4 Simple Spiritual Pick-Me-Ups

Looking for some quick and simple ways to invite the Holy Ghost into your life and boost your spirituality? These 4 things ought to do the trick!

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⭐ SPIRITUAL PICK-ME-UP #1 ⭐

Read a single article from a Church magazine

Time: 5-10 minutes ⏲

* HOW IT WORKS *

1️⃣ Subscribe to the "Liahona" (or "For The Strength of Youth" if you're a youth).

2️⃣ When it comes in the mail, place it next to your bed.

3️⃣ Right before bed, or first thing in the morning, read an article (or page) from it.

* WHY IT WORKS *

 Having the physical magazine next to your bed will serve as a clear reminder to read, whereas you're less likely to do so if you just read on your phone or tablet.

 Reading a magazine can help you fall asleep, whereas screens interfere with sleep.

 A single article (or page) is a specific, manageable goal.

 Reading the stories in the Liahona provides a different spiritual feel than reading the scriptures or general conference, and they're generally pretty easy to read and understand.

* PONDER OR COMMENT *

 How do you find Church magazines to be different than the scriptures and general conference? How have Church magazines helped you throughout your life?

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⭐ SPIRITUAL PICK-ME-UP #2 ⭐

Memorize a random verse

Time: 5-15 minutes ⏲

* HOW IT WORKS *

1️⃣ Go to RandomScriptureVerse.com.

2️⃣ Select your choice of scriptural work and click "Show random verse!" until you get to one that you like. Then click "Memorize This Verse" and select Easy (8 steps) or Hard (4 steps).

3️⃣ Fill in the blanks until you can memorize the whole verse!

* WHY IT WORKS *

 A random scripture generator removes the question of "What should I memorize?" and lets you just browse until you find something you like.

 Focusing on the verse word by word makes you stop and really think about the words, allowing you to learn and ponder things you would have otherwise missed.

 The progressive "fill in the blank" format is fun and easy to do, either on a computer or mobile device.

 Memorizing verses helps them stick in your mind, which allows the Spirit to pull them out later when most needed.

* PONDER OR COMMENT *

 How has memorizing scriptures helped you and/or others? What's one scripture you have memorized, and why is it particularly powerful to you?

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⭐ SPIRITUAL PICK-ME-UP #3 ⭐

Answer a spiritual question

Time: 5-15 minutes ⏲

* HOW IT WORKS *

1️⃣ Go to ScriptureStudyQuestions.com/random.

2️⃣ Click "Show Random Question" until you find a question you like, and read the accompanying verse.

3️⃣ Answer the question as briefly or deeply as you'd like! You can use a physical notebook, a word processing program on your computer (like Microsoft Word), or a note-taking app on your phone (like Evernote).

* WHY IT WORKS *

 You don't have to spend time thinking of a topic to write about. You just browse until you find a question you like.

 The answers you record can help you (both in the present and future), others (like if you share with your family or on social media), and eventually your posterity.

 Writing about spiritual things makes us really stop and think about them. It opens the door wide for the Holy Ghost to give us revelation, comfort, and spiritual strength.

* PONDER OR COMMENT *

 How do you think pondering and recording spiritual things can help you in your day-to-day life? How do you think it can help you and others in the future?

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⭐ SPIRITUAL PICK-ME-UP #4 ⭐

Jot down personal revelation

Time: 5-10 minutes ⏲

* HOW IT WORKS *

1️⃣ Obtain a notebook that you can easily access throughout the day, which will act as your revelation journal. For example, it could be a small physical notebook that you keep in a pocket, or an app on your phone with the ability to take and organize notes (like Evernote).

2️⃣ Throughout the day, pay attention to the thoughts and feelings that God gives you through the Holy Ghost. For example, it can be moments of comfort, ideas of things you should start or stop doing, or insights about gospel principles.

3️⃣ As soon as you have a few spare minutes, record your experience in your revelation journal.

* WHY IT WORKS *

 Having a specific place to write down revelation makes it easier to record those moments when they come.

