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

Marvel's recent issue of the Amazing Spider-Man contained a reference to anti-Latter-day Saint literature, a reference the company said was made "without awareness."

Everyone who believes in God at all believes that He knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow. But if He knows I am going to do so-and-so, how can I be free to do otherwise?

Throughout history, the Lord has tried His chosen people by requiring them to make significant sacrifices. Though the sacrifices required of us today for the building of temples are very different from those required by the Saints in the early days of the Church, we are still blessed with opportunities to contribute and serve. Here are a few stories of children and youth who made their own contributions for the construction of the house of the Lord.

What is the meaning of the tree of life? The symbolism involved may furnish clues. Trees have several standard symbolic meanings. Green trees often represent the righteous, whereas dry trees can symbolize the wicked. 76 M. Catherine Thomas noted that "most often in scripture . . . the tree is an anthropomorphic symbol. A tree serves well as such a symbol because it has, after all, limbs, a circulatory system, the bearing of fruit, and so forth. Specifically, scriptural trees stand . . . for Christ and his attributes."77 Elsewhere we read, "In ancient times, sacred trees . . . were [representative of the] attributes of the gods." 78 Susan Easton Black wrote: "The tree of life is connected with the cross, the two having somewhat the same significance. Both relate to the resurrection, eternal life, the Lord, and the 'Love of God.' . . . Before the crucifixion of Christ, the tree of life symbol was used extensively. After the crucifixion the cross seems to have replaced it to a degree." 79 When Nephi wished to know the meaning of the tree that his father saw in his dream (1 Nephi 11:9–24), the angel showed him a vision of the birth of Christ. The angel then said to Nephi, "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?" (1 Nephi 11:21). To this Nephi responded, "It is the love of God" (1 Nephi 11:22). Jesus is the "love of God" (John 3:16) and the "tree of life."

In a TV drama fraught with graphic violence that follows a group of FBI profilers as they dive into the twisted psyches of criminals, it's a little unexpected to hear an uplifting quote from one of the Lord's chosen apostles. But that's what viewers of the popular CBS show Criminal Minds experienced when they watched a story about a serial killer and her son.

Often I am asked why the Latter-day Saints do not believe in the saving efficacy of the cross, yet obviously we do. We proclaim, just as the apostle Paul did, “Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). It’s just that our belief in the power of the cross is not well known among traditional Christians. For example, a woman in Canada asked my friend Pastor Greg Johnson how he could have close association with me and other Latter-day Saints.

Days after writing a touching post about her wedding and eternal marriage, newlywed Latter-day Saint Amy Moffat and her husband, Stephen Graham, passed away in a tragic car accident.

Author’s note: review movies for artistry, content, and moral messages. I give each film a letter grade for artistry; this is not necessarily a moral endorsement of the film. I break down content as best as I can to help readers make their own decisions. I share moral messages in case parents (and others) want to use cinema as a springboard for Gospel discussion.

“Our relationship to God and the purpose of earth life are explained in terms of the family," President Dallin H. Oaks said as he addressed young married couples from 11 stakes in the Los Angeles area. "We are the spirit children of heavenly parents. The gospel plan is implemented through earthly families, and our highest aspiration is to perpetuate those family relationships throughout eternity."