Several years ago I attended a Relief Society activity where we were learning how to make hair bows. The women who were teaching the class displayed dozens of beautiful bows they had created and gave us a quick demonstration. They made bow-making look like the easiest thing ever. I am here to tell you that bow-making is not the easiest thing ever. As time went on, I started to feel increasingly frustrated at my lack of bow-making skills. All the women around me were creating one adorable hair bow after another. I had not been able to finish a single bow and was obviously struggling, even while others were trying…

My mom has a truly debilitating fear of snakes. So when construction behind her house stirred up several nests a few summers ago, she found herself literally unable to walk into her own backyard. Professional therapy, countless precautionary measures, priesthood blessings all failed to rid her of intense, overwhelming terror. One day, while discussing the matter over the phone, my mom tearfully and desperately described how the only way she could manage to even walk across the driveway to her car was to get on her knees and plead for help before opening the back door. A sudden spiritual realization caused me to blurt out in response, “Mom, it probably…

Water has always been powerful imagery for me. There have been times in my life when I have felt like these words from David could be my own: “Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.” (Psalms 69:1-2) During the most difficult times of my life, the word that has most often come to mind to describe my experience has been the word “drowning.” The feelings of helplessness, suffocating, crushing weight pressing down on my chest, sinking deeper and deeper as waves of heartache,…

While teaching his disciples and followers, Jesus was asked by one in the company, “Master, speak to my brother; that he divide the inheritance with me.” And Jesus responded, “Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?” (Luke 12:13-14) What a beautiful and probably somewhat unexpected response from the Savior! Christ makes it clear that, unlike the wise teachers and leaders of that day, he has no interest whatsoever in worldly versions of adjudication or mediation. In fact, as he often does throughout the scriptures, he rejects outright the notion that we must compete for limited blessings or resources. And by contrast, he implicitly reiterates that his…

Years ago I discovered an amazing book called “Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus” by Neil Douglas-Klotz. It shares explanations and meditations on the Aramaic meanings behind some of the most familiar King James Version scripture passages. The book’s foreword gives some examples: How much . . . might result from hearing, for example, that what we have translated as “be you perfect” really means, “be you all-embracing,” or that . . . ”blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” also means “soften what’s rigid inside and you shall receive physical vigor and strength from the universe . . . and that…

Recently in my BYU Western Humanities course, I taught a lecture I call “How to ‘read’ a painting.” Most college students understand not only how to read, but how to read with some depth and analysis. They understand the what — character, plot, and setting. They can also ascertain the how — theme, style, and symbolism. And, of course, some of the best discussions flourish when we try to ultimately understand the why of the writing, the author’s intent, the connections to our own humanity, and the relevance might have for our own lived experiences. But in a Humanities course, where we study great works of art as well as…

Author introduction by Sharlee Mullins Glenn: This week’s devotional is a guest post from Claudia Mills. Claudia is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado, a fantastic writer of books for children, and a dear friend. She’s also, like it or not, a role model to everyone who knows her. Thank you, Claudia, for being willing to share this with us. I’m rooting for you, and I know that everyone who reads this will be too. May we all amaze ourselves. ____________________________________________________________ I am in the midst of what might be the saddest season of my life so far, dealing with crises of staggering proportions for two…