 Treasuring God's communication with us shows God that He can trust us, which will lead to more revelation.

 Personal revelation can help us with every aspect of our lives, including our families, careers, education, social interactions, and personal goals.

 As Elder Richard G. Scott counseled, “Write down in a secure place the important things you learn from the Spirit. You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life.”

* PONDER OR COMMENT *

 How have you been blessed by recording personal revelation, or how do you think you could be blessed by doing so? What format of revelation journal do you think would work best for you, and why?

We Are All Connected

We are all connected.

It's the reason a tiny virus was able to traverse the entire globe within a few months. It's the reason programs like Zoom have soared in popularity since March 2020—so we can keep that connection, at least virtually.

I've been thinking a lot about influence lately, specifically my own desire to have an impact on the world. I'm sure I'm not the only one to ponder their place in the world—to long to make some lasting difference in the lives of others.

Yet when I read the biographies of influential people—whether they be politicians or prophets, authors or artists—I end up thinking, "Will I ever amount to anything like that? Will I actually leave a mark on the world?"

Thankfully, as I've continued to read about such incredible people, I've realized a simple yet profound truth: that behind every single influential person there stands an army of influencers. Parents who, at the very least, brought them into the world and, more likely, sacrificed greatly in order to nurture and provide for them. Teachers who imparted knowledge and wisdom. Siblings, friends, neighbors, colleagues, mentors, and on and on, each leaving their indelible imprint. And they too were backed by their own armies of influencers.

Because of this, I no longer believe that greatness is defined by how many people know of you, how high you climb the ladder of fame, or how many books will eventually be written about you. I believe greatness is defined by following God's plan for you and doing your best in your own sphere of influence—no matter how big or small that sphere is.

For who is more important, influential, and honorable?—the doctor performing surgery with an array of intricate medical supplies, or the truck driver who delivered those medical supplies to the hospital? The nurse who is caring for dozens of covid patients, or the janitor who is constantly disinfecting room after room?

There are very few people who influence the whole world. But all of us influence some part of the world, so TOGETHER we can influence all of it. Just as the coronavirus is invisible to the naked eye, our influence goes mostly unseen, but I truly believe that, over time, it too can traverse the entire globe.

Atomic Bombs, Refugees, and the Coronavirus

The coronavirus has infected the bodies of over a quarter of a million people, but it has infected the minds of so many more, including my own. For the last few weeks, covid-19 has dominated my thoughts and my actions. At first, I'd check social media to see what funny coronavirus and TP memes were being posted. Then, I'd browse news sites to see the latest in how this pandemic is changing the world. But now, as the novelty of this novel virus has started to wear off, my curiosity has been transformed into concern ... then worry ... then fear. There are so many unanswered questions—so much instability and unpredictability.

With that at the forefront of my mind, two things have brought me hope and direction in the last few days.

The first is a quote from C.S. Lewis about the atomic bomb. The full quote can be found in this article, but here's the most relevant part, with "atomic bomb" replaced by "the coronavirus":

The first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by [the coronavirus], let that [virus] when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about [the coronavirus]. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.

I know that it's good to be informed about the coronavirus. But "being informed" doesn't mean thinking about it (and its economic impacts) all day long, opening Facebook a hundred times a day, and reading news articles every spare moment. I want to fill my life back up with "sensible and human things," like spending quality time with my family, enjoying nature and hobbies, learning, teaching, serving, and loving.

The second thought I had is from a book I'm reading right now, The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri. I in no way seek to trivialize the hardships of refugees by comparing my struggles to theirs, but at the same time, I've found hope from their examples.

As I've read the plights of these asylum-seekers, the idea of "limbo" has caught my attention because that's exactly what so many of us are feeling right now—in a state of limbo. The dictionary describes it perfectly as "an uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; an intermediate state or condition." Here's what the author of The Ungrateful Refugee had to say about this:

People think of the refugee camp as a purgatory, a liminal space without shape or color. And it is that. But we kept our instinct for joy. We made friends and we studied and made a community, as we had every day in Iran. Journalists and aid workers who visit camps often comment on this aspect of the psyche—how can these people carry on with their gossip and petty dramas and daily pleasures? How can they endure the limbo?

