… Continue reading
