Michelle Wilson

Michelle Wilson is an inspirational nonfiction author and speaker who lives in the Northwest. She loves the gospel, her family, and good food. She also enjoys freelance writing and podcasting.

Side view of a woman silhouette during sunset in Jordan.

Help for Life Challenges

What we get wrong about joy

By Michelle Wilson

October 02, 2024 04:10 PM MDT

With the right mindset, you really can learn to thrive in difficulty—and avoid doubt and shame along the way.

4 Min Read

A woman looks distracted and pensive as she lies on a bed holding a mobile phone, and gazes out the window

Help for Life Challenges

Online voices attacking the Church can be unsettling. 5 ways to regain peace

By Michelle Wilson

August 27, 2024 04:03 PM MDT

Seeing criticism against the Church online can create feelings of stress or anxiety. Here are five suggestions to help you recenter on faith.

6 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

A simple object lesson about how to ‘seek Jesus’ that really makes it click

By Michelle Wilson

June 18, 2024 06:48 AM MDT

What started out as a joke turned into a powerful realization about how to recognize Jesus’s influence in my life.

2 Min Read

Woman with eyes closed embracing mother in kitchen at home

Help for Life Challenges

This important line from general conference might help you worry less about your adult children

By Michelle Wilson

May 31, 2024 02:33 PM MDT

As my children grew into adulthood, my worry seemed to grow with them. Then I came across a revelatory line in a recent talk that changed me.

3 Min Read

Follow the Prophets

The golden question I found hiding in Elder Kearon’s ‘relentless pursuit’ talk

By Michelle Wilson

April 26, 2024 11:11 AM MDT

The question the Spirit whispered to my heart is changing my approach to daily devotion.

6 Min Read

Help for Life Challenges

Why you doubt yourself—and the spiritual key to steady confidence

By Michelle Wilson

April 22, 2024 06:46 AM MDT

How do I accept the power to define myself according to God’s view? The answer is simple.

7 Min Read

Young woman relaxing with hands in the air by the pier and enjoying the beautiful sunset and warmth of sunlight

Latter-day Saint Life

Can I change immediately? What the scriptures say vs. what Satan wants you to believe

By Michelle Wilson

March 19, 2024 10:53 AM MDT

What if change can be immediate? In fact, what if long-lasting change isn’t possible without immediate change?

6 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

No one fits ‘the mold.’ Bringing our whole personalities to church is one of the best things we can do

By Michelle Wilson

February 08, 2024 12:03 PM MST

Bring your weirdness, your loud laugh, your jokes, your questions, your shyness, your doubts, your fidget spinners, your insecurities—come because you belong.

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Your job isn’t to be perfect. It’s to stay close to the One who can perfect you

By Michelle Wilson

January 15, 2024 08:31 AM MST

To be at peace with our efforts, we must learn to stop seeing our lives through a self-centric lens and start looking through a Savior-centric lens.

8 Min Read

Fun

The bizarre things young kids say + the lesson it taught me about my Heavenly Father

By Michelle Wilson

May 03, 2022 02:29 PM MDT

“Best of all were the funny stories they would tell about their parents—the kind of stories I know parents would not want their children to tell.”

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How to create moments of perfection with your kids even when you’re not perfect

By Michelle Wilson

April 28, 2022 02:33 PM MDT

“Yes, mothers are honored, revered, and made to be saints—perfect even. But are moms perfect? Is that what is expected of us, needed from us? Will we fail in our role if we are anything less? These are questions many mothers, myself included, have struggled with.”

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

What my Relief Society learned about ministering long before the program started

By Michelle Wilson

March 14, 2022 03:00 PM MDT

As a newly called Relief Society president, I wanted to give every sister everything they needed. It was a heavy and sacred privilege. But, one that I learned, wasn’t mine.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

7 Technological Tools to Help You Better Minister to Your Families

By Michelle Wilson

March 28, 2020 11:00 AM MDT

This story was originally published on LDS Living in November 2018.

