Invitations from a Prophet: Jessica Welsh

Jessica & her children at the Temple

This last year my children and I have been going to the temple more. My children are too young to go in and do work, but just being on the temple grounds has truly blessed them. They ask constantly which temple we will go to next, if we can go see the progress on the Layton or Syracuse temple, and if we can take a picnic to the temple this week. I have slacked during the summer heat, and I have seen the difference. They love the feeling of being at the temple. We talk about when they were sealed to our family. And how they each have their own temple. They love walking around the temple and looking at the beauty of each temple. We talk about the different feeling that is there.

Jessica & her children visiting the Tabernacle Replica

I have also made a point to go to the temple myself to do work for my ancestors, taking President Nelson up on his promises that we will receive if we go. My children and I have needed these blessings. As I have taken family names this last year I have been able to feel the spirit more strongly while I am there and I have also been able to have some amazing experiences feeling the spirits of those I am doing work for or their family members close by. I have also seen how that spirit has affected others in the room especially when doing sealings and initiatories!! Each time I have taken names to be sealed the sealer has made a comment about the spirit in the room. I have made a point to do all of the ordinances reminding myself of all the many blessings that are given to us throughout the temple. I have enjoyed making baptism appointments and going with nieces and nephews, brother, sister-in-law, cousins and other family members. And doing sealings with family members as well. Such a fun experience to be there with family and friends.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

I remember going during COVID with my friend for her first time and taking a family name. As I rounded the bend in the road and could see the temple I felt as though I was seeing it for the first time and from that person's eyes. I felt her sitting in the car with me. I felt her with me during the endowment session. Another time I felt family members thanking me as I sealed a daughter to her parents. She was a great great aunt and I felt my direct family members thanking me for connecting their sister and daughter to them! I have also felt the laughter from family members as their German names were not pronounced quite right by the sealer, but they were happy to have the work done! I remember the sealer asking me to apologize when I saw them in the next life and I could look at him right there and then and let him know they were grateful for what he was doing and that he was doing his best. Others in the room were crying with me as we all felt a strong spirit around us that day.

By Jessica Welsh, Greenbriar Ward

Heavenly Father Answers Prayers

I choose to believe.

As an eight-year old child sitting in Primary, I learned about being baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At that time my sweet mother had been taking me and my siblings to church every week. My father was not a member but, was supportive of our activity. Choosing to be baptized came with mixed emotions when I understood that my father would not be able to baptize me. My best friends were being baptized by their fathers and it was a painful realization.

I decided to start praying every night that my father would join the church so that even if he could not baptize me, he could baptize my younger brother and sister. That fervent prayer was answered and the following year, my father chose to be baptized. A year after his baptism we were sealed as a family in the Salt Lake Temple.

Heavenly Father answers prayers.

There have been many times in my life that I have witnessed prayers answered for myself, family and friends. Sometimes those answers come in unexpected ways. I am grateful for the testimony I have of our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan and desire to have us all return to Him. I know he loves each one of us and is willing to bless us with miracles, guidance and inspiration as we kneel in humble prayer to communicate with Him through our Savior, Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite scriptures is 3 Nephi 27:29

“Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.”

~Nancy Nilsson

I Have Blessings for Eternity

"Even when I don't understand the why of everything, I choose to believe. I choose to believe because I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel because of the blessings that it has given me, which are blessings for eternity. It changed my life forever." -Maria B.

Angels Were Singing to Me

Photo from LDS.org, used with permission

This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
by Lindi Salmond

To quote a good friend, life gets heavy. It can be burdensome, tiring, scary, and overwhelming. Sometimes I find myself deep in these feelings. Life feels like just a lot of work.

At some point in my misery, Heavenly Father gently reminds me to return to Him, remember my covenants, and give my burdens to him. If, at this point, I listen to his counsel and find Him through scriptures, prayer, and temple attendance, my days become lighter. It is just like those first rays of sunshine breaking through an overcast sky.

