I was delighted to hear the announcement that the Church’s website will now be ChurchofJesusChrist.org. The companion website for those interested in learning about the Church will now be ComeUntoChrist.org.

I’m also looking forward to General Conference, which I imagine will include at least one (or two) delightful surprises.

Depression and mental illness are topics that are rarely talked about openly in our church. Aside from Elder Holland’s path breaking talk in 2013, we rarely hear sermons devoted to the topic. And when the Church does address the topic, it often focuses on its more extreme manifestations such as suicide attempts, rather than the day-to-day or hour-by-hour struggle that so many endure. The unfortunate side effect has been that shame and stigma has clouded this disease and made it harder for those who suffer to get the care they need.

Enter Jane Clayson Johnson’s revolutionary new book: “Silent Souls Weeping: Depression – Sharing Stories, Finding Hope” that was recently published by Deseret Book. Clayson Johnson is a celebrated journalist who has interviewed presidents and prime ministers. She is also the mother of two children. Yet, while everything outwardly appeared to be going well in her life, she suffered a serious depressive episode. Her recovery led her to want to shed light on the topic of depression which is such a taboo in our Church. She therefore set out to interview over 150 people who have either suffered from depression or helped those suffering from the throes of the disease.

This is a very important endeavor. As one of the people she interviewed told her, ”
“Depression thrives in secrecy, but shrinks in empathy.”

My comments and discussion on Come Follow Me – Matthew 10-12; Mark 2; Luke 7; 11 is now on my blog: http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2019/03/come-follow-me-matthew-10-12-mark-2.html