Third Hour

A friend of mine updated his profile picture the other day, and there’s no nice way to say it, he looked terrible. Now, I hadn’t spent a lot of time memorizing this guy’s face, but his picture seemed like he had aged 30 years overnight. My curiosity piqued, I dug in a little and gathered from other shocked comments and replies that he had artificially aged his face with FaceApp, a fairly new face-morphing mobile app. I quickly downloaded the app and spent way too much time magically changing faces--my face, my wife’s face, my kids--by adding smiles, aging, or even swapping genders (which earned a shocked “ew” from my wife). A couple days later, my wife saw an article about a guy that had gone to a museum and used FaceApp to add smiles to classic art. A light went on and I immediately looked up the LDS art that so many of us have seen our whole lives. I started with Brigham Young, because well, we’re not... View the full article

You're a young single adult minding your own business at university. One day you accidentally bump into an old Elder or Sister from your mission. You exchange pleasantries, one thing leads to another and before you know it you've crashed head-on into an important ethical dilemma: Is it appropriate to marry someone from your mission? The possible combinations of circumstances, scenarios and what ifs are infinite, but at the end of the day it's a fair and honest question. It's one that a lot of people ask and one that deserves an answer, so here it is. Short Answer: Sometimes. Long Answer: Marriage is encouraged—it’s a great thing. So, why wouldn’t it be appropriate to marry someone from your mission? Many opponents of intra-mission marriage strongly base their opinion on a talk that Spencer W. Kimball (then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve) alleged gave to a group of missionaries in Latin America in the 1960s, titled “Lock Your Heart”. Details surrounding the circumstances of this talk given over 40 years ago are sketchy... View the full article

When you think of meditation, you might think (as I often do) of one of the earlier scenes in the second Ace Ventura movie. In this scene, Ace is in a monastery in Tibet. You see him in a room full of animals, sitting cross-legged on the ground, eyes glazed and meditating. In my opinion, he looks absolutely insane. That's not what it means to meditate. Meditation actually encompasses so much more. That's a fortunate fact for us Latter-day Saints because prophets tell us all the time to meditate. They tell us, as President Hinkley did, to "take a little time to meditate, to think of what we can do... to become better Latter-day Saints." What is Meditation? "Meditation" awkward to define. It might be termed as a broad range of activities that seek to improve mindfulness and awareness. Even that definition though doesn't quite capture all that it means to meditate. Meditation is the act of calming your mind and reaching a state of peaceful stillness. Most types of meditation share that... View the full article

Seeing a Mormon apostle in real life is not an experience one easily forgets. Spending a weekend with one is downright mind blowing. That’s what I was asked to do earlier this year. I had been interning as a lowly BYU student with the Church’s Public Affairs Department in the Pacific Area, based in Auckland, New Zealand. An apostle (along with a few other General Authorities) was scheduled to make a trip to Tonga, and I was asked to be part of his entourage to cover the trip for Mormon Newsroom Pacific. Latter-day Saint temple in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. What an opportunity, right? Needless to say, I was excited. We’ve all read about prophets of God in the scriptures—we’ve heard them speak at General Conference, but I was going to have the opportunity to get a little peek at the behind-the-scenes action. The day-to-day stuff. I was going to see what happens after the meetings. I got a special glimpse at the life of an apostle, and I want to share some of... View the full article

Ramadan Mubarak! Kul'am wa enta bi-khair! Happy Ramadan! Are you ready for your month-long fast? Don't worry, I won't speak in any more Arabic (mostly because I don't speak Arabic). That was just a common greeting at the start of the Islamic month of Ramadan. After studying Ramadan a little bit, I've realized that Islam is not all that different from our faith. That's the main reason for this post. I want to put the two religions side by side and show the similarities. Why? Latter-day Saints believe that we rejoice in truth and goodness from all sources. I hope that this post helps you understand Islam more, but also that it helps you live your own faith a little bit better. So let's look at some of the basic beliefs of the Islamic faith. What do Muslims Believe? Islam is very similar to our faith. It began around 610 a.d. when a man from the city of Mecca received revelations from Allah, or God, via the angel Gabriel. This man became a prophet and began... View the full article

