Church of Jesus Christ Laguna

As part of our ongoing Parenting Workshop series, Bishop and Monica Sedgwick and Cathy and Marc Andraszczyk share their thoughts on preparing children and grandchildren for the temple. Hosted by the Laguna Niguel Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For more information and to see future topics and speakers, please visit: http://www.lnstake.org/parenting Recorded Sunday, June 25th, 2023 in Laguna Niguel, California.

Jamie Pyatt, a licensed clinical social worker, has over twenty years experience working with those seeking relief from depression, grief, loss, or looking to improve their lives. She discusses how healing and rest can be found through turning to Christ. Laguna Niguel Stake Relief Society, March 18, 2023

An excerpt from the Adult Session of our most recent Stake Conference, held on January 14th, 2023. Courtney Pena from the Dana Hills ward shares her thoughts on the importance of wearing our temple garments. Visit our stake website to learn more about temple garments and the blessings members of the Church feel from wearing them.

President Russell M. Nelson has repeatedly and consistently taught the power and importance of families. He has emphasized that “home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families,” and has promised that as you “diligently work to remodel your home into a center of gospel learning, … children will be excited to learn and to live the Savior's teachings ….” These “changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining.” We have felt impressed as a stake council to host a series of parenting workshops in the coming year to help support parents as they strive to follow President Nelson's counsel. The overall goal is to fortify our families along the covenant path and each workshop will tackle a particular topic. Here is the tentative schedule and list of topics and speakers: -January 29: Helping Children Develop Strong Mental Health and Emotional Resilience (Kristen Murray) -March 19: Helping Children with Difficult Gospel Questions (President and Sister Evanson, Brian Andre) -May 21: Teaching For the Strength of Youth in Our Homes (Speakers TBA) -July 30: Helping Children Develop Healthy and Appropriate Relationships with Media (Social Media, Video Games, Pornography, etc.) (Speakers TBA) -September 17: Helping Children Prepare for Full-Time Missionary Service (President and Sister Davis, President and Sister Ward) -November 19: How to Talk to Children About (and Prepare Them for) the Temple Endowment (Speakers TBA) The format will be a short presentation, followed by questions, answers, and counseling together. Bring your questions and your challenges. These workshops are not in any way mandatory, but all are invited – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. We are confident this effort will help strengthen parents in the stake in their sacred roles as fathers and mothers. With much love, Laguna Niguel Stake Presidency

The Lord declared in Latter-day scripture that He suffered the United States Constitution “to be established [and] maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.” (D&C 101:77.) In what ways is the Constitution inspired? What is our duty to uphold and defend the inspired principles enshrined in that document? Laguna Niguel Stake President Blaine Evanson shared the inspired principles embodied in the Constitution, the current threats to those principles, and our unique responsibility to uphold and defend the Constitution. For more information about this important subject, please visit: lnstake.org/blog/constitution

Scott Empringham joined the Church in 2020. "For me, coming to Christ was a series of taps on the shoulder: one I missed, one I ignored, and one I couldn't possibly ignore." He shared his journey at our Laguna Niguel Stake Conference on June 19th, 2022.

This is the first of our Living Faith Discussions for 2022. As we begin our study of the Old Testament, don't miss this chance to hear from BYU Professor Kerry Muhlestein teaching about the Book of Abraham and the Abrahamic Covenant. Dr. Kerry Muhlestein is an expert in Egyptology and professor at the Department of Ancient Scripture at BYU, as well as the director of the BYU Egypt Excavation Project. He and his wife, Julianne, are the parents of six children, and they have lived in Jerusalem on multiple occasions with Kerry taught there. Presented by the Laguna Niguel California Stake lnstake.org Instagram: @churchofjesuschristlaguna Facebook: Church of Jesus Christ Laguna

Our eighth Living Faith discussion centers around Joseph Smith and the turbulent times leading up to Liberty Jail. We learned so much from BYU-Idaho Professor Andrea Radke-Moss, and appreciate her willingness to speak to us about the important lessons learned during this time in our Church's history. The Living Faith discussion series was created to enrich your Come, Follow Me study of the Doctrine & Covenants and church history. We wanted these discussions to be a bit more informal than a typical fireside, and to end with some questions and answers. We echo the words of the “Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” that “those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” If you missed previous discussions you can find links on our website: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith

This is the seventh of our Living Faith discussions this year, focusing on key events and persons from Church history. We were delighted to have Richard Bushman, emeritus professor of history at Columbia University and author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling, speak to our stake on the topic “Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration”. Brother Bushman addressed the Kirtland period we are currently studying in Come, Follow Me, and then responded to questions sent in from members of the stake, moderated by Laguna Niguel Stake President Blaine Evanson. If you missed previous discussions you can find links on our website: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith We look forward to hearing from Andrea Radke-Moss, Kate Holbrook, and Barbara Morgan-Gardner later this year.

