Like what you're seeing? Add your testimony to the conversation. E-mail your reason for hope to hopefullymormon@gmail.com or mail it in: P.O. Box 970312, Orem, UT 84097. More details here.

"Genuine hope is urgently needed in order to be more loving even as the love of many waxes cold; more merciful, even when misunderstood or misrepresented; more holy, even as the world ripens in iniquity; more courteous and patient in a coarsening and curt world; and more full of heartfelt hope, even when other men’s hearts fail them. Whatever our particular furrow, we are to 'plow in hope,' without looking back or letting yesterday hold tomorrow hostage (1 Cor. 9:10).

"Hope can be contagious, so we are to be 'ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh … a reason of the hope that is in [us]' (1 Pet. 3:15)."

Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Brightness of Hope’,” Ensign, Nov 1994, 34

Because of the Atonement, people can change...

And I can let them.

When I heard the nurse say, "Her platelet count is normal, it must have resolved on it's own."

I knew the hand of the Lord had been made manifest in our lives. And I rejoiced in this mercy.

And I gave thanks. And I wept in relief.

And I was reminded of faith and hope.

God's great gift of free agency: so many good choices!

Continuing revelation + an open canon = a living, growing church.

= sometimes we were wrong

Which I love.

Because He makes white combs and sweet honey from my old failures....

I dreamt that I had a beehive 
here inside my heart
And the golden bees
were making white combs
and sweet honey
from my old failures


Last night as I slept
I dreamt
that it was God I had
inside my heart


Antonio Machado

Modesty. Confidence to walk into the temple. Confidence that people are looking at you for more than skin. I believe everyone has greater self-esteem when they dress modestly. I certainly do.

There was a point my life after being married for sometime I never thought I would have children. It was a huge struggle for me and a huge trial of my testimony, as well as making it grow in ways I never knew were possible.  After countless nights of  prayers the Lord answered them. I loved this talk that Elder Haight gave and now understand what he means to "Come what may and Love it"  Wether the Lord gives me what I want or does what is truly best for me, I'll end up better in the end. How thankful I am for my knowledge of this and that I am a child of God.

I sing this every night to my son.

In an age of covered wagons, their minds reached the stars.

I'm starting to understand why God, as a parent, wants us to be parents too.

Happy Birthday, Liz.

After the death of a sister, and a younger brother with cancer the Lord blessed my family with my youngest sister, Grace. Being Mormon reminds me that His grace is always sufficient for me. For some reason it sounds more beautiful in Portuguese when He promises "a minha graça te basta."

As a Child

"Earth's crammed with heaven, 

And every common bush afire with God:

But only he who sees, takes off his shoes...."

--Elizabeth Barrett Browning

I love raising my children as part of this church.

I love the sense of family in a ward, the opportunities for service, the life lessons they learn, the adult mentors, (and more...), that we find in our community of faith.

'Free Daddy and His Little Shadow Girls' by Pink Sherbet Photography (via Flickr). CC BY license.

I know why he came.

Because of the gospel I know people in my neighborhood I might not have known otherwise. 

What can happen in an unintentional community teaches me about beauty in a new way.

The spirit of God like a fire is burning.

Some day I'll meet my Grandpa.

(For my friend battling cancer)  ...all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for they good...fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.  D&C 122: 7+9

Alma 5:16
He healed my broken heart, cleansed my wounds with his blood, made me whole again.  How could I not believe?