Ben Hansen once climbed into a cage, then stared great white sharks in the eye as the cage was lowered into the water. "I thought that if I could do that . . . I could do anything in life," Hansen later said. That experience, daring though it may have been, wasn't the scariest thing he has ever had to do. It took him four more years to get up the courage to make the ultimate committment—buying an engagement ring.

The flooding in Louisiana is the worst U.S. disaster since Hurricane Sandy hit in 2012. Eleven lost their lives and well over 60,000 are currently homeless.

“Is this a prank?” Steve “Dusty” Smith wondered. He was surprised—and confused—but then-President Uchtdorf had just one question for Smith: would he share his story?

When I was fourteen, I decided it was time I received my own testimony of the Book of Mormon. I began to read it, but as I read, I was filled with doubt about its truthfulness. I was frightened by my feelings, but I shared them with no one. One day after a particularly distressing day of reading, I decided to go into the willows by the river and pray until God gave me an answer. I begged God to take away the dark feelings and tell me if the Book of Mormon was true. “If you are really there and you love me, you will tell me,” I prayed. For hours I stayed in the willows. Night came on, and yet I continued to pray. This had worked for Enos, so I prayed and prayed. Finally, hungry and cold, I left the willows and went to bed. I heard no voice. I felt no lightening of my load. I received no witness, no calm burning in the heart. I had demanded an answer on my terms, according to my time line, corresponding to my needs. I had jumped from the pinnacle.

MR says: There is no doubt about it: the Lord protects those He calls and those who dedicate themselves to serving Him.

Okay friends, THIS. IS. IT! Today marks the beginning of our study of 3 Nephi, which, according to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, is “the focal point, the supreme moment, in the entire history of the Book of Mormon." And our study this week of 3 Nephi 1–7 is exactly what we need as we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. So grab your scriptures and let's dig into some of the most powerful moments in all of scripture.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

This excerpt originally ran on LDS Living in December 2019.

Ashley and Alo Moli always imagined themselves with a large family but struggled with devastating infertility. Brittany and her 5 siblings prayed every night in their group foster home for parents who could love and care for them. A miraculous phone call from Alo’s brother set them all on a surprising path that showed them how God has been and always would be working behind the scenes of our pain to bring us joy.

This is an excerpt from the book Refuge and Reality: The Blessings of the Temple by John H. Groberg.