Patriarchal Blessings: Roadmaps for Our Lives

roadmap

Patriarchal blessings are gifts from God that can help us reach our potential as his children. Living the principles found in the scriptures leads to eternal life, but the Lord offers each of us extra help in the form of a patriarchal blessing. Our patriarchal blessings are like personal maps… Continue reading

Conference Isn’t Over

an image of a large crowd of people in a church

Remember the messages and promptings from the October 2015 general conference as you read and revisit the messages shared. “Repentance is real and it works.” —Elder Allen D. Haynie “We do not strive for conversion to the Church but to Christ and his gospel.” —Elder D. Todd Christofferson  “If our… Continue reading

An Open Invitation: Applying General Conference Messages

an image of a pipe organ in a church with wooden pipes

What you choose to do after general conference is over can have a far greater impact than can the notes you took or the good feelings you felt during the conference. Every six months, we have the privilege of joining with people across the world to hear messages from men… Continue reading

Hope: A Journey to Faith

an image of a person walking down a road with a mountain in the background

Sometimes it can take seconds to gain faith in certain aspects of the gospel, but what if it takes twenty years? For twenty years, I didn’t have a testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet. During these years, I served in numerous callings and even went on a mission. Despite… Continue reading

The Prophet, the Presidency, the Process

an image of a group of three men in suits posing for a picture

How is a new prophet called, and what does it mean to sustain him? When President Thomas S. Monson passed away January 2, 2018, millions mourned the loss of this compassionate prophet of God. For many of us, he was in the First Presidency for as long as we’ve been… Continue reading

Swimming with the Prophet

an image of a chair sitting on a rock in the water

I learned from a dream that the prophet can’t take away our trials but that he can help us thrive during them. I was caught in a raging river in the dead of night, the only light the pale disc of the moon. Despite being an excellent swimmer, I thrashed… Continue reading

The Prophet’s Voice: Our Beacon

an image of a bridge is seen above the clouds at sunset

We’re constantly surrounded by a fog of conflicting messages, but the prophet’s voice is clear, direct, and distinct if we’re willing to listen to it. San Francisco is famous for its iconic bridges and stunning natural beauty. Because of the city’s proximity to the ocean, dense fog often encompasses the… Continue reading

Figuring Out Doctrine: What It Is and What It Isn’t

boy at school desk

How can we tell what is true doctrine, what is false doctrine, or what is simply cultural tradition? Many people inside and outside of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wonder what constitutes “Mormon doctrine.” With information available from many different websites, books, and people, they often have… Continue reading