Latter-day Saints were blown away last general conference by the whirlwind of changes and announcements that took place. But that was just a small taste of what we've been experiencing these past six months. Here are the changes that have happened since last general conference that prove our Church is a living Church directed by the Lord's chosen messenger today.

Throughout his service in the Church, President Nelson has provided profound insight into our Savior and His Atonement. Here is a small portion of those insights, excerpted from the new book Teachings of Russell M. Nelson.

Because prayer is such a sacred gift, we should treat it as such by praying often and sincerely. Here are a few ways you can make your prayers more meaningful in your everyday life. 

Acts 1-5

The beard debate has continued for decades, but aside from missionary standards and the BYU beard policy, little has been officially said on the topic.

Sister Linda K. Burton studied elementary education at the University of Utah, served as a seminary teacher, and raised six children before being called as the 16th Relief Society General President. After her release last year, she shared with us some beautiful insights into her life and her powerful testimony of the Savior.

We could discuss many other qualities that God possesses, along with scriptural or prophetic verification. But one attribute of God seems to undergird and overarch all the rest: God is love (1 John4:8). He is the complete embodiment of that quality. To me, this means that God’s attribute of perfect love influences, shapes, and mediates all of his other qualities and characteristics.

The concept of priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is unique and perhaps confusing for those who are unfamiliar with it. Even many members of the Church who accept, love, and appreciate the priesthood may find themselves “fuzzy” on the doctrine and principles. Perhaps that is because the term priesthood is used in at least two ways. First, priesthood is the term used to describe the total power and authority of God. Second, priesthood is also the term used to describe the power and authority that God gives to ordained priesthood holders on earth to act in all things necessary for the salvation of God’s children. 1 This second usage is the widely accepted definition of the priesthood. For example, Preach My Gospel defines priesthood as the authority and power that God gives to man to act in the name of Jesus Christ in all things for the salvation of mankind. 2 Thus, the same word, priesthood, refers both to God’s total power and authority and to that portion of His power and authority that He delegates to man on earth.

Recently, President Nelson encouraged all women of the Church, “I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement. It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life. I also entreat you to savor the truths in the Relief Society declaration published almost 20 years ago.” Here's how we can get more from the Relief Society declaration and create our own declarations to change our lives for the better.

Visiting teaching. In years past, these two words spoken in any Relief Society gathering a evoked a myriad of conflicting emotions. Joy. Guilt. Gratitude. Annoyance. Peace. Guilt. Excitement. Frustration. Love. Guilt. Some loved the watchcare program set forth nearly two hundred years ago. Others, not so much. And most, whether you love it or not, have carried some guilt associated with it. Because that’s what we women do. When we don’t live up to the expectations of ourselves or others, we feel guilty. But now no more. No more guilt, and as of April 1st, 2018, no more visiting teaching.