The First Presidency urged members of the Church in the United States to participate in a fast to express gratitude for religious liberty and ask that it be strengthened throughout the world — echoing a conviction as old as the restored gospel.

Though current anti-Christian pressures may feel modern, leaders of the Church have been no stranger to defending religious freedom.

A declaration of belief

Jackson County, Missouri, 1833 — members of the Church were violently ripped from their homesteads amid “anti-Mormon” propaganda and laws in the state.

Two years later, elders at a general assembly of the Church raised their hands unanimously in approval of a new “declaration of belief” attached as an addendum to a new book of revelation.

It is known today as Doctrine and Covenants 134.

The section laid out what the Latter-day Saints believed about their God-given rights to freedom of religion and members’ sacred duty to defend it. It was a direct response to the oppressive laws made against the Church.

Held at Kirtland, Ohio, Aug. 17, 1835, members of the general assembly listened to what would become the Church’s founding religious-freedom text. “We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life,” verse 2 reads.

In verse 4, it continues: “We do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion...”

In moments of strife

Since its publication, Doctrine and Covenants 134 has been of use to Church leaders as political tensions ebb and flow.

Church President David O. McKay quoted it in 1942, amid the Second World War, encouraging young men to fight for religious freedom. He quoted it again in 1952, at the height of the Cold War, preaching that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man.

In his remarks, he said: “America was a nation of people who had faith in their political and economic systems because they had faith in God and had built those systems around the teachings of God.”

Church President Ezra Taft Benson quoted section 134 in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence: “I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has now sent other choice spirits to help preserve it,” he said in that message.

In the October 2002 general conference, then-Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles quoted the section while encouraging Latter-day Saints to resolve conflicts amid times of war and contention in his message titled “Blessed are the Peacemakers.”

A core doctrinal belief

The section, once made as a defense against unjust state laws, has become a pillar of belief in the Church — to the extent that Joseph Smith included its fundamental teaching in a letter to John Wentworth in 1842:

“We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our conscience, and allow all men the same privilege let them worship how, where, or what they may.” Members now refer to this quote as the 11th Article of Faith — something memorized by even the youngest of primary children.

This statement is one of 13 articles that summarizes the core beliefs of members of the Church.

Church President Dallin H. Oaks, as first counselor in the First Presidency in the April 2021 general conference, made use of this article of faith in his message “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution.”

“What else are faithful Latter-day Saints to do?” he said. “We must pray for the Lord to guide and bless all nations and their leaders. This is part of our article of faith.”

On July 5 of this year, Latter-day Saints throughout the United States fasted and prayed for the same cause early Church leaders stood for in the 1835 general assembly — a cause Church leaders since have been fighting for nearly 200 years: free exercise of religion.

Unified fast for religious liberty on Sunday, July 5

Episode 302: Historian Spencer W. McBride on U.S. history, Church history and religious freedom

‘Voices for Faith’ Part 1: In defense of religious freedom

The presidency has said that ministering is not merely a Church calling but an innate Christian duty.

Since April, President Camille N. Johnson, Sister J. Anette Dennis and Sister Kristin M. Yee of the Relief Society general presidency have continued to encourage sisters in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to minister the Lord’s way; a way that requires more effort, pondering and charity.

‘It is a way of being’

View this post on Instagram

Standing at the pulpit in the April 2026 general conference, Sister Yee, second counselor in the general presidency, taught that as members minister to each other, they will feel God’s love for them individually.

“When we bless the one, we bless the whole,” she said.

Ministering by the Spirit, she taught, not only brings blessings to the one receiving charity but also to the one giving it. Throughout her remarks, Sister Yee mentioned how the Savior may bless those who minister:

Inviting Christ’s healing into one’s life is a way to “find peace, clarity, healing and purpose” and can help one “find the Savior,” she explained.

“If you want to feel grounded, gain a sense of divine belonging and make a real difference in the world, I invite you to follow the Savior and minister in His name,” Sister Yee told listeners.

She encouraged members not to view ministering as a checklist, a calling with an expiration date or a temporary assignment. Rather, she explained that ministering as the Savior, Jesus Christ, would requires a more intentional effort.

“Ministering is truly loving and caring for others as the Savior would. It is a way of being; it is the way of our Savior, Jesus Christ,” she said. ”Ministering is the essence of who God is and who we can become as we follow Him.”

It is an ‘opportunity to practice being disciples of Jesus Christ’

One month following Sister Yee’s remarks, President Johnson posted a video on the Relief Society Worldwide social media page about how ministering is one of the experiences supported by the Relief Society.

She started her brief message by exclaiming what a privilege members of the Church have to “represent the Lord” through ministering.

“I hope you’ll consider what the Savior would do to address the needs of the sister to whom you have been assigned,” she said. President Johnson explained that visits to the home, telephone calls and text messages are all appropriate so long as they aim to make the person feel loved.

“This is His work,” she said. “He wants it to be in our hearts that we love and care for others in a way the Savior would. Ministering is that opportunity to practice being disciples of Jesus Christ.”

‘It’s not about checklists; it’s about relationships’

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

Sister Dennis also posted videos on social media days after President Johnson, on May 19 and 21.

In her first video, Sister Dennis explained clearly that “ministering is not about checklists. It’s about relationships.”

She explained that she thinks of ministering as an apprenticeship with the Savior, where He gives assignments to His sons and daughters in order for them to learn to become the person that He is. “He is the master minister,” she said.

When one views ministering as an item on a to-do list, the personal blessings one may receive are limited. Sister Dennis taught that as sisters in the Church truly understand the principle of service in this way, ministering will become embedded in their personality.

“The Savior can multiply our capacity” to serve in His way, she said.

It is ‘how we live the two great commandments’

View this post on Instagram

The Relief Society Worldwide page shared this post on social media in May outlining specific responsibilities and duties of sisters in the Church throughout the world.

Outlined in Chapter 21 of the General Handbook of the Church, the Relief Society presidency shared specific guidelines to help sisters achieve success as they minister to others:

• “Help them strengthen their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
• “Help them prepare to make and keep sacred covenants with God as they receive ordinances. As needed, help parents prepare their children to receive ordinances and keep covenants.
• “Discern needs and provide Christlike love, caring and service. Offer help or comfort in times of spiritual or temporal need. Discuss needs during ministering interviews and at other times.
• “Help them become spiritually and temporally self-reliant.”

The caption of the social media post read: “Ministering is how we live the two great commandments: love God and love His children.”

Kidney disease survivor finds hope through ministering brother’s organ donation

Bishops and youth: One-on-one ministering supports better relationships

Remember conference — Sister Kristin M. Yee: ‘Ministering — “That Ye Love One Another; as I Have Loved You”’

10 Church News articles about ministering

“I’ve always felt His pursuit of me, His rooting,” she said.

Having grown up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taylor holds fond memories of attending church, sharing relationships with her five siblings and growing closer to God. “In my eyes, it was just the most beautiful childhood,” she said.

“And then it just came crumbling down in front of me.”

‘I knew in my heart this wasn’t who I was’

Taylor and her family moved from Gilbert, Arizona, to nearby San Tan Valley — a place where she had to start fresh and make new friends.

“The only thing I had was the Church. Going to girls camps and going to Young Women and things like that held me together.” Taylor dove headfirst into seminary, the Personal Progress program and Young Women’s activities.

It didn’t last forever, though.

Taylor’s involvement in Church activities felt like a way to gain “other people’s validation,” something she said she lacked due to familial circumstances.

During this time, Taylor attended church meetings, though she felt she was playing a righteous persona rather than receiving the spiritual blessings she sought. “I tried so hard to tell myself, really convince myself, that there’s no God and that it’s the universe,” she said. Thinking back on her time dismantling her beliefs, she said: “I just felt I knew in my heart this wasn’t who I was.”

As she went through her high school years and as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread, her sphere of influence grew dark, and her circle of friends left her questioning her faith.

“I was looking into crystals and the universe, and I was looking down that route,” she recalled. “I just felt so ‘in the world.’”

‘I could never doubt’

About a year later, in 2021, Taylor and her boyfriend, Jadrian Taylor, found out they were having a baby boy — Jadrian Jr.

Cambrie Taylor describes it as one of the most spiritually defining moments that led to her religious renewal, an “epiphany.”

“I really had to refocus my life and wanted to ask, ‘What do I want?’” she said. “In my heart, my soul, my spirit, I could never doubt the experiences I had in the Church. I could never doubt my feelings with it. I could never doubt my testimony,” she said.

Taylor described the humbling moment as everything coming back to her memory — her dream to be sealed in the temple and raise children in the gospel.

Growing up in the Church, Taylor remembers listening to Young Women leaders, general conference speakers and other examples telling her she held so much potential as a woman in the Church. “What am I supposed to do in this life?” she asked herself.

She knew she had to gain a personal relationship with Christ if her child was going to be raised in the Church. She recalls thinking she couldn’t “be good in this life” when centered on drugs and alcohol, limiting her relationship with Christ. “I just felt like I wasn’t whole then,” she said.

‘I didn’t know any of this was possible’

Throughout the next few years, Taylor developed a deeply personal recommitment to the gospel. Her faith sparked Jadrian Taylor’s interest about the gospel — one that led to frequent missionary visits.

“He would express these concerns to me or these questions,” she recalls. “I just felt it was on his own time — when he wanted to have the missionaries over, he would have the missionaries over.”

Though her influence in their home is what Taylor believes led to her boyfriend’s increasing curiosity about the Church, Jadrian Taylor’s desire to make her happy included attending sacrament meeting with her and their boy.

Cambrie Taylor recalls her boyfriend’s first experience with the missionaries: “He was like: ‘Wow, I had no idea. I had no idea any of this was a thing. I didn’t know any of this was possible.’”

The two were engaged in July 2022 and married the following December, making way for Jadrian Taylor’s baptism in March 2023.

“He’s seen the blessings in our life, together as one, and the blessing of our kid and all the miracles,” Cambrie Taylor said.

‘OK, we got one more’

The two had their second son, Booker, in September 2024 as Jadrian Taylor began basic military training and was preparing to leave for future military training in Georgia in February 2026.

Cambrie Taylor knew raising two young sons with her husband away would not be an easy task. “I knew I was going to have to lean on God in every single way. So, I was like: ‘Coffee, any sin I’m doing is not worth it. I need to be in the place of the Lord. I need to feel that Spirit. I need to feel the goodness,’” she recalled.

She made the goal for herself to receive her endowment.

“I feel like my whole heart and soul is just so into this, into the gospel — not even the Church — just the gospel and what that brings to my life,” she said. “I’ve seen differences. I’ve seen how it’s helped me personally and others around me.”

Walking into the celestial room of the Mesa Arizona Temple, Taylor was embraced by three of her siblings, friends and her bishop and his wife, a moment she described as “falling into heaven.” While sharing a moment with her siblings, one whispered to the others: “OK, we got one more.”

“I just couldn’t help but think that that’s got to be how our Savior and our Heavenly Father think too,” said Paul Hawkins, Taylor’s bishop. “I’ve got this sheep. Where’s the next one? Who’s the next one?

“There’s always one more that we can reach out and try to help and try to pull in,” Hawkins said before referencing a 2024 general conference talk by Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

“Elder Kearon recently said that God is in relentless pursuit of us, and I feel like that’s pretty evident with Cambrie, where she went through her process, but God was always in relentless pursuit of her, and that came around,” Hawkins said. “And now interacting with Cambrie, you see kind of it’s passed on to her, where she is now in relentless pursuit of Him.”

Elder Patrick Kearon: ‘God’s Intent Is to Bring You Home’

Returning to faith: ‘I want to be close to God again’

‘I have a feeling we need this’: A family’s conversion to a Savior who never stopped reaching for them

He first felt cold, then a metallic taste in his mouth, nausea in his stomach and an intense lack of physical and mental energy. Around him, parents rose to their feet as names were called. Bywater watched from his wheelchair as his daughter crossed the stage.

