"Thoughts mold your features. Thoughts lift your soul heavenward or drag you toward hell... As nothing reveals character like the company we like and keep, so nothing foretells futurity like the thoughts over which we brood. … To have the approval of your conscience when you are alone with your thoughts is like being in the company of true and loving friends. To merit your own self-respect gives strength to character. Conscience is the link that binds your soul to the spirit of God." --David O. McKay, "Developing Character", Ensign, Oct. 2001 Studies have shown, and what ... Read More

The Book of Mormon chronicles the history of the family of Lehi, a prophet who lived in Jerusalem in 600 BC. After being instructed by God to flee into the wilderness to protect his life, Lehi’s family was led by God to a personal promised land across the waters, in what is now the Americas. After Lehi’s death, the family and those who had joined them on their journey split into two groups. The Nephites followed the fourth son, Nephi, who was righteous and loved God. The Lamanites followed ... Read More

When Lehi, the first Book of Mormon prophet died, his family split into two groups, the Nephites and the Lamanites. The Nephites were the part of the family (and those who traveled to their own, personal promised land with them) who chose to follow God, and wanted Nephi as their leader. Nephi was the fourth son of Lehi. The Lamanites were followers of the oldest of Lehi’s sons, Laman. He was a wicked young man who resented the family’s decision to abandon their wealth and do as God commanded. In time, he became violent and even murderous, and led a portion of the family and their companions away from the church. When Leh... Read More

Jacob, apparently the third prophet of the Book of Mormon, wrote that his brother Nephi, the second prophet, had commanded him to keep two records of their people, the Nephites. When Nephi handed over the records to this younger brother, he asked Jacob to keep one set of plates (records) containing the history of the people. The second set would contain something more valuable: And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, ... Read More

I love music. So, I was very excited when I heard that our upcoming ward activity was to attend Music and The Spoken Word up in Salt Lake City, one Sunday Morning. We would have to meet early in order to arrive in time, and then afterwards, we planned to eat lunch at the tables in between Temple Square and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, before returning back to Orem for Church. Everything was planned, and I had set my alarm clock the night before to give me plenty of time to get ready and be at the Church on time. As I pulled into the church parking lot, my eyes were quickly riveted upo... Read More

People look to Christ for many different reasons, just as they did during His mortal ministry. Some came looking for miracles, some to have their daily needs met, some to try and find fault with Him, some to seek forgiveness, some to learn from Him and feel His love. What first brought you to Christ? Are your reasons the same now as they were then? The more time that we spend getting to know Christ and emulating His behavior, the more we learn about the depths of His love for us. The more we stand in awe of what He has done for us. The more we want to share that joy with others around us. Understanding His love and recognizing the depths of our own are the elements that motivate us toward becoming better disciples of Christ. For me, the most important part of comin... Read More

If you’ve been reading the Book of Mormon along with me, you’re now ready to start the Book of Jacob. Jacob was the brother of Nephi, the second Book of Mormon prophet. Let’s take a look back at his background. Jacob’s father was Lehi, a prophet in Jerusalem around 600 BC. Lehi had been a successful man of wealth when he was called to be a prophet in a time when there were many prophets warning the people to repent or Jerusalem would be destroyed. When the people threatened his life, God instructed him... Read More

Sometimes people will ask me why I decided to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—a Mormon, as some call us. I explain how I studied the religion and then turned to God in prayer to find out if the church was true. Often, they respond, “Oh, I’ve been taught not to do that because you can’t tell if the answer is from God or from Satan.” When I hear this, my mind often turns to a scripture found in the Book of Mormon: And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For i... Read More

Have you ever read the stories of people in the scriptures who were privileged to listen to the Savior speak in person, and longed to be among them? When you read of the Sermon on the Mount, do you imagine yourself sitting on the hill, gazing up at the Savior and savoring every word He says? While we may not be able to travel back in time to sit on a hill with the Savior or to join Him for dinner, listening as He speaks, God, in His kindness, has given us a way to feast on the Savior’s words even today. He instructed His people to keep records, and many of those records include the words of Christ for us to feast upon and treasure. “Angels speak by the power o... Read More

2 Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? 3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 2-3, Book of Mormon) The Book of Mormon teaches us that after we have been baptized and received the ... Read More

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen. (2 Nephi 31:21) Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes called “Mormons,” do not believe in the doctrine of the trinity. God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three distinct individuals. So what does the above scripture from the Book of Mormon mean? On LDS.org, we learn what it means to say God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost are on... Read More

In my previous entry, I spoke of baptism. Baptism is only one of the steps on the path back home to our Heavenly Father. Often the hardest work comes after that wonderful moment when you’ve risen from the water and everyone is smiling at you. For that single moment, you are perfect. But when the service is over, you leave the chapel and go out into the real world, where challenges and trials await. Your trials don’t end because you’ve chosen to commit your life to serving ... Read More

