Jenny Spencer Hunt

How a Latter-day Saint and a conference protester became unlikely friends

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

March 31, 2023 09:00 AM MDT

As Bryan Hall walked up to a group of general conference protesters one cold October morning, he never thought that he would one day become friends with the ringleader, Ruben Israel, a man he had come to hate—a man he had never even met.

11 Min Read

Fun

10 funeral potatoes recipes to die for

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

September 17, 2022 01:44 PM MDT

Simply put, we would die and go to our own funerals to get a taste of these funerals potatoes.

1 Min Read

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Latter-day Saint Life

How I lost 40 pounds living the Word of Wisdom

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

December 18, 2019 10:00 PM MST

Editor’s note: This story originally ran on LDS Living in August 2014.

3 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

4 Ways You Can Help a Struggling Missionary

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

January 07, 2019 10:00 PM MST

Missionaries can deal with a slew of issues, and as a parent, sibling, or friend reading and writing letters from afar, you may feel helpless. But you’re not. Check out some ways you can help them with some of these most common struggles, and some prophetic counsel that may help as well.

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

How I Lost 140 Pounds by Relying on the Lord

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

January 01, 2019 10:00 PM MST

Losing 140 pounds is no easy feat. Just ask Trent Heppler. Never in a million years did he believe that he would one day shed the weight, let alone run a marathon. But Heppler learned that the power to overcome his physical weaknesses—whatever they may be—comes from a spiritual strength gained through the Savior, Jesus Christ. Growing up overweight and self-conscious, Latter-day Saint Trent Heppler always felt that exercise was just another form of torture invented to make him feel inadequate.

7 Min Read

Fun

20 Unique (and Easy) Ideas for Feeding Hungry Missionaries

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

November 28, 2018 01:01 PM MST

You may think missionaries want a hearty meal to fill them up, so pot roast or lasagna should do the trick, right? Wrong. Turns out missionaries get a lot of pot roast and way too much of anything that comes in a casserole dish—especially in the United States. Try these creative dinners that you and the missionaries are sure to love.

2 Min Read

3 Tips for Preparing Your Children for Baptism

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

November 04, 2018 10:42 PM MST

As the aunt of 10 nieces and nephews, I love to watch my brother and sisters raise their kids. Among the grandchildren in my family, we’ve got two daredevils, two wild-childs, one bossy pants, and the sweetest autistic boy you’ll ever meet. Needless to say, wrangling—I mean, parenting—these kids is never the same for my brother and sisters. So when the children near the age of eight, how do they—and parents everywhere—decide on the best way to teach their child about the importance of baptism? And how much does the child actually understand?

3 Min Read

Fun

Trivia Quiz: How Much Do You Know About LDS Temples Around the World?

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

May 12, 2018 07:22 AM MDT

Think you know something about LDS temples? Take our quiz and see how familiar you are with temple trivia!

1 Min Read

10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Tie the Knot

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

March 10, 2018 02:00 PM MST

The world of dating can be a pretty perilous place. But when you’re armed with the right information about the person you’re dating, you’ll be able to know if marriage is the next step. Here are a few questions that you should ask yourself before you decide to tie the knot.

3 Min Read

Fun

10 Hilarious Breakup Lines Straight from the Scriptures

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

February 07, 2018 03:02 PM MST

Let’s face it. Breaking up is hard to do. Sayings like, “Let’s just be friends,” or “It’s not you—it’s me,” sometimes work. I mean, they’re classics if not a bit overused and perhaps a little trite. But did you know that the scriptures happen to be an excellent source of creative breakup lines? Here are just a few:

1 Min Read

Famous Latter-day Saints

5 Celebrities Featured in the Church's "I'm a Mormon" Videos

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

December 06, 2017 09:38 AM MST

There are some pretty famous Mormons out there, and they're ready to stand up for what they believe in. Check out these five celebrities who have been featured in the Church's "I'm a Mormon" video campaign.

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

6 Ways to Help Your Kids Prepare for Their Patriarchal Blessing Now

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

November 25, 2017 09:00 AM MST

All baptized and worthy members of the Church can and should receive a patriarchal blessing. But often the question is when? Usually, members encourage their children to receive a blessing in their teen years. But every worthy adult convert may receive a blessing at any time after their baptism

4 Min Read

Fun

Poll: Do You Drink Caffeine?

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

November 18, 2017 02:33 PM MST

I’ll admit it: I grew up thinking that Coke and other caffeinated drinks were frowned upon by the Church. I knew it wasn’t explicitly against the Word of Wisdom, so when asked why I wouldn’t drink anything caffeinated, I would say I didn’t enjoy the taste. But the reality is that I was mostly avoiding the caffeine. I thought drinking it was wrong.

