Best of
Lds

2016

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 2016
    As the Church adds volumes to this series, you will build a collection of gospel reference books for your home. These books are designed to be used for personal study and as resources for teaching. They can also help you prepare family home evening lessons, prepare other lessons or talks, and answer questions about Church doctrine.This book features the teachings of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995, to January 27, 2008.

Covenant Keepers


Wendy Watson Nelson - 2016
    She teaches us how we can ask for angels to help us and those we love; how our premortal covenants can help us make meaning out of the anguishing experiences of this mortal life; how the covenant of sacrifice and the covenant of service, and even the very words of our covenants, can give us access to power we may have been overlooking.Encouraging us to participate in a 21-day experiment that changed the lives of stressed-out young mothers, Sister Nelson takes us behind the scenes into a most unexpected journey she personally has been on, sharing three truths that now compel her life.

The Washington Hypothesis


Timothy Ballard - 2016
    It takes us on a fascinating historical journey through the miracles of the Revolutionary War to the foundational documents of this great nation to the symbolism evident in every corner of the nation's capital. Exploring how Washington's beliefs framed his every action, author Timothy Ballard draws compelling conclusions about the divinity of that great leader's calling. As we see the evidence of the Lord's hand in Washington's life, we may discover a much grander design at work in the founding of our nation.

We're with You: Counsel and Encouragement from Your Brethren


Council of the Twelve Apostles - 2016
    Advice and encouragement from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Christ in Every Hour


Anthony Sweat - 2016
    

To Mothers: Carrying the Torch of Faith and Family


Jeffrey R. Holland - 2016
    

The Christ-Centered Home: Inviting Jesus In


Emily Belle Freeman - 2016
    They were basic. And they were—and are—essential. In The Christ-Centered Home, you will discover how to fill your family’s hearts with the principles Jesus taught in the most sacred of classrooms: the home.There is a humility that comes when we invite the Lord into our most private spaces. Within the hush we hear the gentle whisper of His voice, we experience the touch of His hand, and we feel the prompting to rise. Invite Him in, and experience the added measure of peace, strength, courage, and hope that comes when Jesus Christ becomes the central focus of your home.

No Ordinary Women


Elaine S. Dalton - 2016
    Dalton writes, "As daughters of God, we are each unique and different in our circumstances and experiences, and our part matters because we matter. We are no ordinary women. We are elect, and each of us has a unique, divine mission to perform." Having had the opportunity to travel throughout the world and serve and work among women young and old and in between, Sister Dalton has seen firsthand how the Lord has blessed each of us with distinct and divine talents. And when we use those gifts to become righteous women of influence on the people and the world around us, there is no limit to the good we can achieve. Sister Dalton highlights many of the qualities we are blessed with as women of covenant in these latter days. Though many of us may feel that we have only a small part to play in the building of the Lord's kingdom, Sister Dalton helps us to recognize that "by small and simple things are great thing brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). As we reflect on our roles within our spheres of influence and commit to act as disciples of Christ in whatever we do, we discover that we truly are capable of great things and that our work and contributions in the kingdom are anything but ordinary.

A Summer with Great-Aunt Rose


Dieter F. Uchtdorf - 2016
    But as the summer progresses, she discovers that Great-Aunt Rose had learned some things about life that have made her the happiest person Eva has ever known.The story of Eva's discovery is contained in President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's insightful parable originally delivered at the October 2015 general women's session of general conference. With charming full-color illustrations by fine artist Salvador Alvarez (the creator of Joy in the Journey, the pioneer-girl painting referred to by President Uchtdorf), this modern-day parable will teach and uplift women of all ages and life situations.

Precept upon Precept


Robert L. Millet - 2016
    Millet explored how the restoration of one truth led to questions that led to answers and the restoration of more truths—line upon line, precept upon precept.From the original theophany of the First Vision and its implications for a world steeped in Trinitarian doctrine to the cosmic scope of the King Follett sermon, the Prophet's revelations shook up the entrenched doctrines of nineteenth-century Christianity. And by the time of Joseph's martyrdom, God had through him laid the foundations for a restored church of Jesus Christ that will last until the Millennium.

