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59074

The ‘crowning jewel’: Lesser-known stories behind the building of the Las Vegas temple

Fred E. Woods - Editor's note: This article appears in the November/December 2020 issue of  LDS Living  magazine . President Gordon B. Hinckley was once asked by the local Southern Nevada press why Las Vegas was selected as a place for a temple. His response was, “I don’t know of any place in all the world that needs one more. I don’t know of a place in the world where you see more clearly the contrast between evil and good, than you do in this city. This place needs a temple.” 1 On April 7, 1984, President Hinckley, then the Second Counselor in the First...

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The condescension of Christ, 16 stones, and the great deep: Lessons from Ether 1-5

Morgan Jones - A month after returning home from my time as a missionary, I was finally beginning to adjust to post-mission life but began being very critical of myself. Specifically, I felt that my gospel study and prayers were not what they had been on my mission. On the airplane home, I’d had big dreams about doing an hour of gospel study every day. After all, that seemed like very little in comparison to the three hours I had done for 18 months as a missionary. Instead, some days I only read a chapter before drifting off to sleep. I felt I was...

59297

How the Red Cliffs Utah Temple got its name and highlights from recent groundbreakings

Danielle Christensen - While the pandemic has prevented many Latter-day Saints from attending the temple, it hasn’t kept temple work from moving forward. In the past month alone, five groundbreaking ceremonies have been held. Whether local saints are anticipating the second temple in their city—as with the Red Cliffs Utah Temple—or the third temple in their nation—as with the Salta Argentina Temple—each groundbreaking has been meaningful and unique. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from each one. Bentonville Arkansas Temple The Bentonville Arkansas Temple groundbreaking, held Saturday, November 7, had special meaning for both Elder David A. Bednar and his wife, Sister...

59295

The story behind BYU football’s ‘Love One Another’ t-shirts

LDS Living - Earlier this summer, BYU football’s team leaders called a players-only meeting and decided they wanted to send a message. The message would be similar to social justice messages displayed by NBA and WNBA athletes, but they didn’t want the message to be controversial in any way. As standout wide receiver Dax Milne told the Deseret News , someone mentioned “Love one another,” and in their September 7 opener, shirts with the phrase that Latter-day Saints recognize from Primary were debuted by the team during warmups. Mark Clegg, director of the BYU Store, recalls seeing the shirts, which say "We are 1"...

59293

The elephant in the dark: Seeking to learn from friends of other faiths

Jenny Harris, Contributor -  “He remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all” — Mosiah 27:30 In 2013, I attended a small Baptist congregation. I was pleased to visit a new church, but in my heart of hearts, I think I was watching for false doctrine or heavy marketing. I was greeted at the door by a kind middle-aged woman and then sat at a pew feeling a little awkward. Could they see that I was an interloper? Were we enemies, just pretending at acceptance? I was wearing a missionary name tag, so I wasn’t exactly incognito. The meeting was...

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Even without Giving Machines this year, there will still be plenty of ways to #LightTheWorld

Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - At this time of great global need, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is encouraging people to bring light to the world this Christmas season through simple, meaningful acts of service. “During these unique and troubling times, we have the opportunity to make a difference in small and natural ways,” said Elder Marcus B. Nash, a General Authority Seventy and executive director of the Missionary Department. “We can be a light that can shine to the world. We invite all to join with us this Christmas season and light the world, one person at a time, one by one,...

59258

3 ways to make your holiday celebrations meaningful despite a pandemic

Jessica Kettle, Katie Hughes, and Emily Belle Freeman - Each November, as the air turns from crisp to chill and pumpkins on front porches are replaced with evergreen wreaths, the excitement of the season starts to settle in. Just before the hustle and bustle takes over, there is a small window where we can simply soak in the anticipation of all that is to come and relish in the nostalgia of holidays past. It is a season of gathering: heads bowed in unison as prayers of thanks are offered over turkey dinners and extra slices of pecan pie, familiar carols sung a bit off-key with those you love most, and...

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13 games and puzzles your family will love this holiday season

LDS Living Staff - With touchscreen devices taking over more and more family time, it's hard to find screen-free activities the whole family will enjoy. The good news is that the holiday season is the perfect time to bond as a family over a new board game or puzzle. Whether your kids are still young or if they have kids of their own, there are plenty of great Christmas gift options with these entertaining activities. With so many to choose from, you're sure to find something your whole family will love! Build Up Game Your goal is to make the next player topple the tower....