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Can Faith and Fear Coexist? A Simple Reminder in the Face of Coronavirus

By Michelle Wilson

March 14, 2020 01:02 PM MDT

This morning, I was contemplating the crazy and unsettling state of the world when this calendar notification appeared on my phone: “Faith, starts today.”

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Youth Theme Insight: 4 Reminders of How Much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love You

By Michelle Wilson

May 17, 2019 04:00 AM MDT

Jesus loves you.

10 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Youth Theme Insight: The GPS That Christ Gave Us to Show Us the Way Home

By Michelle Wilson

April 12, 2019 09:00 AM MDT

Maps are awesome. I mean, think about it: someone with so much more knowledge and experience than us took the time to measure, calculate, and draw the terrain and roads. They added towns and cities, miles and landmarks, and roads of all kinds. They even added the N on top so everyone else in the world—who isn’t my husband—can know where north is. Through their efforts, they have unlocked a world of driving and destinations for me. Because of them, I don’t have to be lost (as much). Because of them, I can know exactly how to get where I want to go.

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How Not “Being Enough” Is Part of God’s Plan for Us

By Michelle Wilson

February 02, 2019 11:00 AM MST

It’s a phrase I’ve said to myself many times before: “With God, you are enough.”

7 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Youth Theme Insight: The Words That Helped Me Understand My Identity

By Michelle Wilson

January 18, 2019 10:00 PM MST

Over the next several months, we will be sharing insights from authors Michelle Wilson and Dennis Gaunt on this year's youth theme, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Watch for them under "Lesson Helps" on LDS Living's homepage each month and share them with your teens!

5 Min Read

Fun

The Surprising Way Church Members Caught the Attention of the Creator of the Popular Marco Polo App

By Michelle Wilson

December 01, 2018 11:39 AM MST

It’s 7 a.m. I grab my phone and head downstairs for a bowl of shredded Mini-Wheats. As I pour the milk, my phone lights up. I have just received a video message from my mom. Without worrying about my bedhead and puffy eyes, I tap on the screen and see my mom’s smiling face from two states away, wishing me good morning. The message is not long, maybe a minute or two. But I feel connected, and it makes me smile.

7 Min Read

Famous Latter-day Saints

Comedians of JK! Studios Talk Humor + Plans and Goals for the Future

By Michelle Wilson

November 26, 2018 10:39 PM MST

Big changes often require big faith. That’s definitely the case for the original 10 cast members of BYUtv’s Studio C who recently announced a very big change. After nine seasons of bringing hilarious, family-friendly sketch comedy to the homes of millions, they have chosen to leave the show and start a new endeavor together—JK! Studios.

8 Min Read

Questions About Ministering: Part 2

By Michelle Wilson

November 09, 2018 02:34 PM MST

Over the years, I’ve had sisters share a number of questions and concerns with me about Relief Society, with additional ones being shared with the ministering changes. Some are logistical questions. Others are deep-seated concerns.Last month we shared five questions and answers about ministering. Here are four more.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

A Letter to Moms with Young Children at Church

By Michelle Wilson

November 07, 2018 07:49 PM MST

Moms of young kids, I know you. I’ve been you. I’ve sat in sacrament meeting with children on all sides, pulling my clothes and my hair, trying to crawl under the pew, smashing Cheerios in the bench.

4 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

What an Impression That Didn't Work Out Taught Me About God (+4 More Insights)

By Michelle Wilson

October 30, 2018 09:00 AM MDT

A few months ago, I received a strong impression to write on a specific topic. It was a welcome revelation, because as far as my writing has gone, it has seemed that God has had no strong feelings on what I should write. I know He cares about my hobbies and interests, of course, but as I’ve prayed about what to write in recent years, passing ideas by Him or asking for direction, it’s almost been as though His answer has been, “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. You could do that. Whatever you feel you want to do is fine with me.”

7 Min Read

Lesson Helps

Answering Questions About Ministering: Part 1

By Michelle Wilson

October 12, 2018 08:59 AM MDT

Over the years, I’ve had sisters share a number of questions and concerns with me about Relief Society, with additional ones being shared with the ministering changes. Some are logistical questions. Others are deep-seated concerns. Below I address a few of these, in no particular order.

4 Min Read