My daughter and I stumbled across this video as we were looking for inspiring Sabbath day videos to watch. This young woman’s story confirms the feeling that I have had that even youth can understand the principles that it took me decades to understand.

I am grateful to Hannah for courageously sharing her story.

Published on Feb 9, 2017
Hannah tried to take her life at 17. Bullying and negative self-talk led her to believe that she wasn’t worth loving. Surviving her suicide attempt gave Hannah the chance to find out why that was far from the truth.

Hannah received help through professional treatment, support from her parents, and prayer. She asked Heavenly Father why he had saved her from dying. Why did He care now, when He never had before?

“I had a lot of prayers answered and the biggest thing I heard was, ‘I care, and I always have, and I always will,’” Hannah says. “If any other person in the world says that they don’t care, they don’t love me, they don’t know me, at least I know that God does.”

Mormon Channel is a great place to find personal stories of some of the how finding hope and healing through Christ. Their His Grace and Hope Works are great series to watch, and Enduring it Well also has many personal stories of healing. Peruse the site for more podcasts and videos.

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The post Stories of healing: Surviving suicide appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I pray when…

…I am lonely
…I have a question
…I am stressed
…I’m having a bad day
…Before I eat
…I am sad
…I am scared
…I am stressed
…I feel like I need some uplifting
…I need help
…In church
…People are mean to me
…I need courage
…I’m in bed
…I’m happy
…I see someone in need
…I get ready for a race
…I’m afraid
…I’m driving on my way to school
…I have a question
…I’m hurt
…Go to bed
…I need help
…I’m grateful
…I need to feel God’s love
…I feel sick
…I walk over the bridge at school
…I see others struggling
…I go to bed
…I’m sad
…[when I need] guidance
…estoy cansado
…I’m sick
…I’m sad
…I’m in a weird place
…#because of Him
…I see others in need
…I need a smile
…I wake up
…I feel small
…I’m late to class
…I need help
…I see Amber
…I’m grateful
…I’m lost
…I’m sad
…I’m grateful
…teachers call me in class
…I need courage
…I feel lonely
…I need strength
…I’m about to eat
…I’m running cross country
…Math test today? #didyouthinktopray?
…I am grateful
…I am scared
…I need comfort
…I don’t like people
…I need strength
…I go night night
…I feel alone
…I am sad
…I need confidence
…I feel alone
…I go nighty night
…I’m grateful for the success of my life
…I need help
…I am sad
…I need help
…I need extra help in a situation
…I’m worried about others
…before I go to sleep
…I need help
…I take a test
…I need strength to choose the right
…Having a bad day
…I have an idea I want to share with Him
…I’m grateful
…I need help
…I begin my day
…I don’t feel safe
…I need comfort
…I need sleep
…I am happy
…I eat
…my friends need one
…I am mad at someone
…I wake up
…I see someone that looks like they need a friend/a prayer
…I can eat yummy food
…I’m frustrated
…I’m scared
…I can love everyone
…I go out in public
…I’m having a bad day
…I eat
…I need answers
…I need help
…I’m annoyed
…I sleep
…I need help
…I am sad
…for the sick
…I’m struggling
…Bless the food
…I’m scared
…I’m about to take a test
…I need to wake up on time
…before I eat
…I want to help someone
…before I take a test
…I need to focus in class
…I’m scared
…I am with my family
…I need help
…I need answers

…wait! I pray every day!

The post #IPrayWhen #DidYouThinktoPray appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I loved this activity because in a relatively short amount of time, the youth were all able to share something. Individually, each one of them got to reflect on their testimonies and share in a way that was non-threatening. Collectively, they got to create a visual representation of their faith. It is also fun to see the patterns — and the variations — in their thoughts.

We had a lesson in our combined Young Women class today about joining voices together online (using Elder Bednar’s CES talk, “To Sweep the Earth as a Flood.” It gave me the motivation to finish recording what the youth had shared. It’s inspiring to me to read what they had to say.

