Yearly Archives: 2024

Early Life and Education Dale Gunnar Renlund was born on November 13, 1952, in Salt Lake City, Utah. His parents were Finnish and Swedish immigrants who came to the United States to marry in an LDS Church temple. Renlund's first language was Swedish. As a teenager, he lived in Sweden for three years where his father served as a building missionary for the LDS Church. Renlund graduated from the University of Utah in 1976 with a bachelor's… Read more

LDS Church’s Updated Restrictions on Transgender Members The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expanded its restrictions on transgender members with updated policies, including barring them from working with children or serving as teachers. The new general handbook, released Monday, represents another challenge for the LGBTQ community, which has faced state bans and restrictions in various areas, including sports participation and access to gender-affirming care. Policy Details The clarified policies state that individuals who pursue surgical, medical, or social… Read more

Early Life and Education Gerrit Walter Gong was born on December 23, 1953, in Redwood City, California. He is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Gong is the church's first apostle of Asian descent. Gong graduated from Cubberley High School in Palo Alto, California, in 1971. He served as an LDS Church missionary in Taiwan. He then attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a bachelor… Read more

Patrick Kearon Patrick Robert David Kearon (born July 18, 1961) is a British religious leader currently serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He has been a general authority of the church since 2010 and was a member of the Presidency of the Seventy from August 2017 to December 2023. Early Life and Career Born in Carlisle, England, Kearon spent part of his youth in Saudi Arabia.… Read more

Early Life and Education David Allan Bednar was born on June 15, 1952, in Oakland, California. His mother came from a long line of Latter-day Saints, but his father did not join the church until Bednar was in his late twenties. Bednar served as a full-time missionary in Southern Germany. He then attended Brigham Young University, where he received: A Bachelor of Arts degree in communication in 1976 A Master of Arts degree in organizational communication in 1977 He furthered his education… Read more

Early Life and Education Dieter Friedrich Uchtdorf was born on November 6, 1940, in Mährisch-Ostrau, Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (now Ostrava, Czech Republic). Born to German parents during World War II, Uchtdorf experienced the turmoil of war firsthand. As a young child, he and his family became refugees, fleeing through bombed areas to Zwickau in eastern Germany. Uchtdorf's family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) when he was young, following his… Read more

Early Life and Education Dallin Harris Oaks was born on August 12, 1932, in Provo, Utah. He is a prominent religious leader, former jurist, and academic who has played a significant role in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). Oaks' early life was marked by both tragedy and resilience. When he was just two years old, his family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where they lived until Oaks was eight.… Read more

The Cross in Latter-day Saint Culture: A Complex History and Evolving Perspective. The use of the cross as a symbol has been a topic of discussion and sometimes debate among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the Church itself does not use the cross as an official symbol, individual members' attitudes toward wearing or displaying crosses have varied over time and continue to evolve. Historical Context Contrary… Read more

Addressing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: A Latter-day Saint Perspective From a Latter-day Saint perspective, addressing the topics of sexual orientation and gender identity with our children requires a delicate balance of love, understanding, and adherence to gospel principles. As members of the Church, we believe in treating all individuals with kindness and respect, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, we must also be very careful in how we approach these conversations… Read more

The Historical Jesus The overwhelming consensus among scholars, both religious and secular, is that Jesus was indeed a real historical figure who lived in early first-century Israel and founded Christianity. It's frankly astounding that in the face of such strong evidence, there are still those who stubbornly cling to the notion that Jesus was merely a literary creation or myth. The historical evidence supporting Jesus' existence is so compelling that it's hard… Read more