Life can be incredibly unfair—but with the right perspective, we can see it as unfair in our favor.

Jennie Taylor is a mother of seven who suffered a devastating loss when her husband, Brent Russell Taylor, was killed overseas during a military deployment. Colliding into a mountain range of heartache and despair, Jennie shares the most searing parts of her journey to reclaim life, hope, and her family, and how hearing God’s voice distinctly reached her through the shattered pieces.

Watch the video “Life is Incredibly Unfair – In Our Favor:”

Read or watch Elder Dale G. Renlund’s talk “Infuriating Unfairness.”

The world needs your light.

Jesus taught that you are the light of the world. What can you do to share your light with others? This year’s #LightTheWorld initiative will inspire you and give you tips on what to do this Christmas season.

Learn more at LightTheWorld.org.

The Church has published the schedule of Churchwide broadcast events for 2023. This information is helpful to wards and stakes as they plan their calendars for 2023.

Churchwide Broadcasts

• January 8: Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
• January 29: Worldwide Event for Youth on 2023 Youth Theme
• March 2–4: RootsTech Family History Conference
• April 1–2: April 2023 General Conference
• April 7–8: The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square Easter Concert
• May 21: Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
• September 10: Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
• September 30–October 1: October 2023 General Conference
• October 22: Worldwide Event for Youth
• December 3: First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional

Additional Recorded Resources

• January 27: S&I Annual Broadcast
• March 2: Temple and Family History Instruction
• March 11: Friend to Friend for Children
• June 11: Teaching Youth and Young Adults
• June TBD: Worldwide Broadcast on Sharing the Gospel
• July TBD: Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert
• August TBD: Youth Music and Arts Festival
• September 2: Friend to Friend for Children
• November 4: Luz de Las Naciones
• November 18: Church Music Festival from Temple Square
• November TBD: Temple Square Christmas Concert

Event Information

• Recordings of each event will be archived on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Individuals, families and leaders are encouraged to use the live streams or recordings to supplement teaching, training and activities at home and church.
• Event notices will be published on Events.ChurchofJesusChrist.org several weeks before each event.
• These events will appear in the ward and stake calendars at Calendar.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and in the Member Tools app.

Learn more in the article “2023 Churchwide Broadcast Events.”

The Church has released the newest episode in the Book of Mormon Videos series, “Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine” (3 Nephi 27).

The video series can be viewed on YouTube, the Book of Mormon app, Gospel Library (online and app) and Gospel Media (online and app).

Subscribe to the Book of Mormon Videos YouTube channel (English, Portuguese, Spanish) and turn on notifications to be alerted when new videos are published. The videos are available in 15 languages:  Cantonese,  Cebuano,  English,  French,  German,  Italian,  Japanese,  Korean,  Mandarin,  Portuguese,  Russian, Samoan,  Spanish,  Tagalog, and Tongan.

The following is the release schedule for the other 3 Nephi videos:

• October 7: “Jesus Christ Teaches and Gives Power to Baptize” | 3 Nephi 11–12
• October 14: “Jesus Christ Teaches How to Live the Higher Law” | 3 Nephi 12–14
• October 21: “Jesus Christ Testifies of One Fold and One Shepherd” | 3 Nephi 15–16
• October 28: “Jesus Christ and Angels Minister with Compassion” | 3 Nephi 17
• November 4: “Jesus Christ Introduces the Sacrament” | 3 Nephi 18
• November 11: “The Disciples Minister and Jesus Christ Prays for the People” | 3 Nephi 19
• November 18: “Jesus Christ Explains How He Will Gather Israel” | 3 Nephi 20–23
• November 25: “Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine” | 3 Nephi 27

Did you buy your child a new phone or tablet on Black Friday? Do you know what is accessible on that device? Accountability is the key to avoiding pornography and teaching our children how to thrive in the digital age.

We have written before about Covenant Eyes, a Christian-based program that combines filtering with a system of accountability. We think it’s one of the best programs to help your family stay clear of pornography. Their program can monitor activity across all your family’s smartphones and tablets—all the websites and apps—and prepares an Accountability Report that lets you have conversations about what your family does online and why. You can try the filtering and accountability program free for 30 days using the promo code SAINTS.

