Recent
29506

What Newspapers in the 1800s Said About the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum

Jannalee Sandau - With the release of a new film based on historical documents from the time of Joseph and Hyrum's time in Carthage, we wanted to share what those outside of our faith had to say about that tragedy. Most members of the Church are familiar with the events surrounding the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. But what they might not realize is that news of their murder made headlines all across the country, from Arkansas and Connecticut to Florida and Maine. And though many didn't believe Joseph was a prophet, the majority of these media sources condemned...

40496

Weight Watchers, P. Diddy, "Criminal Minds" + Other Bizarre Places You Wouldn't Expect Prophets to Be Quoted, but They Were

LDS Living Staff - From violent TV shows to weight watching apps, here are a few bizarre places you wouldn't expect to hear quotes from our prophets and apostles. This just goes to show how pervasive and crucial their words are to all of us today. Recently, the Weight Watchers app included an inspiring quote many Mormons might have found familiar: "Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, but with great and strong purpose in your heart." The quote, from President Gordon B. Hinckley, goes on to share insight into the Church: "Love life and look for its opportunities,...

40494

For Disney Night on "Dancing with the Stars," Lindsey Stirling Performs Elegant Dance to "When You Wish Upon a Star"

Deseret News - “The essence of what the song is about is that your dreams can come true and I remember when I was a struggling artist and when I was being told that I would never succeed, I was inspired by the Walt Disney story. You know, everyone told him he was a failure and yet, he didn’t give up. So I didn’t either,” Stirling said. On Dancing With The Stars Disney night, Lindsey Stirling and her partner Mark Ballas opted to go classic. Performing the foxtrot to "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Disney's 1940 cartoon Pinocchio , the team earned...

32180

Donny Osmond Shares What Mormons Believe About Halloween with His Fans

Katie Lambert - Halloween celebrations can vary greatly from person-to-person and religion-to-religion. Some people prefer not to celebrate it, and others prefer to celebrate the day with gusto.  But when an anonymous Christian from Australia asked Donny Osmond whether or not he celebrated the holiday and what the Church's official stance on the day was, he gave a very straightforward answer. On his website, donny.com , an anonymous writer became concerned over a comment written about the Halloween celebrations in Salem. As the writer stated, "Since I was taught the REAL meaning of All Hallows’ Eve, I have been very disturbed at the practices...

40493

"Slate": Mitt Romney Is the Perfect Person to Save, Rebuild Puerto Rico

Slate - Slate Magazine had quite a lot to say about Mitt Romney, his work rescuing the 2002 Winter Olympics, and the possibility of him helping to rebuild Puerto Rico after natural and financial disasters. "The island needs an adviser to navigate Washington, Wall Street, and an uncertain future. He’s perfect," slate.com writes. Puerto Rico faces a monumental rebuilding task following Hurricanes Maria and Irma, one that could amount to an existential struggle. Several weeks after landfall, only 15 percent of the island’s population has electricity. Because it’s a territory, Puerto Rico lacks the capacity to print its own currency or raise taxes significantly,...

40474

LDS Church Leaders Visit, Give Hope to Fire Evacuees in Northern California

LDS Living Staff - “My faith gets me through, but the members make it easy,” said Bill Kastner, a member of the Church who lost his home in the devastating California wildfires. "I will report that they have what they need; they have the help of heaven and in the current Church organization in the stake [a group of congregations], that things are going very well, but [I will] ask the Brethren to continue to pray for you, as I know they will,” said Elder Carl B. Cook. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were in Northern California over the weekend...

40473

How an LDS Father of 4 Became a World Champion Despite a Chronic Health Condition (+ How He Stood Up for His Faith)

Deseret News - "I do not compete on Sunday; I do not workout on Sunday," Cody Moat says. "A few years back, Spartan Race wanted to make Sunday the big elite race day. They gave me all sorts of reasons why Sunday should be the big race day. I told them that I would be done with Spartan Race if that was the direction they were going." By day, Cody Moat is a high-school shop teacher, a devoted husband and a father of four. On an obstacle course, he's also a Beast. Moat, a native of Duchesne, Utah, who now lives in Fillmore, Utah,...

12753

President Eyring’s Humorous Call to the First Presidency: "Are You Sure You’re Talking to the Right Person?"

Robert I. Eaton and Henry J. Eyring, excerpted from "I Will Lead You Along" - While taking out the trash at home one day, Henry B. Eyring received a phone call from President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was then the prophet. Surely he had the wrong number, the then-Elder Eyring thought. He had no way of knowing the magnitude of what he was about to hear.  Uncertainty shaped Hal’s response to a phone call that came to the Eyring home on the Thursday evening before general conference. He had left the office a bit before five o’clock and driven home. After parking the car, he walked down the Eyrings’ steep driveway to retrieve an empty garbage can....

40454

11 Mormons You Won’t Regret Following on Instagram

Katie Lambert - Need that perfect quote for a church lesson? The perfect recipe? Ideas for a new modest wardrobe? Social media may have you drowning (or not) in options to choose from. So where do you go when you feel overwhelmed (or underwhelmed) with social media posts that fit your lifestyle?  Just follow these 11 LDS Instagrammers for everything your Mormon heart desires. From temples to quotes and inspirational stories to music videos, these guys will give you what you need at your fingertips—literally.  1. @hankrsmith If you want to get a spiritual pick-me-up in your Insta feed, Hank Smith is your guy....

40460

Why We Need to Stop Brushing Off Recent Disasters as "Signs of the Times"

Katie Lambert - Sierra Leone, Mexico, Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Lousiana, Las Vegas, California, Somalia—the number of disasters in the past few months is astounding.  It feels like just when one ends, another one begins—horrible and devastating in a completely new way, and the sheer amount of relief resources needed for those affected continues climbing upward.  But even though these disasters have been heartwrenching, there's something that feels even worse to me.  The dismissive, cold, shrug-your-shoulders response of "must be a sign of the times." We know that in coming days the "earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man"...