Elder Bednar Speaks about Being an Apostle

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Elder David A. Bednar answers questions about his experiences as a special witness of the name of Christ. Elder David A. Bednar was sustained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on October 2, 2004. After being sustained,… Continue reading

What John Whitmer’s History Tells Us

Picture of a field with trees

John Whitmer’s history of the Church shows ordinary people working through real-world difficulties. When John Whitmer was commanded in 1831 to record the history of the Church, he simply said, “I would rather not do it.” Regardless, he obeyed, and as Joseph Smith promised, his history has become “a choice record in Israel.”… Continue reading

A Historical Context for Race and the Priesthood

Priests blessing sacrament

The topic of race and the priesthood has tried the faith of Latter-day Saints and others. To understand this issue, discover the historical context. An article titled “Race and the Priesthood” in the Gospel Topics section of lds.org provides rich historical details and spiritual insight. The Church of Jesus Christ… Continue reading

Joseph Smith: Just Another Treasure Seeker?

landscape with river

Why would Joseph Smith have hunted for Spanish treasure? What did he find as a result? Have you ever found yourself prompted to do something that you normally wouldn’t do? Perhaps you’ve accepted a job that takes you out of your comfort zone. Or maybe you’ve felt like you should… Continue reading

The God Hypothesis

Closeup of Microscope

You don’t have to reject science to believe in God. But to prove a spiritual theory, you need spiritual evidence. I recently heard of a chemist who strongly opposed the existence of God. He claimed that his belief in science was so intense, it could never coexist with religious faith.… Continue reading

Porter Rockwell: Man of Faith or Murderer?

Loyalty to Joseph Smith earned Porter Rockwell protection from bullets and blade. That protection also led to his infamous reputation. Porter Rockwell was a lawman and a bodyguard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. In spite of his rough reputation, he was a faithful and devout man, as stated in… Continue reading

Which Cross is Mine and How Do I Bear It?

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” —Matthew 16:25  Jesus Christ had a heavy cross to bear. His divine mission on earth was to provide eternal salvation for the souls of all mankind. In Matthew 16,… Continue reading

The Surprising Lesson We Can Learn from Pickles

Pickles

Cucumbers become pickles through a deliberate process of transformation. Similarly, each of us must be transformed, or born again, through Jesus Christ. I still remember the day I learned that pickles used to be cucumbers. As a young girl, I couldn’t fathom how one food could turn into another with… Continue reading

Be Still, My Soul

As life’s trials rock us, we can feel peace and love through songs of the heart. I came to know this truth more clearly than ever before as I grieved my mother’s death. The choice to serve a mission can be a hard decision for many young adults. I left… Continue reading

Are You Really There?

The world confuses us about our relationship with God. But a simple children’s song reminds us to send our questions heavenward. “So, do you believe in God or not?” My friend Jane was the kind of person to dig deep into a person’s soul, and tonight my brother was the specimen… Continue reading