Third Hour

Elder Neal A. Maxwell was an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for 23 years. He passed away at age 78 in July 2004. He was known and loved for his way with words. Although it was almost impossible to fully grasp his talks just listening once in conference, dissecting them afterwards was both enlightening and delightful. Many, many Latter-day Saints collected his quotes. Here are a few jewels: “The laughter of the world is merely loneliness pathetically trying to reassure itself.” “We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.” “Faith in God includes Faith in God's timing.” “God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.” “The submission of one's will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God's altar. The many other things we 'give' are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.” See more Neal A.... View the full article

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. The Family: A Proclamation to the World The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles To work or not to work if you're a mother. The LDS Church encourages women to stay at home and raise their children. Some moms are fortunate enough to be able to work from home, and a few have found success as bloggers. Here are LDS mothers blogging about their passions, interests, or talents. "I think a lot of (Mormon) women seek out blogging because we have talents and passions of our own and it’s a way to express those, but still be able to stay true to those core values and stay home with our kids" Meredith Ethington said, creator of Perfection Pending. Here are the five ways to earn money from blogging: 1. Create an Unique Voice It's never too late to start a blog now. If someone plans to create a blog, they should write about their passions and interests and create an unique voice. It is important... View the full article

The following is an excerpt from Help Thou Mine Unbelief: Scientific, Historical, and Spiritual Evidence of God. Dreaming is a universal part of being human and is one of the many metaphysical ways God communicates with His children. While most dreams seem of little value on a day-to-day basis, very few would argue against how amazingly helpful some dreams can be. They can provide all of us with a potpourri of benefits such as prophetic insight, flashes of creativity, and elevated self-awareness. Some dreams are filled with messages about religious matters and spiritual awakenings from beyond the veil that seem to cry out that there is a God. They provide sacred solace and enlightenment, even a foretaste of eternity, and are produced and directed especially for a particular individual, at a particular time, for a particular purpose. A Dream Helped me through a Crisis of Faith I learned that every question will be answered in heaven. I was blessed with one such dream at a time when my faith was being tested. I’ve never... View the full article

On Thursday, October 6, 2016, LDSPerspectives.com will host a podcast featuring LDS artist Dr. Anthony Sweat. Dr. Sweat has contributed art that clarifies our perceptions of various events in church history and the scriptures in order to represent the truth. Here is a rendition of Joseph Smith translating the Book of Mormon created by him: The Gift and Power of God, by Anthony Sweat Anthony Sweat is an assistant professor of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. He received a BFA in painting and drawing from the University of Utah and MEd and PhD degrees in education from Utah State University. He is a regular speaker at Especially for Youth and Education Week conferences. He and his wife, Cindy, are the parents of seven children and reside in Utah. You can listen to the interview with Dr. Sweat here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/ldsperspectives/LDSP_-_LDS_Art.mp3 or at the LDSPerspectives.com website. Future podcasts you won't want to miss: October 12, 2016 — Ty Mansfield — Homosexuality and the Gospel October 19, 2016 — Neal Rappleye — Book of Mormon Central October 26, 2016 — Ugo Perego... View the full article

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are taught to emulate Christ in all our thoughts, words, and deeds. However, our mortal inclinations often hinder our attempts to be as He is. This means that when we try to walk as Christ walked, speak as Christ spoke, and love as he loves, we often fall short. It took Sacramento resident, Latter-day Saint, and mother, Cindy Jensen, four years to allow herself to love as He loves — but once she did, the results were inspiring. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHX7aP0Z6nM View the full article