To me, this is especially true with temple attendance: it is the sunshine to my soul. When I find myself in the temple regularly and consistently, my days that used to be so heavy are now filled with light. They turn from the gray days of January to the bright beautiful days of June. It’s not that the hard things have gone away--we still have thunderstorms in June! But focusing on my covenants, which in turn strengthens my relationship with my Savior, my burdens are no longer mine alone.

Covenants do that for us; they yoke us to the Savior and, unlike yoking with regular animals that evenly share the burden, He does most of the heavy lifting! When my days are bright I can, in turn, find others to help on their way.

When we say “rejoicing on the covenant path,” I can’t help but picture myself linked arm-in-arm with my dear sisters walking down the path of life. We are laughing together, serving each other in our times of need, worshiping together, and even crying with each other. That is true rejoicing to me--when we can help others, and in turn, they lift us up as well. Our covenants put us all on the same path, giving us each other. I cannot think of a better gift.

As some of you know, I have Lupus, and with that comes all sorts of different things that I deal with. Most are just nuisances. I had been dealing with a cracking voice for a few months (think teenage boy; it wasn’t my favorite). One day I was sitting in Relief Society, and one of my favorite songs was being sung for our closing song. With the way my voice had been, I couldn’t hit any high notes in songs. Usually, it didn’t bother me--I would just silently skip the parts I couldn’t reach--but I really wanted to sing this song. I pleaded with Heavenly Father to please let my voice work for just this one song.

As we started singing, I was hopeful but as we got to the first high part, my voice failed. I was so disappointed, but that disappointment only lasted a second because as I sat there silent my sisters all around me continued singing: angels were singing to me. I felt as if He was saying to me, "You can’t do it right now, but they can do it for you." The love of my Savior for me was so strong at that moment, and it came through my ward sisters.

What is rejoicing on the covenant path? To me, it is the description of this beautiful life we have been given the chance to live. Staying close to the Savior with the companionship of others as we all strive to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. I am eternally thankful for this truth in my life.

Remembering to Rejoice in Our Covenants

This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
By Tiffany McMinn


Just one year ago, in his first public message after being called as the new prophet, President Nelson stated that his new presidency wanted “to begin with the end in mind” as they met with media in the annex of the Salt Lake Temple. There, President Nelson said if we were “faithful to covenants made in a temple [it will] qualify us for the greatest gift of God—that of eternal life.”

In this broadcast, and specifically directing the last part of his address to “each member of the Church,” President Nelson used the phrase “covenant path” three times in three different ways:

     1-Keep on the covenant path
     2-stay on the covenant path
     3-return to the covenant path

Afterward, the Church News stated, “The power to be found in making sacred covenants was reflected in President Nelson’s address when he uttered what, since then, is already becoming something of a catchphrase around the church: ‘Keep on the covenant path.’”

Now that it has been a year, and with so many changes, do you feel like this meme on the left?

I think we could add a number 4 to the list from President  Nelson: “Keep up with President Nelson on the covenant path.”

Obviously, being on the covenant path is something our dear prophet feels we need to be reminded of. I noticed this past October conference the phrase “covenant path” was being repeated over and over again. I looked it up and found that the phrase “covenant path” was used 28 times.

How We Rejoice on the Covenant Path

This video of testimonies of sisters from our stake was shown at the 2019 women's conference.

As We Submit Our Time to the Lord, He Showers Us with Blessings

This talk was given at the 2019 stake women's conference.
by Bethany Bown, a Laurel

Hello. My name is Bethany Bown. I’m a senior class officer at Davis High, a ballerina at Clytie Adams school of ballet, and a shopaholic. This may give you the impression that I am a busy girl, which I am, but I know it doesn’t even compare to being close to busy as all of you women, mothers, and friends.

The past 21 days I’ve taken part in an amazing opportunity that has brought blessings and great peace into my busy days. This is an opportunity I’d like to extend to each of you today. It’s called the 21-day sacrifice. You focus on keeping your covenants for 21 days and sacrifice something in order to do so. It’s as simple as that.

