Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Gerrit W. Gong encouraged Latter-day Saints to better understand and find common ground with the world's 1.8 billion followers of Islam and introduced a new Church pamphlet.

I read with great interest Naomi Schaefer Riley’s recent Forward article, in which she contrasts the low LDS interfaith marriage rate and the relatively high Jewish rate while proffering areas for emulation to her Jewish readers. I believe there are two main reasons why Mormons tend to marry other Mormons, only one of which is mentioned by the author. The first is our newly-expanded missionary program, which sends tens of thousands of young men and women all over the world to study and spread their faith. As Ms. Riley notes, returned missionaries generally maintain high levels of activity in the church. My wife and I were both sent to foreign countries, where we had to learn a new language and culture, study the doctrines of our faith, and preach to others during the prime of our lives. Given the level of desire and commitment involved, it’s not surprising that most former missionaries choose to continue their church service upon their return.

Pamela Dolan wrote a great piece about holiday drinking last week, and invited other Belief St Louis contributors to chime in, roundtable-style. I thought I’d take the bait, though it’s not obvious what I, a teetotaling Mormon, could add to a discussion about drinking in St Louis, a city awash in the influence of Anheuser Busch. Faithful Mormons eschew all drinking, and that prohibition is absolute: no exceptions for holidays or special occasions, not even an occasional glass of wine. I have been an active Mormon all my life, and like many other life-long Latter-day Saints I have never tasted a drop of alcohol, even in college. Now in middle age, my habits and identities are so firmly set that the thought of having a drink at a party or tasting a sip of wine would never seriously cross my mind.

The Piano Guys, four faithful members of the Church, have combined their talents to create unique and entertaining music. Their videos have been seen more than 700 million times on YouTube, and they have performed for audiences all over the world.

What a fascinating insight into how God speaks with His children through revelation.

Reaching a plateau in any aspect of our life is better than never having done so. Think about it. Reaching a plateau means one has achieved something of worth. It could mean you’re at the pinnacle, the zenith of something meaningful. However, the word laurels and the phrase “don’t rest on your laurels” comes to mind.

While it’s true every member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives of their time differently, what’s certain is that few Christians give of their time like us Mormons.

Why do Mormons love NBA legend John Stockton? Yes, he demonstrated incredible skill while playing for the Utah Jazz, which was owned by Church member Larry Miller. But beyond that, here are three reasons LDS faithful admire this Hall of Famer.

Millions of people practice yoga, including many Latter-day Saint members. But what spiritual benefits can members of the Church gain from this form of exercise?

If you’ve ever wanted to read Latter-day Saint books that would add to your gospel knowledge but aren’t sure where to begin, here’s a list of 14 classics that will get you going.