The Saviorâ??sLove and Concernfor the One
By Elder Edward Dube
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
20th Century (1900-1999)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
First-Hand Personal Experience
Eddie Dube planned to skip church for a barbecue but ended up staying home when the event was canceled. His branch president and wife visited him, expressing that they missed him at church. Their kindness helped Eddie feel the Savior's love and strengthened his faith.
Shortly after my baptism in August 1984, I heard about a fun activity with music and barbeque not far from where I lived in Kwekwe, Zimbabwe. My friends and I were excited to go, but it was on Sunday. My friends were not members of the Church. I told them, â??Iâ??ll go to church but sneak out after sacrament meeting and join you.â? My friends, who knew my weakness, said, â??If you do that you will miss out. By the time you come, the barbecue will be over.â? I had a decision to make. Do ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
The Saviorâ??sLove and Concernfor the One
By Elder Edward Dube
- Of the Presidency of the Seventy
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
United States/Canada
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
While visiting families before a stake conference, a stake president and the speaker encountered a man who was initially hostile. After expressing the prophet's love, the man opened up about his struggles. The Church provided assistance, and the man and his wife began meeting with missionaries.
Some years ago, I went with a stake president in the southeastern United States to visit several families before a stake conference. As we arrived at one home, a man dressed in shabby clothes walked up to us. â??What do you want?â? he shouted. â??I donâ??t want people coming to my house!â? I was concerned when the manâ??s demeanor became threatening. I wanted to grab the stake president and run back to the car! But the stake president was calm. â??We are sorry,â? he said. â??We th ... (continued)
👤 General Authorities (Modern)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
The Transforming Power of Temple Service
John Millar
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Pacific/Oceania
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
While serving as an Area Seventy, Paul Coward noticed an older man leaving the temple and felt the Spirit tell him the man was holy. This experience taught Paul that entering the temple allows a portion of the Lord's holiness to distill upon us.
One particular experience left a lasting impression on him. While serving as an Area Seventy, Paul was hurrying into the temple when he noticed an older man slowly making his way out. His gaze lingered on the elderly patron, and at that moment, the Spirit whispered to him, â??He is a holy man.â? Paul had never met him before, and the man held no position of prominence. Yet he was identified by Deity as holy. Paul realized then that when we enter the Lordâ??s house, even a portion of His hol ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Other
The Transforming Power of Temple Service
John Millar
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Unspecified Location
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Julie Coward often reminded her husband, Paul, that the real work is not in giving talks but in touching hearts and doing the Lord's work in homes and temples. This insight emphasized the importance of temple service and personal conversion.
Paulâ??s wife, Julie, has also helped him see temple service in a deeper way. His assignment as an Area Seventy required his presences at many stake conferences, and when he would return home, Julie often asked, â??How was the conference?â? He would reply, â??Great.â? When she asked, â??How were your talks?â? he would say, â??I think they went well.â? Julie, ever insightful, would passionately respond, â??Iâ??m sure it all went well; however, giving a great talk from the pulpi ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Parents
The Transforming Power of Temple Service
John Millar
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Pacific/Oceania
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
While serving as an Area Seventy, Paul Coward noticed an older man leaving the temple and felt the Spirit tell him the man was holy. This experience taught Paul that temple worship imparts a portion of the Lord's holiness to attendees.
One particular experience left a lasting impression on him. While serving as an Area Seventy, Paul was hurrying into the temple when he noticed an older man slowly making his way out. His gaze lingered on the elderly patron, and at that moment, the Spirit whispered to him, â??He is a holy man.â? Paul had never met him before, and the man held no position of prominence. Yet he was identified by Deity as holy. Paul realized then that when we enter the Lordâ??s house, even a portion of His hol ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Other
The Transforming Power of Temple Service
John Millar
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Pacific/Oceania
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Julie Coward often reminded her husband, Paul, that the real spiritual work is not in giving talks but in touching hearts and serving in the temple and homes. This insight emphasized the importance of quiet, consistent acts of faith.
