Building the Best You: Live with Intention

Architect jumping in front of a house.

You can be so much more! Don’t just “find yourself.” Build yourself into the person you want to be. We’ve likely been told that progress comes through hard work—through time set aside for dedicated practice—rather than natural talent. While natural talent certainly influences the skills we master, it doesn’t guarantee… Continue reading

How to Overcome the World’s Distractions

An Island inside a lake.

The world will always try to distract us from our spiritual pursuits, but we can learn to overcome worldly temptations while building a life centered on what our Heavenly Father wants for us. Have you ever wondered how you can have a life filled with deep, abiding joy? We can… Continue reading

Finding Faith in the Light of Christ

Jesus standing under a ray of light

When the light of your testimony starts to fade, seek the light of Christ to help you pierce through the darkness of your trials and reignite your faith. We all face fears, insecurities, and doubts that can make our lives seem suffocatingly dark. These challenges can make it difficult to… Continue reading

Rejoice in the Gathering of Israel

Young woman studying scriptures

Fear and insecurities can keep us from gathering Israel, but the Lord will guide and bless us if we put our faith in him. As young adults graduating high school and moving into the next stage of our lives, we are faced with many life-changing experiences. Among other things, we… Continue reading

How to “Pray Always”

A young woman folds her arms and prays at the table.

We know that we need to pray morning and night, but what does “praying always” look like? Phrases that illustrate the principle of continual prayer are peppered throughout the scriptures: “pray without ceasing” and “counsel with the Lord in all [our] doings.” But how can we realistically apply this principle… Continue reading

Empty Hands to Full Hearts

Sunflower with sunlight behind it.

Here’s a formula for having a mighty change of heart and turning to Christ—even when we feel that we have nothing left to offer him. When we come unto Christ, returning as did the prodigal son, we often come back with broken hearts. We are desperate; we plead for Christ… Continue reading

Reflecting on the Pandemic

an image of a person standing on a lake at sunset

The past few years have been hard and unpredictable—but what can we learn from them? As mask mandates begin to lift and life begins to return to something approaching normal, I can understand the desire to stop thinking about the pandemic. Life seems to have been paused for two years.… Continue reading

Strength in the Struggle

hiking on a snowy mountain

Recognizing repentance as a divine gift of hope and healing can transform the way we view our mistakes. One Tuesday evening as I sat in the back row of an institute class, I read a sentence from Elder D. Todd Christofferson that changed my life: “Real repentance, real change may… Continue reading

Faith as a First Response

Image of house interior with windows

Life is hard. Faith makes it easier. In Elder Rex D. Pinegar’s October 1982 general conference address, “Faith—The Force of Life,” he shares an experience when his daughter was departing for college and was just now understanding the extent of the responsibilities lying ahead of her. After considering them all,… Continue reading

Counting Dandelions: Looking Inward in an Environment of Comparison

A man in a gray sweatshirt faces a forest full of green trees

Focusing on the things we can do to improve ourselves and avoiding comparison with others will allow the healing power of the gospel to help us. With the increasing popularity of social media, we are constantly barraged with other people’s lives, which fosters an environment of comparison. We may criticize… Continue reading