Selfless Service through Self-Reliance

Old pier at sunset with flying seagulls.

Self-reliance gives us the freedom to follow Christ’s commandment to “lift up the hands that hang down” (Doctrine & Covenants 81:5). “Let’s not be gullible gulls. We…must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.” In… Continue reading

Freedom in All Things

Jesus Christ offers freedom to all who come unto him. Setting ourselves free will not be easy, but we will not have to bear our burdens alone. In Luke 9 of the New Testament, Jesus Christ implores us to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow him. I used… Continue reading

Women Stand for Religious Freedom Worldwide

African woman with sleeping baby on back

Women all over the world are standing for what they know is right, even amid religious persecution. For those of us who live in nations with religious freedom, it’s easy to take that right for granted. In many countries all over the world, though, people are struggling to obtain the same religious… Continue reading

Peace, Love, and Religious Freedom

person in orange robe with fingers entwined

There is more peace in the world when all individuals have the freedom to practice their religion. In today’s world, religion is often portrayed as a scary thing. We watch or read news reports about attacks by radical religious groups. In our history classes, we learn about religious sects fighting one another. On social… Continue reading

Pornography Is Not Love

landscape photo of a desolate land

Chop down the tree of pornography by cutting off the roots of lust. Through Christ’s healing and forgiveness, you can overcome pornography addiction. Pornography addiction is a real issue that affects us all in some way: it can destroy self-worth, relationships, and—most importantly—true love. In his address “Place No More… Continue reading

Why Religion Matters

Stained glass window of Jesus and his disciples

The indisputable power of religion binds us with “loving ties” to each other and to God. What can religion actually do for us? In a world of changing values and widely varying opinions, many of us are starting to ask this question. Others of us may feel that religious freedom is… Continue reading

Peacemakers and Children of God

As a people who have decided to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, Mormons should seek opportunities to make peace in the political world. Ernest Benn once said, “Politics is the art of looking for trouble [and] finding it everywhere.” With the political world becoming more and more polarized, it’s… Continue reading

LDS Church and Religious Freedom: Five Key Beliefs

You’ve heard bits and pieces about the LDS Church’s stance on religious freedom and LGBT rights. Here are five key beliefs, as outlined by Church leaders. In a historic news conference held on January 27, 2015, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took a bold stance on… Continue reading