Holding your sweet newborn's hand as he struggles to survive. Seemingly endless nights in the NICU. Hours crying, wondering whether your baby will make it. And finally, the all-encompassing, soul-shattering grief you feel when your little guy breathes his last breath. It all sounds like a nightmare, but that nightmare is all too real for many mothers. It's certainly a reality that Kelsey Nixon and her family understand. BYU-Grad and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Kelsey Nixon came to national fame when she was one of the final four contestants for "Food Network Star." Her career afterward took off in a full-on sprint as she landed her own show on the Cooking Channel; a show that has been on television for six years now. Nixon has had her share of fame and fortune, achieving a career and celebrity-status that others only dream of — yet that didn't mean everything to Nixon. What else did Nixon yearn for? Family. Nixon and her husband Robby Egan rejoiced at the... View the full article

It's that time of year again, folks: conference season. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world huddle around TV sets and stereos, listening intently to the divinely inspired direction of General Authorities. Conference is a time for spiritual renewal, to receive answers to the quietest of your heart's prayers, and to have your testimony strengthened and solidified. If being this spiritually uplifted sounds like a drag, here are some tips and tricks to avoid feeling that outpouring of the Holy Ghost. 1. Stock up on Corn Nuts and Pop Rocks Did you know the sinuses and cavities in your head are great at reverberating sound? Take advantage of these excellent acoustics with a Pop Rock-Corn Nut symphony. There's no way you'll be able to hear any of the sage advice, important apostolic counsel, or promptings of the Spirit over your orchestral crunching. 2. Get to know the speakers by using past conference talks as white noise Allow the cadence of prophetic wisdom to lull you to sleep each night preceding conference. Not only will this allow you... View the full article

I suffer from bi-polar disorder. There have been many periods in my life when I was seriously depressed to the point of suicidality. At one point during a period of this kind of struggle I was in Costco and I discovered a suspense novel by an author I hadn’t read before. Without thinking too much about it, I put it in my cart. I had never read anything like this book before. It was romantic suspense, all right, but it had explicit sex. For a reason I didn’t understand, it made me feel good. I looked for more books by this author and then found that there was a huge market of this kind of book out there. The more I read, the better I felt. If I read a book a day, I could keep my suicidality at bay. My doctors had given up and said there was nothing they could do for me. They told me they had tried every medication and there was nothing to help. My... View the full article

“I’m so excited for” CRUNCH “General” CRUNCH “Conference!” I love General Conference. I also love food. Luckily, I can combine the two. (Shout out to my main squeeze, modern technology! Streaming services are bae.) But get this — one of the things that makes Conference most meaningful for me is when I can actually hear it. Now I’m a big fan of popcorn, don’t get me wrong. But somehow President Monson’s stories just aren’t quite as enthralling when I only hear 1/4 of the message he shares because I'm either crunching on a popcorn kernel or remorsefully mourning my impending gingivitis as I struggle to disengage an intrusive popcorn husk that has made itself at home in my gums. That’s why I’ve taken the liberty of creating a list of non-crunchy snacks that you can enjoy while watching General Conference. I know, I know — you're welcome. Enjoy this list of snacks that you can munch … without missing a bunch. ? Click on the links to view some of our favorite recipes! Satiate Your... View the full article

On the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah, September 22, 1827, after Joseph Smith had returned yearly to be instructed by Angel Moroni, Moroni finally entrusted the gold plates into Joseph's care. The plates, and the writings therein, spoke "as a voice from the dust" with the purpose of regathering Israel in preparation for the Second Coming. God had a particular purpose in fulfilling the symbolism of the high holy day of Rosh HaShanah, also called the Feast of Trumpets, with this singular, earth-shaking event. The Jewish High Holy Days as Religious Milestones There are seven high holy day festivals, and anciently, three pilgrimages to the temple in Jerusalem. The first pilgrimage, in the spring, encompassed the three festivals of the Passover, Bikkurim (first-born son), and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Within these festivals are imagery of sacrifice, redemption, deliverance, and rebirth. These holidays are rich with messianic symbolism that testifies of Christ as the Messiah. The symbolism focuses on His first coming: His birth, His nature, His mission, His crucifixion, His Atonement, and... View the full article

