February 22, 2026
One really hot summer day in Redding California I popped some change into a soda machine, I so badly wanted a cold Orange Crush soda pop. To my surprise out popped two freezing cold cans of soda pop! I was so excited I showed my Dad my good fortune. He told me that I only paid for one, and that if I kept the second one it might keep me out of the Celestial kingdom. I placed that cold refreshing soda on top of the machine for the next person that walked by. Since then I have spent much of life worried about doing something that might keep me out of the Celestial kingdom. Elder Patrick Kearon shared a new perspective that makes me feel like I have a very loving Heavenly Father:
My friends, my fellow disciples on the road of mortal life, our Father’s beautiful plan, even His “fabulous” plan, is designed to bring you home, not to keep you out. No one has built a roadblock and stationed someone there to turn you around and send you away. In fact, it is the exact opposite. God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.
The plan and the commandments are designed to bring us back home. “Home” is where I long to be. The place where I can be with my loved ones and my loving Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. I bear testimony that if we follow His plan, we will be able to be with Him and feel of his amazing love.
In Jesus’ name,
Karl Connolly - Elder's Quorum
February 15, 2026
This past week I watched a high school production of the musical Big Fish. A primary focus of that play is the protagonist’s desire to leave a legacy for his son and others once he has passed away. As I watched, my mind was drawn to the legacy left by my recently passed grandmother.
My grandmother was 4’10” tall on a good day but she left an oversized impact on my life and the lives of many others. Her size only seemed to augment the strength of her unwavering faith in God and his plan for us. She often shared that testimony with me through her love of music, with one song in particular clearly taking precedence over others. She loved the song “I am a Child of God.” She knew the words of that song are true: “ I am a child of God and he has sent me here….” She also knew, as Sister Syd Allred shared in her talk this Sunday, “Everything about the Father’s plan for His children is designed to bring us, all of us home again, as a family.”
I am so grateful that my grandmother shared her testimony of this foundational truth to me repeatedly throughout my life.
Sister Allred also reminded us of the following quote from President Nelson:
“I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. You have sung this truth since you learned the words to “I Am a Child of God” [Hymns, no. 301]. But is that eternal truth imprinted upon your heart?”
This truth was imprinted on my grandmother’s heart, and a portion of the legacy she left behind was her impression of that truth on me. Reflecting on that truth and what I can understand of its importance and impact has blessed my life through good times and bad.
I am grateful for the legacy left to me by my grandmother, and I pray that we can all strive to leave similar legacies of truth and testimony to those we love.
Jeremy Adamson - Bishopric
February 8, 2026
I was recently reminded of a conference talk that President Emily Belle Freeman gave in the October 2022 General Conference titled, “Walking in Covenant Relationship with Christ”. As I’ve recently pondered on covenants, and in particular my own, I loved her reminder of what President Nelson taught about covenants. She said, “A covenant is not only about a contract, although that is important. It’s about a relationship. President Russell M. Nelson taught, ‘The covenant path is all about our relationship with God.’” Making a covenant is not just a single event in our life, rather after we enter into a covenant, the focus should not only be on keeping that covenant but also on building our relationship with the Savior who can help us progress along the path.
The beauty of the covenant path is that we are all at different points on that path and no matter where we are, the Savior will meet us individually where we are. As we focus on turning to the Savior, He can help lift us as we progress to become more like Him. Let us all walk with Him.
February 1, 2026
Greater Love through Family History
The Lord has taught that though the worlds He has created for His children are “innumerable … unto man; … all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them” (Moses 1:35). Family history and temple work offer us an opportunity to join in Jesus Christ’s work of salvation. Doing so can help us learn how to love and be merciful to our families, to our neighbors, to everyone we meet, for they are all our brothers and sisters.
In remembering our own ancestors, we recognize the scope of Heavenly Father’s plan and creation. The Lord created a place for us to be tested and to have faith, but because very few people get the chance to receive the fulness of God’s covenants while in mortality, the mercy of proxy work reminds us that the Lord loves all His children and has provided a way that all may choose to accept the full blessings of the gospel regardless of their circumstances in mortality (see 2 Nephi 26:20–28, 32–33).
In addition, learning about our ancestors’ lives can remind us that not everything in life will work easily, that there will be disappointments and inequalities in this fallen world. But learning about their lives and performing ordinances for them can also remind us that no one is outside the reach of God’s love (see Romans 8:38–39).
For more information see How Family History Changes Our Hearts and Minds, February 2015 Ensign.
