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Hurricanes rage and tsunamis flood, killing people and destroying homes. Dictators oppress their people; destitute children beg in the streets of major cities throughout the world. Loved ones die, and family members suffer. If God is loving, we may ask, why is there suffering in the world?
God Himself has answered these questions in the scriptures. Every moment of every day, He remembers us:
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands… (Isaiah49:15-16)
But still the question remains: if He remembers us and loves us so completely, why does He allow us to suffer?
God loves us, so He sent us to earth to choose between good and evil
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called “The Mormon Church” by the media) teaches that God has a plan for us. In The Pearl of Great Price, which contains... Read the rest of this entry »
Melissa is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon” woman).
Relief Society Organized for Mormon Women
Organized in 1842, and consisting of more than 6 million members, the Mormon Relief Society is the oldest and largest women’s organization in the world (Kimball, P. 2011. Examiner). Membership consists of female Latter-day Saints ages 18 and above. It is an organization within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the “Mormon Church” by the media) dedicated to faith, charity, good works, and the uplifting of women through their divine roles of womanhood and motherhood.
When Joseph Smith, prophet and leader of the early church, organized the Relief Society—the Mormon global organization designed divinely to help serve the needs of the poor and to lift women spiritually—he stated that its purpose was to see to “the relief of the poor, the destitute, the widow and the orphan, and for the exercise of all... Read the rest of this entry »
Experiencing Living Waters: Jesus Christ Quenches Our Spiritual Thirst
While working as a seminary teacher–a religious youth instructor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently referred to by the media as the “Mormon Church”)– I heard the analogy that in our fallen state, each of us is like a person stranded in a burning desert, dying of thirst. At the point of complete exhaustion and dehydration, we suddenly notice a pitcher of cold water sitting on top of a sand dune. If we choose to crawl to the water and drink it, we can be saved. In this example, what actually saves us? Is it our own efforts to crawl to the water, or is it the water itself? While our efforts to crawl to the water are necessary and essential, they alone cannot save us. only the water possesses the elements sufficient to sustain life. We can crawl to the ends of the earth, but without the life-saving elements contained in the water, there is no salvation.
Read the rest... Read the rest of this entry »
We are not left alone on this earth. Jesus Christ was sent to this earth to give us the strength to overcome challenges, problems, and sin. To overcome sin. He asks us to look to Him with faith that He knows what is best for us. There is a pathway that the Lord Jesus Christ has provided for us so that we might be able to find peace in this life and eternal life in the next life. He has given us the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord prospers all those who follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. In The Book of Mormon, a record of the teachings of Jesus Christ that God gave to the ancient inhabitants of the American continent, it says:
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember... Read the rest of this entry »
By Keith Lionel Brown, convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths, the “Mormon Church”), currently serving as the Ward Mission Leader in the Annapolis Maryland Ward
The Holy Ghost usually communicates with us quietly. His influence is often referred to as a “still small voice” (see 1 Kings 19:9–12; Helaman 5:30; D&C 85:6). President Boyd K. Packer, a modern apostle of Jesus Christ, explained: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’” He continued: “This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 77; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60).
The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of God’s greatest gifts to us. Through the Holy Ghost... Read the rest of this entry »
By Sadie C., member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and student at Brigham Young University (BYU).
Answers To Prayers: The Power of God’s Word
As I read through Moses chapter one, a book of ancient scripture within a volume called The Pearl of Great Price, thinking about the relationship between Moses and God, I couldn’t help but think of a personal experience I had earlier this week. I had found myself in a state of confusion and frustration that had no cure but to call upon the Lord. This semester began differently for me than semesters past. I was a senior in high school when I picked my major, and I have loved it ever since. Lately, however, I have begun to question my choice. I have wondered whether I really love what I am doing, or if I am even capable of doing it. I spent the first week of school switching classes and exploring options.
While I was a bit confused at the thought of what I wanted to do, I still felt under control and as though... Read the rest of this entry »
By Elisa T., member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and student at Brigham Young University (BYU).
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) I appreciate the things I’ve gained from reading the first chapter in the Book of Moses, a book of modern revelation compiled in a volume known as The Pearl Great Price. In Moses’ conversation with God he learns four key principles about his relationship to God that strengthens me personally and helps me better understand my relationship to God.
The Lord begins the conversation by telling Moses about his infinite nature. The Lord defines himself as endless. Through this dialogue Moses learns the stability that he can find in his relationship with the Lord. This realization is extremely comforting for us in mortality. Our lives seem to be in constant motion. Change is simply unavoidable, but as we cultivate a relationship of trust in God we bring into our lives the only thing we can... Read the rest of this entry »
Voices of Leaders in Past Conferences of The Church of Jesus Christ
by Troy Parker,
Troy is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and resides in Molalla, OR
The first day of the 181st Semiannual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons“) is in the books. I’m not sure if the speakers and music keep getting better or if I’m just getting older. But it seems that the messages delivered at conference are more timely, more relevant and more specifically directed at me.
Still, there are voices that I miss greatly. As devoted members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we listen to a lot of talks. Think of how many times you’ve listened to church President and living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. A few conferences ago, my wife and I were impressed with our 16-year-old because he could identify the voices of the First Presidency and most of the senior members of the Quorum of the... Read the rest of this entry »
Emily Spencer is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (“Mormon woman”), freelance writer, concert artist, sacred choral music arranger, and mother of four.
I was once asked in an interview if I had a role model for the ideal “Mormon woman” (female member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). “What exactly is meant by ‘ideal Mormon woman’?” I asked. “Does such a prototype really even exist?” The discussion that followed was an intriguing one, because it hadn’t been too long before that, that I’d pined for female role models in my own life – ones that were iconic, prophetic, visionary – and mused not only about this elusive “ideal Mormon woman,” but more broadly about “ideal women” in general. What exactly was considered “ideal,” according to whose standards, and why?
Around this same time, I sat in a Gospel Doctrine class (one of the Sunday school classes offered to adult members of The... Read the rest of this entry »
Karen Trifiletti, MA is a Philadelphia-born convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, single mother of two, writer, and non-profit business professional.
When my best efforts seem miniscule in standing as the Savior’s witness or in mothering my children, or in serving in the workplace, or in life in general, I am always reminded by the Savior, Jesus Christ, that they are not so in His eyes. They matter to Him. My efforts, your efforts, our clumps of dandelion-deeds that we bring Him day by day, to please and glorify Him, are known to Him. and appreciated by Him. I feel that. I hope you feel that, and that if you don’t, you’ll dig deeper to find Him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, wants to be found. He wants you to know you are known by Him.
As a Mother: Jesus Christ Knows and Sees Us
I remember a time as a young mother of two, feeling the incessant demands–sometimes sweet, sometimes screechy–of little ones beckoning for food, shelter, stories,... Read the rest of this entry »