1 Min Read

Fun

9 Insane (but Fabulous) Knots for Your Man's Tie

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

June 10, 2017 09:40 AM MDT

How many ways are there to tie a tie? Turns out there's quite a few! Check out these really snazzy tie knots!

1 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

5 Things to Know About the LDS Church in Spain

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

February 21, 2017 10:00 PM MST

The cities of Spain have vivid histories filled with battling cultures, religious artwork, and impressive ruins covered in vines and sand. And while countless visitors come to experience Spain’s rich treasures and heritage, Church members in Spain know that their real treasures are the blessings of the gospel and that their true heritage comes from a divine source. Here are five things to know about the Church in this country.

9 Min Read

Fun

The Ultimate Donny Osmond Quiz

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

November 01, 2016 08:33 AM MDT

Donny Osmond has been making the rounds in Mormondom for years—and proving to the world that Mormons really do have more fun! From the Donny & Marie Show to the Hill Cumorah Pageant, Donny sure has showed that he’s up for anything. (And we all know that every Mormon can be traced to Donny Osmond in fewer than 3 degrees!) Now’s your chance to prove how well you know your Donny Osmond trivia!

2 Min Read

Latter-day Saint Life

Why Families Don't Sit Together at Church in South Korea + 3 More Fascinating Facts

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

July 11, 2016 09:08 AM MDT

It can be difficult for members in South Korea to live life according to the teachings of the gospel when society teaches them to blend in. But despite the uphill battle of standing for what they believe in, these faithful Saints find joy in living the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are four things to know about the Saints in South Korea:

7 Min Read

Fun

16 Hilariously Awful Mormon Pick-up Lines

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

June 04, 2016 04:30 PM MDT

BYU Magazine published a few hilarious Mormon pickup lines that were so good, we just had to add them to our all-time favorite list.

1 Min Read

Missionary Lingo: The Ultimate Guide

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

April 11, 2013 04:58 AM MDT

It’s understandable that members become a little distraught when they hear a missionary at their dinner table say that their last companion died, (or even worse, that the elder sitting across the table killed them). They may not realize, however, that the missionary is merely using mission lingo to say that their last companion had finished their mission and gone home.

3 Min Read

Would You Date a Non-RM?

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

March 07, 2013 05:35 AM MST

When my friend told her father that she was seriously considering marrying a young man who didn’t serve a mission, his jaw dropped. Her father harbored some justified concerns about this young man she had fallen in love with. But in this case (like in many other cases), he had changed his ways and was ready for an eternal commitment to the Lord—and to her. This example is just one of many where that old stigma catches up with us: the assumption that “non-RM” young men may be less worthy or ready for the blessings of a temple marriage.

1 Min Read

The LDS Church in Austria

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

February 26, 2013 05:57 AM MST

The beginnings of the Church were not always so harmonious. In 1841, Elder Orson Hyde was on his way to dedicate Palestine to the preaching of the gospel when he stopped in Vienna. Although he felt prompted to preach the word among the people there, he was not commissioned to dedicate the land, and the country of Austria had to wait 25 more years for Orson Pratt and William W. Ritter to arrive and begin the missionary work there.

8 Min Read

Weekend Family Activity: Hot Chocolate Stand

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

February 22, 2013 05:51 AM MST

If there’s one thing we love in the wintertime more than people shoveling our sidewalks, it’s people handing out hot chocolate.

1 Min Read

Poll: How Do You Celebrate Valentine's Day?

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

February 14, 2013 05:25 AM MST

No other holiday ruffles feathers quite like Valentine’s Day. “Singles Awareness Day” has long been a tradition for people who don’t exactly appreciate a holiday dedicated to those who are taken, while they are still so very un-taken. And yet, for some it’s a favorite day of the year to enjoy the company of their sweetheart. And so we put the vote up to you: How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

1 Min Read

Singles Dilemma: To Date or Not to Date Within Your LDS Ward

By Jenny Spencer Hunt

January 24, 2013 05:44 AM MST

Confession: I have been on more dates with guys in my wards than I could ever count. I confess it not to gloat or complain but to prove a point. I’ve dated long-distance style, and I’ve dated across-the-street style. I’ve noticed that for many, dating within the ward means unwanted gossip and ruined chances for later happiness—"peeing in the pool," as they call it. Then again, there are many intra-ward happily ever after stories . . . just not mine.

2 Min Read