Garett Bolles stood on a curbside in Lehi, Utah, all his belongings scattered around his feet in a few duffle bags and cardboard boxes. Tears stained his cheeks as the realization hit: He had no place to go. Suddenly homeless at 18, Garett didn’t know what to do with his life, let alone where he’d sleep that night. That’s when Greg Freeman pulled up next to the 6' 5" teen, unable to miss the imposing figure. Not knowing what else to do, Greg loaded Garett’s belongings into his car, not understanding this simple moment would change all of their lives forever.

Wayne Hamby has spent much of his life working and traveling around the world to out-of-the-way places in search of diamonds and precious gemstones. And though Brother Hamby has had many opportunities to see God’s hand in his life as he has encountered dangerous and uncertain circumstances, he knows the blessings he has seen are a result of a lifetime of small but powerful spiritual experiences.

This won't come as a surprise to my kids, but now they have it in writing. In fact, next time it comes up, maybe I'll just send a link and a wink.

Dear Angela,

Editor’s note: This article first appeared as the cover story in the September/October 2021 issue of LDS Living magazine.

“I wasn’t sure how I could be forgiven for all my bad choices. But I found repentance was more about who I was becoming than who I was in the past.”

Years ago, before the Church instituted the three-hour block schedule for our Sunday meetings, we used to go to the chapel for meetings three times every Sunday—once in the morning for priesthood meeting, a second time for Sunday School opening exercises and classes, and finally a third time for a ninety-minute sacrament meeting. When I was a very young man, our ward’s Sunday School superintendent, Brother Marchant, came to our class one Sunday to ask for volunteers who would be willing to give the prayer, the 2½-minute talks, and the sacrament gem (a verse of scripture shared before the sacrament was passed) in the following week’s Sunday School opening exercises. My strategy was to quickly volunteer to say either the prayer or the sacrament gem. I was motivated by the desire to avoid having to give a talk at all costs! Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t the only person in the class with that strategy, and I missed out on my first choice, the prayer. I was quick enough, however, to score the sacrament gem assignment. Given the other alternative, I felt lucky.

The video, filmed before President Ballard’s death in November 2023, shows him bearing testimony at Carthage Jail where his great-great-grandfather Hyrum Smith and great-great uncle Joseph Smith lost their lives.

Our smartphones don't just increase our productivity when we’re away from a computer. They also fill our time when waiting at a crosswalk, riding the elevator with strangers, or taking the bus home from work. But instead of filling these voids with time-wasting games and social media, what if you could find a way to be inspired during your downtime? What if you could look up from your screen and feel a little smarter and more motivated to try harder and live better? Here are six apps I have found help keep me inspired throughout my day.

Dear Dave,