Relationship Goals Episode 4: 5 Stages of Marriage

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Sister Cerah Hennah Padilla, Philippines Iloilo Mission (June 2026-December 2027)

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It’s already been nearly a month since Sister Padilla stepped into the mission field and time is flying! From the MTC to teaching, meeting people, and seeing miracles every week, she feels the Lord’s hand guiding her step by step.  One of the sweet highlights she shared was working during what they joyfully call their "miracle hours".  She and her trainer, Sister De Dios, would head out fully geared up with reflector straps and belts, glowing missionaries on a mission to find and teach. She said it was fun, a little silly, and a beautiful reminder that the Lord wants them to be safe so they can keep serving. And she added with such warmth: "Miracle hours are always better with Sister De Dios by my side."  Even with rainy weather and sickness in the district, His work moves forward, and He is strengthening them.  The Buruanga District She said she is so blessed to serve alongside these wonderful missionaries! They meet, plan, then...
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Elder Ammon Jarom Padilla, Philippines Cebu East Mission (June 2026- June 2028)

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  Maayong buntag sa inyong tanan! What a week it has been! Even though he got sick for a little while, Elder Padilla shared that the Lord reminded him that His work does not stop. And neither does he! He kept moving forward, creating miracles, and helping others come closer to Christ . He has seen so many blessings this week. Hearts progressing, and the Spirit working in beautiful ways.    They gathered for a wonderful Family Home Evening combining interested friends and ward members! The support was so great that people didn’t even fit inside the house. He said some had to stay outside! Everyone enjoyed one another’s company, played a fun game together, and truly felt the Spirit and the warm love of the ward family.     This week brought a precious milestone! Nanay signed the papers for her daughter’s baptism, and you could truly see the joy and excitement in both of their faces!  And then came a memorable s...
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Parted for a Season, Sealed for Eternity

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This time last year at the Calgary Alberta Temple. It feels like just yesterday. And yet, so much has already changed. It may take some time before we are all together again, as our children will be serving missions in the years ahead. We look at this memory now with hearts full of gratitude and a little bit of gentle longing. Because we know that it may take some time before we are all together again. Our children are stepping forward, one by one, to serve the Lord in the mission field. In the years ahead, they will be scattered, far from home, serving, growing, and blessing lives. And while our hearts swell with pride, we also know our family circle here at home will be a little smaller, for a little while. But we know too that separation is only for a season. The temple stands as a beautiful promise that the bonds we share are not broken by distance, and not measured by time. Families can be together forever.    So we wait, and we pray, and we treasu...
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To Those Enduring Trials With No End

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In this BYU Devotional (July 21, 2026), Jeffrey S. Bednar, an associate professor of management, explores the spiritual challenge of enduring trials that may never end in this life. Core Message:  Bednar emphasizes that "enduring to the end" is not just a passive wait for a trial to cease, but a joyous, lifelong quest to become like Jesus Christ. True disciples, he argues, continue to "row" through mortal storms by keeping their eyes on the Savior and drawing closer to Him through faith, even when circumstances do not change. Key Personal Experiences Samuel's Diagnosis: Bednar shares the journey of his son, Samuel, who was born with a rare condition called Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). He recounts the spiritual realization that his son is a child of God, and that his trial is a teacher rather than an adversary. The Metaphor of Rowing: Using the account of Christ walking on water to reach His disciples, Bednar illustrates that the Savior does not...
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First Few Days in the Missionary Training Center

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Maayong adlaw! Our daughter, Sister Cerah Padilla, has been at the Philippines MTC for just 5 days and look how much she has already seen, learned, and felt! She shared that they received their phones and key cards right away!  "It still feels crazy that missionaries today use high‑tech phones, but we use them to study, learn, and teach the gospel! In a changing world, the gospel keeps finding new ways to spread."  -Sister Padilla She received all five vaccine shots and yes, the soreness was real! But she wrote: "I believe healing in the MTC is faster because of the prayers of others for missionaries to stay healthy. I have felt the strength from your prayers."  She met her two companions and roommates, Sister Pascual and Sister Orcuse. "We relate on so many things and help each other grow. We’ve already strengthened each other’s testimonies!"  And get this, they even earned a reward and certificate for having the cleane...
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Sacred Dwellings | The Sanctity of our Homes and the Role of Temples