Much later in life, years after finding a new home in the United States, the author visited a refugee camp in Greece. In this camp, where there was "nothing to see but dogs and children and naked gloom" outside, she was surprised upon entering the house of a family who has truly made the place their home:

Above the midnight blue laminate of the kitchenette hangs a yellow floral curtain, calling out the yellow of the turmeric in a jar. ... The dishes are washed. It seems heroic to me, every scavenged and scrubbed item, the toil to keep her family’s dignity in this wasteland. What stores of willpower it takes for this couple to commit to making these rooms a home. The very air in a camp is heavy, making you listless, pushing you into your bed. Their refusal to sit and wait is a daily resistance, a gift to their daughters. These childhood days at LM will not be marred by poverty and anticipation for them. LM Village will be just another chapter of their lives. They might have their next birthday here. They might learn to read here.

I have no idea how long we're all going to be in this limbo. But I think we'll all get through this better if we "refuse to sit and wait" for this to be over. In other words, let's make the most of this time that we have, living in the present instead of fretting over the future. Like refugees, we can hold on to the hope that one day, our lives will reclaim a sense of normalcy. And when that day comes, I don't want to look back at the time I spent in limbo and regret the way that I spent it.

Counting the Apples in a Seed

"You can count the seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the apples in a seed." This quote came up on my Facebook newsfeed a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since. I'm sure there are a lot of applications, but the one that sticks with me the most is the idea of influence.

You may think you're just one person—a single apple—with a short time on this earth, so what good could you possibly do in the world? However, the "seeds" you plant in others by your kindness and good deeds have a profound and lasting effect on others, a ripple effect that continues until the world is indeed changed in some way because of you.

This thought is definitely uplifting, but I also found something else there that was nagging at me. It was a call to action, specifically about how I use my time. I started thinking about the things I fill my day with, asking the question, "By doing this thing, am I just eating my own apple, or am I planting its seeds?" Am I just scrolling mindlessly through Facebook, or am I seeking to add or promote uplifting content through it? Am I watching hours of TV, which only benefits me, or am I doing something that will somehow benefit others?

Now, don't get me wrong—I'm all about self-care. If we just "go go go" helping everyone else without also taking time for ourselves, we'll get burnt out. But I've noticed that, at least for me, self-care can very quickly deteriorate into self-indulgence if I'm not careful. And I've also noticed how truly happy I am when I'm engaged in worthwhile (influential) activities, much more so than when I'm binging on Netflix or oversleeping. Maybe this is what Jesus Christ meant in Matthew 16:25—"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." The greatest joy and fulfillment we find is in "losing" our time in making the world a better place, not by "saving" all that time for ourselves.

Every one of us can metaphorically plant our apple seeds by filling our time with service to others, creative pursuits, and self-improvement. This will look different for every person because we all have different talents and opportunities. But know this—you do have something to offer the world, and the seeds you plant matter. Ultimately, the more seeds we plant, the more apples we can enjoy: not just our own, but also the fruits of our labors in the lives of countless others.

What I Learned From 125,000 Rounds of Chutes and Ladders

In church on Sunday, the teacher compared our lives to a game of Chutes and Ladders. Sometimes things go well, and we seem to be climbing all the ladders, but at other times, the chutes seem to always bring us back to square one.

I remembered that about a year ago, I was bored and decided to write a computer program simulating the game. I wanted to know how many turns it takes on average to win by reaching the 100th square.

After running the game simulation 125,000 times, the program calculated that it takes an average of 39 turns to win the game. But what about the minimum and the maximum number of turns? What if you were the luckiest player ever and rolled the perfect series of numbers? Or what if you were the unluckiest player and couldn't seem to reach the last square for the life of you? Well, here are the statistics:

• The minimum number of turns to win the game was 7.
• The maximum number of turns to win the game was ... 417. That's almost 60 times more than the minimum number!

