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38160

RM, Female Graduate from Coast Guard Academy Shares How She Stays True to Her Faith

Deseret News - As the only active Mormon at the United States Coast Guard Academy, Becca Cotton celebrated her religion at her graduation.  A month ago in the seaport city of New London, Connecticut, the sun glinted off Becca Cotton’s white dress uniform as she walked across the stage to receive her Coast Guard commission from President Donald Trump. She was then assigned to a cutter with a name that reflected her journey as the lone active female Latter-day Saint at the military academy: Valiant. Graduating from the United States Coast Guard Academy had been no small feat for Cotton, who grew up in the remote...

38159

Caught on Camera: Missionary, Son of NBA Star, Performs Selfless Act for a Man in Need

Katie Lambert - Thanks to Deseret News for making us aware of this story.  LDS missionary Brendan Bailey, son of former Utah Jazz star Thurl “Big T” Bailey, was caught on camera performing a selfless act of service for a man in need.  On Monday, the communications director for Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, Matt Whitlock, caught the act of service on camera while at the Union Station in Washington D.C. The video shows Elder Bailey eating lunch with his companion and giving money to a man who approached him in the Union Station, an act of service that isn't always easy with the limited budget of missionaries.  Though...

38157

15 Modern-Day Boy Scout Badges We Wish Were Real

LDS Living Staff - Thanks to Deseret News for making us aware of  Twitter's #ModernDayBoyScoutBadges. With more than 135 merit badges to choose from, Boy Scouts have a lot of potential activities they can do. And the #ModernDayBoyScoutBadges on Twitter is adding a few unofficial but hilarious badges into the mix—including these 15 ideas we thought were especially relevant.  #ModernDayBoyScoutBadges Binge-Watching Merit pic.twitter.com/evTTlJjR8M — HogwartsRunningClub (@HogwartsRunners) June 27, 2017 #ModernDayBoyScoutBadges Finishing homework without using Google. pic.twitter.com/r7LgwNiZwI — Book Worm Anonymous (@BookNerdAnon) June 27, 2017 #ModernDayBoyScoutBadges Went 24 hours without iPad badge — Jim Richards (@jimr_berkeley) June 27, 2017 Saving a phone that's been dropped in water...

38155

BYU Student Moves on in "Jeopardy!" Game Show, Wins Over $20,000

Katie Lambert - Last night, two Mormons competed on the popular trivia show Jeopardy! and one came away with incredible winnings.  Brandon Randall, a BYU student, and Elisabeth Larsen, a stay-at-home mom and online adjunct professor, made up two of the three contestants on the show. Before competing, however, Larsen and Randall shared some rather interesting tidbits about themselves.  Randall, who said on the show that his dream was to someday own a cow, tried to explain why his dream wasn't something else to show host Alex Trebek. "I just love cows. They seem cool, they make cheese and milk—"  "I don't want you to go any...

38152

First-Ever Mormon Arts Festival Set to Open in New York

Madeleine Tolk - On June 29 through July 1, 2017, Mormon artists, musicians, and scholars will gather from all over the world to participate in the first-ever  Mormon Arts Center Festival . The festival will take place in New York City at the recently established Mormon Arts Center and is co-directed by Richard Bushman, the Gouverneur Morris Professor Emeritus of History at Columbia University, and Glen Nelson, the founder/director of the Mormon Artists Group.  The newly organized Mormon Arts Center has three goals: to display and perform Mormon art in New York City and elsewhere, to publish scholarship about Mormon art to reach a wider...

38153

Watch: Former RS President Who Passed Away, Barbara Winder, Shares Unforgettable Testimony

LDS Living Staff - Barbara Ann Woodhead Winder, former Relief Society general president, died on June 25 . She was 86 years old and spent her life uplifting and guiding members of the Church. In honor of Sister Winder, we wanted to share this powerful video. On February 10, 2009, Sister Julie B. Beck interviewed Sister Winder, a moment which produced this candid and moving testimony from Sister Winder about her love for the Lord. Read more of Sister Winder's words here. ...

38151

Church Announces 3 Temples in U.S. to Close for Renovation

Mormon Newsroom - With this announcement, that makes 11 temples throughout the world that are currently closed or scheduled to be closed for renovation. The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the closure of three temples in the United States for extensive renovation. The Mesa Arizona Temple will close in May 2018 and will reopen in 2020 following needed repairs and upgrades. The Raleigh North Carolina Temple will be closed beginning January 2018. In February 2018, the Baton Rouge Louisiana Temple will temporarily shut down. The temples in North Carolina and Louisiana will be rededicated sometime in...

38149

Barbara Winder, Former Relief Society General President, Dies at 86

Deseret News - We love Sister Winder and are grateful for all she gave to our church. Sister Barbara Ann Woodhead Winder, former Relief Society general president for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died on June 25, at the age of 86. Known for her lifetime of Church service, Sister Winder was a powerful teacher who focused her ministry on helping others “Come unto Christ.” Sustained on April 7, 1984, Sister Winder served as the 11th Relief Society general president for the Church and later served as assistant matron of the Jordan River Utah Temple and as matron of the Nauvoo...