Bywater, a husband, father, optometrist and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from San Tan Valley, Arizona, has lived his entire life with polycystic kidney disease — an inherited condition that causes cysts to proliferate throughout the kidneys until they fail.

In January 2023, Bywater’s kidneys slipped into renal failure. By his daughter’s spring graduation, walking to the kitchen left him out of breath.

Bywater knew decline was inevitable with his condition, but he never expected debilitating pain so soon. “I kind of put it in the back of my mind,” he said, adding: “When I finally started feeling bad, that’s when I started worrying about it. That’s when it became a constant worry.”

The most dreaded moments were spontaneous cyst ruptures — a cyst would burst and bleed internally, leaving Bywater in pain for weeks.

In March of that same year, Bywater and his wife, Angela, received a phone call from Brad’s nephrologist. “‘Hey, I need you to come in as soon as possible. … We need to talk,’” Brad Bywater recalled being told.

Bywater’s kidney function rate had plummeted below 20, the threshold for avoiding a kidney transplant. That day, the Bywaters spoke with the doctor about being put on the transplant list, one that usually takes five years to rise to the top.

While waiting to be tested and put on the list, Bywater began peritoneal dialysis. It required him to be home by 7:30 p.m. each night to be properly tethered as he slept to a machine filtering toxins through a cavity inside the abdomen.

“It put a damper on date night,” he recalled, chuckling.

Five months later, Bywater was officially listed on Mayo Clinic’s national kidney transplant wait list. The family made a single Facebook post asking people to consider getting tested as potential donors, including a link to sign up at the bottom of the post.

Bywater’s eyes welled with tears as he and his wife saw an overwhelmingly large response.

“I did not realize how loved I was,” he said.

Bywater was stunned to see dozens of people, even acquaintances from high school he hadn’t spoken to in years, messaging him saying they had signed up.

“I tried to make a list of all the people who signed up, and I lost track around 60 people,” he recalled. “I was hoping for maybe five or six people.

“It was very humbling.”

One of his Facebook friends who saw the post was Chris Runkel, the Bywaters’ assigned ministering brother at the time. Even though the two did not know each other deeply, “I kept getting that feeling to get tested,” Runkel said.

“I was like: ‘That’s crazy. … I like my organs,’” he remembered thinking.

Runkel dismissed the thought, yet told his wife, Candee, about his experience. He told her he felt he should be tested to see if he could be a potential match as a kidney donor for Brad.

Candee Runkel received her own spiritual confirmation, not in a quiet room or in a moment of prayer, but at a stoplight.

She remembered pumping the brakes at a stoplight. In a moment, she felt a wave hit, starting at her head, rushing down to her feet. She just knew, with an undeniable certainty, that her husband was meant to move forward in the transplant process.

“‘Everything is going to be perfectly OK,’” Candee Runkel recalled hearing.

The two decided to go through Mayo Clinic’s testing — a long, rigorous process to ensure the donor’s blood type, health and other factors would be compatible with the recipient.

Going through the tests, Chris Runkel felt he was going to be a match. “I just had this feeling,” he said. “I felt like it was predestined to happen.”

When the news came that he was an acceptable match and that the kidney transfer would soon take place, the Runkels rushed to tell the Bywaters.

On a sunny, Arizona June day, Candee Runkel called Angela Bywater. “I just broke down,” Angela Bywater said. “When she called me, I was just overcome with gratitude. How do you thank someone for that kind of sacrifice?”

In tears, she grabbed the phone to call her husband. Brad Bywater was at work, in between optometry patients, when he received the call. He took a few moments to compose himself before continuing his work, filled with surprise, excitement and overall gratitude.

“I was only on dialysis for four months — most people are on it for years," said Bywater, saying that expressing gratitude — both the times and ways — seemed insufficient.

“That’s the same way I feel about my Savior and what He has done for me,” Bywater said. “That’s why I am so grateful to have gone through this experience, because it’s given me such an appreciation of what He has done for me.

“What Chris has done for me and the gratitude I feel for him has opened my heart more to allow the love of the Savior in even more than I thought was possible.”

On the day of the surgery, the Bywaters nervously checked into the front office. As they began to head to the elevator, a young person played on a public piano the song “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”

“I just felt peace,” Brad Bywater recalled.

As they entered the elevator, pushed the button and rose to their destination, the elevator doors opened, and Candee Runkel was standing there ready to greet them.

“As soon as we saw her, I felt the Spirit so strongly,” recalled Brad Bywater.

On that day, Sept. 26, 2023, Chris Runkel did something few ministering brothers do — he gave a kidney.

Though Chris and Candee Runkel are no longer assigned to minister to Brad and Angela Bywater, a deep friendship remains intact — one built on service and gratitude. The two families continue to minister to each other in new ways.

Reflecting on the experience, Brad Bywater said: “You have no idea how much you can help someone or how much you can change someone’s life. It doesn’t have to be giving a kidney or an organ. It can be just being there for somebody, … being willing to sacrifice, being willing to serve.”

Why this Latter-day Saint woman donated her kidney to a man she met while hiking the Y

Why these 2 men know the essence of ministering is ‘to actually be there’

Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ through ministering

They stand at one of nine stations throughout the building, including the brazen serpent, the tabernacle gate and the holy place. They cautiously explain the object’s symbolic meaning and begin to share their testimonies as visitors from nearby stakes stand and listen.

“Then they come back an hour later. They’re all testifying and talking. That’s a great experience for them,” said David Dixon, Latter-day Saint architect of the new tabernacle replica.

“It changes their lives and prepares them for missions,” he said. “It prepares them to go to the temple. Prepares them for a life of service.”

In 2022, Dixon was part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ original Tabernacle Mission — missionaries would set up a traveling Old Testament tabernacle replica complete with tour guides and a visitors’ center across the Southwest.

When the temporary mission officially ended the following year, requests still came in from stakes in Texas, Colorado, Arizona and more. Without the resources of the mission, one setup could cost up to $30,000.

“And so I started thinking, how could we make this more available so it doesn’t just sit in a trailer all the time?” asked Dixon. “I just had this idea that maybe we could do it inside the building, and it could be much simpler, lighter weight, and could go to any stake center where people wanted it.”

As an architect, his first step in recreating elements of the tabernacle replica was modeling it in 3D to see if it — and the accompanying visitors’ center displays — could fit in the dimensions of a stake center.

“This new setup is so much more simple than the other one — it’s not heavy, so the sisters can be involved the same as the men,” he said.

Dixon and his wife, Eulale Dixon, were instrumental in setting up the replica in the Farmington stake center. From the fabric on the ceiling to pieces of furniture to the style of angels sewn on the veil, “we tried to make everything as authentic as we could,” David Dixon said.

Standing beside a 3D-printed “altar of incense” derived from the Old Testament, he noted differences in the veil of the Church’s original tabernacle replica and his newly designed model.

Angels sewn on the veil, which were originally designed in the Hebrew style, “would have had an Egyptian flavor” to them, he said. “It wouldn’t have been just Hebrew,” Dixon argued, pointing out that the Israelites lived in Egypt hundreds of years.

“And so we designed it with an Egyptian flavor throughout,” he said, smiling.

“It’s life-changing for the adults that really understand it and life-changing for the youth,” Dixon said. “And that’s where we get our biggest joy from, is from the youth and to see them change.”

Before he embarked on his project of creating another ancient tabernacle replica, Dixon said he “didn’t realize how much it was tied to the Savior. Every aspect of it was a foreshadowing of Him and His Atonement. Everything in the tabernacle represents Jesus. He’s the gate that we go through, the one and only way back to the presence of God. He’s the sacrifice on the altar of sacrifice. He’s the Light inside the tabernacle, the Light of the World.”

Members in Colorado Springs rally together to host ancient Tabernacle replica

Youth and young adults lead tours at ancient tabernacle replica, pointing to Christ and temple covenants

In a local meetinghouse, 140 Kenyan students watched Alumande, the valedictorian, as she said:

“We are not just graduates, we are evidence that education can bring change — evidence that faith and education together can change lives. Evidence that when determination meets purpose, miracles happen.”

BYU-Pathway Worldwide, a part of the Church Education System, offers spiritually based, online, affordable education to almost 100,000 students in more than 200 countries.

Of the students watching Alumande, some completed bachelor’s degrees, some associate’s degrees, and others finished the “pathway track” from BYU–Pathway Worldwide, Africa Church Newsroom reported.

“This journey was not easy,” Alumande said, describing the scenes of students studying by candlelight, without data, with power outages or even sharing devices — or no devices at all.

“Some balance school, work, family and Church services and responsibilities … and yet we kept going," she said. “We showed up when it was uncomfortable. We believed, sometimes barely, that something better was ahead.”

The graduation ceremonies — Kenya’s first-ever and Uganda’s first in the city of Jinja — mark a new chapter in the Church Education System’s effort to create opportunities for students that traditional universities never could.

The program has “given me access to remote opportunities which I otherwise wouldn’t have, and it’s changed and improved the quality of my life in a great way,” said Kennedy Githami, another student and recent convert to the Church who is awaiting his mission call.

“BYU-Pathway is God’s gift to Africa, and as Africans we should take care of it and just excel in our studies,” he added.

In the neighboring western country of Uganda, another 196 students celebrated education milestones, according to the Africa Church Newsroom.

For the first time ever in Jinja, Uganda, students were invited to a graduation ceremony for the 35 students receiving degrees and the 161 students receiving certificates from BYU–Pathway Worldwide’s PathwayConnect program.

Those who received certificates are required to complete three core areas of focus — life skills, professional skills and university skills — then are recognized as “ready” to move forward with a degree program with Ensign College or BYU—Idaho.

Paul Mwiru, a member of the Ugandan Parliament, congratulated the students on their faith-based education, saying: “Education without good morals leads to unemployable graduates.”

For the 338 combined graduates across both countries, these good morals were embedded in their studies.

Alumande, the valedictorian who spoke at Kenya’s graduation ceremony, left students with a charge that expands beyond her country’s borders:

“This is just the beginning. Today is not the finish line; it is the launching point,” she said. “As we move forward, let us carry this truth with us; we are capable, we are prepared, we are children of God, we are just getting started.”

Read about humanitarian efforts in Central Africa in the past month

Church donates classrooms and facilities to promote education in Africa

Elder Gong sees ‘pula a e ne’ and invokes blessings on countries in Church’s Africa South Area

Read more conference study helps here

About this talk

• “’Tis Eastertide: No One Walks Alone”
• Elder Gerrit W. Gong | Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
• Sunday afternoon session of April 2026 general conference.
• Theme: Those who walk by faith with Christ, abiding in Him, come to know He lives.

Read the full message here.

Read a summary of Elder Gong’s message here.

Outline

• Two disciples walked on the road to Emmaus following the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A stranger joined them, sharing scripture and breaking bread until the disciples came to a realization that the stranger was the Savior.
• • Text | Video
• The Gospel of Mark records Christ appearing three times on the Easter Day following His Crucifixion, yet He was not recognized at first.
• • Text | Video
• The Emmaus story reveals a covenant pattern: Those who walk by faith with Christ, abiding in Him, come to know He lives.
• • Text | Video
• Each Sabbath day, Latter-day Saints covenant that they are willing to take the name of Jesus Christ upon them, always remember Him and keep His commandments.
• • Text | Video
• Jesus Christ promises to abide with His disciples; He promises them the First and Second Comforters, the Holy Ghost and Himself.
• • Text | Video
• Christ teaches that He is the vine and believers are branches that must abide in Him to bear fruit.
• • Text | Video
• The conference began with a solemn assembly, which marks significant Church milestones or events and dates back to ancient Israel.
• • Text | Video
• Those who willingly, obediently and joyfully follow Christ and the Lord’s prophet are richly blessed.
• • Text | Video
• Elder Gong recounts a personal experience with President Dallin H. Oaks and says he teaches by precept and example how to follow the Savior.
• • Text | Video
• Jesus Christ’s Atonement allows someone to heal, reconcile and abide in covenant belonging. Find those who walk alone, and walk with them.
• • Text | Video

Reflection questions

When have you experienced Christ “walking with you” during a difficult time without initially recognizing His presence?

