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51651

The March Madness of Yesteryear: A Look Back at the History and Intensity of Church Ball

Morgan Jones - Tonight, the championship game of the NCAA Tournament will be played in Minneapolis, but recently, a group reunited in Salt Lake City to relive their own March Madness 50 years ago. These days, “Church Ball” is used to describe a recreation-league type experience held once a week at your local chapel or stake center. But in 1969, Marshall Hamilton and his teammates left their home in Cincinnati to drive more than 1,650 miles to play in the All-Church tournament. Victories in a stake tournament, a district tournament, and a regional tournament made them eligible to compete in the All-Church tournament so...

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One Quote from Every Talk Given This General Conference

LDS Living Staff - With so many inspiring stories, profound insights, and spiritual promptings concentrated into conference weekend, it can be difficult to remember all we have learned and felt. Here is one powerful quote from each talk given during the April 2019 general conference to help you remember the inspired words from our Church leaders and all the wonderful experiences we had together as members of the Church. Saturday Morning Session Elder Ulisses S. Soares "Remember always that hope is an important part of the gospel plan." Sister Becky Craven "Although we may not be perfect, brothers and sisters, we can be worthy—worthy to...

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7 Announcements and Updates from April 2019 General Conference

LDS Living Staff - Find out more about the eight temples announced, a historic general authority call, the Church's new temple website, and more! Read general conference talk summaries, speaker bios, and facts here . ► You'll also like:  One Quote from Every Talk Given This General Conference 1. First Presidency announced changes in policies impacting LGBTQ members and their children. On April 4, the First Presidency announced that, effective immediately, children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender may be baptized if the custodial parents give permission for the baptism . In addition, "a nonmember parent or parents (including LGBT...

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President Nelson Announces 8 New Temples, Updates on Pioneer Temple Renovations

Newsroom - "May I suggest that you bow your head with gratitude of heart," President Nelson said  to members of the Church before announcing eight new temples, reminding us of the sacred nature of temples and asking that exclamations of excitement over new temples be kept reverent.  At the conclusion of the 189th Annual General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced plans to build eight new temples. This brings the total number of operating temples (162) and temples announced or under construction (47) to 209 worldwide. The new temples will be in the following...

51698

Church Releases New Website About Temples

Jannalee Sandau - "The temple is the house of the Lord," Elder David A. Bednar declared as part of his general conference talk Sunday afternoon. With the increased focus on home-centered, church-supported gospel learning, Elder Bednar talked of the implications of the recent changes in the Church, particularly the fact that our homes are now the best and first MTCs, Sunday School classes, family history centers, and temple preparation classes. He shared a sneak peek of a brand-new Church resource to help families know what they should or shouldn't say as the teach about temples in their homes.  While emphasizing the importance of speaking...

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How President Nelson Showed Us This Conference Has Been One of the Most Exciting and Fulfilling

Danielle B. Wagner - While there have been several significant announcements made this weekend , this general conference has moved at a different pace than what we've grown accustomed to since President Nelson became prophet—and it is exhilarating! Last general conference, while introducing changes to our church schedules, President Nelson explained that our Church leaders have "wrestled with a fundamental question" in recent years, and that question is how to focus on the "simple purity" of the gospel and implement policies with "eternal efficacy to all of God's children." He reflected on that focus when he reaffirmed our commitment to the full name of the...

51666

Church Membership More Than 16.3 Million + Temples, Missionaries, and Other Church Statistics

LDS Living Staff - The Church grew to more than 16.3 million members during 2018, according to the statistical report for 2018. The report, which was released during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2019 general conference , showed the number of temples dedicated, stakes, missions, temples dedicated, and more during 2018.  ►You’ll also like: Watch: Church Releases the World Report Heading into Conference Weekend The report showed that membership is on the rise, increasing from 16,118,169 in 2017 to 16,313,735 in 2018. Newly baptized members also increased from 233,729 in 2017 to 234,332 in 2018.  You’ll also like: First Presidency Issues 2017 Statistical...

51664

First African American Sustained as General Authority in the Church

LDS Living Staff - During the Saturday afternoon session of general conference, President Dallin H. Oaks announced the calls of 10 General Authority Seventies and 55 Area Seventies during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2019 general conference.  Among them was Elder Peter Matthew Johnson, who Church Public Affairs confirmed is the first African American general authority in Church history. Elder Joseph W. Sitati, who was sustained as a General Authority Seventy in April 4, 2009, was the first black African called as a general authority. The Church continues to call and sustain leaders from around the world. We have confirmed with Church Public...

