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… Continue reading

Never Alone, Never Unloved: Faith to Climb Mountains

During hard times, it’s tempting to feel lost and discouraged. But as we exercise faith, we can know that we are never alone, forgotten, or unloved when we face trials. Sometimes our adversities seem like mountains, too tough to conquer. During our darkest moments, we might lose hope and wonder,… Continue reading

Children of the Covenant

angel moroni on the top of a temple

When we make and keep sacred covenants, we know who we are and what our purpose is. We’ve been taught that we are sons and daughters of God. But what does that really mean? In the general conference talk “Covenants,” President Russell M. Nelson teaches that “when we realize that we are… Continue reading

The Blessings of Conflict

young boy holds his fist up in a fighting stance

None of us are immune to conflict. When approached the right way, conflicts can present the opportunity for us to better ourselves and magnify our faith. Conflict is abundant in today’s world, and it’s all too easy to walk away from an argument sure that we’re right and that the… Continue reading

Simple Acts of Faith

sun rays through the clouds

What do the small and simple things have to do with the trials we find ourselves facing?  For some reason, we balk at simplicity. As humans, anything too easy makes us suspicious. With this tendency, sometimes we overlook the building blocks of the gospel, even though these building blocks are often what we need… Continue reading

Louisa Barnes Pratt: Early Sister Missionary in French Polynesia

tropical flowers

Louisa Barnes Pratt served as one of the first sister missionaries of the Church in French Polynesia.  While her husband was serving a mission in the Society Islands in French Polynesia, Louisa Barnes Pratt was called to join him there as a missionary—along with their four daughters. After receiving the… Continue reading

Choosing Joy

Top view of blue umbrella

We can choose to have faith, trust in God, and find joy during the storm. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf‘s talk “Living the Gospel Joyful” was exactly what I needed to hear. I was halfway through my mission, and I felt that my obedience determined any hope of success for my mission area and… Continue reading

Blessings of Religious Diversity

person looking at a view of old city and sunset

When we realize that Latter-day Saints don’t have a monopoly on spiritual truth, we can learn truth and insight from members of other religious beliefs. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make up less than one percent of the world’s population. This means that over seven billion… Continue reading

The Miracle of Peace

star-filled colorful night sky with a person silhouette

When we face trials, Heavenly Father can help us. But the solution we want isn’t always the solution we need.  Sometimes our prayers are answered quickly and predictably. But for Brittany King, miracles haven’t always come so easily. In her Ensign article “Not the Miracle We Wanted,” Brittany reflects on the struggles she… Continue reading