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

Years ago I brought a friend with me to a Relief Society activity at church, and when she asked me why we had a painting of Mary and Martha hanging in the room, I really didn’t know how to answer. Of all the possible depictions of scripture stories of women that the Church might choose from, why that one? Although the scene was painted by old masters like Vermeer and Velazquez, it has never been especially popular among other Christian groups. Yet, it is a subject painted by many artists in the Church and these images are common in meetinghouses and lesson manuals.

"Latter-day Saints are the Lord’s covenant people; therefore, 'LDS' or 'Latter-day Saint' should not be used to qualify objects such as temples, scriptures, or doctrine that belong to the Lord or His Church and not to Church members," a new article on ChurchofJesusChrist.org states. The Church recently updated the names of apps and channels such as Mormon Messages, LDS Tools, LDS Music, LDS Media Library, and more.

For the third year in a row, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is providing a grant to the nine national refugee resettlement agencies in the United States. Representatives of Latter-day Saint Charities, the humanitarian organization of the Church, were on the East Coast this week to hold discussions and deliver a $4 million grant, which includes $1.2 million in cash and $2.8 million in commodities.

“I feel like I am constantly living in an alternate universe.”

While visiting Brigham Young University's ROTC, US Army Brig. Gen. William D. “Hank” Taylor shared how the military helped him become a better Latter-day Saint.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will participate in a ministry tour of the church’s Pacific Area beginning on May 16.

The flashlight was turned off, and Jon was enveloped by complete, near-palpable darkness. Though no light was visible, Jon knew that a flip of a switch could dispel the dark of the cave and re-illuminate the cavern. The lesson would have far more implications than Jon could have ever imagined.

Twenty-five years ago, without really knowing it, I had my first experience with religious freedom. Looking back, this shouldn’t surprise me, given the religious uniqueness of my hometown: mostly Catholic, a strong contingent of atheists, and a smattering of other faiths. But as a senior in high school, when I began to explore my own spirituality in an overt way, exposing myself to both ridicule and opposition, religious liberty was a friend and constant companion for which I am only now beginning to show proper gratitude and reverence.

In an October 2018 general conference address given to the women of the Church, President Russell M. Nelson issued the now well-known invitation of a 10-day social media fast.