The object of this lesson is to show us the reality that most people, though never famous or wildly influential, are “no less serviceable” in the eyes of the Lord. His expectations for us do not extend beyond our immediate circle of family and friends. As long as we are covenant making, covenant keeping folks, who look to the Lord, we will have earned our Father’s praise.

In his book Faith Rewarded, President Monson shared this touching memory from the groundbreaking of the historic Freiberg Germany Temple, which was the first temple built in a communist-ruled country. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, President Monson was assigned to the German Democratic Republic, also known as East Germany, to oversee the work of the Church there.

Eight presenters, ages 16-19, spoke at the United Nations in a presentation that reflected the eight Young Women values. In their message, the shared, “We need the United Nations to listen to our voices . . . We are empowered by our feminine nature and biology, and we honor our procreative power.”

Mr. Romney is a former bishop of the ward in the Mormon Church -- one who has given what is estimated as tens of millions of dollars to its core operations and numerous programs of community service and hopeful proselytizing. With the possibility of such a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints becoming the 45th President of the United States, taking stock of its temples and meeting houses emerges as one way to understand the unique cultural contribution this native religion has made across the country. However, as the interiors of these various Mormon houses of worship are inaccessible except to members in good standing who present a validating card known as the "recommend," and as the faith's dogma and rituals are cloaked in discretion (born in part from decades of murderous persecution), the exteriors and their placement in the landscape are for many the only source of prospective insight.

Wading through thousands of podcast options can be overwhelming. That’s why we’re diving into six different LDS Living podcasts to help you find your next favorite listen!

The following is an excerpt from Converted: True Mormon Conversion Stories from 15 Religions.

This story was originally published on LDS Living in November 2018.

Did you know that at least eight female leaders of the Church have either spoken at a United Nations event or held a leadership position in the organization? When you consider the United Nations’ five main areas of focus, the Church’s desire to be involved shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Excerpt from "Was It Worth It?" by David F. Evans

Yesterday, visitors to Handbook 2 on lds.org may have noticed some adjustments and additions to the guidelines about the internet. Many of the changes reflect the church's recent push to use the internet, especially social media, as a missionary tool for sharing uplifting messages. Here's a quick glance at what changed and what stayed the same: