Monthly Archives: August 2026

He Lost His Leg—Then Walked 22 Miles Back to Help Build the Salt Lake Temple John Rowe Moyle had already crossed an ocean, pulled a handcart across the American plains, established a farm on the Utah frontier, and spent years helping raise one of the most ambitious buildings in the American West when an ordinary farm accident threatened to end his working life. A cow kicked him with enough force to cause… Read more

Into the Blizzard: Ephraim Hanks, the LDS Frontiersman Who Rode Into a Frozen Wilderness to Save the Handcart Pioneers The story of Ephraim Knowlton Hanks and the 1856 handcart rescue is one of those episodes in Latter-day Saint history that hardly needs embellishment. Hundreds of men, women, and children were stranded on the plains of what is now Wyoming as an early and devastating winter descended upon them. Food had dwindled to… Read more

Transformed Through Christ and the LDS Gospel: Kyle Merkley’s Journey Through Gender Dysphoria, Marriage, and Faith Kyle Merkley’s story is one of the more remarkable modern Latter-day Saint testimonies about gender, marriage, agency, and the power of Jesus Christ. His story is different from Joshua Johanson’s because Kyle’s central struggle was not same-sex attraction. Kyle describes experiencing severe gender dysphoria, beginning when he was only around ten or eleven years old. He… Read more

Transformed by Christ: How the Church’s Teachings Guided Joshua Johanson Toward Marriage and Family Joshua Johanson’s story is a powerful example of what can happen when someone decides that Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church will guide his life more than labels, impulses, or expectations from the world. Joshua has spoken openly about experiencing same-sex attraction. He said that before meeting Alyssa, he had never been attracted to women. Then,… Read more

Church shares new training videos ahead of September Sunday schedule changes Wards and branches will gather Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 to learn about and prepare for the updated Sunday format The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is preparing members around the world for its updated Sunday meeting schedule, which begins Sept. 6. Special instruction will be provided in wards and branches on Aug. 30 and again on Sept. 6.… Read more

A Utah man convicted in a case involving the assault and stalking of a sister missionary near Temple Square is expected to be released later this year. Nathan Yudnich, 41, is currently scheduled for release on Sept. 28, 2026, following the resolution of charges connected to the incident in Salt Lake City. Yudnich ultimately pleaded no contest to one count of stalking. Three additional stalking charges were dismissed as part of the… Read more