Our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson has said, “The gathering of Israel is the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today.”  Stake leaders taught a one hour introduction to the wards in our stake explaining how we can Love, Share, and Invite our friends and neighbors over social media.   00:00 Tyson Weaver, Stake High Council 02:27 Laura Thompson, Stake Relief Society Presidency 05:30 Kourtney Harrison, Stake Communications Director 13:52 Brooke Reynolds, Stake Media Director 29:25 Boad Swanson, Newport Beach Mission Presidency 44:52 Blaine Evanson, Laguna Niguel Stake President

This is the sixth Living Faith Discussion the Laguna Niguel stake has hosted this year, connected to Church history events highlighted in Come, Follow Me. While studying the Doctrine & Covenants, we realized that over half the revelations came while in Kirtland, so we wanted to find a Kirtland expert for our next discussion. Karl Ricks Anderson is known by many as "Mr. Kirtland". Originally from Utah, Brother Anderson left with a graduate degree from the University of Utah and went to work in Ohio. His LDS Church callings there include service as a stake president, regional representative, family history advisor and patriarch. His time in Ohio led him to a love of the Prophet Joseph Smith and LDS Church history there. He learned of the incalculable contribution the Ohio period made to the church's organization, doctrine and legacy of sacrifice. He has since written two books, "The Savior in Kirtland" and "Joseph Smith's Kirtland". If you missed previous discussions you can find links on our website: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith We look forward to hearing from Richard Bushman, Andrea Radke-Moss, Kate Holbrook, and Barbara Morgan-Gardner later this year.

This is the fifth of several Living Faith Discussions the Laguna Niguel stake will host this year connected to Church history events highlighted in Come, Follow Me, and our first in person discussion. The other discussions we've had so far have been focused on particular historical events or people, but this one focuses on the unique doctrines that were revealed with the Restoration. Terryl Givens is a former professor Professor of Literature and Religion at the University of Richmond and currently a Neal L. Maxwell Senior Fellow at Brigham Young University. Along with his wife Fiona, he is the author of “The Christ Who Heals” (Deseret 2017); “The Crucible of Doubt” (Deseret 2014), and “The God Who Weeps” (Deseret 2012) and many other books. They are the parents of six children. If you missed previous discussions you can find links on our website: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith We look forward to hearing from Karl Anderson, Richard Bushman, Andrea Radke-Moss, Kate Holbrook, and Barbara Morgan-Gardner later this year.

There are so many options for a senior mission, whether you are able to serve in a foreign country, or need to stay closer to home. Several members of our stake shared their experiences serving senior missions and explained new opportunities for local service missions. One unique aspect of senior missionary service is the ability to tailor your mission to your personal talents, experience, and interests. Learn more about mission opportunities at: https://seniormissionary.churchofjesuschrist.org/srsite/?lang=eng

From the very beginning when Emma Smith said, “We are going to do something extraordinary,” Relief Society women working together have done remarkable things. Celebrate the 179th birthday of Relief Society with beautiful music and inspiring messages from members of our stake. Speakers include Debbie Bell, Michelle Kimball, Madison Davis, Laura del Rosario, Linda Budd, Sally Hatch, and President Evanson; with musical numbers by the Lawrence family and our favorite trio (Megan Peo, Angel Westover, and Laura Thompson).

This discussion is about the life of Emma Hale Smith, wife of the prophet Joseph Smith, and her part in the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ. Jennifer Reeder is a nineteenth-century women's history specialist at the LDS Church History Department. She has a PhD in American history from George Mason University, with an emphasis in women's history and religious history. She is the author of the soon to be released book, "First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith". This is the fourth of several Living Faith Discussions the Laguna Niguel stake will host this year connected to Church history events highlighted in Come, Follow Me. If you missed previous discussions or want to see the lineup of speakers for the year, visit our website: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith​

Tad R. Callister has served in a number of Church callings including full-time missionary in the Eastern Atlantic States Mission, bishop, stake president, regional representative, mission president, Area Seventy, and General Sunday School President. He is the author of many books including “The Infinite Atonement” and “A Case for the Book of Mormon”. He and his wife Kathryn Louise Saporiti are the parents of six children. This discussion focuses on the three people who were chosen to be witnesses to the Book of Mormon: Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris. Eight other people were allowed to see the gold plates at another time, including many of the Whitmer family and some of Joseph Smith's family. This is the third of several Living Faith Discussions the stake will host this year connected to Church history events highlighted in Come, Follow Me. If you missed previous discussions you can find them on our stake YouTube channel or on this podcast.