Learn more about Covenant Eyes and the app for the iPhone and iPad.

Covenant Eyes is a Christian-based program to help your family stay clear of pornography. The strength of the program is that it combines filtering with a system of accountability. This program helps families escape the temptation by removing the secrecy of the Internet. Accountability software monitors and reports all web activity to an Accountability Partner of your choice. The reports score websites to easily identify mature web addresses, searches, and links. The full-featured filter may be used with the accountability service or by itself. You can choose which services are used by each person in your family: accountability, filtering, or both. They also offer Internet Accountability for the iPhone, iPod touch®, and iPad® and are developing applications for other mobile devices. For about $17 a month, we think this is one of the strongest programs of its kind. We believe in their system so much that we’ve set up an affiliate relationship with them to help spread the word. This page contains affiliate links for which we may receive compensation for referring customers.

The Church’s holiday concert, “The Promise of #Christmas,” is a virtual concert that premiers November 25, 2022, and will be available to watch on demand throughout the Christmas season.

This hour-long, pre-recorded broadcast celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ through hope-filled messages and new arrangements of favorite Christmas music.

Hosted by Stephen Jones, the concert features performances from around the world, including the Philippines, Africa, and the Dominican Republic; songs by groups like the crossover string trio Simply Three; Brazilian singer Gabrielly Lourenço; and BYU Vocal Point.

How to Watch

Watch the broadcast stream beginning on Friday, November 25, at 6:00 p.m. MST, on broadcast.ChurchofJesusChrist.org and on YouTube in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and American Sign Language.

“The Promise of Christmas” will be available for on-demand viewing after the premier and throughout the Christmas season.

On this Thanksgiving Day, you may want to enjoy some of the following resources with your family and friends:

• “Gratitude” entry in Gospel Topics, which lists many additional resources
• See scripture references to giving thanks in the Topical Guide.

And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more. (D&C 78:19)

And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. (Alma 7:23)

Watch the video #GiveThanks from President Russell M. Nelson:

Watch the video “Think to Thank.” Who will you thank God for today?

Watch the video “A Worldwide Compilation of Gratitude: #ThankfulFor” created by the Mormon Channel. (Learn about how the video was created.)

Watch the video about living in thanksgiving daily.

Watch the video “In the Spirit of Thanksgiving.” Random people on the streets of New York City share a variety of grateful responses to one simple question: What are you thankful for?

See more videos on ChurchofJesusChrist.org about gratitude.

When you share these resources on social media, use the hashtags #thankful, #grateful, or #gratitude.

“A grateful heart … comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives.” —President Thomas S. Monson, “The Divine Gift of Gratitude”

Gratitude is a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for blessings or benefits we have received. As we cultivate a grateful attitude, we are more likely to be happy and spiritually strong. We should regularly express our gratitude to God for the blessings He gives us and to others for the kind acts they do for us.

If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?

We live in a world of easy access to technology. Our digital world can be a source of misinformation, negativity, and time wasting or we can use it to spread truth and light.

An article in the Liahona magazine explains simple strategies to establish a healthy tech culture in our families.

Read the article “Creating a Healthy Digital Culture in our Families.”

ChurchofJesusChrist.org has a page with Christmas resources, such as articles, scriptures, stories, videos, and music. Please consider sharing this page with your family and friends this Christmas.

You can also find great references for Christmas at JesusChrist.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

“A Christmas Gift for Jesus” 
A colorful page depicting ideas of what a child could give Christ during Christmas.

“A Different Kind of Christmas Tree” 
A story for young children about a family who focuses on Christ while decorating their Christmas tree. Includes a spot-the-difference activity and a Nativity coloring page.

“Jesus Is Born”
An overview of the Nativity story, including historical facts.

“Straw for the Manger” 
A boy enjoys adding a piece of straw to the manger each time he does a good deed during the Christmas season.

“The Christmas Tree” 
Sister Harriet R. Uchtdorf shares a story about a special Christmas from her childhood. Includes a Christmas ornament craft.

“The First Christmas Gift” 
A story for young children about a boy remembering the true meaning of Christmas. This also includes a finding activity.

