Supporting Children with Invisible Special Needs at Church

“The body [of the Church] hath need of every member, that all may be edified together.”

Doctrine and Covenants 84:110

I think it’s safe to say that most people want to be tolerant and loving towards people with disabilities. We wouldn’t hesitate to make accommodations for a person with physical limitations or to someone who is deaf or has a visual impairment. However, there has been a significant rise in the number of young children diagnosed with what can be classified into a group called invisible special needs. Society in general is lagging behind when it comes to supporting these children and their families. What’s worse is that many families are being pushed out of their own churches, the very places that should be the most compassionate and accepting.

What is an “invisible” special need? Autism Spectrum Disorders (Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Pervasive Development Disorder), Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, developmental delays, mental and emotional difficulties, anxiety, and giftedness are some of the most common special needs that would fall into this category. Kelly Priest (a school counselor and mother to a son with Asperger’s) gave the following definition:

“Kids who seem pretty typical much of the time, but have significant trouble, of neurodevelopmental origin, with self-regulation, social interaction, friendships, flexibility, abstract thinking, sensory management, attention, language and communication, and self-advocacy. Special, yes, in some ways … but ordinary kids in some ways too.”

It is likely that in a large church congregation of 200-300 people there are probably at least 5-10 children and teenagers who have invisible special needs. It’s also important to note that not every child with challenges will have an official diagnosis, but they still might need extra support at church just as they would at home or at school. For church leaders, teachers, and church attendees, here are 12 ways you can support children with invisible special needs and their families at church:

The Book of Mormon: 5 Simple Reasons I Believe

One of the most distinguishing features of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints is our acceptance of the Book of Mormon as a companion volume of scripture alongside the Bible. For millions of Latter-day Saints around the world, we revere the Book of Mormon as the word of God, a sacred scriptural text recorded by ancient prophets in the Western Hemisphere and preserved for our day as a second powerful witness to the Bible that Jesus is the Christ.

How the Book of Mormon came into existence is an incredible story: an uneducated farm boy in upstate New York, visitations from heavenly messengers, and plates of gold with engravings in an ancient language. Yet nearly 185 years after the first copies of the Book of Mormon rolled off the printing press in New York in 1830, no credible alternative explanation for the coming forth of the Book of Mormon has ever been offered. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said, "The only thing more miraculous than an angel providing [Joseph Smith] with those plates and him translating them by divine inspiration would be that he sat down and wrote it with a ballpoint pen and a spiral notebook.”[1]

In pondering my own personal reasons for believing and defending the Book of Mormon as ancient scripture and a new witness for Christ, I have come up with 5 simple reasons I believe it with all my heart, mind, and soul.

4 Surprising Mistakes LDS Parents Make

 

Good parenting, as James E. Faust said, “Is the greatest challenge in the world.”[I] Because we know that families are eternal and central to God’s plan for us, we understand the great importance of doing our best to be good parents. It can be daunting as we try to raise righteous children in a world where evil is all around us.  With all the hustle and bustle in our lives today, it can be very easy to get distracted and lose focus on our most important priority, which is the family.  Here are four parenting mistakes to avoid as you strive to protect and strengthen your family.

5 Things My Mission Taught Me

Missionaries serving for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints come from all different backgrounds and places around the world. They each set aside their own personal lives and motives to help others come unto Christ. After their 18–24 months of service is up, undoubtedly, each missionary returns home a different person because of the experiences and lessons learned while serving the Lord and His people.

Each person who chooses to serve a mission has a different experience. I was less than thrilled when my mission call assigned me to labor in the Montana Billings Mission, but I soon realized that it was where the Lord needed me. Today, as I reflect on my experience I know that I was meant to serve there and cross paths with the many people I connected with. The lessons I learned about Jesus Christ, His gospel, and life in general have aided me each day since I returned and will continue to do so. Here are five select lessons I learned from serving as a missionary.

8 amazing quotes from LDS women at General Conference

Women in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been meeting together for over 172 years. What started out as a meeting of 20 women has grown to an organization of over 6 million women in 170 countries.

Almost a year ago, the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the historic announcement that instead of having two separate annual meetings for the Relief Society and Young Women, they would combine the two and have a twice-yearly general women's meeting. All women, young women and girls ages 8 and over are invited to attend this meeting, which takes place the Saturday before General Conference. The next General Women's Meeting takes place this Saturday at 7 p.m. CDT and can be viewed online or in LDS Stake centers.

