Stop Judging, Start Loving

A vibrant rainbow in pink and blue skies going over a bridge in a lagoon.

When we let the love of God fill our hearts, we find strength to forgive others—and ourselves. It’s easy to notice when others judge, gossip, or hold grudges. Yet recognizing those same tendencies in ourselves can be far more difficult. We often justify our anger as righteous or dwell on… Continue reading

Families: All Shapes and Sizes

A man holds a child's hand while they stand in the ocean during sunset

Families are essential to the plan of salvation, but what do we do if our family doesn’t fit the traditional mold? Every birthday as a little girl, I would wish to become a fairy-mermaid when blowing out my birthday candles. When I was older, I asked my mom what she… Continue reading

Why Does It Matter That No One Sits Alone?

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

What Can We Learn from Children and the Bible?

Jesus Christ sits with a young child.

Embracing childlike qualities can help us see who we really are. This fall, I’ve been reading a lot of children’s literature for one of my classes, and it has caused me to reflect deeply on what it means to be childlike. In her general conference address titled “Become as a… Continue reading

Learn to Love Like God

Hand reaching up into trees, sunlight peeking through the fingers.

In a world where loving ourselves and others feels like a fading dream, we can learn how to love through Heavenly Father’s example. Without a doubt, one of the most pervasive problems in today’s world is a lack of love. Individuals experience this lack of love as they struggle to… Continue reading

Defining Charity

Father holding laughing little girl.

Charity is defined not only by the action itself, but by the love that inspires the action. Ever since I was a little girl, I have struggled to understand what the word charity means. Of course, it does not help that the term has multiple definitions. For example, the word… Continue reading

Cultivating Christ’s Love

Aerial view of gardening tools placed on a bench.

As we strive to emulate Christ’s love in our actions toward ourselves and others, we can help love grow throughout the world. Love is a concept that we hear about constantly in movies, books, and the media. Even in the scriptures love is frequently mentioned. Christ has told us that… Continue reading

Jesus Christ—The Greatest Gift of All

Christ hugs a woman who is distressed. His hand holding her head.

Jesus Christ’s ministry shows us his love. That love and his Atonement are the greatest gifts ever given. The last two lines in the song “Gethsemane” read, “Jesus loves me, / So He gives His gift to me from Gethsemane.” This simple song tells us why Jesus performed his Atonement:… Continue reading

Jesus Christ’s Beloved Enemy

Jesus washing the feet of his disciples

During his Last Supper, Christ washed the feet of Judas Iscariot. By doing so, Christ set the ultimate example of what it means to “love your enemy.”  For over a millennium, the teachings of Jesus Christ have inspired spiritual growth for those who study and accept his words. During his… Continue reading

When Feeling Happy Just Isn’t Possible: Reasons to Hold On

Depression affects everyone at one point or another. When those times hit, we need a reason to hold on, a reason to keep going, a reason to stay. Sometimes life isn’t all we hoped it would be. We face disappointment, fear, and devastation. Sometimes we can’t explain why we’re feeling… Continue reading