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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There are a lot of comforting words you can say to a friend or family member who is going through a hard time. And we can find many reassuring words in the scriptures, too. Our Come, Follow Me study this week in Doctrine and Covenants 58–59 contains a unique phrase for the Saints in Missouri. And no matter what we are going through, we can hope to “lay to heart” these words from God as well.
For Church members in the 1830s, gathering in Ohio and building the city of Zion were spiritual as well as temporal labors. In the revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 51–57, the Lord appointed and instructed people to handle the tasks required for building a new place. He also taught the people about becoming a Zion people, which may have been more difficult than building, printing, or running a store.
Doctrine and Covenants 50 carries an invitation from the Lord that we accept every time we study, listen to a podcast, or go to church: “Let us reason together.” For today’s discussion on sections 49 and 50, we are joined by two educated women who are familiar with reasoning about the scriptures. And their insight will help us all be “edified and rejoice together.”
The early Church didn’t have manuals or study guides—they didn’t even have enough copies of the Book of Mormon to go around. But what they did have was ongoing revelation. Doctrine and Covenants 42–56 deal with organizing the Church better, resolving disputes between members, and combating deception. You could almost say these sections are like the earliest General Handbook for the Church. Sections 46–48 contain doctrine so vital to the organization of Christ’s Church that we still rely on it today.
According to the Title Page of the Book of Mormon, the book’s purpose is to convince all people that “Jesus is the Christ.” During this Christmas season, as believers worldwide celebrate God’s goodness and love in sending His Son, we decided to ponder how the Book of Mormon has strengthened our faith in Christ. We asked our study group guests to think about His birth, reflecting on why He came and how His coming has changed their lives. As you listen to this week’s episode, we hope you experience the true joy of Christmas—our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Our study of the Book of Mormon this year has been incredible. For 52 weeks we have dug into this book and changed. Hopefully your love of the Book of Mormon has grown. The prophet Moroni loved it too and one of the last things he wrote is for us to consider this book, all that it contains and to discover for ourselves if it is not true. He wants us to challenge the book and to learn for ourselves if it is true. As we study Moroni 10 together, listen and notice the spiritual impressions you receive as the Holy Ghost helps you discover or rediscover the truthfulness of this book and how merciful the Lord hath been to all of us, His people that he loves.