Our Journey of Hope: Kate's Story

This week marks four years since the birth of our daughter, Kate Austyn, on June 5, 2010. Kate was our fourth child, our third daughter. Looking back, it is startling how unaware we were of what awaited us when we drove calmly to the hospital in College Station, Texas, that Saturday afternoon. What we thought would be our fourth routine delivery became the beginning of a journey that would teach us to hang on to hope through the heartache of losing a child. Rather than trying to retell our experiences from memory, what follows are excerpts from emails we sent to our family and friends describing our experiences in “real time.” These notes reveal some of the emotions we felt. There was fear and sadness, but we also felt strength and hope from our faith in Jesus Christ and from the words of love and encouragement from family and friends who supported us through it all. Today, our conviction that families can be together forever through the ordinances and promises of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is stronger than ever. With great anticipation, we look forward to reuniting with Kate again one day. It is our hope that Kate’s story will be a blessing to all who read it; in that way, her influence for good will live on.

Elder Bednar's Top 10 Talks of All Time

Elder David A. Bednar was called to the Quarom of the Twelve Apostles in 2004 after serving as president of Brigham Young University—Idaho for seven years. Elder Bednar grew up in California and served an LDS mission to Germany. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brigham Young University and a doctorate degree from Purdue University in organizational behavior. He went on to teach at Texas Tech University and the University of Arkansas before heading to Rexburg, Idaho. He and his wife, Susan, have three sons and have been married for 39 years. 

Here are a few of his talks that have touch and inspired us. Our hope is that they will do the same for you. Please share your favorite talk below as well as any other thoughts and comments you have. 

10. A Reservoir of Living Water, 2007 

"Not only are we blessed to have these scriptures so readily available to us today, but we also have the responsibility to use them consistently and effectively and to drink deeply from the reservoir of living water. I believe this generation of youth is more immersed in the scriptures, more deeply acquainted with the words of the prophets, and more prone to turn to the revelations for answers than any previous generation. But we still have a great distance to travel along the strait and narrow path—more to learn, more to apply, and more to experience."

8 Verses Most Christians Would Never Guess Come from the Book of Mormon

Over the years, I have had many friends from other faiths sincerely question whether Mormons are Christians. I believe their questions often arise because of Latter-day Saints’ distinct belief in the Book of Mormon as additional scripture. Mormons love and revere the Bible as the word of God. We regularly study both the Old and New Testaments in our families and in our church meetings. Our belief in the Book of Mormon as an additional witness of Jesus Christ takes nothing away from the Bible and is not associated with any perceived inadequacies in the Bible. Instead, the Book of Mormon complements the Bible and supports its teachings. 

I am grateful for the Book of Mormon's powerful witness of Jesus Christ and for the way my life has been blessed by its teachings. I have read the Book of Mormon many times and feel strengthened each time I open its marvelous pages. This week, we highlight 8 verses that most Christians would never guess come from the Book of Mormon. Notice the way each verse testifies of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and His mission. If you are interested, please request a free copy of the Book of Mormon on our website.

14-year-old Texas girl gives up money from shoe design hobby to help family in need

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — A jar full of money sits in the room of 14-year-old Kate Hinckley. While other kids might be saving up for the latest iPhone or clothes, Kate is saving her money for a family in California in desperate need of help, using her creative talent to make unique shoes.

Kate, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was never really into art when she was younger and says she didn't have a knack for it. That all changed the moment she stepped into her eighth grade art class earlier this year.

“I was never really a good artist when I was younger, but my art teacher has really helped me have a love for art,” Kate said in a video for the College Station Independent School District. “I love to really just doodle and draw to make stuff.”

Kate’s doodling turned into beautiful designs, and she brainstormed for a way to use this talent. Together with her parents, Shane and Amy Hinckley, they decided to see what Kate could do with a white pair of tennis shoes. Amy came home one day and surprised Kate with her first pair of shoes and told her to “just go at it.”

11 Loving Quotes About Mothers

In honor of Mother's Day, we have highlighted 11 quotes from LDS leaders about mothers and motherhood below. We hope that we can all remember the doctrine of motherhood, and wish all women and mothers a Happy Mother's Day and hope that your work is always appreciated. 

File through the quotes by using the navigation arrows on the left and right of the image.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•