The Commandments: How to Reverse the Trend
I’ve been reading my scriptures lately. I had gotten out of the habit. So I was surprised by a theme that keeps coming up repeatedly — that the Lord has set the American continent as a promised and choice land. He promises to bless those who live here, but only while...
Sign On
Millions of people stream favorite tunes in our day. iPods, iPhones, and playlists are common and ubiquitous. While previously our daily ritual often included fastening a watch to our wrist—or, in days long gone by, placing the piece in a vest pocket—today it seems...
Fear Has No Place in My Heart
More than ever before in my lifetime, prophets and apostles are talking about the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. They are also telling us that we are not to fear. All is as it should be. Heavenly Father has a plan—a just plan with a righteous purpose—and...
My Conversion Story: Part I
Hello! My name is Lauren Mckinnon. I am so excited to tell you guys my story! I am a convert to the Church and a huge mental health advocate. The majority of my posts will be about my conversion story, my current perspectives, and the use of Christ as a strengthener....
Trying to Build Zion With Hangups About “Stuff”
Several days ago, my Seminary journey through the Doctrine and Covenants finally reached the location of Zion. In Doctrine and Covenants 57, the Lord revealed Zion's location as Independence, Missouri. But if that's where the Lord revealed Zion should be, why isn't it...
How to Stop Gossiping and Be Someone Everyone Wants to Be Around
When I was in high school, I was a terrible gossip. I remember the day I got my Patriarchal blessing and the Lord told me to stop gossiping, I felt so lost. I had no idea how to do that! I honestly thought that if I stopped gossiping, I would have to remain silent the...
We’re Not Perfect—And Prophets Aren’t, Either
This article was originally published in August 2018 on Third Hour’s website. Minor changes have been made. I’ve always been fascinated by Church history. As a teenager, my favorite vacations were spent in Nauvoo, Palmyra, and Kirtland. But as anyone who is a...
Getting Out of the Box this Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving!! It’s one of my favorite times of year to gather as family, friends, and community and give thanks for many, many blessings. Since Anthony and I are celebrating under palm trees far away from “home” and without the usual and awesome business...
Win or Lose
This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year: fall leaves, cooler temperatures, college football teams competing, and little league baseball. Watching the boys play the game they love is fun. I have been rather nostalgic in my writing these past few...
Where is Thanksgiving?
We leaped right from Halloween to Christmas. Don’t forget the power of Thanksgiving as a time to remember how we got where we are.
Holland
I recently read an amazing essay by Emily Perl Kingsley that I hear is rather famous. It’s called “Welcome to Holland”. In it, the author essentially compares being a special needs parent to taking a deviation from a planned vacation. You have spent your whole...
He Held Her Until She Died
In his recent conference address, Elder Robert C. Gay spoke of "Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ." He spoke of ways to see others as Heavenly Fathers sees us, even when it's inconvenient (or, in the case of James E. Talmage, a medical risk) to ourselves....
Happiness is . . .
Happiness is knowing that I am a child of a loving, Heavenly Father. Happiness is knowing that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, paid for my sins, sorrows, griefs and illnesses, and died for me that I might live again. Happiness is knowing there is a...
5 Starting Points When Sharing the Gospel is Uncomfortable
First time here? Find my introductory post to member missionary work here. Okay, we’ve all felt it. Sharing the gospel is scary! This is the most important thing to you and rejection hurts. Even more so, you don’t want to ruin a relationship or come off as...
Taking Control of Our Lives
“It’s not my fault I’m like this. I had a bad childhood.” Today, a bad childhood often seems to be an excuse for bad behavior. Certainly, it’s important for parents to give their children good childhoods (and people who have suffered abuse during any stage of...
Makeover
Occasionally we do something just to check it off the list. Most of the time, however, our intent is to do what is right (even when we can’t yet do it for the right reason). We held stake conference in our newly renovated Alpine tabernacle today. As we walked...
The Dignity of Choice
It would be so easy if Heavenly Father just made us to what is right, but that isn’t His plan. We would never grow spiritually without being able to choose between good and evil. It was His plan all along to teach us to want to do what is right. Elder Dale G....
Find Joy
In so many ways, we are all connected. I was reminded of that this week when a sweet woman posted something on a Facebook group I belong to. She said that she was hurting as she saw a bumper sticker that read “The best Moms get promoted to Grandma.” I have seen that...
Leaving Outlaws’ Judgment to the Lord
Today in Seminary, we talked about Doctrine and Covenants 50 with its famous injunction that those who teach and receive by the Spirit are both edified. As the students and I reviewed the section, the Lord declaring His mighty hand kept standing out to me. ...
Making Every Single Blessing Count
No family celebration for Thanksgiving? If you spent the day feeling down, Ashley has some suggestions for cheering up again.
Email Updates
Come Blog with Us!
