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Glorying in Jesus Christ

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In his April 2026 General Conference address, “Glorying in Jesus Christ,” Elder Aaron T. Hall reflected on Nephi’s powerful declaration: “I glory in my Jesus.” He taught that true discipleship involves more than believing in Jesus Christ—it means coming to know Him personally through the many ways He acts in our lives. By understanding His divine names and roles as Redeemer, Shepherd, Healer, Advocate, Deliverer, and more, we discover not only who Christ is, but who He can become to us. [Read more…] about Glorying in Jesus Christ

What Does It Mean to “Live after the Manner of Happiness”?

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“The Nephites Live after the Manner of Happiness”

Easy ≠ Happy

Between leaving his home, journeying across the sea, and dealing with his murderous brothers, Nephi did not have an easy life. And yet, in 2 Nephi 5:27, this is how he described himself and his people: “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.”

Nephi’s careful wording indicates that happiness is not just a feeling that sometimes occurs—it is connected to the way we live, and it is something we can work toward. In both good times and bad, we can choose to live as God lives and be blessed with His happiness. But what does it mean to “live after the manner of happiness”? Here are three suggestions:

  1. Keep the commandments.
  2. Change our focus.
  3. Work toward worthy goals.

CONTINUE READING

How Can I Prepare to Enter the Temple?

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The House of the Lord

The temple is the holy house of the Lord. Therefore, President Russell M Nelson and the other leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have encouraged us to attend more regularly. President Nelson promised,

“If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less. Let the Lord, through His Spirit, teach and inspire you there. I promise you that over time, the temple will become a place of safety, solace, and revelation.”[1]

Preparing to enter the temple for the first time can be daunting for anyone. Why? Because it is a grand building, a place we cannot enter unless we are worthy, and a place of sacred promises to be made. So how can we prepare to enter this holy place?

Here are three suggestions:

  1. Consider what it means to hold a temple recommend.
  2. Use temple preparation resources provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  3. Listen to the Holy Spirit.

A Temple Recommend

A necessary piece of preparing to enter the temple is gaining a temple recommend. We cannot enter without one, but it isn’t about the piece of paper. Rather, it’s about what it means to “be recommended to the Lord”.  As Elder Ronald A Rasband said:

“To be ‘recommended to the Lord’ is to be reminded of what is expected of a covenant-keeping Latter-day Saint. . . . To be ‘recommended to the Lord,’ we strive to be like Him.”[2]

The process of receiving a temple recommend includes interviews with Church leaders: first the bishop and then the stake president. They will ask the same questions in each interview, and these questions are a great tool for reflection when preparing to enter the temple.

The temple recommend questions can be found at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Reviewing these topics will not only help us strengthen our commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ, but also see where we may have questions, and seek the answers.

Temple Preparation Resources

The Church has created resources for anyone who is preparing to go to the temple for the first time, including:

  1. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple[3]
  2. a virtual tour of the Rome Italy temple led by Elders David A. Bednar and Ronald A. Rasband[4]
  3. and temple preparation classes (ask your bishop for more information)

In addition to these temple-specific resources, some of the best preparation consists of regular faith-building actions like daily scripture study, meaningful prayer and fasting, and weekly church attendance. Continually seeking the Lord will lead us closer to Him and invite His Spirit to teach and prepare us to make further covenants with God.

Wilford Woodruff counseled,

“Pray, pray always, there is where our help lies, even in temporal affairs, we should go before God. He will answer our prayers, and we will have power to overcome all evil.”[5]

We may have questions, doubts, or opposition as we prepare to enter the temple, but as we pray for help, the Lord will answer our prayers.

The Holy Spirit

How do we know if the temple ordinances are from God? We can listen to the Holy Spirit.

When the Savior left His disciples at the end of His mortal ministry, He told them,

“I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive . . . but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:16–17).

Every baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is given the gift of the Holy Ghost when they are confirmed into the Church. He is the Second Comforter, a teacher, and a revealer of truth.

We can choose to listen for and identify the promptings of the Holy Ghost in daily life. Nurturing this habit will make it easier to tune in to the Spirit in the temple. Though not everything will make sense at first, we will be able to sense the goodness and truth in the temple and feel the Spirit’s encouragement.