Elder Gong taught that no one should walk alone or unseen. What barriers prevent us from seeing and reaching out to those who are walking alone, and how can we overcome them?

How have you seen the First and Second Comforters in your life? How do you prepare yourself to be comforted?

Elder Gong mentions how Jesus Christ appeared three times on Easter Day without being recognized at first. Why might Christ choose to appear slowly or unexpectedly in our lives rather than immediately?

Jesus Christ is the vine, and we are branches that must abide in Him to bear fruit. How do we properly lean on Christ for strength, support and comfort while still actively participating in our own spiritual growth?

Speaker quotes

• “Just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus ask Jesus to abide with them, Jesus Christ promises to abide with us. In the Gospel of John, chapters 14 and 15, Jesus teaches His disciples and us how He can remain, belong, walk with us. His faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death.”
• • Text | Video
• “When we have a question, problem or joy, Jesus Christ says, ‘I am your answer — your way, your truth, your life.’”
• • Text | Video
• “Jesus Christ’s Atonement changes everything. It brings literal resurrection. It can enable our return to the presence of God and the eternal uniting of families.”
• • Text | Video

Reference scriptures

• “And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.”
• • Luke 24:28–31
• “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
• • John 15:4
• “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”
• • John 14:16

Invitations and promises

• “As we walk by faith with Him, abiding in Him, and He in us, we come to know He lives. His Easter promises are real.”
• • Text | Video
• “As we ‘seek … first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness’ (Matthew 6:33), we follow Jesus Christ and the Lord’s prophet willingly, obediently, joyfully. We are richly blessed as we do so.”
• • Text | Video
• “As we walk our dusty roads to Emmaus, He will be with us. If you see someone walking alone and sad, will you please walk with them?”
• • Text | Video

Stories

• Elder Gong invites listeners to pretend they are on a journey to Emmaus, like the two disciples in Luke’s biblical account (see Luke 24:13–35). Imagine a stranger joins us on our journey and sees we are sad, to which we reply it has been three days since the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our new friend reads scriptures with us, fills our hearts, breaks bread and blesses it with us. In this moment we know Him — the resurrected Jesus Christ.
• • Text | Video
• On the first Easter, Christ appeared to three groups of people, each of which did not recognize who He was at first: Mary Magdalene, who thought He was the gardener; two disciples on the road to Emmaus; and 11 disciples, showing His hands and feet to prove who He was and eating fish and honeycomb to show He was not a spirit.
• • Text | Video
• As a freshman attending Brigham Young University, Elder Gong once spoke on a panel with President Dallin H. Oaks, then president of the university. President Oaks shared a story with Elder Gong, describing a grandfather with a large chest of coins. As he invited his grandchildren to collect all the coins they could, many grabbed as many coins as they could. However, one granddaughter carefully chose only a few coins, which were all gold pieces.
• • Text | Video

From the footnotes

• 16. See Moses 6:34. This, of course, is also our 2026 youth theme. Dear youth of the noble birthright, you can witness and remember Jesus Christ regularly through the ordinance and covenant of the sacrament. Do your best to abide and walk with Him. Let the promises of Easter be real for you each day. Be faithful and prayerful, kind and helpful, clean and pure. Learn and grow. His Spirit will be with you. I promise.
• 18. With the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we sing: “Abide with me! fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide!” Continuing: “Earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me!” (“Abide With Me!,” Hymns, No. 166).

Additional resources

• Related image: “The Road to Emmaus” by Jon McNaughton
• Related video: “Because of Him”
• Related hymn: No. 101, “Guide Me to Thee”

Recent conference talks on walking with Christ and others

• Elder Clark G. Gilbert: “Come Home” (April 2026)
• Elder David A. Bednar: “Abide in Me, and I in You; Therefore Walk With Me” (April 2023)
• President Russell M. Nelson: “Ministering” (April 2018)

Who is Elder Gong?

• Elder Gerrit W. Gong was sustained as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on March 31, 2018, and had served as a General Authority Seventy since April 2010. He worked for the U.S. State Department and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

Remember conference — Elder Taniela B. Wakolo: ‘Come Unto Christ — Together’

Download a PDF of talk summaries from April 2026 general conference

April 2026 general conference: Announcements, talk summaries, photos, session highlights

Standing next to it is the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors’ Center, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

Beyond its daily operations, the visitors’ center hosts Christmas festivals, watch parties and concerts for the community year-round. In its “Golden Jubilee” celebration June 15, community leaders, government officials and hundreds of local residents gathered to highlight half a century of impact by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Maryland.

‘Service truly unites us and saves us’

In the celebration, the Church presented the JustServe Hero Award to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, a prestigious recognition awarded to an individual dedicated to consistent service.

JustServe is a free website and app sponsored by the Church for any organization to list its volunteer needs and for volunteers to find service opportunities in their area.

In 2023, Moore launched the JustServe platform across the state of Maryland and initiated the Service Year Option, a program for recent high school graduates to render thoughtful service across the state.

Maria Martinez, Moore’s senior advisor who accepted the award on his behalf, said, “Our communities are only as strong as our willingness to serve one another.”

Standing at the podium and sharing her story of surviving domestic violence and homelessness, Martinez added, “I don’t know where I’d be today if not for the wonderful people who volunteered their time, talent and treasure to lift individuals like myself up.”

Speaking of Maryland’s newest “JustServe cities” — municipalities who consistently encourage service — she said: “You are the living proof of the conviction that drives us all forward: that service truly unites and saves us.”

Martinez praised the JustServe platform and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for turning compassion into direct, localized action.

Concluding her remarks and speaking of the visitors’ center, she said: “The center stands as a sanctuary of peace where people from all walks of life can come to learn, reflect and to find comfort.”

President Johnson meets governor of Maryland, discusses service priorities

Church members in Washington, D.C., commemorate 10-year chapel anniversary with interfaith event

Washington D.C. Temple: Elder Caussé and Mexican ambassador share messages, switch on lights

Other Church leaders also posted messages expressing appreciation for fathers and a testimony of their divine roles, and shared posts about prayer, faith in Jesus Christ, navigating artificial intelligence and more.

Read some of their posts below.

President Oaks teaches 3 characteristics of ‘the only true and living Church’

Read summaries, see photos from the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders

After speaking at the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders, President Oaks shared a video clip on June 21 with his remarks about the importance of missionaries and members recognizing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “the only true and living Church.”

“These missionaries’ first responsibility is to testify of Jesus Christ to a world that suffers without knowledge of His divine mission. They invite people across the globe to become part of His true and living Church.”

View this post on Instagram

President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, shared this June 24 post with an invitation to strengthen prayer.

“Ask yourself, ‘Does the Lord know that I will do what He wants me to do?’ ... Consider finding a quiet moment and a quiet time privately to tell Him.”

View this post on Instagram

President D. Todd Christofferson teaches about the joy of repentance

In this June 23 post, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf commented on the recent reinstallation of the doors of the Salt Lake Temple and shared an interpretation of the event.

“There is something profoundly symbolic about stepping into the Lord’s holy house. In doing so, we leave behind the noise and burdens of a troubled world and enter a place of peace, light and divine love. Within the holy walls of the temple, we make promises that connect us to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Posting a photo of her father, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson shared a message on social media June 21.

She wrote about her father’s kindness to strangers and waiters every time the family went out to eat: “Perhaps that is when the seed of my desire was planted; I wanted to be kind — just like my dad. ...

“I am deeply grateful for the way he taught me that Christlike kindness can change hearts, strengthen relationships and bless lives every day,” she said.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this June 25 post with his reflections on his continuously growing reverence for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

“He did not shield us from the difficult experiences of life that bring immeasurable pain, but He protected us from everlasting suffering and estrangement from Heavenly Father and allowed us, through His all-encompassing suffering, to have the blessing of perfect joy and eternal happiness in the presence of God.”

Following up on his experience at the Seminar for New Mission Leaders, Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles expressed his awe at the growth of missionary service around the world, in this June 22 post.

“I feel that we are only scratching the surface of what the Lord has in store for us as He prepares the world for His second coming.”

‘Buckle up and hold on tight,’ Elder Rasband tells new mission leaders

Speaking to sisters who may struggle with anxiety or depression, Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, wrote in a June 24 social media post, “He is still speaking to you, even when you don’t recognize it’s Him.”

“God doesn’t leave when you’re struggling to feel Him.”

View this post on Instagram

In this June 23 clip from a recent video about artificial intelligence and faith, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his acknowledgment of concerns about AI and his optimism about its use for good.

“When we truly understand who we are, we can approach AI and other new technologies with greater confidence, purpose and wisdom.”

View this post on Instagram

In this June 21 Father’s Day post, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his gratitude for fatherhood and the blessings of being a teacher in a home.

“The most powerful teaching happens not only through words but through the way we live our lives. As we align our will with the Lord and seek to do those things that please Him, our homes can become places of faith, love, and spiritual strength.”

Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this June 21 post with his gratitude for the “sacred role of fathers,” expressing how important it is to follow the example of Heavenly Father in the role.

“I join with all of the striving fathers doing their best, knowing we all need heaven’s help in this sacred and demanding parental responsibility.”

In a June 22 post, Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, shared pieces of her message from an Ensign College devotional earlier this month.

“The miracle of it all, to me, is that when the Savior invited the multitude to bring all those ‘afflicted in any manner’ to come unto Him, everyone was healed,” she wrote, inviting readers to bring others to the Savior. “Not only the ones who were brought but also the ones who brought them.”

See previous social posts by Church leaders

How to subscribe to the Church News in print and online

This week on social: Church leaders share ministry experiences from Philadelphia, Czech Republic, San Diego and more

“One powerful testimony I have is that the Lord does take care of us — every single one of His children — if we just look unto Him in every thought. Doubt not, fear not," President Alan Farrell said.

Their testimonies grow stronger as they serve while their two children, Jane and Joshua Farrell, also serve, in Spanish-speaking proselyting missions in the Chile Viña del Mar and Oklahoma City missions. Concurrently serving as missionaries and ambassadors for Christ in the Spanish language, President Farrell said, has only brought them blessings.

Called to serve

Back in March 2024, the Farrells’ son, Joshua, was called to a Spanish-speaking mission in Oklahoma and began his service the following August.

At the time, the three other family members felt impressions and desires to also serve missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jane Farrell was too young to serve a mission at the time, though she wished to serve as early as possible to avoid spending extended periods of time away from her brother. Alan Farrell was serving as bishop of the East Mill Creek 12th Ward, Salt Lake East Mill Creek North Stake, and anticipated he had two years left in the calling.

“We just thought this was all down the road,” President Farrell said, speaking of potentially serving a mission with his wife.

One month after their son started his missionary service, as Elizabeth Farrell was mowing the lawn, she received a call and was asked to be interviewed with her husband. She described the interview as “a little nerve-wracking. We looked at each other and we’re like, ‘We wonder what that was for?’ because we really had no idea,” she said.

A couple of weeks later, the couple received another call, from Elder Quentin L. Cook‘s secretary, requesting another interview.

Following their conversation, Elder Cook set aside his paperwork and asked the couple to serve as mission president and companion. Their thoughts turned immediately to their daughter, who had one year of high school left and wished to serve a mission.

They shared their concerns with Elder Cook: “He right then just said, ‘You know what, she can serve a year early,’” Elizabeth Farrell recalls.

