Why I’m so grateful someone pushed through awkwardness to serve

While the pandemic has prevented many Latter-day Saints from attending the temple, it hasn’t kept temple work from moving forward. In the past month alone, five groundbreaking ceremonies have been held. Whether local saints are anticipating the second temple in their city—as with the Red Cliffs Utah Temple—or the third temple in their nation—as with the Salta Argentina Temple—each groundbreaking has been meaningful and unique. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from each one.

Earlier this summer, BYU football’s team leaders called a players-only meeting and decided they wanted to send a message. The message would be similar to social justice messages displayed by NBA and WNBA athletes, but they didn’t want the message to be controversial in any way. As standout wide receiver Dax Milne told the Deseret News, someone mentioned “Love one another,” and in their September 7 opener, shirts with the phrase that Latter-day Saints recognize from Primary were debuted by the team during warmups.

“He remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all” —Mosiah 27:30

At this time of great global need, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is encouraging people to bring light to the world this Christmas season through simple, meaningful acts of service.

Each November, as the air turns from crisp to chill and pumpkins on front porches are replaced with evergreen wreaths, the excitement of the season starts to settle in. Just before the hustle and bustle takes over, there is a small window where we can simply soak in the anticipation of all that is to come and relish in the nostalgia of holidays past. It is a season of gathering: heads bowed in unison as prayers of thanks are offered over turkey dinners and extra slices of pecan pie, familiar carols sung a bit off-key with those you love most, and the hope and peace that come from setting aside differences and distractions to worship together in honor of the Christ child.

With everything going on this week, we thought it might be helpful to compile the top LDS Living articles from this week in one place. Here’s a snapshot of what you may have missed. You can also subscribe to the LDS Living newsletter for daily inspiration right to your inbox.

You may recognize Sister Carol McConkie from her service in a previous Young Women General Presidency, but her latest assignment has given her new perspective into the role and influence of women.

“Throwing away a copy of the Book of Mormon seems like throwing away someone’s opportunity to grow closer to Jesus Christ, and I could not let that happen,” Sister Tuck said in an email interview with LDS Living. This is what led Sisters Kellie Tuck and Autumn Dickey, who are currently serving in the England Leeds Mission, to spend three days transforming a waterlogged copy of the Book of Mormon into a mosaic of Christ.

The Christmas devotional with the First Presidency is just around the corner, and Latter-day Saints, their families, and their friends are invited to participate.