Dr. David T. Morgan

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
March 16, 2022 09:06 AM MDT
“How can I get rid of this feeling? I hate feeling this way.”
6 Min Read
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
February 02, 2022 10:03 AM MST
Global research shows mental health issues in youth have doubled since the pandemic.
7 Min Read
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
May 26, 2020 09:40 AM MDT
In Washington state, we are in our eighth week of our governor’s “stay at home” order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Personally, I try to look forward to better times, but there is a lot of pessimism out there. I’ve stopped reading certain news outlets because it seems the only information it publishes is dire predictions and dismal forecasts. As a social scientist, I know that statistics can be adjusted to make almost anything appear factual, so it’s difficult to know which reports are accurate and which are exaggerations or half-truths. Sometimes it is hard for me to stay positive and endure well when negativity is often the prevailing sentiment; perhaps you have had a similar experience lately.
8 Min Read
April 20, 2020 10:41 PM MDT
True confession: I have always been somewhat anxious. But I think this liability has been a blessing to me inasmuch as it has encouraged me to be more diligent in my efforts to develop faith in the Lord. Even so, I have developed many physical strategies to manage anxiety symptoms. One of these strategies has been to become a planner and organizer. I love routine. I like being able to look at my long-term calendar and see what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, and next month. Doing this helps decrease my anxiety symptoms and provides a little relief.
8 Min Read
February 25, 2020 11:01 AM MST
When asked to return to Jerusalem and retrieve the plates of brass, Nephi responded in faith that he would “go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded” (1 Nephi 3:7). He later learned from experience that the Lord was true to His word, providing divine assistance to help him accomplish the task. As I talk with Latter-day Saints who struggle with anxiety or other mental health issues, they often look to the example of Nephi. If the Lord wants me to overcome anxiety, He will provide a way, they reason. But what is the way? How much am I supposed to do and how much will He help? It is a very legitimate question. We know the Lord will bless us with divine assistance, but He also insists we do our part. So, what is our part? Coincidentally, Nephi’s own life experience also answers that question.
8 Min Read
January 22, 2020 10:58 PM MST
This article is written by Dr. David T. Morgan, who writes for LDS Living under the title of “Latter-day Saint Psychologist.” He has a special connection with the person featured in this post.
8 Min Read
December 20, 2019 01:59 PM MST
When I was a seminary student many years ago, I loved short scripture mastery scriptures, as they were easy to memorize. One still lingers in my mind today: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Back then, this scripture didn’t mean much to me besides being an easy “check off” on my scripture mastery list. Now 30 years later, after disappointments and stress and challenges and heartbreak, this scripture carries more personal meaning. If men and women exist to be joyful and happy, they why do so many seem to be unhappy and depressed? If happiness is the design of our existence, has that design been thwarted?
7 Min Read
November 22, 2019 10:00 PM MST
I recently experienced a couple of events that taught me about why some trials persist even though we are working hard to defeat them. Before I tell you about that, I need to provide some background. First, you should know we currently have two children at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg. Second, you should know that we live in Vancouver, Washington, which is about 700 miles from there. Third, I should tell you that I enjoy indoor cycling, which is a specific type of stationary bike—some know it as spinning. Please bear with me while I explain how these things are related.
8 Min Read