Add your thoughts in the comments below, via Twitter, on Facebook, or in other ways. What do you feel grateful to the Savior for?

#BecauseofHim
I can shine!
I can face my fears.
I can start over.
I can live a good life every day.
I can eat food.
I know I will be able to make it through life.
I have amazing people in my life. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 [smileys in original!]
When I screw up I can try again.
I have a family.
I can testify.
I have a body.
We live!
I feel safe when I’m alone.
I have an eternal family.
I can be positive!
I can live again.
I can feel joy.
I am HAPPY.
I’m a better person.
I can see the blue sky.
When I fall down I can get back up.
I can love everybody.
I can walk the earth.
I always have at least one friend.
I can share my talents.
I am strong.
I can live again.
I can be alone on this earth while knowing He’s standing right beside me.
I can repent.
I have strength.
I can be saved.
I have empathy.
Positive thoughts.
I don’t have to feel alone.
I am healthy.
I can eat yummy food.
I feel peace.
I am who I am today.

#BecauseofHim

I can be forgiven
I am free to choose and decide right and wrong
I can be with my family forever!
I know my worth!
I love everyone!
I find joy in the little things!
I can know the truth.
My family is forever.
I can feel the Spirit all the time.
I can feel peace and love.
My burdens are lifted.
I am never alone.
I know where I’m going.
I won’t ever be alone!
There is hope!
We can change the world!
I am free.
I can share His love.
I try to love everybody.
There are small and simple things.
I love others.
Blessings are real.
I can preach on Twitter.
I can be so so so HAPPY. 🙂
I can try again and again!
I have a family
I’m writing this right now.
I know what’s right.
I can live with my family forever
We can all go back to Him.
I am happy.
I can repent.
My family is eternal.
I can live with my fam forever.
I’m never lost.
I’m happy about life.
There is a light in the world!
I get a second chance.
#real talk
I feel safe and secure
I’m sitting here right now.
I know who I am.
We can lift each other up.
I am fierce!
The atonement is real.

#BecauseofHim
I can have good food.
I can have a family.
I get to be a good person.
I’m not afraid to be who I am.
I’m alive.
I have choices!!
I can pray.
I work hard.
I have an AMAZING family 🙂
We can be forgiven.
I can repent.
I have hope.
I pray.
I can be with my family forever.
I know God lives.
I love more.
I live a better life.

#BecauseofHim
I can be saved.
I can repent.
I can be forgiven.
I can be clean from sin.
I can return to Him.
I will live again!
I can have hope.
We have the gospel.
I can go home.
I am blessed.
I can be spiritual.
I can be saved.

The post #BecauseofHim #MormonYouth share their faith #sharegoodness appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Guys. I have an idea.

You know Elder Bednar’s Education Week talk on “flooding the earth” with good LDS social media posts? I decided we ought to do an LDS version of the ALS ice bucket challenge. You have 24 hours to share an LDS scripture, quote or thought on whatever social media site you are on, tag it with #sharegoodness, then tag five people to do the same within 24 hours. I think this could be cool, so I need help from all of you following me and a few well-known people who can spread this to more followers for it to really get around.

She then got bold and thought big and tagged…

WHOEVER READS THIS, @22alfox @nieniedialogues @latterdaysaints and @kcrawl13. You all have 24 hours, get this started and challenge people, even if I didn’t tag you individually!

I think this is a fun idea.

I want to share the #DidYouThinkToPray video, and pictures from an activity done with the youth of the ward yesterday in a combined lesson. They did their own #DidYouThinkToPray sharing with sticky notes. It was amazing to see what a few dozen youth could create together in just a handful of minutes. And so I want to help them #share[their]goodness here. (I’ll try to get some better photos soon. These turned out very grainy.)

(And by the way, if you haven’t watched the video that explains the origins of the #IceBucketChallenge, it is worth your time. You might need a tissue. There is so much goodness in the world in spite of (and sometimes because of) all that is hard.)

