Jannalee Sandau

Jannalee worked as a writer and editor at LDS Living for seven years before hanging up her press badge and starting the journey of stay-at-home motherhood. While at LDS Living, she particularly enjoyed diving into the past and writing articles about little-known Church history stories or the Salt Lake Temple, though she wrote about a variety of topics. Today, you can find her happily organizing and reorganizing her house, scrap booking, reading books to her sons, or still writing an occasional freelance article.

Follow the Prophets

101 facts about President Nelson for his 101st birthday

By Jannalee Sandau

September 08, 2025 06:00 AM MDT

Did you know President Russell M. Nelson played the bugle in elementary school? Read these 101 facts about his inspiring life.

11 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

25 fascinating facts about the Conference Center for its 25th anniversary

By Jannalee Sandau

April 02, 2025 05:00 AM MDT

Do you know there are 1,300 parking stalls in the underground parking of the Conference Center? Or that there are 50,000 miles of electrical wiring?

7 Min Read

Eight youth holding cellos smile in a Latter-day Saint chapel at Christmastime.

Stories of Faith

This Arkansas ward has a full orchestra—and they’re all youth

By Jannalee Sandau

March 11, 2025 01:48 PM MDT

In the first year the Sugar Creek Youth Orchestra was created, a total of 18 youth participated.

4 Min Read

The Montoya family and their friends from Provo smile in the campground where they met 50 years ago.

Stories of Faith

‘We had to know more’: Family from Florida joins the Church after meeting members while camping in Utah

By Jannalee Sandau

August 08, 2024 03:38 PM MDT

In June 2024, the Montoya family reunited with the families who introduced them to the gospel 50 years ago.

9 Min Read

Jenna Barson holds her mother’s dresses that she inherited for The Tabernacle Choir.

Latter-day Saint Life

Soprano inherits her mother’s dresses as a new Tabernacle Choir member

By Jannalee Sandau

July 11, 2024 11:15 AM MDT

Have you seen this touching Tabernacle Choir family history connection?

1 Min Read

The Alcantar family (from left to right: Ange, Zander, Sawyer, Drezen, Ambery-Jae, and Sal) at the Santo Domingo Dominican Republic Temple.

Stories of Faith

Meet the family who’s served in 100 temples (and counting) around the world

By Jannalee Sandau

June 27, 2024 01:43 PM MDT

With over 300 temples built or announced worldwide, the Alcantar family’s goal to visit every temple keeps growing.

4 Min Read

Women standing in front of a meetinghouse.

Latter-day Saint Life

Easy conversation starters to help you find connection at church

By Jannalee Sandau

June 12, 2024 09:54 AM MDT

Church is a wonderful place to nurture friendships. Here are some ideas when you’re stuck on how to get started.

1 Min Read

George Neville, 4, and Hazel Neville, 2, of Medford, Oregon, look at the fountain outside the St. George Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the last day of public tours Saturday, November 11, 2023, in St. George, Utah.

Temple Worship

3 tips to make visiting a temple open house extra special for your kids

By Jannalee Sandau

May 29, 2024 12:55 PM MDT

Nurture your kids’ growing testimony with these ideas for a memorable temple open house experience.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

What’s in a (temple) name? The origin stories of ‘St. George,’ ‘Cardston,’ and more

By Jannalee Sandau

May 14, 2024 10:44 AM MDT

Did you know St. George was likely named after Apostle George A. Smith (sometimes called the “potato saint”)? Learn why in this article.

6 Min Read

Stories of Faith

Identical twins called to serve in neighboring missions: ‘It was better than we could’ve hoped for’

By Jannalee Sandau

April 08, 2024 04:21 PM MDT

For these twins, the idea of being apart for two years came with some anxiety. But they soon realized their missions would be closer than they thought.

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Conference with kids doesn’t need to be perfect. 3 reminders to unleash more joy this weekend

By Jannalee Sandau

April 03, 2024 11:40 AM MDT

As a mom of two young boys, here are a few things that help my family and me have a better conference weekend.

4 Min Read

The sun rises on the Kirtland Ohio Temple and the Joseph and Emma Smith home in Kirtland, Ohio, on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023.

Latter-day Saint Life

A quick look (with photos) at the historical treasures acquired with the Kirtland Temple

By Jannalee Sandau

March 12, 2024 02:29 PM MDT

With all the buzz about the Kirtland Temple, here are the newly acquired fascinating artifacts you might have missed.