38148

"The First Thing I'll Do Is Pay My Tithe" NFL Quarterback Derek Carr Says of $125 Million Contract

Deseret News - It's so inspiring seeing people living their faith and remaining vocal about it, despite fame or fortune. He’s the highest-paid player in NFL history, and the first thing Derek Carr is going to do with the $125 million from his contract extension with the Oakland Raiders is pay his tithing, reported SB Nation . "The first thing I'll do is pay my tithe like I have since I was in college," Carr told CBS Sports. "Giving $700 on a scholarship check. That won't change. I'll do that." But Carr isn’t going to stop there. "The exciting thing for me, money-wise, honestly, is that...

38103

A Glimpse into the Final Moments of Joseph Smith's Life from a Witness to His Martyrdom

John Taylor (Edited by Mark H. Taylor, Adapted from "Witness to the Martyrdom") - The following is an excerpt from the second edition of Witness to the Martyrdom: John Taylor’s Personal Account of the Last Days of the Prophet Joseph Smith . John Taylor’s narrative is the only eyewitness account of these events in Church history. After the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, John Taylor became “a living martyr,” and endured to write a personal account of the events. He served as the third President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It certainly was a terrible scene: streams of fire as thick as my arm passed by me as these men...

38156

Poll: Which Super Star Would You Want to See Perform with the Tabernacle Choir?

LDS Living Staff - Sting, Angela Lansbury, James Taylor, Natalie Cole, John Denver, Yo-Yo Ma, Gladys Knight, David Archuleta. There's no doubt the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has performed with quite a few celebrities and world-renowned musicians. ► You'll also like: What 16 Famous People Have Said About the Tabernacle Choir  But the 360-member choir, which has been delighting audiences for over a century and a half, still has plenty more performances in their future. Last year, someone created a fake Facebook event announcing that Tupac was going to perform with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, an event thousands said they would attend. "That's right, Tupac Shakur is...

38150

Jimmy Fallon's Mind Gets Blown by LDS Prankster, Magician Stuart Edge

LDS Living Staff - Stuart Edge is known for his hilarious pranks and incredible magic tricks on YouTube, and his tricks and mischievous nature even landed him on Late Night   with Jimmy Fallon.  Recently, Edge shared a memory from his appearance on the show with a gif of a "slapjack" fight with a cappella singer Peter Hollens.  Awesome 😂 @FallonTonight @PeterHollens #FirstGifComesUpForYourName pic.twitter.com/XEvht3L9xv — Stuart Edge (@stuart_edge) June 22, 2017 Known for his "kissing" pranks, Edge also incorporated magic and, yes, kissing to create a magic trick that is both genius and slightly awkward for The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2013.  Watch...

38147

24 Harry Potter Moments That Are Straight Out of the Life of Mormons

Danielle B.Wagner - On June 26, Harry Potter, the magical series that enchanted readers across the world, turned 20. And there's no doubt that among J.K. Rowling's most loyal fans are many Mormons, because many of us can relate to the life of this brave, young wizard. Don't believe me? Here are 24 moments almost all Mormons experience, straight for the Harry Potter series. That moment when you receive a special letter issued by a wise man who fills your life with guidance and direction, a letter that will determine where you'll be spending the most pivotal years of your life: That moment when...

38145

Evie Clair Gets Sweetest Tweet from Christina Perri After Her "America's Got Talent" Performance

Katie Lambert - Thanks to the Deseret News for making us aware of this story. After her stunning performance of “Arms” on America's Got Talent, LDS singer Evie Clair gained the attention of the song's original performer, Christina Perri, and show judges in the sweetest way.  Evie Clair dedicated her audition performance of the song on the NBC TV show to her father, who is battling stage 4 colon cancer.  “About a year ago my dad was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer," Evie Clair says on the show. "They gave him a 5 percent chance to live and he still continued working and supporting our...

38142

Photo: LDS Temple Surrounded by Wildfire (+ Other Amazing Photos of Temples and Natural Disasters)

Danielle B.Wagner - The Eastern Arizona Courier recently carried a photograph by Diane Drobka showing the Frye fire in Arizona raging behind the LDS Gila Valley Arizona Temple. According to the Eastern Arizona Courier, the fire has grown to over 29,000 acres as of Friday, contributing to the numerous wildfires in Arizona that have caused the governor to declare a state of emergency . But this isn't the first time LDS Temples have been tested by natural disasters and survived. In a very rare event, a tornado swept through Utah on September 8, 2002. As it passed Manti, it came incredibly close to the temple, silhouetting it...

