Hear, Hearken, Obey: A Pattern to Overcome Adversity

Person sitting on a dock looking at a lake

When it feels like our life is cracking under pressure, how do we continue? Sometimes the answer is to submit to the will of God. I was 12 years old when I lost all my friends—for the second year in a row. Another move, another state. With burgeoning depression, I… Continue reading

Not So Bad

When life doesn’t make it easy to sing “all is well,” try “not so bad.” Science and religion agree about the benefits of gratitude. Research and scripture alike show that grateful people are happy people. But what about when I fail a test, have a bad day at work, or… Continue reading

Finding Hope for Future Blessings

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Our Heavenly Parents are forever aware of our trials, and we are never left to face them alone. We receive unwavering help in getting through the darkest moments of our lives when we have hope and faith in them. When Yih Chwin Koay’s daughter, Alexis, was born prematurely at 26… Continue reading

“Jesus Wept”

Person on the end of a pier

Life can be unfair, painful, and uncertain. When we or our loved ones find ourselves in those times of grief or frustration, we can rely on the Savior and his perfect example of empathy. In his BYU devotional, “Hard Sayings and Safe Spaces: Making Room for Struggle as Well as… Continue reading

Choosing to Be on the Lord’s Side

We can choose to be on the Lord’s side by following our Church leaders, which will ready us for the important lesson of being tested, sifted, and prepared. In 1834, Joseph Smith received a revelation to create Zion’s Camp, an army of volunteers dedicated to protecting early members of The… Continue reading

The Struggle to Grow Intellectually

Struggling is a part of life, especially in education. It is through our struggles, however, that we truly learn to grow. Making my way through community college and university hasn’t been all easy. Most classes I passed without too much struggle, but I can recall some classes that stressed me… Continue reading

No Trial Is Wasted

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Just as our Savior came to know us through his suffering, we come to know and love our Savior through our trials. A few years ago during a scripture study, I realized that as the Jaredites traveled across the sea, they encountered “furious wind” that created “mountain waves.”  This must… Continue reading

How to Build a Boat to Handle Life’s Storms

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The storms of life can be plentiful and scary, but when we build a strong boat, even the biggest storms become easier to handle. One summer day at a beach in the Puget Sound, two of my brothers and I decided to build a makeshift boat. We borrowed some rope… Continue reading

Healing Mentally with God in Mind

When we struggle with mental health, God is an option. One day a friend of mine visited me. He told me that God knew what I was going through, that God could help me, and that God loved me. This message reminded me that there was hope for me, not… Continue reading

Mountains Out of Molehills

Our situation may seem rough in the midst of our trials and hard decisions. Who can we turn to for help? Mountains are beautiful; in many parts of the world they surround us with their towering peaks and treacherous slopes. We often see these slopes as a challenge and try… Continue reading