Manual 3; Supplement from "Be Ready" by Henry B. Eyring

As Mormons, we are very familiar with the pre-mortal “war in heaven.” We often teach the dramatic events from the pre-mortal world as follows: after gathering His spirit children together and proposing they come to an earth to progress and become more like Him, our Heavenly Father knew that we would fall from His grace and require a savior to make possible our improvement and eventual return to Him. The “firstborn” Jesus Christ offered to fulfill the Father’s plan and give Him the glory. Lucifer, “son of the morning” proposed an alternative to the Father’s plan—he would save all the Father’s children in return for the glory for himself.

Wilford Woodruff Emery (1889-1954) was president of Samoan Mission at the outbreak of World War II. He wrote of a harrowing wartime experience in the South Pacific: While in the Samoan Mission Sister Emery and I had been over to the island of Tutuila for a visit. We had completed our work and prepared to return to Upolu, our headquarters. We were late leaving the harbor of Pago Pago and it got dark on us almost as soon as we reached the open sea. We headed westward for our destination and then made ourselves as comfortable as possible. We lay on the hatchway in preference to the small, ill-smelling bunks inside the cabin. If it should rain we would take to the cabin to keep from getting wet. It was a beautiful night, although pitch dark. The few passengers and two or three of the crew also made themselves comfortable on the hatchway, using their lifebelts as pillows for their heads.

In this fascinating podcast from LDS Perspectives, Dr. John Gee sheds interesting light on some of the biggest mysteries associated with the Book of Abraham and its translation.

While we might be different from the world, it's always important to remember the why behind the reasons we stand out as "peculiar people."

LDS Church leaders have made strong statements of their own about the environment over the past two years, some strikingly similar to comments by Pope Francis in his 184-page papal encyclical issued Thursday.

"Missionaries are divinely watched over in the work they perform. However, we believe it’s important to understand their circumstances and make appropriate adjustments when needed," a Church statement released Monday says.

The Suva Fiji Temple has an interesting history attached to it, having its dedication almost interrupted by violent political unrest and its rededication almost interrupted by a deadly cyclone. However, none of these events could stop this House of the Lord from blessing the lives of millions.

LDS artist Madilyn Paige offers her wishes for the season with one of her "all-time favorite Christmas songs"—"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." This beautiful rendition of this Christmas classic, accompanied by the dazzling lights of the holiday city setting, is sure to put you in the spirit of the season.

When we speak of the mob that killed Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage Jail, we sometimes forget that each of these men had names and lives. One of these men, from the militia in the neighboring town of Warsaw, Illinois, commemorated his participation in the killings on this horn, which carried his gunpowder: “Warsaw Regulators, The end of the Polygamist Joseph Smith kilt at Carthage Jail June 27, 1844.”