So, I got to thinking about how this relates to life.

It might seem like some people have life pretty easy. They seem to have everything going for them—a strong support system, excellent physical and mental health, talents that make it easy to be successful, and so on. They get through the game of life in an easy 7 turns, so to speak.

Most people are probably in the realm of 39 turns, hitting both chutes and ladders throughout their lives.

And then there are the people who seem to always be swimming upstream, facing obstacle after obstacle. And even when they manage to significantly move forward at one point, those blasted chutes just keep bringing them down. Or they might roll only 1s and 2s, making progress annoyingly slow. Surely they climb ladders along the way, but it's hard to be happy about it when you know another chute is lingering right around the corner!

So, if you feel like you're in that final category, take heart in knowing this: the only way to lose the game is to stop playing. If you just keep persevering and rolling that die—time after time, turn after turn—eventually you will make it to the final square. Even if it takes you 417 turns.

A Miraculous Turn of Events: 2,000 Years Ago and Today

Recently I experienced a series of seemingly insignificant events that led to a very significant message from God. Today as I was thinking about this, I realized how similar it is to the New Testament story when Jesus Christ directs Peter to go fishing in order to find the money needed to pay a tax.

The Coin in the Fish's Mouth

"Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee." (Matthew 17:27)

This story, in my opinion, is one of the most fascinating of Christ's miracles. It may seem simple and mundane at first, but what astounds me is the turn of events that needed to happen in order for the miracle to occur:

• Somebody was carrying a four-drachma coin, which was the exact amount Peter would later need to pay the tax (two drachma for him and two for Jesus).

• This person lost that coin in the Sea of Galilee (an area of 64 square miles).

• A fish managed to pick this coin up at some point and keep it in its mouth.

• This fish happened to be in the exact place that Peter would cast his line, and it was the very first fish to get caught on the line.

Peter had a need, and our omnipotent God began a miraculous series of events to satisfy this need, even before the need was even known! And what touches me even more is that the money would go toward fixing a mistake that Peter himself made (by answering incorrectly about Jesus owing taxes). This shows that even when our trials are of our own making, God still has compassion on us and wants to help us solve our problems.

So, do miracles like this happen in our day? Based on events in my own life this last week, I can definitely say yes, they do!

Much-Needed Comfort ... in a Roundabout Way

Without getting into much detail, I've had some health problems recently that have naturally come with a long trail of medical bills. It's not more than we can handle, but it's been a stressor for me, especially because the dozens of medical tests have yielded no results. This has been really weighing on me lately, but as usual, an omnipotent God came through with answers ... through a miraculous turn of events:

• My daughters got sick with colds at the end of last week.

• On Sunday, my husband offered to stay home with them during sacrament meeting so that I could go. Because I was without my kids, I was able to actually listen and focus!

• The assigned speakers didn't take the entire time, so our bishop was inspired to ask two young women to come and bear their testimonies. One of the young women briefly shared that she's had some health problems recently but has been able to develop greater faith through it all.

• I felt impressed to reach out to this young woman, so I texted her and asked her to share her experiences with me. She suggested that we meet up and talk.

• On Monday evening, she came over and we had a really good discussion. I learned a lot from her, like the importance of praying often when dealing with health issues.

• She mentioned a book she was reading (given to her by another member of the ward) that has also helped her out. Later that night, she actually delivered a copy of the book to me, saying that she felt impressed to just go out and buy it for me because it felt time-sensitive.

• On Tuesday night, I was feeling really off-balance because of the financial stress, and I asked Heavenly Father to help me find balance again.

• On Wednesday evening, I didn't have any freelancing work to do, so I picked up the book. I noticed there was a chapter on money and turned right to it.