The temple ordinances are built upon the Savior and His Atonement. We should go to the temple looking for Him. President Nelson said,

“Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel.”[6]

Even our “most vexing questions” are good because they lead to further learning and growth. But as we seek to find answers to those questions, we can remember the Lord’s counsel to “doubt not, fear not” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). He has also promised, “I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee” (Isaiah 41:13).

As we seek to find answers in the temple, we can rely on the Spirit to help us come closer to Christ. The Apostle John wrote,

“When the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me” (John 15:26).

The Spirit will testify of the Savior not only in the temple, but also during our time of preparation. Seeking Him out will invite the feeling of His love and strength.

Blessings of the Temple

The Savior will always lift His people higher. Wilford Woodruff described the joy he felt as he saw and entered the Kirtland temple for the first time. He said,

“We came in sight of the Temple of the Lord before we reached the village, and I truly felt to rejoice at the sight, as it was the first time that mine eyes ever beheld the house of the Lord built by commandment and revelation. We soon entered the village and I spent one of the happiest days of my life at this time in visiting Kirtland and the House of the Lord.”[7]

God will send the Holy Ghost as a guide and comfort, and all our questions will be answered according to His will and timetable. As we trust in the Lord and hold to the rod, we can and will have a joyful experience as we prepare diligently and press forward with faith.

Caralyn Bullough is studying Public Relations at BYU–Idaho. She has enjoyed working as an intern on the Public Relations Team for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation and greatly admires the goals of the Project. She has a large family and loves singing, cooking, and being outdoors.

The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.

  1. Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” October 2021 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  2. Ronald A. Rasband, “Recommended to the Lord,” October 2020 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  3. Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  4. “Two Apostles Lead a Virtual Tour of the Rome Italy Temple,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  5. Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, August 30, 1891, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1891-08-30. ↑
  6. Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,” October 2024 general conference, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ↑
  7. Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, November 25, 1836, p. 113, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1836-11-25. Punctuation and capitalization standardized. ↑

 

Look to God and Live 

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In his October 2025 General Conference address, “Look to God and Live,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson teaches a simple but demanding truth: enduring life—spiritually, emotionally, and even socially—requires more than good intentions or self-reliance. It requires deliberately and consistently looking to God.

Against the backdrop of tragedy, uncertainty, and moral confusion, Elder Christofferson testifies that turning to God is not an abstract religious ideal but a lived priority that shapes how disciples think, choose, and endure. [Read more…] about Look to God and Live 

Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Jacob 1–4 – Mike Parker

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Podcast: Download (39.6MB)

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Jacob’s temple sermon

(Jacob 1–3)

by Mike Parker

(Mike Parker is a long-time FAIR member who has graciously allowed us to use materials he originally prepared for the Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class. The scripture passages covered in his lessons don’t conform exactly to the Come, Follow Me reading schedule, so they will be shared here where they fit best. This week’s lesson includes information that goes with the first 3 chapters of the Come, Follow Me reading scheduled for this week. Next week’s post will cover Jacob 4-7.)

Class Notes [Read more…] about Come, Follow Me with FAIR – Jacob 1–4 – Mike Parker

Why Should I Pay Tithing?

Sometimes paying a full tithe is overwhelming. With so many expenses mounting and the cost of living ever increasing, it can be daunting to give up 10% of our income. Even though we know that tithing is a commandment, recognizing why we should follow it can be difficult. 

More than a Duty

David A. Bednar said,


“The honest payment of tithing is much more than a duty; it is an important step in the process of personal sanctification.”1

reasons we should pay tithingWhy Pay Tithing

So, why should we pay tithing? Here are three main reasons: 

  1. To demonstrate obedience to the Lord.
  2. To experience personal growth and blessings.
  3. To support the Church.

Showing Obedience

The principle of tithing is highlighted in all books of scripture many times and has been reaffirmed by modern prophets today. By following this simple commandment, we can better demonstrate our faith and commitment to the Lord.

Wilford Woodruff declared, “Whenever the Lord gives a commandment to the children of men, He provides a way for the fulfillment of that commandment. Tithing is a commandment of God to the people, and should be observed.”2

The Lord Prepares a Way for Us to Pay tithing

The Lord will always provide a way for the fulfillment of commandments (see 1 Nephi 3:7). As we make sacrifices to obey the commandments and demonstrate our obedience to Him, He will provide a way for us to receive blessings even greater than what we can comprehend.

