Importance of Marriage

In my continued efforts to be silent no longer, I thought I’d post this nice piece on marriage written by a former divorce judge from Georgia.
In so many ways, she nails it right on the head.

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A personal relationship with the Savior

When we ponder the eternities, what is it that we see? A similar question came up in priesthood on Sunday specifically related to our relationships with our families. Most of the comments ranged from living in peace with our families to continuing the work on the other side. While surely those answers would be part [...]

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Elder Oaks Speech: Religious Freedom

I wish I had more to say in the way of commentary (I don’t). He says it far better and clearer than I ever could.
All I will say is this–We have the right and responsibility to be true to our faith, whatever faith that is.
Romans 1: 16–For I am not ashamed of the gospel of [...]

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Encountering Islam: Snow

Our training with the Malaysian team continues, and we’ve had a relatively funny occurrence. An early winter storm tore through the area yesterday leaving the mountains white and pristine. All day long, they’d look out the window and just stare at the snow with a mix of giddy excitement and apprehension. I assume the excitement [...]

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Encountering Islam

At work, I’m training a team of Malaysians for the next two or three weeks. Most of Malaysia practices Islam, and our guests are no different. Personally, it’s the first truly close encounter I’ve ever had with the religion, and I’ve enjoyed the encounter. Here’s just a few random thoughts….

Our guests are deeply devoted to [...]

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Listing to Obey

In my daily scripture study, I encountered a hopeful gem the other day. I’ve read it a dozen times I’m sure, but it really stuck in my mind this time both as a measure of hope for what I’m trying to become and a reminder that there is still plenty of things that need to [...]

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Understanding the relationship of the Father and the Son

I’ve been thinking an awful lot about my own dad and some of the things he’s taught me. In particular, a phrase he mentioned just this past week (and many times before) has struck me again and again and again. He said something to the effect of, “Our earthly lives and structures are patterned after [...]

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The other 95%

I met with my bishop yesterday to talk. I love my bishop. He’s one of the most loving, forgiving, and open men I know, and he has literally burned the last 5 years of his life in service to his ward. He’s one of the few men I’ve known who I’ve readily claimed as “my” [...]

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Marriage, the Gospel, Self-atoning, and Repentance

Three posts in one day… must have a lot on my mind.
Due to some events around my life, I have been pondering a lot on marriage and the gospel. It all kind of coalesced this morning, and I wanted to share those thoughts.
First, I think it is critical to make the distinction that understanding marriage [...]

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Thoughts from the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication

About a week ago, I had the thought that attending a temple dedication is one of those primary opportunities to open a direct conduit between yourself and the heavens, and I spent the last week trying to do the little things to prepare myself for this dedication. Here are a few of my thoughts:

The biggest [...]

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