Exodus chapters 7–13 contain the ten plagues of Egypt. Although we won’t likely see frogs, lice, and flies infesting our livelihoods day after day, there is a lot of sorrow and disaster in the world. And it seems to affect both God’s people as well as those who aren’t following Him. But our faith grows as we learn to look for small miracles instead of focusing on the plagues.
Three Years ago Elder Gary E. Stevenson gave all of us a challenge to consider and even change the way we celebrate Easter. How are you doing or what are you doing to make Easter special? This week’s episode will give an Old Testament framing to the greatest true story ever told. And hopefully it will give some creative new ways to celebrate the Easter season.
Life is full of "stinging nettle,” or, those moments of sudden burns and heavy burdens. In Exodus 1–6, the children of Israel are knee-deep in that pain, facing a Pharaoh who has forgotten their history and a bondage that feels never ending. But the desert has a secret: wherever there is a sting, God has already planted the "lamb’s ear," a soothing balm designed to heal the burn. From a tiny basket hidden in the reeds to the radical "I Will" promises of a God who refuses to stay distant, these chapters prove that the Deliverer is always moving before the rescue even seems possible. It is a raw look at how God uses "slow-tongued" people to do His work and a reminder that when life stings, the antidote is already growing nearby.
The life of Joseph is a "shadow" of Jesus Christ. This week, we dig into Genesis 42–50 to uncover the depth, dimension, and "but God" moments that define the House of Israel. We learn about ancient patterns of reconciliation that are preparing us for the Savior’s return today and showing how God is prevailing in your own story.
In a world of curated Instagram feeds and perfect façades, the House of Jacob stands as a startling, ancient "dumpster fire" of family dysfunction. This week, host Tammy Uzelac Hall and guest Lori Denning dive into the messy reality of Genesis 37–41, where favoritism, betrayal, and a literal pit become the unlikely workshop for a prophet’s character. Amidst the chaos, they uncover the transformative power of hesed—a steadfast covenantal love that proves God doesn’t just wait for us at the finish line; He sits with us on the floor of our darkest prisons.
These chapters are filled with stories of how God prevails, even in the most complicated circumstances. This week, we’re digging into Genesis 24–33 to explore the very first occurrence of the name "Israel" in the Bible and how it applies to the beautifully messy lives of Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Esau. We'll discuss how allowing God to prevail in our own lives can turn our tangled heartstrings into a celestial inheritance.
This week, we delve into the final seven trials of Abraham and Sarah. These chapters illustrate ancient patterns of testing, and how trials are meant to refine our character. We learn how God’s promises are fulfilled not in spite of our trials, but through our faithful endurance of them.
Abraham experienced the kind of trials we could only imagine. And time after time he was reminded of future promises, while still having to go through more hard things. We are studying the trials of Abraham found in Genesis 12–17 and Abraham 1–2 today and how we can apply those experiences to persevere in our lives.
In December the Church announced an update in the general handbook concerning translations of the bible. So as our Come, Follow Me year of studying the Old Testament gets into swing we invited a couple of bible scholars to share their thoughts on what we can gain from different translations and how they can help us gain appreciation for the ancient context in which the bible was written. For those that are still a little bit afraid of the Old Testament, let this new guidance help you find scriptures that bring you closer to God.
“The more we know these prophecies, the more we can step forward with courage and strength and do hard things and help gather Israel.”
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A verse from the Book of Mormon shows how hopeful this phrase truly is.
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This principle from 3 Nephi (and some help from my stopwatch) reveals an empowering truth.
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“Most of the best people who ever lived weren’t very famous either. Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly.”
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God wants us to live with joy, not guilt that we are not doing enough. Find peace by noticing the subtle signs of progress in your life.
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Alma's son Corianton pursued a harlot and had significant concerns about the gospel. What can we learn from what Alma chose to say to him?
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Did you know Alma chapters 30–35 were originally one chapter? Reading the text as one block reveals an important question (and inspiring answer).
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I’ve realized Amulek is poignant inspiration to anyone feeling like their life is falling apart even though they chose to do what was right.
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This summer, the Sunday on Monday podcast has decided to prove the scripture and see how we can truly “count it all joy.”
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Sometimes when you come across a very familiar verse, it can be easy to just gloss it over because you know it so well.
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In Mosiah 9, the Lamanites were trying to skip right to the easy part.
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This week’s “Come, Follow Me” nugget is more the size of a rock, but there is just so much that King Benjamin teaches in Mosiah 4.
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We know we are the spirit children of Heavenly Father, so how is it that we can also be the children of Christ? The answer is wonderfully ennobling.
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Our challenge today is not a lack of access, but a lack of attention.
