Monday, February 9, 2026

Religious Freedom Summit

We make the world a better place
Where citizens can flourish
When we enjoy religious faith
And fill our spirits, nourished
With love, always encouraged

Knowing what it does for me😊
And my fellow Saints in Christ ❤
I wish for all that dignity
Of gathering where it feels right ✅️
For this goal, may we more unite:
...modeling love that grows in light


Let's not talk at, but to each other

Seeing the good and listening well

As a family of faiths, sisters and brothers

That but more, the love of God can swell


I love when Elder Nash said "talk to each other, not at each other!"

Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints told hundreds of global faith leaders gathered in Washington, D.C., on Monday, February 2, 2026, that protecting religious freedom will help nations flourish. 

“There’s a mountain of evidence that shows the power of religious freedom in building families, communities and nations,” Elder Nash told hundreds of faith leaders attending the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit during a Church-sponsored luncheon. He also joined a panel discussion led by Baptist pastor Bob Roberts Jr. of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, which was held on stage at the Global Faith Forum. 

More than 90 organizations representing 30 faith traditions gathered at the Washington Hilton for the two-day annual event to discuss how to advance international religious freedom. Learn more at Newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

https://youtu.be/hO7gE7xQtLA?si=TK0bpyBaRcjfwS1U

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The Captain of the Soul- Invictus/ The Soul's Captain by Elder Orson F. Whitney

Invictus by William E. Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

The Soul's Captain [The Answer]
by Elder Orson F. Whitney
of the Quorum of the Twelve
Art thou in truth? Then what of him
Who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?
Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear.
The God who died that man might live,
And endless glory share?
Of what avail thy vaunted strength,
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom,
That thou mayest see aright.
Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree.
Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth
Who gave that place to thee?
Free will is thine — free agency
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.
Bend to the dust that head "unbowed,"
Small part of Life's great whole!
And see in him, and him alone,
The Captain of thy soul

He's Been There Before

He's Been There Before by Elder Troy Whittle
The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets
A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes

The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much
"We have a super day planned," My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath, "Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to
Face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?
"The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"


"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through, when we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ, He's been there before
By Elder Troy Whittle
Texas Houston Mission

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

These poems are my own thoughts and impressions as I study the gospel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints

I encourage you to read from the Book of Mormon and the standard works, and listen to modern day prophets, also, that your mind and heart might be touched.

