Dr. David T. Morgan

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You can let go of a ‘perfect’ Christmas: The reminder from a psychologist we all need this season

December 15, 2023 12:41 PM MST

If for whatever reason your Christmas doesn’t look like everyone else’s, don’t worry. Own it. You are unique, which means you can “keep Christmas” your way.

4 Min Read

Neither Do I Condemn Thee, by Eva Koleva Timothy

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: The role of self-compassion in improving emotional resilience

By Dr. David T. Morgan

May 17, 2023 11:29 AM MDT

Two stories from my recent ‘Come, Follow Me’ studies spoke to my psychologist brain, as I’m constantly seeking better tools for emotional resilience.

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How to avoid general conference overwhelm, from a licensed psychologist

By Dr. David T. Morgan

March 27, 2023 05:00 AM MDT

For some, the biannual general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a joyful time. ... But for others, general conference can be a time of stress and has the potential to induce guilt.

8 Min Read

Psychologist,Having,Session,With,Her,Patient,In,Office

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: Why Latter-day Saints who seek needed mental health help shouldn’t be ashamed

By Dr. David T. Morgan

February 27, 2023 05:00 AM MST

“When it comes to physical health emergencies, society seems to be in universal agreement on how to handle them. ...Yet when it comes to mental health issues, and even sometimes mental health urgencies or emergencies, we are not all so agreed.”

10 Min Read

Smile,Face,With,2023,Block.,Satisfaction,,Feedback,,Review,,Mental,Health,

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: Four priorities to improve your mental health in 2023

By Dr. David T. Morgan

January 05, 2023 02:47 PM MST

“The new year is a natural time for many to reflect on past patterns and commit to new and better ones.”

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ (and other important questions)

By Dr. David T. Morgan

December 17, 2022 05:00 AM MST

Sometimes these ancient individuals, like Mary, can seem a little flat and unidimensional...but surely they were robust and complex, not unlike human beings today.

7 Min Read

Instructor,In,Foreground,With,Spinning,Class,At,A,Gym

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: What spin class taught me about coping with anxiety

By Dr. David T. Morgan

October 11, 2022 05:00 AM MDT

When teaching indoor cycling, I’d always encourage my students to “empty their gas tanks” during every workout. Some days we have ten gallons in the tank; some days we have two. Just do your best.

6 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: 3 words that can carry you through mental and physical suffering

By Dr. David T. Morgan

September 20, 2022 01:31 PM MDT

“There is hope in purposeful action. It provides us a measure of control, meaning, and determination that is very different from the feelings that come from passively waiting.”

7 Min Read

Two,Happy,Friends,Are,Talking,And,Laughing,While,Sitting,On

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: Improving your coping skills when your loved one has a faith crisis

By Dr. David T. Morgan

August 30, 2022 08:00 AM MDT

If you find yourself as one of the “shocked and saddened,” here are some suggestions that can help you cope while your loved one follows their new path.

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: Looking for a miracle? Get ready to do the required work

By Dr. David T. Morgan

July 28, 2022 05:00 AM MDT

“I thought that miracles were things that God did out of the blue. But it also seems there are times when the miracle is a combination of His efforts and ours.”

8 Min Read

Businessman,Stressed,From,Work.,Anxiety,In,Adult,Cause,To,Depression

Latter-day Saint Life

Dr. David T. Morgan: 3 things Jacob in the Book of Mormon can teach us about managing anxiety

By Dr. David T. Morgan

June 27, 2022 09:10 AM MDT

The word “anxiety” is mentioned only eight times in the Book of Mormon. Four of these times it is used by the prophet Jacob. Looking at his life, it makes sense that he probably experienced anxiety.

8 Min Read

Male,College,Student,Meeting,With,Campus,Counselor,Discussing,Mental,Health

Latter-day Saint Life

David T. Morgan: Three prophetic statements that can help improve mental health

By Dr. David T. Morgan

May 26, 2022 09:55 AM MDT

“As you look into the many excellent options available for mental health improvement, please don’t leave the Savior out of this process.”

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

David T. Morgan: 2 scriptures that help us understand why God allows us to pass through hard things

By Dr. David T. Morgan

May 02, 2022 05:00 AM MDT

Are mental health challenges part of divine design for our growth? Are they effects of choices made by others that afflict our development?

