Gifts and Rewards

By developing our spiritual gifts with all our hearts, we can be led to find our own personal success and rewards.  For years, I have struggled to recognize the gifts and talents that God has given me. I searched the scriptures, but I couldn’t seem to believe that I had...

Trusting in God’s Plan

When fear of the future blurs your faith, trusting God realigns your path. My last year at Brigham Young University has been strenuous as I’ve felt anxious about my future after college. At times, the thought of being without a secure job, a place to live, or a partner has...

Spiritually Creating Your Day

God created all things spiritually before he created them temporally. Similarly, we can “spiritually create” our day through meaningful prayer. I always seem to have a billion things to do, which makes it hard for me to keep track of everything and even harder to remember to involve God in...

No Success Is Too Small

New year, new you…right? When you fall short of your goals, God sees each tiny step you take in the right direction. Every time January rolls around and the world is abuzz with New Year’s resolutions, I can’t help but feel anxious rather than excited. Setting goals has often felt...

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...
When Acquainted with Grief

When Acquainted with Grief

Welcoming grief as a natural expression of love helps us understand the Savior as we search for peace and healing. “I never cried for her once this week until the funeral” was what I wrote in my journal after my grandmother died. My emotional indifference was an accomplishment for me....
One Way to Help Loved Ones Come Back to Jesus

One Way to Help Loved Ones Come Back to Jesus

Sometimes helping our loved ones come back to Jesus seems impossible. How can we help them on their journey? We all know someone who has followed a path that leads away from Jesus Christ. We strive to love them, support them, and eventually bring them back to the Savior—but all...
Faith in Christ, Faith in Yourself

Faith in Christ, Faith in Yourself

When you feel you’ve fallen short, you can combat discouragement by having faith in Jesus Christ and by remembering that he has faith in you.  We hear repeatedly that faith is the first principle of the gospel (see Articles of Faith 1:4). Most of us are pretty good at remembering...
The Christ in Church History

The Christ in Church History

We can easily get caught up in the names or dates of church history, but Keith A. Erekson reminds us that the main character will forever be Jesus Christ.  This year, the Come, Follow Me program focuses on the Doctrine and Covenants, so members of the Church of Jesus Christ...
Answering the Challenging Question: Why?

Answering the Challenging Question: Why?

As members of the Church, we often meet people who ask why we act a certain way. Keeping Christ as the common denominator can aid in answering these questions.
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...