It sounds like the beginning of a lame joke, but that’s how my day started. You know those stories you hear in testimony meeting about somebody on a bus having the distinct impression to strike up a gospel conversation with the person sitting next to them? They get to talking, the stranger ends up meeting with the missionaries and before you know it—baptism. That’s what I was shooting for. In my head we’d exchange names and pleasantries. “What’s taking you to Melbourne?” I’d ask. I’d listen intently and then he’d ask me the same question. “I work with the Public Affairs Department in my church and am headed to cover some initiatives underway having to do with The Book of Mormon Musical, which is playing in Melbourne,” I’d say. An advertisement for The Book of Mormon Musical in Melbourne, Australia. Bam. Operation spread the gospel is a go. Or at least, it would have been. Things went a lot better in my head. In all reality the conversation did start out well,... View the full article

What's Wrong? Feel like complaining? You ever have one of those days? I'm talking about those I-want-to-light-something-on-fire days. We all have. At the end of the day, when we say our prayers, the last thing we want to do is to thank God for anything. We only really feel like complaining. We all remember those gratitude talks that praise the virtues of being thankful. All we want to do though is complain to God about how hard our day was. Is this wrong? Of course, we have so many scriptures that tell us not to murmur, but what does that even mean? Some psychologists out there say we need to vent to get out our emotional anguish but is that murmuring? Luckily, we have Laman, Lemuel, and Nephi to help us figure it out. Complaining First, let's talk about complaining. To complain can mean to express grief, or to accuse something or someone. This might be like when I complain about getting a small donut at the donut shop. This is like when that wonderful brother cuts us off in traffic and then... View the full article

Few aspects of Joseph Smith’s life have been scrutinized more in recent years than his personal practice of polygamy. Some readers' first exposure to Joseph Smith's practice of polygamy comes from reading sensational headlines. Exaggerations and assumptions fill internet discussions, podcasts, and newspaper articles, so it is hard to know where to go for accurate information. The temptation by some authors to fill in historical gaps often results in distortions that stir up emotions and create tantalizing soundbites that, even if largely fictional, may generate unnecessary fear and confusion. Polygamy is part of the collective Mormon past that many struggle to understand. Current members have no cultural or religious basis to situate plural marriage. Members in pioneer Nauvoo shared that same struggle. When Benjamin Johnson first heard of it, he recalled: "If a thunderbolt had fallen at my feet I could hardly have been more shocked or amazed." Early Mormon polygamy is a historical puzzle that can at best be awkwardly reconstructed from fragmentary recollections. But it is apparent from reminiscences that those who practiced it were convinced it represented a... View the full article

President Thomas S. Monson is no longer regularly attending meetings at the Church offices, according to a statement released by the Church on Tuesday, May 23. According to the release, President Monson continues to communicate with Church leadership as needed and "is grateful that the work of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles continues without interruption." The announcement comes just seven weeks after President Monson was admitted to the hospital. President Monson was hospitalized on Monday, April 3 and released two days later on Wednesday, April 5, after receiving treatment and fluids, according to Church Spokesman Eric Hawkins. President Monson attended the Saturday Morning, Sunday Morning, and Priesthood sessions of the April 2017 General Conference. He did not attend the Saturday Afternoon and Sunday Afternoon sessions in order to conserve his energy. View the full article

Those of you looking to get your spiritual high and your runner's high all in one, there is now a race just for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6ap8p8kTQ Beginning at the Nauvoo Temple, the Road to Carthage marathon traces Church history two miles through old Nauvoo. Runners will run past such historic places as the Johnathan Browning's Gun shop and Joseph Smith's Nauvoo home. Half the marathon course trails alongside the scenic Mississippi River before ending at Carthage Jail. Following the race, runners will be treated to a show from Nauvoo's performing missionaries. Half marathon, full-marathon, and marathon relay (2-5 team members) distance options are available. The course is USATF certified and can be run as a Boston Qualifier. Aid stations will be provided every 2-miles. The Road to Carthage Marathon will take place Saturday May 27th, and is perfect for Church History aficionados and runners alike. Visit the Road to Carthage Marathon website to register before it's too late! View the full article

It's not every day you get to hear from Satan at Brigham Young University, but there's a first for everything. The speech you're about to see, titled "Hell's 9,378th Semi-Millennial General Conference," explores what a motivational speech from Satan to an audience of demons might sound like. David Snell gave the speech at Brigham Young University late last year as a finalist in the annual Sloan Speech Showcase. https://www.facebook.com/brookeasnell/videos/vb.193309499/10101438986662924/?type=2&theater Peppered with humor, Satan (Snell) reviews past successes and failures with his demons and gives them some morbidly helpful advice as they prepare to continue their life's work: To destroy the souls of humankind. The speech quickly garnered a few thousand views after Snell's sister posted it online. It also gained some traction on Twitter at the time of its release. https://twitter.com/alexboyereal/status/808356441392353280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deseretconnect.com%2Frequest%2Fpreview%2FrequestId%2F255190 Here's a transcript of the speech: "Friends, brothers, fellow demons, welcome to Hell’s semi-millennial general conference. Now, I know in the past I’ve spoken rather devilishly towards you, but from the bottom of my pit, these last few decades have been excellent. Sure we’ve had our failures. Luther... View the full article

