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57447

Watch the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Layton Utah Temple

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - The breathtaking view of the snow-dusted Wasatch mountains to the east was a fitting backdrop to celebrate the beginning stages of a worship space that will stand as a witness to the eternal possibilities of the soul. A small handful of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered on the overcast, 40-degree morning of May 23, 2020, to break ground for the Layton Utah Temple. The group was limited in size because of COVID-19 precautions. The full recording of the event is now available. “We are very grateful to join you from this impressive and beautiful site....

57445

What a BYU Study Shows about Young Adults' Understanding of Grace and Mental Health

LDS Living - On this week’s All In  podcast, John Hilton III, an author and associate professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University, cited research recently conducted by his colleagues at BYU that found “religious young adults experience better or poorer mental health as it connects to their belief in grace or in legalism.” Surveying 566 young adults at BYU, the researchers found that “when these young adults believe more in grace and less in legalism, they experience less anxiety, depression, shame, religious guilt, and perfectionism.” So what is legalism? Hilton explained on the podcast, “Legalism is this excessive conformity to a religious...

57364

Not a Traditional Mission But My Mission

Emily Jensen, Contributor - About a year ago, I remember learning in seminary about a man named David W. Patten . In 1838 the Lord called him on a mission, as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants section 114 . The Lord asked him to settle his business and prepare many other things so that he would be ready to do so. Brother Patten was obedient to the call of the Lord—however, within the same year, he was killed in battle and was never able to serve a mission.  My teacher asked the class why this could have happened. Why would God call Brother Patten on...

57444

What Elder Gong Has Learned about Staying Connected While Social Distancing

Danielle Christensen - This may be a time of social distancing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t connect with each other.  As part of a series of counsel from members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during the pandemic, Elder Gerrit W. Gong and his wife, Sister Susan Gong, spoke with Church News   on how Latter-day Saints can minister to each other despite the current restrictions. President M. Russell Ballard , Elder Jeffrey R. Holland , Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf , Elder David A. Bednar , Elder Quentin L. Cook , Elder D. Todd Christofferson ,  Elder Neil L. Andersen , and...

57436

Watch: Church Film Producer Shares How He Learned to Love His Mother Again

Emily Abel - Brian Faye has been a full-time film producer for the Church for the past seven years. His writing credits include " The Hope of God’s Light ," several of the Book of Mormon videos , and " Suicide Prevention: Choose to Stay ." His most recent video, however, published May 28, 2020, took a direction he wasn’t expecting. “I sat down to write a video script about Mother’s Day for work. When I started writing the script, I had no intention of making it autobiographical, as I’m actually a deeply private person. But soon I was writing in the first person,...

57443

Remembering Elder F. Enzio Busche and His Viral BYU Speech That Inspired Hundreds of Thousands

Emily Abel - Elder F. Enzio Busche, an emeritus General Authority Seventy died Thursday morning, May 28, at the age of 90. While many Latter-day Saints have heard Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles share his experience as a World War II refugee , he is not the only General Authority whose childhood in Germany included fleeing home in the face of war. At age nine, Elder Busche also fled the home his father had built in the pursuit of safer living conditions for his family. A year later Elder Busche would join the Hitler Youth organization before being...

57435

The Number of Temples without an Angel Moroni Statue Will Soon Double

Lindsey Williams - On Monday, May 25, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  released renderings for the Cobán Guatemala Temple and the Okinawa Japan Temple. Though the Pacific Ocean separates the two temples, both renderings have a commonality—neither temple will be topped with the angel Moroni statue. Though the temples will not be the first without the iconic statue, a growing number of temples do not feature an angel Moroni statue. Here are some interesting facts about temples without angel Moroni statues and a look at the current renderings for new temples.  11 Operating Temples Do Not Have an Angel Moroni Statue ...

57441

Ask a Latter-day Saint Therapist: How Do I Heal My Marriage after Infidelity and Pornography Use?

Jonathan Decker, LMFT, Contributor - Editor's note: The views, information, or opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author. Readers should consider each unique situation. This content is not meant to be a substitute for individual, professional advice. For daily gospel-based relationship insights, join Jonathan’s  Facebook group . To submit a question for Jonathan,  click here .  Q: How do you have a healthy, happy marriage with a spouse you can’t ever fully trust because of pornography addiction, infidelity, and betrayal trauma?  A: Thank you so much for reaching out. This is an increasingly common issue as pornography use, infidelity, and dishonesty show...

