Following are a few other videos about temples in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ.

A video produced by the Church to explain more about the clothing worn in the temple.

This video includes perspectives from Church members, including Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, as well as those not of our faith who understand the ancient historical roots of temple worship in Biblical times, and of ordinances like baptism for the dead (as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:29).

The post Inside the Rome Italy Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shares some thoughts on how we can come unto Christ.

Read more about how our belief in and focus on Jesus Christ is central to Mormon belief.

The post Come Unto Christ appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

(The process of counseling with councils was recently discussed in a Church magazine article as well: Obtaining the Spirit through Counseling Together). Five principles of counseling with councils are discussed:

1. Pray, Ponder, and Counsel Together
2. Seek Unity
3. Move Forward with Faith
4. Let the Spirit Help You See Others’ Points of View
5. Look to the Person Who Presides to Confirm the Inspiration

See also Elder M. Russell Ballard’s talk, Counseling with our Councils

The post The Council System — Decision making in the Mormon Church appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

~by Michelle

On this Easter Sunday, I’m reminded of an Easter experience a couple of years ago. I came to our church meetings feeling weary and worn from the struggles of chronic illness. In addition, our congregation boundaries had just changed, and so I was missing the association of people who knew about my health, who would have known how much I needed a hug and a smile that day.

In short, I was feeling alone, and not feeling much of the spirit of Easter.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we often talk of “tender mercies” — evidences in our lives of God’s love and awareness of us. Elder David A. Bednar, one of the Twelve Apostles in the Church, told us that the timing of such experiences are one of the ways we can recognize these blessings in our lives. There is no question in my mind that the string of events I describe in this essay below were such tender mercies. I still marvel at the way God helped me feel and know of His love on a day when I needed it so desperately.

I know help and answers don’t always come so quickly and repeatedly, so experiences like this are anchors to me during times when heaven may seem far away.

If you are facing a dark or difficult time in your life right now, I hope you can reflect on times when you have felt God’s love and Spirit, and also take comfort in the truth of Easter: “Sunday Will Come.” (Essay below the video.)

– – – – – – –

This Cup

“And they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good” (Moses 6:55).

I feel a sense of anticipation as the deacon approaches our pew. My son passes the tray to me, and I slowly bring a piece of bread to my lips. The Savior knows what it’s like to have a broken body, I reflect. He understands what it’s like for me to feel broken.

I chew on that truth as I swallow the bread.

He felt fatigue. He somehow bore the pain of the dizziness, headaches, insomnia, and other random, disconnected symptoms that plague my body. He knows that physical pain can bring with it emotional, mental, and spiritual anguish. He comprehends fear and frustration, discouragement and despair. He understands feeling alone. In every way, He has tasted of the brokenness that mortality can bring.

I realize how much chronic illness has helped me appreciate the Atonement. These emblems of His sacrifice have gained greater depth and meaning for me.

As I wait for the cup, I reflect with gratitude on how I have repeatedly seen and felt God’s love and awareness during these past six years. Fresh on my mind are the miracles of the previous week, when a sacrament meeting became sacred space for me.

* * *

My eyes scanned the pastel-clad congregation as I walked toward the choir seats. So many people I don’t know; so many people who don’t know me. The new building, the new faces—everything felt so foreign. I knew in my heart that I would come to love these people. But today I craved the familiar, familial comfort of worshiping with those who could look into my eyes and just know. It was one of those days.

I took a seat behind the organ. Attempting to distract myself from the discouragement and hopelessness I felt, I focused my attention on my husband, Matt, while he played the prelude music. This was his first day as ward organist and, surprisingly, I’d never had the opportunity before now to watch him play.

Matt’s footwork fascinated me. He used both heel and toe, in carefully organized combination, to bring the rich bass notes to life. His lips had that familiar curl I had seen so often when he played the piano with passion. My feelings were tender as I watched his face, pinched with concentration; the music, and his role in the meeting, clearly mattered to him.

As close as I was, I could sense his tension; my own stomach clenched in nervous knots. When Elder Dallin H. Oaks took his seat on the stand, those knots intensified. So did the prayers in my heart. Please help Matt play well, to bring the Spirit to the meeting as he desires to do.

I wasn’t prepared for the flood of feelings that came as we began the opening hymn.

Christ the Lord is ris’n today, Alleluia!