Not only will keeping the commandment of tithing help us to show obedience to the Lord, but it will also help us be obedient to other commandments. President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) once said, “The honest payment of tithing provides a person the inner strength and commitment to comply with the other commandments.”3

We are blessed when we pay tithing

Another reason we should pay tithing is because of the blessings we can receive. We read in 3 Nephi 24:10, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

By paying our tithing, we learn to trust God and let go of our worldly concerns, and in return, we receive peace, assurance, spiritual, and temporal blessings. We cannot outgive the Lord. He promises to reward our sacrifices with so many blessings we won’t even have room to receive them. What an amazing promise!

Wilford Woodruff spoke often of the blessings we can receive as we keep the commandments. He wrote, “Our blessings will depend upon our acts; they will be withheld as long as we are careless about God’s commands, but as soon as we yield implicit obedience thereto they will be multiplied on our heads.”4 

President Spencer W. Kimballto pay tithing is to Choose obedience

Choosing to use our money for tithing might be more difficult than putting it towards important temporal things, but President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) cautioned against this. He said, “If we like luxuries or even necessities more than we like obedience, we will miss the blessings which He would like to give us.”5  

When we pay tithing we are Supporting the church

The third reason we should pay tithing is to support the Church. Tithing funds are used for vital work like constructing temples, supporting missionaries, running educational programs, and contributing to welfare and humanitarian projects around the world. Our collective faithfulness to the tithing principle makes all of this possible, bringing opportunities and blessings to millions of lives.

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) said, “The basic purpose for tithing is to provide the Church with the means needed to carry on His work.”6

When we pay tithing, our money is given to the Church and then divided up as needed in our wards, stakes, countries, and on throughout the world. We can find peace in knowing that the money we sacrifice is used to better the lives of those around us.

We receive great promises when we pay tithing

Elder David A. Bednar gives a simple but sweet promise of what will happen as we commit to paying a full tithe. “I testify spiritual and temporal blessings come into our lives as we live the law of tithing. I bear witness that such blessings often are significant but subtle.”7

Let us all obey the law of tithing in our everyday lives. As we do so, we will show to the Lord our obedience, our desire to receive blessings, and our willingness to support the Church and hasten the building up of Zion here on Earth. God has assured us that He will bless us beyond measure as we strive to be full-tithe payers.

Maddie Christensen Maddie Christensen is the Public Relations Manager for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. She recently graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in public relations. Maddie has always loved learning about Church history and enjoys learning from the writings of Wilford Woodruff. She is passionate about sharing his insights with everyone and is grateful to be part of such an incredible work.

1 David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2013, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

2 Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, September 2, 1894, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1894-09-02.

3 Thomas S. Monson, “Be Thou an Example,” Ensign, November 1996, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

4 Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, February 10, 1867, p. 2, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1867-02-10.

5 My Foundation: Principles, Skills, Habits, pp. 8–9, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. 

6 Gordon B. Hinckley, “Tithing: An Opportunity to Prove Our Faithfulness,” Ensign, May 1982, ChurchofJesusChrist.org. 

7 David A. Bednar, “The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, November 2013, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.


The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from 1833 to 1898. It seeks to make Wilford Woodruff’s records universally accessible to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, visit wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.

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Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 25: Prophecies

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Okay, guys, the topic this week is on failed prophecies from the latter-day prophets, but only one of these four quotes he gives is actually a prophecy, and it didn’t fail.

The author, Thomas Faulk, also uses an incorrect word as the title, so I corrected it. I won’t correct his usage going forward in the portions I quote from him, but I will be using the correct word myself. So, just to clear up any confusion this flipping between spellings may cause for those who don’t know the difference, “prophecy” and “prophesy” are two completely different words. A “prophecy” is a prediction from an oracle of God that has already been given, such as those given by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. To “prophesy” is to give that prediction in the present tense. It’s an action, something somebody is currently doing. There’s only one letter’s difference between them, but they have different meanings and different pronunciations. I’m not trying to beat up on him for the error, because Heaven knows I’ve made my fair share of typos in this series. But in this case, I think the distinction is important. Also, I really don’t want to confuse anybody by constantly flipping back and forth between the two words.