“The Open House” 
A girl focuses on the true meaning of Christmas when her ward holds an open house instead of a ward party.

Related:

• Also see this list of 100+ Christmas Stories from Zenoch’s View.

The Church has released it’s annual #LightTheWorld campaign for this Christmas season. Watch the new Light the World video and learn more about what the Church offers this season.

Watch the video “The World Needs Your Light,” which invites you to recognize your own light as you serve others as Christ would.

“You started as a baby, born with His light in your eyes. As you grew, so did that light. It shined bright when you helped someone, forgave someone, loved someone, or treated someone like Jesus taught. This Christmas, the world needs your light. Your family needs your light. The hungry, the lonely, close friends, complete strangers all need your light.”

Here’s how you can get daily reminders delivered directly to you:

• Text “LIGHT” to 71234 to receive daily encouragement and inspiration to serve one person every day starting December 1.
• Sign up for daily email prompts.
• Join the official Light The World Facebook group to share experiences and see uplifting messages from people serving all over the world.

Learn about Light the World giving machines, where you can donate online to the charity of your choice.

Learn about Light the World ideas for wards and branches.

The 2022 Light the World website encourages us to share the joy of Christmas with links and invitations to host a watch party of The Christ Child video, to share inspiring Church messages, and to invite a friend to church. The Light the World campaign website and video are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

The Church has released the newest episode in the Book of Mormon Videos series, “Jesus Christ Explains How He Will Gather Israel” (3 Nephi 20–23).

The video series can be viewed on YouTube, the Book of Mormon app, Gospel Library (online and app) and Gospel Media (online and app).

Subscribe to the Book of Mormon Videos YouTube channel (English, Portuguese, Spanish) and turn on notifications to be alerted when new videos are published. The videos are available in 15 languages:  Cantonese,  Cebuano,  English,  French,  German,  Italian,  Japanese,  Korean,  Mandarin,  Portuguese,  Russian, Samoan,  Spanish,  Tagalog, and Tongan.

The following is the release schedule for the other 3 Nephi videos:

• October 7: “Jesus Christ Teaches and Gives Power to Baptize” | 3 Nephi 11–12
• October 14: “Jesus Christ Teaches How to Live the Higher Law” | 3 Nephi 12–14
• October 21: “Jesus Christ Testifies of One Fold and One Shepherd” | 3 Nephi 15–16
• October 28: “Jesus Christ and Angels Minister with Compassion” | 3 Nephi 17
• November 4: “Jesus Christ Introduces the Sacrament” | 3 Nephi 18
• November 11: “The Disciples Minister and Jesus Christ Prays for the People” | 3 Nephi 19
• November 18: “Jesus Christ Explains How He Will Gather Israel” | 3 Nephi 20–23
• November 25: “Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine” | 3 Nephi 27

What is the best way to mark your scriptures? The missionary guide Preach My Gospel provides the following advice:

Marking or annotating your scriptures can assist you in thinking deeply about a passage or doctrine of the gospel. You can mark your scriptures in many ways. Find a method that works for you. Below are some guidelines for marking a printed version of the scriptures.

• Use pencils or colored markers. Avoid using pens that bleed through the paper.

• Shade, underline, bracket, or outline part of a verse, an entire verse, or a group of verses.

• Avoid excessive marking. The benefit is lost if you cannot understand your markings because you have made too many notes, lines, and colors.

• Underline only a few key words to highlight the verse, section, or chapter.

• Circle or underline key words, and then use straight lines to link closely related words.

• When a series of points in a verse or passage are related, number the points in the margin or text.

• Use the footnotes as a resource for marking and interpreting the scriptures.

• Place a symbol (such as a check mark) in the margin for key verses you feel are critical to remember.

Marking your scriptures should help you focus on applying what you learn and on teaching others. Develop an approach that is consistent and helps you accomplish your purpose as a missionary.

Note: In addition to marking a printed copy of the scriptures, you have all the same options for digital marking using the Gospel Library.

This article explains how to download a PDF of a Church magazine, a manual, or some other Church publication.

Why would you want a PDF rather than just read the publication online?