Wendy Watson Nelson was the one to initiate it in her address at the BYU Women’s Conference in 2015. She promised this along with her challenge: “When covenant women keep their covenants, they have greater access to the power of God. The power of God flows into them, and that power, His power, generates a decrease in stress, an increase in energy, more and clearer revelation for their lives, renewed focus, courage to make needed changes, an increase in patience, and more time for what matters.”

I can testify that she meant what she promised. The past couple weeks as I’ve taken part in this challenge, I’ve been more relaxed and focused on what really matters. One Saturday afternoon, my mom and I decided to go to the temple. It was about an hour wait. Instead of leaving because we had other things to do that day, we decided to stay. This was so worth it.

2019 Women's Conference Breakout Sessions

We were so inspired at our recent women's conference by our wonderful guest speaker Sister Reeves and by our other speakers as well.

There were five speakers in each breakout room. The first four spoke on a part of our scripture theme of D&C 90:24. The fifth was a Laurel bearing testimony of and inviting Relief Society sisters and Laurels to participate in the 21-Day Sacrifice Challenge.

Enjoy the videos of these breakout room talks!


Tiffany Smith, Stone Creek Ward
"Seek Christ Diligently"


Janelle LaFontaine, Weaver Lane Ward
"Prayer"


Heather Hughes, Swan Lakes Ward
"Be Believing, Doubt Your Doubts"



Lynnae Bitter, Evergreen Ward
"Ministering"



Brynn Meredith (a Laurel), Roberts Farms Ward
"21-Day Sacrifice Challenge"

Feeling Joy in Our Lives

by Courtney Hagberg

Growing up, I was raised in a home where my mother took us to church. My father was a member, but he was not active. He got baptized so that my mom would marry him. A year later they were sealed in the temple. He didn’t go back to the temple for 25 years.

Photo from LDS.org; used by permission

As a child, I didn’t realize what a sacrifice it was for my mother to take three kids to church by herself each week. She also worked and served as young women’s president several times. Now that I am a mother, my heart is beyond grateful that she stayed on the covenant path when it would have been so easy to not stay on the path.

As a teenager, I remember feeling sad and praying to my Heavenly Father and asking Him how to truly be happy. My prayer was answered in seminary. My seminary teacher asked the class, “Do you want to be truly happy and feel joy in your life?” Of course we all wanted that. He said the answer was to read our scriptures every day. I took that challenge and felt that joy.

Covenants Guide Us Back to God

by Lindsay Wall 
Women's Conference Publicity Chair

I know that the covenants we make and keep can truly lead us back to our Heavenly Father. I remember thinking many times in my life, especially during trials, that I wish Heavenly Father would just tell me exactly what I need to do! I wished He would just lay it all out for me, and I would do it. Then, one day, I realized He already has!

He has given us these covenants and simple commandments as a guide to follow so that we can feel the Spirit, so we can be blessed here on earth and for all eternity. I know that Heavenly Father gave us covenants because He loves us and He wants every opportunity to bless us--and the blessings are even greater than we can imagine! Keeping our covenants really can make us rejoice in life! We can be at peace and know the steps we need to follow.

Photo from LDS.org; used by permission

With that in mind, I also know that no matter how good we are at following and keeping our covenants, there are always going to be trials that make things hard. I know that not one of us is perfect and that the simple path He’s given us can seem really rough and full of temptation at times.

The best part, though, is that Heavenly Father has planned for that too. He’s molding us into who He wants us to be, and he’s also made a way for us to get back on course if we ever wander off. Keeping our covenants can get us through those hard times and make us stronger.

I know that our covenants were made for us to become closer to the Spirit, which helps us in every aspect of our lives. I know that there are so many things I, myself, need work on to become better at keeping my covenants, and I also know that that’s normal! This is the reason we’re here on earth--to be tested and to show that even when we falter, that we can get back up and try and do better at keeping our covenants the next day.

