3 things to try if you’re intimidated by family history work

Since becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve encountered a few cultural differences that took a little adjustment. For example, in the Baptist church, the same preacher delivers the sermon almost every Sunday, so it was strange to me that in this Church we didn’t have the same preacher every week. To make things even stranger, it was folks from the congregation that delivered the sermons!

For many people the Christmas season is exciting and enjoyable as individuals engage in the hustle and bustle of varied festivities, and this is how we hope and want it to be. However, for some the Christmas season increases stress and can amplify feelings of sadness, depression, anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, and even feelings of suicide. Oftentimes it is hard for those who do not deal with mental health struggles to comprehend why a time of year that is supposed to be uplifting and fun can be dark and empty for many.

As I have been reading and studying the Teachings of President Nelsonsince last general conference—and trying to better understand the counsel our Heavenly Parents have given to us through this inspired prophet—I came across a story striking in its simplicity. This short holiday story encompasses the meaning of Christmas in less than 170 words, yet it helped redirect me and refocus me on that which matters most.

I was teaching a courtship and marriage Institute class for young single adults when I first read The Family: A Proclamation to the World (hereafter referred to as the Proclamation). In 602 words, 15 prophets, seers, and revelators gave us the Lord’s priorities for achieving successful, happy relationships. After studying this inspired proclamation, I felt it was perfect to use with my students. I explained to them that this proclamation was a revelation from God and therefore doctrine for the Church. It was a guide for them to make a proper choice in a marriage partner in order to achieve a successful and happy marriage.

When the Lord commanded Lehi to send his sons back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates, He knew they would face danger, challenges, and peril. We might ask ourselves why, after rescuing Lehi’s family from the impending destruction of Jerusalem, the Lord asked them to go right back into danger to retrieve the records. As Terryl Givens observes, “The cost in expense, effort, and human life demonstrate a profound valuation of scripture… in the Book of Mormon” (The Book of Mormon: A Very Short Introduction).

In 2009, a then-27-year-old Golden Harper embarked on what seemed to be the impossible: He started his own running shoe company during not only a difficult economic time but in a market that, by many accounts, was already established.

Submission has a bad reputation. As Elder Jeffery R. Holland has said, “You can be certain that with some in this world, it is not fashionable nor flattering to speak of submitting—to anybody or anything . . . It sounds wrong on the face of it. It sounds feeble and wimpish.”

After performing on The Voice and being featured in the October 2017 Face to Face for youth, Madilyn Paige continues to inspire thousands with her uplifting music. She answered some questions for us to catch a glimpse of what life is like as a Latter-day singer and songwriter.

What does your perfect Sunday look like? Tell us what your Sabbath includes, and we will tell you the uplifting movie that best fits your day of worship.