I asked the Deacon's Quorum I teach if they knew what the law of chastity was. One intrepid young man raised his hand, "Don't have sex until you're 18." I gulped. Not Quite, I explained. A second young man raised his hand to swoop in with the right answer. "It's don't have sex until you're 16!" Needless to say, the youth in our wards and branches do need to be taught the law of chastity. And while we've heard countless tales of mangled object lessons with wooden boards, glazed donuts, and sticks of gum, these lessons keep returning because object lessons work. So what object lessons can we use instead to teach the principle of chastity responsibly and accurately. 1. The Driver's License and the Dream Car This object lesson comes from Riley Lewis, who taught it for a teacher's quorum lesson. As a way of setting the stage, place your car keys on the table in front of you. Ask the students to describe their dream car. Get as many details and variations as they... View the full article

In the wake of the devastating news that after 12 years and six children together, the Hollywood dream-team formerly known as "Brangelina" is soon to be no more, the world has experienced a collective emotional upheaval. It's as if all our hearts are breaking as Brangelina melts down to its constituent parts. Thankfully, the internet has provided us with comfort, hope, and advice on how to explain this calamitous event to our children. But what it has yet to provide is a suitable replacement to fill the void left in our hearts by Brangelina. Allow me to suggest the following: 1. "Jitney" (Jimmer and Whitney Fredette) image via standard.net In 2011, Jimmer Freddette was picked 10th overall in the NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings. That same year, he married former BYU cheerleader Whitney Wonnacott. The couple was sealed in the Denver Temple by then-BYU President Samuelson. Essentially, they're a mascot for BYU athlete romance. 2. "Donebbie" (Donny and Debbie Osmond) image via ABC News Donny Osmond was only 20 years old when he married Debra Glenn in... View the full article

In the second YouTube episode of 3 Mormons, Kwaku, Ian, and Shelley talk about when to serve a mission, how to know when you are ready, and how to prepare. They almost come to blows when discussing pre-mission dating (yeah, you really need to watch this) and make ample use of the many decorative props and their usefulness as weapons. Some of the fodder for discussion comes from the age change (from 21 to 19 for girls and from 19 to 18 for guys) and how it affects maturity and availability to serve. Where winning people over with your informed opinion is concerned, it's win-a-few, lose-a-few for the 3 Mormons, and we even keep score. Watch this week's episode below or head to YouTube.com. Be sure to subscribe, like and share 3 Mormons with your friends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5GuwtREU-U View the full article

3 Mormons is a crackling fun talk show that will debut on YouTube on September 16, 2016, and weekly on Fridays thereafter. Decidedly Millennial in style and content, 3 Mormons' hosts will be Ian James Forsyth, 22, Shelley Elizabeth Williams, 21, and Kwaku El, 20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQfCQLId4sY The goal of the show is to start good Mormon conversations, to share good quality Mormon content on YouTube. The goal isn't to declare doctrine, or establish an official rule of law (e.g., stating that it is or is not okay drink caffeine). Rather, the 3 Mormons want people to see that we can discuss differences of opinions for small doctrinal points that won't affect our eternal salvation, and we can even enjoy it. The first episode of 3 Mormons will be about modesty (hmm, could be revealing). The second is about missions — when to serve, sister missionaries, and other mildly controversial aspects of the missionary experience. In the future, look forward to conversations on dating, the WoW, and Sabbath-keeping. Check out the chart below for a quick... View the full article

Introducing Mormon Hub, the new iteration of LDS.net. LDS.net was originally established as a simple forum where Latter-day Saints and friends of other faiths could gather and discuss matters important to them. A number of investigators received friendly support through the forum, and others had their questions answered in a safe place online. Over two years ago, we rebuilt LDS.net into a thriving magazine with excellent content—by Mormons, for Mormons. Our audience has grown, and our site has become well-known. We are ready to add new features to our website. Because of this, we have felt that LDS.net as a brand is no longer representative of our product. After much consideration and discussion, we have settled upon Mormon Hub as our brand moving forward. Our new features will be pretty exciting; we think you will agree: Enhanced forum features (interacting with our web content) 3 Mormons on YouTube (will appear every Friday—hugely entertaining) A section of quizzes on our beliefs and culture (easy to difficult) with FHE hints and share-ability (challenge your friends;... View the full article

