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44746

5 Myths We Tell Ourselves About Teaching by the Spirit

Gerald N. Lund, adapted from "In Tune: The Role of the Spirit in Teaching and Learning" - Statements about teaching by the Spirit have been made by various people. These illustrate that there are a number of misconceptions or misunderstandings about how the Spirit actually functions in teaching and learning settings. Some of these statements have elements of truth in them. Some can even be completely true at times, but if they are viewed as fixed rules or principles, they can be misleading. ►You'll also like: 5 Questions to Get the Most From Any Sunday School Lesson If we are teaching by the Spirit, even small children will sit quietly. I was present in the in-service training meeting...

45087

3 Appearances the Savior Will Make Before the Second Coming

Matthew B. Brown, adapted from "Prophecies: Signs of the Times, Second Coming, Millennium" - Most Christians think of the Second Coming as the appearance of the Savior to the entire population of the earth, an event that “surely shall come” ( D&C 39:21 ). But according to LDS scriptural texts, the Lord Jesus Christ, before He appears to the entire world in power and great glory, will make several preliminary appearances on the earth. This includes the appearances that will occur at Adam-ondi-Ahman, at the temple of the American Zion in New Jerusalem, and to a group of Israelites on the Mount of Olives. ►You'll also like:  5 Millennium Myths You Thought Were True At the...

46848

A Latter-day Saint Man's Raw, Honest Insight Into the Fallout of Divorce + What He Would Have Done Differently in Marriage

Dr. A. Dean Byrd adapted from "Finding Wholeness and Happiness After Divorce" - Some may think that because divorce has become easier to obtain than it was previously, it has become less traumatic. They are wrong. My own experience and those of others I’ve come to know document that the pain is still present. Those with children who are contemplating divorce and believe the hurt will be only a minor, short-term inconvenience are wrong too. Today, 13 years after divorce, there are few days in which there is not a practical and painful reminder that I am a divorced man. Marriage and Divorce The reader may wonder if the pain I’m describing causes me...

46953

7 Life-Changing Words That Came to a Latter-day Saint in Her Darkest Moments

LDS.org - As we begin gearing up for general conference, we will be highlighting past conference talks to help us review, remember, and grow closer to the Spirit so that we can better recognize the Lord's voice and direction this coming October. The following is a small portion of a talk given by Sister Carole M. Stephens in  October 2016 . ( Read the full talk here .)     I have recently become acquainted with a remarkable young woman named Josie who suffers from bipolar disorder. Here is just a little of her journey toward healing as she shared it with me:...

46810

The Beautiful Truth the Spirit Told One Woman Overwhelmed by Her Weaknesses and Imperfections

Wendy Ulrich, adapted from "Habits of Happiness" - With all the emphasis in the scriptures on repentance, worrying about our weaknesses has almost become a national pastime for good Christian folk and Latter-day Saints in particular. But a psychologist named Martin Seligman figured out that we don’t necessarily become happier by trying to fix what’s wrong with us. Fixing what’s wrong gets us to neutral—to being less miserable and having more options. But we are more likely to get to the positive side, to happiness, by pursuing our strengths.   Contribute Your Strengths This is kind of an interesting lesson for those of us who spend a lot of...

46808

25 Hymns You Didn't Realize Were Written by Prophets and General Authorities

Lindsey Miller - Hymns are such an important part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They fill the room with the Spirit during meetings and often guide and inspire us in our everyday lives. The Church announced in June that a new hymnbook  is in the works, so we thought we would take a look at some of our favorite hymns written by prophets and general authorities throughout Church history.  Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th Prophet of the Church  President Hinckley wrote the words to “My Redeemer Lives” (hymn 135) while Elder G. Homer Durham composed the music. Bruce R. McConkie, Quorum...

45541

FHE: Angels

Shauna Gibby - Conference Talk: For more information on this topic read "The Ministry of Angels," by Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign , November 2008, 29-31. Thought: In times of special need, [the Lord] sent angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near. (Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels," Ensign , Nov 2008, 29-31.) Song: "Dearest Children, God Is Near You," Hymns , #96 (especially verse 2). Scripture: Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost...

47106

7 Essentials for Gaining More From General Conference

Shelly Scofield - Preparing for general conference is always a good idea. Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, "There are messages in each general conference given as a gift and a blessing from heaven specifically for our personal life situations." To aid in your preparation, we've compiled a list of items that will help you stay in the conference spirit through conference weekend and beyond! Friday:  Spiritual Preparation President Russell M. Nelson: Brilliant Mind, Gentle Heart by KSL Television Begin your conference weekend with a little one-on-one time with our new prophet. In an exclusive interview with President Russell M. Nelson, we discover the...

