Alma 32:27

My testimony is of song. It brings an amazing spirit about it when listening to the right kind. Music strengthens my testimony best. Music helps me appreciate life more and it helps me see the beauty. 

Be Still My Soul is my favorite hymn. To me, it talks about all the troubles of this world and saying to leave to thy God so you can be still in your heart and He will take care of you and love you. Be Still My Soul makes me think of the atonement. I have a more deep appreciation for the atonement now knowing my Lord died for me because He loves me.

I know He is there every step of the way.

Nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty

wherewith God has made them free.

Alma 58:40

Happy Fourth of July!

I believe in Christ.

Everybody comes from a different place with a lot of different trials. You never know what people are going through and it makes the biggest difference to reach out to someone. I know that when I have had really hard times, the smallest things make the biggest difference, and that it is never too late to come back or ask for help.

D&C 123:13-17

No one can stop the light or the love of our Christ. No one can change our love or light of Christ. No one can break us or stop us from staying strong and courageous!

You don't know everything, but you know enough.
Come what may and love it.

Happy Father's Day

My dad and his testimony give me hope.

Dad. Thanks for teaching me to tie my tie. And all the other ways you taught me how to be a man.

When the men in our ward rallied to install a diaper changing station in the Men's Restroom, I knew I was in the right ward.

Happy Father's Day (June 20th)!

Be sure to click through for one of the best Father's Day talks ever: it's Holland, so you know you'll love it. My husband still gets a bit choked up whenever we talk about it.

"If the restoration is not yet complete, then other traditions have much to teach us. Not by way of confirming, corroborating, or verifying the truths we already have but by way of actually adding to the body of revealed doctrine we call precious and true."  -Terryl Givens

Peace of mind.

Continuing revelation gives me hope.

(June 8, 1978, the First Presidency announces President Kimball's revelation that all worthy men can hold the priesthood.)

made in His image

Milestone

We reached 100 followers today!  (Non-alcoholic) drinks all around!  Thank you all for visiting our site every day.  And thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who have submitted Reasons for Hope.  If you've been thinking about sharing a little visual part of your testimony with us, now's the time!  Think of it as a 100-followers-day gift for us.

Love...Annie

The promise of an eternity with her is what keeps me going!

Heavenly Father sent me to a world full of green-topped trees,

flowers in sprintime,

back yards, gardens, mountains and streams,

and people to learn about it all with.

Teaching them was the only way the gospel made sense to me.

I find the doctrine of resurrection

supernatural and hopeful.

From Primary programs to youth conferences to ward choir performances to parenting...the Savior asks us to give our very best and He will make up the difference. Miracles haven't ceased. They are all around us every day...because of the Atonement.

There aren't very many women in the scriptures, but a lot of the ones we do get to read about struggle with infertility.  This helps me feel Heavenly Father's love even when my arms feel empty.

I came across this lovely quote on dandee's blog. A blog I find both hopeful and Mormon. She used it for a Relief Society "Reverencing Women" event, but clearly it is perfect for the new Young Women's value Virtue. I like the careful font work. And red is my favorite color.

Click over to her blog for a free PDF download!

There is room for all of us in Jesus Christ's church.

Family Night

Here we have another group of submissions from a BYU FHE group.  Happy Monday, everyone!








Note to FHE group memebers: A few of your submissions got separated from the rest before I could scan them. I blame myself and my disorganization. We will post yours when we find them...sorry!  -Annie

The gospel, meaning good word, has taught me that the best truths lie in the contradictions, the divine paradoxes. The Atonement is such a paradox--from immortal death mortals are given infinite life.  That is true to me.

Hopeful and Mormon

This guy plays piano backwards. And he's studying accounting at BYU. Frankly, I find the latter the more difficult of the two achievements. But both are hopeful and Mormon. The real reason we're talking about Jason Lyle Black today is because he's putting on a benefit concert for a non-profit that assists in educating returned missionaries who live in poverty.

That really is hopeful, isn't it?

The event is June 11 at the Masonic Temple in Salt Lake City (a gorgeous piece of architectural accomplishment) 650 East South Temple, SLC 84102, from 7-9 pm. Tickets range from $12-$15. Get them here.

Even though I'm half a world away from where Christ lived and from the locations of the Restoration I still feel my Savior's love.

1 Peter 5:7

I adore this glimpse into happy family. With two girls and two boys, all with brown hair and pink smiles on their faces. What lovely reasons for hope.

Families can be forever. 

Pioneers walked so I could have my testimony. 

6 Billion people in the world and God knows me!

I go to seminary because I know the Book of Mormon is true (even at 6:00 am). 

I love to see the temple.

We believe in God the eternal Father, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

Families are Forever.