Creating Space for God

No matter how busy we are, being intentional with our time opens up opportunities for God to speak to us. I love a good audiobook or podcast to keep me company while I drive or walk someplace—it keeps me occupied and helps me feel like I’m making good use of...

A Day of Great Importance

Life is full of important days. How do we know what choices can prepare us for them? I recently attended the temple sealing of a good friend. As I sat in the sealing room and listened to the words of the ordinance, I could feel the eternal importance of that...

We Are Found

We are found.  We are no longer sheep fallen in a canyon, out of sight and beyond aid.  We are found.  We have been lifted up by gentle, calloused, scarred hands.  We have been embraced.  We are now placed behind the Shepherd as we do our best to stumble on...

Kinsman Redeemer

In ancient Israel, the closest male relative was responsible for the well-being of the entire family. He was often the head of the house, but he could also be a brother or an uncle. His responsibilities included making sure the extended family, in-laws, and nonrelatives living with the family were...

How Christ Can Help You Heal from Sexual Assault

Being a victim of sexual assault often leads to confusion, hopelessness, and guilt. Yet the versatility of Christ’s Atonement can still be a comfort for guiltless victims.  There are few things more devastating than being sexually abused. The aftermath of one’s agency being ignored is often full of regret, anxiety,...
Building Healthy Community through a Gospel of Beauty

Building Healthy Community through a Gospel of Beauty

Building a healthy community may mean asking for help—Minerva Teichert did just that, helping her paint a gospel of beauty through her art. Building a healthy community means supporting one another, but it begins by having the courage to ask for help. In Laura Paulsen Howe’s article “I Have Dreamed...
Joseph Smith’s Handwritten Account of the First Vision

Joseph Smith’s Handwritten Account of the First Vision

Joseph Smith’s 1832 account of the First Vision preserves personal and intimate details that are not recorded elsewhere. The only known account in Joseph Smith’s own handwriting of his early spiritual experiences—including the First Vision—are included in his 1832 personal history. This unique history can be read on The Joseph...
How Can I Choose Love Over Bitterness?

How Can I Choose Love Over Bitterness?

Even when the world gives us every reason to be bitter, we can make the choice to cultivate love in our hearts. Under the government system of racial segregation called apartheid, South African communities were fraught with racial tension. But when the car accident that killed Julia Mavimbela’s husband was blamed...
Was That the Spirit?

Was That the Spirit?

We often wonder how to distinguish between the Spirit and our own thoughts. By acting on our first impressions, we can know that God is, in fact, communicating with us. “Get her ice cream tomorrow,” I thought when I saw a girl in my ward sitting alone during church. “What?...
The Ubiquity of God’s Grace

The Ubiquity of God’s Grace

Hearing others’ stories of how God’s amazing grace is at work in their lives can help us see that he is also working miracles in our own lives. Too often, perhaps, we think that God’s grace can arrive only after we have somehow earned it. After all—as we read in...
Love Is the Perfect Christmas Gift

Love Is the Perfect Christmas Gift

Though Christmas may seem to be about presents and family celebrations, the true meaning of Christmas is bringing God’s love to everyone— especially those who feel lonely and forgotten. Many of us remember past Christmases filled with presents, laughter, and love and eagerly anticipate making more happy memories on Christmases...