Trending Now

See All

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. ...

46935

6 Profound Insights into the Temple from President Russell M. Nelson

President Russell M. Nelson, excerpted from "Teachings of Russell M. Nelson" - "Temple patterns are as old as human life on earth. Actually, the plan for temples was established even before the foundation of the world," President Russell M. Nelson taught. Throughout his service in the Church, President Nelson has provided profound insight into the temple, its symbolism, and what it means to each of us. Here are some of those insights, excerpted from the new book  Teachings of Russell M. Nelson. Scripture and Topics to Enhance Your Temple Attendance Each temple is a house of learning. There we are taught in the Master’s way. His way differs from modes of others. His...

47064

"You Made the Show Special": Simon Cowell Praises Latter-day Saint Couple on "AGT" for Their Death-Defying Finale Performance

Katie Lambert - Thanks to  Deseret News for making us aware of this story . Imagine trusting someone so completely you would be willing to be hurled through the air on a trapeze so high above the ground you risk serious injury or death if you fall. Oh, and this person you're trusting to catch? They're blindfolded.  ► You'll also like:  Latter-day Saint Couple Makes Top 10 on “America’s Got Talent” with Incredible Trapeze Act For Latter-day Saint couple and trapeze artists Tyce Nielsen and Mary Ellen Wolfe there's no imagination involved in this scenario—this is their life. And last night on America's Got...

47063

The Incredible Moment That Led Elder Echo Hawk to Forgive His Brother's Killer

LDS Living Staff - 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 Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk in April 2018. (Read the full talk here .) On a December night in 1982, Elder Larry J. Echo Hawk and his wife, Terry, woke to the sound of their phone ringing in their home in Pocatello, Idaho. "As I answered the phone, I heard...

46999

3 Principles for a Happier Marriage

Kristena Eden - How frustrating is it when we find out that the love of our life is really human? Many times, we think marriage is about marrying the right person, so when there’s a problem that arises, we may wonder if we married the wrong person. The truth is not that we marry the “right” person, but that we marry a compatible person striving to do the right things. Marriage is a work in progress involving spirals, sometimes feeling shortchanged, and seeing personal attributes of our spouse not previously recognized.  We all have hard times in our relationships, and we have two healthy...

47004

Elizabeth Smart Kidnapper Walks Out of Prison a Free Woman

Deseret News - After  Elizabeth Smart held a press conference  last week about Wanda Barzee's release, Barzee was released from prison on September 19. One of the two people who kidnapped 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart in 2002 and contributed to her ongoing sexual and physical abuse, was released from prison Wednesday after serving her entire sentence. Wanda Barzee, 72, walked out of the Utah State Prison sometime Wednesday morning, according to prison officials. Although she has served all of her state sentence, Barzee will now begin five years of supervised release under her federal sentence. She is required to meet immediately with a federal probation...

47003

One Powerful Insight into Giving Up the Term "Mormon" and the End of "Mormonism"

Rosemary Card - Before I dive in, I want to make it clear that I have a deep belief that the things that make us different are important. Race, culture, socioeconomic status, gender, age, sexual orientation, and opportunities all shape us and influence how we see the world and live our lives. Diversity and differences within a whole enrich the group with understanding. I value our difference and by no means attempt to diminish them and their consequences.  Recently, President Nelson invited us to retire the label of “Mormons.” I’ll admit that it has taken me some time to feel at peace with this...

Simple Savings

See All