8 ways to help younger siblings adjust after your missionary leaves

LDS returned missionary Ben Reneer served his mission in Orlando, Florida. When the June 2016 terrorist attack killed 49 at a nightclub in his mission city, the news hit close to home for Reneer. Following the attack, Reneer wrote the song "Orange Avenue" to capture the emotions of that tragic event that he posted in August of this year. But, after the recent shooting in Las Vegas and the devastating floods, hurricanes, and fires experienced this year, Reneer's song remains just as applicable today.

"Staying connected with the Holy Spirit and using the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is everything in this kind of experience, because parts of it are so scary, and if I didn't have those kinds of things, I'd be a lot more panicked," said Allan Darrimon.

In the October 2012 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson announced that young men could now be recommended for missionary service at age 18, and young women could serve at age 19. At a press conference held between the Saturday morning and afternoon conference sessions, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland invited parents “to take a strong hand in this preparation and not expect that it is somehow the responsibility of local church leaders, or the missionary department of the church or MTC’s to provide and direct all of that.” Notice where Elder Holland placed the responsibility to train the future missionary force—not on local church units or missionary training centers but on mothers and fathers!

What a powerful reminder of how Heavenly Father sees us as His children.

The following is an excerpt from Elder David A. Bednar's new book, One by One.

In general conference in 2006, President Thomas S. Monson shared a favorite Halloween memory, but the only spirits or ghosts that accompanied him on this holiday night were the spirit of service and the Holy Ghost.

Ancient scripture writers often used the literary pattern of paronomasia (word plays and word puns) to convey significant theological messages (see hereand here). Bible and Book of Mormon authors used names of individuals as a means to teach core principles. If we could read the original Hebrew and Egyptian texts of the Book of Mormon, we’d find names repeated thematically throughout the text. Just as a modern persuasive writer today will repeat their thesis statement in multiple ways throughout their writing, so too, ancient prophets used names and derivatives of names to reinforce in meaningful ways the major idea they wished for readers to see in the text.

“I have made so many new friends because of my TS,” Paula Jean Ferri explains. “People come up to me asking if I’m ok or I jump in and explain what is going on once I see they are confused.”

If the candy, costumes, and decorations haven't already tipped you off, you might have noticed Halloween is just around the corner.