I once returned a pair of shoes that were sent to me on accident. I had paid for one pair in the store, and a second pair was sent to my home on accident. So I took the second pair back into the store, and handed them to the store clerk explaining the situation. He held the shoebox in his hand in disbelief and just looked at me. He then thanked me for my honesty and commented that he’d never seen that happen before. I was amazed that such a simple act of honesty was met with such incredulity. Is … Continue reading →

Have you ever seen the old Mormon ad with the backpack loaded with bricks? The point of the ad is that sin weighs you down and that repentance can help you take the burden away so you don’t have to carry all that weight around. I recently attended a youth conference, and the speaker there related sin to weeds in the garden. They’re damaging and you know you have to get them out. But if you just pull the top of the weed out, it will grow back even bigger. But when you pull the whole weed including the root, … Continue reading →

Intimacy between a husband and wife is a beautiful thing. It can bind you together in a way that strengthens you both and solidifies your relationship. It is both an expression of love and the means for the creation of children—both of which are amazing blessings. But intimacy outside of marriage is damaging to both relationships and to individuals emotionally and mentally which is why Latter-day saints place such an emphasis on staying sexually pure. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet outlines some of the guidelines for Latter-day Saints of all ages. Being sexually pure is required for entering … Continue reading →