Mormons get mad at me when I call them Mormons. They're "Latter-day Saints" and they definitely don't belong to the "Mormon Church." Yep, I get it. We're Christians and sensitive about it. We love Jesus and don't want anyone to forget it. But the time has come to stop being defensive and start being offensive. We are a missionary church. We want converts. We need to find them where they are, and that's Googling the word "Mormon." I Belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints It's not that Mormons don't have a good reason for liking the full name of their church. Jesus, Himself, told us what the Church should be called. That's kind of a big deal. So it's no surprise that historically Mormons have been a bit prickly about using any other names. But that can't be said for people who didn't like Mormons. In the 1830s, those opposed to the Mormons started calling them that. Well, they also used "Mormonite" which certainly has a stylish flair, but you... View the full article

My eyes scanned the page at a rate that was probably fast enough to rival the speed of light before I finally found it: I would be serving in Denver, Colorado. I received my mission call on March 28th of 2013. I had several friends over at my BYU –Idaho apartment, all of whom insisted that the postage stamp’s price indicated that, hallelujah! I was going to be called out of the States, and I was Skyping my family. When I read the words out loud — that I would be serving in the Colorado Denver North Mission, English speaking — time stood still. I didn’t know how to feel. I knew it was right, but I instantly felt like everyone was disappointed for me. It seemed to me as though all of my friends were thinking, Stateside? English Speaking?! I went into my bedroom and cried. Flash forward to a couple of days later and all kinds of people were offering a mixed variety of congratulations and condolences. I... View the full article

What are the scariest things you'll encounter in a Mormon Church? Well, we tried to come up with the best ones, and then "Strangify" them so that they would look like the title of this summer's favorite TV show "Stranger Things." We used a free tool by designer Nelson Cash and had a ton of fun. And with season two just announced, it felt like the perfect time. It's amazing how spooky church can seem with the right background and font. We hope you enjoy! Try General Conference in Hawaii Some of the congregants look like ghouls, at the very least. 2. The Butter! The Butter! We can promise your cardiologist will start screaming. 3. The Monster Between You and Eternal Marriage It may not scare you, but it terrifies YSA ward bishops the world over. 4. The Sequins It Burns Just do everyone a favor and wear bolo ties exclusively from Thanksgiving to New Years. 5. There Will Be No Bad Language Here Why is writing holy fetch in a scary font so funny? 6. Ten Minutes Left. What Will Bishop... View the full article

To His followers, both in Galilee and among the Nephites, Jesus gave a lofty command—to be perfect. King Benjamin urges us to "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God." But for many who seriously seek for perfection, they would more likely say, "Consider on the stressful and frazzled state of those who strive to keep this commandment." Why? Heavenly Father's commandments are meant to bring peace and happiness. Why does the commandment to be perfect tend to bring anxiety and insecurity instead? I believe it's because, in many cases, we are missing the mark. We're reading this commandment incorrectly in two different ways. 1. Be Ye Therefore [a] Perfect[ionist] Instead of seeing this commandment as God's ultimate desire for His beloved children—what He wants to transform us into so we can receive all that He has—we tend to read it instead as the prerequisite for worthiness to return to His presence. In other words, we feel that our worth is based on being perfect (the definition of perfectionism). We hang our... View the full article

To eat meat, or not to eat meat: that isn't the question Hamlet asked himself as he contemplated suicide, nor is it the question most members of the Church ask themselves as they dig into the latest relief society casserole — but maybe it should be. 1. We Have Access to Grains All Year Round 12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly; 13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine. D&C 89 In the Word of Wisdom we are admonished to use flesh "sparingly" and not to use it unless we're in "times of winter or of cold, or famine." Today — in most developed countries — winter, cold, and famine are nearly inconsequential when it comes to the foods we choose to eat. Globalization has brought access to all foods, year round. Fruits, vegetables, and grains exist in... View the full article

