Sister Pillsbury

There wasn’t a dry eye in our chapel this morning. A young man I’ve had the honor of teaching in mission preparation class for the past few months gave his mission farewell talk today. He bore testimony of the Savior’s love. Then, as he began to speak about eternal families, his voice broke and tears filled his eyes. I knew why. A few months ago, his father, whom he dearly loves, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. This young man bravely fought through his tears as he spoke of sleepless nights spent on his knees, pleading with the Lord for understanding. He testified of the peace he felt as the Spirit comforted him. In just a few days, he will leave for two years to teach, serve, and uplift strangers far from home, not knowing whether his dad will be there to greet him when he returns. I could hardly see the words on the page as we sang the closing hymn, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” As I sang, I thought of this brave young man pouring out his soul to the Lord, asking Him to take away the bitter cup of his father’s illness. These words took on new meaning: “He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul’s complaint. He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears.” I’ve read many times on X that missions for LDS youth are vacations, or rewards, or easy rites of passage. They are not. They are life-changing sacrifices. And few will sacrifice more in serving their Savior than this valiant young man, who is choosing faith over fear.

My son brought home a friend for dinner on a Tuesday evening. No heads-up, no "Is it okay?" He just walked through the door at 6:00 PM with this boy in tow. "Hey Dad, this is Leo. He’s staying for dinner." It wasn't a request; it was an announcement. My son, Jax, is fourteen and usually follows the rules, so this caught me off guard. Leo looked small for his age, drowning in an oversized sweatshirt despite the humid evening. He kept his eyes glued to his shoes. I had exactly four pork chops defrosted for our family of four. Now, we were five. "Nice to meet you, Leo," I said, already doing the mental math to shrink our portions. "I hope you’re hungry." Dinner was heavy with silence. Leo ate with a sort of desperate politeness—tiny, careful bites, whispering "thank you" every time a dish was passed. My wife tried to start a conversation about school, but he gave nothing but one-word replies. Jax just watched us, his jaw set, like he was waiting for us to mess up. Once Leo headed home, I pulled Jax aside. "You can’t just spring guests on us like that, Jax. We need to know ahead of time." "He needed a meal," Jax said flatly. "What do you mean, he 'needed'—" "Dad. He needed to eat. There’s nothing in his pantry. His dad is working two jobs just to keep the lights on, and his mom hasn't been around in years. He gets a school lunch, and that’s it until the next morning." A cold knot formed in my stomach. "Did he tell a counselor? The school must have resources." Jax looked at me with a tired kind of wisdom. "If he tells the school, they call the state. Then his dad gets investigated, they might get separated, and everything falls apart. He just needs a hot meal, Dad. That’s all." At fourteen, my son was seeing a world I had been comfortably ignoring. "Tell him to come back tomorrow," I said. Jax finally cracked a smile. "Already did." Leo became a fixture at our table. Monday through Friday, he was there. He was always quiet, always grateful, and never asked for a second helping unless we practically forced it on him. By the end of the first month, he finally looked me in the eye. "Why do you let me stay?" "Because you're our guest," I told him. "And there’s always enough to share." He didn't sob; he just let out a long, shaky breath as a few tears hit his plate. "Nobody ever just... helped. Without a catch." It turned out Leo was a brilliant kid. He was obsessed with aerospace engineering and was already teaching himself calculus. He graduated top of his class last spring with a full ride to a tech institute. During his commencement speech, he thanked his mentors and his father. Then he added, "And to the Miller family, who gave me a seat at their table for four years without making me feel like a charity case. You taught me that being in need doesn't mean you're a failure. Thank you for always having a plate ready." I was blindsided. I sat in the bleachers and ruined my shirt sleeve wiping my eyes. The truth is, I didn't do anything heroic. I just bought more groceries. I put an extra chair at the table. That’s it. But to a kid who felt invisible, it was a lifeline. Jax is eighteen now. He still brings people home. Last month, it was a classmate whose family was living out of their car. Last week, it was a kid whose house was freezing because the heat had been cut off. He doesn't ask anymore. He just sets the table. And I just keep cooking. Look around your community. There’s a kid in your neighborhood who isn't just "struggling"—they’re hungry. Right now. You don't need a charity board or a massive budget. Just set an extra plate. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to change a life. By shahida6603

I’ll admit, when the new Young Women group names were first introduced, they didn’t immediately resonate with my understanding. But as I’ve taken time to step back and really ponder them, I’m starting to see the intent and inspiration behind them. What really stands out is how beautifully they parallel the Aaronic Priesthood: Deacons & Builders of Faith: both are laying the foundation. Learning duty, developing habits of discipleship, and building something steady and lasting in their lives. Teachers & Messengers of Hope: both step outward. They begin to more actively influence others—teaching, inviting, encouraging, and lifting those around them. Priests & Gatherers of Light: both take on a more direct role in bringing others to Christ. There’s a deeper responsibility to lead, to bless, and to help gather Israel. The more I sit with it, the more it feels less like a change in names and more like a clearer vision of who they’re becoming. #SaintsOnX @Ch_JesusChrist

@Manhattva I get them nightly (Camp Williams) and I love it.