Music has always had a significant role in my spiritual life, but I had never experienced it quite like this before. Watching Matt had left me invested in the music, connected to it through sight, thoughts, emotion, and prayer. Now, sandwiched between organ and congregation, I felt the hymn’s power. From behind, each note’s vibrations resonated through my body. Coming at me, to me, was the full force and volume of the unified voices of the congregation. These physical sensations of sound amplified the music’s impact on my spirit.

Choked with emotion, I attempted to continue the hymn. My heart filled in where my vocal chords failed.

Love’s redeeming work is done . . . Fought the fight, the vict’ry won . . . Jesus’ agony is o’er . . . Darkness veils the earth no more . . . Where, O death is now thy sting? . . . Where thy victory, O grave?

Even as I felt the power of the Spirit as we sang, the chasm between what I should have been feeling on this Easter Sunday (Joy! Celebration! Triumph!) and what I was feeling (discouragement, weariness, hopelessness) left me with a deep ache, a mixture of sorrow and shame. All-too-familiar questions trickled into my mind. Why? How long? What more is there to learn? When will it be enough? Am I passing my test? Will this cup ever pass?

Like Martha of old, I knew someday the resurrection would come. My body would be raised, healed of all its ailments. It would be filled with lasting life. But just as Martha had yearned to have her pain prevented in the present, recognition of the resurrection was not enough at this moment to assuage the current sting of my struggles.

I thought I might be able to sing the sacrament hymn with more success. I was wrong. As we prepared for the ordinance through song, I was sobered by the reminder that the Savior didn’t murmur in His moments of agony as I often do. But then I was tenderly taught.

“Father, from me, remove this cup. Yet, if thou wilt, I’ll drink it up.”

No, He didn’t murmur. But He did ask if His cup could pass. I felt the Spirit start to penetrate the darkness in my soul, to lighten my burden. Feelings of guilt and self-reproach began to dissipate. It is not sinful to desire my cup to pass. Hope and strength started to replace the almost-paralyzing despair and weariness I had felt.

Still unable to sing, I focused on trying to drink in the Spirit’s peace as we concluded the sacrament hymn. As I partook of the symbols of the Savior’s sacrifice, I pondered on the heaven-sent impressions that had come. I resolved to accept the Savior’s empathy and follow His example of willing submission more fully.

But the Lord was not done sending strength to my spirit. A woman I didn’t know poignantly spoke of the recent loss of her sweetheart, and of other trials that had tested her faith. She quoted a talk by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin that sent the Spirit’s power rippling through my soul.

“Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

“But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

“No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, in this life or the next, Sunday will come.” (1)

By this point, I was chiding myself for forgetting, yet again, to tuck tissues into my scripture case. My efforts to sniffle subtly were embarrassingly inadequate. The only option I had was to bow my head and take comfort in the fact that the organ hid me from the sea of strangers sitting in front of me.

I did look up long enough to catch the glance of my dear friend, Lisa—one of the few people I could see, and one of the people I did know. Her love-filled smile and gentle nod communicated that she understood what I was feeling. Through her, I sensed God’s love and awareness of me. He knows.

By the time I stood to sing with the choir, the tears that streamed down my face were not tears of sorrow, weariness, and shame, but of gratitude, and of faith rekindled.

Even Elder Oaks’s presence was a gift (2), reminding me of important truth he had taught, one that has been an anchor for me as I have ached to have this cup removed. Healing doesn’t always come from having our burdens taken away. Sometimes it comes by being given what we need to carry our burdens.

* * *

As the tray of water comes toward me, many thoughts course through my mind. I remember the Savior’s blood and life, freely shed. I reflect on the bitterness of Gethsemane, and on the reality that shrinking is not sin if couple with submissiveness.

I consider another Easter impression, one that came as I pondered the many miracles of the day. The little cup of the sacrament can represent my small portion of mortal pain and experience—my own bitter cups—of which I need to willingly partake.

My son passes me the tray. I drink the water with deliberateness. For, above all, this cup represents the Savior’s living water. I am filled with gratitude for the sweet gifts of love, peace, strength, and healing available to me through His Spirit.

– – – – – –

Notes (1) Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Sunday Will Come,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 28–30.

(2) It’s very rare for a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to walk into one’s local sacrament meeting. One of Elder Oaks’ family members is in my ward congregation, so he was spending the holiday with family, which included worshiping with them.

This essay originally appeared in the Segullah journal, a literary journal for LDS women.

The post An Easter Essay + video, “Sunday Will Come” appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

My missionary companion and I were talking to someone when we heard a voice calling to us. Shocked, we turned to see Roberto running toward us. We hadn’t seen him for several weeks; we had given him a Book of Mormon and tried to teach him more about the Church, but at first, it didn’t seem like he was very interested, and we didn’t want to push him if he wasn’t ready to hear more.

