Proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Sports fanatic of the Braves, BYU, Packers, Utah Jazz, and I pay attention to UNC & OU!
The Savior has commanded each of us to love God and to love our neighbor. We are grateful for the faithful efforts of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who strive to fulfill this divine commandment. Their service is a witness of discipleship.
My counselors in the First Presidency and I recently visited the Church’s new humanitarian center in Salt Lake City. This facility will serve an important role in preparing and distributing emergency supplies to meet global needs.
I express appreciation for members of the Church and for all who minister in quiet and consistent ways. I testify of Jesus Christ, whose light and Spirit guide the children of God in caring for the poor and the distressed throughout the world.
May we each accept and act upon this sacred responsibility to bless the lives of all of our Father’s children.
Missionary work is soaring to new heights. We are days away from the opening of 55 new missions. This brings the total number of missions to 506. There is a total of over 87,000 full-time missionaries. And we are currently being reinforced by the first wave of 18-year-old sisters beginning their service.
In coming weeks, we will have the largest number of full-time missionaries in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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.
I affirm my testimony of Jesus Christ and the truth of His gospel. The Holy Ghost has given me a witness of its truthfulness, and I rejoice that I can spend my life in proclaiming it.
Enduring to the end is linked inextricably to the spiritual gift of charity. Enduring to the end is not merely a relentless determination to grit our teeth, hold on to the limits of our physical strength and mental capacity, and push through the challenges and adversities of mortal life; it is so much more than that.
Enduring to the end is the joyous quest of a lifetime—a pressing forward with faith in Jesus Christ in a gradual process of trusting in and receiving help from our Savior to become more like Him. As our love for Him grows ever stronger and deeper, we can be blessed to receive spiritual perspective, the Lord’s empowering grace, and exceedingly great and indescribable joy.
True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and is a principle of action, trust, and power.
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.
To those who doubt: Justin and Kenna Valdez moved away from family so they could more easily walk away from their faith. But their eight-year-old son still wanted to be baptized.
Sensing a door opening, a wise stake president scheduled us for a ministering visit to their home. Kenna eventually confided that she still had faith in the Savior, and even a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but faced a few triggering issues that held her back.
We promised them that as they anchored on the things they believed, the Lord would help with the things they didn’t. Overcoming their concerns was not an issue of resolving every faith question but of helping them recognize the Holy Ghost.
As President Dallin H. Oaks recently taught, “You live in a season where the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived.”
Justin and Kenna began to make the changes necessary to come back to church. Six months after our visit, Kenna texted me: “Hi Elder Gilbert! We are ready to be sealed as a family.”
This is a photo from the day they were sealed at the temple.
Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling all of us home.
Can artificial intelligence replace God? That question may sound provocative, but in an age when we turn to algorithms for answers, guidance, and even comfort, it matters deeply.
I invite you to join me at https://t.co/DvO30jz9aP on June 7 as we discuss how to hear God's voice in an age of artificial intelligence.
Music speaks to the soul in a language that transcends words—illuminating the heart, lifting the mind, and gently reminding us of heaven’s light.
I was pleased to learn during my current ministry visit to Europe that the BYU Singers are also traveling through the region, sharing their gifts as they prepare for the Musica Sacra International Festival in Marktoberdorf, Germany.
What made the experience even more meaningful was learning that these devoted young people were scheduled to perform in the very chapel in Salzburg that I was dedicating the same weekend. It was as though their music helped prepare not only the building, but also our hearts.
As I listened to these talented voices testify of Jesus Christ, I felt a deep and abiding gratitude—for music as a divine gift, and for its ability to carry a joyful witness that He lives.
Music has a remarkable power to allow us to love, share, and invite. It reaches across cultures and languages, drawing us closer to one another and, more importantly, to the Savior.
In May 1829, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were working on the translation of the Book of Mormon when they came across a passage about the importance of baptism for the remission of sins.
Baptism in the Book of Mormon is an important principle. Head to our Instagram stories to learn more.
#TheBookOfMormon #Baptism
@Ch_JesusChrist This was such a fun video. The host did such a great job. Great work on the video effects and music. I’m excited to show my kids this video
What your children really want for dinner is you!
In an age of constant online connection, we may need to disconnect from technologies and other distractions to truly reconnect with our families.
Families grow stronger when they set aside these distractions and spend meaningful time together—learning eternal values like the importance of marriage and children, the purpose of life, and the true source of joy.
Parents also have a duty to teach their children practical knowledge apart from gospel principles. Families unite when they do meaningful things together. Happy family experiences strengthen family ties. Camping, sports activities, and other recreation are especially valuable for bonding families.
Some may say, “But we have no time for any of that.” To find time to do what is truly worthwhile, many parents will find that they can turn their families on if they all turn their technologies off.
What those we love need most is simply time with us. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our ultimate role model. He will help us as we strive to build these family bonds.
Not too long ago I went through a really hard time while my husband was working extremely late nights. I had to miss young women's activity and explained a bit of what was going on. All of a sudden people came out of the woodwork asking how they could help. Many offered to bring dinner and help in other ways, one member offered to help me with catch back up on housework.