Just flew over the house.

@julieheglund I’m anxiously awaiting as well! I’m out there frequently and miss being able to go to the temple!

Ngl I’m going to cry so many happy tears when the Orlando Temple opens back up. Ft. Lauderdale is beautiful but Orlando is where every living ordinance happened for me and I’m so attached.

@Manhattva @JimmyRex But please keep medical cannabis and perhaps revise regulations. It’s literally been a life saver

@JimmyRex Every single time.

Please no… literally ruins every state that legalizes it

@Intoalltruth64 Beautiful!

Mt. Hood in Oregon

@MattTestifies @MichaelStanger1 Great insight, thank you!

@MichaelStanger1 What really struck me there is that the Lord did not just give commands from a distance. He invited them up. That says so much about what covenant life is meant to become. Not mere rule keeping, but being brought near to Him.

“Come up unto the Lord” (Exodus 24:1). The invitation itself is striking. At Sinai, where boundaries had just been set and the people had stood afar off in fear, God now calls certain individuals to ascend. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders go up. What they experience is remarkable in its intimacy. “They saw the God of Israel… and did eat and drink” (Exodus 24:10–11). This is more than a moment of awe. It is a moment of covenant fulfillment. The God who descended in fire now invites His people to ascend into His presence. And not merely to observe, but to commune. A meal in the ancient world is fellowship, peace, relationship. Sinai is not only a place of law; it is a place of shared presence. And yet, the invitation to ancient Israel was limited. The whole nation is not yet brought up. The experience is real, but partial, an anticipatory glimpse of something greater still to come. Where Sinai offered ascent to a few, Christ extends the invitation to all. “Come unto me,” He says—not just to be taught, but to be brought near. Through Him, covenant is no longer a distant arrangement mediated on a mountain, but a living relationship that draws us into the presence of God. The imagery of Exodus 24 echoes forward into the Savior’s promise: “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). The covenant meal on Sinai becomes a pattern for something deeply personal and universally offered. The Lord declares, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63). What was once an ascent up a mountain becomes a spiritual ascent available to every disciple. Nephi describes the path in similar terms, not as distant observation, but as pressing forward “feasting upon the word of Christ,” until the promise is fulfilled that we may have eternal life (2 Nephi 31:20). The journey upward is covenantal, sustained, and real. Christ does not simply invite us to come up; He makes it possible. Through His atoning work, the barriers that once created distance are overcome. As modern revelation teaches, those who are sanctified “shall see his face and know that he is” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1). What Sinai hinted at, a people brought into God’s presence, is held out as a living promise. Sinai shows us that God desires more than obedience at a distance. He desires communion. The law was given, but so was the meal. Commandments were given, but so was an invitation: come up. The question is whether we hear it. Whether we remain at the base of the mountain, content with distance, or whether we accept the covenant path Christ has opened, ascending, step by step, into fellowship with Him, until the promise of Sinai is fully realized: to be in the presence of God, and to partake with Him. #ComeFollowMe #SundaySchool #SaintsOnX

@KintsugiJin Thank you for the reminder that I’m not alone

PTSD: Disassociated derealization & depersonalization cluster. 🔥 Some waves are a greater challenge than others. 🖕being on fire some days. 🙏 but still grateful for the blessing that have come from it. I will overcome. 🦾 Thank you for your attention to this matter. 🫶

He’s absolutely right, there IS divine worth in every person. I love his choice of words #SaintsOnX

@LDSLaw And it’s utterly disheartening! I think the American people should rise up and refuse to pay taxes this year

It seems we have all been living in the Great Epoch of Fraud. I continue to be amazed at the levels of corruption that keep getting exposed. Seems to be no bottom.

@huge_nibley I’ve done several, spent many years working in the running industry and I coach on the side. Feel free to dm me with any specific questions!

Has anyone in here run a full marathon? Looking for tips. And yes, it's too late to pull out – I already tried. haha

@dustinharding So beautiful!

