Martin Harris: An Example of Repentance

Martin Harris home

Although Martin Harris was not a perfect man, his example shows us that when we approach our mistakes with humility, we can partake of God’s gift of repentance. Martin Harris (1783–1875) was a decorated war hero, a civic leader, a successful farmer, and an excellent father. He became a central… Continue reading

No Scars Remain

an image of a woman with glasses and a hoodie on

Christ wants to heal our spirits completely—all we have to do is repent.  When my six-year-old brother broke his arm, he immediately thought, I bet Dad can fix it! My dad is not a doctor, but in my brother’s mind, he can do anything. While my brother was a little… Continue reading

How Are Mormons “Saved”?

an image of a man carrying a child in a sling

Many other Christian denominations talk about being saved. Do Mormons believe in being saved? What is the Mormon definition of “saved”? Some Mormons may be confused when friends ask them, “Have you been saved?” We are Christians. We believe in a Savior. But what does it mean to be saved? Jesus… Continue reading

The Enemy of Your Soul

man staring out the window

The natural man is an enemy to God, but society would tell us otherwise. Only through Jesus Christ can we control the part of ourselves that separates us from God. Society teaches us to indulge and enjoy, to live out the mantra “YOLO” (you only live once). We are encouraged… Continue reading

Pornography Is Not Love

landscape photo of a desolate land

Chop down the tree of pornography by cutting off the roots of lust. Through Christ’s healing and forgiveness, you can overcome pornography addiction. Pornography addiction is a real issue that affects us all in some way: it can destroy self-worth, relationships, and—most importantly—true love. In his address “Place No More… Continue reading

Developing Christlike Self-Discipline

an image of a woman standing in a field with her hands clasped

Rather than focusing on our mistakes and losing hope, we can discipline ourselves with kindness in a Christlike way. At the end of one long week, I sat quietly in a pew waiting to take the sacrament. The familiar words of the prayers went in one ear and out the… Continue reading

Will Being Holier Really Make Me Happier?

an image of a woman blowing bubbles in the air on a city street

We can increase our personal happiness today by taking the needed steps to become more holy.  “Keeping the commandments makes you happier.” At times, this may feel like a line said by well-meaning parents and leaders simply because they want us to improve our behavior. In fact, we may think… Continue reading

Leave Your Garbage in the Dump

an image of a pile of junk with a yellow bird on top

Sometimes repenting is the easy part; believing you’re forgiven is what’s difficult. Think about your garbage can. No, seriously. What’s in it? How does it smell? What do you use it for? If you’re anything like me, right now it might contain spoiled leftovers, empty cans and bottles, and a… Continue reading

The Miracle of Self-Forgiveness

White and purple crocuses poking out of dead winter leaves.

Through Christ’s Atonement, we can remember our past without letting it define who we are. I sometimes wonder if I’ve been truly forgiven. Even after praying, repenting, and striving to apply the Savior’s Atonement, I still feel weighed down by guilt. I know Christ can forgive others—even me—but that truth… Continue reading