When Mormons Doubt: A Way to Save Relationships and Seek a Quality Life


Jon Ogden - 2016
    This book explores how truth, beauty, and goodness can save our relationships even when we disagree with those we love.This book is for:1) Mormons who want to better understand a family member or friend who doubts2) Unorthodox or former Mormons who are looking for ways to talk about their transition with believing family members and friends3) People who are experiencing a Mormon faith crisis and wondering where to turnExcerpts from this book can be found at jonogden.com

A Date with Danger


Kari Iroz - 2016
    Jacklyn (Jack) Wyatt is the typical twenty-five-year-old living the typical Provo single life with the typical bad luck—at least until the FBI recruits her for a completely different type of dating.A young woman has gone missing, and all signs point to her online dating profile as the kidnapper’s operating ground. But when suspects who crossed paths with the missing girl begin contacting Jack, the FBI sees its opportunity for an inside man—er, woman. Now Jack will have to play the field, dating each of the men in an attempt to weed out the kidnapper. But with such an unusual array of characters vying for her attention, pinpointing the culprit may prove even harder than finding Mr. Right. And as more young women disappear, will Jack stay professional and objective, even with the handsome Special Agent Damon Wade just a whisper in her hidden microphone away?

Let God Love You: why we don't, how we can


Wendy Ulrich - 2016
    Some of what we have learned and experienced may even blind us to what is really true about God, leaving us both yearning for and afraid of closeness with Him.Coupling the teachings of Christ and His prophets with gospel-oriented ideas from her counseling background, Wendy Ulrich probes faulty assumptions that we may bring to our relationship with God. By understanding and healing these false beliefs and then following the teachings of Christ about how we can ''come unto Him,'' we learn to see God more accurately, rely on Him more trustingly, and become strengthened in His love.

The Contrite Spirit: How the Temple Helps Us Apply Christ's Atonement


Bruce C. Hafen - 2016
    

On the Path Home


Henry B. Eyring - 2016
    

Take Your Love to Your Family and Your Frustrations to the Lord


John Lewis Lund - 2016
    John L. Lund. Using powerful stories, gospel principles, and experiences from more than forty years as a counselor, Dr. Lund shares practical ways to overcome frustrations in our interpersonal relationships. He says that rather than express our criticism to our loved ones, we need to show them acceptance, affection, and appreciation. People generally don't lack knowledge of what they are doing wrong, they lack motivation to change, he points out. That motivation can come from your love.Dr. Lund teaches the five principles of divine intervention that the Lord can use to help us to deal with our problems. He teaches that rather than assuming the responsibility of being the change agent in the lives of those we love the very most, we should use a more efficient approach: take our love to them and our frustrations to the Lord.

Ask of God 2017 Youth Theme


John Bytheway - 2016
    

Personal Finances for Self-Reliance


The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - 2016
    

The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories


Don Bradley - 2016
    Those pages containing the only copy of the first three months of the Joseph Smith’s translation of the golden plates were forever lost, and the detailed stories they held forgotten over the ensuing years—until now.In this highly anticipated work, author Don Bradley presents over a decade of historical and scriptural research to not only tell the story of the lost pages but to reconstruct many of the detailed stories written on them. Questions explored and answered include:Was the lost manuscript actually 116 pages?How did Mormon’s abridgment of this period differ from the accounts in Nephi’s small plates?Where did the brass plates and Laban’s sword come from?How did Lehi’s family and their descendants live the Law of Moses without the temple and Aaronic priesthood?How did the Liahona operate?Why is Joseph of Egypt emphasized so much in the Book of Mormon?How were the first Nephites similar to the very last?What message did God write on the temple wall for Aminadi to translate?How did the Jaredite interpreters come into the hands of the Nephite kings?Why was King Benjamin so beloved by his people?Despite the likely demise of those pages to the sands of time, the answers to these questions and many more are now available for the first time in nearly two centuries in The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon’s Missing Stories.

Understanding Temple Symbols Through Scripture, History, and Art


Jack M. Lyon - 2016
    

Twice Blessed


S. Michael Wilcox - 2016
    It is a divine grace, bestowed in its purest form through the Savior's Atonement and available to each of us daily as we receive and extend mercy. And each sing instance of forgiving immediately becomes a double blessing, touching both the person who forgives and the one who is forgiven.In Twice Blessed, author Michael Wilcox explores many rooms of "the mansion of forgiveness." From forgiveness within the family to forgiveness for repeated offenses to forgiveness of the deepest of wounds, each case is unique and requires a different type of healing. "As with all aspects of the gospel, forgiveness is much deeper and more beautiful than we appreciate on our first examinations," writes Wilcox.Is there someone you are struggling to forgive? Are you finding it nearly impossible to forgive yourself, even long after God and others have forgiven you? Spend some time in the mansion of forgiveness, and secure for yourself the double blessing that Heavenly Father is so eager to give.

