What’s So Great about Prayer?

family praying in a circle

How do we pray? What should we do if we feel distanced from God when we pray? Elder Richard G. Scott instructs us on how to access the power of the divine gift of prayer. As Mormons, we have different kinds of divine communication. Some, such as sacrament prayers, use… Continue reading

Gracefully Accepting God’s Will

an image of a woman standing on a beach with her arms outstretched

We may not understand why certain things happen, but we can be certain that trusting God’s plan leads to eternal happiness. When President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave the talk “Fourth Floor, Last Door,” I felt humbled and realized his words had completely changed the way I think about my faith… Continue reading

How to Talk to God and Know He’s Talking Back

an image of a person sitting on a dock looking out at a lake

What exactly does being prayerful look like? Mari Ann Birch, an employment specialist at BYU–Idaho, gives us some inspiring examples. Prophets have counseled us to be prayerful, but what does that look like? In Mari Ann Birch’s BYU–Idaho devotional, “Be Prayerful,” she shares some of her experiences with being prayerful… Continue reading

Are You Listening to the Spiritual Secrets of the Universe?

an image of a night sky with a lot of stars

All the planets and stars, nebulas, and galaxies witness that there is a Supreme Creator, and they teach us of his nature. In 2009, apostle Neal A. Maxwell turned his attention to the skies. In his talk “Our Creator’s Cosmos,” he spoke about how the nature of the universe can… Continue reading

Are You There, God?

an image of a person holding a loaf of bread in their hands

Sometimes when it seems like God is silent, we need only to be patient, and we will see his hand in our lives. “Are you there, God? It’s me, Mackenzie.” “Heavenly Father, are you really there? And are you hearing and answering my prayers?” I know I’m not the only… Continue reading

Why Does God Talk to Us?

girl on phone

Elder Oaks explains that whether it’s to comfort, uplift, restrain, or inform, God communicates with his children through revelation. You’ve decided to take a job offer, but before your first day you suddenly feel terrible about your decision. Why do you feel this way? God might not text or call… Continue reading

Turn to the Source of Truth

an image of a book open on a rock in the woods

It is more important now than ever before to proclaim the truth of the Book of Mormon and “hearken unto these words and believe in Christ.”  We are currently living in the last days: political turmoil, widespread economic upheaval, and a world turning to sin more and more every day.… Continue reading

Why Does God Let Bad Things Happen?

an image of a close up of a wave in the ocean

Trials—those seemingly bad things that happen to us—give us opportunities to learn patience, humility, and faith; ultimately, they teach us how to become more like God.   God is all-powerful and all knowing, right? Yes. And God can stop any bad thing from happening, right? Yes. So that means God… Continue reading

Five Ways to Understand Your Identity

nab on outcropping of rock

Learn how to overcome your struggles by understanding your eternal identity more deeply. In his 2012 BYU Education Week devotional address, Elder Tad R. Callister, then serving as a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, taught that when we understand our eternal identity, we are able overcome most of… Continue reading

What Can We Learn from Children and the Bible?

Jesus Christ sits with a young child.

Embracing childlike qualities can help us see who we really are. This fall, I’ve been reading a lot of children’s literature for one of my classes, and it has caused me to reflect deeply on what it means to be childlike. In her general conference address titled “Become as a… Continue reading