A Mighty Heart Workout

Vibrant pink bleeding heart flowers (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) blooming outdoors in spring.

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,”… Continue reading

Losing Your Life to Find It

Jesus and his followers gather for the Sermon on the Mount

Sometimes we need to give up what we want so we can have what Heavenly Father knows we need most. When we don’t know how to get to where we think we want to be in life, we should remember the Savior’s counsel that “he that findeth his life shall… Continue reading

Your Wonderful, Imperfect Offering

Women holding a leaf in shape of a heart.

“You don’t have to be perfect or the greatest person who ever graced the earth or the best of anything to be with Him.” —Elder D. Todd Christofferson I often make the mistake of equating productivity with self-worth. There are obvious problems with this kind of thinking—one being that humans… Continue reading

The Power Behind the Change

an image of a group of three men in suits posing for a picture

Changes don’t come only by consensus among leaders of the Church, but also, more importantly, by divine revelation from the Lord. Change isn’t easy, but it’s an inescapable part of life. Lately, there have been several major changes in the Church, like replacing home and visiting teaching with ministering, and… Continue reading

How Does the Resurrection Affect my Discipleship?

an image of a doorway leading to a stone building with a light coming through it

Having a knowledge of the Resurrection gives us hope and strength to live the gospel more fully. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was one of the most important events in human history. It was an integral part of the plan of salvation, one that prophets looked forward to for centuries.… Continue reading

Why Did Christ Establish a Church?

Christ ordaining and setting apart the twelve Apostles

Although there are many reasons Christ established his church on the earth, perhaps the greatest reason is to satisfy God’s desire to see us progress. In today’s world, a growing number of people seem to be moving away from organized religion in favor of finding their own path to spirituality.… Continue reading

Love Intended to Lift

an image of a very large star formation in the sky

God’s love is infinite, ever-present, and eternal. But in order for it to bless us, we need to meet certain conditions.  As children of Heavenly Father, we receive Heavenly Father’s love eternally and constantly. But do we receive it unconditionally? In his conference address “Abide in My Love,” Elder D.… Continue reading

Curve Ball or Careful Pruning?

shrub

At times, God may seem to throw you a curve ball that is unfair or causes hurt. Those are times of “pruning.” He is preparing you for something greater. You probably have something you are working toward right now. It might be a degree, a job, a trip, or some… Continue reading

Where Do Lonely Hearts Go?

girl looking at ocean

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… Continue reading

Creating a More Welcoming Church Community

Four girls sitting in a grassy field, facing away from the camera, holding their hands together to form hearts

Everyone has a place in the Church, and as disciples of Christ we can help new and returning members feel like they belong. When my family first moved to Southern California, I found it challenging to figure out how to fit into the new community. When we joined The Church… Continue reading