We invite you to attend the meeting this Saturday. Here are eight meaningful quotes from past general conference and women's meetings to help inspire and uplift you.

10 Common Words That Mean Something Different to Mormons

Mormon jargon can be confusing with specially defined words and acronyms.  Here’s a list of 10 common words that have a different meaning to Mormons. 

1.  Beehive

What it means to everyone else: A habitation for bees.

What it means to a Mormon: A name given to the 12-13 year old girls as they enter into the youth program.  The beehive was a symbol of harmony, cooperation, and work for the early pioneers of the Church.  Beehives today learn to work together in cooperation and harmony as they strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ and prepare to stand for truth and righteousness.

President Uchtdorf's 10 Best Talks of All Time

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was called as second counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in February 2008. Previously he had been serving as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since October 2004. He was born in the former Czechoslovakia, but spent most of his growing up years in Germany, where his family joined the Church. Known for his accent and endless airplane analogies, President Uchtdorf has quickly become one of the most beloved speakers in the Church. His talks often offer encouragement to live the gospel through simple steps. Please enjoy the list and let us know your favorite. 

10 LDS Books That Will Feed Your Mind and Soul

I am a reader, constantly on the lookout for a new book that promises to enrich my life or strengthen my faith. The Lord Himself commanded us to “teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). When I trace the origins of my personal testimony, of course no books have had more influence on my faith than the scriptures. I feel closer to the Lord when I study the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price than when I study any other books. Each book of scripture is deserving of a lifetime of devoted study.

Beyond the scriptures themselves, the list of other books that have profoundly strengthened my testimony is a long list indeed. Below, I highlight ten LDS books that have blessed my life and fed my mind and my soul. In some cases, I was fortunate to find these books early in life; others I discovered more recently. In each case, they have become part of the fabric of my testimony and have brought me to a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the truths contained in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.

19 Images of Christ That Will Inspire You

Easter is a special time of the year. Spring has sprung, school is winding down, and summer is around the corner. Here in College Station, Texas, the wild flowers paint both sides of the highway and are a constant reminder of the God's beauty, power, and grace.

Each Easter, I am reminded of the interaction between the angels at Christ's tomb and his disciples...

Luke 24: 5-9

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 

And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

I hope that we will always remember His words and seek Him in every area of our lives. Each of these unique images of Christ can remind us of different ways He blessed and healed and lifted everyone around Him. As you look at these images, I hope you will feel the peace and hope that come from knowing His tomb was empty, and Jesus Christ lives again today. I testify that He lives!
  

Christus - Bertel Thorvaldsen

Christ and the Rich Young Ruler - Heinrich Hofmann

The Crucifixion - Carl Bloch

Christ Walking on Water - Julius Von Klever

Christ in Gethsemane - Carl Bloch

Healing at the Pool of Bethesda - Carl Bloch

Let Your Light So Shine - Simon Dewey

Greatest in the Kingdom - J. Kirk Richards

Stilling the Storm - Ted Henninger

Christ and a Boy - Carl Bloch

Lost and Found - Greg Olsen

Lead, Kindly Light - Simon Dewey

The Lord is My Shepherd - Morgan Weistling

O Jerusalem - Greg Olsen

In the arms of His love - Greg Olsen

Jesus Christ visits the Americas - John Scott

Gentle Healer - Greg Olsen

Jehovah Creates the Earth - Walter Rane

He Is Risen - Del Parsons

16 Significant Events Remembered From General Conference

Every six months, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather together to listen to living prophets testify of the divinity of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  The sermons given, the music performed, and the spirit felt testify of the love that God has for all His children.

This weekend (April 5-6, 2014), we will again have the opportunity to participate with over 15 million Latter-day Saints in 197 countries and territories throughout the world.

In preparation for conference, we asked a number of people about the events they remembered most from General Conference meetings throughout the years. Based on their feedback, we have compiled a list of 16 significant events.  While this list is not exhaustive, it does highlight many occurrences that have directly shaped and touched our lives and the lives of our ancestors, and will continue to bless the lives of our descendants for generations to come. Indeed, these events have “turn(ed) the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:6).

We hope you will enjoy these pictures and videos and that they will touch your hearts as you remember “how great the covenants of the Lord […] unto the children of men; and […] his greatness, and his grace and mercy” (2 Nephi 9:53).

Please feel free to reflect and share your own wonderful memories from General Conference, either in the comments section below or via your preferred social networking medium.  By so doing, we know that all will benefit from “each life that touches ours for good” (Hymn 293).

