10 reasons why it takes a village to raise a child
My family and I recently moved to Utah from Texas. After three years of living in Dallas, in the heat and humidity far away from family, there have been a few adjustments to make. But besides purchasing winter coats and introducing our children to fry sauce, one change has been especially apparent as we’ve settled […]
What the apostles’ children have said about their dads
Fathers hold a valuable place in homes around the world. Especially in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the role of father is held in high, sacred regard. In last April’s general conference, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles called the role of husband and father “the highest […]
Guidance in the storm: Professional advice on handling divorce
Scott Card, an attorney and partner at Fillmore Spencer in Provo, has practiced family law for 22 years. He’s navigated divorces for hundreds of clients and understands the challenges families face as they dissolve a marriage. “When going through a divorce, it’s usually the hardest thing they’ve ever done,” Scott says. While it’s never easy, […]
Flying Together: Spanish Fork’s Brian and Tricia Stauffer are on the road to an empty nest
[pullquote] Adventure Bus Siting A fully decorated bus — owned by a teenager — isn’t something you’ll find in many driveways. However, when Eric Stauffer bought an old school bus off KSL, he had a plan to turn that bus into money. “Eight of my friends — with the help of the grandpa of one […]
Let’s Live Together: Choosing to have 3 generations live under one roof
When sisters Kysliann, Kyneisha and Kyliani Semidey are choosing shoes to pair with an outfit, they don’t just dig through each other’s closets for the perfect match — they head downstairs and raid Mima’s closet, too. “We share shoes, shirts, blouses, accessories, everything you can think of,” Margie “Mima” Rojas says. “When I can’t find […]
Adapting plans: Unexpected divorce leads Lindon mother to Turning Point for herself and others
Holly Coutts didn’t get married thinking she would eventually get divorced and raise four young children by herself. However, in 2009, that’s the twist that her storyline took. “I found myself starting over,” she says. “I had these four children who needed me, and I knew we were on our own.” She had sole custody […]
Orem’s lows make it the best city in the country for working parents
Orem has a lot of lows — crime rates, commute times, unemployment rate — added to Utah’s lows — housing costs, crime rates, childcare costs — to put it over the top as the No. 1 city in the country for working parents. “Well, since the beginning we’ve been Family City USA, so there’s just a real focus […]
How to engage small children in scripture study
If anecdotes from general conference and other meetings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are any indicator of overall trends, getting young children to engage in scripture study can be laughably difficult. Elder David A. Bednar taught an important lesson about family scripture study, prayer and family home evening in his 2009 general […]
Lehi creates program to help families get healthy in 2016
Forget individual fitness goals or weight loss contests — in Lehi, it’s all about family. A few years ago, the mayor started an initiative to get the whole family involved in being healthy, and Get Fit Lehi was born, said Cameron Boyle, assistant to the city administrator. Once a family has signed up, they set […]
Hike It Baby trail blazes motherhood with weekly mommy-and-me hikes in Utah County
When Joey Johnson moved to Provo several years ago, she tried playgroups to meet other moms and kids, but she felt like she didn’t mesh with anyone — she wanted to get outside and be active with her son. Eventually she found a group of like-minded moms in Salt Lake that were part of Hike […]
#Give: Get Sub for Santa on your Christmas list
Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals seem to come earlier every year, but it’s not too late to get Sub for Santa on your gift list this year. And if you need help, there’s still time to sign up for the program. Here’s how it works: Needy families sign up for the United Way of […]
15 toys and books that will help your kids keep quiet
There are plenty of scenarios when you need to keep your kids quiet but their hands busy so they don’t fight, complain or fall asleep in the car right before you get home. Keeping a quiet bag stocked and ready for car rides, waiting rooms and church time is a major parental sanity saver. But […]
10 ways to defend the family from the World Congress of Families IX
Family advocates from around the globe convened in Salt Lake City this week for the first World Congress of Families held on American soil. Throughout the week, speakers and sessions of the World Congress of Families IX focused on a slew of family-focused topics, from abortion to economics and delayed marriage trends to religious decline. […]
20 years later: Unconventional LDS families find strength in the Family Proclamation
When Gordon B. Hinckley read “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” in September 1995, Rachelle Whipple loved what she heard and was confident that everything in it fit perfectly with her life plan. She would get married and have five children, she thought, staying home with them to be the primary nurturer while her husband went […]
8 solutions for the bedtime battle
Last week I staged a bedtime intervention with my kids. I was feeling frazzled and frustrated that what I pictured as a warm and fuzzy farewell to the day was in fact an hours-long power struggle. In desperation I did what any self-respecting journalist would: I interviewed my mom friends about what their bedtime routine […]