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In case you missed it: Top LDS Living articles from this week

LDS Living - With everything going on this week, we thought it might be helpful to compile the top LDS Living  articles   from this week in one place. Here’s a snapshot of what you may have missed. You can also subscribe to the LDS Living  newsletter for daily inspiration right to your inbox. Featured Stories A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Emily Belle Freeman and David Butler’s ‘Don't Miss This’ When two seminary teachers joined forces to commemorate a pioneer story, they had no idea that it would lead to one of the most popular Come, Follow Me resources on YouTube and...

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The story behind the first baptism for the dead in this dispensation is one you may have never heard

LDS Living - Did you know the first baptism for the dead was a mother acting in proxy for her recently deceased son? Did you know she was baptized in the Mississippi River? It’s true. Jane Neyman was baptized for her son, Cyrus, with a woman named Vienna Jacques on horseback serving as witness. It was not until 1845, following the death of the Prophet Joseph, that Brigham Young said that in the future Saints “never will see a man go forth to be baptized for a woman, nor a woman for a man,” according to ChurchofJesusChrist.org. In his new book, Repicturing the Restoration...

59251

What a missionary assignment to the United Nations has taught Sister Carol McConkie about the value of women

Lindsey Williams - You may recognize Sister Carol McConkie from her service in a previous Young Women General Presidency, but her latest assignment has given her new perspective into the role and influence of women. Sister McConkie, who served as First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency from 2013–2018, recently appeared as a guest on the Latter-day Saint Women podcast . In the episode, she talks about her current assignment and serving as a missionary with her husband representing Latter-day Saint Charities to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. On the episode, she recalls the day her husband came home and told her...

59250

How 2 sister missionaries transformed a waterlogged copy of the Book of Mormon

Valerie Russell - “Throwing away a copy of the Book of Mormon seems like throwing away someone’s opportunity to grow closer to Jesus Christ, and I could not let that happen,” Sister Tuck said in an email interview with LDS Living . This is what led Sisters Kellie Tuck and Autumn Dickey, who are currently serving in the England Leeds Mission, to spend three days transforming a waterlogged copy of the Book of Mormon into a mosaic of Christ. The idea of creating a mosaic of Christ seemed to come “out of thin air,” as Sister Tuck described. Sister Dickey recalled, “Sister Tuck and...

59257

What we know about the 2020 First Presidency Christmas Devotional

Danielle Christensen - The Christmas devotional with the First Presidency is just around the corner, and Latter-day Saints, their families, and their friends are invited to participate. During the December 2019 Christmas devotional, President Dallin H. Oaks , Elder Ulisses Soares , President Joy D. Jones , and Elder Patrick Kearon shared messages at the Conference Center about the Savior and the Christmas Season. This year, General Authorities and General Officers of the Church will once again be sharing uplifting messages to celebrate the birth of Christ. However, the proceedings will be a little different than normal, as the event will only be held...

59239

12 powerful quotes by Apostles and their wives from 6 young adult devotionals on the same day

Lindsey Williams - On Sunday, November 1, six members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and their wives participated in broadcast devotionals in the United States and Canada. Read a quote from each of them below or read full summaries of the Apostles’ remarks and their  wives’ remarks from Church News . Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf to the North America Northwest Area  “There is a difference between thoughts that come from your personal experience and that of the divine voice of God speaking through His Holy Spirit. It is the quest of a lifetime to know the difference. The human challenge is receiving...

59235

What President Ballard recommends ‘if your life is void of quiet time’ + other messages from Church leaders this week

Valerie Russell - Editor’s note: “ This week from the pulpit ” highlights recent messages by General Authorities, General Officers, and leaders of the Church. This week, leaders from the Church addressed a variety of topics—from finding moments of stillness to preparing for 2021 to being consistent in our efforts to follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is our hope that their messages will help you find peace and comfort. President Ballard Addresses Ensign College President M. Russell Ballard spoke during an Ensign College (formerly LDS Business College) devotional this week, which was broadcast virtually, reminding young adults of their important role in the...

59233

3 Christlike attributes we don’t always think about

Lindsey Williams - Editor's note: Our bi-weekly Friday column, “ Found in the footnotes ,” explores some of the footnotes from remarks given by General Authorities and General Officers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Shortly before October general conference, I was reminded of times on my mission when I had been trying to decide which Christlike attribute from Preach My Gospel I wanted to focus on acquiring. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that as a missionary, I had dedicated so much time and thought to developing Christlike attributes. That habit had fallen by the wayside...