• Graphic layout. For example, the printed magazines come in beautiful graphic layouts. But when you read the magazines on the Gospel Library app (mobile or online), the articles are mostly text with a few pictures. If you want to see the full graphic layout like the printed magazines, you can download the PDF format and flip through the pages just like the printed version.
• Searchability. Have you ever tried to search for an answer to a question in the General Handbook of Instructions or in a manual, like the recently published manual Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Thomas S. Monson? The search finds the results, but may not take you to the specific chapter where your answer is found. But if you download the PDF, you can search it and find exactly what you want in the whole publication.

How to Download Church Publications

To download the PDF version, go to a publication in the Gospel Library and click the gear icon and then choose Download, as shown in the image below. You will then have options to download the PDF of the entire publication, an article, or a chapter. Many publications also have options to download MP3 audio files.

Examples

Here is an example of an article of the magazine as it appears online:

.

Here is what the same article looks like as a downloaded PDF:

The Church now offers “‘Preparing Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path” discussion guides for parents and fifth-Sunday lessons for Primary teachers. These guides and lessons are in the appendices of Come, Follow Me manuals.

These resources can be used to prepare children for baptism and confirmation, teach them about the importance of the sacrament, and help them understand priesthood power and the blessings of the temple.

• For Primary teachers, “Preparing Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path” is a series of learning activities that can be used on fifth Sundays. It can be found in the appendix of the Come, Follow Me — For Primary New Testament 2023 manual.
• For parents, “Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path” is a series of discussion guides for talking about covenants in normal and natural ways. It can be found in the appendix of the Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families New Testament 2023 manual.

Learn more in the article “Primary general presidency introduces new resources for helping children and youth understand covenants.”

The Church has published the book Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Thomas S. Monson. It contains stories from President Monson’s life and ministry, as well as memorable counsel and witness on topics such as charity, rescuing those in need, the Savior’s gift of resurrection, and finding joy in life’s journey.

This book is the latest in the series of Teachings of Presidents of the Church.

The book is now available in the Gospel Library (mobile app and at ChurchofJesusChrist.org) in English, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

Printed copies of the book may be ordered beginning December 15 at store.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Additional languages. In early November, the book will be available in the Gospel Library in the following additional languages: Albanian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, and Swedish. Printed copies in these languages can be ordered beginning in February 2023.

The Church has released the newest episode in the Book of Mormon Videos series, “The Disciples Minister and Jesus Christ Prays for the People” (3 Nephi 19).

The video series can be viewed on YouTube, the Book of Mormon app, Gospel Library (online and app) and Gospel Media (online and app).

Subscribe to the Book of Mormon Videos YouTube channel (English, Portuguese, Spanish) and turn on notifications to be alerted when new videos are published. The videos are available in 15 languages:  Cantonese,  Cebuano,  English,  French,  German,  Italian,  Japanese,  Korean,  Mandarin,  Portuguese,  Russian, Samoan,  Spanish,  Tagalog, and Tongan.

The following is the release schedule for the other 3 Nephi videos:

• October 7: “Jesus Christ Teaches and Gives Power to Baptize” | 3 Nephi 11–12
• October 14: “Jesus Christ Teaches How to Live the Higher Law” | 3 Nephi 12–14
• October 21: “Jesus Christ Testifies of One Fold and One Shepherd” | 3 Nephi 15–16
• October 28: “Jesus Christ and Angels Minister with Compassion” | 3 Nephi 17
• November 4: “Jesus Christ Introduces the Sacrament” | 3 Nephi 18
• November 11: “The Disciples Minister and Jesus Christ Prays for the People” | 3 Nephi 19
• November 18: “Jesus Christ Explains How He Will Gather Israel” | 3 Nephi 20–23
• November 25: “Jesus Christ Declares the Name of His Church and His Doctrine” | 3 Nephi 27

FamilySearch has announced a series of Facebook and YouTube live events leading up to RootsTech 2023—the world’s largest genealogy conference (March 2–4, 2023). Get insider insights and ask questions live to the RootsTech Team.

This series of monthly interactive Facebook and YouTube live events will give you an inside peek at the latest plans for RootsTech 2023.

