Jackson County land acknowledgment: we recognize that we are gathered on the unceded ancestral land of the Latter-day Saint people.

I’ve “really listened” to hundreds of people who have left. There actually isn’t that much to learn.

To those who doubt: Justin and Kenna Valdez moved away from family so they could more easily walk away from their faith. But their eight-year-old son still wanted to be baptized. Sensing a door opening, a wise stake president scheduled us for a ministering visit to their home. Kenna eventually confided that she still had faith in the Savior, and even a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but faced a few triggering issues that held her back. We promised them that as they anchored on the things they believed, the Lord would help with the things they didn’t. Overcoming their concerns was not an issue of resolving every faith question but of helping them recognize the Holy Ghost. As President Dallin H. Oaks recently taught, “You live in a season where the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived.” Justin and Kenna began to make the changes necessary to come back to church. Six months after our visit, Kenna texted me: “Hi Elder Gilbert! We are ready to be sealed as a family.” This is a photo from the day they were sealed at the temple. Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling all of us home.

Doing good used to be, well, good. Inspired by God even. Not so much anymore. Now it’s actually kind of bad. Maybe even demonic. What is going on here? Why are the demons doing good things? Think your family isn’t demonically possessed? Think again, democrat.

In July, the Church will open 55 new missions to accommodate a growing number of missionaries already called. The addition will bring the total number of missions to 506 and allow missionaries to better support the growing number of congregations worldwide. “What we are witnessing today is more than growth in numbers,” Elder Dale G. Renlund (@DaleGRenlund) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said in a May 2026 social post. “Across the world, missionaries are demonstrating a deep devotion to the Savior and a sincere consecration to His work. An increasing number express that their fundamental reason for serving is their love for Jesus Christ and their desire to join Him in His work — an inspiring reflection of the faith and commitment that characterize today’s missionary force. “As the work goes forward, this is indeed a joyous and marvelous work and a wonder.” 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.

Are Latter-day Saints misunderstanding prophetic calls for peacemaking? Peacemaking is a high priority for Latter-day Saints, as urged recently by our late Prophet and President Russell M. Nelson. LDS scholars at BYU and elsewhere have stepped up to propose ways of pursuing this noble goal. @patrickqmason is foremost among those proposing strategies for peacemaking. In his own engagements with others Patrick models reasonable discussion very admirably. But in this article I argue that his interpretation of "peace" largely falls in line with the secular idea of "inclusion" while neglecting the spiritual contents of Christ's peace. Here is my close reading and critique of Mason's Proclaim Peace. Thanks to @InterpreterFnd . interpreterfoundation.org/jo…

They're putting the pyramids back to their intended use

We should have fought harder for the Deseret Alphabet Utah should be a bewilderingly high-friction place for gentiles to visit

Laying aside the fact that many church members understand this and often reject it, this religious-political distinction is largely fruitless and ultimately unattainable. Religion and politics are inseparably bound up because both are fundamentally concerned with moral questions.

Kanye is a harbinger of late-stage democracy

7 decades in public life 0 controversies 0 allegations

“You got me at the end” @BenSasse with @DouthatNYT

Kamala Harris has a pantsuit soul

It is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet.

No creature is so lowly, No sinner so depraved, But feels thy presence holy And thru thy love is saved.

What’s with everyone going to the store on the sabbath? Not doing that is like the bare minimum of making the sabbath different in some way.

Nixon was not a crook