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We love Enos for his heartfelt prayers. Here are a few details about how he prays you may’ve not noticed but that can help you in life.
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A debt paid? Understanding? Protection? Comfort? For any definition of the word “cover,” you can find a solution for it in the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
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The journey back to God usually isn’t as simple as moving from point A to point B.
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There is a segment in this week’s “Come, Follow Me” reading that captures the spirit of the “Visitors Welcome” signs found on every Latter-day Saint church building.
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Nephi writes like someone who intends for his words to be read, and 2 Nephi 25 is like he’s stretching his arm through the fourth wall to tell us what’s important.
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2 Nephi 18 talks about the Lord—and the temple—being a sanctuary. So how can we find that same peace in our busy lives today?
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“God has His hand in everything. Every page of the Book of Mormon is evidence of that.”
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Studying Jacob may help you see how both deep sorrow and anxiety can coexist with God’s goodness.
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Moses, Nephi, and Joseph Smith are all names on the page for us today. But their struggles and faith were real. And we can learn from their lessons.
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In the middle of Lehi’s message to Jacob, we get a small but powerful message that “all things must needs be a compound in one.”
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With Valentine’s Day coming up, we’ve chosen our favorite podcast episodes to help you find ideas to love others more deeply as the Savior would.
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Has the promise of prospering in the land led us to believe that if we keep the commandments, life will be easy?
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The moments in my life where the scriptures have come alive the most are in casual conversations with roommates or family. That’s when the application happens.
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When nothing else makes sense and you are confused by what you hear, start there. Start with knowing God loves you.
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“Falling down” at the feet of Jesus can become an instructive, beautiful, inspiring detail in Lehi’s vision of the tree of life.
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My ah-ha moment from this week’s reading came from one word found in the family conflict immediately preceding Lehi’s vision.
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There are many ways we can learn about God throughout our lives, two of which are through the scriptures and our family.
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Sometimes knowing leads to doing, and other times doing leads to knowing.
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A new year brings new resolutions and a new ‘Come, Follow Me’ curriculum. Let’s dive into our 2024 study of the Book of Mormon.
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The world is pretty different than it was in January 2020, but we are back to reading the Book of Mormon together and there are a few new perks for 'Sunday on Monday' podcast listeners.
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Busy week? Me too. LDS Living is here to catch you up and get you ready for discussions on Sunday. Here’s a nugget of wisdom from this week’s Come, Follow Me study of The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles.
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Don’t get too bogged down with the foreboding symbolism in Revelation. Instead, focus on finding Christ.
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The prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon felt the weight of his calling, and the pains of his people. He uses a word that many of us can relate to today in describing his state of mind—anxiety. In reading Jacob 1–4 we’ll see if we can find out what is causing Jacob’s anxiety, how we can relate, and the advice he has for everyone who has felt like he has.
What do you think of when you hear the word cover? There are blankets that cover you when you’re cold, you can cover a friend’s tab when going out to eat, or law enforcement or military cover their partners when lives are on the line. The Come, Follow Me lesson this week gives more context to covering, and how that term connects to the ancient translation of atonement. Today we have a special Easter episode with multiple guests sharing their experiences of Jesus Christ covering them.
Nephi knows what it’s like to feel deeply discouraged and alone. He even wrote that he “watered [his] pillow by night” because of his fears for his people (see 2 Nephi 33:3). But as he trusted in the Lord, he found true joy, peace, and belonging. In this week’s readings from 2 Nephi 31–33, we’ll study this faithful prophet’s final words about how we can partake of God’s goodness.
God will do whatever He says He is going to do. This is a promise we can trust. Keep that in mind as we read through the prophecies of the last days contained in this week’s Come, Follow Me reading from 2 Nephi 26–30. There are marvelous miracles in store as we come unto Him “line upon line” (see 2 Nephi 28:30).
The September 2021 publication of the Friend magazine included the song “Peace in Christ” by Nik Day. The first verse reads: “There is peace in Christ / When we learn of Him. / Feel the love He felt for us / When He bore our sins. / Listen to His words. / Let them come alive. / If we know Him as He is, / There is peace in Christ.” Keep this song in mind while studying 2 Nephi 20–25 because the words of Isaiah about Christ can bring us peace in a world of division, captivity, sorrow, and destruction. And if there’s one thing we could all use a little bit more of now in the world, it’s peace.
A theme song on TV immediately clues you in on what you are about to watch. There are themes in the scriptures, too, that hint at what you’ll read in the following chapters—especially the words of Isaiah. This week’s Come, Follow Me study focuses on 2 Nephi 11–19, which quotes much of the early chapters of Isaiah. And by starting at the beginning, we can find a clear theme in these passages: symbols of the Savior, Jesus Christ.