In working as a religious educator for almost four decades, I have been delighted to witness a significant rise in what might be called scriptural literacy or gospel scholarship among the young people of the Church. This is a tribute to devoted mothers and fathers, advisers and teachers, seminary and institute instructors. Our members are simply more capable and adept at utilizing the standard works in finding answers to their questions, seeking divine guidance, and explaining or defending the teachings of the restored gospel to those not of our faith.

I'm a white, middle class, married with two kids, Christian, college-educated, home-owning woman, and I am a minority.

My name is Euan Maxton I’m 19 and I live in Dundee, Scotland. Being a member of our church is a big part of my life as it helps me to connect with Heavenly Father and others who share a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I enjoy staying active. I like running which helps me to be more competitive when playing (real) football which I play often. I especially enjoy coming together as a stake and competing against each other. Currently I am working at Asda which is our equivalent to Walmart in Scotland. However, this year my hope is to move forward to University here in Scotland or if the opportunity arises to go and serve a full time mission. I enjoy serving with the missionaries in our ward. I am staying hopeful that as I continue to be faithful I will be prepared to go and serve the Lord.

This may sound familiar. It’s a Monday afternoon. Your teenager just walked in the door with a freight-train size chip on her shoulder because, apparently, “no one in the entire universe” likes her. Somehow this is your fault.

Editor’s note: “This week from the Pulpit” highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church.

Let’s face it—sometimes Sundays aren’t as enjoyable or fulfilling as we’d like them to be. Between the stress of getting the family—and yourself—ready for church, preparing lessons, preparing meals, and keeping the kids occupied for the rest of the day, our day of rest can be anything but restful. If you’ve been stuck in a rut, try some of these ideas to help reinvent your Sunday.

There is no trip one can experience in the world as spiritually refreshing as the Holy Land. There is something wonderfully unique in walking, as we say, in the footsteps of Jesus. Galilee, the Garden Tomb, Gethsemane and Bethlehem will always warm the heart with renewed faith and understanding of the love of God for all his children as that love was manifested in the life, teachings, and sacrifices of His Son. There is perpetual homesickness within me when I think of these places. Yet the great story of Christ did not end when Jesus softly called Mary’s name by the empty tomb on that first Easter morning. It spread forth to distant horizons where searching men and women waited for the good news of God’s divine intervention in the affairs of men. That is a story in and of itself, written on the stones of Ephesus, Cappadocia, Athens, Galatia, Patmos, and Rome. These “holy” places also awaken the divine homesickness within.

Shortly after a fire decimated the town of Paradise, California, Latter-day Saints arrived in the Deseret Book store in Sacramento, California. Though many had lost their homes and jobs, these Saints made the long drive to replace those supplies that were invaluable to them.

As part of the interview, Pearson shared what she has learned from talking with other Latter-day Saints about their own faith and testimonies on the “All In” podcast.

“We’re sent to this earth to be happy and ‘man is that he might have joy,’” Sharee Page, who is battling cancer said. “And you can either cry about your situation or you can look to find the humor in life, and I prefer to be happy. I find that the more that I can find humor in things, the easier it is to be happy.”