47151

15 Times Gandalf Taught the Gospel

Danielle B. Wagner - In celebration of Hobbit Day―the shared birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins on September 22―I thought it would be worthwhile to learn from one of J.R.R. Tolkien's wisest characters―Gandalf, a.k.a. the Grey Pilgrim, a.k.a. Mithrandir. It's not a very well-kept secret that Gandalf―who dies fighting a personified creature of darkness, death, and shadow only to be resurrected as a more powerful being of light―functions as a Christ figure throughout the Lord of the Rings trilogy. As a devout Christian, J.R.R. Tolkien shared his beliefs in subtle and not-so-subtle ways throughout all of his works, and no character reflects that better than...

47149

Watch: How a MLB Stadium Became Holy Ground

LDS Living Staff - Though a haven for sports fans and concert enthusiasts, Safeco Field became something else on September 15 as a prophet of God stepped onto the infield—it became holy ground. There nearly 50,000 Latter-day Saints heard  President Russell M. Nelson "invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, to receive the blessings of the holy temple and qualify for eternal life, so that they can have enduring joy now and forever." There a living prophet shared with the world five life-changing lessons that can bring lasting peace and happiness. ...

47150

Church Releases More Information on New Worldwide Youth Initiative

Newsroom - New information has been released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on plans announced in May for new worldwide resources for girls and boys, young women, and young men. The initiative for Latter-day Saint youth, ages 8 to 18, will replace all existing youth activity programs beginning in January 2020, including the Church’s relationship with all Scouting programs around the world.   Two new frequently asked questions and answers have been posted on childrenandyouth.lds.org . An email is being sent to youth leaders.  The frequently asked questions explain that “camps and other outdoor activities will be an important part...

47148

8 Things Every Bishop Wants His Ward Members to Know

LDS.org - The following was written by Michael Meyers for the Ensign. I had the wonderful opportunity to serve as a bishop. During those years, I learned more lessons than can be enumerated. But I did learn eight truths that I believe are universal. While this list is not all-inclusive, it is my attempt at sharing what every bishop hopes his ward members know. 1. The bishop loves every member of his ward in a very real way. The love a bishop has for his ward is connected to the love that Heavenly Father and  Jesus Christ have for each of us. When...

47037

"The Hymn Became a Living Thing": Author Shares Touching Moments That Inspired "Lord, I Would Follow Thee"

Susan Evans McCloud - In the writing of the hymn “Lord, I Would Follow Thee” ( Hymns , no. 220), I learned that the Lord’s timing is not our timing, and the Lord so often has plans of His own. As preparation for the new hymnbook took place over a long period in the early 1980s, I was working now and then on assignments for the Young Women's organization or the Church Education System. Michael Moody was chairman of the Church Music Committee and over the hymnbook project, and every time I met him at the Church Office Building, he would urge me to send...

47081

Elder Soares' Favorite Scripture (+ How It Captures His Life Perfectly)

LDS.org - Recently, Elder Neil L. Andersen  wrote an article  about the remarkable life of our new apostle, Elder Ulisses Soares. In the article, which will be published in the October  Ensign, Elder Soares's daughter Lethicia says, “When Jesus called His Apostles, He didn’t pick the most knowledgeable Pharisees, He picked fishermen. My father and mother are like that. They totally trust the Lord, and He uses them to fulfill His works because He knows they are selfless, willing to work hard, and humble enough to accept correction.” Elder Dale G. Renlund adds,  “Elder Soares is an exuberant, committed, devoted disciple of Jesus...

47016

Voice Actor from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" Talks Conversion, Faith, More

Jannalee Sandau - Born in South Dakota, Brian Cummings grew up under the dual care of his parents and his grandmother, starting his career in radio as a teenager. Little did he know what the Lord had in store for him, as he went on to find the gospel, raise a family, and bring to life the voices of animated characters such as Chef Bouche (the stove) in Beauty and the Beast , Doofus in the original  Duck Tales , and Papa Q. Bear in The Berenstain Bears . Cartoons, Radio, and Everything in Between Even from a young age, Cummings remembers his fascination...

47131

Latter-day Saint Actors and Set Designer Share the Miracles They've Seen Putting Their Lives in God's Hands

Danielle B. Wagner - Since Joseph Smith directed Latter-day Saints to form a dramatic company after building the first community theaters in Nauvoo, Illinois, Latter-day Saints have had a fondness for the performing arts. One of the first structures the pioneers erected after reaching Salt Lake City was a bowery on what is now Temple Square where they could perform music, dance, and plays. Today, Latter-day Saints' affinity for the arts still continues, a fact which is especially apparent at the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater in St. George, Utah. Nestled in a red-rock canyon above the gleaming St. George temple, the Tuacahn hosts many Latter-day Saint...

