Small and Simple Things By McKell Jackson There is a story told of a small boy who was taken by his mother to see an amazing concert pianist, Ignace Paderewski. She hoped the musician would inspire her son in his own piano practice. After they found their seats near the front of the concert hall, the mother struck up a conversation with someone seated near her. When she turned back a few moments later, she discovered her son wasn’t in his seat. As she frantically looked around, something on the stage caught her eye. There was her boy, stepping into the spotlight where the grand piano glistened ..read more

Doubt Not, Fear Not By Lecia Crider It is not uncommon, as a teen or adult, to begin to question or doubt things you were taught as a child, or things you believed yourself at one time but are no longer sure of, including  your religious beliefs. This conflict between belief and doubt can create a great deal of anxiety and inner turmoil. The exciting thing to remember, though, is that a time of questioning can be a heady time of growth and personal revelation, if approached in the right way.  Scripture mentions a couple of ways to approach our apprehensions: we can doubt, or we can s ..read more

Seek This Jesus By Angela Halliday  When Mormon was finishing his summary of the destruction of the Jaredites, he pleads with the readers of the Book of Mormon to understand how we can avoid the same fate that befell the Jaredites and that befell the Nephites.  Their destruction on the earth was complete because of their wickedness, their lack of faith, and their willful rebellion against God.  His words in Ether 12:41 are compelling, “I commend you to seek this Jesus.” As I’ve observed the steady and speedy decline of the standards of righteousness that are generally accepted a ..read more

Light in the Darkness By Sarah Johanson  Trials, difficulties, problems, and conflicts are inevitable in our lives. We live in a world full of them on a widespread level including (but not limited to) the effects of COVID-19, war, sickness, discrimination, inequality, safety issues, and financial pressures. Additionally, each of us is dealing with our own personal issues which could include loss of employment, disability, loss of a child, abuse, infertility, social pressures, faith crises, death of a parent, etc. Life is difficult. Finding happiness and peace in the journey is difficult ..read more

Trusting in God By Kathy Penrod My husband, Tim, had finished his undergraduate work and we were parents of the most adorable little boy.  We were living in the typical rundown apartment that young families often find themselves in. Tim had just spent a year student teaching for the seminary program. After his year of student teaching, we got the word that he was not hired. We were devastated! We had planned on this. We put ALL our eggs in this basket and we didn’t have a back-up plan. I remember the feeling of discouragement and confusion that came with that denial. My brother was workin ..read more

Peace in Life’s Storms By McKell Jackson I love storms. As I write this, rain is pattering on the roof and running down my window. It brings a peace that perhaps seems contradictory. I fondly recall evenings on the front porch with my family, watching the rain. If we weren’t able to gather to watch the storm, my mother always opened the doors--the better to enjoy the sounds and smells as we went about our day. Perhaps this is why I find many storms peaceful. Perhaps they are meant to be enjoyed.  Some storms, however, bring fear: middle-of-the-night power outages that sent my siblings and ..read more

Watch Care By Lecia Crider A few weeks ago I was having a personal challenge that was new to me. My inexperience with this type of situation had me feeling vulnerable, worried, and a bit shaken. I didn’t know what to do. Luckily, I knew someone who did.  Linda (name has been changed) used to live in my neighborhood. We attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints together, but even more than that, Linda was my ministering sister.  A ministering assignment in the church is a request to hold special watch care over certain individuals or families. When the system works prop ..read more

Lessons from the Pioneers By Kathy Penrod One of the most popular hymns in Latter-Day Saint culture is “Come, Come ye Saints.” As we sang this hymn in church Sunday, my heart swelled with peace and hope. In all the afflictions the early saints faced, this song became an anthem to them of their perseverance and dedication to the gospel of Jesus Christ. The lyrics of the hymn are as follows and you can find the sheet music here. 1. Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day. ’Tis better f ..read more

Let Us Go Up to the Mountain of the Lord By Angela Halliday Hills and mountains; streams and rivers; flowers and trees!  Summer in the Rocky Mountains makes my heart sing! Some people are ocean and beach people, but give me the mountains any day! The past few weeks, I’ve spent some time hiking and playing with people I love deeply in the mountains of Idaho and Colorado.  I can imagine and name very few places I love more.  My heart soars as I connect with nature, with those with whom I am spending time, and with heaven.  Four days ago, thirteen members of our ward (church c ..read more

What Voices Will You Listen To? By Kathy Penrod When my oldest son was little, he had a fascination with penguins. They were his absolute favorite and we even painted his room in a penguin pattern & color. Even though he has long since outgrown his obsession, our family still has a soft spot for penguins. One interesting fact about Emperor and King penguins is how they find their mate in the throngs of penguins that create their colony. There can be thousands of penguins and these species of penguins don’t build a nest that geographically orients them. They carry their eggs around on their ..read more