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

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

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

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