Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “the apple of my eye”? Did you (or they) know they were quoting the prophet Zechariah? We may be approaching the end of our Old Testament study for the year, but we still have a lot to learn. The books of Haggai and Zechariah are full of wisdom regarding temples, repentance, and the sweet reminder that God’s children are always the apple of His eye. These two prophets taught their people the same truth we like to say at the end of every podcast episode: you are God’s favorite.

First and last words have always intrigued me. Their positioning adds a dimension of importance. The first and last words of Jesus in the Gospel of John are questions—very relevant questions for us all, very simple questions, which is wonderful to me. Let’s look at Jesus’s first three words. John the Baptist was standing with John the Beloved and Andrew by the Jordan River just north of the Dead Sea when Jesus walked by, drawing from the Baptist the words, “Behold the Lamb of God! And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye?” (John 1:36–38; emphasis added).

More than 5,000 questions were submitted to the general Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidencies by women around the world in preparation for the upcoming Sister-to-Sister Event on Friday, May 3. While many will be answered during this event and more will be discussed by Church leaders in councils to help provide better clarity and understanding, one was answered by the general Relief Society presidency at BYU Women’s Conference. The question read:

As someone who has been observing the development of the curriculum for the Children and Youth program, I have been impressed with its focus on transitioning children into responsible adults. I believe all parents want to see their children evolve into responsible adults, though there are as many varied opinions as there are parents on how best to accomplish that goal. Achieving the goal of transitioning youth into adults appears further complicated by the fact that children with different personalities may actually require a parenting approach tailored to their unique strengths and weaknesses. Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary general president shares, “Leaders and parents, keep in mind that you help children and youth best when you support their efforts instead of tracking them.” It’s my hope that all parents will be able to see how the new program encourages children to take personal responsibility for their development and can be easily adapted to the specific needs of each individual child.

So you think you’ve “met the Mormons.” You’ve heard the news and seen the stories.

A creative genius, a master of realistic fiction, and arguably the greatest novelist of all time, Count Leo Tolstoy made an indelible mark on the literary world. Though he died over a century ago, his masterpieces War and Peace and Anna Karenina are still popular and relevant today and considered among the finest novels ever crafted.

I remember staring in fascination at the left ear of the cashier at Kids-R-Us. Nearly her entire ear was covered in shiny, metal piercings.

Former Primary General President Rosemary Wixom was a recent guest on the Latter-day Saint Women podcast. In the episode titled “Discovering the Power of Temple Covenants,” Sister Wixom shared insight into what she learned while serving as the Salt Lake Temple matron before it closed for renovation.

As I rocked my fussy baby, I wondered, Is this how God feels when we refuse to take a break? Spiritual rest might be even more important than I thought.

My gospel life is not a checklist to complete but a nourishing lifestyle designed to help me experience stillness so that I can come to know God.