Most people equate the hedgehog with a prickly ball because its first instinct is to tuck its head into its chest and pull its quills around itself. For first-time hedgie owners, this quick reaction can cause dismay and frustration. After all, you just wanted to hold your pet or stroke its nose, right? Hedgies are quick to hide, and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. Maybe we should, in fact, try to be more like hedgehogs. 1. Balling Kristacher / Flickr A hedgehog’s first reaction to an unknown situation is to ball up, protecting its soft underside from attack. Too often we react to spiritual danger in the opposite way: we rush in, reasoning that our faith or our willpower will keep us safe. In the meantime, Satan attacks our most vulnerable parts—our family, our faith, and our self-worth—subtly, little digs here and there that wear away the most important aspects of our lives. So next time you sense spiritual danger, protect yourself, ball up, circle the wagons, and retreat from evil. 2. Prickling http://gph.is/XLIAIp A hedgehog prickles. Nobody... View the full article

In a big win for modesty, one-piece swimsuits are growing in popularity this summer. One-piece swimsuits available online have increased by 20 percent compared to last year, according to retail analytics firm EDITED. Meanwhile, bikinis have decreased by 9 percent. Additionally, one-pieces are selling out three times faster than they did last year. Are you still preparing for swimsuit season? Here are seven places to get cute one-piece swimsuits: Lands' End This global apparel and lifestyle brand was originally the idea of a sailor. Lands' End suits last forever, and the fabric is thick, so you'll never have to worry whether it's see-through. Most swimsuits run from size 2 to size 18, with additional options for length, cup size, underwire support, and a tummy control panel. The retailer also offers tankinis, swim skirts, board shorts, and swim dresses. Swimsuits cost $40–$170. Albion Fit Albion Fit specializes in vintage-inspired swimsuits that are fashionable, practical, and high-quality. Swimsuits run from XXS to XXL, and most styles come in a variety of colors and patterns. Albion Fit also offers tankini tops, rash guards, swim skirts, and high-waisted bottoms. Swimsuits on... View the full article

National Love a Tree Day is a time for us to celebrate the gentle, silent giants that live on our planet. They range from the smallest bush to the large redwoods that dot America’s west coast. Trees are a thing of beauty and life, giving voice to the quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley when he said, "All of beauty in the earth bears the fingerprint of the Master Creator." With that in mind, this is why we love trees and how we can show it on Love a Tree Day (or all year round): Why We Love Trees We should love trees not only because they play an important on this planet—they provide some of the valuable oxygen that allows us to breathe—but because they have also played an important role in God’s interaction with His children. Trees in the Scriptures Jerry Thompson / LDS.org Trees reach back to the creation of the world. In fact, Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, a... View the full article

Rant “Men, take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears.” President Thomas S. Monson Provo, Utah: A Mormon Mecca with a population 93.35% LDS. The Provo-Orem area is home to Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, and a massive amount of LDS Singles —seriously, massive. The number of Singles Wards in Provo is incalculable. Okay, not incalculable, but I googled it and can't find a hard number. Think somewhere in the hundreds. With such a high number of LDS singles concentrated in one area, you might imagine Provo as a wonderland for Mormon dating; you'd be wrong. "I had never felt objectified as a woman – not ever – until I started dating the young men that I met at BYU." - Simply Single A recent blogpost on Just A Simply Single has garnered a fair amount of attention from the masses. In it, the female writer describes a culture of young men who expect and demand physical attention from the young women they pursue. She chastises them with an I-expected-more-from-you tone. "A lot of these men are... View the full article

Gospel Doctrine class may not be our only gospel study, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't expect to get something out of it. If you feel like you're stuck in a rut when it comes to Sunday School, it's possible that some extra preparation could give your Gospel Doctrine learning the boost it needs. Follow these 6 steps to get more out of Gospel Doctrine class every week: 1. Study the reading assignment ahead of time Each lesson in the class member study guides lists a reading assignment. I once thought those Sunday School manuals were just for the teachers. Of course, there are definitely manuals meant specifically for the teachers. But here's a little tip: the Gospel Library app has teacher's manuals and class member study guides, all available to download for free on your computer or mobile device. The reading assignment for each lesson in the class member study guide is listed right underneath the lesson number and title. And because we work through the lessons in order, there's no guesswork about which lesson to read. Studying the reading assignment ahead of... View the full article

