January 28-February 4, 2012

INTRODUCTION: My mother was mostly blind during the final years of her life. A passionate reader, a woman who loved to sew and mend and cook and clean, her infirmity made the favored activities of her life nearly impossible. She did learn to crochet by touch, and made over one hundred Afghans for her grand- and great-grandchildren in those final years, but they were years lived in temporal darkness. But through it all she glowed! There was a source of light in her, a shining certainty, that enabled her to see more clearly than any of those whose love and compassion brought them to her side to read to her and to visit with her and to reminisce with her. The real light of the world, rather than being dimmed by her handicap, increased its brightness and radiance as the weeks and months passed by, until it seemed there was no darkness in her at all. More than any person I have ever known, she knew what Jesus meant when he said, “I am the light of the world.”

Lunch and Learn Series with Deseret Book Artists and Authors

In Doctrine and Covenants 115:4-6, the Lord calls to action all the people of His Church, inviting them to “arise and shine forth” so that their “light may be a standard for the nations.” He asks them to join together to support one another and become a “refuge from the storm.”

We seem to be living in a time when many have doubts about the truthfulness of the Church. Virtually everyone knows someone who is doubting. Many leaders report having interviews with members who are struggling. Parents heartbreakingly watch children leave the Church and feel powerless to help. While the choice to leave the Church lies with our loved ones, there are things we can do to support them and help them dissolve their doubts.

You might have missed what went on the last week, but we've put together our list of the week's most popular stories so you don't miss a beat. For May 11 through May 17, these are LDS Living’s top hits.

*This version is edited to reflect the Tuesday, October 16 event at the Washington D.C. Visitors' Center is not a fireside with Mike Reid as previously listed, but is a musical fireside. Mike Reid will visit the Visitors' Center on Sunday, October 21.

If there’s one thing we love in the wintertime more than people shoveling our sidewalks, it’s people handing out hot chocolate.

To check out some behind-the-scenes video from our photoshoot with David, click here.

What do Mormon pioneers have to do with the modern problems of commuting, urban planning, and conservation? It turns out more than you think, according to a Politico article by Colin Woodard.