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Alaskan missionary writes to local paper

My name is Elder Nelson Elias Witt. Elder Witt is what my name tag says and that’s just what people in Alaska call me. I am a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are sometimes called ‘LDS’ for short or “Mormon” by most. I have been in Alaska for almost 15 months, and I have about nine months left. A mission lasts two years, in which we do not see our families, but we talk to them on the phone twice a year. We do not get money for our service as missionaries; in fact we pay in order to do what we are doing.

Walking in His Shoes

“Prophet,” “Friend,” “Brother”—these are all words that have been used to describe Joseph Smith. But what about “Restorer,” “Visionary,” or even “Warrior”? Heidi’s friends (and historians) Jenny Reeder and Bob Millet share with Heidi how they would define Joseph if they only had one word to do so. Then Heidi turns to Cree Nation members Jalynne Geddes and her father, Harry Michael, to hear about who they know Joseph Smith to be.

Jared Halverson: Giving People the Benefit of their Doubts

While pursuing a doctoral degree from Vanderbilt Divinity School where his studies have been focused on anti-religious rhetoric, Jared Halverson has simultaneously sought to help students who wrestle with questions and doubts about the restored gospel. And while many say that divinity school tends to weaken faith, he says he has only become more convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

S. Michael Wilcox

S. Michael Wilcox received his PhD from the University of Colorado and taught for many years at the LDS Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of Utah. He has spoken to packed crowds at BYU Education Week and has hosted tours to the Holy Land, to China, to Church history sites, and beyond. He has served in a variety of callings, including as bishop and counselor in a stake presidency. He has written many articles and books, including House of Glory, Sunset, 10 Great Souls I Want to Meet in Heaven, Twice Blessed, and Finding Hope. He and his late wife, Laurie, are the parents of five children.

3 tips about spiritual preparation from BYU Education Week that can apply to anyone

By Valerie Russell

During October 2020 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson encouraged all to prepare spiritually and temporally for times ahead. He said:

49: “The Vision of the Redemption of the Dead” (Doctrine and Covenants 137–138)

Have you ever wondered what happens to people who die without a knowledge of the gospel? Or what about those who didn’t get a chance to accept it because of mental illness, physical disability, or other life circumstances? If these questions and others about the spirit world have weighed on your mind, Doctrine and Covenants 137–138 can help. These verses are filled with hope and information about what happens to our loved ones after they die and how everyone will have the opportunity to receive the gospel. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into these last two sections of the Doctrine and Covenants.

31: “The Lord Had Called Us for to Preach the Gospel” (Acts 16–21)

Nothing beats a good pair of shoes when you’re serving a mission. But the number of steps missionaries put in now can’t even be compared to the thousands of miles the Apostle Paul walked in his day. In Acts 16–21, we’ll take a look at the Apostle’s many journeys across the ancient world as he followed the creed to spread the gospel. During his service, Paul was jailed, beaten, and persecuted. But in the end, he leaves us with a humble message that he gave everything he could, and that it's always better to give than to receive.

Astrid Tuminez: Embracing Divine Identity to Unleash Your Full Potential

Join us on a journey with Astrid Tuminez, President of Utah Valley University, as she shares the two pivotal moments that transformed her life as a little girl growing up in a disadvantaged neighborhood in the Philippines. First, an opportunity to enroll in a school run by Catholic nuns allowed Astrid to read and write. Second, a chance to be taught by missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about her divine identity as a daughter of God. This powerful combination of secular and spiritual knowledge opened up a whole new world of possibilities for young Astrid. Today, President Tuminez leads Utah Valley University with the belief that education has the power to transform lives.

Latter-day Saint Life

Chick-fil-A Holding Fundraiser for LDS Man Who Suffered Two Tragedies in One Week

By LDS Living

A Chick-fil-A in Sugar House, Utah, is doing a good turn for an LDS man who had his leg amputated and whose father passed away in the same week.

Mindful of history, Mormon Church reaches out to minorities

It was Sunday morning, and the church was filled with more than 200 men, women and children, praying, singing and testifying. “I have been searching for a faith all of my life,” Melvin Davis, 60, of Southeast declared from the pulpit. The grocery clerk’s story, genial and direct, bared a quest for a spiritual home that long had come up short.