47143

Why Church Leaders Support Medical Marijuana but Not Prop. 2

Church News - “We believe this proposition loses sight of our real purpose, which is to relieve pain and suffering and, if passed, could become a slippery slope to unintended uses of marijuana,” Elder Christensen said.  In appropriate circumstances, the Church supports the use of medicinal marijuana when it is distributed in a controlled way to people enduring chronic pain and suffering. But the medical marijuana initiative that Utahns will vote on in November is not the right solution, it says. The Proposition 2 initiative “goes far beyond what we consider the appropriate use of medical cannabis,” said Elder Craig C. Christensen, a General...

47038

Scholars Find Evidence That Book of Mormon Phrases Mocked by Critics Have a Surprising and Fascinating History

Daniel Peterson, for LDS Living - The latest products of professor Royal Skousen’s Book of Mormon Critical Text Project have just appeared: two massive books with the title of The Nature of the Original Language. With the collaboration of independent linguist Stanford Carmack, Skousen argues in The Nature of the Original Language that virtually all the language of the Book of Mormon, including the features that critics have often derided as “bad grammar,” is found in Early Modern English—which is typically defined as the form of the English language that existed between the late 15th century, in the early Tudor period when Middle English become obsolete, and...

47087

Watch: Lindsey Stirling Joins Duo Transcend for Epic Performance on "America's Got Talent" Final

Lindsey Miller - Latter-day Saint couple Tyce Nielsen and Mary Ellen Wolfe, also known as Duo Transcend, took the stage for the last time on America’s Got Talent. The couple’s exciting routines landed them a spot in the top 10 finalists and the praise of judges, but they didn't come away with first place or the $1 million prize.  Lindsey Stirling and Brian King Joseph joined Duo Transcend onstage during the finale episode and gave a breathtaking performance. While Stirling and Joseph were busy giving an energetic performance on their violins, Duo Transcend was flying through the air on their trapeze, making for an...

47039

How This Missionary Was Able to Help Save the Life of the Man Who Rescued Him Spiritually

Ralph Holding and Erika Lundquist - Often we influence each other in ways that we will never know or understand, but sometimes, we are gifted the opportunity to see how we touch each other’s lives for good. The summer I graduated from high school, turmoil and pain surged through my family. My parents were divorcing, and I was 18. Like most young men growing up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I had been planning to serve a two-year mission for my church, but now my world felt shattered—fragments of what it used to be. The foundation of my faith began to crack, and...

47005

The Famous Car Logo a Latter-day Saint Inspired

Jeff Hampton - One evening, legendary sculptor Avard Fairbanks got a call from the engineers at Dodge automobile company. As he recalled, "they explained that they had 10,000 cars that needed hood ornaments and they wanted something as attractive as the ornament on a Rolls Royce, but for the cheapest car! I took along my clay and an animal book by my friend . . . and spent the next several days at their headquarters." Fairbanks went to work. "I suggested a mountain lion, a tiger, a jaguar, and other animals," he continued. "Finally I started modeling a mountain sheep. When the engineers read that...

47086

Stunning Video Takes You on a Tour of the New Chile Temple Set to Open Next Month

LDS Living Staff - At the beginning of September, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released the first photos inside the newly completed Concepción Chile Temple, which is scheduled to be dedicated October 28, 2018, as the Church's 160th temple. Daniel Smith from Messages of Christ recently created this beautiful video, which takes you on a virtual tour of the temple. ...

47080

The Surprising and Influential Advice Elder and Sister Gong Received During Their Marriage Sealing

LDS.org - Recently, Elder D. Todd Christofferson  wrote an article  about the remarkable life of our new apostle, Elder Gerrit W. Gong. In the article, which will be published in the October  Ensign, President Russell M. Nelson said, “When we send Elder Gong into any situation, those involved feel they have found a friend. He has a high level of knowledge, but he is humble. He relates with people at all levels and is always well-prepared and persuasive.” A newly married graduate student at England’s University of Oxford, Gerrit W. Gong learned through personal experience that when we love the Lord and trust...

47036

Why Is the Book of Mormon so Repetitive? How One of the Book's Biggest Criticisms Offers Powerful Evidence

LDS Living Staff - Recently Book of Mormon Central created a fascinating video detailing how one of the biggest criticisms of the Book of Mormon—its repetitiveness—actually provides compelling evidence that it is an ancient record written by those familiar with sacred Hebrew writings. ...

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