Why Save Sex for Marriage?

A man and woman walking through a forest together

Waiting until marriage to have sex will improve your relationship. Popular culture in television, music, literature, and art glorifies casual sex and sends the message that it is fun and satisfying to have an intimate relationship with someone before marriage. However, religion and social science studies make stronger arguments that… Continue reading

Understanding the Book of Mormon’s Translation

an image of a wooden ball on a cloth surface

Though translating with a seer stone may seem odd, what matters most is that the Book of Mormon was translated by the power of God. Never-before-seen pictures of Joseph Smith’s first seer stone are found in “Joseph the Seer” in the October 2015 Ensign and Liahona. Assistant Church Historian Richard… Continue reading

Ann Romney at BYU

Ann Romney at BYU

Ann Romney spoke to the hearts of the grieving and the discouraged at her book release at BYU. Ann Romney, wife of former presidential candidate Governor Mitt Romney, released her new book, In This Together: My Story, at BYU on Thursday, October 1. The Deseret News reported from the campus. Ann spoke… Continue reading

Mummies and Mormons—Ancient Egyptian Artifacts and the Early LDS Church

an image of a large group of pillars in a building

Discover which book in the Pearl of Great Price was translated from ancient papyri found in Thebes, Egypt. Discovering Mummies In the late eighteenth century, Napoleon Bonaparte’s escapades sparked new interest in the exploration of Egyptian antiquities. Italian explorer Antonio Lebolo uncovered a large cache of mummies and papyri near Thebes,… Continue reading

The Atonement: The End to Addiction

Jesus praying for our sins

Are you struggling with recurring sins? Don’t give up—give your all to Christ. Through the Atonement, he can help you overcome addiction. Have you ever heard the phrase misery loves company? Satan wants to see us indulge in sin and addiction so that we will feel miserable, frustrated, and hopeless… Continue reading

Is What You’re Feeling Guilt or Shame?

an image of a statue of a man sitting on a rock

We expect to feel guilt when we sin, since we know that godly sorrow is essential to true repentance. But is it possible that we mistake shame for guilt? Guilt is a universal emotion. But for religious people, feelings of guilt can escalate because we believe that we have not… Continue reading

How Are Mormons “Saved”?

an image of a man carrying a child in a sling

Many other Christian denominations talk about being saved. Do Mormons believe in being saved? What is the Mormon definition of “saved”? Some Mormons may be confused when friends ask them, “Have you been saved?” We are Christians. We believe in a Savior. But what does it mean to be saved? Jesus… Continue reading

Did Joseph Smith Write about Your Ancestors?

Joseph Smith Papers

Are your ancestors mentioned in the pages of Church history during Joseph Smith’s day? Find out through a quick and easy—and free—search. One day, after venturing onto the Joseph Smith Papers website, I discovered the search engine designed specifically for finding individuals’ names in the site’s collection of documents. The… Continue reading

A New Look at an Old Text: Viewing the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants Online

three young men on a tablet, smiling and looking at things

Flip through an original copy of an 1835 version of the Doctrine and Covenants online and find amazing history in its pages. Looking for a new way to study the Doctrine and Covenants? The Joseph Smith Papers Project has made available a free online version of the 1835 Doctrine and… Continue reading

“O God, Where Art Thou?”: The Trials of Liberty Jail

icicles on a wooden beam

When everything seems to go wrong, has God left us to face our trials alone? On December 1, 1838, six men, including the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, were wrongfully imprisoned in the dungeon of Liberty Jail in Clay County, Missouri. One of the other innocent captives charged with… Continue reading