Planning Like the Prodigal Son

Time management

I may not be spending my money in ways that drive me from God like the prodigal son did, but how am I spending my time? Nearly every Christian knows the story of the prodigal son, but many may not know what prodigal actually means. If you had asked me… Continue reading

The Ubiquity of God’s Grace

sunset

Hearing others’ stories of how God’s amazing grace is at work in their lives can help us see that he is also working miracles in our own lives. Too often, perhaps, we think that God’s grace can arrive only after we have somehow earned it. After all—as we read in… Continue reading

Our Patient Savior

field of red poppies

The Savior is on our side, and he gives us as many second chances as we need. Peter once asked Jesus how many times he was supposed to forgive his brother. Peter suggested seven as a reasonable answer. After all, forgiving someone seven times for the same mistake seems like… Continue reading

Where Is My Happily Ever After?

A woman holding an apple

It may be hard to believe that our imperfect families can be happy together forever, but if we are able to forgive, we will see blessings. Families can be hard to live with. Whether it’s trying to understand someone we don’t get along with or talking to family members who… Continue reading

Choose to Forgive

Close up of grass in a field during sunset.

When we make the choice to forgive those who have hurt us, we free ourselves from unnecessary pain. We all face hardships in our lives, and many of those hardships come as a direct result of other people’s actions. It is easy to wallow in victimhood when we find ourselves… Continue reading

Let Your Future Be Bright

Yellow sunflower field

Sometimes the most difficult thing about change is letting go of our past mistakes and allowing ourselves to be better. People change. Although this statement is true, we don’t always act like it is. Sometimes we dwell on our mistakes. Sometimes we hold on to our regrets. Sometimes other people… Continue reading

Our Guiding Mistakes

Uneven rocky stairs leading up the side of a mountain.

Because of the Savior, we have infinite opportunities to learn from our mistakes. We all make mistakes. But this fact is not a mistake in the plan of salvation for humankind. In his talk “Until Seventy Times Seven,” Elder Lynn G. Robbins explains that “repentance isn’t [God’s] backup plan in… Continue reading

Finding Power through Forgiveness after Abuse

Those struggling to forgive after abuse can find healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was convinced that I would not find peace until he was in prison. I needed justice. But I was an eighteen-year-old with few resources and he was a much older man with criminal lawyers… Continue reading

Leave Your Garbage in the Dump

Sometimes repenting is the easy part; believing you’re forgiven is what’s difficult. Think about your garbage can. No, seriously. What’s in it? How does it smell? What do you use it for? If you’re anything like me, right now it might contain spoiled leftovers, empty cans and bottles, and a… Continue reading

Force Quit the Things Freezing Your Life

Person typing at Mac computer

Repentance can be a joyful choice when we choose to regulate our lives with the task manager provided by God. Have you ever encountered the frustrating experience of an unresponsive computer? If you have, you probably know that pressing Control-Alt-Delete on a PC (or Command-Option-Escape on a Mac) is the… Continue reading