By virtue of being a mother, I am “on alert” all of the time. In this state of greater awareness, we mothers notice the smallest item on the floor as a potential choking hazard for baby. We keep track of where our children are playing. We are pretty good at the memory game (one shoe is in the basement and the match is under the trampoline). We know the dates for scout camp, the time of the piano lesson and whether our child ate a vegetable today. We are willing hands in the loving care of our children. But being constantly on alert, concerned and aware can leave our nerves raw and frazzled. Mothers need to take time out. A time out for mothers means three things to me: Time to be holy, time to rest, and time to grow. Time to Be Holy In... Read More

Today, I had the pleasure to spend some time at a park near my home. Aside from the mosquitoes that seem to be able to find me from miles around, I had a pleasant time. There is a pond and walking trail meandering through partially wooded areas. It’s a wonderful place to spend some quiet time. As I wandered around a bit, I thought about a quote I recently read from C. S. Lewis. “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” C.S. Lewis I’m ... Read More

I have had a lot of my friends who have gotten married in the last few weeks, and many more who are about to get married. With all these weddings, there are usually bridal showers which I am invited to attend. I find it interesting that though these showers vary in style and activities depending on who is giving the shower and who is attending, there are two activities that are almost always constant. What are these two actives? One is the giving of gifts and the other is the giving of advice. Both are to help the young couple have a jump start in their happy marriage. Just as the people who attend the various bridal showers differ, so do the gifts and advice. Where I find the gifts people choose to give interesting, it is the advice which I find more so. For just like the gifts... Read More

There is a set of scriptures within the Doctrine and Covenants that has always given me a bit of trouble. Not because of what they actually say, but because of what my puny brain focuses on and remembers from what they say. See for yourself: Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God; That your incomings may be in the name of the Lord, that your outgoings may be in the name of the Lord, that all your salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with uplifted hands unto the Most High— (... Read More

Often, I have quoted the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith when he declared: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 255–56.) How to be happy seems pretty clear, then. As long as we are on the path that he describes, we’ll be happy. But how do we get on that path? How do we stay on it? President Thomas S. Monson, then a member of the First Presidency of ... Read More

I wanted to follow up on the “Real People Do Get Scared“ blog. In it I mentioned the oft-quoted scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants 38:30, I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. Then I described a few of the experiences we had going through just one of the disasters in our life, the Loma Prieta earthquake. I indicated that even though we were prepared, I was still very fr... Read More

Last Sunday I was privileged to hear entertainer, Merrill Osmond, give a fantastic fireside on the Refiner's Fire and becoming that pure, refined gold the Savior wants us to be. He shared an experience with us that left a lasting impression on my mind. Merrill was sitting in the office of Spencer W. Kimball, the twelfth called prophet of these modern times, who asked him to bear his testimony of the Savior. In all honesty, my brain took a pretty quick side trip. Merrill was asked to bear his testimony of the Savior to a prophet of God. Mindboggling. Then I, of course, wondered what I would say if a prophet of God asked ME to bear my testimony of Jesus Christ to him, and t... Read More

Summer is often the time when people tend to grow a little lax about attending Church and keeping the Sabbath Day holy. The sun is high in the sky and the beaches, lakes and rivers look incredibly inviting as the temperatures climb. The mountains, resplendent in their majesty, seem to beckon one and all to enjoy their shady canyons and meadows. But it would behoove us to remember that Jesus Christ created this world, was born into this world, suffered the Atonement that He might appease the cause of eternal justice, died and was resurrected so that you might repent of your sins, overcome your weaknesses and gain eternal life. Is it really so much for Him to ask you to set aside one day a week from your labors and entertainments to spend that day in quiet worship of He who has made every... Read More

Grief, pain, and suffering are a natural part of our time here on earth. Though it often seems that we would like to skip over this part of our learning process, without them we would not be able to fully experience and feel their contrasting emotions such as: peace, gratitude, joy. Still, it’s difficult in the moment of suffering. Sometimes it’s even more difficult when we’re watching a friend or loved-one going through their own trials of life. Probably one of the worst feelings in the world is watching someone’s grief and having no idea what you can do to support them. While I do not claim to have all the answers for any given situation, I can give you a few t... Read More

I’ve been reading a lot about Enoch in the last few weeks. If any of you have ever read the account in the Bible, you know there’s not exactly a mighty gush of information to study up on. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church), have been given a bit more insight, which you too can read in the book of Moses beginning in Chapter 6. When Enoch was still a young man he was called of God to begin preaching to the people of their wickedness. Sound familiar? Satan’s influence ran rampant throughout the land. ... Read More

At the start of His ministry, the Savior went to His cousin, John, and asked to be baptized. John, knowing Jesus’ true identity and perfection, protested, saying it was Jesus who should baptize him, not the other way around. Jesus was perfect, and one purpose of baptism is to wash away sins. He wondered why Jesus wanted to be baptized. Jesus taught us regularly that we were to follow his example. One reason God sent His Son to be with us is because mortal beings often need a physical example to follow, and this is something the Savior provided us---som... Read More

4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles? 5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have cursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people. (2 Nephi 29 in the Book of Mormon) Go... Read More

