“Behold what wonders God hath wrought! Truth springs out of the earth; the gold plates are translated by the gift and power of God; and the voice we hear is one that whispers from the dust. It is the voice of all the Nephis, of Alma and Amulek and Abinadi, of Ether and Mormon and Moroni of all the Nephite and Jaredite prophets. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who ministered among the Nephites, inviting them to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet and to thrust their hands into his riven side. It is the voice of doctrine and testimony and miracles. It is the voice of God speaking to men through the Book of Mormon.

"Sesame Street" came to Salt Lake City’s North Temple Street this week as nine Muppets joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and singer Santino Fontana in the choir’s popular Christmas concerts. The first of three evening performances took place Thursday; the event also includes a Sunday-morning broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word."

Dear Dave,

“Not everything in life is . . . black and white, but it seems that the authenticity of the Book of Mormon and its keystone role in our belief is exactly that. Either Joseph Smith was the prophet he said he was, who, after seeing the Father and the Son, later beheld the angel Moroni, repeatedly heard counsel from his lips, eventually receiving at his hands a set of ancient gold plates which he then translated according to the gift and power of God or else he did not. And if he did not… he is not entitled to retain even the reputation of New England folk hero or well-meaning young man or writer of remarkable fiction. No, and he is not entitled to be considered a fine teacher or a quintessential American prophet or the center of great wisdom literature. If he lied about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, he is certainly none of these” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "A Standard unto My People," delivered at the CES Book of Mormon Symposium, 9 August 1994, BYU Marriott Center).

Last week, the Church sent an updated policy to temple presidents stating that divorced Latter-day Saints and single men over 30 in the Church can now serve as temple ordinance workers.

Dear Dave,

On March 23, the Church updated its statement about a former Church mission president who committed sexual assault:

For the first time in Latter-day Saint cinema, Jane and Emma, a film produced, written, directed, and edited by women, presents an African-American woman as a protagonist and sheds light on the personal faith journey of that woman: Jane Manning James.

With the New Year comes the chance to celebrate National Soup Month in January! Though soup is especially popular in cold winter climates, this versatile meal option is enjoyed all over the world. Check out these fun facts you never knew about this popular food:

Many who have tuned into conference this weekend noticed that President Thomas S. Monson, who was present at the Saturday morning session, was absent from the Saturday afternoon session.