Finding the joy in Good Friday’s sorrow

If you thought you worried a lot before you became a dad—just wait. I never knew what true worry was until I became a dad. Sure, I had various situations that made me fearful and apprehensive in my life, but from the minute I had those little souls placed under my stewardship, my worries compounded exponentially. But, so did my joy and sense of purpose.

Read the touching responses of black members of the LDS Church when they learned about the 1978 priesthood revelation by following the link below.

A young LDS woman drove down from Salt Lake City a short time ago to see me. I had recently spoken in her stake on marriage, and she came, she said, to thank me for telling a particular story. She said it triggered the transition from her decision to divorce to her decision to stay married. You may have heard the story before. It is called "Acres of Diamonds."

I’ve always been a very committed kind of person. If I tell you I’ll do a project, it will be finished. If I accept a calling, I will fulfill it to the best of my ability. This is what I’ve grown up being taught—to be a committed disciple, daughter, friend, sister, and spouse. I realize, however, that in a generation and society where people are more comfortable with the latest hairstyles, the current trends, or the most bizarre new dance moves to satisfy their need for change, terms “commitment” and “eternity” can sound pretty intimidating—even boring. This is especially true when it comes to marriage and family relationships.

With the change from home and visiting teaching to “ministering,” I’ve heard many people say that it is really just the same thing with a new name.

Ingredients

Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her four musical children—age 16, 14, 13, and 11—have performed all over the world, from Austria to Japan and Taiwan. Recently, Jason Lyle Black, known as the "Backwards Piano Man," approached the Bakers about teaming up for an epic Disney cover.

This following story was excerpted from Elder Gerald Lund's book, Divine Signatures, and shares an incredible account of a miracle his youngest brother, Michael R. Lund, experienced from the perspective of his wife, Linda.

"If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being," President James E. Faust testified when he spoke on the healing power of forgiveness. "Some recent studies show that people who are taught to forgive become 'less angry, more hopeful, less depressed, less anxious and less stressed,' which leads to greater physical well-being. Another of these studies concludes 'that forgiveness . . . is a liberating gift [that] people can give to themselves.'"