Our Excellent Picks
We share some of our favorite (and very cool) things with you!
Seeking Jesus
John Hilton III’s Seeking Jesus course is a great way to gain a greater understanding of our Savior . A series of 28 videos, the course covers everything from the premortal Christ, ancient prophecies of Christ, His life, ministry and miracles, His great atoning sacrifice, as well as the early Church, the restored Church, and the Second Coming. There are suggested readings for both before and after each video, and engaging printables accompany many of them. And it’s all free! The videos clock in at about a half hour each and are full of stories, art work, video, scriptural analysis and more. A great way to dive deeper into the Savior’s life and mission!
Bountiful Children's Foundation
Are you looking for a way to make a significant difference in someone’s life? Check out the Bountiful Children’s Foundation! In the early 2000’s, a former LDS missionary (now a doctor) was visiting his mission country and saw a member child dying of malnutrition. He returned home with the idea of starting an organization dedicated to providing adequate nourishment to children and pregnant women in less developed countries. At the start, the Foundation was focused on LDS children in Ecuador, but it has since expanded to include children of all faiths, in 20 countries worldwide. For only $8/month you can provide a child with the nutrition necessary for proper brain and body development. The Foundation sponsors humanitarian trips, too, for those who want to get involved in the work first hand. Check them out!
Book Tube
To paraphrase Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that books open up whole new worlds to the reader. If you are looking to read more, but don’t know where to start, never fear, YouTube is here! Whether you want to explore the classics, or get recommendations regarding the latest book releases, you can find a YouTube channel to help you out! Best of lists for every conceivable genre, systems for annotating, online book clubs sponsored by knowledgeable enthusiasts or genuine scholars can all be found on the corner of YouTube affectionately known as “BookTube.”
The denizens of BookTube are seriously into books, and you can spend some delightful time there, listening and learning about various works – some that you have heard of and many that you haven’t. If you’re a devotee of Goodreads, this may not be your cup of tea, but there really is something about seeing someone’s face and hearing their enthusiasm (or lack thereof) for a particular book. Book Tube is definitely a good resource for readers of all levels and all genres. Next time you’re looking for book suggestions, give it a try!
Chocolate Covered Katie
Looking for healthier dessert recipes? Then Chocolate Covered Katie is your gal. She has loads and loads of them on her site. Her goal is to cut down on sugars and fats and still have yummy treats and – depending on your taste – she mostly succeeds. Some recipes are vegan or have vegan versions, but most are not. There are a number of gluten-free recipes, and its not all just desserts – there are main and side dishes as well. The black bean brownies (at left) and lentil soup are faves around here. Enjoy!
Audible Sunshine
For those gray days when you’re feeling the blahs, here are a few suggestions for your pick-me-up playlist: Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on Sunshine (natch!); Pharell Williams’ smash, Happy (what else?); an oldie-but-goodie, Rainy Days and Mondays by the Carpenters; and a REALLY old one sung by one of the all-time greats, Nat “King” Cole’s Pretend. Another cut from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack (also by Pharell Williams – so you see a theme developing?) is the catchy, unusually syncopated Just a Cloud Away. With lyrics like “This rainy day is temporary, the contrast is why we got ’em,” it sounds almost scriptural – “opposition in all things ” anyone? (2 Ne 2:11). What’s your go-to music that brightens your outlook and improves your mood? Share it with us and we’ll post it here in Our Picks. Extra points if it’s danceable!
And, because we're temple nerds:
Current Temple Statistics
In case you haven’t been keeping up – and at the pace temples are going up around the world, it’s understandable if you haven’t – here are the latest temple numbers. Three hundred temples scattered across the world will make it much easier for us to fulfill our mission to be a temple-going people and assist in the gathering of Israel on the other side of the veil.
Operating Temples
Under Construction
Temples Announced
Total