The post #ShareGoodness #ShareGoodnessChallenge appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Event #3 Live the Book (June 24)

Explain how the Book of Mormon influences the way you live.

Event #4 Share the Book (July 1)

Invite your friends to learn more about the Book of Mormon and specifically invite someone to be taught about the Book of Mormon by missionaries online or in person!

The end goal is to share the Book of Mormon, not just with the masses, but with specific people. Their purpose is to create teaching opportunities online for missionaries through you!

How to Participate

Go to the Called to Share Facebook page.  Basically, you are invited to post a sentence or two about your Book of Mormon experiences, and add a photo with a particular hashtag.  Here’s a sample post on the page:

Don’t Miss the Chat with David Archuleta!

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that the public will have the opportunity to participate in a live Facebook chat with American pop-star, David Archuleta.

On June 24 at 7 pm (EDT), Archuleta will have the opportunity to discuss with youth around the world about his decision to put his music career on hold and serve a 2-year mission for the Church. The chat will enable youth to ask Archuleta questions and hear stories from his mission. The statement on LDS.org reports that Bonnie L. Oscarson, the Young Women General President, and David L. Beck, the Young Men’s General President, will moderate the discussion (from LDS.net).

The post Coming Events You Should Know About — David Archuleta Open Chat and Book of Mormon Share appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

A news station in Arizona (ABC 15) recently did a four-part special showing the inside of a Mormon temple (temples are the most sacred buildings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). The temple featured in this news story is the Gilbert, Arizona temple. [An open house for the public will be held from January 18 – February 15 (see GilbertMormonTemple.org for reservations for free public tours).]

In this story, ABC 15 reporters talk about each of the main rooms used in every temple: a baptismal font, instruction (endowment) rooms, the celestial room, and marriage (sealing) rooms. They interview members and leaders within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for insights into what temples mean to Mormons. Hear a story, for example, of a family who lost a teenage son to cancer and how the knowledge of God’s plan and the doctrine of eternal families helps them find peace.

They get thoughts from leaders of other faiths as well.

They also talk about genealogy (family history) — and the free, open-to-the-public family history libraries available to anyone who is interested. (See how the reporter was able to find records of her ancestors as part of her report!) Volunteer missionaries can help people cull through the millions of family history records, even those usually only available through paid subscriptions.

They feature youth and their involvement in temple baptisms by proxy for the dead. They also talk about the youth celebrations that take place before temple dedications. This event in Gilbert will include 12,000 youth. Celebrations include singing, dancing, and cultural and historical celebration.

Speaking of celebrating the local area, even the design of each temple reflects a respect for the local area and/or history. In the Gilbert temple, the agave plant is a symbolic thread throughout the temple’s design, and on the temple grounds. Hear more about why the agave plant was chosen.

Thanks to ABC 15 for the thorough and thoughtful video series.

The post Inside a Mormon Temple appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

This is a powerful testimony shared by a young woman who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She shares how the Book of Mormon helped her feel peace and power through trials and difficulties in her life.

I love how the verse she quotes is directed to youth (Alma 36:3):

And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.

I’m also impressed that she memorized the scripture that had an impact on her. It reminds me of something Richard G. Scott said:

“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.”

I want to echo Makenzie’s testimony: “If you do have faith, you will find answers.”

[If you or someone you know is interested in doing the two-minute challenge, email bookmormon2day@gmail.com

The post Patience, trials, and faith — one Mormon young woman’s testimony appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

As a mother of a young man, I am grateful for leaders of the Church who remind him of what an honor it is to hold the Aaronic priesthood. I’m grateful for doctrine that encourages young men to serve, be morally clean, to be a positive force in their family life, to have respect for womanhood, to look heavenward for guidance, to desire to live a good and responsible life, to prepare to be a righteous husband and father.

David L. Beck talks to young men in this video about the magnificent priesthood of God.