51663

New Sunday School Presidency and General Authorities Announced at April 2019 Conference

Newsroom - President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced the calls of 10 General Authority Seventies and 55 Area Seventies during the Saturday afternoon session of the April 2019 general conference. He also announced a new Sunday School General Presidency to replace Brother Tad. R. Callister, Brother Devin G. Durrant and Brother Brian K. Ashton, who have served as a presidency for five years. Brother Mark L. Pace is the new president, with Brother Milton Camargo and Brother Jan E. Newman as his counselors. General Authority Seventies serve in the Presidency of...

36039

What Happened When a Drug Lord Was Invited to Watch General Conference

Phillip Price - With general conference this weekend, we have the great opportunity to invite our friends and others to listen to a prophet’s voice and to hear the word of God. This is a special chance for others to learn more about us, but more importantly, to feel the Spirit testify truth in their hearts. The following video of a missionary's invitation to watch general conference comes from the YouTube channel, Prepare to Serve . For one young missionary, Elder Bodine, the invitation to a drug lord to come watch general conference became a miracle story that would change the man’s life forever....

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9 GIFs That Perfectly Capture How We Feel About Conference

LDS Living Staff - For many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, general conference weekend is one of the most exciting and inspiring times of the year. Every April and October, Church leaders gather in Salt Lake City, Utah, and address the worldwide Church on matters involving faith, change, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are GIFs that perfectly explain our conference experience. 1. When you finally manage to get a ticket to a session of general conference. 2. When you reach the final countdown to when the first session begins. 3.When the prophet announces a new temple to be...

51660

President Nelson’s Remarkable First Year as Prophet Filled with Milestones, Travel, and Promises for More

ChurchofJesusChrist.org - In the past 12 months, President Russell M. Nelson and the senior leadership have changed the way Church members worship on Sundays, how they minister to one another, how priesthood quorums are organized, how missionaries begin their service and interact with their families, and how the Church’s name should be used. They’ve also introduced changes that affect every auxiliary organization in the Church. This week the council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles announced  changes to policy related to LGBT members. As he and Church members prepare for the first general conference of the second year of...

51659

Church Leaders Ask Latter-day Saints to Love Those Who Have Left +More at Conference

Deseret News - Latter-day Saints should preserve their relationships with family and friends who distance themselves from God or the church, an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Saturday morning at the beginning of the faith’s two-day, global general conference. With millions watching and listening via broadcasts on the 189th anniversary of the organization of the church, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told 20,000 people in the Conference Center across the street from Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City that some church members may be experiencing sadness, agony and regret over loved ones...

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The Most-Sung Conference Hymn and 3 More Fun Music Facts (+Poll)

Kelsey Berteaux - Conference is around the corner—and so's the chance to listen to the Tabernacle Choir and sing some of our favorite songs. Which hymns might we hear or sing this year? Turns out that some are more popular than others! Check out what we found by combing through the last 21 years of hymns sung in general conference: Top 6 Hymns Sung Across All Sessions: 1 - "High on the Mountain Top" (20 times) 2 - "How Firm a Foundation" (20 times) 3 - "Rejoice, the Lord Is King" (20 times) 4 - "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (20...

51841

Sponsored: Turn Your Saving into a Habit to Build Wealth

Mountain America Credit Union - Why do so many of us have such a hard time-saving money? Several factors can contribute to our inability to save, but one of the biggest is inconsistency. That’s right—financial success often stems from developing a few simple habits and sticking with them. We all recognize what it takes to save money—the trick is to stay focused while keeping the procrastination beast at bay. These strategies will help you stay on track: Look for opportunities to save —If saving money is at the top of your list, it’s time to look at your money flow a little differently. Every purchase is...

51650

Gay Latter-day Saint Shares the Beautiful Way Some Members Embraced Him Following Policy Changes

Ben Schilaty - I am not in a same-sex relationship. I have no plans to marry a man. I have no children. The November 2015 policy said nothing about gay Latter-day Saints like me. And yet when I read about the policy, I felt pain and confusion. You see, the hurt came from wondering if the church didn’t want people like me. The hurt came from feeling excluded. The hurt came from fearing that if I chose to be in a same-sex marriage that I would be erased from my people. In the days following the policy release in November 2015, I got so...

