Today's angel-themed Miracle Monday is the testimony of Sister Ida Verducci from the Niles Ohio Branch. Special thanks to Brother Frank Natoli for sharing this one. If you haven't submitted your story yet, please share with us!

Sister Ida, who has been called home to her reward, related the following experience to me over 30 years ago when she was in her late 70s or early 80s. But before I share her testimony, a little background and perspective might help...

We officially have 50+ people participating in the Summer Reading Challenge! We're so pleased that you've signed up. (So pleased, in fact, that we have a little surprise for you at the end of this post.) We also suspect there may be more of you who are participating but haven't officially emailed to tell us.

Last year, we dedicated a space where readers could discuss the assigned scriptures. We've decided to dedicate this post for that purpose this year. It's not super fancy, but please consider this blog post your official spot for comments and discussion about the passages you're reading.

I still remember the incident with a small pang of regret. It was one of those, "God, can I please have a do-over?" moments.

We were standing in a circle holding hands at a Vacation Bible School. The electricity was out. There was no way we could proceed with VBS unless God turned the lights back on. A group of teenagers had bravely asked me to say a prayer asking God for help. "Yeah, but what if I say the prayer and nothing happens?" I thought to myself. I mumbled a few feeble words and that was that. Not very inspiring. Fortunately, in the next room, the rest of the kids were praying with a bit more confidence and, moments later, the electricity returned, praise God.

The electricity was back, but I felt like I'd missed an opportunity. I told myself that next time I'd have a bit more courage.

This is an old story that I read a few years back. Warning: It may make you uncomfortable. It's not my intention to be negative, but I think this story brings out some interesting points — not so much about the church — but about our human nature as people. Check out the questions for reflection at the end.

On a dangerous sea coast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea and with no thought for themselves went out day and night tirelessly searching for the lost.

I'm a fan of conditional statements, and maybe the Lord is, too. So, here's one I have witnessed and personally experienced that affirms the precision of the Word of God: If you wholly trust in Christ with all your heart, then He will direct you through your life. It is not a "boulevard of broken dreams," nor is it a do-it-yourself life. It is an avenue of divine visions. It is a road lined with golden bars undivided from Christ's promises, where every step we take is nestled in His path.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Today we're kicking off our angel-themed Miracle Mondays! The first article is submitted by Sister Natalie Pezzenti. We really need more testimonies for this month's theme. If you have an experience that's related to angels in any way, please share it with us!

During my last quarter at college, I struggled with horrible bouts of anxiety and panic attacks. They consumed me on a daily basis and I was living in a constant state of fear and worry. Never knowing when one would strike, I felt alone and frightened.

My doctor at home suggested I try some medication when I felt an attack coming on. I had never needed anything like it previously, so I was quite hesitant. The doctor assured me that sometimes you have to try a few different medications before you find one that does the trick and eases your anxiety. This was the first of those medications I decided to try.

Here is a reminder about faith. Do you know someone who needs to hear this today?

The title of this article is a phrase that I used to hear in a children's show that my daughters watched years ago. Of course, it was an intentionally garbled version of "As God is my witness," a phrase commonly used by someone who is trying to emphasize that they are telling the truth. The phrase actually does appear in the Bible — the Apostle Paul uses it at the beginning of his letter to the Romans as he wants them to believe that he really is praying for them often (Romans 1:9).

My father, Joseph Draskovich, did not know The Church of Jesus Christ until he was 12 years old. His grandfather (Joseph Draskovich Sr.) was an immigrant from Croatia who did not drive. One day, as Joseph walked home after getting food for his family, Brother Fred Fair of Greensburg gave him a ride and told him about the church.

My great-grandfather eventually joined the church and shared the gospel with his daughter-in-law, Sister Anna Draskovich. She became a faithful member and taught my father and his five siblings about God. My son Logan interviewed my dad once for a Sunday school project and this is one of the things he took notes on from that kitchen table interview.

I read a book about the trials of women who have lived through and triumphed over addiction, abandonment, and abuse, and the author makes a really strong point.

The book says that all those who stand for Jesus are dangerous.

I'm not sure about you, but I've never thought of myself as "dangerous." I'm barely above five foot, and I'm pretty sure no one would ever perceive me as a threat.

But there's a word that is used simultaneously with dangerous, and it is risk.

Even though it's officially June, we had so many wonderful military submissions from last month that we're doing an encore. Today's experience was submitted by Brother Kerry Carlini.

For the Branch No. 2 saints, Sunday evening, December 7, 1941, had started as any other M.B.A. service, although the aim that evening was to rehearse for their upcoming Christmas program. Suddenly, like the rest of the world, their evening activities came to a deadening halt when the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor was relayed to the branch (in person, for a phone had yet to be installed).

Here is something for you to ponder this weekend. Remember, the Lord won't tempt you beyond what you're able, but YOU might!

We had a Sunday school lesson recently about the importance of loving our neighbor, which got me thinking. Do I really love my "neighbors" as I love myself? Can my neighbors tell that I'm a servant of the Lord by how I act?

We bought our house a year and a half ago. When we first moved in, most of our neighbors in the surrounding houses stopped by to talk to us, feeling us out and getting our back story. Then, we'd waved to each other whenever we passed by. When we got our dog, we started seeing a lot more of our neighbors on a regular basis since we walk him a couple times a day.

Today, we're sharing two military experiences that share a common theme. They show how God answered the diligent prayers of the saints by preventing disasters on the battlefield. Many times we focus on what God does, but we often overlook the calamity that He prevents.

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on judging. Shortly after writing it, I was summoned to the Hall of Justice in downtown San Diego for jury duty. Long story short, I got picked as a juror on a two-week civil trial. Needless to say, I got my fill of "judging" during my stint in the box.

The case was a lawsuit involving a car accident, so we had to decide who was at fault and assign monetary compensation. When the 12 of us entered the jury room and began deliberating, it was easy to decide who was at fault (the evidence was pretty clear), but agreeing on how much money to award for pain and suffering was excruciating.