But on this day, he was bursting with excitement. He explained that he had been on the bus, had seen us on the street, and felt an impulse to get off the bus to talk to us.

What had changed?

He had read The Book of Mormon. Nephi [a Book of Mormon prophet] had become his hero. Reading that book opened his heart, and changed his life. Over the course of the next few weeks and months, he continued to learn more. Two and a half weeks before I left the country, he was baptized. He gave up his dream of being in the military in his country, and served a mission himself.

Nephi has become one of my heroes as well. During a particularly difficult time last year, I read The Book of Mormon with a very specific purpose in mind. I needed guidance and answers about the challenges I was facing. I was amazed to find insights on nearly every page. With a fine pencil, I made notes about the things I learned. I still benefit from those notes, and feel a great sense of wonder that words written so long ago could have such deep significance for me.

And how many times that has happened! So often, I go to scriptures I have read repeatedly throughout my life, and yet, I see and feel something new. The scriptures are a marvel to me.

Nephi says,

[F]east upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.

One way this has been true in my life is not simply because of what the words on the page say, but also because of how feasting on — earnestly studying, pondering, and praying about — the word of God helps bring the Lord’s Spirit into my life. The more I make time for and open my heart to the word of God, the more I feel His love and personal guidance. The more I understand how to face the challenges of life. The more I understand the Savior and His atonement, and what I need to do to draw closer to Him and to Heavenly Father.

Elder Robert D. Hales, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles, said this:

What a glorious blessing! For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Several years ago, I wanted to learn more about the temple. One night, I spent over an hour studying in the Bible Dictionary and in the Old Testament. And I had a significant a-ha experience that helped me understand more about the ancient roots of temple worship. God answered the desires of my heart through the power of the scriptures. Over the course of the next several weeks, I studied more and came to love the temple more through the power of the scriptures and the words of living prophets.

Today, I lay on my bed listening to talks from men whom we sustain to be living prophets and apostles. They speak to us twice a year in our General Conferences. As is often the case, I was listening to their counsel with specific questions and needs in mind. And I received specific guidance, anchors for the challenges I am currently facing. I simply can’t make it alone. I need God and His word to help me!

The examples of legion, from my life and from the lives of hundreds of people I know. I cannot adequately express the gratitude I have for the word of God. I know the scriptures are true. I know God speaks through prophets in our day as well. The words of prophets, both ancient and modern, are my lifeline. The power in their teachings is real. As I seek to follow their teachings, I find peace and perspective.

Once again, I share from Elder Hales:

If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures….
As with voices from the dust, the prophets of the Lord cry out to us on earth today: take hold of the scriptures! Cling to them, walk by them, live by them, rejoice in them, feast on them. Don’t nibble. They are “the power of God unto salvation” that lead us back to our Savior Jesus Christ.

And this, so that we may someday return to live with our Father in Heaven again.

The post We Believe: The Power of the Word appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I love the Bible. Sometimes my friends of other faiths are surprised to hear that Mormons use the same Bible as the rest of the Christian world. We use the King James version of the Bible as part of our scripture. I doubt there is anything more precious to me than the records kept of Jesus’ life as contained in the four gospels and the Book of Acts. I love the Old Testament too. I love the record of God speaking to people through Prophets like Moses and Abraham. In conversations I’ve had with friends who wanted to know more about me and my faith, there is one question I’ve heard many times. Where are the Prophets when we need them the most?

This is one of my favorite questions to answer! I recently went to a production that answered that very question.

Recently, the missionaries from my area presented a musical fireside entitled “A Long Silence Broken,” a musical tribute to the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Missionaries shared their musical talents with the audience. One missionary was highlighted for his extraordinary musical talent and how music strengthened his testimony of Jesus Christ. (While at BYU, a news production team put together a short video segment highlighting Elder Keith and his astonishing talent. Jonathan Keith on BYU Weekly.)

The fireside began with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through song and the spoken word. Although I do not have audio recordings of the actual performers from this fireside, here is a video of one of the songs presented to give Testimony to the life of Jesus Christ. In the song His Hands, there is a special emphasis on the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

After a beautiful rendition of His Hands, by Kelly Lord, another soloist sang a song I had never heard before entitled Him and Him Alone. It described our absolute reliance on Jesus Christ. The missionary who sang this song, Elder Excell, sang it with such conviction that I was moved to tears. I felt my personal need for a Savior during that song.