Study confirms Mormons more likely to marry, have children
In a new study that validates many Mormon stereotypes, the Pew Research Center has confirmed that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are indeed more likely to marry and have children than members of other religious groups in the United States. Mormons and marriage More specifically, Mormons are especially likely to marry other Mormons — 82 […]
Utah tops list of best places to grow up for upward mobility
A new study out of Harvard University ranks counties in the United States based on opportunity for upward mobility. While some results are disheartening (young men growing up in Baltimore are at a distinct economic disadvantage, the study shows), the data suggests that kids who grow up in Utah may be at an economic advantage over […]
Eight is great: 8 things to teach your child before baptism
Baptism is the first ordinance in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Children of record are eligible for baptism when they turn 8 years old, but parents and Church leaders should help them prepare for this important milestone before the child is baptized. Here are eight things to teach your child before he or she turns 8 years […]
10 Utah Valley traditions that keep Christ in Christmas
Christmas is a magical time of year, especially with meaningful family traditions. Maybe your family always gets together for dinner on Christmas Eve, or maybe your kids write letters to Santa every year. Some families like to take a drive to see Christmas lights or go shopping on Black Friday. All holiday traditions can have special […]
Successful silver screen stylist puts family ahead of Hollywood
Midway resident Charlene Johnson has built an impressive, five-decade career as an in-demand Hollywood hairdresser, styling the likes of Elvis Presley and Doris Day to Mel Gibson, John Travolta, and, most recently, James Lafferty and Danny Glover. But despite her illustrious resume, Charlene said her favorite roles are those of wife and mother. Balancing career and family required […]
5 Christ-centered Thanksgiving traditions
Thanksgiving — complete with food, football and festivities — is the unofficial kickoff to the American holiday season. A day of gratitude is just the ticket to starting off the merriest time of the year. But a spirit of gratitude shouldn’t be confined to Thanksgiving, nor should the spirit of Christ be celebrated only at Christmastime. Here are a few traditions to […]
‘The Last Straw’ spins story of service, family and forgiveness
Can acts of kindness bring in much-needed Christmas cheer, even when you feel like you’re down to your last straw? That’s the question asked in “The Last Straw,” a heartwarming holiday film starring Corbin Bernsen, Adam Johnson and Britani Bateman. It opens in local theaters Friday, Nov. 7. In the film, which is based on a […]
LDS families find hope, healing after miscarriages
When she first learned she was pregnant, Taralyn Parker did everything right. It was her first pregnancy. She went to the doctor for early blood work at eight weeks — relatively early, by many doctors’ standards — and all the results were normal. “They didn’t get a heartbeat, but I was told that that was kind of normal […]
Class of ’64ers now know what’s truly important in life
Summer is the time for reunions, and I recently experienced an important one. It was my 50th high school reunion. Yes, I’m getting old. That’s a truth I was forced to face. As I mentally prepared to see classmates I hadn’t seen in half a century, my thoughts returned to a decade that only those […]
Surviving the terrible twos
A few days ago, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed when a picture of a darling 2-year-old girl caught my eye. The mother — whom I was acquainted with in college but would probably not recognize on the street — was gushing about how she loved toddlers and wished she could freeze time. Then […]
(Not) such a chore: 5 tips for creating a do-able chore system
My kids are officially out of school and preschool for the summer, and I’m stoked to shed the shackles of the school bell schedule. But I’m also a little apprehensive about the chaos and messes that are an inevitable part of having my kids and their friends flow in and out of the house all […]
The truth about being a parent
I dropped my 5-year old daughter off at dance class and had about 35 minutes to kill before I needed to pick her up. Most of the time we go back home, but that day the sun was shining so I decided to take my two boys to the playground across the street. There is […]
7 general conference takeaways you can live today
Two weekends. Twelve hours. Thirty-seven speakers. Six sessions. It’s safe to say that the184th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a whirlwind. The addresses from Church leaders will be used for Sunday lessons, personal study and family home evening discussions for at least the next six months. So […]
The 3 crucial parenting tricks no prenatal class will teach you
One of my friends is a new mom to twins, and she recently posted to social media about feeling overwhelmed by all of the things she had to learn and remember. She said she was throwing herself a pity party after a visit from a local health department worker, who talked to her about everything […]
Life lessons from an April Fools’ Day legend
In most ways, my mother is a minimalist. She’s not much for elaborate, over-the-top anything. She’s never cared to host a big party or make a big fuss. She’s never spoken a word about garnishes or drapes. She’s never worn jewelry. She’s never bought more than enough. But one day a year, she goes to […]