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...
How the Internet Divides Our Soul

How the Internet Divides Our Soul

The internet allows us to spread ourselves too thin; careful use of our agency is essential for getting the most out of the technology we use. The ability to multitask by using technology allows us to be in many places at once. Thanks to the internet and cell phones, we...
Finding the Right Bowl of Porridge: 10 Things to Consider before Marriage

Finding the Right Bowl of Porridge: 10 Things to Consider before Marriage

Deciding whom to marry is one of the most important choices you’ll ever make. Considering these 10 traits and habits can help you make the right decision. When Goldilocks broke into the house of the three bears, she tried each bowl of porridge until she found one that was “just...
We Can Find Truth in All Religions

We Can Find Truth in All Religions

As Latter-day Saints, we can embrace our heritage as truth seekers as we identify and appreciate God’s light in other religions. Many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints revere the personal, truth-seeking process highlighted in James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask...
Have Hope: The Light Will Come

Have Hope: The Light Will Come

I thought this new calling would be my worst nightmare. Instead, it was exactly what I needed.  The first few years of college were hard for me. Really hard. Three years into college, I still found myself struggling. It wasn’t just schoolwork. I felt strangely drained. My workload was what...
Divine Masculinity: What It Means to Be a Man

Divine Masculinity: What It Means to Be a Man

Despite the false messages the world offers about masculinity, the masculine roles of husband and father, established and exemplified by God, are sacred and noble.   What does it mean to be a man? Representations of men and masculinity in the media offer many definitions—definitions that are often harmful or unrealistic. Men...
Staying Planted in Christ 

Staying Planted in Christ 

Even the strongest testimonies can be shaken, but there are ways you can keep holding on to your faith and stay planted in Christ.  Some Latter-day Saints are experiencing what LDS scholar Patrick Q. Mason refers to as a “faith crisis”: they are questioning their beliefs and seeking answers to...