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Emily Belle Freeman and Nish Weiseth: Different Faiths and Deep Friendship

How can we do a better job of building on common ground rather than creating artificial divides? Authors Emily Belle Freeman, a Latter-day Saint, and Nish Weiseth, a non-denominational Christian, are best friends who have built a strong friendship on a foundation of Christ.

32: "Stand Ye in Holy Places" (Doctrine and Covenants 85–87)

The parable of the wheat and the tares is pretty well known, and odds are you've sat through multiple lessons and talks that expound on it. But let's be real here while learning about this subject have you ever wondered whether you are a wheat or a tare? As we study this week's lesson in Doctrine and Covenants 85–87, we'll dig into the many applications of this parable that you might not have thought of before and what it has to do with members of the Church today.

25: "The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind" (Doctrine and Covenants 64–66)

Panning for gold isn’t what most people think it is. It takes time. It takes patience. And the payoff usually isn’t a large gold nugget. More often, it’s just a few tiny flecks of gold for hours and hours of work. But over time, those tiny flecks add up to something of great value. The same is true of studying Doctrine and Covenants 64–66. In these sections, the Lord is asking the Saints to be patient, to offer Him a willing heart and mind, and to work for these flecks of gold in their lives. The value of the Saints' determination and sacrifice was beyond measure to them, and it can be for us as well when we take the time to dig into these verses.

23: "All Flesh Is in Mine Hand" (Doctrine and Covenants 60–62)

You may not be a world-class beatboxer—or do public math—but chances are, you have a talent. In fact, all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a very specific talent. And as we study Doctrine and Covenants 60–62, we are going to find out what that talent is, why it was important to the early Saints, and how we can share it with others today.

20: "That Which Is of God Is Light" (Doctrine and Covenants 49–50)

One word for "evil" in Greek is ponos. But unlike the English definition of evil, the word ponos means pain, anguish, distress, or suffering. In most cases, ponos could describe what we feel when we make a mistake or commit sin. The Savior knows this pain because He suffered for us. He will always be the first to meet us and the last to judge us. That’s what this week’s lesson from Doctrine and Covenants 49–50 is all about: Christ coming to meet us where we are and helping us understand the great blessings He has in store for us.

40: “It Is Thy House, a Place of Thy Holiness” (Doctrine and Covenants 109–110)

Have you ever been to a temple dedication? If so, do you have any specific memories about the event? A temple dedication often brings a flurry of excitement and energy to an area, and that was certainly the case for the Saints who were eagerly awaiting the dedication of the Kirtland temple. This week we will dig into Doctrine and Covenants 109–110 to read the stories of Saints who attended the dedication. We'll see what their experiences teach us about attending temples, including the struggle we might sometimes have over feeling worthy to be there.

49: “Come unto Christ, and Be Perfected in Him” (Moroni 10)

This is the time of year we all think about gifts, whether it’s the gifts we’ve been given or the gifts we would like to receive. But what if we could all receive a gift that didn’t come with a price tag? And not just one gift, but as many gifts as we asked for? In this week’s lesson, we’ll dig into Moroni 10 to study spiritual gifts and how we can discover what ours might be and how to cultivate more.

47: “To Keep Them in the Right Way” (Moroni 1–6)

“Wondering for the safety of his life.” This is how the book of Moroni begins. It’s difficult to even imagine the loneliness and sorrow Moroni must have felt as he watched all of his family and friends perish. Though he didn't think he would live long enough to write them, Moroni's words in Moroni 1–6 are vital to us as members. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into what Moroni has to teach us.

43: "I Speak unto You As If Ye Were Present" (Mormon 7–9)

It can be easy to look at the world today with devastating natural disasters, a sweeping pandemic, and horrifying social injustices and assume the day of miracles has passed. But that’s simply not the case. In this week’s study group, we’ll dig into Mormon 7–9 to find that not only do miracles still exist today, but we can experience them in our lives as we seek to come closer to Christ.

39: "Behold, My Joy Is Full" (September 28–October 11)

You may be tempted to look at 3 Nephi 17–19 and think, “What’s there to study in just three chapters?” But these chapters are packed with a treasure trove of gospel gems, including when Christ heals the multitude, blesses the children, gives the sacrament to the people, and so much more. And so as we prepare for general conference, let’s dig into this week’s lesson, grab our colored pencils, and study these chapters like we never have before.

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