Faith to Affect and Faith to Accept

The absence of a miracle doesn’t necessarily mean we lack faith—the faith to accept God’s will is an equally valid expression of devotion. President Russell M. Nelson once told the story of two contrasting yet powerful examples of faith. In his April 2021 general conference talk “Christ Is Risen; Faith...

Growing Through Every Season

Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can grow and flourish in every season of life.   Life rarely unfolds exactly as we expect. Plans change, opportunities are lost, and unexpected trials can leave us wondering why life is stagnant. In these moments, we can easily think that God has forgotten...

Ongoing Restoration

Renovations to Temple Square allow for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached to the world like never before. During my mission at Temple Square, I sometimes struggled to keep Jesus Christ at the center of my conversations. I deeply wanted to share the joy of his restored...

Accepting Weaknesses Gracefully

How can I accept my weaknesses and grow without hopeless self-hatred, anxious disappointment, or worldly sorrow? The Apostle Paul is remembered as a great man of Christ. But in his own writings, he said, “There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet...

Culture vs. Creed: Thoughts on Our Bodies

As we teach and learn together, we must distinguish between Church doctrine and local culture. I see a disconnect sometimes, especially in online echo chambers, between my lived experience and the lived experiences of others within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These differences are often benign or...
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...
Hear, Hearken, Obey: A Pattern to Overcome Adversity

Hear, Hearken, Obey: A Pattern to Overcome Adversity

When it feels like our life is cracking under pressure, how do we continue? Sometimes the answer is to submit to the will of God. I was 12 years old when I lost all my friends—for the second year in a row. Another move, another state. With burgeoning depression, I...
More Than an Ugly Duckling

More Than an Ugly Duckling

If we could see ourselves clearly, we would know that we are worth more than we ever thought possible. Too often we compare our hidden weaknesses to others’ displayed strengths. Our inadequacies glare beneath the spotlight of our own scrutiny, and we start doubting our worth. However, in the talk...
God’s Love Is There—I Promise

God’s Love Is There—I Promise

Find God’s love in your own life. I promise you, it is there. “Brothers and sisters, do you know how completely God, our Heavenly Father, loves you?” Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, shares this sentiment in her talk “God’s Love: The Most Joyous to...
The Faith to Become Divine

The Faith to Become Divine

Sometimes we feel that our hard-exercised faith is not yielding the blessings we desperately need. But the Lord is not abandoning us—he’s offering us an opportunity to become divine. A few weeks ago, my husband and I anxiously waited to hear whether he would receive a job offer for a...
How Prophets Help Us Differentiate Skunks from Kitty Cats

How Prophets Help Us Differentiate Skunks from Kitty Cats

The adversary tries to make good appear evil and evil appear good, but if we listen to our prophets, we won’t be fooled.  In his conference address “Deceive Me Not,” Elder Gary E. Stevenson tells the story of his sons who wanted to go outside to play at their great-uncle’s...