The gospel means “good news,” which means members of the Church should be the happiest people around! Our lives are full of and centered on learning and sharing good news. We have the scriptures and living prophets to teach us the fullness of the gospel and how to live it better each day.

Alma 32-35

God spoke to the great prophets of the Old Testament in some rather unique ways, most of them deeply visual. Ezekiel had wonderful visions that would grasp his hearers’ imagination, causing them to pay attention and think profoundly. In one of those visions he saw a great valley of dry bones bleaching in the sun. Visualize that scene with me for just a moment. Before us is a wide valley, filled with bones as far as the eye can see in every direction. A great army or a mighty people have all died, and their bones lie exposed to the weather. Ezekiel stands “in the midst of the valley,” when the Lord enters the scene and causes Ezekiel “to pass by [the bones] round about . . . and, lo, they were very dry” (Ezekiel 37:1–2). After Ezekiel makes a circuit of the valley, the Lord addresses His prophet with a question: “Son of man, can these bones live?”

Every April and October, the Mormon community knows what time it is: conference time. But it didn’t start out that way. For the first several years of the Church, a conference could be called at any time, usually when the Prophet Joseph Smith had business to discuss, problems to solve, or new revelations to announce. As conferences became more regular and Church membership grew, however, the purpose and practice of conference became more defined to the two-day spiritual feast it is today. Here are a few things that have been done during conference over the years, but that we no longer do nowadays.

Looking for a little weekend fun before general conference is underway? Deseret Book’s Virtual Family Friday might be just the thing before you settle in for the weekend to hear messages from our Church leaders. Between authors and artists, temple and general conference trivia, a cooking lesson with Tara Teaspoon, and giveaways galore, there’s something for everyone in the family to enjoy. Join us tonight from 6:00–7:00 p.m. (MDT) on the Deseret Book Facebook page to participate. You can also RSVP to the Facebook event here or watch the video at the end of the article after it premieres.

“As my focus on Christ and His Atonement increased, the vision of Heavenly Father’s unified human family became clearer.”

Sheri Dew asks and answers 6 questions to explain who prophets are and why we can trust them.

A discussion can be very profitable but it has to be well structured and monitored so it stays on topic and is led by the Spirit. It is but one tool we use to hear from as many members of the class as we can.

One of the most important lessons learned by those people who have glimpsed beyond the veil of death is what is most important and lasting in life. It often brings a radical reordering of their priorities in mortality. These glimpses into the spirit world remind us that one of the greatest blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we know which things matter most; what our eternal priorities should be. . . .

Editor’s Note: Tammy Uzelac Hall is the host of LDS Living’s newest podcast, “Sunday on Monday,” a weekly podcast focused on Come, Follow Me that dives into the hidden treasures of the gospel. Here are five questions readers might have in their studies of the Book of Mormon this week, accompanied by Hall's insights that add new meaning to the beloved verses.