I don't want to do into detail about what I was struggling with but I was drowning and miserable and keeping it to myself. I never would have ever asked for help but when everyone reached out I decided to take them up on their offers. I was able to catch up on everything I needed to do for my family and just completely in awe of how incredible my community is.
People completely misunderstand Latter-Day Saints and often say they are judgemental or unsupportive. Nothing could be further from the truth.
My house feels like a place the spirit can dwell again and so do I. I cannot wait to pay it forward to another family going through it one day.
Please join a good community. Consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You may be surprised tlby what you find.
Today, my counselors in the First Presidency and I were grateful for the opportunity to visit the Salt Lake Temple, which has been undergoing a significant renovation since 2020.
We look forward to welcoming people from throughout the world during the Salt Lake Temple Celebration and open house, to be held from April through October 2027.
Above all, we look forward to teaching about the sacred purposes of temples throughout the world. In the temple, faithful men and women receive divine instruction, sacred responsibilities, and spiritual power.
It is in the temple that eternal covenants are made that bind us and our families to our Heavenly Father and to one another for eternity.
BYU made sure their injured seniors got in on a play before ending their softball careers 🥹
What a special moment for Kaysen Korth and Jaelynn Lambert 👏
Mount Apo, also known as Apo Sandawa, is the tallest mountain in the Philippines, rising to an elevation of 2,954 meters above sea level. It is located just 45 kilometers southwest of Davao City and is a landmark on the island of Mindanao. Anciently, Apo Sandawa was considered sacred to many people. Some people would visit to feel close to God. Some would visit to honor their ancestors. Others would visit to try to gain strength to deal with challenges. Apo Sandawa still inspires many today.
But, as special as the mountain is, it does not have the power to transform us to become heirs in God’s kingdom, offer ordinances of salvation and exaltation to our ancestors, or bind our families together for all eternity. Nor does it provide us greater access to God’s power to help us in our lives.
By assignment, I had the privilege today of dedicating “the mountain of the Lord’s house” (Isaiah 2:2) in Davao, Philippines. Here, priesthood keys and priesthood authority will be available to administer sacred ordinances and covenants to worthy, prepared, and willing people. Only in dedicated temples can the promised blessings be realized because of Jesus Christ.
I know that Jesus Christ lives, that He lived a perfect life, wrought a perfect atoning sacrifice, and rose from the tomb the third day. He “ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men” (Moroni 7:27). He has become our Advocate with the Father. Jesus Christ advocates what our Heavenly Father has wanted all along, for us to return to our heavenly home, “crowned with honor, and glory, and immortality, and eternal life” (Doctrine and Covenants 75:5).
At the deepest level of suffering that a human can experience, @MrsErikaKirk pointed to Jesus Christ and expressed her enduring faith in Him.
Untold numbers accepted Christ as Savior because her moment of suffering was redirected into His moment of suffering.
I am appalled by the attacks on Erika Kirk. I know that Satan will always attack the most valiant warriors for the Kingdom. As Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let’s continue to lift up the Kirk family in our prayers.
I had a 6:15 p.m. interview with my Temple Presidency today. When I left the house, Google maps estimated I would get to the temple at 6:30 p.m. This was going through Houston greater area rush hour traffic at its heaviest.
As I drove towards the temple, the estimated time of arrival on the Google maps got earlier and earlier, almost like time was running backwards. I got to the temple at 6:13 p.m.
I experienced a small miracle today.
The greater miracle I experienced today is that I was set apart as a temple worker. I can't express the feelings I had from the Spirit as President Johnson laid his hands on my head and pronounced the words of setting apart and blessing. I was in tears... right now I still am. I think every Latter-Day Saint, who is temple-worthy, at some point should volunteer to work in the Temple. Not only are more Temple workers needed, but it will bring you closer to God.
There wasn’t a dry eye in our chapel this morning.
A young man I’ve had the honor of teaching in mission preparation class for the past few months gave his mission farewell talk today.
He bore testimony of the Savior’s love. Then, as he began to speak about eternal families, his voice broke and tears filled his eyes.
I knew why.
A few months ago, his father, whom he dearly loves, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
This young man bravely fought through his tears as he spoke of sleepless nights spent on his knees, pleading with the Lord for understanding. He testified of the peace he felt as the Spirit comforted him.
In just a few days, he will leave for two years to teach, serve, and uplift strangers far from home, not knowing whether his dad will be there to greet him when he returns.
I could hardly see the words on the page as we sang the closing hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” As I sang, I thought of this brave young man pouring out his soul to the Lord, asking Him to take away the bitter cup of his father’s illness.
These words took on new meaning:
“He lives to comfort me when faint.
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears.
He lives to wipe away my tears.”
I’ve read many times on X that missions for LDS youth are vacations, or rewards, or easy rites of passage.
They are not.
They are life-changing sacrifices.
And few will sacrifice more in serving their Savior than this valiant young man, who is choosing faith over fear.
Our Savior Jesus Christ taught us how to relate to one another. The great commandments in the law, He taught, were to love—God and neighbor. (Matthew 22:37-39)