Choosing to Be Chosen

Being an “agent unto yourself” balances doing things of your own will and seeking God’s will. When we think about agency, we imagine the divine gift of the right to choose for ourselves. We often hear of agency in connection with being an agent, someone who actively makes decisions and...

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...
Accepting Your Emotions as Human

Accepting Your Emotions as Human

Accepting that we have negative feelings doesn’t mean we have a bad attitude or lack faith.  As human beings, we often feel sad, frustrated, angry, or disappointed. We also hear oft-repeated advice to grin and bear it, count our blessings, or have more faith in response to our negative emotions....
Uprooting Negative Body Image

Uprooting Negative Body Image

Seeing ourselves as God sees us can improve our “body image resilience” in an objectifying world. We’ve all been there. We’ve all looked in the mirror and found things we disliked about our bodies, be it our height, weight, hair, glasses, braces, or acne. We’ve wondered why our appearance isn’t...
The Weekly Call: How Do I Support My Missionary?

The Weekly Call: How Do I Support My Missionary?

With more opportunities to communicate with missionaries serving from our families, what can we do to better support and encourage them? In an exciting recent announcement, the First Presidency stated, “Effective immediately, missionaries may communicate with their families on their weekly preparation day via text messages, online messaging, phone calls...
These Are the Restoration

These Are the Restoration

Seeking for understanding can help us to be involved in the modern Restoration of the Church. On the third date with my future wife, I asked her if she would ever marry someone who was not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She said that...
Standing in Holy Places outside of Holy Places

Standing in Holy Places outside of Holy Places

Going to the temple and attending sacrament meeting won’t guarantee us eternal life; blessings come when we make all times and all places holy. If I attend the temple once a month and prepare to worthily partake of the sacrament each week, why do I feel like I’m living below...
Claiming Priesthood Blessings: A Single Mother’s Experience

Claiming Priesthood Blessings: A Single Mother’s Experience

Her husband was dead. She was alone with her children crossing the plains. But Mary Fielding Smith quieted her fears. She protected and empowered her family by relying on the power of the priesthood. Mary Fielding Smith (1801–52), best known as the wife of Hyrum Smith and mother of Joseph...