Articles & Presentations

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion September 2026 -News and NoteS -- As another summer draws to a close, the familiar rhythms of autumn begin once again. Children return to school and to Sunday school, congregational activities resume after busy summer months, and fields in many places are beginning to yield their harvest. These changing seasons remind us of God’s continued care, both for our daily needs and for our souls. We give thanks for the many blessings of the summer

Taryn Laulainen | The Voice of Zion September 2026 - Round the Table articles -- Youth from the Utah Valley congregation share reflections about using social media with a believing heart. I’ve been an active social media user for the past ten or so years, and during this time, social media has changed many times over. In the early days of being online, it was much easier to manage our social media feeds. Now, with the never-ending scroll, we are never more than a tap or sc

Todd and Connie Erickson | The Voice of Zion September 2026 - Home and Family articles -- Listen to your father, who gave you life and do not despise your mother when she is old. – Proverbs 23:22, NIV We’ve spent the past 30 years raising our children to adulthood. As we move toward retirement and reflect on life, questions and thoughts swirl: How will our children remember their childhood home? I hope our children haven’t picked up our bad habits. I hope they have more pat

Adeline Moll | The Voice of Zion September 2026 - Camp Matters article -- The LLC Language Camp was held at Kamp Kipa in Arizona July 7–13. The camp welcomed a group of 53 youth and leaders from Finland, along with North American participants, directors, teachers, and counselors, for a total attendance of 73. The Finnish group was accompanied by Mauno and Heli Soronen and Hannu and Kaisa Kinnunen as group leaders. Following participation in LLC Summer Services in Minnesot

Gary Hoikka | The Voice of Zion September 2026 - The Sabbath Word 4 -- Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which

Tanner Collette | The Voice of Zion August 2026 -The Sabbath Word 2 -- Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth: behold,

Tommi Kinnunen | The Voice of Zion August 2026 - Round the Table article -- From the youngest children in Sunday school to elders in quieter stations of life, all of us are called to serve one another using the gifts God has given us. Service involves showing care and reflecting God’s love, particularly in our interactions with others. Every gathering is an opportunity to make others feel welcome, especially newcomers, and to remind one another that each of us is valued and

The Voice of Zion August 2026 - Editorial -- As children, many of us spend years simply receiving. We come to church and services, sit beside our families, attend camps and gatherings, and receive care and teaching from those around us. Others prepare lessons, organize events, care for practical needs, and carry responsibilities we may hardly notice. There is nothing wrong with this. Children are meant to receive. Jesus Himself said of little children, “Of such is the kingdom

The Voice of Zion August 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- Amidst our busy family life, the believing home can be a place of contentment and peace, a refuge from the world, a setting where God’s perfect plan for our lives unfolds day by day. Family life often involves many moving parts and much noise. The shape of family busyness differs from one household to another, as well as from one season of life to another. Each household and season carries its own joys and sorrows, a

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion August 2026 - News & Notes -- Publications We extend a special thank-you to Ruth Delacey, who served as Publications Coordinator for the past five years. Her work in the Publications Department and the Opisto program allowed her to develop warm connections with many believers across North America. We are grateful for her service of love and wish her God’s blessings in the future. Helen Hillukka is serving temporarily as Publications Coordin

The Voice of Zion June/July 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- When a couple are married, a new family is born. Their individual identities merge into a new shared identity as a married couple. Others start to refer to them as a couple instead of as individuals. The months following a wedding are full of adjustments for a couple, both adjusting to a new shared identity, as well as establishing a home together and finding new everyday routines and habits. When God blesses wi

Allen Pirness | The Voice of Zion June/July 2026 - Bilingual Article -- At the beginning of Luther’s Small Catechism, the Ten Commandments and their explanations are presented. Since believers are no longer under the condemnation of the law, we might wonder why Luther arranged it in this way. The reason is twofold, mirroring the two purposes of the Law given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The first purpose is to reveal what sin is and to show how a person’s life should be

Home & Family Committee Workgroup | The Voice of Zion June/July 2026 -- We began our work together in prayer, asking our heavenly Father for wisdom, clarity, and guidance in our work together. Six fruitful meetings later, we are still praying those same words, but perhaps we have a deeper understanding of just how much we need them. As a workgroup assigned by the LLC Home and Family Committee, our small group – representing many walks of life – was asked to gather and prep

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion June/July 2026 - News & Notes -- June and July bring a full season of life’s activities, from graduations, travel with family, and the many gatherings and events at our LLC camp centers. We pause with gratitude to acknowledge the graduates among us. Dear 2026 high school and college graduates, you have reached a meaningful milestone. God has carried you to this point, and we trust He will continue to guide your steps in the days ahead. June

Carey Simonson | The Voice of Zion June/July 2026 -- A camp for LLC ministers was held at Stony Lake Camp April 10–12, 2026. God richly blessed the camp from the opening devotion at 3 p.m. on Friday to the closing devotion at noon on Sunday. I have attended ministers camps for more than 20 years, but to better understand the history of ministers camps, I asked Keith Waaranimi and Walt Lampi, both ministers in the Rockford, Minn., congregation, to share their thoughts and re

Art Harju | The Voice of Zion May 2026 - The Sabbath Word 4 -- Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of

Adeline Moll | The Voice of Zion May 2026 - Camp Matters Article -- The 2026 Camp Theme follows the LLC Operating Theme for the year and comes from Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as unto God.” This was the focus of the 2026 Camp Work presentation shared with congregations. In that presentation, we are reminded why we have camps and how we serve one another with the gifts God has given. Service Belongs to Everyone When we think of serving at ca

Arvin Pirness | The Voice of Zion May 2026 - News & Notes -- In May we observe Mother’s Day, a special occasion to serve and remember our mothers. We wish all mothers God’s rich and bountiful blessings. May also marks the beginning of graduation season. Congratulations to all 2026 graduates. May you serve God and your neighbor with the gifts and abilities He has given you to use in your life’s calling. Camp activities increase in May. Consider serving your brothers and sist

The Voice of Zion May 2026 - Home and Family Articles -- Marriage brings profound changes that ripple through interpersonal relationships, social circles, and standing both within God’s kingdom and in the broader community. Adapting to a new reality can be challenging for couples as they adjust together. Existing friendships, especially long-standing ones with single people, often feel the impact most immediately. A spouse’s needs and priorities must now be honored, which can

Daren Hendrickson | The Voice of Zion May 2026 - Doctrine and Life Article -- Righteousness of life is seen in a life shaped by truthfulness and integrity – where one speaks honestly, acts uprightly, and lives with a clear conscience before God and others. In this way, truthfulness and integrity are fruits of faith that reflect a life seeking to walk rightly before God, even in the unseen moments. Truthfulness Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfull