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

Sporting a white shirt, tie, and name tag, Orin Vooheis sat in his electronic wheelchair smiling at people as they entered the American Fork Deseret Industries on July 11. As always, his wife Chartina was by his side.

Agostino and Pierina Vardeu were baptized members of the Church in June 1978. Married since 1961, they are among the most influential longtime members in Italy, and they’ve passed their love of the gospel down to four generations so far.

My parents divorced before I was born, setting the tone for an inconsistent religious upbringing. Although my mom grew up in a Mormon family, she was no longer religious. My dad and stepmom were members of the Mormon church but weren’t very active. As a result, I scarcely went to church growing up. I was baptized at 8 years old, but I didn’t understand what it meant.

Eternal life is the promise that death is not the end, that there is life after death. It’s the promise that both my body and this world can continue after death in the presence of God. And this promise matters. As Paul says, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). But the reverse is also true. If for the next life only I have hope in Christ, I am also lost. By itself, even the glory of an eternal life is not enough.

Throughout my service as a full-time missionary, I was blessed to serve closely with many people who touched my life in unique ways. Many of these individuals faced emotional struggles, like anxiety and depression. One of them was my own companion.

The big question: Should I “resign” from a Church calling?

It's been said that Mormons would fare well in a post-apocalyptic world, but we think that there's more to it than just food storage. See how Mormons will have a leg up on the competition if brain-eating zombies walked the streets.

Every morning while I was growing up, I would awaken to a whimsical, fairytale image: a frog nestled among lilies and wearing a crown. I will never be able to forget the catchphrase that accompanied this poster, the words etched into my brain after reading it nearly every day: "There aren't any frogs—just handsome princes who don't know who they are." Anytime I think of that silly little frog, a feeling of nostalgia seeps over me, making me smile.

Of India’s 1.3 billion people, its 13,500 members of the Church represent only a sliver of the country’s total population. But although this number seems small, the faith of the Saints in India is great. The Church in India has grown significantly since the gospel was first introduced, and more growth is coming. With the recent announcement of the new temple in Bengaluru, the hastening of the work in India is just beginning.