Created to be Creative

an image of a woman sitting at a table with a cup of paint

As spirit children of a creative God, we all have the ability to be innovative and artistic in our fields when we depend on the Holy Ghost. In his talk “Gospel Vision of the Arts,” President Spencer W. Kimball wrote, “I have had a vision of members of the Church… Continue reading

Looking for a Miracle?

an image of a man laying on a bench with a book

Miracles have not ceased in our day; they are all around us—we just have to open our spiritual eyes to notice them. When I was 16, I was an exchange student in France. The home I was staying in became dangerous, and I had to leave. I was alone in… Continue reading

Can Gratitude Bring Happiness?

Small daisies blooming

Genuine happiness feels so hard to find sometimes—but maybe if we slow down a bit and consider our lives with gratitude, we can be “made glorious.” Everyone wants to experience happiness—but sometimes we get so caught up in searching for it that we forget to appreciate what we already have.… Continue reading

Why Does It Matter That No One Sits Alone?

an image of a woman holding a silver ball with red nails

We are often encouraged to reach out to those who are alone and forgotten, but what is the true motivation behind that? When I taught a church lesson on Elder Gerrit W. Gong’s talk “No One Sits Alone,” I was struck by something that had never previously occurred to me.… Continue reading

10 Blessings of Gratitude

woman in an orange suit jacket holds open a book with orange flowers sitting inside

Even the smallest expressions of gratitude can have the biggest impact on our lives. Life can often seem chaotic and stressful, where avoiding the downward spiral towards fear and anxiety can be really difficult. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by everything happening around me, I always find peace and comfort by… Continue reading

Five Ways to Practice Gratitude at Thanksgiving and Beyond

A surface is shown from above with fall leaf decorations, a mason jar, and the words “give thanks.”

Gratitude is the parent of all virtues. Here are five specific, actionable ways to practice gratitude and increase thankfulness all year long. It’s easy to look backward and feel gratitude—after all, hindsight gives way to insight. When I was a sophomore in college, I experienced consistent failures in my academic… Continue reading

Not So Bad

an image of a person in black rain boots splashing water

When life doesn’t make it easy to sing “all is well,” try “not so bad.” Science and religion agree about the benefits of gratitude. Research and scripture alike show that grateful people are happy people. But what about when I fail a test, have a bad day at work, or… Continue reading

Power Up Your Prayers

Close-up of fingers interlaced on a white surface.

When it seems our prayers are unheard or have become mundane, there are ways we can make our prayers more powerful. Sometimes it may feel like our prayers are hitting the ceiling that seemingly stands between us and God. We know that Heavenly Father desires to hear from us and… Continue reading

The “Be” I Will Always Remember

Photo of orange maple leaves.

President Hinckley taught us many things to be, but out of them all, the one I have learned the most from is “be grateful.”  President Gordon B. Hinckley addressed young adults in a general conference talk “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer For Youth.” In this talk, he introduces six “B’s” to… Continue reading

Cultivating a Spirit of Thanksgiving

porcupine among food

During a two-month internship in Brazil, I had difficulty developing feelings of gratitude for the very things that made my experience so amazing. As I stood under the pathetic, lukewarm trickle of the shower, struggling to rid my hair of the last of the fruity shampoo suds, I was struck… Continue reading