8 ways to help younger siblings adjust after your missionary leaves

While many famous actors or performers who were raised Mormon no longer belong to the faith, some have been very vocal about their religious upbringing and how it has shaped them. And those celebrities who still belong to the LDS faith are adamant that their beliefs have improved their lives, making them who they are today.

The holidays are nearly here, and with them come family parties, ward activities, and any number of dinners and invitations. While it is fun to anticipate these events, for some these social gatherings can sometimes lend to unwanted questions and awkward moments. Though it is important to remember family and ward members often ask us questions out of love, here are a few questions you should consider asking Mormon singles beyond the typical, "So, are you dating anyone?" Some questions are just for fun; others get to the heart of what your family member might be experiencing.

I’ll admit it: I grew up thinking that Coke and other caffeinated drinks were frowned upon by the Church. I knew it wasn’t explicitly against the Word of Wisdom, so when asked why I wouldn’t drink anything caffeinated, I would say I didn’t enjoy the taste. But the reality is that I was mostly avoiding the caffeine. I thought drinking it was wrong.

With the holidays approaching, sometimes it’s nice to have a few simple dinner recipes on hand. Find time to make nutritious and delicious meals the entire family will love with these easy recipes from Krista Numbers’s new book, Simplify Supper.

A unique part of working at LDS Living is getting familiar with a wide variety of Deseret Book products. We have so many favorites that we wanted to share with our fabulous readers. As you'll see, a couple of us couldn't narrow it down to just one!

“I’ve always struggled with my testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Tami wrote on her blog in August of 2016. “My testimony was always on high or off. There was no in between. I’m sure people wonder . . . if I had a very strong testimony at times in my life how in the world could I just let it waste away? I don’t have the answers to that question. I’m stubborn? Satan is a jerk? I’m forgetful? I left my room without thinking to pray? Yeah, probably all of those combined into a big mess.”

"I have to say, one of the most surprising things about last year was that there were elements of joy," Piano Guys' Jon Schmidt says in a video on Facebook. "You would never guess that when you go through hard times."

"I encourage each person, regardless of age, to continue to learn," President Nelson said to the audience gathered for the installment of the first BYU-Pathway Worldwide president. "Pursue whatever path will be most valuable to you and your family. You will be blessed as you do this. You will grow academically, professionally and spiritually as you seek to enhance your education."

This guy takes Legos to a whole new level of awesome.