Conquer Pride and Embrace Humility

A young man helps an elderly woman carry groceries out to her car.

Jesus Christ, the perfect example of humility, shows us that being humble is not the same as downplaying our positive traits. Our reputation often feels like the most important thing we have. Many of us work hard to maintain our desired public image. However, when we constantly obsess over what… Continue reading

Discipleship and Everyday Demands

Woman looking at a path in a forest.

Focusing on the Savior helps us make changes that will balance our lives. Repent, share the gospel, read the scriptures, pray, keep the commandments… The more I think about everything on my spiritual to-do list, the more overwhelmed and hopeless I feel. And that’s not including my daily tasks as… Continue reading

Should We Think About Gratitude in a Different Way?

Two people praying together.

Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. Have you ever tried counting your blessings? Counting your blessings can be uplifting, but what if you lose some blessings on your list? Perhaps you lose a prized possession or a loved one.  Life changes quickly, and we… Continue reading

Taking Back My Faith

man looking at mountains at sunset

I used to believe blindly. But then I found out you can’t believe everything you hear from a Church leader.  Whenever I got a calling, I used to think, “I don’t need to pray about it because of course the answer will be yes.” If I was told something in sacrament… Continue reading

Living Happy, Living Now

Woman with blue shirt flapping in the wind

I was working toward worthy goals. But a gentle reminder of the blessings that I currently had showed me that I didn’t have to wait for joy. I needed to finish two papers, study for a math test, call some of the girls in my Young Women class, and figure… Continue reading

Have Hope: The Light Will Come

brilliant light shines at the end of a row of white columns

I thought this new calling would be my worst nightmare. Instead, it was exactly what I needed.  The first few years of college were hard for me. Really hard. Three years into college, I still found myself struggling. It wasn’t just schoolwork. I felt strangely drained. My workload was what… Continue reading

Judging Others—Just Stop It

people walking in a city.

“When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!”  Judging others—we all do it, whether we like to admit it or not. In a world full of people who are very different from you, it can be hard… Continue reading

Remembering the “Why” of the Gospel

person in blue sitting in a field, looking away from camera

Understanding why we do what we do in church and in our lives can help us find a more meaningful path. There’s no getting around it: life is busy. It’s easy to get caught up in a never-ending list of things that demand our attention. When was the last time… Continue reading

Not Just a Hand-Me-Down Plan

When God’s plan for us seems like a thrift-store, hand-me-down plan, we need to be patient, have faith, and remember the blessings God has promised us. Maybe you’re past the “standard” Mormon marrying age or you’re working in a job unrelated to your degree. Or maybe you’re wondering if you’re… Continue reading

Finding Joy: Roses, Forget-Me-Nots, and Golden Tickets

If we focus on the little forget-me-nots that surround us in life, we can find joy in our current circumstances. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught an important principle about perspective in his talk “Forget Me Not” by recounting the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Willy Wonka, a famous… Continue reading