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Turning stress from a liability to a benefit

By Dr. David T. Morgan

April 05, 2022 06:00 AM MDT

We become stronger and more resilient as we experience challenges, learning strategies to defend against and defeat future threats.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint Psychologist: 3 ways forgiving others heals you

By Dr. David T. Morgan

March 16, 2022 09:06 AM MDT

“How can I get rid of this feeling? I hate feeling this way.”

6 Min Read

Prcanj,,Montenegro,-,June,,08:,Jesus,Calms,A,Storm,On

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Trusting in the Lord’s promises for more peace and less anxiety

By Dr. David T. Morgan

March 04, 2022 10:56 AM MST

Imagine being Sarah, Abraham’s wife. You’ve been faithful through many trials. You and your husband receive a promise that through your descendants, the world will be blessed for generations. But how?

6 Min Read

Sad,Thoughtful,Teen,Girl,Sits,On,Chair,Feels,Depressed,,Offended

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Why it’s time to take mental health issues seriously

By Dr. David T. Morgan

February 02, 2022 10:03 AM MST

Global research shows mental health issues in youth have doubled since the pandemic.

7 Min Read

Feature Stories

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Finding happiness regardless of your circumstance

By Dr. David T. Morgan

January 19, 2022 11:00 AM MST

Lehi taught Jacob there must be “opposition in all things”. Fourteen verses later, he taught his son that “men are, that they might have joy”. How do we reconcile those two concepts?

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Tips to reduce anxiety—3 things to consider

By Dr. David T. Morgan

November 24, 2020 11:39 AM MST

Not long ago, I was at Walt Disney World with family. We were in line for one of the more intense attractions at the resort—the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This attraction is housed in a very creepy-looking hotel, full of ghostly sights and sounds. Following an elaborate preshow, you enter a modified elevator where you are strapped into your seat. At some point, in the pitch black and without warning, the elevator car plunges more than 10 stories to the ground, then accelerates up and down the shaft in a frantic motion. The experience is incredible, potentially terrifying, and one of my favorites.

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Why I believe spirituality can help mental health

By Dr. David T. Morgan

October 09, 2020 01:09 PM MDT

As a mental health professional whose desire is to help people with mental health concerns, I was dismayed by some of the feedback I received publicly and privately about a recent article of mine that was shared on LDS Living.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint psychologist: Anxiety and depression are not sins (but the Savior's Atonement still helps)

By Dr. David T. Morgan

September 29, 2020 01:18 PM MDT

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has provided wonderful mental health resources in recent years. There is even an entire “mental health” section in the Gospel Library on the Church’s website. The content is excellent, and I encourage you to explore it.

9 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

'There's never an end': The surprising response President Nelson gave to a Primary child's question that changed my understanding of the gospel

By Dr. David T. Morgan

August 27, 2020 12:02 PM MDT

The April 2020 general conference was like no other. Broadcasting from a small auditorium, there was no general admission, prophets sat six feet apart from one another, and I imagine their words echoed from the walls of the mostly empty room. We listened from home and other locations, where fear was an emotional common denominator. COVID-19 was relatively new to the United States at that time and much was unknown, so families and individuals tuned in to conference to hear words of solace and peace. I was one of those. I was scared, upset, and fearful of what the future held. I wanted to hear from my prophet, as I truly believed he would provide a message of faith and comfort.

7 Min Read

Gospel burnout: 3 helpful solutions from a Latter-day Saint psychologist

By Dr. David T. Morgan

July 13, 2020 10:00 PM MDT

COVID-19 has introduced major disruptions into our society, including into the Lord’s restored church. We can’t gather as we used to. Ministering efforts are now critical, but many still struggle to reach out to others. Local Church leaders have become overwhelmed with the unique trials faced by their members, for which there is no preexisting list of remedies. While burnout isn't a new phenomenon among Church members, it has certainly been on the rise as a result of the pandemic.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Latter-day Saint Psychologist: How to reach our potential for happiness

By Dr. David T. Morgan

June 25, 2020 12:00 PM MDT

When I was about 13 years of age, a new family moved into our ward. They had a 12-year-old son. He and I had some things in common. He was the oldest in his family; I was the oldest in my family. He had an alpha male personality; I had an alpha male personality. But perhaps the thing we had most in common was a very strong dislike for one another. I don’t know why—we didn’t even know each other well enough to be enemies. Yet it was true that we did not get along at all.

7 Min Read