The Magnificent World of Spirits: Eyewitness Accounts of Where We Go When We Die


Marlene Bateman Sullivan - 2016
    Filled with stories of insight and inspiration, this stirring book combines fascinating personal experiences with scripture, perceptive commentary, and quotes from latter-day prophets and other leaders. This book will bring you peace as you come to understand what awaits us on the other side of the veil.

Understanding the Symbols, Covenants, and Ordinances of the Temple


Amy Hardison - 2016
    Seen for what it is, it is the step-by-step ascent into the Eternal Presence. If our young people could but glimpse it, it would be the most powerful spiritual motivation of their lives!—David O. McKayPrimary children sing, “I love to see the temple. I’m going there someday,” but with little understanding of what happens once they get there. Even some adults attend the temple regularly without a clear concept of the instruction they receive. Using teachings of living prophets and the scriptures, along with her advanced scholarship of ancient traditions, symbols, and beliefs, Amy Hardison outlines the significance of temple design, covenants, clothing, names, and more as a means of helping Latter-day Saints better comprehend the sacred nature of the house of the Lord.Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels, being enabled to give them the key words, the signs and tokens, pertaining to the holy Priesthood, and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell.—Brigham Young

The Vision of All: Twenty-five Lectures on Isaiah in Nephi’s Record


Joseph M. Spencer - 2016
    Arguing that Isaiah lies at the very heart of Nephi’s project, Spencer insists on demystifying the writings of Isaiah while nonetheless refusing to pretend that Isaiah is in any way easy to grasp. Presented as a series of down-to-earth lectures, The Vision of All outlines a comprehensive answer to the question of why Nephi was interested in Isaiah in the first place. Along the way, the book presents both a general approach to reading Isaiah in the Book of Mormon and a set of specific tactics for making sense of Isaiah's writings. For anyone interested in understanding what Isaiah is doing in the Book of Mormon, this is the place to start.

Where Heaven Meets You


Virginia H. Pearce - 2016
    In this 2016 Mother's Day booklet, author Virginia Pearce describes how the experiences we have with the Lord and His angels in these ''thin places'' stay with us throughout life. Sister Pearce explains, ''A thin place is . . . where we experience a deep sense of God s presence in our everyday world. A thin place is where, for a moment, the spiritual world and the natural world intersect.'' Regardless of our age or situation, we can find places and create homes where we might feel heaven's influence reaching out to us with guidance, comfort, and inspiration.Home can, indeed, be a place where heaven meets you.

Joseph Smith's Revelations: A Doctrine and Covenants Study Companion from the Joseph Smith Papers


Ronald K. Esplin - 2016
    Compiled from previous publications of the Joseph Smith Papers, this e-book is designed for those looking to better understand the original text and historical background of these revelations. This book will be particularly useful for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaching or studying the Doctrine and Covenants in Gospel Doctrine, seminary, or Institute courses. Because of the book’s rigorous scholarship, it will also be helpful to historians, religious studies specialists, and other scholars looking for information on this unique volume of Latter-day Saint scripture. This study companion provides information primarily on the historical context of Joseph Smith’s revelations. Included in the volume are transcripts of the revelations and annotation that provide historical context of the revelations. Introductions to each revelation give such details as when and where a revelation was given, the question or other circumstances that led to the revelation, how it was originally recorded and disseminated, and how early church members responded to the revelation. Readers will also learn about the relationship between a revelation and other events and documents from the period, or about other cultural and religious movements of the time. Where applicable, footnotes also provide textual analysis of a revelation, sometimes noting the differences between the featured version and another early version, allowing readers to see how and to what degree these texts changed in the early years of the church. Though the annotation may often help readers better understand the meaning of a revelation, this book is not intended to be a doctrinal commentary. This volume also includes two appendixes that explain how Joseph Smith’s revelations were first recorded, circulated, and published. The first appendix (previously published in volume 1 of the Revelations and Translations series of The Joseph Smith Papers) provides information on Revelation Book 1 and Revelation Book 2, the manuscript books in which the earliest known versions of many of the revelations were recorded. The second appendix (previously published in volume 2 of the Revelations and Translations series) explains the publication history of the revelations, including the role church newspapers played in circulating the revelations, the canonization of the revelations, and the compiling and printing of the first editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.This e-book also includes new features to help readers using the volume as a study aid, including added versification that corresponds to the modern (2013) Latter-day Saint edition of the Doctrine and Covenants and a chart that lists in chronological order all of the revelations and other texts that make up the Doctrine and Covenants. The contents of this book are organized by section number as found in the 2013 edition.With this e-book, much of the information on the revelations previously published by the Joseph Smith Papers is made conveniently accessible in one location. Helpful to both scholar and Latter-day Saint alike, this study companion provides valuable insight into Joseph Smith’s role as a revelator and into many of the texts that form the bedrock of Latter-day Saint history.

