Don’t Allow Mistakes to Paralyze Your Progress

Path in woods.

Life will throw challenges our way that threaten to paralyze us with fear. But when we continue to show up and try, our mistakes can become valuable opportunities for learning and growth. The world teaches us to avoid mistakes at all costs. Words such as failure, loser, and not good… Continue reading

Is What You’re Feeling Guilt or Shame?

an image of a statue of a man sitting on a rock

We expect to feel guilt when we sin, since we know that godly sorrow is essential to true repentance. But is it possible that we mistake shame for guilt? Guilt is a universal emotion. But for religious people, feelings of guilt can escalate because we believe that we have not… Continue reading

Our Patient Savior

field of red poppies

The Savior is on our side, and he gives us as many second chances as we need. Peter once asked Jesus how many times he was supposed to forgive his brother. Peter suggested seven as a reasonable answer. After all, forgiving someone seven times for the same mistake seems like… Continue reading

How Do I Know if I Am Worthy?

man in black hoodie sitting on bench near green trees

Feelings of doubt and guilt can make us feel as if we aren’t doing enough to be worthy. If we are honestly trying our best to follow Jesus Christ, we are worthy. In the struggle of mortality, it can be hard not to stumble over even the tiniest of things.… Continue reading

Confidence: A Perfect Understanding of Repentance

Person on a beach at sunset.

Jesus Christ has the power to provide healing and relief regardless of the trials we face. The most harrowing feeling I’ve ever had was looking at my husband sleeping so peacefully next to me and thinking, “I’m going to be the thing keeping him out of heaven.” I wanted to… Continue reading

How Do I Know if I’m Good Enough?

an image of a woman looking out a window at a city

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?” —Jörg Klebingat  We have all surely asked ourselves at some point, “How do I know if God is pleased with what I’m doing?” We know the commandments, but no matter how hard we strive… Continue reading

Applying the Savior’s Atonement to My Own Life

Hand in the dark.

I realized that I had been so focused on working to take the gospel to other people that I had forgotten to let the gospel work in me. Early in my mission to Tennessee, my companion shared with me part of Sister Linda K. Burton’s address from the October 2012 General… 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

Will Forgiveness Come?

an image of a man sitting on a ledge looking down at his cell phone

Because we sometimes feel ashamed of the need to repent, we forget that the Savior wants to forgive us. There is a common perception that asking for forgiveness is something to be ashamed of. Repenting of our sins can seem daunting. We imagine ourselves kneeling before the throne of grace,… Continue reading