Do I Have To?

an image of a man is sitting down with a candle in his hand

We often selfishly ask ourselves if the commandments to love and serve others really apply to us. The Savior lovingly reminds us that they do. Two very different people each asked an unassuming and easily justifiable question. One asked, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Another asked, “And who is my… Continue reading

Charity Revisited

man atop a mountain with sky

For the longest time, I didn’t think I had any charity. Whenever I heard about charity in Primary, Sunday School, Young Women, Relief Society, and even many of my university religion classes, the message I always got was that charity was service. Charity was going out and giving, working, and… Continue reading

Curve Ball or Careful Pruning?

shrub

At times, God may seem to throw you a curve ball that is unfair or causes hurt. Those are times of “pruning.” He is preparing you for something greater. You probably have something you are working toward right now. It might be a degree, a job, a trip, or some… Continue reading

Talking about Same-Sex Attraction

yellow leaf in a pile of purple leaves

Conversations about same-sex attraction require love and understanding. In a world where more and more people believe that right and wrong are relative, the teachings of the Mormon church about same-sex attraction stand out. Mormons believe that only marriage between a man and a woman is of God. But does that mean they reject… Continue reading

Remembering the “Why” of the Gospel

person in blue sitting in a field, looking away from camera

Understanding why we do what we do in church and in our lives can help us find a more meaningful path. There’s no getting around it: life is busy. It’s easy to get caught up in a never-ending list of things that demand our attention. When was the last time… Continue reading

Remembering Elder L. Tom Perry: Share the Gospel and Tell It Like It Is

Two women sitting on steps talking

Hesitant to share your beliefs? Elder Perry emphasizes that “in speaking about the Church, we do not try to make it sound better than it is.” Members of the Church often aren’t aware that there is “a wide difference––a gulf of understanding” between the perception of the Church from the… Continue reading

Three Ways to Strengthen Your Family

an image of a family posing for a picture in front of a pool

Having strong family relationships can help you weather the challenges of life. This year marks 20 years since President Gordon B. Hinckley presented “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” The doctrines outlined in this document regarding marriage and family are designed to build and maintain family strength, especially in… Continue reading

Our Guiding Mistakes

Uneven rocky stairs leading up the side of a mountain.

Because of the Savior, we have infinite opportunities to learn from our mistakes. We all make mistakes. But this fact is not a mistake in the plan of salvation for humankind. In his talk “Until Seventy Times Seven,” Elder Lynn G. Robbins explains that “repentance isn’t [God’s] backup plan in… Continue reading

Sibling Power

Siblings coloring.

Your siblings have the power to shape you. You have the power to make or break them. Find out how two brothers went from worst enemies to best friends. They may get on your nerves, but you’re stuck with them forever. Siblings can have a tendency to quarrel because they… Continue reading

Love: The Key to Helping Lost Sheep

an image of a man standing in a field with a herd of sheep

When your friend or family member strays from the gospel, love is what will help them most. Has someone close to you become less-active or decided to leave the Church? It’s hard to watch someone you love walk away from something you know to be true. As their close friend… Continue reading