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44: "A House unto My Name" (Doctrine and Covenants 124)

Did you know that there was a period when the Relief Society was disbanded? While Latter-day Saint women continued to serve in many capacities, the official Relief Society structure did not exist in the Church between 1844 and 1867. It was then that Eliza R. Snow helped reorganize this vital Church organization under the direction of President Brigham Young. As we study Doctrine and Covenants 124, we’ll talk about what led up to the disbandment of the Relief Society and how it grew into the worldwide organization it is today.

Richie T. Steadman: Never All Out

Richie T. Steadman once found himself in a situation he never could’ve imagined: excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was an unexpected note in the life of someone who had otherwise been a devoted member of the Church his entire life. But even while he worked toward being rebaptized, Steadman never missed a Sunday of church. In the years since, he has devoted much of his personal time and resources to giving voice to fellow Latter-day Saints on his podcast, The Cultural Hall.

Andrea Hales: Gathering Tribes

Andrea Hales felt inadequate to the task but she couldn’t deny the prompting she was feeling to start a podcast. The podcast would tell the stories of Native American Latter-day Saints and provide a platform to share their testimonies as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hales knew she didn’t grow up close to her Navajo side of the family but she felt her heart turning to her fathers and, as a result, a podcast called “Tribe of Testimonies” was born.

Brett and Kate McKay: Loving the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Second Half of Life

Various philosophers have often mused that there are two halves of our lives. What separates them is the period of time when we transition from a belief system to a humble inner knowing. This week’s guests, Brett and Kate McKay, are no strangers to the evolution of faith and say they have experienced significant moments of decision within their own faith. But they have also found that it is very possible to transition from the first half of life to the second with your faith intact. They believe faith shouldn’t be boring; instead, it’s very possible to stay passionate about the gospel after leaving young adulthood.

April Giauque: Escaping The Darkness of Domestic Abuse

It is difficult to ignore the similarities between April Giauque’s description of an abuser’s behavior and Satan’s efforts to wear us down: isolation, manipulation, control, despair. Regardless of whether you feel held captive in an abusive situation like April or trapped by sin or discouragement, April’s story reminds us that there is always hope through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"This Is the Gospel" Episode 67: Every Living Thing

Stories in this episode: A quest to solve the mystery of bees flying through cracks in their walls lead Kristen and Matt to discover important truths about God's laws of nature; Spencer’s childhood memories of catching bugs under yellow street lamps teaches him what it takes to recognize God’s hands in our lives.

Dean Hughes: Digging Into Polygamy and Other "Muddy" Issues

When Dean Hughes began writing his latest book, he didn't plan on writing about polygamy but the topic became impossible to ignore. At times, there are things (both past and present) that may affect our beliefs and be impossible to ignore. Dean describes these things as "muddy," but explains that there are faithful ways to approach seemingly messy aspects of our faith or our Church's history.

22: "Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause" (Doctrine and Covenants 58–59)

Picture this: You have just arrived in Jackson County, Missouri, with the early Saints. You’re so excited and you just can’t wait to begin the work of building up Zion. But you have no idea where to start. Everywhere you look the land where the Savior will come again just seems like untamed American frontier. But then the prophet Joseph Smith arrives with very important instructions from the Lord. That's what this week’s lesson in Doctrine and Covenants 58–59 is all about—instructions the Lord gave, for the Saints then and for us today, about how to prepare spiritually to gather and build up Zion.

18: "The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled" (Doctrine and Covenants 45)

This past year and its countless hardships may have had you wondering, “Is this a sign of the Second Coming? How about this?” Well, Doctrine and Covenants 45 is a revelation that is all about the signs of the Second Coming. But before we begin to wonder if some of those signs were fulfilled this past year, there’s more we need to unravel about what these signs actually mean. So as we dig into this week’s lesson, we’ll discuss the deeper meanings behind some of these signs and how those meanings affect us today.

46: “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled” (Ether 12–15)

Do you have a favorite, go-to scripture for when things get tough? Maybe it’s just a line or a verse that seems to bring you peace no matter what? In this week’s lesson, we’ll be studying Ether 12–15, which are arguably the least peaceful narratives in the Book of Mormon. But hidden in these sad tales of bloodshed and chaos could be verses that brought Joseph Smith’s brother Hyrum peace during his final days and may bring peace to our lives as well.