57404

This Week from the Pulpit: President Nelson Assures “The Lord Is Watching over Each One of You”

Emily Abel - Editor's note: " This Week from the Pulpit " highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church.   The last few months are certainly not the first time Church members have faced uncertain futures. As President Henry B. Erying shared on his Facebook page this week, the Savior was mindful of how uncertain His disciples would feel following His death. The Savior knew they would feel fear for the future, loneliness, and grief. And so, He provided this counsel: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I...

57405

How a Promise from Sister Ardeth Kapp Was Fulfilled Years after It Was Made

Danielle Christensen - It’s been 150 years since the founding of the Young Women organization. On May 25, 1870, President Brigham Young gathered his daughters in the Lion House in Salt Lake City, asking them to set an example to other young ladies and help reduce extravagance and bring about greater economic unity in the community. Two days later, on May 27, the Young Ladies’ Department of the Ladies' Cooperative Retrenchment Association was founded. ► You may also like:   Celebrate the 150 th Anniversary of the Young Women Organization with the General Presidency Church News   editor Sarah Jane Weaver reflects on a...

57401

Are General Authorities Normally Called to Serve as Mission Presidents?

Lindsey Williams - When the list of new mission presidents and companions was released by Church News   in January 2020, two of the 130 names may have been more easily recognized: Elder Peter M. Johnson, called to the England Manchester Mission with his wife, Stephanie, and Elder Ricardo P. Giménez, called to the California San Diego Mission with his wife, Catherine. Both Elder Johnson and Elder Giménez are General Authority Seventies, and both received their calls to be a General Authority Seventy in April 2019. But they aren’t the first General Authority Seventies called to serve as mission presidents. According to Church News...

57402

A Look Back at President Monson's Utah Jazz Fandom and When He Met Jerry Sloan

Morgan Jones - Legendary Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan passed away last Friday,   May 27. In a recent tribute,   Deseret News   writer Jody Genessy, who covered the Utah Jazz during Sloan's heyday, recalled memories of the late coach and another late Utah giant—President Thomas S. Monson. “In March 2008, the affable President Monson briefly stopped en route to his third-row seat as the Jazz huddled during a timeout,” Genessy remembers. “He greeted players, smiling and pointing at them. He gave the coach a friendly salutation. Carlos Boozer thought it was ‘cool’ after being told who President Monson was. ‘He tapped Jerry...

57400

Something to Watch, Read, Hear, and Do for This Week’s “Come, Follow Me” on Mosiah 29–Alma 4

Lindsey Williams - In this week’s Come, Follow Me,  we explore Mosiah 29–Alma 4 . As you dive into the lesson this week, here is something to watch, something to read, something to listen to, and something to do. We hope these prompts, in addition to the Come, Follow Me  manual , will enhance your understanding of these chapters.   Watch A short Book of Mormon Video highlights Alma stepping down as chief judge. The Come Follow Me—For Sunday School  manual gives the following prompt that relates to the video: "Many people can relate to what Alma felt when he was 'very sorrowful' (...

57398

David Archuleta and Others Share How to Be “In the World, but Not of the World” in Digital Fireside

Lindsey Williams - The date is December 19, 2011. David Archuleta has been rising in popularity since his 2008 appearance on the seventh season of American Idol . On this Monday night , Archuleta performs at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, announcing to the audience that he is going to put his career on hold to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In a recent digital fireside by Our Turtle House,  the pop singer shared the wrestle that went into making this decision. Archuleta was joined by authors Anthony Sweat and Hank Smith , and the fireside...

57396

John Hilton III: What Will We Not Do?

John Hilton III - In the year 450 BC, God put it into Nehemiah’s heart to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, which had been destroyed in a previous century. While in the process of rebuilding the walls, Nehemiah’s associates discovered a key problem: “There is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall” (Nehemiah 4:10). The clutter prevented construction. Thus, the first order of business was to get rid of the rubbish. Although we do not struggle to rebuild fortifications around a city, a parallel problem prevents many of us from finding peace: we have too much rubbish, or clutter in...

57393

Celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Young Women Organization with the General Presidency

Danielle Christensen - May 27, 2020, marks the 150th celebration of the Young Women organization, and the Young Women General Presidency wants you to celebrate. On November 15, 2020, the Church will be holding a Face to Face event which will “rejoice in the influence and contributions of young women as they follow our Savior, Jesus Christ,” according to a letter from the Priesthood and Family Department . All women that have been involved in the Young Women organization are invited to participate in the Face to Face, in addition to parents and Young Women adult leaders. The event will be broadcast live on...

