How this California stake organized an Easter event that drew thousands

Ezekiel 38–39 contains a vision that exhibits some important traits of apocalyptic revelation. It depicts an invasion of "Israel" by a foreign power called "Gog" of the land of "Magog," the "chief prince of Meshech and Tubal" (Ezek. 38:2). Gog and his forces will attack the "mountains of Israel," whose people will have been "brought forth out of the nations" (Ezek. 38:8). Like "a cloud to cover the land," Gog and his allies—"a great company, and a mighty army"—will advance on the Lord's people (Ezek. 38:15–16). But the Lord will not allow them to succeed. With earthquake, sword, pestilence, blood, rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone, the Lord will intervene to stop Gog's attack; he and his armies will be slaughtered (see Ezek. 38:19–39:8). So massive will be Gog's armies, and so thorough their defeat, that for seven years the people of Israel will gather the weapons of their defeated enemies and use them for fuel. Their corpses will be so abundant that it will take seven months to bury them. Even after that, individuals will be employed to go through the land to find the bodies not yet buried (see Ezek. 39:9–16). Next is depicted a huge feast, at which birds and animals will gorge themselves on the blood and flesh of the slain (see Ezek. 39:17–20; see also D&C 29:20).

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Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Friday that stakes in the United States and Canada will sponsor biennial conferences modeled after Brigham Young University's Especially for Youth program.

The Lubian family faced an impossible decision. The doctor's wanted to know if the Lubians wanted to pursue a third liver transplant for their only son, who had spent years in and out of hospitals with little success, or if they wanted to let things run their course. "They asked us to make the hardest decision a parent can face," Sister Lubian says in a Church video. The Lubians knew they could not make this decision alone, so they hurried to the temple where they sought an answer from their Heavenly Father:

The Book of Mormon will be the center of focus for Latter-day Saint adults, youth and children in 2020, with home study to be supported in Primary, Sunday School and seminary classes.

This week's FHE lesson topic comes from the Come, Follow Me reading in Acts 16-21. Check out this week's Come, Follow Me study ideas on LDS Living for additional resources and suggestions.

Joyce Nixon, 93, recently sat down on the edge of her seat across from her husband, Reed Nixon, also 93 years old, in their home in Orem, Utah, to talk about some of their adventures over their last 72 years together.

On December 14, 2012, Alissa and Robbie Parker received a heartwrenching phone call—a shooting had happened at their daughter's elementary school, Sandy Hook. The nightmare of that day's events is still fresh in the Parkers's minds, but along with the horrors, the two recall many miracles that came into their lives the months and years after.

This article originally ran on LDS Living in January 2015.