My Second Life … As a Latter-day Saint

The Salt Lake City Temple

The first time I heard the story of Joseph Smith and the First Vision was at Temple Square in Salt Lake City during a guided tour. I believed it. But my family didn’t. My father said it was the most bogus story he had ever heard. I was crushed and… Continue reading

Stormy Days and Mountain Waves: Finding Strength

Ocean waves at sunset.

We were created to withstand and overcome even our most challenging trials. Have you ever asked the question, “How could God let this happen?”  I have. I was 17 and struggling with severe depression, and I couldn’t understand why God didn’t just take it away and help me feel normal… Continue reading

Simple Truths in President Monson’s Short Talks

Rose against a white background

I learned a lot from reading the simple truths in the testimony of the Prophet of God.  “Why is the world so complicated?” I asked my husband one day after getting home from school. This question was the result of hours of school discussions, research projects, and social media scrolling… Continue reading

Finding Our Place in the Restoration

The Restoration isn’t over. The miraculous translation of the Book of Mormon is only the start of our role in the Restoration. We’ve been told that the Restoration is an ongoing process. But what does that mean for us? Where is our place? The early Restoration contained countless miracles, but… Continue reading

4 Ways to Help Gather Israel

What does it mean to gather Israel? President Russell M. Nelson invites us to do four things to help us gather scattered Israel. Continue reading

A Leg Up in Life

Injured knee

My painful leg injury left me frustrated, but I came to recognize God’s hand in lifting my burden. It started out as a normal day of work. As I was finishing cleaning up after a catering event, one moment I was pushing an ultraheavy, dish-laden cart, and the next, it… Continue reading

The Pearl of Great Price…and Mummies?

With the publication of the Joseph Smith Papers, we can better understand the history of the Book of Abraham and thereby gain greater faith in it. The Pearl of Great Price is perhaps the least-mentioned book in the Latter-day Saint canon. We know that some parts of the book are… Continue reading

Hypothesis: Faith and Science are Symbiotic

Science and faith are not only symbiotic, but inseparable. Religion and science fuel people to seek truth; truth can be found in religion and science. Both can work together to promote faith and truth. Award-winning chemist Henry Eyring once said, “Some have asked me ‘Is there any conflict between science… Continue reading

An Antidote for Pride

We all know pride is a problem, but how do we avoid it? President Eyring has a suggestion. Moroni warned that our dispensation would struggle with pride: “Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. . . . I know that ye do… Continue reading

In My Afflictions: Missionary Trainer for Two

After spending weeks as a missionary punching bag, I stopped fighting and got down on my knees to call for backup. I bit back my words as the three of us walked to our apartment. The tension between us was palpable and strangled any patience I still maintained. I was… Continue reading