Choosing to Identify as a Child of God

Jesus walking with a child in a forest.

When we identify first and foremost as children of God, we are able to see ourselves as God does—individuals with eternal divine worth. When I was five years old, I believed with the utmost confidence—as only a child can—that I was Heavenly Father’s favorite child. As I grew older, however,… Continue reading

God Is Love

a storm rolls over the ocean

God can seem like an impersonal, unknowable being in the sky. But we can find peace during our hardest times as we seek to understand him as our Father, who loves us individually. My pre-teenage concept of God was perhaps a little irreverent, but it nonetheless sculpted my dutiful, strained relationship with… 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

When Evil Increases, So Does God’s Help

pink and purple sunset

The more darkness grows, the more God will help us if we rely on him.  It’s not easy to be a person of faith in our day, let alone to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. With the moral decline of society and the growing opposition against religion, it is easy… 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

The Gospel Bridge: Moving from Complacency to Connection

A man crossing a red bridge that connects stone walkways.

As followers of God, who loves all his children, we cannot remain indifferent to the experiences of those who live outside our own communities; true discipleship invites us to be uncomfortable enough to listen when we’d rather look away. In a world where polarization seems to be increasing daily, followers… Continue reading

When Feeling Happy Just Isn’t Possible: Reasons to Hold On

an image of a wooden figure holding a wooden spoon and a wooden spoon

Depression affects everyone at one point or another. When those times hit, we need a reason to hold on, a reason to keep going, a reason to stay. Sometimes life isn’t all we hoped it would be. We face disappointment, fear, and devastation. Sometimes we can’t explain why we’re feeling… Continue reading

No Scars Remain

an image of a woman with glasses and a hoodie on

Christ wants to heal our spirits completely—all we have to do is repent.  When my six-year-old brother broke his arm, he immediately thought, I bet Dad can fix it! My dad is not a doctor, but in my brother’s mind, he can do anything. While my brother was a little… Continue reading

How to Become a Spiritual First Responder

an image of a firefighter ' s gear and helmet on the steps

God sometimes asks us to be a first responder to a spiritual emergency, but how do we open our hearts to hear his Spirit’s call? In emergencies, first responders such as police officers, firefighters, and paramedics are usually the first ones on the scene. Just as they are called to… Continue reading

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