More than a Holiday Special

Celebrating the Easter story is not meant to be reserved for the holidays; Christ lives—today! During the Easter season, Church leaders have reminded us of the significance of the Easter story. But the truth of the Atonement, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is not simply a holiday message. In...

A Mighty Heart Workout

How to become like Jesus: a transformation made possible through his grace. Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, For these are the things Jesus taught. (“I’m Trying to Be like Jesus,”...

Faith: A Power Rooted in Eternal Principles

We often wait for the fog to lift before taking another step. Learning instead to walk through it is real faith. The modern world is a chaotic echo chamber, reinforcing our own thoughts about who to be and how to plan our lives. We may try to rely on our...

Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice

Even in seasons of sorrow and grief, we can rejoice with those who rejoice. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I try to live by the principle to “mourn with those who mourn” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort,” as taught...

Faith to Affect and Faith to Accept

The absence of a miracle doesn’t necessarily mean we lack faith—the faith to accept God’s will is an equally valid expression of devotion. President Russell M. Nelson once told the story of two contrasting yet powerful examples of faith. In his April 2021 general conference talk “Christ Is Risen; Faith...
The Secret to a Successful Life

The Secret to a Successful Life
Sometimes we have to give up our good plans for God’s better ones. I remember standing in a little room above the Newel K. Whitney Store in Ohio, looking out the window at the beautiful temple up the hill. My missionary companion and I were sharing a story with a...
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Trying: Improving Our Efforts by Taking the Name of Christ

Trying: Improving Our Efforts by Taking the Name of Christ
As we try our best during trials, we can lean on Jesus Christ for support. We fortify our relationship with Christ as we direct our energy to service. “I’ve been having a hard time adjusting I had the shiniest wheels, now they’re rusting … I just wanted you to know...
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A Trial of Faith: The Beginning of Plural Marriage in Nauvoo

A Trial of Faith: The Beginning of Plural Marriage in Nauvoo
Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo journals include brief references to the revelation about plural marriage that tried his faith and the faith of the Saints. How can we make sense of plural marriage or explain it to others? One place to begin is the introduction to Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo journals found on...
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Where Do Lonely Hearts Go?

Where Do Lonely Hearts Go?
Belonging is an individual feeling. But paradoxically, belonging is also a group activity. Although human beings are vastly different, one thing links us all in a shared human experience: our emotions. At one point or another, we’ve all felt the breath of peaceful relief, the smile of giddy joy, the...
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How to See God’s Unseen Hand

How to See God’s Unseen Hand
After experiencing more than a year of COVID-19 and the trials that come with it, we may feel lost or abandoned by God. But if we look to Christ, we can see God’s hand in our lives. The past year of COVID-19 was hard. Many people were forced to close...
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Building Belonging Through Friendships

Building Belonging Through Friendships
In order to welcome others into our communities, we must actively build “higher and holier relationships.” Attending a new ward for the first time can be nerve-wracking for anyone. This can be even more true for people who look and act differently due to disability, gender presentation, or fashion and...
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