“Why wouldn’t you go?” she said. ”Josh was just thrilled that [Jane] would be able to serve, and she just wept with joy that she would be able to serve a mission and serve the Lord and help people come to Christ.”

Jane Farrell began her home MTC experience June 16, 2025 — two days before her parents reported to Provo, Utah, for the annual Seminar for New Mission Leaders.

The new meaning of ‘family’

“And so the whole family is serving at the same time,” President Farrell said. ”It’s really fun because the topics are always missionary purpose, how to bring more people to Jesus Christ, talking about what you’re doing, and it’s just so interesting.

“The Lord’s been so gracious in helping everybody have that experience at the same time,” he said.

Jane and Joshua Farrell will even call their parents while teaching and ask them to bear their testimonies to bless those they teach, President Farrell explained. “Even though we’re far away, it’s brought us closer in that great cause of helping people, inviting them and helping them come unto Christ,” he said.

In Sister Elizabeth Farrell’s patriarchal blessing, a line refers to “all” of her children. As a mother of two, she was puzzled at the phrasing.

“But now, we do have like all these children, these missionaries. We just love them. We tell them, you’re family forever,” said President Farrell.

“Now our family is a lot bigger, and they’re all serving too,” his wife continued.

“I’m so grateful because President [Jeffrey R.] Holland promised that your family will be blessed,” she said. “And we just had strong impressions that Josh and Jane, even though they’ll both finish and we will still be here [in Peru] for a good two years, that the Lord will have them in His hands.”

Blended family, united faith: 4 missionaries serve at the same time

President Eyring promises: ‘Your mission will build faith’

President Freeman, also a member of the Missionary Executive Council, taught how the change came about as she spoke to new mission leaders at the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders on Saturday, June 20, at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.

She said there is “a pattern that led to this change of perspective” and shared three characteristics with mission leaders describing the culture Alma created.

Hearts knit together in unity

President Freeman depicted missionary leadership councils as places “where the Spirit is poured out and unity is developed.”

“Have you taken time to counsel together about what the culture of your missionary leadership councils will look like?” she asked the new mission leaders.

A mission leadership council culture can create the “holiness of heart” and the “hearts knit together” culture that Alma describes in Mosiah 18, verses 12 and 21, she taught. Describing a scene of assistants to the president and sister missionaries each teaching at a missionary council, President Freeman advised: “Let this be the culture of your missionary leadership councils.”

“Blessings will come from this,” she continued. “Testimonies will be strengthened as our elders and sisters serve and teach with unity.”

Teach with power and authority from God

Mosiah 18 also holds record of Alma preaching nothing “save it were repentance and faith on the Lord,” in verse 20, President Freeman said.

She said teaching with power and authority from God includes utilizing the scriptures, quoting the late President Jeffrey R. Holland, who counseled: “Make a love for the word of God absolutely central to your mission culture.

“When you teach your missionaries — and that is all the time — teach them from the scriptures,” she quoted. “Let them see where you get your strength and inspiration.”

President Freeman explained how in her family, opening the scriptures within five minutes of starting to teach is common practice. “Blessings come as we teach from the word of God: The Spirit will come in greater abundance, your own testimony will deepen, the faith of the learners will increase, and hearts will change,” she promised.

She left new mission leaders with an invitation: “Decide now to make your mission a ‘doctrine of Christ’ mission.”

‘Give what you have’

Mosiah 18:27 holds the third characteristic to changing a people’s culture: “impart of your substance,” President Freeman said.

“That begins with you,” she taught. “Every little bit counts. Look for the needs and the wants. Then, just give what you have.”

The Young Women general president then shared the story of her son-in-law, Trenton Smith, who was called to serve a mission in Bulgaria but served in New Mexico for the first 13 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The young missionary’s president, who had served for only two months at the time, sat down in an exit interview as then-Elder Smith prepared to depart for Bulgaria.

The mission president looked down at the missionary’s shoes, battered and worn after a year of devout service.

“I don’t want to send a missionary of mine to a new mission without everything you need to succeed. What’s your shoe size?” the president asked.

After hearing Elder Smith’s response, the mission president bent over and began unlacing his new, hardly worn shoes and gave them to the young man.

“Trenton doesn’t have one picture with that mission president. But he still owns his shoes,” President Freeman said. “And sometimes, he still wears them in memory of a mission president who gave what he had.”

In her concluding remarks, President Freeman left new mission leaders with what she hoped they will create in their respective mission fields:

• A mission “where hearts are knit together in unity as you establish an MLC culture centered on the missionary purpose and the doctrine of Jesus Christ.”
• A mission “where missionaries teach with the power and authority of God as you make teaching the doctrine of Christ a model for your mission.”
• A mission “where you give what you have to help your missionaries gain a renewed vision of their purpose and who they can become.”

She left new mission leaders with a promise that as they adopt those teachings, “miracles will happen. How beautiful will your mission be ‘to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer’ (Mosiah 18:30).”

Read summaries, see photos from the 2026 Seminar for New Mission Leaders

President Freeman sees how youth in Puerto Rico ‘walk with Him’

Remember conference — President Emily Belle Freeman: ‘Best Days and Worst Days’

Read what they shared below.

In a June 16 post, President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency, witnessed that the Lord is never hidden, despite some of the feelings of distance that occur because of mortality.

“The Lord’s delays often seem long; some last a lifetime. But they are always calculated to bless. They need never be times of loneliness or sorrow or impatience.”

Sharing an experience from a recent ministry in Philadelphia, President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, expressed his thoughts on the divine aspects of religious liberty in a June 12 post.

“Moral agency, the ability to choose right from wrong and to act for ourselves, is essential to God’s plan of salvation. Religious freedom ensures that people can exercise their agency in matters of faith.”

He also shared this June 16 video expressing appreciation for those who continue to preserve religious liberty.

After dedicating stake centers in Salzburg, Austria, and Prague, Czech Republic, and a temple in Springfield, Oregon, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles posted a video on June 18 about his experience.

“Each dedication has pointed to the same divine purpose of turning our hearts in worship to our Heavenly Father and to His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ,” he wrote in the caption.

View this post on Instagram

“Jesus Christ will strengthen you. He will help you change your desires, your thoughts, and your actions,” Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, read out of Chapter 4 of the “For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices” in a video June 17.

“We can be agents and we can decide, as agents, what it is that we want to think and which thought will give us the best result,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

In preparation for the rededication of the San Diego California Temple, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a June 15 video with his personal experiences at that temple, including the sealing of his son.

“What an amazing thing that we have the houses of the Lord among us. Such a blessing.”

View this post on Instagram

San Diego temple public open house an opportunity to declare knowledge of Jesus Christ, Elder Andersen says

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles offered a peek inside the missionary assignment process in a June 14 post.

“This process is inspired, revelatory, and I love it with all my heart.”

View this post on Instagram

What does a missionary assignment room look like?

Presenting an astronaut suit in a June 18 video, Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles invited viewers to recognize how the suit protects its user from harsh elements.

“Consider the protective elements embodied in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, enhancing our ability to stand firm in spiritual battles we face,” he said. Elder Stevenson then taught about the apostle Paul’s reference to spiritual armor (see Ephesians 6:14-20).

View this post on Instagram

Primary General President Susan H. Porter posted a clip of her April 2026 general conference talk, “Here Am I, Send Me” in a June 12 post.

“You do not need to worry about fixing all of the problems around you,” she said. ”Heavenly Father can provide miracles when you simply offer what you have.”

View this post on Instagram

In a June 17 post, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a clip from his June 7 video on artificial intelligence, faith and human flourishing.

“Platforms and technologies cannot substitute for authentic, divine and human connection.”

View this post on Instagram

Elder Patrick Kearon of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Sister Jennifer Kearon discussed what would happen by reflecting on the experience of Jesus Christ during His Atonement while taking the sacrament, in a video clip posted on June 14.

“Nowhere should our joy as a people be more apparent than when we gather together each Sabbath in our sacrament meetings to worship the source of all joy,” said Elder Kearon.

View this post on Instagram

Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a clip on June 15 from his piano accompaniment to the choir singing “On This Day of Joy and Gladness” in a recent BYU–Idaho devotional.

“Our time is truly a day of joy and gladness. Never before has the gospel been preached so widely.”

View this post on Instagram

While on a recent ministry to the Church’s Europe North Area, Elder Clark G. Gilbert spoke to young adults across Europe and shared a clip of his remarks in a June 16 post.

“We could feel their strength, hope and commitment to the gospel. More specifically, I could hear the Lord reaching through me to try to communicate just how much He loved each one of them.”

View this post on Instagram

This week on social: Hastening the Lord’s work

This week on social: Church leaders defend religious liberty, moral agency for all faiths

See previous social posts by Church leaders

Starting his message, Elder Bednar asked viewers to consider two reflective questions on using technology to support strong families:

1. “Does the use of various technologies and media in our lives help to make us better people and strengthen our families?”
2. “Does the time we spend using technologies and media enlarge or restrict our capacity to live, love and serve others in meaningful ways?”

The role of the family

A vulnerable place is ideal for growth, Elder Bednar explained.

The Apostle compared families to a mirror in that they “help us become aware of imperfection or flaws we may not be able or want to acknowledge,” he said. “No one knows us better than those closest to us.”

He explained that for this reason, families are the ideal place to learn how to appropriately use modern technological advancements “to become who we and they really need us to become.”

The role of one’s agency

Just as families allow one to develop spiritually and temporally, individual moral agency creates an atmosphere of empowerment where one may grow, Elder Bednar said. “I strongly believe in the principle of individual moral agency.”

He taught that one of the fundamental purposes of one’s agency is “to love one another and to make the world a better place. It is not to do whatever we want whenever we will, but to act in accordance with what is right and just.”

Elder Bednar then warned about negative influences affecting one’s agency, instructing viewers to be cautious.

“We should not be naive and place too much trust in any and all applications of AI technology, despite how tempting they might be,” he said. “Rather, we can and must learn to be wise and to protect our distinctive capacities and abilities as human beings.”

How to achieve success

Elder Bednar shared a key to helping youth have success in their lives is by encouraging them to: “Be true to their identity and focused on remembering who they are,” especially as wavering opinions and voices swarm through new technologies.

“Technology can support these efforts but should not in any way distract from or become a substitute for our individual and collective efforts to support young people as future leaders,” he advised.

Speaking to the policymakers and experts attending the conference, Elder Bednar said his hope that all will share the goal of interacting with technologies to help the youth become a cohesive and resilient generation and community.

In closing, he said: “I pray we unitedly will pursue these noble objectives and not be distracted from the true purpose of our lives and our love for one another.”

Elder Gong teaches how to hear God’s voice amid increased use of artificial intelligence

Do AI models omit religion? Here’s what new BYU-led research says

Episode 299: Responsible and principled use of AI

A new paper released through BYU Studies gathered data sets from Harvard and the Pew Research Center to answer the question: ‘How are Latter-day Saints doing nationally, and how does that compare to those of other faiths or no faith?’

Latter-day Saint attendance rate is high, with 76% attending at least once a month, the study says. “The Pew data finds that Latter-day Saints attend worship services more than any other religion that they surveyed,” Dyer said.

Beyond church attendance, the study also found that Latter-day Saints rank the highest for reading scriptures and saying prayers with their children.

Commenting on the Church’s “Come, Follow Me” curriculum, Dyer shared the benefits of spiritual family studies, prayers and discussions: “You are engaging with your kids, but you’re engaging with them on things that are of deep meaning and deep value,” he explained on an episode of the Church News podcast.

“And I think we see the Church’s emphasis really paying off in those instances,” Dyer said. “I mean, getting families together is what our society needs so desperately. And within the Church, we seem to be producing that at uniquely high levels.”

