Category: Come Follow Me

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Quotes

The Ultimate Collection of Spencer W. Kimball Quotes: Repentance, Revelation, and More

A painting of Spencer W. Kimball alongside his famous quote about how it is often through serving each other that God helps us.

Spencer W. Kimball’s quotes are still relevant decades after his passing. In addition to authoring books such as The Miracle of Forgiveness, President Kimball also gave many general conference addresses and BYU devotionals. He is remembered for receiving the revelation that ended the Priesthood and Temple Ban against individuals of Black African descent, for overseeing a new edition of the English scriptures, and for his mottos “lengthen your stride” and “do it.” Similar to our Dallin H. Oaks Quotes page, this post features quotes from Spencer W. Kimball on a variety of topics, including repentance, revelation, families, and more. Please leave a comment if there’s a quote you’d like considered for inclusion.

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New Testament

How Did the Twelve Apostles Die?

Artistic depiction of the 12 apostles walking at dusk, evoking the mystery and tradition surrounding their deaths.

The New Testament offers only a few details about how Jesus’s apostles died. Most of what we “know” comes from early Christian writings and later legends—some historically grounded, others clearly mythical. Unlike the Old Testament’s detailed treatment of prophetic deaths, these stories reflect the theology and historical uncertainty of early Christianity. Here’s a concise summary of each apostle’s traditional fate, noting where it occurred, what’s historically probable, and how we know.

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Ancient history Book excerpts Old Testament

How Does the JPS Torah Commentary Introduce the Book of Exodus?

Artistic rendering of Mount Sinai at sunrise, evoking the sacred and ancient setting of the Book of Exodus as described in the JPS Torah Commentary.

Present-day editions divide the Book of Exodus into 40 chapters. This practice is not rooted in Jewish tradition but was borrowed from Christian Bibles. In the late Middle Ages, the Church forced Jews to engage in disputations, which usually focused upon the interpretation of scriptural passages. This necessitated a common, standardized system of reference, and so the Christian chapter and verse numberings were introduced into the Hebrew manuscript Bibles by Rabbi Solomon ben Ishmael (ca. 1330).1

Editorial Note: This is an authorized excerpt from “The JPS Torah Commentary: Exodus” published by the Jewish Publication Society.

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New Testament

Who Were the Pharisees? A Historical and Biblical Guide

A screenshot of a Pharisee from "The Chosen" creating a mixed feeling that depicts modern stigmas that the Pharisees were bad people.

The Pharisees were a group of people at the time of Christ with a set of beliefs recognizable by outsiders. However, exactly what those beliefs were remains a hotly debated question. Scholars have begun to agree upon several common characteristics of Pharisees, can clearly distinguish them from Sadducees, and often note that the sect receives unfair treatment in the gospels. In this interview, New Testament scholar Thomas Wayment discusses what scholars currently think about who the Pharisees were.

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Quotes

Dieter F. Uchtdorf Quotes: Inspiring Teachings on Faith, Hope, and Discipleship

A sketch of Dieter F. Uchtdorf next to the text of one of his quotes about adversity.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s quotes emphasize that the gospel is “beautifully simple” and best lived through small, daily efforts rather than grand gestures. Using aviation metaphors from his career as a pilot, President Uchtdorf illustrates how a mere two-degree course correction prevents a spiritual crash and why “forward thrust” is required to maintain spiritual lift. He describes the Church not as a showroom for the perfect, but as a service center for those seeking the transformative power of grace. Similar to our Dallin H. Oaks Quotes page, this inspiring quote collection features teachings from Dieter F. Uchtdorf that explore how centering our lives on the Savior turns the pursuit of holiness into a pursuit of happiness.

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Old Testament

Genesis: A New Translation for Latter-day Saints

An illustration of a hand reaching out to translate a copy of Genesis positioned on a desk, with the Tree of Life springing up from the pages and a temple in the background that highlights the importance for Latter-day Saints.

BYU scholar Kent P. Jackson has produced a modern translation of Genesis for Latter-day Saints. Published as a standalone hardcopy book, it features a literal translation of the Hebrew text formatted alongside the Joseph Smith Translation and Jackson’s personal commentary. While the author had long planned to translate Genesis to help Latter-day Saints become familiar with modern translations, the book’s publication coincided with the Church’s updated instructions on Study Bibles in late 2025. In this interview, Jackson sheds light on his translation process, provides examples from the book, and highlights details especially important to church members.

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19th Century Devotional Latter-day Saint History

The Cost of Eternal Glory: Eliza R. Snow’s Counsel About Overcoming Trials

A soulful 1875 portrait of Eliza R. Snow, Latter-day Saint poet and leader. Her steady, weathered gaze and firm expression capture the resilience she preached in her discourses on overcoming trials. She is wearing a dark ruffled dress with a white collar and an ornate brooch.

There are nearly 1,300 Eliza R. Snow discourses on record. After spending decades privately lifting others through poetry, Snow shifted to a more public ministry when Brigham Young asked her to help rebuild Relief Societies in Territorial Utah. Terrified of public speaking, Eliza nonetheless accepted the prophet’s call. Several themes appear in the speeches she would later give, including charity, unity, and ministering as the Savior did. In this interview, editor Sharalyn Howcroft discusses Eliza’s teachings about overcoming trials as found in the newly-published book, “Rise Up and Speak: Selected Discourses of Eliza R. Snow.”

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19th Century Devotional Latter-day Saint History

Imagining the Restoration Through the Eyes of Emma Smith

An Anthony Sweat painting of profiles of Emma Smith and Joseph Smith looking into each other's eyes.
"Harmony Joseph and Emma" by Anthony Sweat.

Emma Smith, the “First Lady of the Restoration,” is something of an enigma. It is surprising, in light of history, biography, legend, and folktale, how little we really know of her as a person, as Joseph’s closest companion, from almost the beginning of his calling to its tragic end. Fortunately, what history does not provide, our creative faculties can furnish by imagining her presence and personality. The poem I introduce here is an example of what life might have been like for this remarkable woman, who was ever more central to the restoration than all but her prophet-husband.

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Quotes

Gordon B. Hinckley Quotes on Optimism, Faith, and Family

A painting of Gordon B. Hinckley overlaid by the prophet's quote about how life is meant to be enjoyed, reflecting the Church President's frequent teachings about optimism, faith, and family.

Gordon B. Hinckley was a beloved Church leader whose quotes are still relevant today. President Hinckley gave many general conference addresses and other devotionals and is known to this day for his focus on civility, family, and temple building. Similar to our collection of Dallin H. Oaks Quotes, this page features President Hinckley’s teachings on a variety of topics, including family, interfaith work, temples, and more. Please leave a comment if there’s a quote you’d like considered for inclusion.

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Ancient history Old Testament

What Is the Meaning of the Akedah in Genesis 22?

Silhouetted Abraham and Isaac walk up Mount Moriah at sunrise, Abraham carrying wood for the offering, in an oil-painted style evoking Genesis 22 and the Akedah.

The Akedah—Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac in Genesis 22—has long been read as the Bible’s ultimate test of faith and obedience. The Hebrew word means “to tie up” or “to bind,” describing what Abraham does to Isaac in response to God’s command to kill his son. He sets out without telling Sarah, fully intending to murder his child, only for the Lord to intervene at the last moment with a critical message. Abraham’s trial of faith is so devastating that he never again speaks to Isaac, Sarah, or God. Philosophers and theologians have interpreted the story in strikingly different ways: Did God expect Abraham’s obedience—or yearn for his “pious irreverence”? In this interview, scholar Aaron Koller explores the history of interpreting the Akedah, examining what this haunting episode means for readers of faith.

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