Opinion A new curriculum for sexual education is coming to your school, and the more you know about it, the more easily you can make choices for your children. As with the legalization of gay marriage and the application of transgender rights in schools, CSE originates from government, and not from parents or teachers. What is Comprehensive Sexual Education? International Planned Parenthood text for kids CSE was devised by the U.N. and International Planned Parenthood and is being pushed very hard by the U.S. Government for adoption all over the world. Because conservative nations are pushing back, the American government is attaching the adoption of CSE to the worthiness of conservative nations to receive aid from America. There are a few things that have led to people thinking CSE is a good idea. The failure of traditional forms of sexual education to account for the fact that young people are indeed having sex. Historically, there was little information on contraception or protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The seeming failure of abstinence-based sexual education... View the full article

Maryland resident Justin Tate worked construction on the Dallas Texas Temple, designed the Preston England Temple, and laid the foundation for the Mesa Arizona Temple. Tate built the Bountiful Temple single-handedly — the Washington D.C. Temple only took him a couple hours to finish. If you haven't figured it out already, Justin Tate isn't your typical architect. Tate builds all his construction projects in Minecraft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJJ85MMMVss Minecraft is a sand-box style video game, available on nearly every platform, in which the player explores, gathers resources, crafts tools, combats threats, and builds up the world around them with textured cubes. The game is family friendly, encouraging teamwork and creativity as users work together to construct their own reality. When Tate began playing Minecraft with his children, he built the Bountiful Temple into their virtual world. "I decided to build the Bountiful Temple, (where my wife and I were married), into our little world so that my kids and I could always have a temple in view while we played." When the family switched to a newer version of the game, Tate began... View the full article

Life is exciting. You just started your first semester at the best university around. And no, you’re not going to BYU. Not in Provo, Idaho, or Hawaii. And even though your parents and friends are only mildly disappointed with you for not choosing the Lord’s school, you are happy with your choice. Being a successful and faithful Latter-day Saint at a non-Church school has its challenges, but is entirely possible. Here is a college surival guide for your first year (or first semester) to have fun and keep you on the strait and narrow path. Join the Institute Institute can be a refuge from the University Institute is the best thing for any Mormon college student, especially for those not at a Church school. If you're living on or near campus, institute can be more of a home than your apartment. They will have formal activities almost constantly: Monday night FHE, Wednesday night classes, Friday night dances or activities, Saturday morning hikes, and Sunday church. At larger universities, there will probably be even... View the full article

"Will he be circumcised?" the nurse asked. One question a parent of newborn boy needs to answer is should I circumcise my baby? What, if anything, does The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have to say on the issue? Is there a stance on Mormon circumcision? Why is Circumcision Religious? The reason circumcision has a religious nature is because God told Abraham to be circumcised. "This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised." -Genesis 17:10 Circumcision has then been kept as a religious ritual among the Jewish people ever since. The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the Abrahamic Covenant was applicable to Latter-day Saints. Though the only portion of the covenant specifically mentioned is the promise of eternal increase. Do Christians Circumcise? Some Christians are almost certainly circumcised. While there isn't good data on a religious basis, there are simply too many circumcisions performed in the United States for none of them to be performed on Christians. The more interesting question is... View the full article

