Music & The Spoken Word Marks 5,000th Episode

Last updated on: July 4, 2025 at 11:44 pm By Abby Christianson

I love Music & The Spoken Word. It’s a program that The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square produces every week. And it’s the world’s longest-running continuous broadcast. It’s uplifting and inspiring. For an hour every Sunday, the choir sings songs connected to a different theme every week. They include an inspiring message, as presented by Derrick Porter with his velvet voice. What’s happening? On Sunday, July 13, 2025, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s signature program, Music & the Spoken... Read more

Staying Spiritually Awake in the Last Days

Last updated on: June 2, 2025 at 11:42 pm By Abby Christianson

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Tuesday, I had a rare free day. So I caught up on Podcasts and scrolled to my heart’s content. By the evening, I realized I had not had an original thought all day. I was numb and no longer spiritually awake. It’s crazy how easy it is to allow yourself to be sucked into any form of entertainment. Podcasts, Music, audiobooks, news reports, talk shows, and a billion streaming services and YouTube channels compete for our attention every day. I... Read more

Homeschooling Autism: Special Interests Can Lead to Success

Last updated on: June 2, 2025 at 8:58 pm By Abby Christianson

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Are you interested in homeschooling your child but worry that they are a special case? Maybe they have hated school or even refused to go, and you are looking for an alternative. If they are on the autism spectrum, they have special interests. And if school doesn’t fit into those interests, it will be harder for them to engage. I’ve been there. And I have great news for you- there is a way for your child to love learning, succeed... Read more

The Last Rodeo: A Faith-Filled Ride

Last updated on: June 2, 2025 at 8:41 pm By Abby Christianson

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This weekend, my husband and I went to see the movie, The Last Rodeo. It was awesome! I have seen the main actor, Neal McDonough, in many roles, but all of them were bad guys. So seeing him play the good guy was new. I worried I would spend the whole show only seeing him as Damien Dark. But the moment the movie started, he wrapped his character around himself. Neal McDonough is a good actor! He was not anyone... Read more

From Disability to Adaptation: Rethinking Church Service

Last updated on: June 2, 2025 at 9:09 pm By Abby Christianson

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Adaptation At Church In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we often discuss magnifying our callings, or in other words, filling our church jobs with energy and extra effort. I have a new job at church that I had never heard of before I got it. They call it a “disability specialist”. And for a long time, I have been filling my calling based on its title. But I realized this week that I need to change how... Read more

Pope Francis Strengthened My Faith

Last updated on: April 25, 2025 at 11:34 pm By Abby Christianson

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Pope Francis passed away today. What does that mean to me as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Not as much as it does to a Catholic, but it still matters. Pope Francis was a beacon of light in a dark world. I admire Pope Francis’s lifelong dedication to God. That is something not many people can claim. I truly appreciate his pro-life stance, condemning abortion. It can be difficult to stand up for what... Read more

A New Perspective On Jesus

Last updated on: April 13, 2025 at 8:44 pm By Abby Christianson

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This past weekend was the General Conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sister Tamara Runia gave a talk that changed my life. She talked about Jesus, repentance, and the atonement in a whole new way; infused light into my previous understanding, and I’m forever grateful. I feel inspired to discuss this with you. The Atonement is a gift When I was young, I was taught that my sins wounded Jesus. That somehow I contributed to His... Read more

Autism, Survivor, and Seeing the Gifts in the Struggle

Last updated on: April 8, 2025 at 4:44 pm By Abby Christianson

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Autism, Survivor, And The Church I’m an autism mom. My son was diagnosed when he was 6, and it has been a long journey trying to find what helps him overcome his challenges. So when I saw this clip from the television show Survivor where Joe stepped out of his team to comfort Eva, I got emotional. It meant the world to me to get to see Eva, who also has autism, succeed. And I loved how the host, Jeff... Read more

Life Changing Secrets In The Articles Of Faith

Last updated on: March 27, 2025 at 11:08 pm By Abby Christianson

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When I first learned the Articles of Faith, I remember thinking there was a line that almost seemed to be an afterthought. But the more I examine it, the more I realize it is the secret to a life full of peace. It’s the very last line of the 13th Article of Faith: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Shocked Years ago, this line seemed redundant. Of course, we... Read more

Moana 2 And Its Eternal Parallels

Last updated on: March 14, 2025 at 10:43 pm By Abby Christianson

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Moana 2 is now streaming on Disney +, so today I sat down and indulged in some beautiful animation instead of doing responsible adult chores. I laughed, I cried, I was uplifted and deeply moved. I did NOT expect another out-of-the-ballpark home run for Disney. But WOW. This is only the second time in my life that the sequel is better than the original. And in Frozen fashion our beautiful heroine is transformed by the end of the movie. Warning... Read more