Syd Shurtliff - Temple and Family History
January 25, 2026
Neighborhood Family Home Evening Group—MT nest
Last Monday evening at the Maple Hills Clubhouse we had the awesome privilege of hearing Brent Nielson, executive director of the Salt Lake City Temple Celebration (open house) committee, who showed us a very informative presentation of upcoming events. The celebration will begin at the opening of April conference 2027- and will conclude with Oct. conference 2027. We viewed a power-point presentation that showed pictures of the 4 underground levels which will house the dressing rooms, administrative offices, recommend desk, 2 baptistries, 28 sealing rooms, bride stations, and many initiatory booths, etc.
The historical temple building will be for endowment ceremonies which will be shown by film so that all languages can be accessed. Headsets or phone apps will provide information as you tour the building. They expect 40,000 guests/day during the celebration. They have extended invitations to all world leaders. They will provide online virtual tours for people throughout the world. A youth group of members from other countries is involved in the planning.
Two visitors centers have been constructed. The Christus statue in one will be viewed through large windows. One new feature is in the downstairs area of the 2 visitor centers. It has double doors that say Holiness to the Lord and open into an actual replica of the temple with baptismal font, instruction rooms and a Celestial room. This feature will not be dedicated for ordinances but will be open to the public to be able to see the inside of the temple whenever they visit.
The visitor’s center will open this coming April 2026 for all to visit. The hope is that Temple Square and the temple will be better understood and associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints worldwide.
BTW—All are welcome to attend the MT nest FHE group which meets at the Maple Hills Clubhouse usually the second Monday of each month at 7 pm. Watch for the announcements in the newsletter.
Connie Rose - Ward Mission
January 18, 2026
“I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father … which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians” (1 Nephi 1:1–2). Each time we begin reading the Book of Mormon, Nephi reminds us of the importance of teaching and learning in the home. He links good parenting with teaching about life, literacy, and most importantly, the gospel. He teaches us that faith and knowledge are not accidental; they are nurtured intentionally within the family.
Nephi explains that he was taught the “learning of the Jews,” some of which we are studying this year through Come, Follow Me and the Old Testament. Surely Moses’ prophetic instruction recorded in the book of Deuteronomy was a cherished Lehi family passage: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:5–7). Diligently teaching the gospel in the home is an eternal principle and commandment to all, taught by ancient prophets and reaffirmed by modern prophets.
Nephi’s example invites us to follow the same pattern today: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Nephi 4:15). He also spoke of reading to his family that he “might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord” (1 Nephi 19:23–24). Gospel learning is strongest when it begins in the home through simple, consistent efforts to study the scriptures together, talk of Christ in everyday moments, and invite the Spirit into family life.
As we teach and learn the gospel in our homes, we help one another build faith, deepen testimony, and develop a lasting connection with the Savior. Whether in times of “many afflictions” or when “highly favored of the Lord,” diligent gospel study in the home will bring “great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God” (1 Nephi 1:1). As we begin this new year of study in Come, Follow Me and the Old Testament, I invite each of us to consider how “goodly” our gospel learning is in our homes and set a specific goal to strengthen it!
Tony Gilvear - Sunday School
January 4, 2026
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is a special time to reflect on the many gifts that Our Heavenly Father has given us, with His Son, Jesus Christ being the greatest gift of all.
The story of the first Christmas has always been magical to me, and I have felt a special spirit from its telling, hearing, and contemplation. It is beyond comprehension that the entity that created the earth and all things on it, and governed its affairs since the creation, was willing to come to earth as a newborn baby to experience mortality and carry out the salvation of all mankind. The great Plan of Salvation, also referred to as the Plan of Happiness, is God’s Plan for His children to grow, develop, and prove themselves, and eventually return to Him and live throughout eternity as families. Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of that plan and makes it possible through His life, teachings, example, Atonement, and Resurrection.
He is literally the Savior of the world, but just as important, is that He is our personal Savior. He will save us all one by one if we will let Him. Let’s let Him!
Through daily repentance and making every effort to be obedient, Jesus Christ will help us through the ups and downs of mortal life and make up the difference of our human frailties, mistakes, inconsistencies, and poor decisions.
No matter what stage in life we are in we can rely on Him to bless us and assist us in “making it back.”
I testify of the Divinity of God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost and their ability to reach down and lift us up along this sojourn of life.
I hope and pray that we all can feel of Their love at this wonderful time of the year and carry those feelings with us into the New Year and that we can “Be Good and Do Good.”
Reed Shurtliff - Ward Temple and Family History Leader