“There is a power in [the Book of Mormon] which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book.” –Ezra Taft Benson
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The High Ground: Lessons from Lehonti and Obi-Wan
When Obi-Wan declared “I have the high ground,” he understood something profound about advantage and survival. The Book of Mormon’s story of Lehonti teaches the same lesson: Satan doesn’t demand we abandon our standards all… Read more
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Inviting “Abinadi” Into Your Feed
What if the voices shaping your thoughts aren’t neutral, but carefully chosen to affirm you? Ancient scripture offers a haunting parallel to modern algorithms—and a warning about what happens when truth is drowned out by… Read more
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“Only Jesus”
Without being too specific, a while ago I was overthinking a personal disappointment. In the middle of that mental churn, the song “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns came up on my playlist. The timing felt… Read more
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Spiritual Off-Roading: How God Prepares Us for the Journey
Every year, tens of thousands of people end up stranded during off-roading adventures, with emergency rescue reports showing increasing risks in recent years.1 Now . . . I’m no expert, but logically I can say… Read more
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Why the Book of Mormon?
A few weeks ago you mentioned something about so much emphasis on the Book of Mormon. I’ve been thinking a lot about that and some of my thoughts are below. I’ll just focus on three… Read more
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Sea Stacks and the Sacrament
I love the Oregon coast. Some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen is tucked away among its 116 beaches. In particular, the many sea stacks catch my eye. The formation of Sea… Read more
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“You Go Where Your Eyes Are”
As we try to steady ourselves on life’s balance beam, we will go where our eyes are. Read more
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“All Things Denote There Is a God”
For me, some of my most powerful witnesses of the reality of God as well as where I have felt closest to Him are when I am surrounded by his creations. “The scriptures are laid… Read more
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Lessons on Timing
“Timing is everything” is how the saying goes. In other words, doing something at the right time is critical. Dallin H. Oaks said, “In all the important decisions in our lives, what is most important… Read more
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The Shepherd Who Runs
Do you ever feel like the sheep in this video? I definitely do–more often than I’d like to admit. I make the same mistakes again and again. I am rescued and run right back to… Read more
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Mercy in Both Pockets
I was at a worship service recently as a senior couple reported back after serving a full-time mission to some of the poorest among us. As they shared their experiences, they spoke of someone who… Read more
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Tasting vs. Being Filled: The Fruit in Lehi’s Dream
I had an internship during graduate school at a hospital that was near a Costco. For a poor student this was really convenient at lunch time. Since my dad was kind enough to have me… Read more
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Clinging vs. Continually Holding: The Rod in Lehi’s Dream
A rope swing taught me more than I expected about Lehi’s dream. There is a difference between grabbing hold and holding fast. One keeps you moving. The other gets you home. The distinction is more… Read more
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Strait vs. Straight: The Path in Lehi’s Dream
A great spot to hike when I visit my home state is Camelback Mountain near Scottsdale, Arizona. The path up Camelback is rigorous. It winds and turns. It is steep. The terrain can be unforgiving.… Read more
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The Forgotten Part of Moroni’s Promise
One of the unique things about the Book of Mormon is the promise contained in it’s concluding chapter, often called Moroni’s promise, which invites each individual reader to find out for themselves about the truthfulness… Read more
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4 Promises about Reading the Book of Mormon from Latter-day Prophets
There are many blessings that come from reading the Book of Mormon. In my lifetime, I specifically remember heeding the challenges quoted below and receiving the promised blessings. Read more
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17 Testimonies of the Book of Mormon from Latter-day Prophets
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of my religion. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I am grateful for the influence this book has had on me. It… Read more
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Are We Not All Beggars?
I was inspired this week by this speech given at a BYU forum. It is worth a listen. Then, throughout the week, after I had listened to this, I ran across several things that caused… Read more
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The Right Way and the Wrong Way to Lose and Election
[NOTE: THIS IS INTENDED TO BE AN APOLITICAL POST] I have always marveled at, and been grateful for, the peaceful transition of power that occurs within in our country and in many other countries around… Read more
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“You Will Be Found”
(PART 2 OF 2 REGRADING HELAMAN CHAPTER 3:33-35. For Part 1, click here.) If you have ever felt marginalized, it is lonely and demoralizing. If you have ever felt marginalized by someone or a group… Read more
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“A Great Evil”
(Part 1 of 2 regrading Helaman Chapter 3:33-35. FOR PART 2, CLICK HERE.) I read a passage this week that really makes me angry. Before I go into any detail and you decide to read… Read more
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Embodying Charity: The Path to Eternal Life with God
I began studying the basic doctrines as outline by the Church. The first is the Godhead and the first sub-category under that is God the Father. As I studied, I followed this train of thought–… Read more
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“Faith, Hope, and Charity, These three”
Today, as I was waiting in the chapel of the Denver Temple, I read this verse: “And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works” (Alma 7:24).… Read more
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I can remember my _____ no more.
When We Don’t Know How to Let Go Sometimes when I counsel people who are in pain, they ask how to lay their burden on the Lord. I’ve always found it difficult to describe how… Read more
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Digging Up the Past
The sons of Mosiah were powerful missionaries. These brothers brought thousands “to the knowledge of the Lord” (Alma 23:5). The Lamanites who converted to the truth were called the people of Ammon or the Anti-Nephi-Lehies.… Read more
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Distort. Turn from truth. Twist. Pervert.
