Building the Courage to Stand Alone

In 2011, Thomas S. Monson counseled us all to “dare to stand alone.” What can we learn from his words 15 years later? My high school in San Diego, California, had nearly two thousand students. Around 15 of those were members of the Church, including my brothers and me. Throughout...

What We Ought to Know About Eternity

What does the gospel of Jesus Christ teach us about our life’s purpose and eternal destiny? Familial bonds don’t end with mortality. There are millions of pop culture portrayals of the afterlife and speculations about what it’s like. For instance, I recently watched a movie with a depiction of an...

Faithfully Acting on Revelation

Faith is what allows us to hear the Lord’s voice and act on his will. I packed my backpack for the first day of class after changing my major for the third time. I felt excited to begin the semester, convinced I had finally found my calling. However, as the...

A Gift More Precious Than Rubies

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...

Start Where You Are

Being a disciple of Christ doesn’t need to be complicated, and it doesn’t come with a list of prerequisites. In his October 2015 general conference talk, “It Works Wonderfully!,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf emphasizes the Savior’s grace in the journey of discipleship. He asks us to consider whether we are...
Defining Your Own Success

Defining Your Own Success

When you fail to reach the standard of success, examine your definition of success. How do you feel when your friends are dating more than you? Or when someone gets accepted into graduate school while you were under the average GRE acceptance score by five points? Or when graduation looms...
“That Part’s My Favorite!”

“That Part’s My Favorite!”

Christ said, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see.” But are we really seeing the wonders of the gospel, or just looking past them? Alsivan was ecstatic when he learned that he could live with his son forever. He is a single father I met on...
A Perfect Priesthood for Imperfect People

A Perfect Priesthood for Imperfect People

I couldn’t understand how God could trust part of his limitless power to such limited, fallible people—until I learned how the priesthood and the Atonement are inextricably connected. When I was in the MTC, I sometimes struggled to understand how much was expected of me as a representative of Jesus Christ and how wide...
We Have a Mother in Heaven

We Have a Mother in Heaven

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother.” Our Mother in Heaven is real but is rarely discussed in Mormon culture. A recent article on LDS.org, however, directly addresses...
3 Ways to Everyday Happiness

3 Ways to Everyday Happiness

When life doesn’t go down the planned path, don’t worry—there is an easy formula to make every step you take a happy one. School, work, family, friends—all day every day, something needs our attention. In his talk, “A Summer with Great Aunt Rose,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gives us a...
Education: A Sacred Endeavor

Education: A Sacred Endeavor

Education is considered a modern commodity, but how often do we consider its role in reaching our divine potential? Life is full of learning opportunities. But the knowledge gained from formal education is unique in that it refines not only the mind, but the whole person. This transformative knowledge should...