How to Turn Disappointments into Successes

Girl holding a flower

Life will always bring unexpected, disappointing events; more important than the events themselves, however, is how we decide to respond to them.  A friend of mine recently expressed to me the devastation he felt when he returned home from his mission earlier than he had anticipated. Even though the reason… Continue reading

How to Overcome Analysis Paralysis and Make a Decision

Yellow and Black 2-way Signage

Don’t let the fear of choosing wrong stop you from making a decision. Have you ever prayed about a major life decision and not received an answer? The first time this happened to me, I panicked. Why wasn’t God helping me decide? What if I made the wrong decision? I… Continue reading

How Christ Can Be Your Eternal Life Coach

Woman in Gray Crew Neck Shirt Running on Brown Soil during Daytime

In the game of life, you don’t always get to play the position you want. Remember that Christ—your eternal life coach—always has the best play in mind. One day during a high school track practice, one of my teammates asked me how I could believe in Christ when there are… Continue reading

A History of Hope

Holding up a light on a starry night.

The present is made from the hopes of the past, and our hope today will empower our future against anxiety and despair. In April of 2020, I listened in despair to the Church’s general conference—not because of the quality of the talks, but because of my own trials. Anxiety has been… Continue reading

Finding Power through Forgiveness after Abuse

Those struggling to forgive after abuse can find healing through the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was convinced that I would not find peace until he was in prison. I needed justice. But I was an eighteen-year-old with few resources and he was a much older man with criminal lawyers… Continue reading

Developing Christlike Self-Discipline

Rather than focusing on our mistakes and losing hope, we can discipline ourselves with kindness in a Christlike way. At the end of one long week, I sat quietly in a pew waiting to take the sacrament. The familiar words of the prayers went in one ear and out the… Continue reading

3 Ways to Everyday Happiness

When life doesn’t go down the planned path, don’t worry—there is an easy formula to make every step you take a happy one. School, work, family, friends—all day every day, something needs our attention. In his talk, “A Summer with Great Aunt Rose,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gives us a… Continue reading

An Unexpected Visitor

Sun shining behind blades of wheat.

During a difficult time for my family, an unexpected visitor brought us hope when we needed it most. Who is my light at the end of the tunnel? I could give you the standard answers—my mother, my father, my boyfriend, my bishop. You probably wouldn’t expect it to be the… Continue reading

Help and Happiness Ahead

Sun rising over cloudy mountains

Every one of us experiences trials. But when we trust in Christ, we can find hope that things will get better. Trials are a part of the mortal journey. Our trials may be different, but we all face them. Some struggle with illness or death of loved ones; others deal… Continue reading

Hope You Know, I’m Having a Hard Time

Remembering that the atonement covers all trials can help us feel God’s love during hard times. In his October 2008 General Conference talk, “Hope Ya Know, We Had a Hard Time,” Elder Quentin L. Cook shares the following story: After he and some of his children experienced a harrowing car… Continue reading