RootsTech 2023 Facebook and YouTube Live Events Schedule

• RootsTech Speakers and Classes (November 18, 2022). Discover exciting highlights of some of the 200 new classes to be offered in 2023.
• RootsTech Main Stage Highlights (January 17, 2023). Be the first to know center stage keynote and entertainment plans!
• RootsTech Sponsors Update (February 7, 2023). Learn about the 2023 platinum sponsors and what new features and experiences they will be offering.

If you cannot attend any of these live events, they will be recorded and available for on-demand viewing at RootsTech Facebook and YouTube.

How to Join the Live Events

On the date of the live event, join on your preferred social channel below:

• RootsTech Facebook
• FamilySearch YouTube

Haven’t registered for RootsTech 2023 yet? Do so now at rootstech.org. The virtual event is free. The in-person event is $98.

Learn more about RootsTech 2023.

The Church’s new For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices teaches the principles that will help us make wise decisions. Parents can use the guide to talk about standards in a new and different way. Instead of talking about rules, we can ask questions to help youth be guided by principles and personal revelation.

Read about two experiences of parents using the principles from the guide to help their youth make decisions in the article “Young Men and Young Women general leaders: Changing how we talk with youth about standards.”

Learn more about the guide in the article “New Edition of ‘For the Strength of Youth’ Guide.”

In 2022, Light the World giving machines will be available in 17 states in the United States and in five other countries—Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, and the Philippines. Plus, the giving machines are now available online at LightTheWorld.org/give.

The annual effort, organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encourages people everywhere to ask and act on the question “Who needs my light today?”

Using a physical or online giving machine, you can select charitable donations such as groceries, fresh water, child vaccines, beds, hygiene kits, farming equipment, medical care, job training, educational supplies, beehives, and livestock. As part of its worldwide humanitarian efforts, the Church covers all operational costs, so 100% of all donations goes to one of 125 local and global nonprofits who have joined with the Church in serving millions of people in need.

The popular red giving machines will be available beginning in November in the following 28 cities:

1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Birmingham, Alabama
3. Brisbane, Australia
4. Calgary, Alberta
5. Cebu City, Philippines
6. Charleston, South Carolina
7. Charlotte, North Carolina
8. Denver, Colorado
9. Flagstaff, Arizona
10. Gila Valley, Arizona
11. Glendale, Arizona
12. Gilbert, Arizona
13. Guatemala City, Guatemala
14. Honolulu, Hawaii
15. Houston, Texas
16. Kansas City, Missouri
17. Las Vegas, Nevada
18. Manila, Philippines
19. Mexico City, Mexico
20. Nashville, Tennessee
21. New York City, New York
22. Orem, Utah
23. Sacramento, California
24. Salt Lake City, Utah
25. Seattle, Washington
26. St. Augustine, Florida
27. Tucson, Arizona
28. Washington, D.C.

Visit LightTheWorld.org on November 16 for dates and times for each location. The giving machine campaign will run through January 1, 2023.

Beginning today, you may request tickets for the First Presidency’s annual Christmas devotional that will be held Sunday, December 4, 2022. The First Presidency invites you, your family, and your friends to attend or watch the broadcast.

The program will include Christmas messages from General Authorities and General Officers of the Church. Music will be provided by The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

Attend in Person

Ticket requests for attending the Christmas devotional at the Conference Center are available beginning November 7. A maximum of six tickets may be requested at a time.

View Live Stream

On Sunday, December 4, at 6:00 p.m. MST, view a livestream of the devotional will be available on the following channels:

• Live Watch page (broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
• Church YouTube channel
• BYUtv

Various other stations and internet sites throughout the world will also carry the devotional. Check local program listings for availability in your area.

View On Demand

Video and audio recordings of the devotional will be archived for on-demand viewing on Gospel Library and Gospel Media. Video and audio recordings in most languages, as well as text in English, Spanish and Portuguese will be available in about a week. These recordings may be used as part of local ward, stake, or family Christmas celebrations and gatherings.

Share on Social Media

To participate in conversations about the Christmas devotional on Twitter and other social media channels, use the hashtag #ChristmasDevo. (See a list of other hashtags related to the Church.)