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

Finding Comfort in Times of Sorrow

Group of friends standing together

Sometimes, you’ll feel like you are going through the journey of life alone; God promises you aren’t.  When I was a freshman in college, a young girl in my home ward took her own life. I hadn’t been very close with her growing up, but we had gone to church… Continue reading

Inspiring Others With Your Identity

The backs of four women hugging

Having a unique identity can seem important, but what’s more important is loving those who choose different paths than we do. We live in a world with ever-increasing controversial opinions and views. Each of us may want a strong sense of individual identity, including our political perspectives, social outlooks, and… Continue reading

Why Do We Need So Many Church Meetings?

Person holding string lights in hands

Heavenly Father wants us to meet together often. Here are some of His reasons why. A few years ago, I was wondering, isn’t it enough to take care of our daily gospel tasks and go to church occasionally? Why do we need to attend so frequently? I kept trying to… Continue reading

A History of Hope

Holding up a light on a starry night.

The present is made from the hopes of the past, and our hope today will empower our future against anxiety and despair. In April of 2020, I listened in despair to the Church’s general conference—not because of the quality of the talks, but because of my own trials. Anxiety has been… Continue reading

Five Ways to Be a More Christlike Minister

Giving loving service does not have to be complicated. It seems that life gets more complicated the older we get. With so many obligations, time quickly disappears. So how do we fit in important responsibilities like ministering? We all want to serve as the Savior, but how can we? From… Continue reading

Discovering Christ’s Perfection, Even Without Others’ Acceptance

While searching for acceptance, I made a startling revelation about how Christ lived perfectly in the absence of love. It was Jesus Christ’s perfection that I clung to as I studied the scriptures throughout my high school years. I wanted to know every detail of Christ’s life, to unravel how… Continue reading

Resisting the “Siren’s Song of Convenience”

We are constantly tempted to do things the easy way, but as disciples of Christ, we must choose the right even when it is difficult. In his 1982 BYU address “The Inconvenient Messiah,” Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of the university, warned against the dangers of subscribing to “convenient Christianity.”… Continue reading

How to Serve the Poor and Needy Even When You Are Poor and Needy

Heavenly Father knows and cares about each person’s needs. If we prayerfully seek guidance, then we’ll know how to fulfill these needs. As Latter-day Saints, we know that God asks us to care for the poor and needy. Though this commandment is important, it can also be overwhelming at times—especially… Continue reading

Missions Are for Everyone—Just in Different Ways

I wasn’t inadequate. I wasn’t second class. And I still could do a lot to serve the Lord. When I was a sophomore in high school, President Monson announced that worthy young women could serve a mission as early as age 19. From that moment on, people were constantly asking… Continue reading