Retention and its predictors

Dyer and others at BYU Studies followed the religious activity of 2,000 youth — about half Latter-day Saints, about half not — for a decade.

“And so we could see: ‘All right, when is it that they might step away from the Church? And what are the factors that were going on earlier in their lives that then predict whether or not they might step away from the Church?’” Dyer said.

At the end of the study, researchers found that one of the biggest correlational factors tied to maintaining engagement in religion is “experiencing God’s presence on a regular basis,” said Dyer.

“When you’re talking about the kinds of things that maybe are done at church, we want to make sure that those are leading to personal sorts of connections with the divine, that they feel the Holy Ghost, they feel the divine love, they feel the divine influence on their hearts,” he added.

However, for Latter-day Saints, it seems many are already participating in that practice: 67% of members feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least once a week, the highest of any religion surveyed, according to the BYU study.

Beyond church attendance, this principle can be applied to personal prayers or scripture study. The key, he said, is to ask: “How is it that I can be connecting with God? How can I be worshipping God through this?”

Dyer said one of the greatest causes over recent decades for a drop-off in religious activity within the United States is an increased focus on self. He suggested members should attend worship meetings “not with the focus of, ‘All right, what am I going to benefit from this?’ but more with the focus of ‘How can I bless somebody else today? How can I feel God’s presence in my life today?’”

He added: “If we’re going there for the two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor, we are going to feel the joy that comes from that, and we’re going to stay much more connected.”

What the data shows about those who have left

While recognizing divine influence may be one of the greatest predictors of religious longevity, the lack of it isn’t necessarily a reason for those leaving the Church.

In fact, Dyer found that most who have left “still think religion is important,” he said. “They still think spirituality is important in their lives. And they’re still hanging on to a lot of those things.”

Those who are truly negative about religion after stepping away from the Church — about 10% of those surveyed — are the voices Dyer believes are amplified on social media.

“And very often what we find is that these individuals still hold so much of the wonderful things that the Church has given them,” he said. “And then as we understand that individual, that builds that bridge, and they feel understood and seen and heard by us.”

Instead of being preached to, this group feels a need to be heard and understood, “because our lives will do the preaching,” said Dyer.

Of the BYU Studies research, Latter-day Saints should recognize they “are doing really quite well in these areas,” Dyer said.

“My testimony isn’t based on the numbers. That helps me understand. But it also helps me to see, I think, a little bit better the work of the Lord in trying to bless His children.”

Episode 298: Examining religious activity data with Justin Dyer

Returning to faith: ‘I want to be close to God again’

‘Add what you know,’ Elder Bragg tells those who wonder how to approach family history

President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, shared this June 7 post after he dedicated the Yorba Linda California Temple on June 6.

“The words at the door of the temple — ‘Holiness to the Lord’ — are both an invitation and a commandment to all who would enter.”

Comparing natural monuments — volcanoes — to the temples on the west coast of the United States, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared his thoughts after dedicating the Willamette Valley Oregon Temple in this June 7 post.

“Just as these great mountains mark the landscape, holy temples — and the covenants we make there — mark and connect our lives with the God of the universe.”

Young Women President Emily Belle Freeman shared her excitement to see more and more young sisters serving missions and referenced For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices.

“The Lord is hastening His work, and He has invited you to help,” she wrote in a Young Women Worldwide post on June 10.

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this post on June 11 with Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about a recent ministry in the United Kingdom.

“Visiting with missionaries in England recently was immensely nostalgic for me, as I also served as a young missionary in this wonderful country.”

He also shared this June 10 post with a clip from his April 2026 general conference remarks.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Quentin L. Cook (@quentinlcook)

Elder Gilbert also shared this June 5 post about his ministry assignment with Elder Cook, reflecting on the important work of early missionaries in the British Isles.

“Walking in the footsteps of those pioneering Apostles reminded me of the call we share with them even today, to be a witness to the name of Christ in all the world.”

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared on June 6 this video clip from his April 2026 general conference remarks, speaking on the implications of the knowledge of Christ’s Resurrection.

“All who live or ever have lived who come unto Christ and live His gospel will feel joy beyond any earthly expression as we reunite, resurrected, with our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ and with our parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and ancestors.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ronald A. Rasband (@ronaldarasband)

Reflecting on her BYU Women’s Conference message in 2025, Sister J. Anette Dennis reminded Relief Society sisters that “you need never walk alone” in a post June 7.

To comfort members in times when they may pass through trials, the first counselor in the Relief Society general presidency wrote: “You do not need to fear the future, even marriage and parenthood, because the Savior will be with you.”

Sharing a video excerpt of his recent video “Faith, Dignity, and Human Flourishing: Hearing God’s Voice in an Age of AI” on June 10, Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded Saints of his counsel and invitations surrounding the emergence of artificial intelligence.

“In a world of accelerating technology and artificial intelligence, may we never lose the divine intelligence that matters most — the voice of God.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gerrit W. Gong (@gerritwgong)

Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, posted a video on June 9 of more than 1,600 For the Strength of Youth camp counselors chanting and waving.

“To them, and to every conference counselor in the whole world, I say: Thank you for loving God and loving His great youth. Thank you for testifying of Christ,” she wrote.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrea Muñoz Spannaus (@andreamunozspannaus)

Speaking of his patriarchal blessing, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “It has helped me strive to remain on the covenant path” in a June 7 video.

Elder Soares reminisced on his experience visiting with the patriarch who bestowed his blessing upon him years ago. “Such knowledge is a daily comfort to me as I strive to remain faithful to His service,” he said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ulisses Soares (@ulisses__soares)

Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared this video on June 7 playing a vibrant piano duet and expressing the importance of recognizing and sharing individual gifts and talents.

“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.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gérald Caussé (@gerald_causse)

“I have found that the study of women in the scriptures and the women around Jesus ultimately leads us to learn something about the Savior Himself,” she said, teaching about becoming a female follower of Christ.

Every single chair in the Marriott Marquis ballroom was filled, with hundreds more participating via broadcast in 97 different locations across the Church’s United States Northeast Area.

Elder Allen D. Haynie, a General Authority Seventy and president of the United States Northeast Area, noted that the conference was “a gathering of covenant women,” and there was power within the ballroom.

“That’s why this is so important,” he said.

Thousands of eyes were on Sister Browning as she stood at the podium to greet the sisters and begin the conference as a keynote speaker.

“Jesus noticed women. Jesus taught women. Jesus healed women. Jesus trusted women. Jesus welcomed women among His followers,” she taught.

Among those whom Sister Browning used as examples were Mary Magdalene, Joanna and Susanna, who were named “certain women” in Luke 8.

“Whatever that looked like in practice, it seems clear to me that these women were not standing on the margins of the Savior’s ministry. They chose to walk with Him,” she said.

Underscoring that Jesus Christ magnifies what is given to Him, Sister Browning also taught that Christ can “do extraordinary things with whatever we offer,” including miracles. “The Savior takes what we willingly place in His hands and magnifies it beyond what we could accomplish on our own,” she said.

She testified that Jesus Christ has not stopped leading the Church. “The Lord continues to need women who know Him, who trust Him, who hear Him, who follow Him and who help others find Him,” she said.

Sister Browning invited attendees to consider one thing they could do that week to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ, write it down and follow through.

Expanding upon the theme of personal discipleship, Elissa Gifford, director of Humanitarian Services for the Church, shared her experience adjusting her prayers from asking for personal fulfillment to submitting to Heavenly Father’s will, including serving others.

“And that change made all the difference,” she said.

“There is great wisdom in making the second great commandment to love our neighbor,” she said. “Because as we lift others, we are lifted. As we serve, we are changed. As we love, we become more like the Savior.”

Gifford encouraged sisters to create a culture of looking up to the Savior and looking out to others to find ways to render meaningful service.

“If we are to prepare the world for His return, we must build Zion. And Zion cannot be built if we limit who we consider our neighbor. Loving others is the power that transforms individuals into a united family — the family of God," she taught.

The women’s conference was designed to increase faith in Jesus Christ, fortify commitment to gospel principles and strengthen bonds of sisterhood.

“We are covenant women who know who we are, who know of our divine worth and our heritage and our potential,” said Jennifer Wilcox, the organizer of the conference. “What are you going to do with it? Let’s get up and move.”

The conference also included various panels that discussed the definition of becoming a Latter-day Saint woman, reflected on speaking with spiritual power and taught how to demonstrate righteousness and clarity in meaningful, everyday ways.

“What I feel coming away from this is a sense of hope and a sense of empowerment and of joy,” said Robbie Clark, a member of the Cincinnati Ohio East Stake, who attended via broadcast at a local meetinghouse.

Briggette Alcivar, an attendee in New York, said: “The big thing about being here in conference today is I feel seen. I’m here surrounded by wonderful women.”

Correction: An earlier version noted this conference was on May 31. It was on Saturday, May 30.

In Mexico, President Porter and Sister Browning see children serving others

Sister Tracy Y. Browning: ‘Tune Your Heart to Jesus Christ: The Sacred Gift of Primary Music’

Drink deeply of the Savior’s living water, Sister Browning encourages

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called the increase in baptisms “remarkable.” He also noted that those new members are attending sacrament meeting at higher rates than in the past as well.

A new report co-authored by Brigham Young University professor of religious education and BYU Studies editor-in-chief Justin Dyer and four colleagues highlights data showing that members of the Church demonstrate the highest religious activity in America.

“What we find in the research is that it’s that religiosity — it’s that connecting with the divine — that really makes the big differences in our lives,” Dyer said.

Dyer, who has been a guest on the Church News podcast before, joins Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen on this episode to discuss what he sees in this data and what it means for Church members.

Listen to this episode of the Church News podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Spotify, bookshelf PLUS, YouTube or wherever you get podcasts.

Transcript:

Justin Dyer: Actually, Latter-day Saints hang on to their millennial and Gen Z members better than almost any other Christian tradition that’s out there. And where we really are different is that when we talk about retention and we look at retention in this report, what we’re looking at is people that said, “I was a Latter-day Saint growing up, and I’m still a Latter-day Saint today.” And so they identify as a Latter-day Saint, they continue to identify as an adult. Well, we also looked at not just, “Do I continue to identify as a particular religion” but: “Am I engaged in that religion?” “Am I attending worship services of that religion on a regular basis?” And that’s really where the Church stands out in terms of maintaining people as part of the religion, identifying as well as being active and attending worship services.

0:57

Jon Ryan Jensen: This is Jon Ryan Jensen, editor of the Church News. Welcome to the Church News podcast. Today, we are taking you on a journey of connection as we discuss news and events of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

On today’s episode of the Church News podcast, we are joined by Brigham Young University professor of religious education Justin Dyer. Justin is also the editor in chief of BYU Studies.

And for those of you who are longtime followers of the Church News podcast, you may recognize him as one of our previous guests who was on to talk with us about mental health and some of the religious behaviors that can help people have positive effects on their mental health.

Justin, thanks for being with us today.

Justin Dyer: Oh, it’s such a pleasure to be here. Thank you so much.

1:37

Jon Ryan Jensen: We’re here today to talk about a new paper that you have released through BYU Studies, and you’re pulling data from some different sources.

So, before we get into what you’ve discovered from the data, can you share with us a little bit about where that data comes from?

Justin Dyer: Yeah, absolutely. We were really interested to know what’s going on with Latter-day Saints today. And of course, you have all kinds of opinions, all kinds of narratives out there, and people are pulling information from here and there.

What we wanted to do for this report at BYU Studies is pull the very best data. And there’s wonderful datasets out there that are created by Harvard’s Cooperative Election Survey or created by the Pew Research Center. And so what we did is we identified those studies that were the gold standard in terms of how they collect the data. BYU didn’t collect any of these data. It’s all those other really fabulous institutions who specialize in these kinds of data collections.

