General conference is one of my favorite things in life, and this time was particularly important to me. Messages about Jesus, faith, Easter, and holy week, but this time a further message about how the disciple of Christ has an obligation to be a peacemaker. I loved it. Not just civility, something deeper: the call to peacemaking. I suspect we’ll talk more about it in coming episodes, so for now, a highlights reel.
Are Surviving Mormonism’s stories typical? Comparative data show rare failures in an institution ahead on reform.
Why do ward choirs matter? They build unity, model male-female harmony, bridge communities, and teach belonging.
Dallin H. Oaks pairs law with love, showing humility, outreach, and a call to hold truth with tenderness.
Our daily rundown of the articles from around the web that we feel our readers would enjoy and appreciate. We hope to highlight the best of what’s around. Public Square Bulletin recommends: The Benefits of Marriage Shouldn’t Only Be For Elites W. Bradford Wilcox—Institute for Family Studies Today the rich marry much more often than the poor. The benefits of marriage are clear and consistent. Wilcox wonders how to close this gap. Thoughts and Prayers Do Help David Bashevkin—Wall Street Journal Russell M. Nelson spoke in May about how praying for those in need inspires him to action. So I wanted to recommend this recent Wall Street Journal article that delves into the concept and why it would be a mistake to throw away “thoughts and prayers.” Susa Young Gates: ‘Daughter of Mormonism’ Jerry Winder—From the Desk Susa Young Gates is an essential figure in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ. This Q&A with her biographer is succinct, fascinating, and essential for anyone looking to quickly understand her life and accomplishments. Walmart Settles Religious Discrimination Dispute Tom Raabe—American Spectator One of the most interesting religious freedom cases making its way to the Supreme Court involved a man that Wal-Mart refused to promote because as a Seventh-Day Adventist he required one day off a week. But Wal-Mart unexpectedly settled the case before it could make the high court. The reasoning may interest you. Jesus in Recent Latter-day Saint Art Chad Nielsen—Times and Seasons This overview of Anthony Sweat’s recent presentation about depictions of the Savior includes links to many of the beautiful images that Sweat references and is definitely worth a leisurely read.
An anthology of essays marks the 30th anniversary of the Proclamation, celebrating divine design and family.
In our efforts to communicate love and inclusiveness, we may sometimes send messages that mean quite a bit more than what we had intended.
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