Gospel Doctrine is the closest we come to in-depth scripture study some weeks. However, our leaders counsel us over and over again to spend time studying the scriptures. If we're relying on Gospel Doctrine class for all of our gospel study, there's almost certainly something missing. Here are five reasons why: 1. One Hour is Not Enough One hour of gospel doctrine is not enough study to sustain us for a whole week. Latter-day Saints are supposed to "feast upon the words of Christ." But Sunday is only one day of the week, and Gospel Doctrine is only one hour of the day. "Just as there is food for the body, there is food for the spirit," Elder Dallin H. Oaks said in a 1996 devotional at Ricks College. "The consequences of spiritual malnutrition are just as hurtful to our spiritual lives as physical malnutrition is to our physical bodies." And spiritually malnourished is exactly what we'll be if we rely on one hour to keep us fed for the rest of the 167 hours of the week. President Thomas S.... View the full article

Rumors about what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe are not hard to come by (you know, like how we have cute little horns under our hair). The items on this list are some of the most original rumors about LDS beliefs you’ve probably never heard before, as told by individuals who have heard them. Comment below with the far-out rumors you’ve heard. Enjoy! 1. “I once heard that we have little green men that work in the temple, something similar to an ‘oompa-loompa’ from Willy Wonka” (via Mackenzie Lipps). https://giphy.com/gifs/film-vintage-willy-wonka-P1H3tfyYsOsk8/ 2. “While I was in Africa there was a man apparently telling people we kept live snakes in our church buildings” (via Ty Norman). https://giphy.com/gifs/bustle-snakes-steve-irwin-3oEduPCgSkBnjING12 3. Apparently President Monson runs an underground fighting ring (via Jake Denning). https://giphy.com/gifs/fight-club-brad-pitt-tyler-durden-HJXsW9ZQxZkWY 4. Jesus Morales heard that members apparently worship someone named Brigham Smith. Well… no. We worship God. https://giphy.com/gifs/filmeditor-movie-mean-girls-3o7aTpVyQCkQKfekVy 5. Michelle Hernandez heard that “our prophet is John Smith.” Yes, the one from Pocahontas. Looks like nobody told Disney about that one. https://giphy.com/gifs/oskouioskoui-pocahontas-gifscapade-26tn6rgGHHdo1EDo4 6. Silver McCall says... View the full article

"I can't, I'm Mormon." If you're anything like me, this is a phrase you've used frequently to explain restrictions non-LDS people might find bizarre. Get invited to a sketchy party on Friday night? "I can't, I'm Mormon." Someone asks you go to shopping on Sunday? "I can't, I'm Mormon." Get handed a cup of coffee? "I can't, I'm Mormon." As far as explanations go, it's pretty short and to-the-point. But around my senior year in high school, I stopped using this explanation. Here are three reasons why you should, too: 1. It ignores the principle of agency Saying "I Can't, I'm Mormon" implies that we don't have a choice in how we act. By its very definition, the word "can't" tells your audience that you are unable to do what they've invited you to do. Of course, holding on to your standards to the point that you're unable to deter from them is admirable. On the other hand, using the word "can't" ignores the fact that each of us has a choice in how we act. Mormons choose to live the way we do. 2. It implies you would if you weren't... View the full article

BYU Speeches recently released a new video in honor of Brigham Young University's Commencement week. The video shares part of a message given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland, a former president of the university. Given in 1987, "Believing in the Dream:BYU" tells the story of the humble beginnings of Brigham Young University and one of the miracles by which it grew into what it is now, one of the top universities in the nation (see USNews.com) with over 30,000 students. Watch the video below! In his talk, Elder Holland shares the experience of Alfred Kelly, who gave a graduation speech in 1912. The ceremony he was to speak at doubled as a graduation and a last attempt to gain the funding to save the university from becoming a new suburban neighborhood. As he began his speech, Kelly told his graduating class and potential benefactors of his struggles in preparing what he wanted to say, how he had written several drafts, only to throw them away and how he later took the matter to prayer up on Temple Hill. As he... View the full article

