It is the mark of a job well done, of two years of sacrifice devoted to God and others. Homecoming for a returned missionary should be a time for family gathering, congratulations, and reflection. For me, it was quite different—depression and bipolar disorder sent me home before my 10th month was up.

Repentance takes change. Becoming takes change. Perfection takes change.

After putting his advertising degree to good use at L'Oréal and Microsoft in New York City, Peter Tidwell took the next natural step in his career by moving to Provo, quitting his full-time job to open a bakery, and winning Food Network's Cake Wars—twice.

This year marks the 165th anniversary of the creation of the Beehive House. Completed in 1854, the Beehive House was designed as the official governor’s residence of President Brigham Young. After serving as home for three Church leaders, a shared place for visitors, and a house of revelation, it now stands as a historical museum for all to enjoy. Here are some facts you may not know about this inviting 13,000-square-foot home:

Marie-Françoise Euvrard was born in Paris, France, and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1960. She is the mother of two wonderful boys whom she and her husband adopted from Nepal. Professionally, she is a piano teacher and translates hymns and songs for the Church. She and her husband, Christian, serve as directors of the visitors’ center adjacent to the temple in Rome, Italy.

On Friday, November 20, President Russell M. Nelson delivered a special video message of hope and healing that resonated with viewers around the world. In the prophet’s message—which he received inspiration for in the middle of the night—President Nelson spoke about the pandemic, societal issues, and where healing from these challenges can come:

Books, articles, and numerous Internet websites work to undermine faith in Joseph Smith’s first vision, but historically there have been just three main arguments against it. The minister to whom Joseph reported the event responded that there were no such things these days. More than a century later and in a literary style that masked her weakness in following the historical method, Fawn Brodie wrote that Joseph invented the vision years after he said it happened. A generation later, Wesley Walters charged Joseph with inventing revivalism when, Walters claimed, a lack of historical evidence proved that there was none and therefore there was no subsequent vision as a result. By now it has become a foregone conclusion for some that there are no such things as visions, that Joseph failed to mention his experience for years, and that he then gave conflicting accounts that failed to match historical facts. 1 But these three claims assume much more than they prove.

As a new year begins, leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have started to make their first remarks of the new decade, speaking at the Missionary Training Center and at schools of the Church Educational System on January 14. Here are a few summaries of recent devotionals.

President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a historic policy change Wednesday morning allowing women and children to serve as witnesses during sacred ordinances. For baptisms outside the temple, any baptized member of the Church can serve as a witness. For baptisms for the dead, any member of the Church, including women and young Church members, holding a limited-use temple recommend can serve as a witness. For sealing ordinances, any endowed member of the Church with a current temple recommend can serve as a witness.

3 Nephi 8-11