After a priesthood blessing which gave him strength and calmed his nerves, Latter-day Saint Gibson Porter was able to give his first ever Sacrament talk.

Women Have a Divine Errand

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a change Friday designed to strengthen children and youth through increased faith in Jesus Christ, deeper understanding of His gospel, and greater unity with His Church and its members.

What an inspiring story of how one Latter-day Saint saw a need and decided to make a difference.

Quorums and Relief Societies are meant to be a safety and a refuge in these difficult days and to support and strengthen the identity, roles and responsibilities of Heavenly Father's sons and daughters, said Sister Julie B. Beck on Jan. 17. "What the Lord envisioned regarding quorums and Relief Society has not yet been fully utilized," said the Church's Relief Society general president. "Many quorums and Relief Societies are at present much like sleeping giants waiting for you to breathe new life into them."

A trio of apostles from the Quorum of the Twelve -- Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder D. Todd Christofferson -- participated in a roundtable discussion about several chapters from the new Church handbooks that provide essential information for gospel leadership. The Brethren focused their discussion on the introductory chapters from Handbook 2, focusing on priesthood principles, the work of salvation in the ward and stake, and on the mission of priesthood quorums.

In 2013, children will begin new courses of study in Primary; youth will be introduced to new curriculum in Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women classes, as well as in Sunday School; and adults will move on to new subjects in Melchizedek Priesthood, Relief Society, and Sunday School. On LDS.org, individuals can find many materials to support them in their gospel studies during 2013. (Many of these resources are also available at store.lds.org.)

Mason Wells was about 10 meters from the first explosion at the airport, where he was injured from the flame and the shrapnel. When his companion, Elder Joe Empey, found him, Mason was standing in a pool of blood and Joe told him to lie down. A passerby put a suitcase under Mason’s bloody ankle. Both missionaries were on the ground when Joe offered to give Mason a blessing. Mason pulled out his vial of consecrated oil but his shaky hands dropped it. Mason pulled out a second vial of consecrated oil and Joe gave Mason a priesthood blessing that he would return home whole. Mason offered to give Joe a blessing, but Joe said Mason was too hurt to expend energy doing that. Emergency personnel were putting lanyards on the wounded to indicate the severity of their injuries. Mason was more badly hurt than Joe, so they had different colored lanyards around their necks. The companions were soon separated and taken to different hospitals. They haven’t spoken since.

Conference Talk:

"Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord has done more save Jesus only for the salvation of men in this world than any other man that ever lived in it.” History of the Saints presents, “Knowing Joseph,” April 29, 2017, at the Utah State University Eccles Conference Center. It is a one-day educational seminar on the life and ministry of Joseph, with speakers Robert L. Millet, Susan Easton Black, Alexander L. Baugh, and Glenn J. Rawson. Tickets are $25 and available at historyofthesaints.org. Seating is limited and tickets are going fast.