My song “The Shepherd’s Cage” is now live and available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube! We often talk about the cold floor. We tell stories of the bad food. We refer to the thickness of the walls. But after spending years studying the history—and having the unique experience of portraying Joseph Smith in film—I’ve become convinced that the physical conditions were not the true torture of Liberty Jail. The real agony was psychological. It was a specific, primal pain that I call "Impotent Fatherhood." While Joseph sat in that cell, he knew his people—his "flock"—were being driven from their homes in the dead of winter. He knew his own family was suffering. He could hear the reports of the violence, the exposure, and the fear. Imagine sitting in a cage. You hold the Keys of the Kingdom. You have the authority to seal on earth and in heaven. You have spoken with angels. And yet, you cannot unlock the iron door in front of you to save your people. Further, it seems the heavens have closed and God is nowhere to be found. To a father and a leader, the inability to protect is a fate worse than death. It's the agony of having "tied hands," of being locked in a "shepherd's cage." I further break down the historical and emotional context in this video. I believe it was this specific pressure—the crushing weight of helplessness—that wrung out the cry, "O God, where art thou?" It wasn't a cry of doubt. It was a cry of desperate, constrained love. As I've pondered on these agonies, I felt impressed to write the song, "The Shepherd’s Cage." It explores the feeling of the Shepherd who can see the wolves circling but cannot reach the flock. It explores the silence before the answer comes. But ultimately, it explores the promise described in D&C 121: "A time to come in the which nothing shall be withheld." If you are a parent, a leader, or anyone who has ever felt like your hands were tied while someone you loved was suffering—this song is for you. Here are the links to access it outside of X: Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/6H0uQYBz… Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/album/the-s… YouTube: youtu.be/cVnal5ZdDbc Instagram: instagram.com/rdustinharding…

@4thdegreeofmom Every day.

How often do you clean out your car? I’m truly just curious.

@huge_nibley @Ch_JesusChrist Legit out loud chuckle! Thanks

@Ch_JesusChrist Elder's Quorum is now lame in comparison. I propose we change it to: Captain Moroni's Title of Liberty Priesthood Brotherhood Battalion

The First Presidency has announced new age-group names for young women—names that reflect their identity, growth, and purpose. The new age-group names are: • Builders of Faith (young women turning 12 or 13) • Messengers of Hope (young women turning 14 or 15) • Gatherers of Light (young women turning 16 or older) Young Women General President Emily Belle Freeman said the spiritual significance of the names became especially clear to her during a recent visit with young women in Tahiti. “As the girls sang, I was inspired to think of these covenant-keeping young women whose purpose and mission would be to build faith, share hope, and gather and reflect light around the world,” President Freeman said. “My eyes teared up as I realized the Spirit had been leading this process all along, inspiring names of faith, hope, and light that would help God’s daughters live as disciples of Christ and prepare them to enter a lifelong sisterhood of charity—the Relief Society.” Learn more by visiting the link below: newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/young-…

“May we be like Peter and Andrew, and LEAVE BEHIND nets of distraction, nets of deception and nets of disobedience that LIMIT our covenant commitment to immediately follow Jesus Christ.” Peter M. Johnson BYU-H Commencement April 17, 2026 Every day we have to choose again and again if we will “leave our nets behind” and follow what He is asking us to do— Distraction Deception Disobedience We need to leave them all behind! #SaintsOnX

@FiredUpCoug You are good people!!

I did an engagement shoot at the Capitol in Salt Lake today. There were hundreds of teenagers there taking prom pictures, with dozens of professional photographers all over the grounds. During the shoot, while my clients were taking a break, I saw a young couple trying to set up an older camera on a tripod with a timer so they could take their own photos. Between the camera, the tripod setup, and the fact that they didn’t have a photographer with them, I got the impression that money was tight. I asked if I could help by taking a photo for them. I took the girl’s camera off the tripod, made a little show of trying to figure it out, and then said, “I’m terrible at learning new cameras. How about I just use mine instead?” They happily agreed and I gave them a mini photo session. When I showed them the images on the back of my camera, their faces just lit up. The young woman offered to pay me and asked for my Venmo. Of course, I refused. I told her all I needed was their phone numbers so I could send them the finished photos. I edited them tonight and sent them over a little while ago. They replied right away, thanking me profusely. I’m so grateful for the talent God has blessed me with. It’s wonderful when photography brings in a little extra money, but the real reward is moments like this, when something you’ve spent years developing becomes a gift you can give away. Tonight, two kids who might not have been able to afford prom photos still got to leave with something beautiful. Seeing their smiles and receiving their gratitude was even better than getting paid.

Get you someone who is *this* excited to see you. Miss Maggie, I love you

@HelamansArmyYT @TracerBuIlet #truth

There is no political solution. There is no war solution. There is no social media solution. The answer is Jesus Christ. He's always been the answer.

@HelamansArmyYT I can get behind this version

My recent family joke that keeps going... 🎶I think we're alone now There doesn't seem to be anyone around I think you're a dog now. Woof woof woof woof ruf ruf ruf ruf ruf ruf.🎶