I think that some of the best disciples of Christ I have ever seen haven’t really said a word to me about Jesus Christ. Well, maybe sometimes, but for the most part they testify of the love and goodness of God in a vastly different way. Most of the world calls these children “special needs”, I prefer special spirits. Some may not share the same opinions of gratitude for children who are born with a different set of parameters on life than most of us. Some would see this as a sign that God does not love us, that just like war, famine, a... Read More

In all the times of history that prophets lived on the earth, those prophets caused new scripture to be created. The words of the prophets were written down and some of them were gathered into books of scriptures. The Bible wasn’t just one book initially. It was a collection of writings that in time were gathered together and men decided which writings should be part of the scripture. The Jewish people initially had only small portions of what is today called the Bible. They had the writings of whichever prophets had lived to that point. More was regularly added to that cannon. The people were not expected... Read More

Some people reject the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because they have a prophet who continues to share with them God’s messages for them. The Book of Mormon, which they read as Holy Scripture hand-in-Hand with the Bible, foretold of this challenge: 26 Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost! 27 Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We h... Read More

It seems like a strange concept doesn’t it? Let me tell what sparked my thoughts, then I’ll explain how they apply to a disciple’s life. Last night I happened across a headline that caught my eye. Maybe you saw it, too. It advertised a 5-year-old piano prodigy. Some of us might completely ignore the hype that often surrounds a child’s prodigy status, but this one held an extra set of unique circumstances. Yes, she’s five and yes, she plays better than I ever could, but she’s also blind and was adopted after being abandoned as an infant. I do not pretend to understand what might have caused this child’s mother to leave her, but my heartbreaks for both the child and the mother. I also wonder if this particular mother knows wh... Read More

Satan’s sole purpose in his life is to make everyone as miserable as he is, and the best way to do this is to battle truth. If he can turn people away from God, the Savior, and the saving doctrines, he can make people miserable and win his battle. He has a variety of methods he employs in this battle. Knowing some of them can help us protect ourselves from him. The Book of Mormon suggests several of these methods for us to evaluate and prepare to fight. For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. (... Read More

Cicero, the great Roman orator, claimed that gratitude was “not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others” (Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Plancio, 54 b.c.) With a grateful heart, our minds are free to experience true happiness because we aren’t distracted by complaints and self-pity. President Joseph F. Smith, former leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church,) proclaimed: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 263.) But how, in a world that fights to drag us down and does such a good job at it too, do we keep our hearts happy, full of gratitude and than... Read More

The Book of Mormon often prophesied of our day, and warned us of the challenges we would face. One problem foreseen by the prophets was the danger of mingling the word of God with the teachings of men. For a church to be the Savior’s church, it must teach only what the Savior wants taught, regardless of how popular or “politically correct” it might seem to be. They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride... Read More

Have you ever considered what is probably one of the most emphasized words in the scriptures? Yes, there are a few that could be discussed but today I’d like to think about the word “one”. If you think about it, “one” is a term frequently used when a commandment is issued to man kind- more particularly to the disciples of Christ. Here are a couple of the most thought compelling phrases within the New Testament. And other sheep I have,... Read More

Nephi, the second prophet of the Book of Mormon, foresaw our time and described it with unnerving accuracy. His portrayal of it is accurate because it was shown to him by God. The Book of Mormon was written for our day—the people of the Book of Mormon, other than the prophets who kept the records, didn’t have it. Nephi offered the prophecies in a talk to his people as warnings to them for their own day as well, but preserved the talk for... Read More

I read yesterday of a family with four children who were removed from an airline flight because of their noise and restlessness. One son had autism and a daughter had cerebral palsy. It was the childrens’ first flight. On another flight, a family was removed because their 3-year-old was crying. What surprised me the most about these stories was the enthusiastic “Kick them off and good riddance” chorus in the follow-up commentary. Of course safety and respect for other passengers is warranted. But I think it shows a general intolerance our society has for anyone who annoys or irritates us. I believe we are teaching by example the exact opposite of what we want our children to learn and to become. This intolerance is in opposition to the doctrine of ... Read More

There are many people who don’t believe in God, but there are many others who believe in Him, but believe that once Jesus’ earthly ministry ended, God decided His work was done and lost interest in the people yet to come until after they died. Nephi, the second prophet of the Book of Mormon, talked about this to his people: 3 For it shall come to pass in that day that the churches which are built up, and not unto the Lord, when the one shall say unto the other: Behold, I, I am the ... Read More

In Isaiah 29 of the Bible, Isaiah discusses how the fullness of the gospel will disappear and the prophets will no longer guide us. For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (Isaiah 29:10) From this verse we understand that even in the days of the Old Testament, the prophets knew there would be an apostasy, a time when there would be no more prophets, no more direct guidance of the church from God, this due to the choices of the people. Because there would ... Read More

In Doctrine and Covenants 109:7 it reads: And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith; (D&C 109:7) This is a reminder about the responsibilities of discipleship. When we recognize our place as a follower of Christ and commit ourselves to serving Him in every facet of our lives, we also covenant to do the things He did to the best of our personal ability. One of the thing... Read More

29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. 30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish. 31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish. (2 Nephi 26) The people of the ... Read More