When you step out the door and walk down the street, you are surrounded by a deluge of influences, some of which are temptations from Satan. Parents may wonder how they can keep their children safe from the prevalent influences of sin. The answer is to keep the home a safe haven from the world. When children are immersed in good influences at home, it helps them to avoid the pitfalls of the world. Here are some tips on making the home a safe haven.

When a fire broke out in the Provo Tabernacle on a frigid December morning in 2010, we were all broken hearted. When the announcement was made in 2011's October general conference that the tabernacle would be restored into a temple, we all found a degree of comfort and hope. And now, as the dedication of the new temple nears (set for the 20th of March next year), the excitement is almost palpable. Check out the latest images of the progress of the Provo City Center temple.

It was just a small group - perhaps a dozen and a half people - who assembled in one of the most sacred rooms of the new Mormon temple in Kansas City, Missouri, a couple of weeks ago, but what happened there was deeply significant and will be long remembered. It was during the public open house --the period when newly built temples are opened to the public for several weeks before they are officially dedicated. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, along with the state’s first lady, the attorney general, several dignitaries and a handful of church officials, had toured most of the building and had found their way to one of the sealing rooms on an upper floor. This is the place in the temple where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints undertake their most sacred sacraments --the marriage ceremonies that they believe unite couples for eternity.

Why would an outspoken atheist and famous author illustrate the cover of an LDS magazine? The mystery, and answer, is quite fascinating.

Replete though it is with precious gospel truths, some readers might find a study of the Doctrine Covenants a bit daunting because it does not follow a narrative, as do, say, the Book of Mormon or the New Testament. Yet, as much as any of the other standard works of the Church, the sections in the Doctrine and Covenants stem from historical events, in this case the events pertaining to the Restoration of the gospel and the rise and development of the Church of Jesus Christ in latter days.

When Nathan Gunn steps on stage as a soloist during the Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square concerts, it will not be his first performance with the choir. In 1999 Gunn sang Brahms’ “German Requiem” with the choir. But that highly acclaimed live recording was made in the choir's home, the Tabernacle on Temple Square, not the 21,000-seat LDS Conference Center.“During the previous concerts, all of the guest artists have commented on how big the hall is and how intimate it feels, so I’m determined not to,” he says with a chuckle. “Maybe I’m going to tell the audience, ‘I want to take a picture of all of you. Can you guys on the right please move to the left…’

The Young Men General Presidency recently described some of the key principals and methods for the new Young Men program for 14–18-year-olds taking the place of the Scouting program for Varsity and Venturing Scouts this January.

Excerpt from "Each a Better Person" by Gordon B. Hinckley

Dear Dave,

Each week we take within ourselves, both literally and symbolically, Him who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water. As the Nephites of old we have the opportunity, one by one, to partake of the physical tokens of His sacrifice.