Comprehending Death

Rose sitting on a headstone

When my friend Malori passed away, my beliefs about life after death were put to the test. Did I really believe in the spirit world? We all will eventually face the reality of losing a loved one. Until recently, though, I had never had to experience that pain. It was… Continue reading

Personalizing a Prophet

an image of a group of three men in suits standing next to each other

Attending President Monson’s funeral and the announcement of the new First Presidency changed the way I saw President Nelson. I remember as a young girl when President Gordon B. Hinckley passed away and President Thomas S. Monson became the prophet. I wondered how anyone could ever replace my beloved prophet.… Continue reading

What Armor Do I Put on Today?

armor lying on wall

With the enemy of righteousness surrounding us on every side, we need to ensure that we put on the armor of God every day. Suppose you woke up one morning and knew that you had to fight in a medieval battle later that day. So, you shower, get dressed, brush your teeth,… Continue reading

Missions Are for Everyone—Just in Different Ways

an image of a group of women sitting on a bench

I wasn’t inadequate. I wasn’t second class. And I still could do a lot to serve the Lord. When I was a sophomore in high school, President Monson announced that worthy young women could serve a mission as early as age 19. From that moment on, people were constantly asking… 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

Choose Joy—Choose Repentance

an image of a person holding a sparkler in their hands

The choice to forsake sin and repent may be hard, but it will bring joy. Some people struggle with charity. Some people struggle with purity. But as a kid, Elder Dale G. Renlund struggled with lighting firecrackers before sacrament meetings. In his talk “Repentance: A Joyful Choice,” Elder Renlund describes how, when he… Continue reading

Millennial Starter Package: Faith and Family

an image of a church with a steeple and a clock tower

Millennials must cherish the essentials—faith and family—in order to endure these latter days. We millennials experience a lot of uncertainty, whether it’s related to finances, relationships, or our lives’ overall purposes. With all of these things on our mind, we can find it hard to identify our priorities and feel… Continue reading

Why Did Christ Establish a Church?

Christ ordaining and setting apart the twelve Apostles

Although there are many reasons Christ established his church on the earth, perhaps the greatest reason is to satisfy God’s desire to see us progress. In today’s world, a growing number of people seem to be moving away from organized religion in favor of finding their own path to spirituality.… Continue reading

Love Intended to Lift

an image of a very large star formation in the sky

God’s love is infinite, ever-present, and eternal. But in order for it to bless us, we need to meet certain conditions.  As children of Heavenly Father, we receive Heavenly Father’s love eternally and constantly. But do we receive it unconditionally? In his conference address “Abide in My Love,” Elder D.… Continue reading

Family History: More Than Work for the Dead

A zebra sticking his nose into an old, blue car.

Family history isn’t just for the salvation of our ancestors. As we learn about our ancestors, their example strengthens us. I always felt like family history was for old people, so when Elder David A. Bednar gave his talk “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” in October 2011, I immediately… Continue reading