As a professor of philosophy at Brigham Young University (1972-2011), I have rationally defended the restored gospel in local, national and international venues. Indeed, in all my published work, I have done nothing else. Yet my own conviction of the restored gospel is not based on philosophical or theological reasoning; it is grounded in personal manifestations of the Holy Spirit. Though these are sacred experiences, not often communicated or communicable, I share one such experience here. Several years ago I attended an eight-week Institute in the Philosophy of Religion at Eastern Washington University in Bellingham, sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Institute was directed by Professors William Alston and Alvin Plantinga and included as faculty some of the most prominent philosophers of religion in both the U.S. and Great Britain.

"It is our heartfelt hope and prayer that they and many others have not sacrificed life in vain," LDS Chaplain Vernon A. Cooley wrote to then Elder Harold B. Lee. "In the present world-wide battles there have been some of our servicemen lost who were perhaps far more worthy than many of us who remain alive."

If you have a copy of the early rendition of the temple, scrap it. If you have copied the 3-D video from YouTube to your Facebook friends, delete it. Residents anticipating the next tidbit on what is happening at the construction site for the new Provo City Center Temple can stop holding their breath -- Provo's community development office has received official bid plans for the temple and surrounding grounds from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What is evident from a first glance into the 800 pages of descriptions, elevations, floor plans and landscaping is that the LDS Church is going to great lengths to preserve the historical nature of the old Provo Tabernacle. Thanks to modern technology, including the use of lasers, computerized censors, rebar and other devices, construction crews can bring the building up to seismic code and still keep its historical nature. City planner Josh Yost said that while no one will see some of the timbers and material being used, "it is a testament to the length the church is going for historical preservation."

Jeff and Debbie Sermon don't particularly like their son's long hair and offbeat look, but they're so proud of his band's success, they're willing to live with it. D Wayne Sermon is part of a new rock band that's making the late night talk show circuit and that Billboard Magazine called "one of 2012's brightest new stars." Imagine Dragons has signed with Interscope Records and has a tour lined up that includes major cities and stops.

Names are an important part of our existence. We use them every day, in all of our communications with others. But a precious few have actually been given their earthly names by God himself. Here are a few of those, as found in the scriptures:

Mitt Romney looks the part of a presidential candidate but several political analysts say he isn't connecting with voters.Chris Thomas with the Intrepid Agency told KSL's Nightside Romney is not the type that people could imagine chatting with across the backyard fence. Thomas said one reason could be that Romney doesn't seem vulnerable enough -- everything is too perfect.

Mormon singing group The Tonga Sisters lit up Ellen's stage with their amazing '90s mashup performance, earning a standing ovation from the audience when they appeared on the show.

When social acceptability, laws, and popular opinion support one idea, it can be difficult to challenge the status quo. But when it comes to abortion, Elder Quentin L. Cook gave Latter-day Saints clear counsel: We should help in defending the value of children and the importance of family.

"A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" is a hymn well beloved by Latter-day Saints and this LDS musician's rendition reminds us why.

LDS actress Lisa Valentine Clark knows how to connect with busy moms—probably because she is one. After her first ad for Chatbooks went viral, receiving over four million views, the company decided to follow up with a few others.