Here are a few hypothetical scenarios:

• Suppose I am a church officer, perhaps a representative of the finance committee, and I come to your branch and present an impassioned plea for all of you to donate as much as you can to the church. During questions and answers, it somehow comes out that I myself don’t donate at all. You ask me, “Why should we donate to the church if you don’t?” How shall I respond – “Do as I say, not as I do”?
• Now suppose I’m a member of the ministry and I preach on the sinfulness of adultery, and then it comes out that I in fact indulge in sexual indiscretions. Do as I say, not as I do?
• I’m a Sunday school teacher, teaching about the 10 Commandments, when I regularly cheat on my taxes and am often dishonest in my dealings with other people. Do as I say, not as I do?
• Or, I’m a new member of the church (or any member of the church) and I tell my friends about how much the church has changed my life and how thankful I am that I no longer live the type of life I used to. Perhaps my friends still live this type of life, and I’m letting them know they would do well to check out the church. Yet, I still frequent the bars; my language is still filthy; and I don’t even make it to church very often. In short, my life hasn’t really changed that much after all. Do as I say, not as I do?

This article is Part 2 of Sister Natalie Shawver's series “Born and Raised”…Or Not.

“I remember how nice everyone was to me on my first visit to The Church, and I was surprised because they didn’t even know me. Everyone was greeting me. I was very shy, but it felt wonderful; it did not make me feel uncomfortable. I did not quite know what I was experiencing or what I was feeling.” – Sister Wendy Giannetti, Mesa, Arizona

It’s not easy to walk into a room full of people you don’t know. Perhaps you came on the arm of your boyfriend, as Sister Wendy did. Or maybe it was your girlfriend, like Brother Bob Batson. Either way, dozens of people greeting you and asking who you are and where you’re from? Not the typical way we like to spend our Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights.

Today's Miracle Monday is a testimony from Brother Rich Nath about a time when he was at a career crossroad, and God showed him what to do through His word. Enjoy!

By early 2007, I had been working shifts for over six years. Although my mind loved working the night shift, my body was starting to get weak. I worked a four-on, four-off schedule, and when on nights, it was taking me two of my four off days to recover. I asked my managerial team if there were going to be any future openings in the department that didn’t require shift work. The answer was there were no current or foreseeable plans for any.

We realized that we've actually highlighted this verse on Good Word Friday once before in 2016, but why not another reminder, especially during this time of year when everyone is so focused on fear?

A little over a year ago, I began contemplating going back to school but really didn’t want to. I came to a crossroads with work and asked for prayer at the 2015 October conference. When I left, a few of the brothers who prayed for me offered to fast and pray with me that God would reveal His will.

During the week I set aside to fast and pray, I was inspired to seek a certification rather than go for a graduate degree. A few days after deciding this, one of the brothers praying with me felt to relate an experience he had while laying hands on me at conference. I felt the experience confirmed what I had been inspired to do.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:9-11)

There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ…And it shall come to pass that whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ. (Mosiah 5:8-9)

Based on the verses above, is it any wonder that we say (and even sing) His name is wonderful? It’s a powerful name that brings salvation and casts out the enemy.

Who doesn’t like being described as good? It is a compliment, an acknowledgement of value and worth, something to our credit, a source of pride.

As a young woman, I found accepting compliments awkward and would find myself dismissing or explaining them away till it was pointed out to me that the proper or “polite” response is a simple thank you.

With the passing of time, I began to find myself feeling awkward again; saying “thank you” did not feel right. There was disquiet in my soul. You see, I felt convicted after reading James 4:17, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Today's Miracle Monday is an experience from Sister Rosanne Champine on our theme of "reading scripture." Enjoy!

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite hymns was a chorus we often sang in MBA:

“Only to be what He wants me to be, every moment of every day.
Yielded completely to Jesus alone, every step of the pilgrim way.
Just to be clay in the Potter’s hand, ready to do what His word commands.
Only to be what He wants me to be every moment of every day."

We hope that today's Good Word encourages you! God strengthens us naturally and spiritually. He puts a song in our hearts and on our lips. He is the source of salvation!

I’ve always been a bit of a mad scientist. The urge to figure out exactly the way things work is simply part of my DNA. So, as a boy, it was no surprise to find me nose deep in a book, the computer, or the lawnmower (sorry, Dad) trying to figure out what makes things tick.

It seemed logical to want to dive down to the atomic level when I chose my profession. Now I get paid to mix chemicals together and see what happens. Still, let’s just say that there are days when I wake up with more hair on my arms than others.

The prophecy recounted in 2 Nephi 18 indicates that Jesus Christ would be “a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel…many among them shall stumble and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken” (2 Nephi 18:14-15). The prophecy seems to be saying that Christ would be offensive. Was this accurate? See for yourself:

• Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said…Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:12-14)
• After stating that His followers should eat His flesh and drink His blood, “many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66).
• The Jewish leaders were so offended with His claim to be the Son of God that they caused Him to be crucified.

Today is the first article in a series by Brother P. — mysterious pseudonym used on purpose. That's because over the next few months he's going to share stories from his workplace, a nursing home. So, he'll use all sorts of aliases to protect the innocent, so to speak. We hope you enjoy reading about the spiritual insights and takeaways that Brother P. gets from this unlikely source.

Let me introduce myself. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ. I also work in a nursing home. My job mostly is comprised of "walking" residents around the nursing home to help them regain their mobility. I feel honored that I get to spend my days with folks who have a decade — or two or four or more — on me. Since I spend a lot of time with certain residents, the physicians, nurses, or administrators occasionally ask me questions regarding the resident’s cognition.

Today's Miracle Monday is a testimony from Brother Tim Scolaro that shows how God's word can have a huge impact on our relationships with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.

I attended a singspiration event at which a brother sang a song in a way that I thought was not sufficiently reverent — it was a country-western type song, and I felt he was taking it to extremes.

I found myself commenting with some other saints after the meeting about how I did not think it was appropriate. One of these individuals was particularly close to this brother. I did not realize at the time how it made that person feel, nor did I think much about the fact that I felt free to make such comments.

We pray that today's Good Word increases your confidence in God's power to fight our spiritual battles for us. Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons we have — how long has it been since you tried it?

This is the first article of a series by Sister Linda Scolaro in which she relates the fruits of the spirit to women in scripture who possess them. Enjoy!

What do you think of when you read the following?

• Love
• Joy
• Peace
• Longsuffering
• Gentleness
• Goodness
• Faith
• Meekness
• Temperance

Galatians 5 refers to these qualities as the fruits of the spirit. In examining them closely, I realize how many of these characteristics I lack in my own character. One fruit or attribute that I can personally relate to is longsuffering. At the very least, I can relate to the patience aspect of longsuffering. There have been times when patience was essential because God didn’t answer my prayers quickly. Waiting on the Lord is always best, but it is not always easy.