Although Latter-day Saints are among the best people I know, they are also among the most self-critical. Too often we work hard to improve and repent and then fail to fully claim the “amazing grace” of Jesus Christ. As a psychologist and as a Church member, I’ve struggled to help clients, missionaries, friends, and colleagues let go of excessive self-blame and like themselves again.

This article is intended to help readers better utilize the new Teaching in the Savior's Way manual that was recently released.

The latest round of updates to the English version of the General Handbook: Serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was published today, August 4, 2021. It includes one new chapter, two rewritten chapters, one expanded chapter, and many updated administrative policies. It also includes smaller revisions in other chapters.

An article by a German astronomer reports that radio astronomers today discuss as a distinct possibility inter-planetary conversation between earth-bound men and creatures on other planets; he "demonstrates" with intricate mathematical logic that planets suitable for life may be fairly common among the stars, and that there are "perhaps ten civilized communities within 1,000 light years of the earth," and "there may well be creatures intelligent enough on some of those planets to transmit radio messages across the enormous distances of interstellar space."

In October, the Church released a transparent video explaining the sacred nature of temple garments by comparing them to religious clothing worn by people of other religions. The video generated a lot of public interest, drawing the attention of major news outlets such as the Washington Post and USA Today and becoming explosive on social media where it generated a lot of positive feedback.

Throughout November, 9 of the 15 apostles have had ministry assignments around the world. Find out where and what messages they’ve shared.

2 Corinthians

When I was very young, my parents planted a magnolia tree in our yard, in hopes of my having magnolias at my wedding. Plans for my future wedding also came up when I was 16 years old. Daddy arrived home from a church meeting with a rolled-up drawing of the soon-to-be Methodist church building. He unrolled the plans and pointed with pleasure to the chapel, saying, “Look, Neill, the new church will have a center aisle, instead of the side aisle of our church now, so at your wedding, I can walk you down the center of the sanctuary!” That anticipation held a particular poignancy since I was the only daughter in a family with six sons. I expected that trip down the church aisle and planned on it. Those expectations vanished like the dew of a Louisiana morning when I took an eternal step and entered the waters of baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In 2 Nephi 31:12, the Lord admonishes us to “follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.” This admonition is especially important for leaders of the Church, who represent Him as they perform His work on the earth today.

During the dedicatory service of a new Deseret Industries building in Houston, Texas, on March 24, 2021, Elder Sean Douglas of the Seventy said that Deseret Industries is similar to the Samaritan in the Bible who crosses man-made cultural boundaries to help someone in great need.