[Read more…] about Letter For My Wife Rebuttal, Part 25: Prophecies

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 53

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Part 53: CES Letter Witnesses Questions [Section I]

by Sarah Allen

 

We’ll wrap up Jeremy’s issues with the Book of Mormon witnesses this week, and then I’d like to take a little time discussing some of the lesser-known witnesses. We’re all pretty familiar with the three witnesses, but aside from Hyrum and arguably Joseph Smith, Sr., we as a group aren’t as familiar with the eight witnesses or the unofficial witnesses like Mary Whitmer. Their stories are important, though, and I’d like to give them the spotlight for a bit.

Jeremy picks up with his seventh issue/problem: [Read more…] about The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 53

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 24

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Part 24: CES Letter Polygamy & Polyandry Questions [Section E]

by Sarah Allen

 

Today, we’re talking about Fanny Alger, the nature of her relationship with Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery’s reaction to the whole thing, William McLellin, his relationship with the Church and with Emma Smith specifically, and maybe more. It’s a lot to cover, so I’m just going to start without a prolonged introduction.

An illegal marriage to Fanny Alger, which was described by Oliver Cowdery as a “dirty, nasty, filthy affair” – Rough Stone Rolling, p.323

All plural marriages for time or time and eternity performed in Kirtland and Nauvoo were illegal from a secular stance, so I’m not sure why Runnells is singling out this one as being so. As the Church’s essay on Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo states:

Polygamy had been permitted for millennia in many cultures and religions, but, with few exceptions, was rejected in Western cultures. In Joseph Smith’s time, monogamy was the only legal form of marriage in the United States. Joseph knew the practice of plural marriage would stir up public ire. After receiving the commandment, he taught a few associates about it, but he did not spread this teaching widely in the 1830s.

The Algers were some of those associates. We don’t know much at all about Joseph’s relationship with Fanny, the daughter who worked in the Smith home, and most of what we do know is from later accounts. Eliza R. Snow, who was well-acquainted with Fanny and the Smith family, listed her among Joseph’s plural wives for Andrew Jenson’s affidavits, so some people were directly aware of the union. However, most of what we have is rumors, innuendo, and other second- or third-hand sources. Many of those accounts are contradictory as well, which means there is very, very little we actually know and most everything else is just guesswork. We have to weigh the sources and decide which ones we think are the most trustworthy.

[Read more…] about The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 24

The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 23

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Part 23: CES Letter Polygamy & Polyandry Questions [Section D]

by Sarah Allen

 

There are some heavy, complicated topics on the agenda for today, so I’m just going to dive right in. Again in big red letters, Jeremy Runnells continues:

JOSEPH’S POLYGAMY ALSO INCLUDED:

Dishonesty in public sermons, 1835 D&C 101:4, denials by Joseph Smith that he was practicing polygamy, Joseph’s destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor that exposed his polygamy and which destruction of the printing press initiated the chain of events that led to Joseph’s death.

First, it’s not as simple as just Joseph and some of the other early Church leaders lying, the way Jeremy tries to make it seem.

It’s incredibly difficult to boil down 15 years’ worth of religious, historical, political, and societal events down into something that makes sense for the average person who isn’t familiar with any of it, so I’m not even going to try. But we have to understand the climate these people were living in—they’d been shunned by family members for joining the Church; they’d been prevented from voting; they’d been driven from their homes at gunpoint without anything, more than once; they’d been blamed for all of the local unrest simply because they moved into an area and built a farm or city; they and their friends and family members had been starved, robbed, beaten, raped, and murdered; they were held under siege by the state militia; they’d had an extermination order placed against them; and their current situation was beginning to mirror that of Kirtland and Missouri. They were terrified of what might happen to them next. And Joseph and the Twelve were responsible for keeping all of them safe. They knew that if they publicly announced the plural marriage doctrine before they were in a position of relative safety, the Church would be destroyed—literally. The members would all be massacred and the Church would die out because there was no one left to carry it forward. That’s what they were facing, and they knew it.

In this article, Gregory Smith tries to put it in some context by giving an analogy: [Read more…] about The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 23