Paulâ??s wife, Julie, has also helped him see temple service in a deeper way. His assignment as an Area Seventy required his presences at many stake conferences, and when he would return home, Julie often asked, â??How was the conference?â? He would reply, â??Great.â? When she asked, â??How were your talks?â? he would say, â??I think they went well.â? Julie, ever insightful, would passionately respond, â??Iâ??m sure it all went well; however, giving a great talk from the pulpi ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Parents
The Whys of FSY
Elder Charles Harley Villarosa
- Service Missionary
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Unspecified Location
📝 Story Type:
First-Hand Personal Experience
Joemerly attended an FSY Conference in 2023, feeling unwell mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Encouraged by her mother, she went and met a friend who listened to her without judgment, helping her feel God's love. This experience inspired her to become an FSY Counselor to help others feel God's love.
“FSY Conference can change lives of the youth and the leaders too. Last 2023 I attended my first and last FSY Conference as a participant, I wasn’t feeling well mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, but my mother still counselled that I should go. I didn’t know that it would really change my life. I met a friend that really cared and listened to me, to my heartaches and sorrows. She was there when I needed a friend who would listen to me without any judgment. I felt God’s love after we ... (continued)
👤 Youth
👤 Friends
To Bind Up the Broken Hearted
Sarah Miller
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Unspecified Location
📝 Story Type:
First-Hand Personal Experience
A young nephew accidentally spent money from his aunt's bank account on a game. Despite his distress, his aunt reassured him that the situation was fixable and expressed her love for him. This experience gave her insight into the depth of God's love and mercy for us.
One day, some years ago, when the youngest of my nephews was about 5, I received a phone call from his brother, 3 years his senior. “Now, Aunty Sarah,” the voice on the phone said, “you mustn’t be cross.” Uh oh, I thought. “R wants to talk to you, he’s very upset.” A very sniffly voice came on the line. “Aunty Sarah, I’ve spent all of your money!” Let me pause to explain the back story. In the days of angry birds and me being a very cool aunt, I had given my nephews access ... (continued)
👤 Children
👤 Parents
We Follow Jesus Christ byJoining Him in His Work
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Europe
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Samuel and Anna-Maria Koivisto moved from Finland to Sweden for career opportunities. Despite language barriers, Samuel accepted a calling as a ward mission leader, and both he and Anna-Maria served faithfully, learning Swedish along the way.
Samuel and Anna-Maria Koivisto showed both commitment and willingness. Soon after their marriage, the Koivistos moved from Jyväskylä, Finland, to Göteborg, Sweden, to pursue career opportunities. After arriving, Brother Koivisto was invited to visit with President Leif G. Mattsson, a counselor in the Göteborg Sweden Stake presidency. Because Samuel did not speak Swedish, the interview was conducted in English. Following a brief visit, President Mattsson asked Samuel to serve as the ... (continued)
👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
We Follow Jesus Christ byJoining Him in His Work
By Elder Dale G. Renlund
- Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Early Church (1800-1900)
📍 Location:
United States/Canada
📝 Story Type:
Historical Account
Ezra Booth, an early convert, was called as a missionary to Missouri. Displeased with his travel conditions and the state of Missouri, he began to murmur, which led to cynicism and loss of faith. Eventually, he left the Church and became agnostic.
When we are willing to serve, we strive not to complain or murmur, because we do not want to tarnish our service in any way. Complaining may be a sign of wavering commitment, or that our love for the Savior is not as it ought to be. Left unchecked, murmuring can progress to outright rebellion against the Lord. This progression is seen in the life of Ezra Booth, an early convert to the Church in Ohio who was called as a missionary to Missouri. As he left Ohio in June 1831, Ezra was upset that som ... (continued)
👤 Early Saints
What Makes aWard or Branch United?
