Church Responds to Media Coverage of LDS.org Polygamy Essays
Over the past year, the Church has been publishing in-depth essays on lds.org about popular gospel topics that are often difficult to answer or misunderstood. Among these was a discussion on plural marriage that the Church completed three weeks ago--an essay that generated significant media coverage and public interest.
The Church has responded to this new attention and clarified many misconceptions regarding Joseph Smith and the history of polygamy in the LDS church.
--> Read the Church's response and find out more about the Gospel Topics pages.
Imagine Dragons’ Success Reaches Lead Singer's Missionary Brother in El Salvador
When missionary Coulter Reynolds stepped into a Wendy's in El Salvador, he thought someone was playing a prank on him. Why was he hearing his brother's voice on the radio?
Reynolds knew his brother was the leadsinger of the Imagined Dragons, but he had no way of knowing the band had become an international hit. But, it turns out a famous rockstar is only one among nine of the Reynolds' talented and successful children who are making it big in their own way.
--> Read more about the surprising success of Imagine Dragons and the Reynolds family.
Church Changes Policy on Full-time Female Seminary and Institute Teachers
On Friday, November 14, the Church announced policy changes for female seminary and institute teachers that has created a lot of excitement and could change the gender make up of seminary and institute faculties significantly. Women with children still living at home are now eligible to work as full-time seminary and institute teachers, creating new job opportunities for young mothers.
--> Read more about these exciting new policy changes.
New LDS Art that Will Change How You See the Gospel (& the Stories Behind Them)
We Latter-day Saints love filling our homes with faithful and beautiful artwork, from pictures of temples to depictions of Christ’s life. Other images representing scripture stories and LDS values are also just as inspiring. Here are 12 stunning pieces of artwork along with insights from their creators about the significance, light, and truth these paintings and sculptures can bring to your home.
Ruth
SANDRA RAST
It took close to a year of on-and-off work for LDS painter Sandra Rast to complete Ruth, but the end result was worth the wait.
About the stunning painting, Rast says, “I put the beauty and softness in her eyes to represent the beauty of her inner attributes, that she’s good and gracious with dignity and charity on the inside. You have to paint the outside to show she internally had those characteristics we all seek.”
Other symbols found in the painting include the light around Ruth’s head, which represents revelation, knowledge, and truth. The heavy use of gold in the background and the color of the wheat symbolize things that are pure and precious, as well as the celestial kingdom, our ultimate goal. Ruth’s hands are a focal point of the piece, showing her strength and representing providence and blessings, especially those that come through work.
“People tell me I’m an ‘emotional painter,’” Rast confesses. “I love it. I want to be the emotional painter. I want my paintings to bring out the emotions within us that will teach us.” She explains, “If we look underneath the stories, we realize there are feelings and emotions that can influence our own lives.”
--> Discover 11 other moving pieces of LDS artwork and the stories behind them.
Debunking 5 Myths about The Book of Mormon
The coming forth of The Book of Mormon and the stories contained within it are incredible—incredible and complex. As a result, many members of other faiths have generated misconceptions about The Book of Mormon and LDS beliefs regarding it. Here are some common myths and truths surrounding this sacred record that you can share with your non-member neighbors and friends.
Myth #1—Mormons don’t believe in the Bible; they have their own book.
Yes, Mormons have our own set of unique scriptures. In fact, we not only have The Book of Mormon, we have the Doctrine and Covenants (a book of revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith and succeeding prophets), words from modern day prophets, and the Pearl of Great Price (selections of both ancient and modern materials that touch on significant doctrines, many unique to our faith).
But, believing in these other sacred records does not take away from our belief and reverence for the Bible. Additional LDS scriptures support, add upon, and—in many instances—clarify ambiguous doctrines found in the Bible.
--> Read four more myths about The Book of Mormon and the truths behind them.