JAHS

Historian Ben Parks opinion on the new First Presidency selection: Benjamin Parks

Isn't Elder Holland the Senior Apostle now?

I assume by that you mean old? I know how he feels. 😊 Pres Christopherson is only 80 years old (only?) and seems pretty healthy which could help if the other two get too feeble to actively serve.

In the Church today all 15 are prophets and Apostles. Whenever Jesus was on the earth there was no need for a "First Presidency". Could the Book of Mormon disciples and New Testament apostles also be considered prophets? The New Testament seems to list them as if apostles and prophets are separate callings. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;(Eph 4:11)

Not sure how often that might happen. I am sure if there are some dramatic changes in a bishop's life and family that he needs to focus on he can simply ask to be released instead of moving out of the ward.

I have known a few Bishops who I suspect moved to another city so they could be released from the calling.

“From 2000 to 2019, the average was 264,769 per year. In 2024 it was 308,000.

Agree. A very powerful and heartfelt talk and testimony.

That seems to happen often. I remember how afraid many memberswere when when Ezra Taft Benson was about to be the next president, imagining what might happen to the church with him in charge. But he fooled everyone when his main message was about how important the Book of Mormon is to our faith.

I won't show it here but do a search on YouTube for "Michigan church shooting: Police releases bodycam video of officers responding to attack" It shows officers shooting the suspect. Warning that it is a little graphic.

Utah Catholic church offers Mass for repose of soul of late LDS president A small Catholic church in Heber City, Utah, will offer a Mass for the repose of the soul of Russell M. Nelson, the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), who died on Sept. 27 at the age of 101. St. Lawrence Catholic Church, a mission church of St. Mary’s in Park City, will celebrate the Mass at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 2. The community will pray a rosary for the repose of his soul at 8:45 a.m. before the weekday Mass begins. Catholics offer prayers for the dead to ask God to grant graces to the recently deceased for the purification of their souls, which may not be complete at the moment of the person’s death. The church extended an “open invitation” to everyone in the Heber Valley community to attend the Mass in a message posted to Facebook. It is open to any person who wants to join in prayer for Nelson, “especially our LDS neighbors,” according to the post. (See the link above for more) ________________________________________ A very thoughtful gesture by the Catholic Church to do this for President Nelson. I am certain he would feel very honored by this expression of love for him and concern for his eternal life. I only wish that people of other faiths would feel the same about our baptisms for their dead.

The sign still says "Visitors Welcome", regardless of what people think of us.

See my signature below.

The mother of Michigan church gunman Thomas Sanford made an ominous social media post just before his attack Wondering if this is what helped pushed him over the edge.

Before and after.

So did I. She seems very intelligent, articulate, and well-spoken. But I think she is getting a little too passionate about a conspiracy theory which may be very wrong. Wait and see, I guess.

Candace Owens certainly thinks Robinson was framed. "Conservative commentator Candace Owens has alleged that US authorities are “lying” about the investigation into the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. In an Instagram post, Owens claimed the accused, Tyler Robinson, 22, was “framed”. She said “no photo or video evidence” places him at the UVU event." Personally, I think she is going off the deep end with her conspiracy theory.

Start out by making sure you are correct before you speak. If you do your homework you can have a conversation confidently without getting angry. Some things can only be considered opinion. Know how to identify opinion verses facts.

Kirk had a lot of good advice that I agree with. This was one thing I didn't agree with him on. College is not worthless. I think he emphasized that a little too much that it is worthless, even though it might be for a few people. A lot of people go to college not knowing what they want to do and try different subjects until they decide on what field they want to concentrate on. I would not be in the profession I am in if I hadn't gone to college and then graduate school.

I was thinking much the same thing. Kirk's supporters would all be wanting to do the same thing for the kids.

Country Music Legend Donny Osmond Steps In to Support Charlie Kirk’s Children In a surprising and heartfelt move, country music icon Donny Osmond has pledged to cover all living and educational expenses for the two children of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who passed away unexpectedly earlier this week. Sources close to the Osmond family revealed that the decision was made privately within hours of Kirk’s passing. “Donny has always been a man of deep faith and compassion,” a family spokesperson said. “When he heard about the tragedy, his first thought was of the children and how he could ensure they have every opportunity to thrive.” Kirk, a prominent political activist and founder of Turning Point USA, leaves behind a wife and two young children. Friends and supporters have expressed gratitude for Osmond’s gesture, calling it a reflection of the community spirit Kirk often championed.

Returned Missionary Detained Then Released after Kirk Assassination—Family Speaks Out Zachariah Qureshi is a 25-year-old returned missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who attended the “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University as a supporter of Charlie Kirk according to his father. By the end of the day, he would be detained, questioned, and even labeled as the suspect in the fatal shooting of political commentator Charlie Kirk before being cleared of all suspicion and released. “It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely uncalled for and insane,” Qureshi’s father told ABC4.com. “They should be focused on finding the killer.” The mistaken detainment has also caused the Qureshi family to come under fire as social media conspiracies and misinformation spread, even after it became clear Zachariah played no role in the shooting. Department of Public Safety Commissioner Beau Mason said in a press conference, “After releasing them, and after clearing them of being suspects, they faced scrutiny, they faced threats.” The Qureshi family has continued to receive online harassments and their family address in Texas was posted online. Commissioner Mason urged the public to stand down. “We ask that you do not impose into those people and that investigative process,” he said. “They don’t deserve that harassment for being subject to that.”

Charlie loves and hires Mormons

Deseret News: Aug 26, 2025, 11:17 a.m. MDT The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down a ruling Tuesday that is a major victory for religions in general and a specific win for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A three-judge panel upheld a 2023 federal district court ruling that rejected a lawsuit purporting that the Church of Jesus Christ had propounded false beliefs and misrepresented its history and practices to defraud members of donations. “This is a great day for religious liberty in America,” said Gene Schaerr, an attorney who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case on behalf of the National Association of Evangelicals, the Jewish Coalition for Religious Liberty and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Former Latter-day Saint Laura Gaddy and others sued the church in 2018 claiming it fraudulently misrepresented its history and misused the tithing funds they donated. They made claims that the church’s practices violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Read the article here: 10th Circuit Court rules for Latter-day Saints in tithing, fraud case

This is not much deep thinking but I always assumed the pre-mortal world might be considered the Celestial kingdom for our heavenly parents where we were created as spirit beings somewhere near a star called Kolob (Abraham 3:1-4).