11 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

The reason for trials we don’t talk about enough—but that makes all the difference

By Jannalee Sandau

February 26, 2024 02:33 PM MST

Reviewing the bigger trials in my life, I realized that while our personal trials are often for our learning, they can also benefit those around us.

5 Min Read

A drawing of a crowd welcoming Jesus on Palm Sunday

Latter-day Saint Life

This Scottish artist shares the Book of Mormon in the most approachable (and adorable) way

By Jannalee Sandau

February 07, 2024 07:32 PM MST

“For me, art bolsters the written messages [of scriptures] and conjures up feelings and emotions that words alone can’t always.”

5 Min Read

A senior woman greeting a young girl in the doorway.

Latter-day Saint Life

For me, this analogy finally takes the stress out of giving and receiving help

By Jannalee Sandau

January 22, 2024 01:04 PM MST

We always feel good when we can serve someone. But sometimes all it takes is a few extra minutes to make that service a little more meaningful.

8 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

My surprising takeaway from studying the final words of Book of Mormon record keepers

By Jannalee Sandau

January 15, 2024 02:00 PM MST

While looking through the Book of Mormon, I realized a unique characteristic about it that I’ve taken for granted my entire life.

9 Min Read

A woman sitting on a sheepskin rug meditates in front of a Christmas tree.

Latter-day Saint Life

2 reminders to soothe any parent’s heart during the pressures of Christmas

By Jannalee Sandau

December 20, 2023 06:00 AM MST

Feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to do during the holiday season? Here are a few ideas to help ditch the guilt and find the joy.

6 Min Read

Happy woman with red umbrella walking at the rain in beautiful autumn park

Latter-day Saint Life

We’re all worthy of God’s guidance—recognizing the promptings He pours down

By Jannalee Sandau

December 08, 2023 02:04 PM MST

God gave me a late-night thought that led to my son’s life-changing diagnosis. But I couldn't figure out how I "earned" this significant prompting.

5 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

12 Facts to Know Before You See "Jane and Emma"

By Jannalee Sandau

October 10, 2018 12:00 PM MDT

The new movie highlighting the relationship between black convert Jane Manning James and Emma Smith, wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comes out in only a few short days (click here for more information on where you can watch it starting October 12, 2018!). The story truly lets you see these two women in Church history with all their flaws and strengths as you watch them grapple with the nuances of their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ and their love for the martyred prophet during a fictionalized account of a night spent guarding Joseph Smith’s body after his death. While the night itself is not found in the history records, the emotions, stories of Jane and Emma’s previous interactions, people, and much of the dialogue comes straight from accounts left behind by those who lived early Church history, brought to life in the poetic, visual world of film. Here are a few of the true facts from Church history that you will find in Jane and Emma.

4 Min Read

Fun

Conference Trivia Quiz: Is the Answer Higher or Lower?

By Jannalee Sandau

October 06, 2018 09:49 AM MDT

Does the Conference Center or the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ have more pipes? How many days was conference in 1867? Test your knowledge of a variety of facts about general conference as you listen to the counsel of our prophet and apostles this weekend!

1 Min Read

Fun

Quiz: Which Ward Potluck Food Are You?

By Jannalee Sandau

September 28, 2018 08:52 AM MDT

From Jell-O to funeral potatoes to crockpot meals, Latter-day Saints have potlucks and refreshments down pat. Take our fun quiz to find out which potluck food best represents you!

1 Min Read

Fun

What the Salt Lake Temple Might Have Looked Like

By Jannalee Sandau

September 25, 2018 09:00 AM MDT

From its first design to its dedication 40 years later, the Salt Lake Temple has experienced its fair share of adjustment. Though we don't know all the reasons why these changes were made, it's fun to look back on some of the features planned for this beloved and iconic temple in its early stages.

4 Min Read

Famous Latter-day Saints

Voice Actor from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" Talks Conversion, Faith, More

By Jannalee Sandau

September 21, 2018 09:44 AM MDT

Born in South Dakota, Brian Cummings grew up under the dual care of his parents and his grandmother, starting his career in radio as a teenager. Little did he know what the Lord had in store for him, as he went on to find the gospel, raise a family, and bring to life the voices of animated characters such as Chef Bouche (the stove) in Beauty and the Beast, Doofus in the original Duck Tales, and Papa Q. Bear in The Berenstain Bears.

10 Min Read

Fun

3 possible reasons Latter-day Saints love C.S. Lewis

By Jannalee Sandau

September 01, 2018 08:40 AM MDT

C.S. Lewis' books are widely read, and he seems to have a special niche within the Latter-day Saint community. We came up with three possible reasons why.

3 Min Read