The official Brigham Young University Committee on Race, Equity, and Belonging recently released key findings from its national diversity and equity campus climate survey.

It’s July of 2003, and the track is nearly deserted. Only Mark Dangerfield braves the scorching Arizona heat, running lap after lap after lap.

Learn how a pioneer helped a young black Latter-day Saint discover a new dimension to her faith.

Parley P. Pratt seems to have been endowed with a healthy portion of spunk, humor, and hopefulnes—even downright ingenuity. He tells of one occasion when he was interrupted in his preaching, arrested on trumped-up charges, and taken before a corrupt judge.

Violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her four musical children—age 16, 14, 13, and 11—have performed all over the world, from Austria to Japan and Taiwan. Recently, Jason Lyle Black, known as the "Backwards Piano Man," approached the Bakers about teaming up for an epic Disney cover.

MR says: Reverend Jackie Rivers, along with President Eyring, spoke at the Vatican last November. He also spoke at a book launch with Elder Christofferson. Now he's at BYU, spreading his message of how to obtain a happy, lasting marriage.

What is the meaning of the tree of life? The symbolism involved may furnish clues. Trees have several standard symbolic meanings. Green trees often represent the righteous, whereas dry trees can symbolize the wicked. 76 M. Catherine Thomas noted that "most often in scripture . . . the tree is an anthropomorphic symbol. A tree serves well as such a symbol because it has, after all, limbs, a circulatory system, the bearing of fruit, and so forth. Specifically, scriptural trees stand . . . for Christ and his attributes."77 Elsewhere we read, "In ancient times, sacred trees . . . were [representative of the] attributes of the gods." 78 Susan Easton Black wrote: "The tree of life is connected with the cross, the two having somewhat the same significance. Both relate to the resurrection, eternal life, the Lord, and the 'Love of God.' . . . Before the crucifixion of Christ, the tree of life symbol was used extensively. After the crucifixion the cross seems to have replaced it to a degree." 79 When Nephi wished to know the meaning of the tree that his father saw in his dream (1 Nephi 11:9–24), the angel showed him a vision of the birth of Christ. The angel then said to Nephi, "Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?" (1 Nephi 11:21). To this Nephi responded, "It is the love of God" (1 Nephi 11:22). Jesus is the "love of God" (John 3:16) and the "tree of life."

What makes your heart sing? Where do you turn when you want to be closer to the Spirit and feel God’s love? Maybe it’s art, books, or a literal song. In this week’s reading of Doctrine and Covenants 23–26, the Lord says his soul “delighteth in the song of the heart” in an important revelation. And we’ve built you a perfect playlist to go along with it.

Whether it's a long drive to a family reunion or just a momentary reprieve in the day-to-day chaos, summer is the perfect time to grab a book and immerse yourself in good, uplifting literature. And Deseret Bookshelf PLUS has the perfect books to do just that.