A poignant way Pres. Oaks honored his father

The following has been republished with permission fromtaylorhalverson.com.

The following eight new mission presidents and companions have been called by the First Presidency. They will begin their service in July.

ROME — In a major capital of Christianity on Monday, all 15 apostle-leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered together for the first time outside the United States in what some called a powerful statement about the church's role as a world religion.

Throughout the 19th century, Relief Society members became involved in national and international women’s associations to give women a public forum and to improve humanity at large.

ROME — President Russell M. Nelson referred to Peter's and Paul's ancient missionary work in Rome on Sunday as he dedicated the Rome Italy Temple, the first of the sacred buildings placed in a New Testament land by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

With building anticipation for the dedication of the Rome Italy Temple scheduled to get underway beginning tomorrow morning with the public cornerstone ceremony, hundreds of youth packed a stake center on the campus of the soon-to-be-christened temple. When dedicated it will be the 162nd operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree. And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost. —1 Nephi 8:22–23

I grew up in a strange household religiously. My parents divorced because they couldn’t decide if I would be raised Jewish or Catholic. One would think this is a decision that would have been reached before having a baby (especially when you’ve been married a decade before the baby comes into the picture), but alas, religion opened a hole in their marriage that my parents found impossible to bridge. My father was Jewish, my mother Catholic, and despite living full-time with my mother, I decided I would be Jewish. My mother told me Jews were “people of the Book,” and I liked books. My favorite food, then and now, was also matzo ball soup, and once my mother told me that recipe was also Jewish, well, I was sold. And so, at the wise age of 7, I declared I was Jewish, and almost 25 years later, I still am.

On this week’s episode of All In, host Morgan Jones speaks with Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, directors of the Tabernacle Choir, in the basement of the historic Salt Lake Tabernacle. Discussing their personal love for music, guest artists, and missionary opportunities among other things, the episode provides uniquely personal insight into the men behind (or rather, in front of) the Choir.