You’re going to the temple! How exciting! The day you’ve been preparing for is nearing, and chances are you’re feeling intimidated, confused, or overwhelmed. You certainly won’t be able to understand everything before going to the temple for the first time (or even after you’ve been going for several years), but being prepared can help calm your nerves and help you understand the covenants you’ll be making. Here are just a few of our favorite books that will help you learn to love serving in the temple.

On the day that I defended my doctoral dissertation, I went to the Mesa Arizona Temple to express gratitude for the divine help I had felt throughout my academic journey. I was also interested in mapping out what would be next for my life. I had accepted a position to teach at Brigham Young University and was anticipating a move to Utah. I felt like it was a new beginning. I sensed that my life had a clean slate of sorts. Further, I had the words of the previous general conference resonating in my mind and heart. In particular, the teachings of Elder Dallin H. Oaks were profoundly penetrating my heart:

One of the most frequently asked doctrinal questions since the early days of the Church concerns the history and whereabouts of the Israelites sometimes called the "lost ten tribes." Yet "Where are the lost ten tribes?" is not a Latter-day Saint question at all. It was brought into the Church by early converts from other denominations, who were already speculating concerning it. It was asked more commonly in past generations, but even today the question still arises. It is unfortunate that it should be asked at all, however, because latter-day revelation gives clear teaching on the subject—as does the Bible. The expression "lost tribes" is found in only two verses of scripture—both in the Book of Mormon (see 2 Ne. 29:13; 3 Ne. 17:4). Both passages refer to members of the house of Israel outside their ancestral homeland. Nephi indicates that the word lost shows the perspective of the Israelites in Palestine: the "lost" tribes were simply "lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem" (1 Ne. 22:4). Thus those people are Israelites who were removed from Palestine and whose history was unknown to those who remained, including to the writers of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

"If you need a burden lifted, I want you to imagine I am in a personal, private, closed-door chat with you. I want to help you if I can." With those words, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland invites every readerof his latest book to become a friend, to receive instruction and encouragement, counsel and comfort, in any circumstance.

The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but for many, it can be a time of intense depression. Seth Adam Smith, author of Marriage Isn't for You and the new novel, Rip Van Winkle and the Pumpkin Lantern, shares some of the most helpful LDS resources he's found to help him manage his longtime battle with depression.

When we think of ways to receive revelation, what comes to mind? We might think of inspiration coming to us through prayer to our Heavenly Father, while reading the scriptures, or writing in our journals—and maybe even while we are asleep.

Editor’s note: “This week from the pulpit” highlights recent messages by General Authorities, General Officers, and leaders of the Church.

The following article is brought to you by Gospel Day by Day, a community designed to help parents lead home-centered gospel learning. You can find Gospel Day by Day on Instagram here.

During October 2020 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson encouraged all to prepare spiritually and temporally for times ahead. He said:

Dreams given to members of Joseph Smith’s family helped prepare them for the challenges and trials that they would face in coming years. An anticipation of the gospel was planted in their hearts by inspired dreams which made the Restoration that much more precious to them. When young Joseph shared his visions and revelations, his family members were ready to believe and sustain him.