Choosing to Be Chosen

Two sign posts going in opposite directions

Being an “agent unto yourself” balances doing things of your own will and seeking God’s will. When we think about agency, we imagine the divine gift of the right to choose for ourselves. We often hear of agency in connection with being an agent, someone who actively makes decisions and… Continue reading

Humility Will Take Us Home

Man sitting with hands clasped to cover his face

We are taught to “be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48), but is this actually attainable? With the help of Christ, it is—in time. We’ve all experienced feelings of pressure or stress. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed with simple everyday tasks, school, work, or the expectations of family and friends. My to-do… Continue reading

How Jacob 5 Helped Me Cope with Sickness and Grief

Trees in field

Jacob 5 isn’t just a story about some olive trees and a few blue-collar workers; it’s a testament that Christ loves each one of us and that he, the Lord of all, rejoices and weeps with us through our mortal experience. In October 2018, I was diagnosed with a lifelong… Continue reading

How to Get Through the Isaiah Chapters

An LDS missionary holds a Book of Mormon and some flowers.

The Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi can be difficult to understand—but if we break down the reasons why Nephi included them in the first place, we can get more out of them. In the latter half of the Book of Mormon when Jesus Christ visits the Nephites, he commands them… Continue reading

A Gift More Precious Than Rubies

A white plate with gold accents and different colored stones, focused on a deep red stone.

Despite its miraculous origins and exquisite teachings, we sometimes forget how important the Book of Mormon is in our lives. What is it worth to you? One way to realize how much we value something is to remove it from our lives. President Russell M. Nelson encourages us to engage… Continue reading

Mummies and Mormons—Ancient Egyptian Artifacts and the Early LDS Church

an image of a large group of pillars in a building

Discover which book in the Pearl of Great Price was translated from ancient papyri found in Thebes, Egypt. Discovering Mummies In the late eighteenth century, Napoleon Bonaparte’s escapades sparked new interest in the exploration of Egyptian antiquities. Italian explorer Antonio Lebolo uncovered a large cache of mummies and papyri near Thebes,… Continue reading

Trusting the Lord’s Health Code

muddy shoes

Ever have doubts about the Word of Wisdom? The original document of this 1833 revelation gives another reason to trust its divinity. Stories of famous stars using drugs show up on Buzzfeed and HuffPost. Peer pressure to drink and smoke blows up your newsfeed. People taunt, “Why can’t you drink… Continue reading

The Enemy of Your Soul

man staring out the window

The natural man is an enemy to God, but society would tell us otherwise. Only through Jesus Christ can we control the part of ourselves that separates us from God. Society teaches us to indulge and enjoy, to live out the mantra “YOLO” (you only live once). We are encouraged… Continue reading

Which Cross is Mine and How Do I Bear It?

an image of a man standing on a rock looking at the mountains

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” —Matthew 16:25  Jesus Christ had a heavy cross to bear. His divine mission on earth was to provide eternal salvation for the souls of all mankind. In Matthew 16,… Continue reading

The Creation Account and the Seed in Alma’s Sermon

yellow flowers in a valley

If you don’t think of Genesis 1–2 when you read Alma 32, you’re missing powerful Creation imagery that emphasizes fundamental Christian teachings. The sermon on faith in Alma 32 is among the most iconic passages found in the Book of Mormon. In it we read that God’s word is a seed… Continue reading