D&C 78

March of 1832 was a rough period for the Saints, particularly for Joseph and his family.  D&C 78 can be just the right medicine for anyone who has unwanted adversity and to be reminded that “the kingdom is yours and the blessing thereof are yours the riches of eternity are yours”.

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Collecting Eiderdown on the Rugged Rocks of the Atlantic

On a tiny, remote island, an English farmer and writer captures the story of Anna Måsøy, a Norwegian "duck woman." In a practice that dates back to the Vikings, islanders coax wild eider ducks to nest on their islands, where the birds leave behind eiderdown—a material so precious that even kings and queens of Europe used it in their bedding. In learning Anna's story, this Englishman reconnects with his own heritage—passed down through six centuries of farming on his family's land in England.

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A Candid Portrait of Joseph Smith

Today, we’re really grateful to share a conversation with historian John Turner about the brand new biography he’s just published: Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.John is a professor of Religious Studies and History at George Mason University. While not a member of the the Latter-day Saint faith, he has had a particular fascination with the early history of Mormonism, and wrote an earlier biography of Brigham Young. Some of the interpretations and conclusions John draws in his book may differ from our own, but we found this new biography on Joseph to be meticulously researched and engagingly written.In this book, John doesn’t aim to settle all debates between Joseph Smith’s supporters and his detractors, but with more primary sources available than ever before, he hoped to provide a fuller picture of a figure who continues to shape who we are today. John says that while the question of “Whether God actually spoke to [Joseph] Smith is a matter of faith… there is no question about his prophetic self-conception.”We assume most listeners are familiar with the general contours of Joseph’s life, so in this conversation we talked with John about some topics we felt needed more exploration: his family’s early hardships and how they might have shaped his resilience as a spiritual leader; what the historical record tells us about the gold plates and Joseph’s visions; and whether Joseph truly instigated and lived plural marriage.What struck us most was John’s portrayal of Joseph’s constant evolution—his willingness to revise, to explore, and to ask better questions. It made us wonder if Joseph’s boldness and openness to change could serve as inspiration to us in today’s church.We know that talking openly about Joseph—his humanity, his complexity, even his mistakes—can be challenging. But we hope this episode helps create more space for recognizing the humanity of our leaders, both past and present.

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How I Lead as Stake Primary President in Indiana

Angela Sturgeon has served in a variety of callings, including Sunday School teacher, Young Women first counselor, Relief Society counselor and secretary, Relief Society president, Primary Activity Days leader, and in Scouts. She most recently served as the stake Primary secretary and now as stake Primary president.

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How I Lead as Stake Primary President in Indiana

Angela Sturgeon has served in a variety of callings, including Sunday School teacher, Young Women first counselor, Relief Society counselor and secretary, Relief Society president, Primary Activity Days leader, and in Scouts. She most recently served as the stake Primary secretary and now as stake Primary president. Angela earned an associate’s degree in History and Political Science from Orange Coast College and after many years of balancing work, family, and part-time study, will be graduating in a few weeks with a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho. She worked as a flight attendant before retiring in 2022 and has since pursued her passion for encouraging and mentoring others, becoming a published best-selling author of How to Be Resilient for Turbulent Times and a TEDx speaker of the same title. She speaks regularly on resilience, faith, and purpose—inspiring audiences to rise with strength in the face of adversity.

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Holy Envy – David Butler at Restore

Today, we’re excited to bring you a special episode—a replay of one of our favorite sessions from last year’s Restore Gathering, featuring Dave Butler. We’re also thrilled to let you know that Restore 2025 is happening this September 25–27 in Orem, Utah, and this episode is a great preview of the kind of experience you can expect—thoughtful, joyful, expansive, and rooted in a deep desire to love and understand more fully.

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Doctrine and Covenants 76

Listen to Big Picture to get the quick context for this week’s reading, Doctrine and Covenants 76-! And grab study guides for the whole family here:  - Kristen's scripture study guides are available here: https://kristenwalkersmith.com/starthere/ - To get Cali's scripture study guide for adults click here:  https://comefollowmestudy.com/shop/ Discount code: OMSS Or purchase on Amazon:  Get our 365-day Doctrine and Covenants daily devotional book: https://a.co/d/aE3Wp4D  

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