Feeling Joy, Peace, and Love on the Covenant Path

The publicity committee for the Women's conference has been asked to share how they are "Rejoicing on the Covenant Path."

by Debbie Allred 
We really can find joy, peace, and love when we strive to be on the covenant path. There have been times in my life that it has not been such an easy path, but I know in those hard times, if I am striving to do the best I can in keeping my covenants, that God and my Savior are there to make up the difference where I lack. They strengthen me as well as bear me up.

In my life, I have witnessed that sometimes my timing is not the same as theirs, so that is where having faith, trusting in them, and continuing to stay on the covenant path comes in.

That can be very hard at times. There have been many times I have had to continue to work through and strive to endure my trials because I understand that they are for my growth. I know that my trials always strengthen me as well as my relationship with God and my Savior. I am so grateful for a loving and all-knowing God who knows what I need before I do and allows me to learn and grow, even when it may be hard.

Covenants Are an Expression of God's Love

The chairs of the upcoming women's conference share their testimonies of what it means to them to "Rejoice on the Covenant Path."

by Emily Wensel 

When I think of rejoicing on the covenant path, I’m reminded of a walk I took a few months ago. I was on a back road by myself. I had some things on my mind and was praying out loud.

As I prayed, I began to look at this road as a path that led me back to my Heavenly Father. I started to think of all the times in my life when I felt closest to my Savior. As I began to recall these instances in my life, there was one consistent theme that kept me tied to Him, and that was my covenants.

The covenants and promises I've made with Him has allowed me the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with the Savior.

Image from LDS.org; used with permission

I have recently come to know and appreciate one of the first covenants I made at eight years old as a newly baptized member of His church, and that is the covenant to always remember Him. This seems like a simple promise to make, and perhaps one that I have easily overlooked.

I have recently realized how much this simple covenant of always remembering Him throughout my day has blessed me and given me joy.

I have come to Him through words in the scriptures, through thoughts and feelings, and through conversations with friends and family. I have come to Him while at the grocery store, helping my kids with homework, taking a walk with a friend, doing the dishes, or talking with my husband.

I have spent the last several weeks relying on Him and His grace, more than I have in a long time. In turn He has blessed me with His spirit. I have also come to know and love the covenants and promises I make in the temple.

With all those beautiful covenants and promises I’ve made and continue to make on this path, I realize how simple they are. I am promising to him to do all that I can to come closer to my Heavenly Father through His Son. I am promising to give up things in my life so that I can more fully commit myself to Him. I do that by keeping my covenants.

Covenants: Giving Us Understanding, Hope, and Perspective

“Covenants with God help us to know who we really are.” 

Jean A. Stevens, “Covenant Daughters of God,” Nov. 2014

As we prepare for the women’s conference and our thoughts have been more focused on "Rejoicing on the Covenant Path," the stake Relief Society presidency wanted to share our testimony of our covenants and what they mean to us.

Tiffany McMinn

One day, many years ago, while I was serving as a missionary in the town of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, my companion and I were needing to get to the home of a sister and her son we were teaching (which was several miles from our apartment). The problem was that we were out of driving miles for the remainder of the month.

We had bikes to ride, but the only road to this sister's house was off the old highway. There were no back roads or side streets—she lived on a private dirt road that came right off this somewhat busy highway.

Feeling brave (and a little invincible as missionaries) we decided to ride our bikes to this appointment. There was no sidewalk to ride on—just a white painted line with cars zooming by on the road just to our left, and ditches, drop offs, and gravel just off to our right.

Image by Alan Levine (public domain, Flickr)

I remember focusing on keeping my front bike tire right on that straight white line as I rode. If I did that, I was fine.

But, if I took my eyes off that white line (even for a second) I would get wobbly and begin to veer off, putting myself at risk to get struck by a car or crash my bike into a ditch.

I have thought many times about that thrilling bike ride that got us to where we needed to go. I’ve thought about how that white line was the safest and really the only path to our destination.

I believe my covenants are like markers (or that white line) on a path that guides me on my journey home to my Heavenly Father. They direct me and give me power and strength as I put my focus on them. They give me understanding, hope, and perspective of where I am headed. They keep me safe and protect me from the evil distractions in the world.

