Audio file of this talk
Video link (Video is also embedded below)

We’ll be sharing more of these talks over the next couple of weeks. You can also find available archives at the BYU-TV page.

There is also an Addiction Recovery Program that the Church provides. It is a 12-step addiction recovery program, very similar to Alcoholics Anonymous, but (with permission) adapted to include LDS principles and beliefs about God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Addiction Recovery study guide can be a helpful resource, and information about free and confidential addiction recovery group meetings which are provided in many areas of the world. You can also contact LDS Family Services in your area for more information about this program.

The Guide is also available in audio format and in several other languages besides English.

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There was a series about addiction a couple of months ago that caught our eye. We admire the courage of people who have shared first-person accounts of their struggles with addictions.

Light it Up (about the struggle with a cigarette addiction)

The Refiner’s Fire (about the struggle with binge eating)

Things I’ve Learned the Hard Way (one woman’s perspective as the spouse of someone with a pornography addiction)

Confessions of an Addict (a woman talks about both her husband’s pornography addiction — and her own, via romance novels)

Healing Through the Atonement (one man’s journey to overcome a pornography addiction)

Jagged Little Pill (a woman’s struggle with prescription drug addiction)

We also had a post here a while back from a Mormon woman who struggled with and overcame her pornography addiction.

Hallowed Ground, Sacred Journeys (found at BYU Virtual Tours with an interactive site here) is a wonderful resource for learning more about both well-known and more obscure historical sites that have a place in the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each post contains professional documentary video clips that give you a virtual tour of the selected Church history site, and also includes beautiful photographs related to each location. Every Wednesday, a new site is explored. Hallowed Ground, Sacred Journeys is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about LDS Church history.

The videos are also available on YouTube at the BYU Virtual Tours channel.

Some of the LDS historical sites already shared  include the following places in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) (the city where the Mormon Church is headquartered):

• The Salt Lake Tabernacle
• The LDS Conference Center
• The Salt Lake City, Utah LDS Temple
• Temple Square Visitor’s Center in Salt Lake City

…and many more!

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Elder Ronald A. Rasband recently gave a CES Fireside talk entitled, “Thy Friends Do Stand By Thee,” to the single young adults of the Church (these are really great for people of all ages and stages of life). You can find audio and video archives here. (The archives currently include translations into Spanish, Portuguese, and French.) A transcript of Elder Rasband’s talk will be available soon at the CES firesides home page, where you can also find Elder Neil A. Anderson’s talk from January, entitled “Preparing for Your Spiritual Destiny” (and past years’ talks as well).

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The General Young Women Meeting is coming in a week.  The theme is “Be Strong and of a Good Courage.” This meeting is for young women ages 12-18, and their mothers as well. A live internet feed will be available at the link provided.

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The Church’s Semi-annual General Conference is also coming up. It will be held on April 3-4. Live streams will be available here.

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That weekend of General Conference, the Church History Department will hold an open house called “Treasures of the Collection” at the new Church History Library.  Hours will be on Friday, April 2, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. and Saturday, April 3, from noon-2:00 p.m. and 4:00-9:00 p.m. For more information, see here and here.

(For ideas on emergency preparedness, see the Church’s information here. Also, this website, compiled by two Mormon women, has a lot of helpful information.)

Read about one missionary’s experience helping near the epicenter in Chile.

Read about LDS relief efforts in Chile here.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who served for several years on assignment in Chile, shares his thoughts after hearing about the earthquake. He reminds us that, “Even for those who have sustained terrible loss the Spirit can bring peace, tranquility, a hope for the future.”

Please remember to pray for those in Chile, Haiti, and Taiwan…as well as in other places where trial and tragedy abound.

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Read several stories and see photo essays of Mormon Church members helping in Haiti here.

Read the thoughts of former mission presidents and their wives on life in Haiti before the earthquake here.

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The recent tragedy of Marie Osmond’s son committing suicide may raise question in some people’s minds about LDS views on this difficult topic.

First of all, we want to encourage those who may feel they or someone they know is in danger of hurting themselves to get help. There are numerous crisis lines and online resources available if you search “suicide hotline” or other similar topics.