59147

Find the Christmas spirit with this Utah-produced film 'The Santa Box'

LDS Living - Editor's note: The following press release does not represent an  LDS Living  endorsement of the film. Parents are advised to use their own discretion based on what they deem appropriate for their children to watch.   Writer, director, and producer Spanky Dustin Ward, in partnership with Covenant Communications and Excel Entertainment, recently announced a new film, The Santa Box. The movie will open in local Utah Megaplex Theatres on Friday, November 6, 2020. Covenant Communications served as the production company with Ron Brough as executive producer, and Excel Entertainment is distributing the film in theaters. Ward had been working on the...

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22 photos of Elder Uchtdorf that will make you love him even more

LDS Living Staff - This story was originally published in November 2014 and has been updated to celebrate Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf's 80th birthday.  We love the way Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf devotes his life to family, service, and the Savior. Celebrate this beloved Apostle's 80th birthday with these fun photo highlights from his remarkable life. Elder Uchtdorf as a young man. Image from Facebook . Elder Uchtdorf (far left) met his future wife at a Mutual Improvement Association activity. Photo from ChurchofJesusChirst.org . As an outstanding student pilot in his class with the U.S. Air Force, Elder Uchtdorf received the Commander's Trophy. Photo from...

59234

3 interesting facts about the man behind the Scripture Citation Index

Valerie Russell - “If he got paid a million dollars, it would have only worked out to about 50 cents an hour,” a member of Richard C. Galbraith’s family said about Richard’s work on the Scripture Citation Index . Galbraith, a convert to the Church, spent 50 years creating the Scripture Citation Index—all while raising a family and working as a BYU professor. His love for annotating and cross referencing the scriptures, Journal of Discourses, and other inspired writings has now allowed anyone who asks, “What have leaders of the Church said about this verse?” to find answers right away.  ► You may also...

59229

The St. George Utah Temple renovation: A look at what has happened during the first year

Newsroom of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Editor's note:  Newsroom  released the following update on the St. George Temple renovation in recognition of one year of progress. Read a summary and watch the video below, or find more pictures on  Newsroom . Sounds of machinery and construction crews plying their trade echo across the property of a beloved landmark. Its familiar white walls that glisten in the autumn sky can be seen from most parts of this Southern Utah town steeped in pioneer history. Six-month Accomplishments The St. George temple reached a milestone at the beginning of November. It marks the one-year anniversary of extensive renovations that visibly...

59222

How turning left instead of right changed the course of a young man’s life

LDS Living - On this week’s episode of   This is the Gospel , two storytellers share about small decisions that had lasting impacts. At 18 years old, Vinnie moved away from his family and was ready to do things his way. But he promised his mom that he would try attending church one last time. Read how Vinnie’s decision to keep this promise influenced him when he felt lost—both physically and spiritually. An adapted excerpt from the story is below. You can also listen to the full episode  here  or read a transcript  here . The following excerpt has been edited for clarity. Vinnie: ...

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11 Latter-day Saint calendars to inspire you in 2021

LDS Living Staff - In a few short weeks, you'll be sipping sparkling cider and counting down to midnight and a new year will be here! These calendars will help you plan out your 2021—plus the images inside are stunning! 2021 Divine Redeemer Calendar by Del Parson Buy now 2021 Light of Hope Calendar by Simon Dewey Buy now 2021 The Good Shepherd Calendar by Yongsung Kim Buy now 2021 The Lord is My Light Calendar by Scott Sumner Buy now 2021 Greg Olsen Calendar Buy now 2021 Son of Man Calendar by Liz Lemon Swindle Buy now 2021 Love One Another Calendar Buy now...

59215

From fundraising to foundations: 13 surprising facts about 3 pioneer temples

Jannalee Sandau - Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles, “ Scenes from Saints ,” a series highlighting interesting facts from Saints volume 2. Articles will be posted weekly during November and December 2020. You can purchase both volumes of Saints through Deseret Book  or read and listen to the volumes on the Gospel Library app under the “ Restoration and Church History ” section.  Can ‘Church history’ and ‘cliff hanger’ be used in the same sentence? I didn’t think so until I started listening to the Church's new Saints series with my husband. While many of the stories and...

59223

Pro golfer Tony Finau discusses Word of Wisdom and light of Christ in podcast interview

Danielle Christensen - In a recent podcast interview on The Erik Anders Lang Show, professional golfer Tony Finau shared how he lives his faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Finau, age 31, is currently ranked 17 th in the world in his sport. Recently, the golfer recovered from COVID-19, which prevented him from competing in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in October, as well as the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, according to the Augusta Chronicle . During the interview, Finau discussed that while he never served a full-time mission, he feels that...