Though I still have a long ride ahead of me, my covenants are helping me change, and, through Jesus Christ, become who my Heavenly Father intended me to be.

True Effort and Exact Obedience

Photo from LDS.org. Used with permission.

by Belinda Lenhard
A few months ago, I was asked if I would share my thoughts about the temple during the lesson in Relief Society. I immediately asked the teacher, “Have you somehow heard about the experience I've been having at the temple, or did you just feel prompted to call me?” I had been praying in my heart that I'd have a chance to share my experience with others.

She expressed her concern about who to ask because we're all at different places with our temple attendance, and she was worried about approaching someone that might not be at a place where they felt comfortable sharing. So she got down on her knees and was given inspiration on who to ask, and I felt so grateful that she had the faith to receive an answer and that the Lord provided me the opportunity to bear witness of the blessings I've felt from attending the temple.

Over the last year I've felt a desire to be more prepared. In the beginning I was focused on temporal preparedness EVEN though deep down I felt spiritual preparedness should be the top priority. Well, after a while, beyond just acknowledging this, I finally began to believe that spiritual preparedness isn't just as important--IT'S MORE important. 

In President Henry B. Eyring's talk "Spiritual Preparedness," which I highly recommend, he discusses how many of us, when considering how to prepare for life’s calamities, stock up on whatever we think we might need for future use. And then he says:

 But there is another even more important preparation we must make for tests that are certain to come to each of us. That preparation must be started far in advance because it takes time. What we will need then can’t be bought. It can’t be borrowed. It doesn’t store well. And it has to have been used regularly and recently. What we will need in our day of testing is a spiritual preparation. It is to have developed faith in Jesus Christ so powerful that we can pass the test of life upon which EVERYTHING for us in eternity depends. That test is part of the purpose God had for us in the Creation.

Young Women: Blessed by the Temple

by Heather Gardiner

Photo from LDS.org. Used with permission.

One day I was at the temple with my cousins when a temple worker came up to us and started talking about how us doing temple baptisms was making our ancestors so happy, and that they were probably having a party for these people who were just baptized. He went on to say that those who we had just performed baptisms for would bless us for doing their work. It made me so happy to hear this and I have never forgotten what he said to us.

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by K.F.
As a young woman in the Ogden Temple District I had the opportunity to participate in the Ogden Temple Cultural Celebration. This was a wonderful experience that strengthened the youth in so many ways. I know that my testimony of the temple has been strengthened because I participated and felt the Spirit so strongly. I know that families can be together because of the power of the temple. I look forward to entering the temple soon and making my own covenants with the Lord. I hope each person may come to the knowledge of the temple and the peace it brings into our lives.

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by A.B.
The Ogden Temple Cultural Celebration was an uplifting and enlightening experience. It was amazing to see so many youth sing together in honor of the temple. This experience has strengthened my testimony so much of the purpose of our temples. The Ogden Temple is so beautiful and it was an honor to perform the numbers at the celebration.

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by M.W.
The Ogden Temple Cultural Celebration was very spiritual. It was amazing to come together as sons and daughters and perform in something so fun, so very important, and very, very spiritual. I have never felt the Spirit so strongly before performing in the Cultural Celebration. I know this church is true. I know He lives, and so does the Gospel.

Because of the Temple Our Families Can Be Forever

by Linsay Clawson

Photo from LDS.org. Used with permission.

I feel joy in my family life when I take the time to go to the temple. Temple attendance gives our home a harmonious feeling, and it is a sweeter place to be. Going to the temple emphasizes the importance of family and the eternal perspective. I love the temple!

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by Andrea Abbott
About a month ago I had a wonderful experience participating in temple sealings. The Spirit was strong in the room and I realized I was playing a part in bringing generations together forever. My heart was filled with so much joy knowing that so many families were experiencing great joy on the other side. I am grateful for the wonderful blessing the temple brings into my life.