And there, in that chapter, was my four-drachra coin: the exact thing that I needed in order to find balance again. Several quotes really stood out to me, including these two:

"Start burring the boundaries between money coming in and money going out. Both flows sustain and nourish you. Just as a plant takes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen, we must both receive money and release it." [185] 

"Within your emotional reaction to every money issue, opportunity, debt, bill, or challenge is an opportunity to find joy. Alarmed by those overcharge drafts you incurred? First, shift your original fear into joy by being grateful that you have a bank account. Now pay attention to the message of fear, which says that it's time to take action." [190]

These simple gems of wisdom were enough to lift my burden, pulling me out of my rut and helping me refocus on the future with joy.

A One-Time Thing?

After this happened, I thought back to all the events that led to that point, and I was in awe at the goodness of God. But that got me thinking: was this really just a one-time thing, or is God that involved in our lives all the time and we just don't see it? It reminds me of a scripture in the Book of Mormon:

"And then shall they rejoice; for they shall know that it is a blessing unto them from the hand of God; and their scales of darkness shall begin to fall from their eyes." (2 Nephi 30:6)

I think that in a coming day, the "scales of darkness" will also fall from our eyes as we look back on our lives and realize just how intricately the Lord was involved in blessing us. And as we wait for that glorious day, perhaps we can pray to discern these small yet significant miracles in our lives right now.

The story of the coin in the fish's mouth is a reminder to us all that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and truly wants to help us. It requires a little effort on our part—having the faith to "cast your line" out there—but our efforts will always be preceded and followed by God's often unseen blessings. As the Lord Himself says, "I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88) I know that this is true, and I hope and pray that we all feel that a little bit more in our lives.

The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom of Heaven

Written by Liz Kazandzhy while serving a mission in Ukraine

The kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great price

To a merchant man seeking such treasure,

Who, when he discovered its matchless beauty,

Went and sold all he had with pleasure.

From his home he collected his rubies;

From his shop, all his silver and gold;

From his yard, all the gems he had buried;

Now all with intent to be sold.

He went to his places of hiding

Where diamonds had laid for so long.

He remembered his favorite topaz—

So golden, translucent, and strong.

He gathered them all for the selling,

For he knew it would cost all he had.

Some who saw watched him with wonder

While others were sure he was mad.

Was it hard? Oh you can't imagine

The war that was waged in his soul!

But with every doubt he remembered

The image of one priceless pearl.

And when all was gathered and ready,

He went to the market to trade.

"All that you have in exchange for the pearl"—

With pleasure the bargain was made.

The kingdom of heaven is like the worth of a soul

To a missionary seeking to serve,

Who, when he discovered the grace of the Lord,

Put his life for two years on reserve.

At home he left friends and his family,

Took leave from employment and school.

He put away favorite hobbies,

All to become the Lord's tool.

While serving, he discovered his weakness,

Habits he'd held to for years,

Traits not entirely Christlike,

Like pride and doubt and fears.

He cast them off each one by one,

For he knew the Lord needed his all.

Many admired his service

While others thought he was a fool.

Was it hard? Oh how you can't imagine

The war that was waged in his soul!

But always the image he kept in his mind:

A child of God, saved and whole.

And when he had finished his mission,

He went to the Lord and heard,

"All of your might in exchange for your soul."

"But wait," he thought, "what was that word?

My own soul I never considered;

It was not for myself that I gave

My heart and my might, my mind and my strength,

So why is it I have been saved?"

And thus he discovered the secret,

The irony of this great labor:

You thrust in your sickle for others

Yet bring to yourself God's favor.

In teaching, you're filled with His knowledge;

In serving, you're filled with His love;

In daily fulfilling His work and His glory,

You're filled with His power from above.

Oh, the kingdom of heaven, what an honor to build

While the God of that kingdom builds you!

"All that I have in exchange for your will"—

Thus He blesses the faithful and true.

Reflection Questions

• How have you noticed God building you as you've striven to build His kingdom?
• In what ways have you been blessed by your sacrifices?
• What are some things you could "cast off" from your life right now in order to be closer to Heavenly Father and the Savior?