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Uniting East and West: Latter-day Saints and the Transcontinental Railroad

When the coast-to-coast telegraph was completed in Salt Lake City in October 1861, Brigham Young sent a clear signal to President Abraham Lincoln: “Utah has not seceded but is firm for the Constitution and laws of our once happy country.” Less than eight years later, on May 10, 1869, hundreds gathered at Promontory, Utah, to witness another coast-to-coast completion. The driving of the last spike of the transcontinental railroad reverberated continuity to a once broken nation.1

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A sweet friendship: How 2 women became the first full-time missionaries called from Mongolia

By Po Nien (Felipe) Chou and Petra Chou

After Batchimeg told Soyolmaa that they could serve a mission, they decided to put in their mission papers together around March or April 1995.

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A guardian of Hopi culture: How one woman adopted a new faith without abandoning her roots

By Emily Cushing

Helen Dowawisnima Sekaquaptewa’s determined to integrate the very best of the two worlds into her life.

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How This Ill-Fated Marriott Hotel and Its Brave Staff Played a Key Role in 9/11

By Dale Van Atta

In 1991, Marriott opened the 37-story, 504-room Financial Center Marriott two blocks from the World Trade Center. It was the only competition for the nearby Vista International hotel, which was nestled between the massive 110-story Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.

The 2021 BYU Education Week theme from Mosiah 18:21—Looking forward with faith, having our hearts knit together in unity—seems especially welcome in today’s world.

D&C Lesson 30: "The Prisoners Shall Go Free"

By Ted L. Gibbons

INTRODUCTION: Joseph Smith, speaking of the work of redemption for the dead called it the “most glorious of all subjects belonging to the everlasting gospel” (D&C 128:17). Why? What is there about this work that would cause the prophet to place its importance above any other subject belonging to the restoration of the gospel?

Latter-day Saint Life

3 interesting facts about ‘Come, Thou Fount’ (including the author’s touching backstory)

By Maddie Tolk

For how well-loved this famous hymn is, many people don’t know these inspiring, interesting facts about its history.

Grant and Geri Guinn smile in front of a sign for Montemaggiore Belsito near Palermo, Sicily.

Stories of Faith

Strangers in Italy help mother and son find their long-lost relatives

By Julia Ditto

When Geri and Grant arrived in Europe, they had a goal to find their family. Two miracles helped them find their way.

Latter-day Saint Life

Staff Picks: Our favorite books to get your family reading this summer

By LDS Living

For long summer days spent at home, we've rounded up quite the list of books for readers of all ages. Consider this your one-stop for all your family's summer reading. Many of these titles are available on Bookshelf PLUS+ and your whole family can use the same account—which gives you access to listen to and read unlimited books available from Deseret Book!

Latter-day Saint Life

‘That they all may be one’: Building bridges of understanding with persons of other faiths

By Robert L. Millet

The Prophet Joseph Smith was a man possessed of great love toward those within the Church, as well as persons from various religious denominations. On one occasion he said: “The inquiry is frequently made of me, ‘Wherein do you differ from others in your religious views?’ In reality and essence, we do not differ so far in our religious views, but that we could all drink into one principle of love. One of the grand fundamental principles of ‘Mormonism’ is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.”1