Do you love reading comics? The internet has allowed comics to proliferate and fill increasingly specific niches. Here are eight Mormon comics that either deal specifically with what it’s like to be a Latter-day Saint, or would be of interest to members of the Church. Mormon Shorts This delightful collection grew out of “The Garden of Enid” a webcomic about the misadventures of a Mia Maid. While the Enid storyline had a more defined arc that ended, “Mormon Shorts” features one-off comics, occasional reappearances from Enid, and a new story about a socially awkward dreamer named Wyler that splits between his Youth Conference troubles, and his troubles as a Civil-War era soldier. Mormon Shorts is by turns goofy and wildly insightful, and occasionally requires a near encyclopedic knowledge of Mormon history. It is now published once or twice a week without any set schedule. But there are plenty of archives to look through while you wait. Zarahemla Times “Zarahemla Times” is the ongoing tale of the family of the publisher of the Zarahemla Times in the suburbs of Zarahemla at the time of Helaman, or so. The story often uses modern LDS themes imposed on the family. For example, sixteen-year-old daughter Naomi is leaving for girl’s camp. And Sariah, the mother, is second counselor in the Relief Society. But that’s combined with Lamanite attacks, and existential crises over how to keep track of the good Nephites and bad Nephites and good Lamanites and bad Lamanites. The comic is stylized like a newspaper strip and includes both single jokes and longer stories. “Zarahemla Times” has been publishing once a week since 2008. We recommend you start from the very beginning and enjoy the adventure. Honest Jon This single-panel comic takes a wide-eyed look at the world of being Mormon. The comic uses recurring motifs, such as a speaker at a podium or an interview in a bishop’s office, but does not use longer storytelling. The comic often connects topical issues, such as the Olympics, to Mormon culture. It ranges from eye-rolling puns, “Called to Surf” to descriptions that hit close to home, “For our opening hymn we’ll all join in stumbling thru a difficult and unfamiliar hymn.” “Honest Jon” has run since 2010 and is publishing more regularly today than ever before. Mormon Cartoonist You’ll immediately recognize Arie Van De Graaff’s style from his regular appearances in the New Era and Friend magazines. His webcomics rotate between a Thursday one-panel and a Monday strip. The comic makes safe twists on familiar stories from church history, the scriptures, and familiar moments from Mormon life. We can’t promise you’ll ever find new insights, but you’re almost guaranteed to give a nod and a chuckle. One bonus from his blog is that he writes commentary on each comic. If you’re looking to rush through one comic to the next, they’re easy to bypass, but if you’re looking for a bit more insight about where one of the most recognizable Mormon comics is coming from, they add an element that’s not available from many other webcomics. Beckstrom Buzz If you like “Zarahemla Times,” you’ll also want to check out “Beckstrom Buzz” by the same artist. This comic comes out every day and has for more than eight years. As someone who started loving comics in the newspaper, there is something to be said about the comfort in having a new comic to read every morning. Beckstrom pulls topics from every reference point that many Latter-day Saints would have in common. One day will be missionaries, the next day Rameumptom, and then Pokemon Go in high priests. Aww, Feathers! “Aww, Feathers!” takes place in an alternate reality, where all characters are anthropomorphic animals. The main characters are anthropomorphic Mormon animals. And while religion plays a prominent role in their lives, it does not feature in every strip or story arc. The title itself is a play off of Latter-day Saints’ euphemisms. The strip, which has been running since 2014, is updated weekly on Tuesdays with occasional strips appearing on Thursdays. “Aww, Feathers!” distinguishes itself by publishing each strip in both English and Spanish versions. Pickles You might be surprised to learn that “Pickles” is a Mormon comic. While the topic never comes up explicitly, not only is artist Brian Crane, a member, his two grandparent characters are as well illustrated by the temple pictures in their home, and the Ensign magazine you see them occasionally reading. The daily strip, among the most widely syndicated in the country, follows two curmudgeonly and lovable grandparents. Gleaners This missionary journal in comic form ran weekly for one year. Its recurring characters and themes and its definitive end make for a very different experience than reading most other open-ended webcomics. The entire series is brief enough to be read in a single afternoon. The humor is also exceptionally specific to those who have been to the MTC. But for those it applies to it can be an especially rewarding experience. What other Mormon comics do you enjoy? Let us know in the comments. View the full article