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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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. …

Here is a compact version of the timeline and life of Joseph Smith. With accompanying infographic. For a greatly detailed breakdown of this chart, please visit: Our post here, where we dissect each entry. 1805 Entered mortality in Sharon, Vermont. 1816–1817 Relocated with family to western New York. 1820 Experienced divine visitation in sacred grove. 1823 Received heavenly visitation from angel Moroni. 1827 Wedded Emma …