Gratitude is Key: How to Be Happy in Hard Times

Woman Using Umbrella With Lights

We may struggle to be grateful in difficult times, but gratitude has an important role in our happiness.  We may find ourselves focusing on the negative effects that COVID-19 has had on our lives, and with good reason. But we should also remember the good things that have come from… Continue reading

The Miracle of Peace

star-filled colorful night sky with a person silhouette

When we face trials, Heavenly Father can help us. But the solution we want isn’t always the solution we need.  Sometimes our prayers are answered quickly and predictably. But for Brittany King, miracles haven’t always come so easily. In her Ensign article “Not the Miracle We Wanted,” Brittany reflects on the struggles she… Continue reading

Giving the Gift of Receiving

an image of a stack of three gift boxes with lights on them

As we give gifts to bring happiness to the people around us, we must also receive gifts cheerfully and thankfully, especially the ones from God.  About 1,990 years ago, Jesus Christ suffered in Gethsemane and died on a cross. His life on Earth was spent giving gifts of joy and… Continue reading

The Six B’s and Why They Matter

Bee on a purple flower

In a world filled with challenges and troubles, President Hinckley offers six simple principles to help us make correct decisions and be successful. I love inspirational quotes. I love reading them, collecting them, and plastering them all over my bedroom wall. However, some of these quotes can be long and forgettable.… Continue reading

Should We Think About Gratitude in a Different Way?

Two people praying together.

Perhaps focusing on what we are grateful for is the wrong approach. Have you ever tried counting your blessings? Counting your blessings can be uplifting, but what if you lose some blessings on your list? Perhaps you lose a prized possession or a loved one.  Life changes quickly, and we… Continue reading

Living Happy, Living Now

Woman with blue shirt flapping in the wind

I was working toward worthy goals. But a gentle reminder of the blessings that I currently had showed me that I didn’t have to wait for joy. I needed to finish two papers, study for a math test, call some of the girls in my Young Women class, and figure… Continue reading

Stewards of the Earth

A beautiful sunset view from the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Provo, Utah.

We are not owners but rather stewards of the earth. This means we are responsible to care for it.  We learn from the tenth article of faith that the earth “will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory” after Christ’s Second Coming. So does that mean that we don’t need to… Continue reading

Remember to Remember

dad and little boy in his arm

The principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot change us if we do not remember them. Almost everyone has lost something important—car keys, a cell phone, that thing you just know you saw five minutes ago. The search becomes frantic as memory fades. Then finally, it clicks.… Continue reading

Three Steps to Finding a More Abundant Life

Woman smiling with a sun flare behind her

Following these three steps can help us have a more abundant life on earth and achieve the most abundant life of all­­––eternal life.  With homework, family duties, job responsibilities, and church callings filling our days, we can sometimes start to feel like we’re just going through the motions. Sister Cheryl… Continue reading

Learning to Love Whatever Comes

an image of a boat is sailing in the ocean at sunset

At a time when my life was filled to the brim with challenges, I learned a life-changing lesson about the value of cherishing each day. Since returning home from a Church mission and marrying my sweetheart, my life has been filled with wonders—and inevitable trials. Learning to love whatever comes my… Continue reading