The Witness of Women: Firsthand Experiences and Testimonies from the Restoration


Janiece Johnson - 2016
    The Witness of Women helps accomplish that. Teachers, parents, gospel scholars, and every member seeking a connection with the women of our past will relish discovering the vital role that women played in the Restoration.Through short, first-person experiences and testimonies helpfully organized by topic, readers will now be ale to learn directly from women who witnessed and participated in the Restoration. As you read their words, you'll be able to:Draw on their witness of the Book of Mormon and experiences with the Prophet Joseph Smith to strengthen your own conviction.Learn to handle adversity by seeing how they coped with severe trials.Gain greater understanding from their insights about Jesus Christ, revelation, priesthood, the temple, education, and other timeless topics.Share women's experiences and testimonies in lessons, talks, and at home.We know that women were there every step of the way from Palmyra to the Salt Lake Valley and beyond. Now you can come to personally know those women through their own inspiring words.

A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine and Church History


Laura Harris Hales - 2016
    Before the Internet, historical and doctrinal questions not addressed in LDS Church curriculum were mostly found in the scholarly articles of academic journals. This is no longer the case. These topics are now widely debated and discussed online and in other forums. And when members of the LDS Church come across information that is unfamiliar, they may feel surprise, fear, betrayal, or even anger. Laura Harris Hales has assembled a group of respected LDS scholars to offer help in A Reason for Faith: Navigating LDS Doctrine and Church History. Together these authors have spent an average of 25 years researching these topics. Their depth of knowledge and faith enables them to share reliable details, perspective, and context to both LDS doctrine and Church history. The information in these essays can begin an exciting process of discovery for readers as they learn from a source they can trust. Each chapter is engaging and thought-provoking, providing an invaluable resource for both the merely curious and the seriously concerned.

Infinite Worth Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of the Master


Toni Sorenson - 2016
    Such a bombardment from the adversary can limit our eternal perspective, shaking our faith and undermining our sense of self-worth. In an effort to counter these spiritual assaults, this inspiring compilation was created for you—a beloved child of a Father in Heaven who values you for who you truly are. With a superb selection of inspiring quotes and scriptural passages, Infinite Worth affirms the eternal significance of each individual and conveys a gently reminder that through the grace of Jesus Christ, who you are is enough.

Temple Reflections: Insights into the House of the Lord


Alonzo L. Gaskill - 2016
    

Future Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology


Adam S. Miller - 2016
    Our worlds overlap but, already, these worlds are not the same. Their worlds, the worlds that they will grow to fill, are already taking leave of mine. Their futures are already wedged into our present. This is both heartening and frightening. So much of our world deserves to be left. So much of it deserves to be scrapped and recycled. But, too, this scares me. I worry that a lot of what has mattered most to me in this world—Mormonism in particular—may be largely unintelligible to them in theirs. This problem isn’t new, but it is perpetually urgent. Every generation must start again. Every generation must work out their own salvation. Every generation must live its own lives and think its own thoughts and receive its own revelations. And, if Mormonism continues to matter, it will be because they, rather than leaving, were willing to be Mormon all over again. Like our grandparents, like our parents, and like us, they will have to rethink the whole tradition, from top to bottom, right from the beginning, and make it their own in order to embody Christ anew in this passing world. To the degree that we can help, our job is to model that work in love and then offer them the tools, the raw materials, and the room to do it themselves.These essays are a modest contribution in this vein, a future tense apologetics meant for future Mormons. They model, I hope, a thoughtful and creative engagement with Mormon ideas while sketching, without obligation, possible directions for future thinking.

Your Covenant


Mark A. Shields - 2016
    Mark Shields, author of Your Endowment, describes the latter-day blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant and how those blessings are inextricably linked to the temple. Filled with poignant insights, this book will enhance your understanding of the temple experience.

The User-Friendly Book of Mormon: Timeless Truths for Today's Challenges


Marilyn Green Faulkner - 2016
     You’ve never read the scriptures quite like this. Ancient prophets can help with modern-day dilemmas, told through entertaining parables such as Nephi and Netflix binge-watching Isaiah goes to girls’ camp The brother of Jared’s guide to dating You’ll find the stories in the Book of Mormon more accessible and applicable with this examination of the sacred text as a great story, with themes, symbols, and lessons that can directly pertain to our lives today.