1. Missionary age lowered, October 2012

President Thomas S. Monson announced that the Church was lowering the age requirement for those applying to serve full-time missions—from ages 19 to 18 for young men and from ages 21 to 19 for young women.

2. Rome, Italy temple announced, October 2008

President Thomas S. Monson announced that a temple would be constructed in Rome, Italy—at the heart of modern Christianity.

3. "Preach My Gospel" missionary handbook introduced, October 2004

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve introduced "Preach My Gospel," a comprehensive and far-reaching program designed to prepare and strengthen missionaries. The 230-page booklet addresses every aspect of missionary service and is considered the most complete, orchestrated effort in the history of the Church to unify the missionary effort. Elder Richard G. Scott spoke of the significance of the program.

4. Perpetual Education Fund, April 2001

A worldwide Perpetual Education Fund, based on principles similar to those underlying the Perpetual Emigration Fund of the 1800s, was announced by President Gordon B. Hinckley. This “bold initiative” was meant to help youth in developing areas "rise out of the poverty they and generations before them have known." To date, over 57,000 participants in over 55 countries have benefited from this initiative.

5. Dedication of the Conference Center, October 2000

The new 21,000-seat Conference Center, across the street north of Temple Square, was dedicated during General Conference by President Gordon B. Hinckley. President Gordon B. Hinckley shared a personal story about the new building’s pulpit.

6. Nauvoo Temple announced, April 1999

In his closing remarks at General Conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley made the surprise announcement that the historic Nauvoo Temple would be rebuilt.

7. Construction of smaller temples, April 1998

President Gordon B. Hinckley announced in General Conference that the Church would construct an additional 30 smaller temples that would bring the total number of operating temples in the Church to 100 by the year 2000.

8. Revised title of The Book of Mormon, October 1982

Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve and a member of the Scriptures Publication Committee announced that a subtitle was being added to The Book of Mormon: "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

9. All worthy males can receive the priesthood, June 1978

In a letter dated June 8 and made public the following day, the First Presidency announced the revelation that worthy men of all races would be eligible to receive the priesthood. On September 30, members accepted the revelation by a sustaining vote at General Conference. The First Presidency's announcement is now Official Declaration - 2 in the Doctrine and Covenants.


Audio of the actual General Conference event. 


 
Commemorative video of the 30-year anniversary of the announcement.

10. Family Home Evening, October 1970

Monday was designated for family home evening throughout the Church; no other Church activity was to be scheduled during that time.

11. First Televised Conference Sessions, October 1949

Cameraman at work inside the Tabernacle, circa 1949.

For the first time, General Conference was broadcast publicly over KSL television in Salt Lake City, although since April 1948 it had been carried by closed-circuit television to other buildings on Temple Square. In October 1953: The semiannual conference of the Church was broadcast by television for the first time outside Utah’s Intermountain area.

12. Welfare Program permanently adopted, April 1949

Cannery workers in Zion Park Stake, 1940.

At a special welfare meeting held in conjunction with General Conference, the Welfare Program was declared a permanent program of the Church.

13. "Go Bring Them In," October 5, 1856

An artist’s depiction of handcart tragedies.

After being notified of the tragedies occurring to the Willie and Martin handcart companies, Brigham Young and other Church leaders called on Church members during General Conference to provide wagons, mules, supplies, and teamsters to help rescue those stranded across the plains.

14. Perpetual Emigration Fund, October 1849

A Perpetual Emigration Fund to assist the poor to immigrate to the Salt Lake Valley was established during General Conference. The initiative helped more than 30,000 early Church members journey to the Salt Lake Valley from Europe in the mid to late 1800s.

15. Kirtland Temple dedication, March 27, 1836

Kirtland Ohio Temple

The Kirtland Temple, the first temple built in this dispensation, was dedicated after being under construction for nearly three years.

16. First General Conference, April 6, 1830

An artist’s depiction of the first General Conference in this dispensation.

The first General Conference. Joseph Smith organized the church at the Peter Whitmer Sr. home in Fayette, N.Y., with six incorporators as required by law — Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Hyrum Smith, Peter Whitmer Jr., David Whitmer and Samuel H. Smith.

8 LDS books women should read

One of my favorite scriptures reads... 

And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. (D&C 88:118) 

For me reading provides a great relief from the day-to-day stresses that occur. Reading the right book can set the tone for how I'm feeling throughout the day. It can lift me up and inspire me to become more than what I am. Aside from the scriptures, these are some great books for moments in life when you need a little inspiration.

When you want to learn from your past.

