Andy Reid, the Kansas City Chiefs head coach, will join The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square in July as a guest narrator.

“You [could] compare this to what you do when you win a Super Bowl. I mean, it was just that exciting.”

Part of the information sent to prospective missionaries is a list of needed clothing, supplies, and incidentals. The Missionary Department is appropriately concerned that missionaries arrive in the field properly equipped for the service they are expected to render. I remember receiving my list in 1965 and I have been with my eight missionary children as they received theirs. My children have generally requested a new suitcase, although we have convinced most of them that such an expenditure is not necessary. We have a nice selection available. Then the shopping begins, as they scour the city for the things they will require for the time of their service in Santiago or New York or Las Palmas or San Salvador or Salvador or Carlsbad or Añasco or White River. My bank account has ached with the abuse it has taken. My Mastercard has been swiped so many times it nearly set my pants on fire.

Amidst their world travels andbig Church changes, it's impossible to summarize all the good the prophet and apostles have done this year. But here's a glimpse into some of the most popular and touching stories and messages shared from the Brethren this year.

Islam is a severely misunderstood religion. Most people don’t know very much about Islam besides what they see on the news, or that many people in the Mesopotamian area are Muslim. A closer look at this religion and our religion will reveal there are several common threads between the two religions. When we see similarities between our religion and others, it helps build bridges and understanding. It helps us realize how we are often misunderstood as well as how we misunderstand others’ beliefs, even while having good intentions.

Whether your ancestors traveled across the plains with the pioneers or simply made their way to a church meetinghouse for the first time, most members of the Church have pioneer stories in their heritage at one point or another.

While serving as missionaries in the eastern states, my senior companion and I entered a town in New Jersey and began a systematic program of door-to-door contacting. We had not worked in the area for long before it became obvious that the local Protestant ministers had prepared their parishioners for our coming.

Kaley Martin, a 19-year-old LDS athlete, is quickly making her way through the ranks of flatwater sprint canoe racing and may soon be one of the first to compete in the first-ever women’s canoe events in the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is also the God of Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah, and the wives of the patriarchs offer powerful examples of righteous living in difficult times.

A great deal has been said and written by Church leaders about the need to get the gospel deeper into the hearts of the people. I believe that modern Israel is as righteous as Israel has ever been, but listening to 10 hours of conference through the years has convinced me that we can do better. We seem to know a lot of the questions about the gospel, and many of the answers, but some of us may have missed the power of real conversion. Benjamin’s people, generally faithful members, heard their king speak and experienced a mighty change of heart. You may remember what Abinadi said to the priests of Noah: