As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I volunteered to serve as a proselyting missionary at 19. I was the last of my friend group to go. They all got cool callings; Quebec, Canada, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Finland. I got called to the Michigan Lansing Mission. I was a little disappointed. But I went, relying on stubborn determination to do the best I could, even though I wasn't convinced that I would have a great experience. Fast forward to day 3 of my mission, in Kalamazoo, my very first area. My trainer had arranged to meet with the local ward mission leader, as an introduction and to get a feel for how we could best work the area. As the ward mission leader pulled up to our apartment and walked up to shake my hand, he stared at my name tag, paused, said my name correctly (which never happens unless you personally know another Shaha), and asked if I was related to his old college roommate. Turns out, my ward mission leader, in my very first area, was roommates with my Dad at Ricks College. My Dad had never told me any college stories, but I got to hear all about his antics as a young, dumb college student. Turns out President Eyring even gave a Ricks College devotional about my Dad and his roommates called "The Slippery Side of Sin" (you can listen to it here: byui.edu/speeches/weekly-dev…). Suddenly, my own life made a lot more sense as I heard stories I'd never heard before. I also knew, at that point, that the Lord was and is mindful of me and knows me, personally. Over the years I've traveled to and lived in many places across the world. And every time I go somewhere new I find out that the Lord has sent me to a specific place at a specific time to meet a specific need, using means that seem totally random and arbitrary. I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and for the relationship I have developed with my Savior. And I know that as long as I trust in Christ I will always be where I need to be, when I need to be there, and that He will take care of me.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released an implementation guide to help members and leaders prepare for the changes to the Sunday class meeting schedule that begin on September 6, 2026. According to the guide, the changes, which include 25-minute classes and a new youth curriculum, are “an invitation to joyful, Christ-centered worship.” Instructional videos will be available during the first week of August on sunday.ChurchofJesusChrist.o…. These will be viewed in a meeting about the new youth curriculum on August 30, and by all members on September 6. Learn more on Church Newsroom. newsroom.churchofjesuschrist…

What your children really want for dinner is you! In an age of constant online connection, we may need to disconnect from technologies and other distractions to truly reconnect with our families. Families grow stronger when they set aside these distractions and spend meaningful time together—learning eternal values like the importance of marriage and children, the purpose of life, and the true source of joy. Parents also have a duty to teach their children practical knowledge apart from gospel principles. Families unite when they do meaningful things together. Happy family experiences strengthen family ties. Camping, sports activities, and other recreation are especially valuable for bonding families. Some may say, “But we have no time for any of that.” To find time to do what is truly worthwhile, many parents will find that they can turn their families on if they all turn their technologies off. What those we love need most is simply time with us. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our ultimate role model. He will help us as we strive to build these family bonds.

Visiting with missionaries in England recently was immensely nostalgic for me, as I also served as a young missionary in this wonderful country.     Elder Clark G. Gilbert and I were so grateful to spend time with these amazing servants. I testify that missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world are indeed the Lord’s emissaries.

It's no wonder that so many young Americans have learned to hate their country. They were taught that we don't have a shared story and that America is divided. Our churches and social clubs have emptied out. Social media, which was advertised as a tool to bring us together, did the exact opposite. And they're soaking in hostile propaganda 8 hours a day from the phones in their pockets. Our kids are going to search for belonging no matter what we do. And there are plenty of voices out there offering a finished identity: 'THIS is what you believe. THIS is who YOU are.' So, what are we offering instead?

I wanted to thank everyone who participated in my last post. It was an enlightening experience. I had a few constructive interactions, got a few things to study further, and some good information. It has also fundamentally changed my view on the relationship between mainstream Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the theological divide that exists. It also strengthened my relationship with Jesus Christ.

As you study the Savior’s life, the restoration of the priesthood, and the return of the sealing keys by Elijah that unite our families for eternity, you can know with certainty that the Savior fulfilled the Father’s plan.

In the gospel workshop I hosted about hearing God’s voice in an age of artificial intelligence, I invited viewers to take specific actions to deepen their relationships with God, self, others, and the natural world and environment around us. In a world of accelerating technology and artificial intelligence, may we never lose the divine intelligence that matters most—the voice of God. Learn more about hearing God’s voice in an age of artificial intelligence: youtu.be/Ts5Z64A0Vv4

As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I've had my faith relentlessly attacked, undermined, and slandered my entire life. I've seen all the common arguments and points, outright lies, ridiculous theories, and propaganda. It's been both frustrating and enlightening. I've been forced to study and understand my religion. I've had to draw closer to Jesus Christ as I've sought out truth. I try to follow the counsel given in Doctrine and Covenants 88:118: And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Which brings me to my questions; those who intentionally are critical and seek to undercut the faith of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Why? What drives you? Why would you intentionally destroy someone's sincere faith? I'm not looking for generic answers like "It's a false religion" or "Because you follow a different Jesus". Those are cop-out cookie-cutter answers that don't stand up to any serious scrutiny. I'm trying to figure out why the broader mainstream Christian world feels like it's okay to collectively dunk on a religion.

