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Looking back at the 'Mormon Pavilion' at the New York World's Fair

We are writing this week's column from New York City, where we have just welcomed our 23rd grandchild into the world. (Hey, if you are a fresh, new spirit going to go down into the world, why not start your life off right in the middle of the Big Apple?) This city has been a second home to us in many ways for many years. I (Richard) served my first mission here, several of our kids studied here and two started their careers here.

Famous Latter-day Saints

Sistas in Zion: How 2 Black Latter-day Saint Women Are Breaking Stereotypes

By Kelsey Berteaux

"People expect Latter-day Saints to be a lot of things: white, rich, serious. They picture who they’ve seen in the media like Mitt Romney,” says Zandra Vranes, although then she adds, “But I’m black, broke, and funny, and I’m a Latter-day Saint too.” She and her longtime friend Tamu Smith are known as the Sistas in Zion: two soul sisters whose faith and humor unites them. Their shared mission? To provide “a relief from sobriety where hilarity never faileth.”

29: The Hero's Journey

Losing their dad in a plane crash when they were just kids left KC and Brian without someone to do the things that dads do—like building a pinewood derby car and making sure they made it to the father-son campout. When the men in their local ward stepped up to fill the gap, KC and Brian learned how a Heavenly Father uses others to be there for us when he can’t.

6: “We Lived after the Manner of Happiness” (Feb. 3–Feb. 9)

Let’s see if you can finish this scripture: “Men are that they might have . . . ?” If you said "joy," you're absolutely right. But has it ever felt like the opposition in your life makes it difficult to feel that joy? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’ll be digging into 2 Nephi 1–5 and learning more about the law of opposition and why it’s essential for experiencing joy.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Latter-day Saint Life

After Her Brother's Sudden Death the Day of His Daughter's Wedding, LDS Mother of 3 Gets Diagnosed with Cancer, Finds Hope in Faith

KSL shared the following story of a woman living in Springville, Utah, who was diagnosed with leukemia shortly after her brother's sudden death on the day of his daughter's wedding. After a priesthood blessing from her father assured her that no matter what, she would be okay, she continues to fight through her diagnosis with faith.

Latter-day Saint Life

LDS Young Men Leader Drowns on Scouting Trip, Says Priesthood Blessing Helped Revive Him

By Katie Lambert

Jared Smith was rafting with a group of Scouts down the Green River in Flaming Gorge, Utah, on June 21 when the unthinkable happened.

How 2 black Latter-day Saints honor their fathers and forebearers through their commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ

We often speak, as Latter-day Saints, of pioneers. But do we appreciate the faithfulness and sacrifice of those who have come before us in our own families? And do we appreciate the faith of those around us?

Ryan Gabriel

Ryan Gabriel attended Utah State University and earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2011. In 2016, Dr. Gabriel earned his PhD from the University of Washington then joined the Brigham Young University sociology department at the beginning of the 2016–2017 school year. Dr. Gabriel specializes in urban sociology, residential segregation, residential mobility and attainment, and race/racism and has taught courses pertaining to those interests—such as Sociology of Race and Ethnicity—since coming to BYU. Recently, Dr. Gabriel was able to participate in a seminar that involved traveling to the Southern United States with other students and faculty to visit key sites for the civil rights movements of the 1950s and 60s. Though Dr. Gabriel remains busy with researching and teaching, he always makes time to be with his wife, Erin.

Amanda Black

Susan Easton Black