51646

"Deseret News" Editorial: Paradox, Revelation, and the LGBT Baptism Policy

Deseret News - Religious leaders and followers have long grappled with paradoxical points of doctrine. Thursday’s announcement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints relating to the baptisms and blessings of children of LGBT couples is no exception. It may also serve as the latest example of how revelation can come, in part, through a process Joseph Smith said involves “proving contraries.” “Proving” in this context no doubt requires deliberation, study, fasting and prayer. It requires searching for, and understanding, God’s will. The answer comes in the form of revelation. In 2015, a policy change in the church, which owns this paper,...

51644

How Church Changes Since the 1980s Have Impacted Membership, Leadership Today

Church News - When looking at the changes made to Church programs, organizations and functions in the last several decades, the phrase "simplify and reduce" can be used to summarize many of the changes in recent years. A pattern to ease the strain In 1980 the Church first instituted the three-hour Sunday meeting block  in an effort to ease the strain of individuals and families traveling back and forth several times a week to their meetinghouses for various Church programs and classes. During the months and years following, the Church saw unprecedented growth and, as a result, Church leaders continued to emphasize the importance...

51641

"All In" Excerpt: The Unexpected Connection Between Childbirth, Sealings, and the Priesthood

LDS Living - Is there any correlation between the sealing ordinance and giving birth to a child? Author Wendy Ulrich, whose most recent book, Live Up to Our Privileges , focuses on how women can use and access priesthood authority, recently sat down with All In  host Morgan Jones and shared something the Spirit taught her while she was doing sealings in the temple. Read the excerpt below or listen to the episode with Wendy here . WU : We all participate in many ways in the work of the priesthood. I really felt that strongly when I went to the temple and I...

51643

What Else Church Leaders Shared at the Global Leadership Sessions

Newsroom - Continuing a pattern that has existed since the early days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leaders from around the world gathered April 4 and 5, 2019, on Temple Square in Salt Lake City to receive instruction from senior leaders of the Church and to learn from one another. The meetings began Thursday with instruction from the First Presidency , and continued Friday with teaching from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Presiding Bishopric and presidents of the Church’s organizations for women, men, youth and children. This gathering included more than 300 leaders from every area of...

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Latter-day Saint Movie Review: What Parents Should Know About "Shazam" Before Seeing It with Family

Justin Lozada - For daily reviews and videos from a Latter-day Saint perspective, join us on Facebook and Twitter . For more films guaranteed to meet your standards, order a copy of   250 Great Movies for Latter-day Families .   What’s Shazam! about?  A teenager is endowed with incredible powers that can be called upon any time after encountering a wizard who chooses him as the “Champion of Eternity” and believes him to be the best chance to defeat an evil force. Is it any good? (Grade: B+) Shazam! is the film Warner Bros/DC needs in their stable at the moment. What I...

51642

"People" Features Latter-day Saint Mom and Advocate for Special Needs Families

Danielle B. Wagner - “Every single human being is a gamble, and we love them anyway.” That's Latter-day Saint mother, writer, and artist Amy Webb's life philosophy—a philosophy formed over many years of unexpected twists and turns. Webb  started a family blog in 2005 , but what began as a way to keep her family and friends up-to-date soon transformed into something more. When Webb began having children, she experienced postpartum depression, two miscarriages, and unexpected news that would change her family's life forever: her second daughter would be born with a rare condition called microgastria and limb reduction complex. Webb discovered this fact after...

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How One Man's Courageous Sacrifice Led to the Miraculous Rescue of His Brother

ChurchofJesusChrist.org - As we prepare for another inspiring general conference weekend, we wanted to reflect on and share past messages shared by our Church leaders over the pulpit. The following story was originally told in 1976 by Jacob de Jager during general conference . I have heard so many remarkable testimonies about wonderful men and women that have been brought into the Church that I would like to say: “You never know whom you will save.” To illustrate my point, I would like to go back in thought to my native Holland where six generations of my father’s ancestors lived in the little...

51467

Watching Conference on VHS + More Earliest Conference Memories from Readers

LDS Living Readers - From the Tabernacle Choir’s beautiful renditions of cherished hymns to the dazzling floral arrangements and inspired messages from prophets and apostles, what’s not to love about general conference? Since its beginning, general conference has undergone many changes and many firsts —like the first time it was only two days long or the first time it was held in the tabernacle—that have made it look different over the years. However, its powerful, revelatory spirit remains. We asked our readers what their earliest memories of general conference were and loved the responses so much that we had to share a few. Are any...

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