What 12 young men learned about God from hiking 50 miles overnight

On March 25, 2020, the First Presidency announced that all temples would close at the end of the day. Now, temples have begun a phased reopening, with the first temples entering Phase 2 on Monday, July 27, 2020, allowing all living ordinances.

Charlie Bird rotated his body in a perfect flip. It was the type of movement that was so familiar, the execution was more than just muscle memory now—it was a part of him. The man who had performed as Brigham Young University’s mascot, Cosmo the Cougar, and who had danced in ESPN’s 2017 College Football Awards, was simply doing what he had always done, defying gravity and soaring through the air.

Are you looking for some inspiration during these long summer days? We've rounded up the newest releases from Deseret Book that are sure to enlighten and uplift!

The Chosen is the first multi-series TV show about the life of Christ. Bible stories are portrayed through the eyes of those who spent time with Jesus during their mortal lives. The show’s writer and director, Dallas Jenkins, said of the project, “None of this matters if it doesn't compel you back to scripture. Not only so you can experience Jesus the way his followers did but also so you can change and grow the way they did."

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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.

Brigham Young was lying in the bed of a wagon, having been severely ill for the last twelve days, when he saw the valley for the first time.1 He was forty-six years old, short and quite stocky, a carpenter by trade and physically robust; but “mountain fever” could put even the strongest men flat on their backs. Several diseases fell under that generic name because they all produced high fever, severe head and body aches, deep pain behind the eyes, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Colorado tick fever was one of the least severe of these illnesses, usually passing in a few days after the onset of the symptoms, but Brigham had been down for almost two weeks, suggesting that he may have contracted the more serious Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If so, it was remarkable that he was still alive. That strain persisted for weeks, and the fatality rate was high owing to the inflammation of the heart, lungs, and brain or the kidney failure it produced. The only known treatments were home-brewed remedies and rest, but sleep was hard to come by in a wagon on the plains. Summer days were bright and hot, and Brigham would have felt every bump in the road as the wooden wheels rolled over the uneven land. And he wasn’t alone in his suffering. Thirty-seven other Latter-day Saints traveling with him had also contracted the fever—a full quarter of the company. But they did not have the luxury of time to grant the sick much rest.2

A few simple words directed at your Amazon or Google smart speaker will, beginning July 22, 2020, bring scripture, music, general conference talks, and other important content from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints into your home.

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