One of the journalism classes that I am currently enrolled in at Utah Valley University is a course that studies the Church, its members, the culture within the Church, and how those outside of the Church view the faith and its members. I have learned many things over the course of the last few months in this class and I will admit it has challenged me to think more deeply about my faith.

A newlywed couple was discussing comfort food. The bride said, “My family loves Shepherd’s Pie.” The groom had never heard of that. He said, “One of my family’s favorites is Hamburger Bean Casserole.” The wife scrunched up her nose and responded, “I don’t think I would like that.” Little did they know that they were using different names for the exact same dish. How sad it would be if the couple began to argue about whose family’s comfort food was best!

You may have noticed them in your neighborhood, young men in shirts and ties traveling by bicycle, young ambassadors for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Another Exodus

Haidee Armstrong is a daughter of the covenant. She served a mission in Pocatello, Idaho and a service mission in Denver, Colorado. She is a BYU graduate with a degree in Civil Engineering. During her time at BYU she became a research assistant for Dr. Donald Parry studying Biblical Hebrew. She loves all things pertaining to the gospel as well as Legos, The Lord of the Rings, country swing dancing, and hiking. In fact, she is often known to combine her love of Legos and hiking by doing Lego photography on the mountaintops. Firm in her faith, she believes that the Lord is good at ruining expectations, but is even better at making the outcome greater than imaginable.

A careful consideration of the scriptural record will provide several accounts of members of the covenant people serving in positions of civil significance. Daniel and his three friends were political figures in Babylon (Daniel 2:48,49). Mordecai and his niece Esther were a part of the king’s court in Persia (see Esther 2; Esther 8:2). Joseph became prime minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh in all the land (Genesis 41:39-41). Ezra Taft Benson served in the cabinet of President Eisenhower. Joseph Smith served as a city Mayor of Nauvoo, and he campaigned for President of the United States. There are other examples. They all clearly demonstrate the interest of the Lord and his servants in the way his children are governed.

Over conference weekend, President Thomas S. Monson stood at the pulpit to deliver two powerful messages to members around the world. As prophet, he bore his testimony of the Savior, our Father in Heaven, charity, and the Book of Mormon, reminding us of the powerful and simple truths that make up the heart of the gospel.

Paula Crnkovich Millington was born in Idaho to the best parents and family in the world. After she graduated from BYU (BS), she took a ministerial leave of absence from LDS Hospital to serve in the Kaohsiung Taiwan mission. Paula also received degrees from the University of Utah (M.Ed and Ph.D). Seven years after she returned from her mission in Taiwan, she met her husband, Jeff Millington, who served in the Taipei Taiwan mission. Paula recently retired from the University of Utah and she and Jeff are currently serving together as missionaries in the Taipei Taiwan mission. Paula loves the Savior and His gospel and takes so much comfort in the plan of redemption and her covenants, constantly recognizing tender mercies in her life. Faith! Family! Friends! Are her priorities. She loves chocolate (an understatement) and jigsaw puzzles and morning walks. Paula’s father’s parents (Crnković/Gasparac and Palijan/Krizmanić) are from Croatia and she and her siblings have been able to visit their grandparents’ birthplaces and meet Croatian cousins. It turns out they are pretty much related to everyone in both villages so family and friends have been busy doing temple work for every relative they can find. It’s a labor of love.

After a challenging year for her family, with health crises and shaken testimonies, Doorly offers some profound advice.