It all started with the fathers. As with countless Jewish girls, Mary’s betrothal likely began when, by custom, Joseph’s father approached hers. Before Joseph’s father said more than a few words, Mary’s father likely knew what he wanted. To be brief, he wanted to discuss a possible engagement of his son with Mary. That topic would require a somewhat formal meeting.1 Whether Joseph’s father was the first parent to approach Mary’s father we cannot know. It is certainly possible that her father had been approached by other fathers of young men in Nazareth. Mary would surely have been visible to all the fathers in the small town. She may have been one of the few eligible young women that year in a settlement that sat apart, high above the surrounding plains at the top of steep hills that rose near one another and, falling precipitously toward each other, formed a bowl-like setting for Nazareth’s few inhabitants.

Today’s #LightTheWorld prompt, “Pray for someone for whom you have had negative feelings lately,” may seem simple, but forgiveness can feel very difficult, and praying for those people who have hurt us is even more difficult. In Matthew 5, Jesus didn’t only teach His disciples to forgive but to “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

Documents, Volume 11 of The Joseph Smith Papers covers a dynamic period in Joseph Smith’s life. At the outset of the volume, in September 1842, Joseph Smith was a hunted man and had to spend months in hiding avoiding arrest and extradition to Missouri. By February 1843, at the close of the volume, Joseph had experienced one of his greatest legal victories and was optimistically planning for additional growth and settlement in Nauvoo and the surrounding area. Throughout it all he remained energetically engaged in teaching the Saints and supporting the Church. Here are five surprising things we learn about Joseph Smith and Nauvoo in this volume of The Joseph Smith Papers.

There’s a certain power in names. I’ve discovered this especially in nature as I’ve learned from my brother how to recognize the call of a chickadee or as my sister has taught me the names of wildflowers. For me, there is a sense of satisfaction in knowing something’s name—as though by remembering it, perhaps it knows me somehow—and so occasionally, I will put forth the effort to learn about the names of plants and animals that I didn’t know before.

Acts 15:36-18:22; 1 and 2 Thessalonians

The Creation

It's amazing how our examples can influence people in ways we don't even realize. Take, for instance, this family that became drawn to the Church after watching Mormon families on YouTube.

MR says: What an extraordinary life which influenced those of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and was filled with adventure, devotion, faith, and the will to overcome.

The public is invited to visit the newly renovated Memphis Tennessee Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Volume 3 is scheduled to be published in the first half of 2022. Learn more about what will be included.