"Then Jesus Beholding Him Loved Him"

by Ashlyn Pells

Do you remember the story of the rich young ruler in the Bible? In church lessons and in my personal study, I have almost always read only the account told in Matthew 19. The young man approached Jesus Christ and asked what he could do to obtain eternal life. In turn, Christ encouraged the man to keep the commandments, to which he responded, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” Christ then challenged the young ruler to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. After hearing what would be required, the young man “went away sorrowful.”

Witness of a Prophet’s Fearless Faith

by Lyndie Jackson

“It has been a great experience to witness, from his own words, President Woodruff's firm testimony of the restored gospel and the Prophet Joseph Smith, his missionary zeal, and especially his amazing, fearless faith,” said Karen Dupaix, a volunteer for the Wilford Woodruff Papers.

The Promise and Blessings of Eternal Families

by Amber Becker

Growing up, I had siblings who had left the Church. Members would encourage my mother not to worry, saying that her children would return to the Church after the resurrection. But we should never give up hoping or praying for the return of family members or for others to join the Church in this life. Thankfully they did return!

Asking Big Questions: How Can I Gain a Testimony of the Book of Mormon?

by Kaitlin Palmer

The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has been called the keystone of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Church members have been continually encouraged to read, study, and ponder the Book of Mormon’s contents since it was first translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph himself said that “a man would get closer to God by abiding by its precepts.” But how can we know this is true?

“That the Works of God Should Be Made Manifest”

by Kaitlin Palmer

When I got my most recent pregnancy test back, my immediate thought was, “I can’t do this again.” After two previous miscarriages and a long year of fertility treatments, we had decided to put a pause on trying to grow our family. It wasn’t for lack of wanting, but I was so mentally exhausted from navigating the ins and outs of the healthcare system and from constantly trying different medications and vitamins that I was prescribed through it all. I didn’t want to go through yet another miscarriage.

Take Time to be Holy

by Lyndie Jackson

Like Martha in the New Testament, we can fill our to-do lists with worthy endeavors, including work, school, extracurricular activities, and so on. With all of these tasks, I often find it difficult to do what matters most. It can be exhausting to work through everything that we all have to do every day, but the words of a favorite song called “Take Time to Be Holy” come to my mind:

“But Whom Say Ye That I Am?”

by Ashlin Malcolm

Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to be in the ancient Apostles’ shoes, having the Savior there before me and witnessing the miracles He performed. Despite seeing all these things, each of the Apostles still had to come to know the Savior and gain a witness of who He is. In Matthew 16:15, Christ asks Simon Peter, “But whom say ye that I am?” He replied, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and Christ told him, “Blessed art thou . . . for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Wilford Woodruff’s Missionary Service: Preparation for a Future Prophet

by Steven C. Wheelwright and Kristy Wheelwright Taylor

How might the Lord choose to prepare a twenty-six-year-old convert to become a prophet and future President of the newly restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? For Wilford Woodruff, it was through a series of early missions that taught the young disciple the lessons of consecrated service, joyful hard work, faith to open his mouth, and exact obedience to the Lord’s commands.

Volunteer Spotlight: Rachel Huntsman Baldwin

by Lyndie Jackson

“My testimony is that we need each other,” says Rachel Huntsman Baldwin. “We need to lift up and bear one another's burdens. And in God's work, we need each other's time and talents.”

Rachel’s testimony is particularly powerful as one who personally dedicates her own time and talents to the Wilford Woodruff Papers Project. She currently transcribes Wilford’s letters and daybooks to be sure that the technical and digital quality of the text corresponds to the original nineteenth-century handwriting. Rachel notes, “It's hard work and a blast!”

Be Not Afraid

by Ellie Hancock

In the Gospel of Matthew, we learn of the disciples being tossed to and fro on the waves of the sea. On the fourth watch of the night Jesus approached them walking on water. The disciples were troubled and cried out in fear thinking that the Savior was a spirit. In reply, the Savior answered, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”