Daughters in My Kingdom

This book includes teachings, stories, and examples from the history of Relief Society. The introduction explains that, "as you study this history you will see that our Heavenly Father knows His daughters, that He loves them, that He trusts them with sacred responsibilities, and that He guides them as they fulfill those responsibilities."

When you need to relax.

Finding June Series
by Shannen Crane Camp

Get to know June, a teenage girl discovering how to stand up for what she believes in, as she goes through work and school. This series is a fun, clean read when you have some down time. So far, each book had been nominated for a Whitney Award, an awards program for LDS authors, and it is a great series to share with teenage young women.

When you feel lonely.

Forget Me Not
by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Based off of one of his most influential talks, this book reminds us of five things we should never forget. The most important of these things being that our Heavenly Father loves us infinitely. No matter how small we may feel we are never forgotten. 

When you need someone to look up to.

Glimpses Into The Life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley
by Virginia Pierce

This book is best described by the author herself who said, "This book is not a recipe for others to follow, but just one more example of the gospel in action in the life of a fellow sojourner, [but] maybe, just maybe, we who read it will be inspired to try a little harder to be a little better — to become the people the Lord knows we can be."

When life gets hard.

If Life Were Easy It Wouldn't Be Hard
by Sherrie Dew 

It is clear, life is hard. However, by learning to rely on the Lord, hard things can become easier. Dew's word help lessen the trials we have and see the good in the trials we must experience.

When you want to feel closer to the Savior.

Infinite Atonement
by Tad R. Callister

A comprehensive view of the Atonement that can lead to greater understanding and appreciation for what the Savior has done for us.

When you need some everyday inspiration.

Stand a Little Taller
by Gordon B. Hinckley

Containing 365 quotes and scriptures, you can read this book a little every day for an uplifting moment.

When you wonder how to improve.

What Would A Holy Woman Do?
by Wendy Watson Nelson

Nelson asks several women to go on a three day challenge doing a task the way a holy woman would do it. The experiences gained are very interesting and may inspire you to do your own three day challenge.

— Lisa Devey

12 People You May Be Surprised to Know Are Mormon

Starting with the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and followed closely by Mitt Romney's 2008 and 2012 U.S. presidential campaigns, heightened media coverage of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members led to what many in the media referred to as the "Mormon moment." Today, there are more than 15 million Mormons worldwide. Some of them are people you will recognize--but may be surprised to learn are Mormons. What follows is our list of 12 well-known Mormons who have been in the spotlight in sports, music, writing, and politics.

1. Jabari Parker is a freshman basketball phenom at Duke University this season, only the fourth freshman in Duke history to score 30 points in a single game, and tied for the second highest number of 20-point games by a freshman in ACC history.

2. Noelle Pikus-Pace was a silver medalist in skeleton in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Her story of overcoming adversity and her celebratory rush into the stands to join her husband and children after her final run became major story lines in this year’s Olympic games.

3. David Archuleta was runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol in 2008 and sold over 1 million copies of his albums before leaving to serve as a full-time missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chile in March 2012.

4. Gladys Knight is a seven-time Grammy Award winning recording artist and songwriter who became a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1997 and performed at President Gordon B. Hinckley’s 90th birthday celebration in 2000.

5. Brandon Flowers is the lead singer of the Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers, whose 2010 solo album Flamingo charted in the top ten albums in ten countries including the U.K. where it charted at number one.

6. Stephanie Meyer is the author of the popular Twilight book series that has sold over 100 million copies and spawned a movie series. Time magazine named Meyer one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2008.

7. Jimmer Fredette is a professional basketball player with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls and was the leading scorer in NCAA Division 1 basketball during his 2010-2011 senior season at Brigham Young University, earning every major Player of the Year honor.

8. Torah Bright is a professional snowboarder from Australia who competed in the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. In 2010, she became only the fourth Australian in history to win gold at a Winter Olympics; she took silver in Sochi in 2014.

9. Glenn Beck is a politically conservative, outspoken radio and television host, author, commentator, and television producer.

10. Senator Harry Reid has served as a Democratic U.S. senator from the state of Nevada since 1987 and as U.S. Senate Majority Leader since January 2007.

11. Mia Love, former mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah, spoke at the 2012 Republican national convention after which she narrowly lost her race for U.S. House of Representatives in Utah’s 4^th district. She is running for the same office in 2014.

12. Steve Young played professional football for 14 seasons in the NFL, earning league MVP honors in 1992 and 1994 and MVP of Super Bowl XXIX.