Context is important. I was intrigued by a recent article that accused someone of “quote mining”. A new term to me, it basically means to purposefully take “quotes out of context in order to make them… Read more
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What Do You Refuse to Know?
One verse stands out to me in Alma 10. Amulek, speaking of the reasons he was not fully engaged as a member before he was commanded by an angel to return home, take care of… Read more
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Great Expectations
Sorry, this is not about Pip or Miss Havisham–though I would be glad to discuss that with you sometime. Yes, this is still about what I am reading in the Book of Mormon this summer.… Read more
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Time for a Pep Talk
Since football season is just around the corner (GO COUGARS!), I think it is the appropriate time for a pep talk. One of my favorites is from the movie “Rudy”. As you know, or at… Read more
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More Than a Pile of Rocks
When I returned from BYU Jerusalem, I would often get a question about my favorite spot. There are so many amazing things in the Holy Land and there is a special feeling in the area… Read more
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This Is All You Need to Preach the Gospel
Alma chapter 6, gives us a formula for how we should preach the gospel: “And Alma went and began to declare the word of God unto the church which was established in the valley of… Read more
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Someone Else’s Shoes
We often hear the phrase, “Put yourself in my shoes” to express the need for empathy. Have you ever worn someone else’s shoes? If they are broken in, you can feel where the other person’s… Read more
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King Noah’s New Clothes
Do the people you surround yourself with tell you what you want to hear or what you need to hear? Hans Christian Andersen’s short story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes” has always amused me. It goes… Read more
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Don’t Let Emotion Cloud Your Judgement
Zeniff is described a few times in Mosiah as overzealous–eager to excess. His objective was to regain the Land of Lehi-Nephi. Probably not a bad pursuit. But he wanted it so much that it seems… Read more
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What Is Your Effectual Struggle?
Limhi and his people were in bondage to the Lamanites. They had tried to get out from under that oppression several times but were unsuccessful. After Ammon found Limhi and his people, Limhi expressed hope… Read more
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So…You Think The Book of Mormon is a Fraud?
I really enjoyed this man’s testimony of the Book of Mormon. Please take a few minutes to read it. It is worth it. Link: So…You Think The Book of Mormon is a Fraud? Read more
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This Book Is Amazing
I figured this post would have been my last–you know, after Moroni 10:3-5. But, I can’t wait that long. My renewed focus as I read the Book of Mormon this time through has already brought… Read more
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I Cannot Comprehend It
It is estimated that about 117,000,000,000 have lived on the earth.1 That means only about 6% of the people who ever lived are on the earth today. It hurts my brain to think about these… Read more
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God and Your Neighbor–It All Comes Down to That
All of the commandments hang on loving God and loving your neighbor. And the two always tie together. In his final address to his people, King Benjamin taught, “When ye are in the service of… Read more
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Is Your Journal Like Omni’s or Nephi’s?
Do you keep a journal? What’s it like? Is it like Omni’s? Amaron’s? Chemish’s? Abinadom’s? Amaleki’s? Between these five men we have almost 200 years of time and about 1400 words to tell us about… Read more
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A Phrase Is Coined
Jarom is the shortest book in the Book of Mormon. We don’t know much about Jarom. He was the son of Enos and the father of Omni. From what he writes, it seems he was… Read more
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Give the Lord Equal Time
There are many voices trying to get our attention and sympathy for their cause. The key is to recognize the voice of the Lord so that we are not deceived by the “Sherem’s” of the… Read more
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It’s Not Necessarily about Your Spot of Ground
There are obviously larger meanings to the allegory or the olive tree in Jacob chapter 5. But, in the spirit of ‘likening’ the scriptures, I was impressed with the following as I pondered this meaningful… Read more
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The Sunday School Answers
Sometimes when we are asked a question in a class at Church we give what some people call “Sunday School” answers. These are typically the basics: read your scriptures, pray, go to church, get a… Read more
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If I Were a Rich Man . . .
In “The Fiddler on the Roof”, Tevye sings: “If I were a rich man, Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum. All day long I’d biddy biddy bum. If I were a wealthy man.… Read more
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The Conversion Triangle
To start a fire, three things need to be present: heat, fuel, and oxygen. This is often called the Fire Triangle. If any of these three is missing, a fire cannot be started. Likewise, when… Read more
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Keep Walking–You’re Almost There
Last summer, we had the opportunity to go to Hilton Head, South Carolina for a family vacation. The place where we stayed had a gate that led to beach access a short walk away. The… Read more
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Who Wouldn’t Want More of the Word of God?
Several years ago, as I approached the grounds of the Mesa Arizona Temple for the Easter Pageant, I was handed a piece of anti-Mormon literature. Curious, I opened it and read a little. There was… Read more
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Am I a Christian?
In a newspaper article I read a few years ago, a survey of Americans’ knowledge of religion found that “atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons outperformed Protestants and Roman Catholics in answering questions about major religions,… Read more
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A Foundation or a Stumbling Block?
The Savior is “the Rock” (Deuteronomy 32:4). But the real question is what kind of rock is he to you? For you, is he “the rock of my righteousness” and “my rock and mine everlasting… Read more
