Well, there’s no clear answer to this, but gradually, and over time, we see that this has come to be. We largely put academic and spiritual learning in two separate boxes. Rarely are academics viewed as tools to deepen faith and develop character. And rarely is faith viewed as a vital part of academics.

In 2008, as my book Shaken Faith Syndrome was getting ready for publication, I contemplated on the fact that most of the book engaged the negative influences toward belief; my book addresses these negative influences and provides specific answers to common anti-LDS arguments. But I was a bit bothered that I hadn’t really included some of the wonderful and exciting evidences in favor of belief. So just a few short months after Shaken Faith Syndrome came off the press, Cedar Published my book, Of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. While the critics cannot prove that God does not exist and that Joseph Smith did not speak to the Father and Son on a hill in Palmyra, neither can believers prove that an angel led Joseph to an ancient Nephite record, or that resurrected beings restored the priesthood to the young prophet. Instead, critics attempt to show that Joseph borrowed teachings and stories from his environment to create a fictional Book of Mormon as well as a man-made Church. These criticisms are addressed in Shaken Faith Syndrome. Believers can show, however, that there are many evidences which support and are consistent with the story told by Joseph Smith. There is evidence consistent with the claim that an ancient family from Jerusalem traversed the Arabian Desert in about 600 B.C. There is evidence consistent with the claim that Joseph possessed actual metal plates with the appearance of gold. There is evidence consistent with the claim that Joseph restored authentic ancient Christian teachings that were no longer practiced and/or taught by Christianity in his day.

Learn about some of the ways Billy Graham defended Mormonism throughout his ministry. Read the Church's statement on Billy Graham following his death.

As a lifelong member of the Church who’s lived in a few different geographic regions, I thought I’d heard it all. I’ve fielded questions about polygamy, pioneers, dancing and Donny Osmond. (Have I also mentioned that I’m not Amish?) But then we asked you, our readers, about misunderstandings you’ve encountered about your faith.

What words come to mind when you think about the Lamanites? If you are anything like me, you probably thought of words like wicked, unrighteous, stiff-necked (whatever that means), or maybe even bloodthirsty. But we forget that even though there are Lamanites in the Book of Mormon that fit this description, there are also many Nephites that fit that description, too. If we look a bit closer, the stereotypes we have given the Lamanites and Nephites may not only be untrue but also unhelpful in our efforts to love our neighbor and “liken the scriptures to ourselves.”

Do you have an image that pops into your mind when you hear “judgement day”? Does that image maybe invoke a little nervousness—or even some fear? This week we dig into Alma 5–7, specifically Alma’s “test” in Alma 5, to learn comforting truths about what God requires and expects of us, and to discover that He, and Christ, are always on our side.

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.

Zandra Vranes is an award-winning writer and filmmaker. Most recently she was a producer on the film, My Name is Green Flake, winner of the Los Angeles Film Award and the London Independent Film Awards. Zandra is the co-author of the book, Can I Get an Amen: Celebrating the Lord in Everyday Life and co-founder of Sistas in Zion, a multimedia platform that creates content that inspires faith, hope, charity, and hilarity. True to her sign, Zandra is a Pisces that loves the water, so when she's not creating content you can find her paddleboarding with her boo and their adventurous chihuahua.

Wendy Stucki is a native of California, where she met and married her husband, Grant. They have lived in Alpine, UT for the last 30 years. She loves everything about being a mother and grandmother to her 6 children and 22 grandchildren. She loves learning new things, good music, especially if it involves dancing in the kitchen, and making a meal that brings people together. Her budding love of the Savior and His gospel began with faithful early morning seminary teachers and now runs deep in her soul. Wendy and Grant recently returned from serving a mission in Harare Zimbabwe.

Valeria Coles is an ambitious young adult with big dreams and bold plans for her future. Through her young adult years, she has learned to have faith in the Lord and trust that He will place her where she is needed most. She is currently pursuing a communications degree at Brigham Young University–Idaho, hoping to combine her education with her dream of working with humanitarian nonprofits to bring healing and health to God’s children.