57395

President Ballard Provides Recommendations for Missionary and Temple and Family History Work

LDS Living - A letter dated May 26, 2020, and signed by President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, outlined the responsibilities on the ward and stake level for both missionary and temple and family history work. The letter also provides recommendation for how training and coordination might be distributed among stake and ward leaders. Recommendations include having brief, informal coordination discussions regularly on the ward level, whether virtually or in person. On the stake level, trainings, whether group or one-on-one should be held to coordinate missionary work as well as temple and family history. The letter also...

57399

Learn What It Takes to Earn Your Spot in the Tabernacle Choir

Emily Abel - Although the world health situation has caused The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square to pause its rehearsals and performances, the organization is looking toward the future. The Choir has announced that they are holding auditions to fill spots in the 360-member volunteer ensemble. Earning a spot with this choir, however, is a bit more intense than showing up for ward choir practice. “It is a rigorous process that yields marvelous results,” said music director Mack Wilberg in a recent press release. “Each year we continue to be pleased with the high level of musical expertise displayed by Choir applicants and look...

57383

Elders Holland and Cook Discuss Being Young Missionary Companions in New “My Plan” Videos

Emily Abel - Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles served as mission companions in the British Mission in the early 1960s. In a new video series created to accompany updates to My Plan: A Guide for the Returned Missionary and Mentor , the apostles discuss what it was like to be companions, and how missionaries can successfully transition to life at home. Elder Holland and Elder Cook first met at a mission activity when they had both been serving only a few months. Elder Holland recalls that even then Elder Cook was “a legend.” The...

57390

From Bountiful to Barcelona: How Missionary Service Took a Food Blogger Halfway around the World

Morgan Jones - This story originally ran in the  May/June 2020 issue of  LDS Living .  Si and Grant Foster may currently be wearing missionary badges, but they have both had experiences throughout their lives that have allowed them to share their testimonies and their talents with others long before now. When Si Foster posted that she and her husband, Grant, had been called to serve as senior missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Barcelona, Spain, her phone was flooded with messages from friends wishing them well. One of them quipped, “A Barcelona Kitchen?”  For those who are familiar...

57384

Responding to the Pandemic: Elder Holland on How Miracles Come during Trials

Danielle Christensen - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been through a whirlwind during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of the Church’s 67,000 missionaries were sent home to ensure their safety, temple worship ceased temporarily, congregations could no longer gather in chapels for some time, and humanitarian efforts  have been  going forth throughout the world.   Events have happened so fast, in fact, it’s been hard to keep track of them all. But a recent   Deseret News   article has broken down the measures the Church has taken since January of this year and how Latter-day Saints around the world...

57353

Latter-day Saint Psychologist: 2 Ways to Find Hope during Times of Despair

Dr. David T. Morgan, Contributor - In Washington state, we are in our eighth week of our governor’s “stay at home” order to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Personally, I try to look forward to better times, but there is a lot of pessimism out there. I’ve stopped reading certain news outlets because it seems the only information it publishes is dire predictions and dismal forecasts. As a social scientist, I know that statistics can be adjusted to make almost anything appear factual, so it’s difficult to know which reports are accurate and which are exaggerations or half-truths. Sometimes it is hard for me to stay...

57373

First Look at New Temples in Guatemala and Japan

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released exterior renderings showing the planned design of two temples previously announced in 2019 by Church President Russell M. Nelson. A rendering of the Cobán Guatemala Temple. © 2020 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. The Cobán Guatemala Temple will be built on a 5.4-acre site adjacent to 4a. Avenida 4-48 Zona 8, Barrio Bella Vista, in Cobán, Guatemala. Plans call for a single-story temple of approximately 8,800 square feet. A meetinghouse and temple patron housing will also be built on the site. A rendering of the Okinawa Japan Temple. ©...

57370

Number of Temples Opened for Husband-Wife Sealings Grows from 52 to 66. See the Full List Here

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Editor's note: This press release was originally published on May 7, 2020. An updated list of temples in the first phase of reopening is included below.  In a letter to all Church members, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed their gratitude for the efforts of all those who have worked to address the global COVID-19 pandemic. “With profound gratitude to our Heavenly Father that He has heard our prayers, we rejoice in announcing a careful, phased reopening of temples,” the First Presidency said. “Beginning Monday, May 11, 2020, living husband-and-wife sealing ordinances will be...