Am I Truly Converted?
Something happened the other day that prompted me to ask myself a very serious question: Am I truly converted? I spent the day pondering the state of my heart. We all have good days and bad days, but when all is said and done, what matters is whether we walk the walk...
ABA Therapy from a Mom’s Perspective
I recently read a comment on Facebook from a mom who felt like ABA therapy was torturing her child, so I thought it wise to address what ABA really is. Because for someone new to it or for a parent unfamiliar with what ABA therapy is, it can be confusing. What...
Liars and Light
In the vision of the three degrees of glory in Doctrine and Covenants 76, the first description of those receiving the Telestial Kingdom is: These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie....
Learning to Appreciate your Spouse is Essential to a Good Marriage
Don’t forget to thank your spouse for the little things–even if you think he or she already knows you appreciate it.
My Conversion Story, Pt V: “How Could We Both Be Right?”
This is Part Five in a series of articles about Lauren's conversion. For the next most recent article (Part Four), click here. The rest can be found here. Moab was an entirely different universe. As I approached my new home, pillars of red rock zoomed past my...
Losing Hope
In my experience, sometimes it's really hard not to lose hope. Not hope in God, exactly, although certainly that is a legitimate, painful struggle for some people — but hope that things will ever get better. Maybe it's after your 15th doctor appointment...
Before It’s Too Late
Deception has a devious way of cheating us even when we think we are safe. The reason that this vice is so misleading is because we don’t even realize at the time that we are being taken (deceived). But we can recover before it’s too late. Please allow...
Set Goals, Not Resolutions
As we begin a new year, one particular thing tends to be on everyone’s minds: New Year's resolutions. Making resolutions is easy; committing to them is much harder. So this year, I would challenge you to try something new: make goals instead of resolutions. ...
Your Witness Matters
Who needs to hear your testimony of God, the Savior, or an important gospel principle today? Be the person God can trust to deliver it.
A Gift: He Doth Immediately Bless You
Several months ago, I prayed for greater understanding of some of King Benjamin's speech to his people, specifically his words about how God immediately blesses us and how we're forever in His debt. I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the...
Consider the Lilies
Today, I had the pleasure to spend some time at a park near my home. Aside from the mosquitoes that seem to be able to find me from miles around, I had a pleasant time. There is a pond and walking trail meandering through partially wooded areas. It’s a wonderful place...
10 Tips for Abuse Survivors
This blog post is second in a two-part series that deals with mature themes (primarily sexual abuse), and may not be suitable for all readers. Reader discretion is advised. Please also note that this is one abuse survivor's experience and does not speak for all...
Be Thou Humble
The miracle of Christmas began with a humble birth—Jesus Christ, the Lord, Savior, and Redeemer of the world, was not born in a palace. His parents were not of significant wealth or fame. And while his birth was foretold by prophets of old, the leaders of the time...
Choose Grace
“For at some moment in the water he must have realized that he would not live if he continued to hand over the rope and ring to others. He had to know it, no matter how gradual the effect of the cold. In his judgment he had no choice. When the helicopter took off with...
Christ is the Center
When I was a little girl, I used to play for hours in our family’s little nativity. I carefully moved Mary and Joseph around the stable. The wise men had to be placed in such a way that they didn’t obstruct the view of the baby Jesus. The animals were all looking at...
Adjusting Christmas
If your family has members with autism, you already know that you need to adjust what you may be used to doing for the holidays to fit their needs. When I was growing up, one of my favorite things around Christmas time was going Christmas caroling. I loved it even...
Elisabeth: Woman of Faith and Power
Especially during the Christmas season, each character in Luke's record comes to life for me. I crave details and long to ask them about their experiences. So I search and search for tidbits that can enhance the story I've embraced in the New Testament. ...
Them
About two months ago, I was challenged to study a one-page religious document. Simultaneously, I have been studying documents related to the Civil War in a deeper, more thorough way, including looking at them word by word and studying their historical context. ...
My Conversion Story, Pt IV: Learning My Worth as God’s Daughter
I absolutely loved that little church. It was awesome. Every time I went, I felt closer to understanding who God was. Who Christ was. My heart would swell as I sang joyful words to Heavenly Father each Sunday. I loved Him—and He loved me. I could feel it so...
You Still Have Worth: Surviving Sexual Assault
While this post does not go into detail, it does deal with the mature issue of sexual assault, and may not be suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in three women and one in six...