We don’t know a lot about this Bingo sheet (below) besides the fact that Twitter user @itscambam found it inside her YSA ward's Relief Society binder, took a picture and sparked a firestorm of hilarious criticism in the Twittersphere. https://twitter.com/itscambam/status/858737159674634240 Maybe it was meant to be the serious focus of a real Relief Society activity or just a practical joke, but either way the reactions on Twitter are hysterical. Here are 10 of our favorite responses: 1. Someone already made a parody Bingo sheet https://twitter.com/agwalk22/status/858784947678527488 2. This is too real https://twitter.com/sometots/status/858868342383271936 https://twitter.com/sometots/status/858903092019945472 3. I guess that's the way it works https://twitter.com/meehan/status/858742836539162624 4. *Laughter turns into sobbing* https://twitter.com/TineshaCapri/status/858747370011377664 5. #Relatable https://twitter.com/ausdaw/status/858763052732239872 6. You've got a point https://twitter.com/ByCommonConsent/status/858813108533448704 7. Dang, he's right https://twitter.com/BYU_craiggers/status/858754385878319105 8. You're not alone, Alison https://twitter.com/alison_sig/status/858747689902628864 9. That's a good perspective https://twitter.com/3L_belle/status/858762921546981376 10. Last but not least https://twitter.com/SethMcCausland/status/858770745924534272 The overwhelming response amongst young adults online is that the BINGO sheet is a pretty terrible way to get women to flirt with us "boys," but what do you think? Does the sheet go too far, or is it a genius idea? Let us know what you think in the comments section. View the full article

I remember preparing for my first sacrament talk. I was barely twelve years old and spent all Saturday evening writing and dissecting my talk for the next day like any true procrastinator. I did not use the New Era or ask my parents to help me write it — thank you very much. This talk was going to be my thoughts and my testimony in my own words. Luckily for me I have a very supportive mom who offered to read it over when it was completed. Not to add to or take away — but to check it just in case. In case of what you ask? Well. . . Part way through her reading she started giggling. Which was unexpected because I hadn’t written anything humorous. That giggle turned to all out muffled laughs with her trying her hardest to keep it in. With me looking quizzically on she grabbed her scriptures, went to the New Testament and tried to look at me in the eyes without laughing. She was really trying. When... View the full article

The Church offices celebrated Star Wars Day with Star Wars-themed food, trash cans, and even a stormtrooper at the Church Office Building cafeteria on Thursday, May 4. Some of the food offerings included Admiral Tarkin's Tea Sandwiches, Han's Burgers, Seven Leia Dip, Tuskan Raider Taters, Bantha Strips, Darth Vader Sabers, and Obi Wan Kabobies. The Church Office Building cafeteria offered "Darth Maul Delights" and "Admiral Tarkin's Tea Sandwiches" on Star Wars Day, Thursday, May 4, 2017. The Church Office Building cafeteria offered Star Wars-themed food, including "Dagobah Salad," on Star Wars Day, Thursday, May 4, 2017. May the Fourth has been recognized as Star Wars Day because of its similarity to a famous Star Wars quote ("May the force be with you"). A C3PO-decorated trash can was just one way Church Office Building employees celebrated Star Wars Day. View the full article

Opinion A study published in the 1983 Dialogue: A Journal For Mormon Thought, sought to determine the prevalence of depression among Mormon women. The survey compared rates of depression among non-LDS women and LDS women, only to find the difference to be statistically insignificant. However, the study identified a number of factors that related to depression: education, caring from spouse, health, and income. Interestingly, the 1983 study did not find that employment outside the home, age, stressful life events, number of children, or marriage to a non-LDS spouse affected a woman's likelihood of having depression. Intriguing as the Dialogue study results may be, it only looked at a small sample of Utah women — and a lot can change in over 30 years. The more recent The Next Mormons Survey (NMS) is attempting to answer some of the same questions for our modern time. Jana Reiss On Depression Among Mormon Women (via askgramps.org) In her most recent article "Mormon Women and Depression, revisited," Religion News Service writer, Jana Reiss, shares some of the statistics from the NMS. At the beginning of the article,... View the full article

Talking about the temple and what goes on inside with your kids is an important conversation. However, we are hesitant to go in-depth on the temple because it's sacred stuff. We've thought of some guidelines to help direct that conversation. Study the Pearl of Great Price Many of the concepts explored in the temple are also explored in the Pearl of Great Price. Study it with your children and get them familiar with the doctrine. It will also be a great introduction for when they study the Pearl of Great Price in seminary. Watch a Temple Dedication Temple dedications can be a great introduction to the ceremonies and traditions associated with the temple. The temple is full of symbolic actions, like when you waving a handkerchief during the Hosanna Shout. Give your children as many chances to witness symbolic actions as possible, and talk about it afterward with them. Do Your Laundry with Your Children Introduce your children to garments early, and get the chores done at the same time. Help your kids understand the importance of your garments, and... View the full article