Recent
34089

Olympian Shares How Trusting in the Lord Got Her into the 2016 Rio Games

Aggieland Mormons - As part of a three-part series highlighting Christian, non-LDS keynote speakers from Texas A&M University at an LDS fireside, Aggieland Mormons published this inspiring piece about soccer olympian Stephanie Malherbe.  After her parents immigrated from South Africa to the U.S. 25 years ago, Malherbe obtained dual citizenship to both countries. Though she never thought she would be an Olympian, when an opportunity arose for Malherbe, a member of A&M's soccer team, to try out for the South African Olympic soccer team for the 2016 Rio Olympics, she decided, “We figured why not just try and see what happens."  After sending a highlight...

34079

LDS Musician's Beautiful Version of "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" Has Over 1.7 Million Views on YouTube

LDS Living Staff - With so much turmoil and stress in everyday life, it can be easy to forget to show a more Christlike demeanor—especially when we don't particularly feel like it.  But after taking just a moment to watch Emily Brown's beautiful performance of "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" on a Mormon Channel video, which has more than 1.7 million views on YouTube, it's easy to feel a renewed desire to be more like Christ. Lead image screenshot from youtube.com ...

34086

Podcast: What Happened to the Mummies and Papyri Joseph Smith Purchased That Led to the Book of Abraham?

LDS Living Staff - In this fascinating podcast from LDS Perspectives , Dr. John Gee sheds interesting light on some of the biggest mysteries associated with the Book of Abraham and its translation. Having studied the topic for 30 years, he shares intriguing details of Joseph Smith's purchase of the papyri that the Book of Abraham was translated from as well as the Church's acquisition of fragments of the same papyri in the late 1960s. An interesting part of the history of these papyri and the mummies acquired with them is that "Joseph [Smith] gave them to his mom and let her show them to people...

34073

The Not-So-Secret Way You Can Make Goals Stick & Become a Better You

ChurchofJesusChrist.org - What great insights to give us a little motivation as we get ready to start another week in a new year. It’s a new year and, once more, change is in the air. Most of us know the scenario all too well. January rolls around and we talk a big game about how this year will be different. We write down goals. We sign up for Pilates classes. We browse magazines in grocery store checkouts that promise us “17 Secrets to a Happier, Healthier You in 2017.” Then comes the February fizzle. More often than we care to admit, our good...

34071

5 Powerful Sacrament Talk Tips I Learned from Teaching Relief Society

Kelsey Berteaux - When I was called to teach in Relief Society, I didn't realize that preparing church lessons would drastically change how I prepare my Sacrament meeting talks. Giving talks in Sacrament has always been stressful for me—like it is for most people. Usually, I write out the entire talk and just read it to the congregation, because a great public speaker I am not. However, this past year I did discover that I'm a halfway decent Relief Society teacher (a calling I've always wanted to try and indeed do love). I've also discovered that preparing lessons and teaching have fundamentally altered how...

34065

LDS Sister After Brother's Sudden Death: "I Think He Saved My Life"

LDS Living Staff - Jessica was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after her brother's sudden death on the day of his daughter's wedding. After a priesthood blessing from her father assured her that no matter what she would be okay, she continues to fight through her diagnosis with faith. In this inspiring video from stiry.com , Jessica shares her story and the incredible bond she has with her brother. Lead image screenshot from youtube.com ...

33937

3 Ways to Help Your Children Get More Out of Primary

Heidi Doxey - King Benjamin taught that we should “teach [our children] to walk in the ways of truth . . . to love one another, and to serve one another” (Mosiah 4:15). Primary is the perfect place for our children to learn gospel truths and to practice loving and serving each other, but it can be hard for children to focus on the gospel when they’re distracted or not ready to learn. The key to making the most of their experience at church is to prepare, prepare, prepare. You can help your children get more out of Primary by preparing them physically, spiritually,...

34088

How LaVell Edwards Made It Possible for RMs to Still Play College Football

Deseret News - Before LaVell Edwards, most LDS football players had to make a tough decision: serve a mission or play college football. But the legendary coach made changes to BYU's football culture that completely transformed how coaches across the nation now look at missionary service. Mormon missions ruin football players. The idea is heresy today, but it was considered gospel inside and outside the LDS Church in the 1950s, '60s and when LaVell Edwards took over as BYU's football coach in 1972. It seemed irrefutable. Nearly everyone believed players left on missions as fiery competitors, strong and fast, and that they returned home...

34085

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Lesson 7: "The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel"

Ted L. Gibbons - Introduction Every journey begins somewhere, with a step, a thought, a desire, a commitment. The journey back into the presence of God, for mortals, begins with four first steps we call them the first principles and ordinances. There are others to follow how many we have no idea. Joseph Smith said: “When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation....

34084

Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley Lesson 4: "The Pioneer Heritage of Faith and Sacrifice"

Kelly Merrill - Below is the opening quote to this lesson. I have included it because it sets up an important premise for the whole lesson. Whether you have pioneer ancestry or came into the Church only yesterday, you are a part of this whole grand picture of which those men and women dreamed. … They laid the foundation. Ours is the duty to build on it. We are all children of God. That makes us, in a very literal way, one big family. Whether we came to earth 150 years ago or just 20 years ago doesn’t change our heritage in that family....