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by Suzanne Williams
Since we have been married we have tried to attend the temple on a weekly basis as long as we have lived within an hour’s drive of a temple. When our children turn twelve they have joined in that tradition and performed baptisms on a weekly basis. This has been a strength to our whole family, and especially for our youth as they face the trials of today.

We love the quote by President Gordon B. Hinkley. “I know your lives are busy. I know you have much to do. But I make you a promise that if you go to the House of the Lord, you will be blessed, life will be better for you.”

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by Simone Headden
The temple was always important to me but until we lost our first baby I didn’t feel the full blessings and comfort that the temple offers. Our first son died half way through my pregnancy and was stillborn due to a cord accident. We were devastated at his loss and had to rely heavily on the Lord for comfort and peace. Knowing that we were sealed in the temple as an eternal family gave (and still gives) us hope we could never have found elsewhere. While we still miss him daily, we look forward to the day that we can see him and be with him again. We know that it is because of the Savior’s sacrifice, the power of the priesthood, and the blessings of the temple that we can be made whole in our sorrows and find eternal happiness. Because of the temple our families can be forever.

Finding Joy in Temple Work and Family History

I truly felt the joy in the eternity of the temple a few months ago when my eldest son was married and sealed in the Salt Lake Temple. As I sat in the sealing room with most of my extended family in attendance, and watched him kneel across the altar from his new bride, I felt an eternal connection, and feelings of absolute pure joy.

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I made a shadow box with my husband's grandpa’s flag that was given to his family at his funeral. I gathered his military information and added that to the shadow box. My children really enjoyed reading his military information that they didn’t know before.

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Photo from LDS.org. Used by permission.

I had an awesome time at the Ogden Temple Cultural Celebration. It was the greatest day I had all year! It was so exciting to get to sing and feel the Spirit. We all are so lucky to have the Ogden Temple back.

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by B.A.
I started working on my genealogy after my ward Relief Society went to the Family History Center in June. I became hooked that night and continued through the summer working on my family history. I had a family name that kept coming up on my “opportunity for work” but I didn’t think I could do it because it was my aunt and uncle. A couple of weeks after seeing the name again I had a dream where my aunt, uncle, and their daughter that had passed on came to me. I knew then that I had to do their work, and I am now in the process of getting it done. I thought I had to have permission but I have found out differently.

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by J.C.
One of my new goals for this year is to concentrate on improving my temple attendance. By that I mean attending and allowing myself to truly relax and enjoy the spirit of the temple. I have a testimony of the power and strength we receive when we go to the temple. I feel strengthened when I attend and truly soak in the Spirit. I’m so thankful for the temple!

Women's Conference 2015: The Temple, the Lighthouse of the Lord

"The Temple, the Lighthouse of the Lord"

Copyright 2015 Renee Packer. Contact for permission to use.

To better understand the purpose of our 2015 women's conference and this Ogden Temple-lighthouse image, see the talk from Sister Packer below.

Women's Conference 2015: Come and Partake, by Renee Packer

Click on the slide below for Renee Packer's slide presentation.

Come and Partake of All the Blessings of His Sacred and Holy Temple from Stake Relief Society

To see this presentation as a videorecording of the live talk, click the YouTube link below.

Thomas S. Monson Scouting Award: "Lighthouse of the Lord"

In her women's conference talk, Renee Packer referenced a special award she earned and encouraged others to receive. Created in 2013 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of scouting in the LDS Church, this award has a picture of Pres. Thomas S. Monson on one side and the following quote inscribed on the other:

"Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue."

This beautiful emblem can be worn as a necklace or used on a key chain.

The requirements to earn the Thomas S. Monson award are detailed on this printable card. The award was created to foster appreciation for the LDS-BSA partnership, but it can be earned by anyone of any age or gender.

Two of the requirements referenced on the card are from the Boy Scouts Genealogy merit badge and the Family Life merit badge.

There are a limited number of awards left, and more will not be produced. When finished with the requirements, you may order the award "on your honor" online at the LDS-BSA store. (It is not available at Church distribution centers or the scout store.)