In Our Eyes Too

Group of people taking photo near brown tree

We often separate ourselves into categories based on our differences, but these categories do not define our inherent value as eternal children of God. We often repeat the scripture that says “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (see D&C 18:10). However, sometimes the perceived differences… Continue reading

Wise Words: God’s View on Vaping and Other Issues

Though we might not always fully understand God’s laws, those laws are always for our good. In today’s ambiguous world, knowing where to draw the line can sometimes be difficult, especially when it comes to the Word of Wisdom. The commandment in Doctrine and Covenants 89:9 to refrain from “hot… Continue reading

Judging to Save, Not Destroy

As future leaders of the rising generation, we must learn how to judge in Christ’s way, which is “merciful, loving, and redemptive, not condemning.” When speaking to young adults, President Russell M. Nelson has said, “you are the future leaders of the Lord’s Church!” It is thus our sacred opportunity to… Continue reading

The Blessings of Conflict

young boy holds his fist up in a fighting stance

None of us are immune to conflict. When approached the right way, conflicts can present the opportunity for us to better ourselves and magnify our faith. Conflict is abundant in today’s world, and it’s all too easy to walk away from an argument sure that we’re right and that the… Continue reading

Foster the Desire to Do Good

Lady in red top walking down dirt lane

Can our efforts ever be good enough when we are imperfect at best? Do our desires and our less-than-perfect efforts count for anything? I desire to do good and to improve myself, yet I frequently fall short of my expectations. I feel edified and motivated one day, yet find myself struggling the… Continue reading

Science Is Catching Up

Modern science continues to affirm the blessings of following the Word of Wisdom. In his Ensign article, “A Principle with Promises,” G. Craig Kiser discusses the counsel given in Doctrine and Covenants 89 with an insightful approach to the Word of Wisdom. Not surprisingly, there is scientific evidence to support the… Continue reading

Joseph Smith and the Kirtland Temple

Kirkland temple in the fall

When God called Joseph Smith and the early Church members to build the Kirtland Temple, they obeyed and left us a legacy of temple work.  Joseph Smith knelt down in prayer when he was only a 14-year-old farm boy, hoping to receive forgiveness for personal sins and to receive some… Continue reading

Before the Doctrine and Covenants

glasses on scriptures

The “Revelation Books” preceded what we now know as the Doctrine and Covenants. Thanks to these books, the path for publishing modern revelation was open.   As the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joseph Smith was given power by God to translate the golden plates… Continue reading

The Unprinted Pages in the Original Book of Commandments

pages on a printing press

Scholars at the Joseph Smith Papers propose what might have been included in the Book of Commandments if the printing office had not been destroyed by a mob. In July 1833, vigilantes razed William Phelps’s home where he was printing copies of Joseph Smith’s revelations that were then known as… 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