April 17
Valuing the Hidden Work of Faith at Home
The hardest work of motherhood is often invisible. This article names the emotional and spiritual labor that quietly shapes a faithful home.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
Spring · April
LDS Family Life
from a small garden south of Salt Lake
Weeknight recipes with real weights, honest motherhood, and the slow work of making a home — written at the kitchen table by Rachel Whitaker.
A note from Rachel
Recipes that work on a real Tuesday.
Words that hold on a hard one.
LDS Family Life is a publication about motherhood, parenting, from-scratch cooking, and gospel living for Latter-day Saint families and Christians who want grounded, practical faith at home. I write first-person essays on family discipleship, marriage, homemaking, and the spiritual life of ordinary family routines.
The sink full of mixing bowls. The garden row that finally came up. The child calling for one more glass of water. The prayer I whisper while scraping plates after dinner. Those are the things that hold a family, and they feel worth writing down before they slip past.
with love, Rachel
Lately, from the kitchen
Recipes · Essays · Home notes
April 17
How to Find Spiritual Peace in a Chaotic Home
A quieter home can help children and parents hear the Spirit more clearly. Here are simple ways to lower the noise and make room for peace.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 17
Raising Children With Traditional Values Today
A quiet, steady home can help children hold to faith and identity when the wider world keeps shifting around them.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 16
The Sabbath of the Screen at Home
Screens can connect a family and still quietly displace presence. A digital sabbath helps LDS homes protect stillness, eye contact, and room for the Spirit.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 16
The Sabbath of the Soul at Home
Overscheduled children may look successful and still feel worn thin. Families can reclaim quiet by protecting stillness, margin, and room for the Spirit.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 16
The Half-Finished Life of Motherhood
Motherhood often feels unfinished, but the messy middle is not failure. God meets mothers in the middle of the laundry, noise, and slow growth.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 15
Gentle Correction With Grace and Boundaries
Gentle correction helps parents hold firm boundaries without wounding a child's dignity. Grace and clarity can live in the same home.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 15
The Quiet Joy of Ordinary Motherhood
God often meets mothers in the low-stakes moments of ordinary days. Quiet joy grows in small acts of attention, care, and steady love.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
April 15
The Sacredness of Unseen Work at Home
The unseen work of home can feel exhausting and invisible, but God does not miss it. Even ordinary chores can become small acts of love and discipleship.
By Rachel Whitakerwith love, Rachel
A few reader questions
FAQ
- What is LDS Family Life?
- LDS Family Life is a publication about motherhood, parenting, from-scratch cooking, and gospel living for Latter-day Saint families and Christians who want grounded, practical faith at home.
- Who writes LDS Family Life?
- Rachel Whitaker is the sole author. Rachel is a 46-year-old former third-grade teacher, home cook, and mother of four writing from a kitchen table south of Salt Lake City.
- Is LDS Family Life an official Church publication?
- No. LDS Family Life is an independent editorial publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- What topics does the site cover?
- From-scratch weeknight recipes with real weights, honest motherhood, home rhythms, hospitality without performance, seasonal gardening, and reading reflections — written in a warm first-person register rather than a polished lifestyle register.
- How often does Rachel publish?
- Rachel publishes new essays and recipes weekly, with occasional seasonal long-form pieces. Everything is announced on the homepage and in the archive.