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...

The Gift of the Fast

There is power in sacrifice. Fasting and prayer can bring us closer to our Savior and grant us greater access to his power. Recently, my family and I fasted and prayed at the request of two of my brothers. They needed to make a difficult decision for their company and...

Proved Before God and Yourself

As we trust that trials are for our good, we will be proved before God and ourselves.  Life can be a struggle, a pain, and a test of endurance. Sometimes it’s easy to view the trials in our lives as evidence that God doesn’t care about the difficulties we face—or...

From Imposter to Imperfect

We can easily fall prey to imposter syndrome, but Christ can show us that perfection is more than we think. Starting a new job, going to a new school, or even returning to daily life after a vacation can make someone feel like an imposter in their own life. Personally,...
The Beauty and Value in Messiness

The Beauty and Value in Messiness

Life is messy. Luckily, there is holiness in the mess. In her essay titled “This Holy Mess,” Sharlee Glenn shared an experience she had while in Italy. Glenn’s tour guide said something that struck her as they were rushing to make it to mass: “Hurry!… We can’t be late for...
Comprehending Death

Comprehending Death

When my friend Malori passed away, my beliefs about life after death were put to the test. Did I really believe in the spirit world? We all will eventually face the reality of losing a loved one. Until recently, though, I had never had to experience that pain. It was...
Is What You’re Feeling Guilt or Shame?

Is What You’re Feeling Guilt or Shame?

We expect to feel guilt when we sin, since we know that godly sorrow is essential to true repentance. But is it possible that we mistake shame for guilt? Guilt is a universal emotion. But for religious people, feelings of guilt can escalate because we believe that we have not...
What’s So Great about Prayer?

What’s So Great about Prayer?

How do we pray? What should we do if we feel distanced from God when we pray? Elder Richard G. Scott instructs us on how to access the power of the divine gift of prayer. As Mormons, we have different kinds of divine communication. Some, such as sacrament prayers, use...
Seeing Stones As Bread

Seeing Stones As Bread

Hard times are now a reminder to me that God loves me. Through these difficulties, he is giving me opportunities to develop and express my faith.  Life is hard. But I have learned that life is hard because God loves me. On my mission in Malaysia, my companion and I...
Motherhood: More than Maternity

Motherhood: More than Maternity

In God’s eyes, “mother” is the title of any woman who nurtures the coming generations.  From a legal perspective, being a mother is defined by biology or adoption. When Mother’s Day comes around, it can seem like a dismissal of women who do not fill that role. In The Church...