Next, there was a photo slideshow of Prophets from the Old Testament including Adam, Moses and Abraham, then on to the ministries of Peter, the Apostle Paul and others as contained in the New Testament. After the wonderful musical tribute to the greatness and glory of our Savior Jesus Christ, this section was a welcome reminder of the love God shows us by revealing Himself to Prophets. Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, He set up a form of church government that would be on earth after His ascension. Jesus called twelve apostles to lead and teach and bear special witness to the people of His life and His sacrifice.

After many years of successful missionary work, all of these Holy Apostles were hunted down and killed or exiled, thus leaving the church to govern itself without the divine authority of the Priesthood. Instead of Prophets and Apostles leading the church, members filled the void of leadership with the voice of its members through voting on doctrines and accepted creeds.

Several hundred years later righteous men like John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, William Tyndale and John Calvin recognized that the doctrines of their church were not in line with the teachings contained in the Holy Bible. They protested and demanded reform. Many gave their lives in protest, and started the Protestant movement. These reformers and protesters were persecuted in their home lands, but some were blessed with the opportunity to try their faith in a new world, America.

Joseph Smith was born in America, the land of freedom of religion, where all people were given the opportunity to worship God however they chose.  Because of this freedom, there were many, many religions to choose from. So many that even though Joseph’s family loved and knew the Bible, they were divided as to what religion to join.  Many of  Joseph’s family had already joined the Methodist church, but Joseph was unsure which of all churches was the correct one. At age 14, Joseph wanted to do what was best, and what God wanted.

To illustrate Joseph’s feelings during this time, a soloist named Elder Seu sang My Soul Hungered. [Again, I do not have audio recordings from this particular event, but I wanted to share the link above, so you could hear for yourself this beautiful song.]

Joseph took his concerns to the Bible and read this verse in James 1:5, which reads:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.

With a trust and faith that typically attends the young, Joseph sought out a solitary and peaceful place to pray, believing that God would answer him. And God did answer him!

At this point in the fireside Elder Seu sang the song Joseph Smith’s First Prayer. [To hear the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing this song please follow this link.] Here are some of the words from this Hymn:

Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing – Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer….

…Suddenly a light descended, Brighter far than noon-day sun,
And a shining glorious pillar O’er him fell, around him shone.
While appeared two heav’n-ly beings, God the Father and the Son.

“Joseph, this is my Beloved: Hear him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered, And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom, For he saw the living God.

A long silence broken!

Just as Abraham, Isaac, Moses and others were called of God to be Prophets to the people of their day, Joseph Smith was called to prophesy, reveal and lead in his day.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, or Mormon church, has a living Prophet today who we look to for guidance and authority from God. We love Thomas S. Monson and all the Prophets since Joseph Smith. We worship God the Father and the Savior, Jesus Christ, but we are still grateful for Prophets to guide us morally, spiritually and temporally in the modern days.

The Missionary choir then sang Praise to the Man, a beloved LDS hymn (Mormon Tabernacle Choir rendition to video can be found here). My husband and I were astonished by the wonderful testimonies born through music on this fantastic night. I hope I was able to give you just a glimpse of the talent and testimonies of some wonderful Mormon missionaries, and to show how grateful I am for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The post Missionary Mondays: A Long Silence Broken appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

We are so grateful to know that there are prophets and apostles alive on the earth today, here to guide us and help us follow the Savior, Jesus Christ.

If you feel inspired to do so, please consider sharing your thoughts about what you have heard on this video, or about how General Conference messages helped you.

The post <i>Review, Reflect, and Return</i>: General Conference Highlights Video appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Watch a brief tribute from his son on a video here.

Watch a biographical piece here.

You can find many of his talks here.

The funeral will be rebroadcast this weekend. You can find rebroadcast times of the funeral as well as biographical and other information here.

The post Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin Dies; Funeral Held appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

You can get live feeds as well as archives here. You can also get live feeds and archives (available for about a month) at byutv.org

For those who would like to share your thoughts about Conference, simply make a comment below!

The post General Conference this Weekend! appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

“We are all the sons and daughters of God….‘Let’s work together and try to solve some of the really tremendous social problems that…every country is facing,” he said.

If you would like to hear the interview in its entirety, it will be rebroadcast on BYU Television several times in the next few weeks. For more information, see here.

The post Elder Ballard on Bloomberg Television: “Let’s work together” (Rebroadcast to come) appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.