As a side note, I was interested to see the responses of young women to this video (see comments). The pattern in their messages was one of gratitude for young men who understand and value their priesthood duties and who take the ordinance of the sacrament seriously. It was also clear that young men and young women can strengthen each other when they live the standards and commandments of God. Young women value the priesthood and are influenced in a positive way when young men honor their priesthood duty to God.

The post The Magnificent Priesthood: A message to young men appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

The post Mormon Youth Share Faith and Service in Zimbabwe appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

I am an adviser in the Young Women program in my ward congregation. A key role of an adviser is to help with Sunday lessons. It was my turn this week to prepare a lesson (that’s not really what it is with the new curriculum, Come, Follow Me — we are urged not to teach/lecture/convey information but rather to engage the youth, to facilitate so that they can be the ones to teach, share, and testify).

I’ve found that usually there is a sense of a “forward flow” when anticipating teaching/facilitating a lesson. As I prayerfully open my heart to what to focus on in class, ideas will come and sort of settle on me. This week, only one thought really settled, and it was of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s most recent General Conference talk. But that was about all I got.

But then Saturday night while I was cleaning my room, I “happened” to open one of my books to a story of one woman’s experience having a day go bad fast. She decided to take a drive and ponder and pray. She felt guided by the Spirit to simply write her thoughts. First, she captured all the negativity, worry, and fear that was plaguing her, and then she felt prompted to write some testimony-based thoughts of what she knew and believed.

The idea came to have the girls do something similar, except to flip the order of what they wrote — to implement Elder Holland’s counsel to lead out with faith.

The young women were invited to silently read Elder Holland’s words for a few minutes, and to share what stood out to them. I then handed out a piece of paper to each person. They folded their papers in half and put “Lord, I Believe” at the top of the left-hand column.

And then I invited them to write what came to mind about their testimony. I gave them simple prompts like, What principles or truths help you in your life? What does your testimony include right now? What scriptures help you when you have a hard day?

They wrote and wrote and wrote.

I was hesitant to interrupt the writing, but I wanted to bring the process full circle back to sharing after watching this video. We divided the class into three circles of three and I invited them each to share with their little group something from their list, as they felt comfortable doing so. Some young women read their whole list, others shared one or two things and talked a little about it. We ended with a little more group discussion. It was wonderful to see how personal the process of pondering was for each person, and also how hearing others’ feelings spurred more thoughts and feelings. There was value in both the quiet self-reflection and also in sharing and testifying to one another. And I felt like the Lord had guided us to a simple tool that could be used on hard days or during hard times.

Elder Holland says,

In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. (Emphasis in original)

I was so grateful for the ideas that came with regard to this lesson, because right after church, my daughter was sad about something that had happened today at church. We are working hard in our home right now to help make sure that the children feel safe sharing their feelings, whatever they may be, so I wanted to listen attentively to her pain. But the thought came to invite my daughter to try this exercise, making it clear that the second column could be used to then write down her concerns and struggles, too.

She wrote and wrote.

And wrote.

She wrote four columns worth (two half pages, front and back) declaring her beliefs.

I hesitated to ask later if she’d be willing to share some of her list, because I didn’t want to enter her sacred space uninvited. But I did want her to feel that I cared and was willing to listen.

We curled up on my bed as she read me her list. And I wept at the power of her testimony. When I asked her about one of the most tender things she’d written — one of those things she’s desiring to believe but doesn’t quite feel it yet — she said that it wasn’t until she spoke the truth out loud that the truth settled more into her heart.

I’m grateful to Elder Holland for his simple, powerful teaching to let our faith lead out. I’m grateful for the Spirit who led me to use this talk. I’m grateful for the young women who are willing to engage and share and testify. And I’m grateful for the blessings that are flowing into my home because of this new curriculum. I encourage parents to tap into this amazing resource, including the training videos. Our children have much to teach us. We just need to find opportunities to invite them to do so.

The post Lord, I Believe! A “Come, Follow Me” lesson come home appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.