9 games you’ll want to bring on your next family vacation

Baptist minister Lynn Ridenhour thought it was a joke when he picked up his phone one day and heard, "My name is Elder Robert Oaks," on the other end.

The SPARK Singers—which includes Noelle Bybee, a contestant from season 8 of The Voice—recently created a gorgeous song about the love and peace of the Savior, "Sinking Deep." Featuring images from "Reflections of Christ," this music video is one that will inspire and uplift.

Returned missionary Josh Holt has been held in a Venezuelan jail for nearly two years while his health steadily deteriorates. The 7-year-old daughter of Holt's wife, who he married shortly before being arrested in June 2016, recently made her way to Utah in February of this year, where she is staying with Holt's family. Both Joshua Holt and his wife, Thamara Candelo, are jailed and fighting for their freedom.

Many years ago I sat on the floor in front of a small bookcase in the dining room of our tiny two-bedroom apartment. I was immersed in reading and referencing and marking; deadlines were crowding in on me. Ironically, I was perusing President David O. McKay's book Gospel Ideals when Angela, my 2-and-1/2-year-old daughter, walked over to me and asked me to join her, her 1-year-old brother, David, and their mother in some games they were playing on the floor a few feet away. I responded to Angie that I was very busy and couldn't make it. Within three minutes David crawled over and asked: "Dad, you come play?" I called out to my wife at that point: "Shauna, can't you see that what I am doing is important? Could you please keep these children out of my hair until I finish this project?"

Even though they get to travel the world, anyone who's served a mission knows it's not all fun and games. Over 80,000 Elders and Sisters around the world put in grueling 16-hour work days for 18 to 24 months—without a break. They don't watch movies, date, or even see their families. However, along with the sacred nature of the work they perform and the seriousness with which they go about it, they come up with some creative ways to have a good time. These viral videos prove that there's more to Mormon missionaries than meets the eye!

Everyone, keep calm. Walmart's new Facebook ads are not threatening you. Funeral potatoes are a real thing. And they're delicious.

After Latter-day Saints were expelled from Missouri and while trying to rebuild Zion in the malaria-ridden swamps near Commerce (later Nauvoo), Illinois, Joseph Smith took a historic journey to Washington, D.C., to meet with President Martin Van Buren.

Take a peek into the life of Mark Madsen, assistant coach to the Los Angeles Lakers, former NBA player, husband, father, and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"I love Sunday nights with the fam!" Jordon LeBaron posted on Facebook, along with a stunning video of his family singing "One Day More" from the musical Les Miserables. Each part, from Jean Valjean and Cosette to Madame Thenardier and the Ghost of Fantine, is incredibly executed by a member of the family. And although several of them studied music and theater in college, the collection of talent displayed during an informal family gathering is pretty impressive.