Following are some resources about Mormon beliefs regarding suicide:

“What do Mormons believe about suicide?” Two-part series, part 1 and part 2 here at Mormon Women: Who We Are.

Articles on suicide from the LDS Family Services section of the LDS Church’s website, Provident Living

His Eminence Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., president of the U.S. Council of Bishops for the Catholic Church, gave a forum address this past week at Brigham Young University, one of the universities owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. See the following stories for more information:

Cardinal George Addresses Religious Freedom in Speech at BYU (Contains an audio link.)

LDS, Catholics must defend religious freedom, cardinal says at BYU

Cardinal: Catholics, Mormons must defend religious freedom together

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Elder Dallin H. Oaks addressed an audience yesterday at Harvard University, discussing basic Mormon beliefs. He also talks about how higher education contributes to the lack of understanding about religion.

Transcript of Elder Oaks’ talk follows: “Fundamental Premises of our Faith”

Read news stories below:

Don’t Marginalize Religion, Elder Oaks Says to Harvard Law Students

Apostle Addresses Harvard Audience on Mormon Faith

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See these articles for summaries of other talks recently given:

Gay marriage battled endangering religious voices, LDS leader says

Religious Liberty is being challenged worldwide

From the LDS Newsroom: Mormon Athletes Gather at 21st Olympic Winter Games
From the New York Times: LDS snowboarder may emerge as Olympic star
From The Australian: Clean-living Mormon star Torah Bright is a sponsor’s dream

A couple of the Olympic athletes competing this year also competed in Torino, Italy in 2006. The list of Mormon Olympians from the 2006 Olympics included bobsledders Shauna Rohbock from the U.S. (who won a silver medal) and David Bisset from Canada; Michelle Despain from Argentina and Venezuelan Werner Hoeger (both competing in the luge); Torah Bright from Australia; and Steve Nyman, a U.S. skier.

In fact, speaking of Torah Bright, she won a gold medal this past week.

And this story comes after the Super Bowl:

From the Deseret News: Peyton Manning on ex-BYU player Austin Collie

Two Mormon Brothers-in-Law Carry Olympic Torch  — Read about what inspired these men to apply to be torchbearers.

Two Mormon Men Assist with “Extreme Makeovers” — Here’s another story of two brothers working to do some good.

Wondering what the inside of an LDS temple looks like? Live near Langley (Vancouver British Columbia)? — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints always holds an open house before the dedication of a new temple. The temple in Langley (the first in British Columbia) will be open for visitors in April. News stories are already talking about the opportunity, here and here. More information on our site about temples can be found here.

More About Haiti — This story isn’t just about Mormons, but about the outpouring of love that has been seen in Haiti as people from all over the world, from all walks of life, from myriad religious backgrounds or no religion at all, have come together to try to help. In the wake of a sobering tragedy, it has been inspiring to see that compassion shown by so many, for so many. Michael Otterson writes:

Despite many differences, everyone at the heart of these operations wants to do what is best for the people in Haiti. There is no other motivation than love and care for their Haitian brothers and sisters. This is pure religion in its simplest and most important form.

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CNN iReport featured a 14-year-old’s video showing a youth group from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Miami, Florida, USA. Read the story here.

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LDS Church leaders are urging Church members to give what they can to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti. In addition to inviting us to donate monetary resources as we are able, we are reminded of the following:

Money is not the only need in Haiti. People are frightened, bewildered, and wholly uncertain about their future. In addition to what people can do in helping with food, water and shelter…[w]e invite our people everywhere to supplicate God for a spirit of calm and peace among the people as urgent aid and reconstruction efforts continue.

Let us all remember our brothers and sisters in Haiti in our prayers, as well as those who are there on the ground helping them — and those who are far away mourning with and for loved ones and friends affected by this heartbreaking disaster. And let us remember others around us who may be mourning and struggling for other reasons. There is power in prayer.

And with that, we leave you with a message about prayer. President Thomas S. Monson reminds us that “Miracles are wrought through prayer.” (Video provided in English and in Spanish.)