And what’s important about that as well is that it’s representative. And so, again, we will often hear this or that or the other. Unfortunately, often it’s with data that’s not representative, but these particular organizations do a great job of collecting these national samples of all kinds of individuals across all kinds of different backgrounds, and Latter-day Saints are often captured in there. So, what we can do is we can take a look at “How are Latter-day Saints doing nationally, and how does that compare to those of other faiths or no faith?”

3:00

Jon Ryan Jensen: I love that because as I mentioned in the beginning, the Church announced the total number of new baptisms for last year being a really high number, comparatively, to the past few years. And it puts the Church closer and closer toward a benchmark of 18 million members that has not been hit before.

And so, when members of the Church hear somebody like Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles call those numbers remarkable, but then they hear some of the narratives that you mentioned in social media or in other news outlets saying, “Well, maybe,” how do you feel about the chance to look at these numbers? And what do you come away feeling, before we dive into some of the specifics?

Justin Dyer: Well, so that’s really one of the reasons why we decided to dive into this, is because, all right, we had those narratives out there, and I love the concept that we’re going to learn by study and by faith. Information for me is wonderful. Information paired with inspiration. And so, in order to really understand what’s going on, we decided, “Well, let’s go into the very best data that can help to, if you will, clear away some of the misconceptions based on hearsay or based on even just personal experience.

Now, personal experience is really, really important. Part of the question is: “OK, how far does that go? How much does that generalize?” And with these big data, we can take a look at that. And I think it’s really important also to say that what we’re looking at is general trends. And none of what we’re going to talk about today in this particular report is going to invalidate somebody’s personal experience, but what it does is it helps us to situate our personal experiences within the broader experiences that people are having in the Church and people are having in other religions.

4:44

Jon Ryan Jensen: So, as you mentioned broadly, one of the findings of this is that the Church has some really high percentages of activity, especially across the United States of America.

How does the Church compare to other religions in the country?

Justin Dyer: You know, that was one of the things that was in some ways particularly surprising, where what we looked at and we found — and again, we could compare it to those of other faiths. For example, we could look at church attendance, worship service attendance. How often do people attend worship services?

The Pew data finds that Latter-day Saints attend worship services more than any other religion that they surveyed. In fact, 76% of Latter-day Saints from earlier generations and 76% of Latter-day Saints who are millennials and Gen Z attend church at least on a monthly basis, which is really quite remarkable. Especially when you compare it to many of the other religions. Now, obviously you’d say, “Well, that’s 24% that aren’t attending on a monthly basis, and whoa, we really need to work on that.”

5:52

Jon Ryan Jensen: Both of these things can be true.

Justin Dyer: That’s exactly right. Sometimes what happens is we see something that, “Oh, somebody’s not going to church,” and then we generalize that, or we just say, “Well, that must be unique to Latter-day Saints,” when if somebody’s not attending with us, boy, we really want them to attend with us. That would be a wonderful thing, and we want them there with us. And so, we absolutely can focus on this ministering aspect to reach out to these individuals who might not be with us.

At the same time, when we look at it within the broad spectrum, sometimes what we do is we flip from, “Oh my goodness, what’s going wrong?” in the Church to then we see it in context of others to, “What’s going right?” It looks like there’s something actually going really right here with how we’re able to encourage people. So, attendance is one thing. Regular scripture study is another thing that we’re very high on.

Jon Ryan Jensen: Yeah, this was one of the things that I was looking at in the numbers. We talked before we started — I’m a dad, a father of four — and this was an interesting part for me, where you have some notes in there about study, not just at a personal level but at a family level as well.

6:53

Justin Dyer: Yeah, that’s exactly right. The Church does emphasize family relationships, and we also have the wonderful “Come, Follow Me” family-centered, Church-supported curriculum. And so, what this is translating into, it appears, is the highest level of parents engaging religiously with their kids. And there’s all kinds of benefits to that. No. 1, you are engaging with your kids, but you’re engaging with them on things that are of deep meaning and deep value.

Now, of course, those scripture studies and those prayers don’t always go the way that we would want, the way that we would hope. It’s a lot of bedlam many times. At the same time, we’re doing it, again, more than others out there. And I think we see the Church’s emphasis really paying off in those instances. I mean, getting families together is what our society needs so desperately. And within the Church, we seem to be producing that at uniquely high levels.

7:54

Jon Ryan Jensen: I was talking with my wife about this recently, as our kids were getting ready for the end of a school year, and they were taking some end-of-level testing and some college placement testing. And there were times when I was looking at my children and saying, “I hope that turns out OK for you, because I am not going to be a whole lot of help.”

But I think to your point, the contrast of that is, as Church members, we’re studying these scriptures every year on a rotating basis, and we do it every week. And the expectation is there that we know that material and live that material. And so we can have those conversations maybe a little bit more fluently than we can about biology or astronomy, because I certainly was not helping my children this year.

8:34

Justin Dyer: Well, and those are the kinds of conversations. When we’re talking about religion, we’re talking about the things of deep meaning and deep importance in our lives. And so, hey, maybe I can’t help my kid with biology, but I’m there with them at that interface when they’re engaging with the deepest questions that we have as human beings. And the answers to those questions are really what drive our lives.

Now, please, kids out there, study your biology, study your statistics. I’m a stats nerd. I love statistics. It’s a wonderful thing. I teach graduate statistics, in fact, at BYU. Study those things. It’s so beneficial. At the same time, what we find in the research is that it’s that religiosity, it’s that connecting with the divine, that really makes the big differences in our lives.

9:28

Jon Ryan Jensen: So, I mentioned my own family, but I’m also part of a multigenerational family of Church members. And so, one of the other things that stood out to me as I looked at some of this data is the fact that you’re seeing younger members have a higher propensity for staying in the Church or for having some of those deep experiences. And I know that around the family dinner table, sometimes it might not feel that way. Are they really reading? Are they really praying?

So, did that surprise you at all when you started to read that? And what do you take away from those numbers?

9:59

Justin Dyer: Yeah, I think there are two things that happened there. We recognize that there are people who are disconnecting from religion in general. That’s happening across the board, across the United States and in Western societies. And we see that within our own families. We see that within our own friends.

And so for me, as I saw that just in my own experience, you know, you wonder, “Well, how prevalent is this?” Anybody that starts disconnecting from whatever religion it might be, they often lose the protection that comes from being a part of that religious organization. And we rightly feel that and desire for them to connect.

And so, sometimes when we see that and we feel those feelings of wanting them to be with us, we can get a little bit despairing about what’s happening today. So, at the same time, OK, well, let’s look at the very best data that’s out there. Let’s put what’s happening to Latter-day Saints in context of the rest. And you’re exactly right. Actually, Latter-day Saints hang on to their millennial and Gen Z members better than almost any other Christian tradition that’s out there.

And where we really are different is that when we talk about retention and we look at retention in this report, what we’re looking at is people that said, “I was a Latter-day Saint growing up, and I’m still a Latter-day Saint today.” And so they identify as a Latter-day Saint, they continue to identify as an adult. Well, we also looked at not just “Do I continue to identify as a particular religion” but: “Am I engaged in that religion? Am I attending worship services of that religion on a regular basis?”

And that’s really where the Church stands out in terms of maintaining people as part of the religion, identifying as well as being active and attending worship services. So, whatever we’re doing seems to be helping our most recent generations continue to connect better than other religions. Now, I don’t want to say this in terms of like, “Well, we’re better, we’re better, worse,” that it’s some kind of competition. But what it helps me to do is it helps me to think about my own experiences and what I hear in the narratives.

And then what the data do is help me to locate my experiences and what I hear from others within that, “Is that the general experience?” And when we look at that more broadly, there’s a lot of hope, and there’s a lot of good things that are coming out of that, even while we recognize that anybody who disconnects from religion, the Church, is something that we feel deeply and we are very rightly concerned about.

12:53

Jon Ryan Jensen: Yeah, it took me a second as I was looking at some of the data in here to understand the difference in two kinds of retention. Because in the Church, we talk about retention typically referring specifically to new members of the Church. And when you’re looking at this data, you’re looking at retention as lifelong retention of members in their faith traditions.

When the Church announced less than a year ago that the young women of the Church were going to be able to serve missions at age 18, I had a conversation with the Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman, and she talked about just what you’re saying, where part of the reason for this change is because this upcoming generation, they are fully invested. They want these opportunities. They want to share their testimonies. And that retention, then, has long-term benefits because they are so involved at those younger ages.

13:43

Justin Dyer: Oh, absolutely. When they get involved at those younger ages, and that’s what we see in the data, that Latter-day Saint youth are really engaged in their religion. Again, on average — we all understand what that means, right? — that on average, they’re really quite engaged with their religion, and that just bears so much fruit down the road.

There is a mountain of research evidence that says that being religiously engaged is good for one’s mental health. Now, again, that’s on average. Of course there are some difficult things that happen to people within religion. And we need to acknowledge that, and we need to remove that from religious experience as much as we possibly can.

At the same time, again, while acknowledging that, we also need to put that in the broader context and see the great benefits that we see the majority of people deriving from their religious experience. My testimony isn’t based on the numbers. That helps me understand. But it also helps me to see, I think, a little bit better the work of the Lord in trying to bless His children. And one of those ways He does it is through religion, helping bring people to Him.

14:57

Jon Ryan Jensen: Yeah, that takes me back to the last podcast conversation that you had with Mary Richards, and you were talking about the importance of temple attendance as one of those behaviors. You don’t attend the temple or serve in the temple because you want to have good mental health. We attend the temple, we serve in the temple because it has a purpose to Heavenly Father and to His children. But the positive outcome is there because you are participating in that worship in the temple.

15:27

Justin Dyer: God is, I think we could say, the happiest person. And what does God do all day long? “For behold, this is my work and my glory — to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of” every single one of us (Moses 1:39). And apparently, that’s something that makes Him really happy and where we also can find so much joy. And so, boy, that first and second commandment, where we’re to love God and love and serve our fellow man, that is a recipe for a much happier, much healthier life.

16:07

Jon Ryan Jensen: So, one of the challenges, then, is that there are things happening sometimes within those religious behaviors, like church attendance, that is causing some of those younger members and older members alike to step back from that level of participation in Church activity.

And I want to let you share what those things are that maybe we can get better at, and maybe some insight into what focus you would put there instead of those activities.

Justin Dyer: Sure. That’s a great question. So, what we were able to do with some data is we had 2,000 youth — about half Latter-day Saint, about half not — and we tracked them for, now, 10 years. And so we could look at them as they grow up. And so we could see: “All right, when is it that they might step away from the Church? And what are the factors that were going on earlier in their lives that then predict whether or not they might step away from the Church?”

One of the biggest factors for somebody maintaining their faith and maintaining their engagement in religion is experiencing God’s presence on a regular basis. Now, what does that mean? It was just a question within this large battery of things. But those that say, “Yes, I experience God’s presence in my life, and I experience God’s love in my life on a regular basis,” that was powerfully predictive.

17:32

Jon Ryan Jensen: I love that, because it’s open to the person’s interpretation. And as we know from many Church leaders, how you identify and feel the influence of the Holy Ghost is individual. It’s personal.

Justin Dyer: Yeah, absolutely. And so, when you’re talking about, well, the kinds of things that maybe are done at church, we want to make sure that those are leading to personal sorts of connections with the divine, that they feel the Holy Ghost, they feel the divine love, they feel the divine influence on their hearts.

And so, if we’re doing our scripture study, hopefully we’re also, as we’re doing that, we’re thinking: “How is it that I can be connecting with God? How can I be worshipping God through this?” If we’re just going through the motions — now, sometimes in my scripture study, it’s more or less I’m just going through the motions, and I’m not having these major epiphanies.

Jon Ryan Jensen: Every single time you open scriptures.