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Having recently moved to a new neighborhood and community closer to the Urdaneta Temple, we started the week on a positive note with a morning devotional. As a family, we studied Elder Gary E. Stevenson's conference talk years ago, entitled " Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples ." In his address, he emphasizes the importance of creating sacred spaces within our homes and the significance of temples in our lives. From his message, we can derive valuable lessons on the sanctity of our homes and the role of temples in our spiritual journey. Lesson 1: Creating Sacred Spaces   Our homes can be sacred spaces where we invite the Spirit and nurture our relationships together.    Just as temples are dedicated to the Lord and are places of worship and revelation, our homes can also be sanctuaries where we invite the Spirit to dwell. By creating an environment of love, respect, and harmony within our homes, we can make them sacred spaces where we feel the presence of God and s...
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Choices, Not Circumstances: Take Charge of Your Life

Have you ever stared at your to-do list at 10 PM, wondering how you ended up juggling so much—like your boss’s last-minute requests, family expectations, and even a string of little setbacks that just keep piling up? Maybe you’ve felt like life is steering you, not the other way around—like your job, relationships, or even plain old bad timing are calling all the shots, and you can’t do much to change course. We’ve all been there. But here’s what no one tells you: you hold more power over your life than you realize. The secret isn’t controlling what happens to you—it’s taking ownership of how you choose to respond, and letting go of the idea that you’re at the mercy of your circumstances..   Big or Small—Every Choice Shapes Your Life   We all recognize that major decisions alter our path. Starting a new job, moving to a different city, or choosing to marry or divorce—these moments clearly shift how we live. But what we often overlook is that small, everyday choices have just ...
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23 Ideas to Make Memories with our Children

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We all know that creating memories with our children is powerful. But the day to day hustle and bustle can leave us short on time and zapped of energy. It is even harder in this age of social media and constant stimulation from outside sources. However, it only becomes possible if we put it on top of our priority and not with our "leftover time".  My husband, Anatolin and I both agree that our own childhood memories helped define who we are today. Even if we can’t quite remember everything about childhood, there are those moments that stick with us no matter how old we get.  We also want our children to be able to look back on their own childhood and recall all the special moments we had together. We know it will provide them with positive things to look back upon when teen or adult life gets too hard. They’ll be able to cherish these times forever.  Here are 23 ideas we found interesting and fun that can help you begin creating your own memories w...
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Fathers and Mothers, Daughters and Sons

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Families are essential in Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. We are part of a heavenly family and an earthly one. President Gordon B. Hinckley taught:  “God is the designer of the family. He intended that the greatest of happiness, the most satisfying aspects of life, the deepest joys should come in our associations together and our concerns one for another as fathers and mothers and children” Temple and family history work unites families. Husbands and wives, parents and children can be sealed through sacred temple ordinances. The goal of this process is that “the whole chain of God’s family shall be welded together into one chain, and they shall all become the family of God and His Christ” (Joseph F. Smith, Millennial Star, Oct. 4, 1906, 629). Personal and family history work have been been a source of joy and peace in our family. We have personally felt the spiritual blessings of taking the names of our ancestors to the temple and performing proxy baptisms and sealings regular...
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A Legacy of Faith, Family, and Service

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The lives of Anatolin and Crisanta Padilla are deeply grounded in faith, devoted service, and the blessings of the gospel. Both were born in 1982 and raised in faithful homes within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and each chose to be baptized at age eight. Their paths first crossed in youth, but it was at a combined Seminary gathering and Youth Conference when they were 15 that their friendship grew. It was there that Anatolin enjoyed the privilege of dancing with Crisanta, a memory he fondly recalls as their first and last dance. At age 19, Anatolin accepted a call to serve in the Philippines Cagayan de Oro Mission. Following his honorable service, their friendship deepened, and they became engaged. On April 23, 2005, at age 23, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manila Philippines Temple . They are the blessed parents of four children. Their two eldest, Cerah Hennah (20) and Ammon Jarom (18), are now serving full-time missions, a joy and blessing t...
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