Curve Ball or Careful Pruning?

shrub

At times, God may seem to throw you a curve ball that is unfair or causes hurt. Those are times of “pruning.” He is preparing you for something greater. You probably have something you are working toward right now. It might be a degree, a job, a trip, or some… Continue reading

Children and Youth Program—Not Just for Kids

an image of a group of kids sitting on a rail by a river

Don’t let the name “Children and Youth” keep you from participating in this visionary, goal-setting program. A young mother asked if I was feeling overwhelmed with all the changes to the Church’s children and youth program. To be perfectly honest, I felt like I was off the hook because there… Continue reading

The Journey is the Destination

an image of a person standing on a mountain top with their arms outstretched

We may not always be happy with our circumstances, but when we try to make the best of the situation, we will be blessed. We may think we know how our life is going to turn out. We may imagine having a big house, a well-paying job, or the perfect… Continue reading

How to Prioritize Your Happiness

an image of a group of people standing on top of a hill

Put your happiness first by balancing spiritual, personal, and temporal responsibilities. Despite hectic schedules filled with work, school, church, and social responsibilities, living every day with joy in our hearts is possible. It’s a common belief that we need to be busy to be productive and valuable. But our value… Continue reading

No Success Is Too Small

Ascending stone stairs

New year, new you…right? When you fall short of your goals, God sees each tiny step you take in the right direction. Every time January rolls around and the world is abuzz with New Year’s resolutions, I can’t help but feel anxious rather than excited. Setting goals has often felt… Continue reading

Four Steps to Following Christ

an image of a beach with a wave coming in to the sand

Christ is our perfect example, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to follow him. Here are four steps that will help us follow in his footsteps. Christ is the only perfect person who ever lived, and in order to return to our Heavenly Father, we must try to become… Continue reading

Action: A Product of Our Thoughts and Words

snowy mountain view

The way you think about yourself directly impacts your level of success. Choose to think positively, and your own ability might surprise you.  “I am so bad at math—my brain just doesn’t work that way!” “I forget things all the time!” “I’m never going to be able to manage all of… Continue reading

Diary of a Soon-to-Be Mother

pregnant woman with hand on stomach

With two more semesters to go before my college graduation, my husband and I discovered that I was pregnant. How could I do what the Lord wanted while fulfilling my own goals? As a young woman, I always had a fear that I wouldn’t get married or have a family. But… Continue reading

Sisters, No Effort Is Lost

Photo of young women in front of the Manila, Philippines Temple courtesy of lds.org

While we may not always feel the significance of the little things we do, God keeps a perfect record and none of our efforts are lost. Have you ever gotten stuck thinking about all the people you neglected to help or about the things you failed to get done in… Continue reading

Losing Your Life to Find It

Jesus and his followers gather for the Sermon on the Mount

Sometimes we need to give up what we want so we can have what Heavenly Father knows we need most. When we don’t know how to get to where we think we want to be in life, we should remember the Savior’s counsel that “he that findeth his life shall… Continue reading