Justin Dyer: Right. But at least we’re putting ourselves in those places. And that’s the purpose. It’s not just to check off on the list, but I am going to engage with the scriptures today to try to experience God’s presence in my life. I’m going to go to church to try and experience God’s presence.

One of the major things that’s happened over the last few decades and why we see a drop-off in religion within the United States is this increase in a focus on the self. Now, in some ways, that’s actually a good thing to help us focus on ourselves and understand our emotions and those kinds of things. At the same time, too intense a focus on ourselves leaves us barren because we’re not serving others, like we said. That’s where we get fed.

19:15

Jon Ryan Jensen: That balance — selfishness, pride on one end, if you focus too much on yourself, and being able to serve others with that which you learn and have felt, and it becomes important to you.

Justin Dyer: Yeah, absolutely. And so, the more and more we can go to church — not with the focus of, “All right, what am I going to benefit from this?” but more with the focus of: “How can I bless somebody else today? How can I feel God’s presence in my life today?” — if we’re going there for the two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor, we are going to feel the joy that comes from that, and we’re going to stay much more connected.

So, that was one of the major things that we found predictive of somebody maintaining connections with the Church, is that they’re experiencing that divine presence in their life on a regular basis.

20:06

Jon Ryan Jensen: I love that too because, again, as I go back to the school experiences with my children recently, I found myself encouraging some high school age children to recognize that every time you go to a science class, you’re not going to discover the next law that Newton didn’t and left on the table for you. You have to do the baby steps to get to the place where you can have those bigger major discoveries in your life. And, in a way, what you’re saying is that’s the same for us spiritually.

Justin Dyer: That’s exactly right. The Lord, as President Nelson says, loves effort. And to be quite honest, we love effort too. Now, we kind of don’t think that in some moments. But if we think about our lives and the moments where we feel the proudest, the moments where we feel fulfilled, it’s when I did something really hard, and I stuck with it: I wrote that paper for that class, or I really worked to attain a particular physical goal, running or whatever it is.

It’s those moments after that effort that we receive the fruits. It’s what Alma talks about, Alma 32: It’s because of your diligence and your patience and your faith. You read those last three verses there in Alma 32, and the words “diligence,” “patience” and “faith” show up again and again, and then we receive that fruit. It’s just beautiful. And again, I think we see that borne out in the data very well.

21:32

Jon Ryan Jensen: I love that. On the flip side, fair to admit that there are some parents who feel like the fruit that they expected has not really borne out. And I’ve seen that in neighborhood and family as well. But there was some reason for those parents to have hope that you saw in the data as well.

21:53

Justin Dyer: Oh, absolutely. We do our very best to prepare an environment, to prepare the ground, and then we allow the God-given agency that we have, and that our children have, to take place.

There is, within our data, what we found is sometimes we can think that, well, if somebody disconnects from the Church, we sometimes can frame that as: “Well, they just dislike religion altogether. And they’re just disconnected from all the good that we tried to provide for them.”

What we were able to do with some national data is use some statistics to categorize individuals who have stepped away from the Church. And most of them still think religion is important. They still think spirituality is important in their lives. And they’re still hanging on to a lot of those things.

There is a portion, about 10%, that are really truly negative about religion and spirituality. But those seem to be, in many instances, the voices that we tend to hear, say, on social media. As we hear that minority, that’s important to understand those experiences that they’ve had and how they’re —

Jon Ryan Jensen: It doesn’t diminish their experience. They had the experience.

Justin Dyer: Absolutely. Doesn’t diminish that whatsoever. And we have the opportunity to learn from what their experiences were. At the same time, again, if we look at the broader context, most people still stay connected to religion.

So, in the Life Help section, President Oaks has a great statement there. And what he talks about is what happens when somebody is making a choice that we would disagree with. He said that we shouldn’t start by arguing about that choice. We should start by asking them: “Where are you coming from on this? What are your values?” In other words, we can be curious about what they’re experiencing.

And very often what we find is that these individuals still hold so much of the wonderful things that the Church has given them. And then as we understand that individual, that builds that bridge, and they feel understood and seen and heard by us. And then we can continue to express and be our authentic selves within the gospel. And they can know where we derive all of these blessings that we experience in our lives.

It’s talked about in that section that they probably don’t just need a lot of preaching; they need to be heard, understood, because our lives will do that preaching. They know where we’re at, and we can have all the hope in the universe. The Lord hasn’t given up on them by any measure. He’s in relentless pursuit of them and we can be a conduit of God’s love to that individual. We all know those people who, we’re around them, and we’re just like, “Wow, I feel God’s love for you,” just sitting with that person.

Jon Ryan Jensen: It just emanates from someone.

25:09

Justin Dyer: It does. And we want that, and we are attracted by that. When we can be a conduit of God’s love to these individuals, that builds that bridge so that it’s there when they’re seeking for something more in their lives. And those experiences and those things that come to, often, their remembrance, right?

Enos thought back on what his dad had taught him. Alma the Younger was even able to draw upon, when he was in that despair, draw upon all the teachings that he’d had from his dad and was able to know, “Oh, I can cry out to Jesus Christ.” None of that, none of our efforts, are ever wasted. And the Lord plays the long game, and we can too and have all the hope in the world, even though it can be difficult. And we’re often struggling through it, but God is a God of great hope, and we can have that.

26:09

Jon Ryan Jensen: I’m glad that you brought up the resources. You mentioned that quote from President Dallin H. Oaks, and we hadn’t talked about this before, but what a great resource, the Church putting in Gospel Library this whole Life Help section within its Topics and Questions. And for a lot of the things that we’ve talked about today, there are some good helps for parents, for leaders and for those who have questions right now and aren’t sure who to go to, but some really great resources there in the Church website and in the Gospel Library app.

26:36

Justin Dyer: You know, I’ll say one of the things in some ways that shouldn’t surprise me, but I should say this is an ever-living surprise for me, is how spot-on the Church leaders are with their counsel to us. That Life Help section is fabulous. You listen to general conference. And I spend a lot of time preparing these reports, doing all this data analysis, really helps me to kind of clear away some of the cobwebs and some of the confusion to know where we’re at.

But even so, once that’s done, I realize, “OK, well, what do we do?” Oh, well, President Oaks just talked about that in general conference. And the Church has already provided so many resources for us. And I think when we remain dialed in to what the prophets, seers and revelators are teaching us, we are going to get so much benefit from it, and even more than we will often recognize. And just doing this research helps me to recognize even more and more how important their informed and inspired counsel is to us.

27:48

Jon Ryan Jensen: I look back at what we’ve recently been studying in 2026 in the Old Testament with our “Come, Follow Me” study. And what you’re saying about the words of modern prophets applying to us and helping us with the questions we have right now is also seen with our study backwards. When you look at those historical books, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, you’re seeing them do the same thing, where they’re trying to listen to prophets’ guidance for the things they were experiencing and how it helped them overcome the challenges they had. And the same holds true for us today.

28:18

Justin Dyer: Oh, absolutely. I think as we look within these data, again, Latter-day Saints are at the top in terms of religious connection, connection to their religion. We’re also at the top often and very high in terms of our well-being, our mental health. Again, that doesn’t dismiss anybody that’s experiencing difficulties. That certainly exists within the Church, and it’s not because somebody’s sinning or anything like that.

At the same time, again, it’s important for us to recognize that Latter-day Saints on average are doing really quite well in these areas. And for me, what that does speak to is exactly what you’re saying. We have the Book of Mormon, which is for our day. We have living prophets, seers, and revelators that are teaching us what we need to know today, and they can guide us through this incredibly confusing time.

I mean, it used to be, if you go back in the day, all the information that you could get was contained within the family that you lived with and whatever books you happened to have. If you wanted more information, you’d have to go out to the town, or you’d have to go order something or whatever to get additional information. I mean, it was really limited.

Today, you’ve got your smartphone, and all of a sudden you have information overload. And I think we probably live in a day, well, easy to say that we live in a day with more information than we have ever had in all of human history. And so, navigating that is so crucial. And having a book of scripture written for our day, having prophets, seers and revelators that can speak to us today is absolutely critical to guide us through the times in which we live.

30:08

Jon Ryan Jensen: We talk a lot on the Church News podcast about the importance of counseling. We talk about counseling with general Church leaders or down at the ward council level or as a family.

I’m really intrigued to know how those counseling sessions went with you and your four co-authors on this release that you have, because I imagine that you all came out with different experiences, as we’ve talked about at the individual level.

What did you learn the most as you talked with your co-authors?

30:37

Justin Dyer: Oh, the co-authors are absolutely fantastic. And each of us has a different area of, if you will, PhD-level experience. And so we’re coming at this from different places. And absolutely, they will bring out insights as we’re looking at these data that I don’t have. This really is a collaborative work where some individuals are focusing more on, “Well, what’s happening with the women?” or “What’s happening with the men here?” and “Why would we be seeing these different kinds of trends that we do in the data?”

And so, I just gained so many insights from these data, from those other fabulous disciple-scholars that helped me to see things that I would otherwise miss. It’s fabulous to have that kind of counsel.

31:32

Jon Ryan Jensen: Well, as we wrap up our podcast today, thank you for coming and for sharing all this information with us. As we have the tradition on the Church News podcast, we like to give our guests the last word.

And so, Justin Dyer, my last question for you today is: What do you know now, having looked at all of this research and having gleaned what you have from these studies?

31:52

Justin Dyer: One thing that I have had reaffirmed to me and that I understand better is simply seeing the work of the Lord bear fruit in the lives of the Latter-day Saints, but also in the lives of our Presbyterian brothers and sisters and Baptist brothers and sisters.

As we look at these data, we recognize that Latter-day Saints aren’t alone in being blessed by connecting with religion. That the Lord wants to bless all of His children. And we have a particular blessing within the Church of having the prophets, seers and revelators.

At the same time, you see the work of the Lord spread throughout and the Lord really wanting to bless His children through helping them connect with Him, who is the source of all truth and light and goodness. It’s just a beautiful thing to pair this study and faith to have a broader understanding of the work of the Lord in our day.

33:23

Jon Ryan Jensen: Thank you for listening to the Church News podcast. I’m your host, Church News editor Jon Ryan Jensen. I hope you learned something today about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had your faith in the Savior increase by looking through the Church News window as a living record of the Restoration. Please subscribe, rate and review this podcast so it can be accessible to more people. And if you enjoyed the messages we shared today, please share the podcast with others. Thanks to our guests and to others who make this podcast possible. Join us every week for a new episode. Find us on your favorite podcasting channels or with other news and updates about the Church on TheChurchNews.com or on the Church News app.

How the gathering of Israel is accelerating around the world

‘A sacred sight’: 120 begin their covenant path on same day in Sierra Leone

129 baptized during the same weekend as the creation of Papua New Guinea’s 4th stake in 14 months

Refugee walks 728 miles to be baptized after reading Book of Mormon

Waters of baptism, walls of stone: 107 baptisms and a temple-focused people in Papua New Guinea

Donations in health

The city of Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, is marked by a growing population, increased pressure on infrastructure — and an overwhelming need for clean drinking water — something local urban and Church authorities noticed and sought to change.

Church authorities sat together with Deputy Mayor Farida Mwepu Oduel in Kolwezi in hopes of creating a partnership to benefit those in the city.

Three days later, the city held an official project launch ceremony on Friday, May 15, presided over by Oduel. The project, which aims to produce clean drinking water, includes drilling six boreholes — a borehole being a narrow, deep hole drilled into the ground to access underground water resources.

Each hole has the capacity to provide water for over 500 households per day and are strategically located in the most vulnerable neighborhoods, explained the Church’s Africa Newsroom.

During the ceremony, Elder Ndalamba Ilunga, an Area Seventy in the Africa Central Area, expressed gratitude to the local authorities for the opportunity to serve. He noted that the project was made possible through the voluntary contributions of Church members, motivated by the conviction referenced in Mosiah 2:17 that “when we are in the service of our fellow beings, we are in the service of God.”

