5 books to prepare your child for baptism

Under threatening skies and with the Apia Samoa Temple in the background, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints warned Samoans Saturday night to keep themselves and their children safe.

In his recent meeting with New Zealand Prime Jacinda Ardern, President Russell M. Nelson presented the prime minister with a Book of Mormon and spoke on a variety of important topics, including freedom of speech, religious freedom, social media, internet security, and the March 15 mosque shootings in New Zealand. “Our hearts were broken when we heard about the tragedy that had taken place and the loss of life," President Nelson said. "People can have differing points of view and yet learn and love one another.”

We are a people of miracles. Every week, perhaps every day, we read stories of miraculous events in the scriptures. Angels, healings, the parting of the Red Sea, five loaves and two fishes feeding a multitude, Jesus walking on water, and the Apostle Peter doing it too. And there, in Matthew 17:20, the promise that “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Latter-day Saints across Samoa are preparing for President Russell M. Nelson's visit to their nation during his Pacific ministry tour. With 82,000 Latter-day Saints (approximately 40 percent of the population) in Samoa, there's no doubt The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made an impact on this island nation.

Elder Andrew Carr, a 19-year-old missionary serving in Mexico City, died from asphyxiation Saturday morning, Church spokesman Daniel Woodruff said. On Sunday, Woodruff made the following statement:

What can Aladdin, The Lion King, Finding Nemo, and Beauty and the Beast teach you about God's grace and your divine potential? It turns out quite a lot. Check out these fascinating gospel lessons found in Disney movies.

Jane Elizabeth Manning was born in Connecticut in about 1820. Her mother had been enslaved, but she was emancipated by the time Jane was born. Jane’s father died when she was a young child and, perhaps in part for that reason, Jane began working as a domestic servant for a wealthy white family in the next town over. As a young woman, she was baptized and joined the local Congregational Church, but not long afterward she heard a missionary from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints preach and she was convinced by his message. She was baptized a short time later, and she appears to have persuaded her family to join the Church as well. In 1843, the Mannings joined an interracial group of converts for the journey to Nauvoo. Although they left the Northeast together, the group was separated at some point during the journey. The white members continued to Nauvoo on public transportation; the black members walked. When Jane and her family reached Nauvoo, they were welcomed by Emma and Joseph Smith and stayed in the mansion house for a short time while they found jobs and housing. Jane remained in the mansion house, working for the Smiths as a domestic servant.

As societies across the globe become more and more accepting of immorality, it can sometimes feel like protecting our families from the onslaught of pornography is an insurmountable task. What can we do to stem the tide?

Emily Snyder was raised a member of the Church with a dream of being a mother just like her mom. However, as she got older, she realized that her life may end up presenting her with a different set of circumstances and opportunities. Now a graduate of Columbia’s MBA program who has previously worked closely as an assistant to both Clayton Christensen and Julie B. Beck, Snyder is employed in Waco, Texas, where she works for Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia as the company’s chief of staff.