Five houses are still standing where ancestors of my children lived in Nauvoo in the days following the Missouri exodus. For a time, that beautiful Mississippi community must have seemed a heavenly gift. Once the swamps were drained the site became a truly attractive place. In addition, the Illinoisans were receptive and helpful. Converts arrived by the hundreds. Doctrinal growth added structure to the restoration. Joseph seemed to become more prophetic and powerful than he had been before. The Nauvoo years preceding the martyrdom provided a season of rest and rejoicing for the beleaguered Saints of the Most High.

Once again, general conference has come and gone, and members of the Church are left with the words of prophets and apostles of the Lord who expressed key fundamentals for sharing the gospel. These fundamentals included: gaining a larger view of the plan of salvation, possessing a sound understanding of the scriptures, and sharing without a contentious spirit. In addition, authorities counseled against trying to prove the gospel’s truth; however, they urged members to work diligently to spread the message of the Restoration so it can be heard above those who misrepresent LDS beliefs.

In Latter-day Saint culture, ‘R’ has become the scarlet letter of the movie rating law. But why does this standard exist and what have prophets actually said about it?

Elder Holland was the featured speaker at the 10th anniversary celebration of the university’s Fish Interfaith Center, addressing the topic “Faith, Family and Religious Freedom.” He delivered an address 10 years ago when the interfaith center was launched.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of." That's what Heather finally realized after years of struggling with depression and receiving an answer to her prayer in a completely unexpected way.

When Jews share their religious beliefs with others, they don’t automatically assume that they are familiar with Judaism, and usually do a beautiful job of expressing their thoughts using secular terms that can be understood by all. However, well-meaning Mormons who discuss their beliefs with Jews often sound like they’re writing or speaking to other Mormons, not to non-Christians. Many a Jewish acquaintance or reader has contacted me after hearing a Mormon explain a religious principle using language that didn’t resonate with him or her. In my experience, this often happens when Mormons use Jewish instead of Christian terms to describe their beliefs and practices. I recently came across an essay penned by a Mormon that referred to the LDS sacrament as our “kiddush.” According to Mormon doctrine, bread and water (the sacrament) are blessed and passed to congregants during a special weekly meeting to remind them of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Those who eat the bread and drink the water take upon themselves the name of Christ and promise to always remember Him and keep His commandments. Needless to say, these concepts are very far from the minds of Jews who recite kiddush on Shabbat or Yom Tov.

Popular fashion trends have increasingly included the baring of skin, creating added frustrations for fashion-minded women who try be modest in appearance. As if we don’t have enough frustrations in our lives? Not wanting to resort to Victorian-era dresses with impeccable detail, skirts hemlines that pass the shoes, high necklines, and sleeves to wrists (I get claustrophobic just thinking about all of it), many resort to time-consuming personal creations, or (don’t say it!) dowdy “mom wear” in order to avoid trendy mini-length sweater dresses, low necklines, or sleeveless blouses.

It may be that no emotional pain is greater than the loss of a child. Singers Rachel Payne and Robert Norman capture that pain—and the hope that can still be found through Christ—with their heartfelt rendition of classic LDS hymn "Be Still, My Soul."