Some 1,600 miles to the east lies Vihiga County, Kenya – a rural county impacted by medical supplies donated to it’s local hospital.

The donation included ultrasound systems, treadmills, electrotherapy machines and more. Some equipment that arrived early had already been used in the hospital to save lives before the official handover ceremony began on May 21, explained Vihiga District Gov. Wilber Khasilwa Ottichilo.

“We are very grateful, and we want to continue this partnership, and we want the Church to grow in this county,” he said in a report on Africa Newsroom. “We are happy, and we thank God for what you have done.”

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the county faced many challenges; Ottichilo expressed a sense of hopelessness until he was introduced to the Church and began a collaboration with it.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Almighty God for this special day,” he said at the ceremony. “I want to most sincerely thank the Church for what you have done for the people of Vihiga. I can tell you, you have made a very significant difference in the healthcare system and support in our county.”

Donations in education

The Kacyiru School in Kigali, Rwanda, serves over 3,000 students, yet it lacks proper seating and sanitation for students.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 285 new desks, a new wash station, 16 student latrines and five toilets to the school.

Lambert Riziki, the district education officer in Kigali, expressed appreciation to the Church for its continued support. “Such contributions reflect the kind of partnership encouraged by national leadership,” he said.

Donations for women

In an initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, the Church participated in an sustainable empowerment event Saturday, May 2.

The event, organized by the nonprofit TRACT (Rural Workers in Action), brought together women market gardeners — key contributors to food security — technical trainers, community leaders and partners committed to promoting women’s empowerment.

The training taught women sustainable agricultural practices and financial management. The Church donated machetes, hoes, rakes and other equipment to the market gardener women.

“We thank The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for its commitment and selfless love toward market-gardener women. This partnership contributes concretely to our empowerment,” said Agnès Kangala, president of TRACT.

Also in the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies the town of Mwene-Ditu, where the Church funded and constructed a new maternity building at the Tshiamala General Reference Hospital.

Joyfully, Mayor Gérard Tshibanda Kabwe cut a red, yellow and blue ribbon representing the opening of the building at the inauguration ceremony on March 27.

Saving Samuel: How a Church humanitarian donation saved a premature infant in Zambia

Church makes $25 million donation to UNICEF fund supporting child nutrition

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues food donations to communities in need

Speaking in the Cannon Activities Center on the Laie, Hawaii, campus, Elder Rasband centered his remarks around the well-known phrase in John 8:32: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Highlighting a “profoundly important” teaching, Elder Rasband explained to students that the verse “helps explain part of the reason your Heavenly Father is surely pleased that you are pursuing an education,” he said. “He wants you to learn truth so that you can be free, so that you can be powerful leaders, and, in Lehi’s words, so that you ‘might have joy.’”

Though the John 8 scripture is well-known, its message about being made free by truth is easily misunderstood, Elder Rasband explained.

Education will make one free

“Sometimes when we talk about being free, we may think too narrowly about the meaning of freedom,” he said. Rather than the absence of any restraint or restrictions, the freedom Elder Rasband referred to is the God-given agency to choose good from evil.

“If the only freedom we enjoy is freedom from someone else dictating our choices, we are not very free,” he continued. “When the Savior talked about being “free” in John 8, He was teaching a much richer conception of freedom."

As an example, Elder Rasband invited students to imagine him on Ehukai Beach with a surfboard in hand, looking out towards the Banzai Pipeline as large waves crash down. Not a very experienced surfer himself, Elder Rasband asked students to then imagine a talented surfer standing next to him with an identical board.

The two surfers standing next to one another are both absolutely free to paddle out and surf the pipeline.

“But who is really more free?,” Elder Rasband asked.

“In the abstract, I’m free. I can paddle out. No one is restraining me. But the reality is that I’m not really free to surf Pipeline. But the expert surfer is free,” he explained. “It is his knowledge of all these truths that make him free to ride one of Pipeline’s famous waves.”

In the same way, Elder Rasband taught that educational truths students are learning at BYU–Hawaii are meant to free them “for a joyful and purposeful life.”

An education allows students to avoid deception, exercise wiser judgment and serve others more effectively.

Gospel knowledge will make you free

Even less clear than the implications of freedom is that gospel truths, including Heavenly Father’s commandments, work in the same way as secular truths – they also “set you free.”

“Gospel truths are intended to make us free, powerful and joyful,” Elder Rasband said.

He then invited students to return to the scene at Ehukai Beach, with himself and an experienced surfer standing on the sand with identical boards. In this scenario, there is a sign that warns surfers about dangerous waves and currents. Elder Rasband carefully looks at the highway, scans the trees across the street and looks up and down before carefully asking the other surfer, ‘See any cops?’

“Surely, you’d think, ‘Why in the world is Elder Rasband concerned about the police? He should be worried about the waves,’” he taught.

Through this analogy, Elder Rasband explained to students that commandments are not limits imposed by a “cosmic police officer who is looking to catch us and make us an offender.” More accurately, commandments are created by Heavenly Father to make His children free from the consequences of sin.

“In sum, just like the academic truths that you are studying make you free, so too do the gospel truths you are learning in your religion classes, in your scripture study and through your experience of striving to live the gospel,” he said.

In closing his remarks, Elder Rasband invited students to be diligent in their pursuit of truth through studying in classes, studying the scriptures and striving to be guided by the Holy Ghost.

“The truths you learn will make you free. And if the blessings from some truths are not immediately apparent, may I invite you to follow President [Dallin H.] Oaks’ counsel to wait patiently upon the Lord, trusting that our Heavenly Father’s plan really is a plan of happiness,” Elder Rasband testified.

In his last few moments at the podium, Elder Rasband left students with one truth, which he says needs to be understood above all other truths: “No matter how shackled or imprisoned we feel because of our ignorance or our mistakes, through the Savior and His atoning sacrifice, we can be made free indeed,” he said. “I testify this is true.”

Sister Mary W. Rasband, preceding her husband in the devotional, bore her testimony of a loving Heavenly Father and His selfless Son, Jesus Christ.

“Most importantly, I know we have a Heavenly Father who loves us deeply and eternally,” she said. “I believe that it is because of His love for us that He sent us here to earth to live and to learn and to become more like Him.”

Elder and Sister Stevenson encourage young adults to deepen their conversion and faith in Jesus Christ

Elder James R. Rasband: ‘The Plan of Mercy’

President Haws invites students to ‘remember His name’ at BYU–Hawaii devotional

In a May 31 post, President D. Todd Christofferson, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum Apostles shared a clip from a recent discussion video about religious liberty, moral agency and their significance for the Church and other faiths.

“Freedom of religion is especially crucial and something that we see around us in some jeopardy,” President Christofferson said.

Elder Cook added, “We wanted everybody … to be able to choose the faith that they wanted to follow.”

View this post on Instagram

Church provides discussion guide, resources for 5th-Sunday lesson on religious freedom

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, shared a post on May 28 about a recent meeting he had with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

“Our conversation centered on a truth we both cherish deeply: that selfless service is a force for good — one that strengthens individuals and uplifts communities. In a world that often feels divided, I am grateful for moments like this that remind us of what unites us,” he wrote.

President Uchtdorf meets with president of Germany, dedicates 2 stake centers

Posting a clip on June 2 from his address at the BYU Women’s Conference in May, Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the importance of acting in faith.

“As we act in accordance with the truths of the Savior’s gospel and trust in His promises, we are blessed with the spiritual capacity to ‘rise up’ and press forward through the challenges of mortality while experiencing the joys His gospel makes possible in our lives,” he wrote.

View this post on Instagram

Elder Bednar joins Latter-day Saint women to teach what it means to ‘rise up’

“Life is going to be hard,” wrote Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson in a May 31 post that highlighted the experiences of Hannah in the Old Testament.

“When you do hard with Jesus Christ, the hard becomes holy,” she wrote.

The Relief Society Worldwide page also featured a video on June 4 of President Johnson teaching about the importance of home-centered gospel learning.

‘Making peace will change the world,’ President Johnson testifies to religious educators

In this May 31 post, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his thoughts the same day he dedicated the Bacolod Philippines Temple.

“I also believe today that heaven is smiling as the Bacolod Philippines Temple became a dedicated house, a blessing to the wonderful Saints in this area of the Philippines. It is a house of prayer, a house of peace, a house of power and revelation,” he wrote.

Elder Andersen also posted this video on June 3 about the importance of lifelong discipleship in a meeting for missionaries in Quezon City, Philippines.

Honoring area pioneers and looking to the blessings of the temple, Elder Andersen dedicates the Bacolod Philippines Temple

“You have a purpose,” Primary General President Susan H. Porter taught Primary children in her April 2026 general conference talk “Here Am I, Send Me” and shared it in a video post on June 1.

She invited children to pray to their Heavenly Father. “He can help you stand for truth so you can bring His light to others,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

President Porter teaches how children have ‘intrinsic worth and dignity’

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a video on June 2 with Catholic clergy member Monseñor Javier del Río Alba, a longtime friend of Elder Renlund and the Church.

“It’s just a joy that he would take the time and come down and visit with me today,” Elder Renlund said.

View this post on Instagram

New temple announced for Otavalo, Ecuador

Sister Tamara W. Runia, first counselor in the Young Women general presidency, posted a clip of her recent BYU Women’s Conference message in a reel on June 3.

“Let the Savior’s light shine through you because of covenants you have made,” she said. “His light shines from your eyes, and your countenance reflects His image when you make good choices.”

View this post on Instagram

BYU Women’s Conference: Sister Runia on the power of Christ’s light

As part of a multipart video series about faith and artificial intelligence, Elder Gerrit W. Gong shared preview videos from the series about remembering divine identity, including this June 4 post.

“You are not a data point. You’re a beloved child of God with moral agency and divine potential,” he said in this June 1 post.

View this post on Instagram

At summit in Athens, Elder Gong shares soaring hopes, hard questions for AI systems

Sister Amy A. Wright, first counselor in the Primary general presidency, together with the Primary Worldwide page, posted on June 3 a reminder to avoid gossip on social media.

“May we strive to see others through the lens of the same mercy and charity that the Savior so abundantly showers upon each one of us,” she wrote.

Sister Wright invites Ensign College students to pay attention to the Savior’s invitations to ‘Behold’

In a post on France’s Mother’s Day on May 31, Elder Gérald Caussé of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared his love and appreciation for his wife, Sister Valérie Caussé.

“I feel deeply grateful for Valérie and for the happiness she brings into our lives,” Elder Caussé wrote. “May we all strive to create loving, Christ-centered homes — places where joy can flourish and where our children are inspired to cherish the gospel throughout their lives.”

He also shared this post on June 3 with a clip from his April 2026 general conference address.

This Mother’s Day on social: Church leaders honor women who are the ‘heart of the Lord’s work’

Comparing a hand-drawn diagram of the plan of salvation with the illustration in “Preach My Gospel,” Sister Andrea Muñoz Spannaus, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, taught in a video post on May 29 that Jesus Christ is central to Heavenly Father’s plan for His children

“He helps us. He has the power to forgive our sins and guide us every day of our existence in this mortal world,” she said.

Sister Spannaus also posted June 4 on the Young Women Worldwide page explaining more about Young Women age groups.

View this post on Instagram

See the doctrine and context behind the new Young Women age-group names

See answers to questions about the new Young Women age-group names

Elder Clark G. Gilbert of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a post on June 1 with an experience he had helping a family whose members had wanted to step away from their faith. The family’s experiences was one he shared in his April 2026 general conference talk “Come Home.”

“Overcoming their concerns was not an issue of resolving every faith question but of helping them recognize the Holy Ghost,” he wrote.

See past social media posts from Church leaders

How to subscribe to the Church News in print and online