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

5 Ways to Guard Against Lust

Young couple laughing

Combating lust will help us develop true love and grow closer to the Spirit. Lust isn’t something we generally like to think or talk about. It’s dark and alluring at the same time. However, talking about lust can lead to understanding it, which can lead to a greater ability to… Continue reading

When Faith Opens Our Eyes

A woman wearing a maroon shirt and tan skirt sits on a rock in the grass reading in front of some trees.

Through personal revelation, simple experiences become opportunities to recognize God’s guidance. Life is full of seemingly ordinary moments—quiet mornings, routine classes, conversations with friends. Yet these simple experiences can carry profound meaning, often revealing God’s presence and guidance in ways we might not immediately notice. Faith allows even the smallest,… Continue reading

Discovering Christ’s Perfection, Even Without Others’ Acceptance

an image of a woman sitting on a log with her hands folded over a book

While searching for acceptance, I made a startling revelation about how Christ lived perfectly in the absence of love. It was Jesus Christ’s perfection that I clung to as I studied the scriptures throughout my high school years. I wanted to know every detail of Christ’s life, to unravel how… Continue reading

Resisting the “Siren’s Song of Convenience”

an image of a woman walking down the street with a camera

We are constantly tempted to do things the easy way, but as disciples of Christ, we must choose the right even when it is difficult. In his 1982 BYU address “The Inconvenient Messiah,” Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of the university, warned against the dangers of subscribing to “convenient Christianity.”… Continue reading

Five Ways to Be a More Christlike Minister

an image of a group of women standing next to each other

Giving loving service does not have to be complicated. It seems that life gets more complicated the older we get. With so many obligations, time quickly disappears. So how do we fit in important responsibilities like ministering? We all want to serve as the Savior, but how can we? From… Continue reading

Foster the Desire to Do Good

Lady in red top walking down dirt lane

Can our efforts ever be good enough when we are imperfect at best? Do our desires and our less-than-perfect efforts count for anything? I desire to do good and to improve myself, yet I frequently fall short of my expectations. I feel edified and motivated one day, yet find myself struggling 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

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

They Have Done What They Could

The Widow's Mite

Christ instructs us to be “perfect,” but when we study his words and actions, it’s clear that he looks at our effort more than our outcomes. The modern world preaches that outcomes are the key indicators for success. What counts is whether or not we hit a metric, achieve a… Continue reading