By Olivia Grayson and Mabel Teerlink
- Church Magazines
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Ernesto Gabriel Manhique, president of the Homoine Branch in Mozambique, initiated 'Friday night branch family evenings' to reach out to members who had stopped attending church. These gatherings helped members feel loved and valued, leading to increased attendance and community involvement.
Less than a year after joining the Church, Ernesto Gabriel Manhique was called as the president of the newly created Homoine Branch in Inhambane, Mozambique. At the time, the branch was two years old and had about 20 members attending. President Manhique wanted love to be the foundation of the branch. “Because of my experiences,” he said, “I decided to be a leader who cultivates friendship with the members and demonstrates my love for them.” President Manhique said their branch council m ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
What Makes aWard or Branch United?
By Olivia Grayson and Mabel Teerlink
- Church Magazines
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
United States/Canada
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
The Eagle Valley Ward in Colorado faced many trials, including the illness of a sister who loved flowers. The ward revitalized her garden, which brought joy and unity to the ward and the community. This service helped the ward bond and find healing in their struggles.
A few years ago, the Eagle Valley Ward in Colorado, USA, experienced many trials of faith. Multiple members of the ward were dying, and their families needed strength and support. The ward could have been overshadowed by feelings of sadness but instead found joy in ministering. “We were carried through by serving others,” said Karie Grayson, the Relief Society president at the time. One day, while visiting the home of an ill sister, Sister Grayson received a revelation on how to uplift this ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
What Makes aWard or Branch United?
By Olivia Grayson and Mabel Teerlink
- Church Magazines
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Europe
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Bishop Ernest White of the Holywood Road Ward in Belfast organized annual trips to the temple for his ward, ensuring that even elderly members could participate. These trips fostered a sense of belonging and unity among the ward members, reinforcing their commitment to the covenant path.
When Bishop Ernest White of the Holywood Road Ward in Belfast, Northern Ireland, watched his two sons run a marathon, he expected his son David, who had been training for months, to finish the race much faster than his less-prepared son Peter. Bishop White was surprised when David stayed by Peter’s side all the way to the finish line. “I’m holding you back. Go on without me,” Peter told his brother. “I’m not going to leave you,” replied David. This experience led Bishop White to th ... (continued)
👤 Church Leaders (Local)
👤 Church Members (General)
What Really Matters in Disasters
By Sister Vicki Taylor
- Caribbean Area Communications Senior Missionary, as told by Elder Dallin Burneson, missionary, Barbados Bridgetown Mission
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Caribbean
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
After a Category 4 hurricane hit the Caribbean, nine missionaries led by Elder Seth Whitehead helped distribute food, clean debris, and set up tents for those affected. Their efforts brought comfort and introduced the community to the Church.
On July 6, 2024, a brave group of nine missionaries from Grenada, led by Elder Seth Whitehead, a senior missionary, arrived on the scene. Working along with the people from the communities, they distributed food, provided manpower to clean the debris, and tried to comfort those in need of consoling. They committed to returning at a later date to help with a variety of projects. Returning on August 19, the group continued to help by setting up 600 tents from ShelterBox, a nonprofit organization ... (continued)
👤 Missionaries
👤 Church Members (General)
WhatJoythe News Brought
📅 6 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
20th Century (1900-1999)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Historical Account
Joseph William Billy Johnson, a believer in Ghana, led a congregation while waiting for the Church to come to West Africa. After years of fasting and prayer, he learned through a BBC broadcast that the priesthood was available to all worthy men, regardless of race. This news brought him immense joy, and soon after, missionaries arrived to baptize him and others.
In the 1960s, a man named Joseph William Billy Johnson learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gained a testimony of the restored gospel. He could not join the Church, however, because he lived in Ghana, which had no congregations and no missions. At the time, the priesthood and temple restriction didn’t allow men of African descent to be ordained to the priesthood, which made Church organization in Ghana impossible. Church leaders in Salt Lake City encouraged Billy i ... (continued)
👤 Church Members (General)
👤 Other
Would We See Our Granddaughter Again?