MORMONS ARE CHRISTIAN.

Last night, I got a call from President Trump. During the call, I asked about how the Pentagon had reclassified my faith. He said he would look into it. This morning, he told me it had been fixed. Thank you, President Trump. We can disagree on whether "Mormons are Christian." That's not what disturbed me about this. I don't want the GOVERNMENT classifying religions. That creates a dangerous tool that shouldn't be in the hands of ANY government. I don't believe that was Hegseth's goal. But what happens if the power shifts and the "Jesus was nonbinary" camp takes over? Will they recategorize conservative Christians? The Biden administration already tried to link Catholicism to domestic terror. If that possibility troubles you, then you understand my problem with this whole thing. I don't want the government to declare me a Christian. I want them to stay out of it.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the groundbreaking date for the Huntsville Alabama Temple. “God desires all of us to strive for His highest possible blessings by keeping His highest commandments, covenants, and ordinances, all of which culminate in His holy temples being built throughout the world,” President Dallin H. Oaks said in a recent general conference. Learn more on Church Newsroom. newsroom.churchofjesuschrist…

Oh dang, they updated it.

President D. Todd Christofferson (@ChristoffDTodd) the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints dedicated the Yorba Linda California Temple on Sunday, June 7, 2026. Learn more on Church Newsroom. newsroom.churchofjesuschrist…

I didn't think my previous post would get so much attention! I was just trying to be a small voice of reason. It did make me think of President Monson's October 2011 talk "Dare to Stand Alone". He talks about his Navy Boot Camp experience and going to Church on that first Sunday. youtu.be/z_92mKlQOlk?si=TUgr…

As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are all united in faith and in our commitment to living the gospel. But unity does not mean uniformity. Our church congregations are like a beautiful mosaic—rich with diverse backgrounds, talents, and experiences.    I invite each of you to find and recognize your gifts so that you can use them to bless others and move the Lord’s work forward.

Why are dads like this?

I've waited a few days to say anything about the recent Department of War (DoW) decision to not list The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian religion. I wanted to make sure my opinion wasn't being driven by an emotional response. I think it's a good thing. Initially, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was listed as a Protestant Christian religion when it was recognized by the US Military. The way that religions are listed have a few second and third order of effects, specifically manning requirements for Chaplains and Chaplain assistants across the force. When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was listed as a Protestant Christian religion then, from the DoW standpoint, any Protestant Chaplain can meet the religious needs of LDS Service members. When it comes to manning requirements, an LDS Chaplain and a Protestant Chaplain become interchangeable, meaning that if an LDS service member is in an area that has the required number of Protestant Chaplains then there is no need and potentially no positions for LDS Chaplains at that location. Even if the majority of Christian-affiliated service members are LDS, as far as the DoW is concerned, their religious needs are being met by the Chaplains already assigned to that location. Listing the LDS Church as a non-Christian religion means that the DoW now needs to ensure that they have a minimum number of LDS Chaplains among their ranks to meet specific religious needs. This opens up opportunities for promotion and advancement for LDS Chaplains currently serving, as well as a potential increased need for LDS Chaplains across the force. Plus, and this is my opinion, Church leadership probably also had a say in how the LDS Church was listed by the DoW. The Government would have consulted Salt Lake, just like they would have consulted the Vatican and major Protestant associations, in ensuring their religion was accurately listed with the DoW. Otherwise it opens the government and DoW to lawsuits related to religious freedoms.

As a father of a child with cerebral palsy, I was greatly disturbed by the story of the YouTuber couple who aborted their baby with Down Syndrome. They didn’t say the child was not a baby. They said it was not a life worth living, and not a life worth disrupting their own. I know from personal experience, IT IS A LIFE WORTH LIVING. And my daughter was SO worth disrupting my plans. When I became a father of a child with special needs, I had countless plans. Since then, I've learned, my own plans only made me miserable. The real moments of happiness came from my family. Raising my children was BY FAR the hardest thing I have ever done. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. Cherish your family. Don’t kill it.

What is the solution to the problem of people leaving the church? Part 2 of my series youtu.be/3sFDOyvjMuk?si=Wo7W…