BYU student Jacob Burdis created an app that has seen more than 20,000 downloads, received a 4.5 star rating and is the sixth search result for “Book of Mormon.”

At first, Calyann Barnett filled the back of her Book of Mormon with evidence that it wasn’t true. But then a voice told her: “You can either believe or you can continue to be a skeptic.”

As a former bishop and now a YSA branch president, many members have asked me, “How long will it take me to repent?” And I usually answer, “Well, that depends—it depends on you and on the Lord.” Some people are able to repent rather quickly, while others take a long time.

Peter Vidmar's sudden resignation May 5 as United States Olympic Committee chef de mission for the 2012 London Summer Olympics has drawn plenty of reaction. Vidmar, a member of the LDS Church and two-time 1984 Olympic gold medal winner, stepped down after word spread that he donated $2,000 and participated in two rallies to support traditional marriage of a man and a woman during the Proposition 8 debate in California in 2008. Vidmar was appointed to the position on April 28.

I may or may not have announced on Facebook a couple of weeks ago: “If you post pictures of your Elf on the Shelf I will unfriend you for the month of December.” Partly to be funny, but partly out of spite I felt I needed to issue my warning. Some people like this “tradition” (Nobody was doing it five years ago so it’s not really that much of a tradition), but some people really despise it (me!). There are so many reasons I hate it: using weird bribery to get kids to behave, furthering the “I Believe” cult of people bearing their testimonies of Santa, and it does have such a creepy little face. Mostly, though, I hate this Elf on the Shelf thing because it symbolizes all the crazy stuff we do to ourselves during the holiday season. Somehow Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day have come together to create a completely bizarre tradition: an Elf that gets into crazy mischief every single night. As if buying presents, giving neighbor gifts, attending concerts and/or parties, making travel arrangements, decorating our houses, doing one or more advent calendars, and baking at least a few more times than we usually do isn’t enough. Now we have this Elf to worry about, too.

Several temple groundbreakings have taken place over the past two months while others have just been announced. Ground was broken to begin construction of the Syracuse Utah Temple and the Tallahassee Florida Temple in early June while the groundbreaking for the Helena Montana Temple was held on June 26.

Editor's note: "This Week from the Pulpit" highlights recent messages by General Authorities and General Officers of the Church.

From its first design to its dedication 40 years later, the Salt Lake Temple has experienced its fair share of adjustment. Though we don't know all the reasons why these changes were made, it's fun to look back on some of the features planned for this beloved and iconic temple in its early stages.

Members of one church were told they weren't allowed to participate in a Mercer County softball league because of their beliefs. Players from Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints church in Slippery Rock said they were told they couldn't participate in the Grove City Area Church softball league because they're Mormon.

Church callings give us ample opportunities to be engaged in good causes. If you’re like me, however, being “anxiously engaged” in your calling can also look a lot like feeling generally anxious about all the good causes.