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29 Things BYU Students Can Do on Their New One-Day Spring Break

Utah Valley 360 - One whole day off for spring break next year? BYU students around the world rejoice! It was the announcement heard ’round campus — BYU announced on Wednesday it will hold its first ever Spring Holiday in 2017. “The new spring holiday was proposed by the Faculty Advisory Committee because they recognized that a day off in the long stretch between President’s Day and the end of winter semester would benefit the students,” said Academic Vice President Brent Webb. “I welcomed this proposal.” BYU students have never known so much spare time in a winter semester. While the first BYU Spring Holiday isn’t until March 17,...

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Religious Freedom Expert Praises Church & Family Home Evening

Newsroom - Here are some great highlights from Dr. Daniel Mark, an Orthodox Jew and religious freedom expert who recently spoke in a standing-room-only lecture at BYU: "Religious freedom is secure when it is seen as a right, but, nowadays, when it is seen less and less as a right, it can only be secure in a society that respects religious difference. Notice I said respects, not tolerates. So how do we cultivate a family ethic of genuine accommodation rather than exacting strictness? Well, how do we do it in the family? Not to put too fine a point on it, but I...

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Mormon Channel Focuses on Our Heavenly Mother in Recent Podcast

LDS Living - During fall 2015, the Church released a Gospel Topics Essay that addressed a topic that is not spoken of often within the Church—the reality of our Heavenly Mother. Within the essay , we learn that "the doctrine of a Heavenly Mother is a cherished and distinctive belief among Latter-day Saints" and that Church leaders have affirmed Her existence for over a century. The article also acknowledged that "Latter-day Saints direct their worship to Heavenly Father, in the name of Christ, and do not pray to Heavenly Mother. In this, they follow the pattern set by Jesus Christ, who taught His disciples to...

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Teachings of Howard W. Hunter Lesson 2: "My Peace I Give unto You"

Kelly Merrill - We deal with two definitions of peace in this life. The world’s definition of peace is the cessation or absence of hostility. The Lord’s definition of peace is a calm that surpasses all description. The Lord’s peace carries an assurance of being right with the Lord, it carries a clarity of mind and heart that allows us to think and feel clearly in any situation, no matter how chaotic. The Lord’s peace is sweet to the soul - it is a sense of safety in times of danger, solace in times of suffering, and allows a healing sleep during life’s most...

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Book of Mormon Lesson 3: "Desirable Above All Other Fruit"

Ted L. Gibbons - QUOTE OF THE WEEK: . . . it is not the book's dramatic crises, its history, its narrative that are so important, but its power to transform men into Christlike beings worthy of exaltation. (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1963, p.67) The Lord has often taught his servants by means of inspired dreams. Some of the most remarkable revelations in the scriptures have come in the form of dreams. Consider the following accounts and try to identify the person who had the dream from which each is taken. Then try to identify the meaning of the symbols in each dream....

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4 More LDS "American Idol" Contestants Get Sent Straight to Hollywood

Deseret News - How exciting!   For more articles on Latter-day Saints on TV, check out  18 Mormons on Reality TV Who Stood for Their Standards ,    More auditions for the 15th and final season of “American Idol” have aired since the Jan. 6 premiere, and more LDS contestants are going to Hollywood. ► You'll also like:  Two LDS Contestants on Final Season of "American Idol" Amber Lynn Stoppel auditioned in Denver, with a friend accompanying her on the guitar. In December, Stoppel performed in the Salt Lake City Mass Choir’s Christmas Celebration. She posted a picture of a golden ticket on Instagram, indicating she's...

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3 Genius Snape Studio C Skits to Remember Alan Rickman

Danielle B. Wagner - Surrounded by friends and family, beloved British actor Alan Rickman died of cancer on January 14. A talented artist who graced both London stages and Hollywood sets for more than 30 years, Rickman was best known for his role as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films. As a tribute to Rickman and the beloved character he brought to life, we've compiled our favorite Studio C skits that feature Severus Snape. And we add our voices to those around the world who will remember Rickman, "always." ►  You'll also like:  If Harry Potter Was a Mormon: MormonProbs at Hogwarts ►...

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Church Releases Map of All 150 Operating Temples Around the World

LDS Church News - Along with an article that highlights the upcoming dedication of 150th operating temple worldwide, the Church released an incredible map showing all of the temples throughout the world. Check it out! Since the dedication of the Kirtland Temple in 1836, Latter-day Saints have joined together in shouting “Hosanna” in celebration as each new temple becomes a dedicated house of the Lord. On March 20, days before the 180th anniversary of the dedication of that first temple since the Restoration of the gospel, Church members will again gather to celebrate another dedicated house of the Lord—the Provo City Center Temple—as it becomes...

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How the Church Strengthens Women, Especially When the Culture Can Overwhelm Us

She Traveled - What a good reminder that fits perfectly with this quote from Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson:  “May I point out something obvious? Life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone, and we are very aware that not all women are experiencing what the proclamation describes. It is still important to understand and teach the Lord’s pattern and strive for the realization of that pattern the best we can.”  It may or may not shock you, but the gospel empowers women. For some women, they doubt this because it seems too difficult—some aren’t married, aren’t mothers, are raising kids alone, raising kids divorced, and...

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The Forgotten Martyr: Joseph & Hyrum's Brother Who Died for the Church

Deseret News - Everyone knows the story of Joseph and Hyrum and their tragic martyrdom in Carthage Jail. But few Latter-day Saints know about Samuel Smith, Joseph's younger brother, who died just a month after the prophet was murdered. The following is an excerpt from an article by Daniel Peterson, "Defending the Faith: Meet three of the Eight Witnesses." Joseph Smith’s younger brother Samuel undertook the first missionary journey of the newly organized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1830. He took the Book of Mormon through parts of western New York — a mission that famously led to the conversion...