Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy landed on May 31, 2013, in tornado-ravaged Oklahoma City eager to learn stories of faith and service and to minister to those in need. Elder Rasband also carried a personal message for the Saints from President Thomas S. Monson. Elder Rasband was particularly eager to meet Maylene Sorrels. Sister Sorrels had been at work as a kindergarten teacher’s aide at Plaza Towers Elementary when the category 5 tornado—the most destructive rank possible—demolished the school on May 20. She, with the kindergarten teacher, covered their students with their bodies. Though both women received injuries, no one else from the class was hurt. “When we heard the tornado coming close, I just prayed and prayed that my children (some of whom were also in the path of the storm) and the children we were protecting would be all right,” she said. “The Lord hears prayers. Prayers are answered.” Sister Sorrels’s home was badly damaged, but all of her family and the children with her were safe.

Manual 3; Supplement from "Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly" by President Gordon B. Hinckley

INTRODUCTION: Nephi wrote of the Lord in his remarkable psalm of praise and awe, “He hath filled me with his love even unto the consuming of my flesh” (2 Nephi 4:21). Nephi had just written “O wretched man that I am” and “My heart sorroweth because of my flesh” (2 Nephi 4:17) and “my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities, and I am encompassed about because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me” (2 Nephi 4:18). But even so he was secure in the witness he had of the Lord’s improbable and immeasurable love. Paul wrote:

The expansive humanitarian aid efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have had plenty of attention, but they’ve never been the subject of conversation on the world’s stage.

Our family recently enjoyed a memorable vacation to the eastern United States. The journey began in New York City with its bright lights, baseball and theatres. After a quick stop in Niagara Falls we set our sights on Church history.

Mormon studies is a growing field, one the Church is starting to embrace, as revealed by their latest gift of $1 million dollars to Utah State University.

A few weeks ago, I had one of those days. My husband was sick in bed with the flu. My teething baby spent the day clinging to my legs and biting into my shoulder. My 7-year-old son seemed to have cotton balls stuck in his ears, and my 5-year-old daughter was talking back to everything I said. Oh, and it was my birthday.

Dear Dave,

For the 25th anniversary tour of Michael McLean's The Forgotten Carols, the cast, crew, and audience joined in the latest internet craze—the mannequin challenge.

(1) Lovebug Cookies