The Joy of Forgiveness Is a Miracle Waiting for You

Exterior image of the Orem Utah Temple. The image is in black and white.

How can we get over the shame of talking to our bishop? Trusting in God’s desire for us to return, despite imperfection, can lead us to healing, worthiness, and deeper discipleship. Recently, I’ve felt God’s presence strongly in my life. I work hard throughout the day, and at night as… Continue reading

Your Testimony Is a Weapon, a Defense, and a Refuge

Child and mother connecting and sharing a conversation by touching hands.

We can share the gospel with greater confidence when we recognize the power of our testimonies. Your testimony is a weapon, a defense, and a refuge. And it’s powerful. When I was a missionary in southern Argentina, my mission president taught an important truth from a scripture I now hold… Continue reading

Why Does It Matter That No One Sits Alone?

an image of a woman holding a silver ball with red nails

We are often encouraged to reach out to those who are alone and forgotten, but what is the true motivation behind that? When I taught a church lesson on Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s talk “No One Sits Alone,” I was struck by something that had never previously occurred to me.… Continue reading

How to Combat Perfectionism

Yellow flower on a brown wooden table.

The pressure to be perfect can be immense, but because of Jesus Christ and the power of repentance, a second chance is always available.  From chasing impeccable grades to creating seemingly flawless social media accounts, young adults face intense and exhausting pressure to be perfect. I have often worried that… Continue reading

Three Gifts That Guide Our Journey Back to God

Three lit candles on dark and rainy windowsill.

Our journey to return to our heavenly home is not aimless. God has provided us with several gifts, including scriptures, prophets, and personal revelation, to help us return to him. Every New Year’s, my family watches The Lord of the Rings. I’ve always loved the sweeping story, not just for… Continue reading

Turning Tragedy into Victory

Person stands on a mountain and looks over more mountains with a river running through them

Our trials may seem senseless, but by transforming them from tragedy into victory, we can find inherent meaning. My life has taken many unexpected turns, often as a result of sudden challenges. One of my toughest moments was when I started my full-time proselytizing mission in March of 2020—just ten… Continue reading

Jesus Christ—The Greatest Gift of All

Christ hugs a woman who is distressed. His hand holding her head.

Jesus Christ’s ministry shows us his love. That love and his Atonement are the greatest gifts ever given. The last two lines in the song “Gethsemane” read, “Jesus loves me, / So He gives His gift to me from Gethsemane.” This simple song tells us why Jesus performed his Atonement:… Continue reading

3 Concrete Ways to Apply Jesus Christ’s Atonement

an image of a statue of jesus with his arms outstretched

For the times when life seems hopeless, here are three concrete ways to apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ. When discussing how to overcome trials in Sunday School, I frequently hear the comment, “Just apply the Atonement.” But when a crisis hits, I often wonder, “How do I apply the… Continue reading

Doctrine in Doubles

an image of a person standing on a dirt path with a shovel

Eternal truths can be found when we understand the blessings of Gospel doctrines. We’re very familiar with the phrase in James 2:17: “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead.” But we’re less familiar with the truth that agency without responsibility is also dead—and becomes just a series of decisions.… Continue reading

Understanding the Symbol of the Cross

A cross on top of a large building

Latter-day Saints do not normally wear physical crosses, but instead take up a symbolic cross in order to come unto Christ. Why do Latter-day Saints not wear crosses? I recently talked about this question with a fellow member of the Church. She told me that she did wear a cross… Continue reading