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

Your Body Is Not a Battleground

an image of a woman holding a cone of food in her hand

Fighting an eating disorder can sometimes seem like you’re fighting yourself. Luckily, you’re not the only one in the ring. In a world that advertises a strict standard of perfection, it’s easy to find ways you don’t fit the mold. This fault-finding attitude can have devastating effects on our mental… 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’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

My Struggle with Scripture Study

person at desk with scriptures and pen in hand

Prioritizing scripture study is a choice that can heal us. I had been home from my mission for three months, and I was already having trouble reading scriptures. I had read scriptures for an hour every day on my mission and had promised myself upon returning home that I would… Continue reading

Divinity Is within You

an image of a man smiling in front of a bush

If we could see each person’s divine potential, how would we act? How would we treat others—and ourselves—differently? Sometimes, we feel like terrible people. We think, “Why did I mess that up again?” or “Why couldn’t I do this better?” We become our harshest critics, judging ourselves without realizing how far we’ve… Continue reading

Who Is My Father?  

an image of a man and a child walking down a path

 In my struggle to reconcile two conflicting views of God, I learned more about the nature of my Heavenly Father.   For nearly all of my 22 years on earth, I had felt confident in my understanding of God. He was always there when I prayed, I felt his love, and I had seen too… Continue reading

I Shall Come Forth as Gold

an image of a tall building with a triangular roof and a sky background

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we can rise from our trials to become stronger and more capable. The fire was roaring, engulfing not only the plane and its passengers but also the life that Stephanie Nielson once knew. Whether or not our trials arrive in the form of… Continue reading

Finding Joy in Everyday Beauty

an image of a woman in a field holding a flower

Do we take time every day to discover how beautiful life can be? The seemingly never-ending tasks of life can wear us down, and when we feel that life is monotonous, we should remember Elder Richard G. Scott’s assurance that “simple, rejuvenating experiences surround us.” Elder Scott’s article “Finding Joy… Continue reading

Homesick for Heaven

an image of a plane flying through a cloud filled sky

God is calling out for you to come home—and asking you to help your brothers and sisters on their journey back. Whether your family situation is idyllic and peaceful or strained and uncomfortable, you have a perfect home waiting for you up above. In the talk “A Yearning for Home,”… Continue reading