The Joseph Smith Papers: Preserving Precious History

writing on old page

The Joseph Smith Papers project is one of the most significant ongoing projects the Church has ever taken on to preserve its history. Find out how historians are making it happen.  Have you ever tried reading old family records? These records can be nearly impossible to read. The ink is… Continue reading

We Have a Mother in Heaven

an image of a woman holding a baby in her arms

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that all human beings, male and female, are beloved spirit children of heavenly parents, a Heavenly Father and a Heavenly Mother.” Our Mother in Heaven is real but is rarely discussed in Mormon culture. A recent article on LDS.org, however, directly addresses… Continue reading

How Do I Know if I’m Good Enough?

an image of a woman looking out a window at a city

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your spiritual confidence before God?” —Jörg Klebingat  We have all surely asked ourselves at some point, “How do I know if God is pleased with what I’m doing?” We know the commandments, but no matter how hard we strive… Continue reading

Reveling in Paradox

bee on flower

When it comes to your faith, don’t shy away from paradox—embrace it.  A honeybee is a dangerous creature. It can effectively poison its predators by stinging them, but not without losing its own life. Why does such a creature exist? Why did the process of natural selection not continue to… Continue reading

Judging Others—Just Stop It

people walking in a city.

“When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following: Stop it!”  Judging others—we all do it, whether we like to admit it or not. In a world full of people who are very different from you, it can be hard… Continue reading

Remembering the “Why” of the Gospel

person in blue sitting in a field, looking away from camera

Understanding why we do what we do in church and in our lives can help us find a more meaningful path. There’s no getting around it: life is busy. It’s easy to get caught up in a never-ending list of things that demand our attention. When was the last time… Continue reading

Remember to Remember

dad and little boy in his arm

The principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ cannot change us if we do not remember them. Almost everyone has lost something important—car keys, a cell phone, that thing you just know you saw five minutes ago. The search becomes frantic as memory fades. Then finally, it clicks.… Continue reading

Applying the Savior’s Atonement to My Own Life

Hand in the dark.

I realized that I had been so focused on working to take the gospel to other people that I had forgotten to let the gospel work in me. Early in my mission to Tennessee, my companion shared with me part of Sister Linda K. Burton’s address from the October 2012 General… Continue reading

What I Learned From Not Serving a Mission

an image of a group of women standing on a bridge

While not serving a mission, I learned more about myself, my Heavenly Father, and the places he is leading me.   As waves of missionaries return home, lots of things have changed, such as housing, dating, school enrollment, and marriage. President Thomas S. Monson’s 2012 general conference announcement lowering the ages… Continue reading

What’s the Secret to Scripture Study?

an image of a stack of books and a pen on a table

We often feel like there’s no time for meaningful scripture study. Even when there is time, we may be lost as to how to make the most of it. Joseph Fielding McConkie—son of Bruce R. McConkie, grandson of Joseph Fielding Smith, and longtime professor of ancient scripture at BYU—tells of… Continue reading