As promised, today we're kicking off our week of creative Easter stories! We're starting with Sister Alena Ricci writing from the perspective of Mary Magdalene. Before the story, a quick note from Sister Alena:

Let me first begin by saying that this is one of the hardest blog articles I've ever written. Why? Because this woman was the first woman to see Jesus after the resurrection, and she was the one who washed His feet. Because my first thought was: what do I possibly have in common with Mary Magdalene to write as her voice?

And then I realized that we have a lot in common: we are both saved by undeserving grace.

This article is a mash-up of songs, poems, scripture, and any articles or books I could find in my university library (you may recognize some). So I hope that you enjoy this story of the woman to see Jesus after the crucifixion, and that you have a happy Resurrection Day!

Dear brothers and sisters, we hope you all have a most blessed Palm Sunday!

We're interrupting our regularly scheduled programming because we've got something special planned on the Blog this coming week — a collection of creative articles inspired by the resurrection. We hope they draw your heart out to the Lord in the days leading up to Easter.

We asked a few of our writers to get a little creative. Each person chose a character from scripture who saw Jesus after His resurrection. The writers tried to imagine how that character might have felt seeing the Lord after His death.

These articles are imaginative interpretations. Just like the Christmas series from 2013, we took a little creative license and, through studying scripture, tried to really connect with the individuals' experiences. We hope these articles inspire you to do the same.

Even though we can't go back in time and actually witness Christ's resurrection, we can still personally encounter Him today. How wonderful and powerful to know that He is just as real to us, who never saw Him in the flesh, as He was to the historical men and women of faith that we'll read about this week. 

Till then, God bless you!

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.

Today's Good Word comes from the good book of Romans. If you'd like us to take your favorite scripture and turn it into a graphic for Good Word Friday, then send it on over!

2015 Subscription Drive Results

In an effort to better publicize the Gospel Blog, we had our first-ever subscription drive this winter!

Before the drive, we had a whopping 580 subscribers. After the drive, we now have

...drumroll...

636 subscribers!!

Our scripture trivia has taken you on a trip through Genesis and Exodus, and now it's time to hop the pond and quiz you on your Book of Mormon knowledge. Sister Karen Watford put together today's test, and all of the answers are hiding in 3 Nephi.

How many can you answer correctly off the top of your head? How many can your Sunday school or MBA class answer together? How many did you have to look up? Are there any that still elude you?

Send us your best shot, and we'll publish the correct answers next Friday!

The working of God's Spirit has been a mystery to man since the time of Christ. God's Word tells us its very nature is contrary to our flesh (Galatians 5:17) and that, "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

It is not surprising, then, to read of many who did not understand the Spirit for what it was, how it worked, or from where it came. Even Simon, who when witnessing Peter and John bestow God's Spirit, thought he could rightly purchase its power from them. Yet it was boldly declared that he had "...neither part nor lot in [the] matter" (Acts 8:21).

Our sincere apologies to all the kids, teachers and parents who participated in the Kids' Question of the Month! We're resending this email because — for some reason — only a tiny part of the article got published this morning. Enjoy the MANY responses and adorable pictures! 

March Question: If you could go back in a time machine, what event in the scripture would you like to see with your own eyes? Why?

Elizabeth T. (Age 10, Edison NJ) would crank the machine all the way back because she would "like to see the Creation to see what the world looked like at that time"

Animal lovers abounded in our respondents. Haley S. (Age 6) and Evan G. (Age 5) from Imperial, PA as well as Abigail G. (Age 4) and Emma N. (Age 5) from Monongahela, PA want to see Noah and all the animals on the ark. Elijah K. (Age 4, Monongahela, PA) is especially thankful that Noah "saved the lions and I wish Jesus would have saved Dinosaurs on the ark too."

Today is our last feetwashing-related Miracle Monday! Enjoy this miracle story submitted by Brother Chris Gehly.

I have an incredible passion for the work of God in Africa. Don't ask me to explain why I love going to a place where the food is bland, the bugs are gigantic, and the living conditions are third world. I think we all know and understand that when God calls and you heed, you are incredibly blessed.

Shortly after I graduated college, I was invited to travel to Africa with a dear friend, mentor and father figure, Bro Lyle. He told me we would be going for 35 days. I jumped at the opportunity. We made the first missionary trip into Mozambique, slept in tents, and experienced the culture in ways that cannot be done on a typical trip. It will always remain as one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Due to a technical glitch with our email provider, you may have missed this article when it published on Wednesday and emailed on Thursday. Just in case, we’re re-posting it today.

The 24th chapter of St. Matthew speaks of events that parallel our day: "wars and rumors of wars... For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."

This scripture clearly describes the perilous conditions of our day and time. Is the end of time near? Is the triumphant second coming of Jesus Christ at hand? No, not in the least! Both Bible and Book of Mormon prophecy informs us that Zion will come, a glorious age of peace and joy and the love of God in the hearts of humanity; notwithstanding, Jesus Christ cautions us to be ready now for we will witness unprecedented and frightening conditions upon this land if this Gentile nation refuses to repent.

Today's Good Word is a famous verse from 1 Nephi. How often can you say this in your life?

It was a Sunday morning just several weeks after Easter, and I was enjoying the peace and quiet of my home as the rest of my family was sleeping. As I was tidying up my kitchen, I picked up a copy of "The Beacon," a small weekly circulation newspaper, folded in half at the advice column.

As I began to read it, one question was from a mother looking for advice on whether her 12-year-old son — my own son was just shy of his 12th birthday at this time — should engage in a particular extracurricular activity that she and her husband were in disagreement on. Now the activity is not what captured my attention but the response given. The first sentence began like this: "Well it all depends on whether you want your son to be happy."

The 24th chapter of St. Matthew speaks of events that parallel our day: "wars and rumors of wars... For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places."

This scripture clearly describes the perilous conditions of our day and time. Is the end of time near? Is the triumphant second coming of Jesus Christ at hand? No, not in the least! Both Bible and Book of Mormon prophecy informs us that Zion will come, a glorious age of peace and joy and the love of God in the hearts of humanity; notwithstanding, Jesus Christ cautions us to be ready now for we will witness unprecedented and frightening conditions upon this land if this Gentile nation refuses to repent.

This week, we're bringing you two feet washing miracles. Please enjoy these testimonies from Sister Carmela Gray and Brother Jerry Valenti.

One Sunday, as we sat for feet washing, my sister was washing my feet and praying. (I pray in my mind sometimes.) I was feeling unworthy and opened my eyes. As I did so, I saw that the water in the basin was not clean. I was overwhelmed with the Spirit and closed my eyes, and we were both weeping.

There is nothing scary about Friday the 13th — especially when today's Good Word is as encouraging as 1 Nephi 4:6. The next time you don't know what to do or say in a sticky situation, rely on God's Spirit to guide your actions.

Today's trivia challenge is a good ol' game of Guess Who. I've chosen three people from scripture, one from the Old Testament, one from the New Testament, and one from the Book of Mormon. See if you can guess who they are from the three clues below. Have fun!

During the first spring after we moved here to the Houston area, I began to meet my neighbors as I walked my dogs down our semi-country roads.

One of the first neighbors I met was a woman named Esmeralda who lived a few houses down from me. She was outside with her granddaughter enjoying the pleasant walk to her mailbox. I stopped and introduced myself, and we talked, laughed, and cried together, sharing the blessings of God and of our families. At that time, she was about to undergo chemotherapy, which eventually took her appetite and the ability to keep food down — even water.