Having been born into a family void of religious instruction, I didn't know the love of my Father in Heaven and his keen awareness of me a young man. This knowledge came as a result of joining the Army as an 18 year old, fresh out of high school.

Rachel bounded to the front of the chapel and nearly skipped to the podium. Leaning close to the mic she said, “I have the most fantastic news ever! I’ve just been called to the Detroit, Michigan mission.” She raised both hands in the air in a victory pose, “And I am SO EXCITED. I can’t wait to serve the people of Michigan and I can’t wait to testify of Jesus Christ. I know I’ve been called there for a reason, I know the Lord loves me and I can’t wait to tell everyone how much He loves them too.” With a fist punch, she left the podium and returned to her seat. We live in a pretty reserved ward, but I’m sure I heard a few “Hallelujahs” as she walked down the aisle.

When Reed Mellor was growing up, his father would pick up hitchhikers, bring them home for dinner, and invite them to stay overnight. The next morning, he would give them $20 before sending them on their way. “You know, you’re being taken advantage of,” Mellor recalls telling his dad, a schoolteacher who had to work summers on a farm to make ends meet. His father replied, “That’s okay. It won’t be the last time. I’d rather give to lots than miss the one who needs my help.” It was not just the hitchhikers who were the beneficiaries of his father’s generosity. The Mellors were (and are) devout members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; they gave dutifully to the church and all of its activities. Today, it is Reed himself who takes this approach. Reed is a successful engineer with his own business outside of Salt Lake City. He and his wife, Lareen, who works as an accountant in the business, are by any measure quite generous with the success they’ve enjoyed. Their charitable giving starts with tithing. “Everything on earth is God’s,” he says. “We are just required to give him 10 percent back.” In this, the Mellors are representative of Mormons in general. Tithing is expected, and widely practiced.

My life the past, oh, 15 years has felt a little like one (really long) chick flick. Or more specifically, the first 15 minutes of a chick flick. You know the part of the movie I am talking about—the set up. The opening scenes where we learn about the main character and are subjected to some awkward and perhaps painful (but funny) experiences so we feel sorry for her/like her/relate to her better.

In 1830, Joseph Smith received the revelation that would lead to what we know now as the LDS hymnbook. Here's how that happened.

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for people to believe that God wants gay people here,” said Adena Moulton, a student at BYU. Many LGBT students on campus feel the same way after fasting and praying and coming to know BYU was the right place for them to be.

LDS Living has made this list of 25 activities to do with friends and family this December that are a little different than the typical Christmas countdown to-dos. We've come up with 25 meaningful, memorable activities that will make this holiday season your favorite. Click on the links to get all the details for making this Christmas perfect.

See Gladys Knight's One-of-a-Kind CTR Ring (+6 Other Things You Never Knew about Her)

So much of life can be chalked up to “coincidence”, but I recently had an experience that can’t be explained by any other way than the fact that Heavenly Father is in charge, has prepared a way for me, and knows all.

The other day I was chatting with a girlfriend in another state, and she happened to mention an 80-year-old woman in her ward who is the Young Women’s President. It reminded me of another senior sister I knew, with the same calling, who surprised the teenagers in her ward by going to their Mutual pool party—in her 80s—and doing a perfect jackknife off the diving board. Granted, she had been on the swim team in college, but they hadn’t known that.