Brookie Dickerson, Arizona, USA
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Unspecified Location
📝 Story Type:
First-Hand Personal Experience
After losing contact with their granddaughter, a couple followed President Nelson's counsel to attend the temple regularly. In 2019, their granddaughter unexpectedly reached out, leading to a renewed relationship and a family reunion in 2024.
In 1999 our oldest son passed away. He left behind a wife and a one-year-old daughter with whom we had a fun relationship and wonderful, weekly interactions. Because of tragic circumstances, our granddaughterâ??s third birthday was the last time we had any communication with her. For many years, we prayed, fasted, and hoped we would somehow be able to see her again. During the October 2018 general conference, President Russell M. Nelson made an invitation with a promise: â??I urge you to fin ... (continued)
👤 Parents
👤 Church Members (General)
Young Adult Highlights
By Happiness Gift Atubo and Catherine Findlay
- Port Harcourt South CC, Nigeria
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Irene Ankrah, a young adult in Ghana, finds answers to her questions about the Church in a quilting class. The supportive environment helps her decide to be baptized.
Another YSA in the class, Irene Ankrah, had been taking missionary lessons and said the quilting class’s warm and friendly atmosphere allowed her to ask questions about the Church in a comfortable setting. She explained that many of her questions were answered as she spoke with the ladies and, therefore, felt confident in her decision to be baptized.
👤 Young Adults
👤 Church Members (General)
Young Adult Highlights
By Happiness Gift Atubo and Catherine Findlay
- Port Harcourt South CC, Nigeria
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
At 18, Iniobong Sunday trained in barbering at the Gathering Place in Nigeria. He now teaches others and offers hair-cutting services in his community, saving earnings for his missionary service.
At just 18 years old, Brother Iniobong Sunday is making waves in his community after training in barbering at the Gathering Place in the Ikot Akpatek Nigeria Stake. Now a skilled trainer, he is dedicated to teaching others the art of barbering, empowering them with valuable skills for their future. In addition to mentoring aspiring barbers, Iniobong is actively offering his hair-cutting services within the community. He is saving his earnings to fund his upcoming missionary service, showcasing h ... (continued)
👤 Youth
Young Adult Highlights
By Happiness Gift Atubo and Catherine Findlay
- Port Harcourt South CC, Nigeria
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Evans Kwame Nyan, a young adult in Ghana, teaches a temple-preparation class, impacting his cousin, ward members, and friends. His experiences in the temple bring him joy and strengthen his faith.
In Cape Coast, Ghana, Evans Kwame Nyan, a young single adult from the Yamoransa Ghana Stake, passionately shares the gospel as the instructor for the temple-preparation class in the Moree Second Ward. He has played a key role in teaching his cousin, ward members, and childhood friends about the importance of putting on the whole armor of God and becoming disciples of Christ by making sacred temple covenants. Reflecting on his experiences, Evans shared, “Spending time with those I taught in the ... (continued)
👤 Young Adults
👤 Church Members (General)
Young Adult Highlights
By Happiness Gift Atubo and Catherine Findlay
- Port Harcourt South CC, Nigeria
📅 7 2025
📖 General Conference
⏰ Time Period:
Modern Era (2000-present)
📍 Location:
Africa
📝 Story Type:
Second-Hand Account
Kennedy Ntanan, from Ghana, improved his professional skills through classes at the Gathering Place. His ability to use Microsoft tools impressed a client, enhancing his career and reputation.
Meet Kennedy Basatiweln Ntanan, a member of the Accra Ghana Madina Stake, who spoke at a recent relaunch of the Gathering Place. During the event, he shared how attending classes there transformed his professional life. Initially disengaged, he found a renewed purpose when a work opportunity emerged that required a detailed data summary. Thanks to the Microsoft tools he learned at the Gathering Place, he skillfully led his team in creating clear and effective graphs for a client. This experience ... (continued)
👤 Young Adults