A series of discussions on Church history to help us better understand the Restoration and Doctrine & Covenants, taught by leading experts. Hosted by the Laguna Niguel Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Laguna Niguel, California. Professor Dirkmaat is an associate professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University. He worked as a historian and writer for the Church History Department from 2010 to 2014 with the Joseph Smith Papers Project and continues to work as a volunteer editor. He is the coauthor, along with Michael Hubbard MacKay, of the award-winning book From Darkness unto Light: Joseph Smith's Translation and Publication of the Book of Mormon. This is the second of several Living Faith Discussions the stake will host this year connected to the church history events highlighted in Come, Follow Me. For more information about this series, visit: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith

Laguna Niguel Stake President Blaine Evanson spoke during stake conference on January 17, 2021.

The biannual Laguna Niguel Stake Conference was held Sunday, January 17, at 10:00 am via YouTube Live. The stake presidency asked everyone to study President Russell M. Nelson's October Conference talk "Let God Prevail" (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng) in preparation for the conference. Speakers include Jeana Persson, Sam and Jenny Bruni, Cameron Chao, Dave Rogers, Carina Novillo, George Miranda, Ann Marquis, Kenna Graham, Newport Beach Temple President Zundel and his wife, and President Evanson.

A series of discussions on Church History to help us better understand the Restoration and Doctrine & Covenants, taught by leading experts. Professor Harper is a professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University and the world's foremost expert on the First Vision. He was the managing historian and general editor of "Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days" and is the author of the books "Making Sense of the Doctrine and Covenants" and "Joseph Smith's First Vision". For more information about the Living Faith Discussion Series and a list of upcoming speakers, please visit: http://www.lnstake.org/living-faith

Talks and musical numbers shared during a stake broadcast on Sunday, October 18th. While not an official stake conference, the broadcast featured speakers from the stake presidency and saints throughout the stake. Due to Covid-19 health restrictions, members of the stake were invited to view the broadcast as a family or in groups from home via our Stake YouTube channel. Speakers included Stake Relief Society President Beth Garlock,and the three members of our stake presidency: President Blaine Evanson, President Matthew Miller, and President Brian Neff. Pre-recorded video messages were also shared from Elder Dylan Giolas (Hawaii, Honolulu Mission), Melissa Briggs, Tom Randall, Kristen Hellewell, and Bishop Steve Austin; with musical numbers from a stake virtual choir, Hanna Eyre, and Graham MacRobie.

Laguna Niguel Stake President Blaine Evanson spoke during a stake broadcast on Sunday, October 18th, 2020.

Members of the Laguna Niguel stake ward councils and stake council were invited to attend a Stake Leadership Training at the Stake Center. All health and safety requirements from the state and the church were observed, including wearing facemasks and sitting six feet apart from others. Those in attendance also were asked to prepare spiritually. President Russell M. Nelson opened General Conference last weekend with this inspired statement: “Amid social distancing, face masks, and Zoom meetings, we have learned to do some things differently and some even more effectively. Unusual times can bring unusual rewards.” Attendees were asked to record their impressions before, during, and after the meeting; and to take those impressions back to ward councils and presidency or bishopric meetings, and to counsel together on how to implement what the Spirit taught them. Speakers included President Matthew Miller, Courtney Cope, Bryan Thacker, Scott Tanner, President Brian Neff, Emily Boyer, and Stake President Blaine Evanson.

Members of the Laguna Niguel stake share their testimonies of the Newport Beach temple. We invite you to think about what the temple means to you as we celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Newport Beach, California temple coming up on August 28, 2020.

There is no way to capture in words the sadness we have felt witnessing the acts of racial violence in our country over the past few weeks. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd evidence a racism and blatant disregard for human life that are utterly inconsistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are also saddened by the escalating violence and unrest those events have spawned. Tonight we recorded a discussion between President Evanson and three African-American brothers in our stake: Robert Brown, Adam Cubbage, and Kenneth Roberts. Prayerfully seek understanding by listening to their experiences and perspectives, as well as the counsel they offer for their brothers and sisters. We pray that we can all grow from this experience and better foster a fundamental respect for the human dignity of every human soul, regardless of their color, creed, or cause. Presidents Evanson, Miller, and Neff

The Stake Relief Society Board asked the wives of the members of our Stake Presidency to share a brief message with you along with that of our Stake President, Blaine Evanson. Beth Garlock introduces this episode, followed by Patrice Miller, Steph Neff, Robin Evanson, and President Evanson. Find a quiet moment this weekend and listen to these messages. We hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! Thank you for mentoring and nurturing our children and young people in your individual roles as teachers, mothers, sisters, and friends. Your influence for good will be felt for months and years to come.

Barbara Morgan Gardner is an associate professor of Church history and doctrine at Brigham Young University and author of the book, “The Priesthood Power of Women”. She spoke to members of the Laguna Niguel, California Stake on February 2, 2020.