Kelly Miller

153 Countries Visited! June 2015


Global Statistics
Visits from 153 countries registered.
No.CountryDate of Last VisitPercent & Number of Visits ↓
1
United States		June 15, 2015
82.86%25,281
2
United Kingdom		June 14, 2015
2.61%795
3
Canada		June 13, 2015
2.42%737
4
Australia		June 13, 2015
1.81%551
5
Philippines		June 14, 2015
1.35%412
6
New Zealand		June 14, 2015
0.99%303
7
India		June 14, 2015
0.79%241
8
Brazil		June 14, 2015
0.58%176
9
Germany		May 15, 2015
0.49%151
10
Mexico		June 3, 2015
0.40%121
11
South Africa		June 8, 2015
0.34%105
12
Russian Federation		Apr 20, 2015
0.26%80
13
France		June 3, 2015
0.21%64
14
Malaysia		June 5, 2015
0.14%44
15
Czech Republic		Apr 17, 2015
0.14%42
16
Pakistan		Mar 21, 2015
0.13%41
17
Spain		Apr 28, 2015
0.13%41
18
Italy		June 8, 2015
0.13%39
19
Netherlands		May 28, 2015
0.12%38
20
Europe		June 11, 2015
0.11%35
21
Indonesia		May 18, 2015
0.11%35
22
Cote D'Ivoire		May 17, 2015
0.11%35
23
Japan		Apr 17, 2015
0.11%33
24
Singapore		May 28, 2015
0.11%33
25
United Arab Emirates		Apr 25, 2015
0.10%32
26
Argentina		Apr 27, 2015
0.10%31
27
Korea, Republic of		Feb 1, 2015
0.10%31
28
-		May 10, 2015
0.10%31
29
Thailand		Apr 5, 2015
0.10%30
30
Ireland		May 19, 2015
0.10%29
31
Jamaica		June 1, 2015
0.09%28
32
Turkey		June 14, 2015
0.09%28
33
Trinidad and Tobago		May 18, 2015
0.09%26
34
Sweden		May 8, 2015
0.09%26
35
Guatemala		May 5, 2015
0.08%24
36
Denmark		May 10, 2015
0.08%23
37
Saudi Arabia		May 1, 2015
0.07%20
38
Nigeria		Apr 4, 2015
0.07%20
39
Hong Kong		Apr 18, 2015
0.07%20
40
Colombia		May 29, 2015
0.07%20
41
Chile		Mar 23, 2015
0.06%19
42
Finland		Mar 25, 2015
0.06%19
43
Taiwan		Mar 28, 2015
0.06%18
44
Romania		May 17, 2015
0.06%18
45
Fiji		Feb 27, 2015
0.06%17
46
Ghana		May 8, 2015
0.06%17
47
Belgium		May 30, 2015
0.05%16
48
Switzerland		Apr 12, 2015
0.05%16
49
Poland		Apr 6, 2015
0.05%15
50
American Samoa		Apr 10, 2015
0.05%14
51
Ecuador		Feb 23, 2015
0.05%14
52
Serbia		Mar 10, 2015
0.05%14
53
Austria		Apr 8, 2015
0.04%13
54
Senegal		Nov 24, 2014
0.04%13
55
Norway		June 1, 2015
0.04%13
56
Uruguay		Aug 18, 2014
0.04%12
57
Peru		Apr 13, 2015
0.04%12
58
Portugal		Apr 6, 2015
0.04%12
59
Kenya		Oct 29, 2014
0.04%12
60
Tonga		Dec 9, 2014
0.04%11
61
Dominican Republic		Mar 12, 2015
0.04%11
62
Hungary		Feb 16, 2015
0.03%10
63
Guyana		Apr 28, 2015
0.03%10
64
Bangladesh		Jan 19, 2015
0.03%9
65
Algeria		Feb 5, 2015
0.03%9
66
Kuwait		Mar 30, 2015
0.03%9
67
Egypt		Apr 4, 2015
0.03%9
68
Belize		May 8, 2015
0.03%9
69
Costa Rica		Feb 4, 2015
0.03%8
70
Bahamas		Jan 9, 2015
0.03%8
71
Israel		Feb 27, 2015
0.03%8
72
Ukraine		Jan 24, 2015
0.03%8
73
Asia/Pacific Region		June 9, 2015
0.03%8
74
Honduras		Feb 6, 2015
0.02%7
75
Cyprus		Mar 21, 2015
0.02%7
76
Guam		Apr 10, 2015
0.02%7
77
Greece		June 2, 2015
0.02%7
78
China		Dec 16, 2014
0.02%7
79
Panama		Apr 7, 2015
0.02%6
80
Morocco		Mar 3, 2015
0.02%6
81
Sri Lanka		Sept 28, 2014
0.02%6
82
Iraq		Feb 25, 2015
0.02%6
83
Togo		June 6, 2015
0.02%6
84
Botswana		May 7, 2015
0.02%6
85
El Salvador		Apr 23, 2015
0.02%5
86
Vietnam		Oct 30, 2014
0.02%5
87
Cook Islands		June 3, 2015
0.02%5
88
Bulgaria		Oct 27, 2014
0.02%5
89
Lithuania		June 23, 2014
0.02%5
90
Slovakia		Jan 19, 2015
0.02%5
91
Bosnia and Herzegovina		Mar 23, 2015
0.02%5
92
French Polynesia		Nov 23, 2014
0.02%5
93
Bahrain		Nov 11, 2014
0.02%5
94
Slovenia		Jan 16, 2015
0.02%5
95
Grenada		Mar 10, 2015
0.02%5
96
Qatar		Jan 15, 2015
0.02%5
97
Saint Lucia		May 8, 2015
0.02%5
98
Puerto Rico		Feb 27, 2015
0.01%4
99
Tunisia		Jan 23, 2015
0.01%4
100
Malta		Mar 22, 2015
0.01%4
101
Croatia		Jan 20, 2015
0.01%4
102
New Caledonia		Jan 13, 2015
0.01%4
103
Barbados		Apr 29, 2014
0.01%4
104
Azerbaijan		Jan 14, 2015
0.01%4
105
Moldova, Republic of		Nov 29, 2014
0.01%3
106
Lebanon		Feb 11, 2014
0.01%3
107
Zimbabwe		July 23, 2014
0.01%3
108
Benin		Feb 19, 2015
0.01%3
109
Antigua and Barbuda		Aug 1, 2014
0.01%3
110
Isle of Man		Dec 20, 2014
0.01%3
111
Bhutan		June 8, 2015
0.01%3
112
Venezuela		May 14, 2014
0.01%3
113
Georgia		Mar 3, 2015
0.01%2
114
Namibia		Oct 22, 2014
0.01%2
115
Armenia		Jan 12, 2015
0.01%2
116
Virgin Islands, U.S.		June 20, 2014
0.01%2
117
Jordan		May 19, 2015
0.01%2
118
Mozambique		June 23, 2014
0.01%2
119
Uganda		Aug 4, 2014
0.01%2
120
Marshall Islands		Jan 28, 2015
0.01%2
121
Mauritius		Feb 20, 2015
0.01%2
122
Oman		May 12, 2014
0.01%2
123
Curacao		Apr 29, 2015
0.01%2
124
Sierra Leone		Apr 26, 2015
0.01%2
125
Samoa		Nov 1, 2013
0.01%2
126
Saint Kitts and Nevis		June 30, 2013
0.01%2
127
Macau		July 18, 2014
0.01%2
128
Albania		Aug 17, 2014
0.01%2
129
Dominica		Mar 12, 2013
0.01%2
130
Ethiopia		Jan 8, 2015
0.01%2
131
Estonia		Mar 20, 2015
0.01%2
132
Cape Verde		May 27, 2013
0.00%1
133
Cayman Islands		July 27, 2014
0.00%1
134
Cambodia		Sept 16, 2013
0.00%1
135
Myanmar		July 18, 2014
0.00%1
136
Lesotho		Jan 12, 2013
0.00%1
137
Mongolia		Mar 14, 2015
0.00%1
138
Zambia		Apr 22, 2013
0.00%1
139
Montenegro		Nov 19, 2014
0.00%1
140
Kazakhstan		Jan 9, 2015
0.00%1
141
Nicaragua		May 29, 2014
0.00%1
142
Paraguay		Mar 10, 2013
0.00%1
143
Haiti		Feb 1, 2015
0.00%1
144
Timor-Leste		Feb 21, 2013
0.00%1
145
Iceland		June 20, 2014
0.00%1
146
Aruba		Jan 9, 2014
0.00%1
147
Liberia		Jan 3, 2014
0.00%1
148
Northern Mariana Islands		Oct 9, 2014
0.00%1
149
Gibraltar		Jan 27, 2014
0.00%1
150
Swaziland		June 16, 2014
0.00%1
151
Jersey		Mar 30, 2013
0.00%1
152
Niue		Nov 30, 2014
0.00%1
153
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