Latter-Day Woman at the Well


Nikki Yaste - 2016
    This woman had a checkered past, and yet He reached out and revealed Himself as the living water. Her transformation from this contact introduced many people to the Savior and gave her the healing and love she needed to change her life. Popular blogger Nikki Yaste has a unique journey of her own. A victim of abuse and addiction, Nikki was on a path of self-destruction in a constant pursuit of happiness. An encounter with the missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints set her on the right path, but it wasn't until she embraced the living water that her transformation took place. Let Nikki's raw, honest, but inspirational story about not fitting the mold and self discovery in Christ show that despite your circumstances, we can all become whole through His perfect love and Atonement.

Letters from Home: How to Lift Your Missionary and Unify Your Family


Robert Quinn - 2016
    

The Mormon Jesus


John G. Turner - 2016
    From the author of the definitive life of Brigham Young comes a biography of the Mormon Jesus that revises and enriches our understanding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Over the past two hundred years, Jesus has connected the Latter-day Saints to broader currents of Christianity, even while particular Mormon beliefs and practices have been points of differentiation and conflict. The Latter-day Saints came to understand Jesus Christ as the literal son of his father, the exalted brother of God s other spirit children, who should aspire to become like him. They gave new meaning to many titles for Jesus Christ: Father, Son of God, Lord, Savior, Firstborn, Elder Brother, Bridegroom, and Jehovah.While some early beliefs became canonized and others were discarded, Jesus Christ remains central to Latter-day Saint scripture, doctrine, and religious experience. Contemporary Mormon leaders miss no opportunity to proclaim their church s devotion to the Christian savior, in part because evangelical Protestants denounce Mormonism as a non-Christian cult. This tension between Mormonism's distinctive claims and the church s desire to be accepted as Christian, John G. Turner argues, continues to shape Mormon identity and attract new members to the church."

Between God and Us: How Covenants Connect Us to Heaven: Talks from the 2015 BYU Women's Conference


Brigham Young University - 2016
    

Eternity Is Now


John H. Groberg - 2016
    As a result, our understanding of our former life with God may be a little obscured right now, but that life still exists. It is important to reconnect to our knowledge of that life in this part of eternity so we can have the joy we were intended to have right now, as well as during the rest of eternity.” From Elder John H. Groberg, General Authority Emeritus and the inspiration for Disney’s The Other Side of Heaven, comes this stellar reminder that since right now is a part of forever, we are living in eternity at this very moment. From gaining strength through adversity to finding joy both now and forever, this book is loaded with eye-opening spiritual insights garnered over a lifetime of serving the Lord—as a Seventy, a mission president, “Kolipoki,” and more. Come and find direction through these incredible personal experiences and teachings that will help you make the most of eternity—now.

Be of Good Cheer


Hank Smith - 2016
    

Saints at Devil's Gate: Landscapes along the Mormon Trail


Laura Allred Hurtado - 2016
    In 2011, three award-winning Mormon painters decided to visit sites all along the historic route and capture the landscapes in oil. This full-color art book, featuring 52 landscape paintings, presents the fruit of their five-year project. Each painting is paired with journal entries or reminiscences from pioneers who made the journey. Essays by the authors and an artist interview illuminate both the art and the history of the trail.The book gives written and visual context to the pioneers’ experience of the trail, bears witness to the land as it exists today, and links the experience of pioneers to the challenges of today.Note: This book was published to accompany an exhibition of the same name at the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City. Therefore, distribution of the book has been limited. Copies are available at the museum gift store, at store.lds.org, and at some independent bookstores in Utah.

Sisters, Arise! Becoming the Woman God Intends You to Be


Lynne Perry Christofferson - 2016
    In Sisters, Arise! author Lynne Perry Christofferson presents Latter-day Saint women with a call to action—an appeal to work together to combat the dangerous attitudes and behaviors of the world and to stand as examples of virtuous living. With no-nonsense discussion on how to avoid falling victim to spiritual deception, sisters are encouraged to escape the pitfall of simply being less worldly than the world. Through scriptures, quotes, stories, and music, the author addresses a range of topics—from modesty and self-esteem to the quest for perfection. Each thought-provoking chapter is an invitation for women to examine themselves honestly as they move closer to becoming the women the Lord intends them to be.

The Sacrament Is for Me


Jessica B. Ellingson - 2016
    Teach your little ones about the sacred sacrament and how they can apply it in their everyday lives, from the playground to piano lessons. Help your children start each week right and understand the reason behind the reverence of Jesus’s eternal sacrifice, love, and example.