38144

Early LDS Apostle Orson Hyde Inducted Into Derby Hall of Fame

Katie Lambert - For 10 years, the city of Derby, Connecticut, has chosen Derby natives and residents who have shaped history to be inducted into the Derby Hall of Fame.  And this year's lineup included the first Mormon apostle to make it into the Hall of Fame—Orson Hyde.  "The additions to Hall of Fame this year are impressive and show the strength and vision of the Valley forefathers that made it great,” Mayor Anita Dugatto told ctpost.com .  The early Mormon apostle was born in Oxford, Connecticut, but after the death of his parents was taken in by Nathan Wheeler—who lived in Derby.  Orson stayed with the...

38137

BYU Finalizes New Amnesty Policy for Assault Victims

Deseret News - BYU-Provo, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, and the LDS Business College have all adopted a new amnesty policy for witnesses and student survivors of sexual assault.  LDS Church colleges and universities have finalized an amnesty policy that shields student victims and witnesses of sexual assault from honor code investigations, BYU announced Friday. The policy, also adopted at BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii and LDS Business College, is intended to encourage students to report assaults without concern that the Honor Code Office might punish them for violations that could be uncovered during an assault investigation. BYU also announced that nearly 43 percent of students completed a campus climate survey...

38136

Tabernacle Choir Director Teaches New Group—and They're Not Who You’d Expect (+ Video)

Salt Lake Tribune - There's no better way to spread light than through uplifting music. Mormon Tabernacle Choir director Mack Wilberg has taken a new group of musicians under his wing — but you'll have to visit Utah State Prison to hear them perform. Members of the advanced vocals class in the prison's Wasatch Music School performed two numbers under Wilberg's direction on Saturday during the school's spring recital. It wasn't just a guest performance — Wilberg said he intends to continue to working with the prison's choirs. David Aguirre, Wasatch Music School director, reached out to Wilberg earlier this year to ask if someone...

38135

Smithsonian Displays Rare Mormon Artifacts

Mormon Newsroom - If you visit the Smithsonian, you might just see rare Mormon artifacts, like an original manuscript of the Book of Mormon, an 1830 first edition of the Book of Mormon, rare Mormon gold coins, and two Kirtland Safety Society notes from 1837. Artifacts from the early history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are on display in a new one-year exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The “Religion in Early America” exhibit, part of four new The Nation We Build Together exhibitions and interactive experiences, opens to the public on June 28, 2017, in the National Museum of...

28093

4 Unbelievable Stories of Babies Born in LDS Temples

Chad S. Hawkins and Katie Lambert - A brand new baby is an amazing event, but it's even more amazing when he or she is born inside an LDS temple. Check out these four unbelievable stories! Salt Lake Temple The Salt Lake Temple's dedication transpired over multiple days during the month of April in 1893. On the temple's second day of services, a truly unique experience occurred. Emma Bennett from Provo, Utah gave birth to a son in the temple at the close of the day's many events. Sister Bennett, who had been attending the dedication session in the temple’s Assembly Room, suddenly began to have labor pains....

38111

LDS Family Creates Adorable A Cappella Cover of Michael Bublé's "I Believe in You"

LDS Living Staff - LDS artists Scott and Ryceejo are a husband and wife duo who create a cappella covers of popular songs. Recently, they took on Michael Bublé's "I Believe in You." ...

38109

Elder Holland Explains the Inexplicable Joy We Can Find in Belonging to the Church

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, excerpted from "However Long and Hard the Road" - The following is an excerpt from However Long and Hard the Road. I am not much of a joiner. I didn't belong to many clubs or social units at school, and more recently I have been about as reluctant in my professional affiliations. Some of my assignments have required public participation, but in many other ways I am a private person. My sentiments are not quite those of Robert Frost, but they are close. To a group of young people he once said: "Don't join too many gangs. Join your family and join the United States and drop off at a...

38104

15 Hilarious Mormon Tweets That You'll Have No Problem Relating To

LDS Living Staff - Mormon life brings with it a series of peculiar and often humorous situations. Here are just a few captured in tweets: When you're looking in your family tree for potential baby names but all you got is... #LDS #Mormon #FamilyHistory pic.twitter.com/NjrHFlF9Rp — Kyle Treasure (@KyleTreasure) February 7, 2016 Still not big enough to fit a Mormon family pic.twitter.com/UeHi3wqN45 — Things Mormons Like (@TheMormonLikes) June 15, 2017 If I hungered after righteousness like I hunger after ice cream, I would've been translated a long time ago. — Hank R. Smith, PhD (@hankrsmith) June 23, 2017 talk in church: "general authority says to...

38101

After Excommunication: Finding Joy Again in Regaining My Covenants

Name Withheld - I learned to hold dear my covenants after experiencing their loss through excommunication. I was raised in the Church and baptized and confirmed at eight years old. The gospel was a way of life for me and for most of the people around me. The Holy Ghost was a very familiar presence in my life. When I was excommunicated, I felt an almost tangible feeling leave me. I felt like my thinking process had been disrupted and slowed, and making decisions was confusing and difficult. I was anxious and had a hard time feeling peace. I never realized how losing my...

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