Be or Become

My last video stirred up some comments in support and opposition to my claims. It was an off-the-cuff video in which I shared one evidence that helps solidify my beliefs about Joseph Smith. Feel free to check that video out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJVssq7Vn-0 In this video, I will address some of the comments left on the last video and offer some more perspective on where I am coming...

I can prove Joseph Smith was a prophet. In this episode, I will tell just one reason I feel like the church is true and Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. TLDR...it all brings me closer to Jesus Christ, my Savior. My reading included Doctrine and Covenants 135 and Alma 36. They tie together in a way that is personal to me and helps prove to me that Joseph Smith was a prophet. The message of the Boo...

Have you ever felt like you have nothing to add? Have you felt like others do a better job at teaching or expressing themselves, so you decide to hang back and stay quiet? Maybe you even doubt that your point of view has any value. That is what I would like to talk about today. I am going to start off by sharing my personal experience. It has been a while since I posted and I felt some doubt that...

I love Abinadi. I am grateful for Alma for being the one to tell his story. Abinadi was a martyr in the Book of Mormon and one of the most powerful stories of a prophet facing opposition in all scripture. Similar to John the Baptist, Stephen, and even the Savior Jesus Christ, Abinadi willingly gave his life in defense of truth. Every time I read about the prophet Abinadi, I am struck by the power...

There are so many examples of how serving God is a way of loving God. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus also taught us how our service to others is really service to Him. He said: “35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye cloth...

I had a friend once tell me of a phrase in the Doctrine and Covenants, that “an effectual door shall be opened for them.” (D&C 118:3) For some reason those words just stuck out to me as a comforting thing. The message was that God would open up an opportunity for me to have the success I sought.  Let’s look at the whole verse: “Let the residue continue to preach from that hour, and if they wil...

I just started into the story of Moses in Exodus, and I am intrigued by what kind of a person he was. What do we know about his background? He was saved by his mother sending him in a small raft or arc to Pharaoh’s daughter. He became the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, yet when he grew up, he saw his own people, the people of Israel, in bondage. Moses took action and killed an Egyptian in defense of t...

Joseph of Egypt. This is a story of reconciliation and forgiveness, among many other things. It’s hard for me to even describe this story because of the complexity of the emotions involved. I can’t imagine going through any of the things that happened to him. I can’t imagine being sold and betrayed by my brothers, I can’t imagine going to prison after being falsely accused. I can’t imagine succeed...

I want to share a quick object lesson with you. This is something I learned from my mission president, President Clate W. Mask. He was just the greatest teacher and leader for our mission. The lesson is called “Keep on keepin’ on.” I have this jar with rice in it and this little ball represents us. As missionaries, we would face rejection and struggles a lot, but that also applies to life now. We...

Joseph, Why Did You Say That? I just started into the story of Joseph of Egypt. One of the first things Joseph does in this story is have a dream that indicated all his family would bow down to him. When I read this, I thought, “Joseph, read the room. That was not the smartest thing to say.” Joseph’s brothers hated him because he seemed favored by their father, Israel. The brothers conspired again...

A New Beginning I read from Acts chapter 2 today and was impressed by the wonderful beginning and change that occurs in this chapter. The setting was the Day of Pentecost. I found it interesting that this day is 50 days after the Passover, so quite a while had passed since the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Day of Pentecost is a Jewish festival day that celebrates the wheat harvest an...

Teach about Jesus Christ No Matter What... The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a manual for teachers called Teaching in the Savior’s Way. One of the first sections in this manual is entitled, “Teach about Jesus Christ No Matter What You Are Teaching.” Here is what it says: There are many things to teach about in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ—principles, commandments, propheci...

Lessons From Two Jacobs I am going to talk about something I observed from two different Jacobs: Jacob son of Lehi in the Book of Mormon, and Jacob son of Isaac in Genesis. Then I will tie them together. Jacob son of Lehi is well known for recounting Zenos’s Allegory of the Olive Tree. The first thing I always think about with this chapter is that it is looooong. It’s the longest chapter in the Bo...

Why Am I Doing This? I have been asking myself why I am doing this podcast. I think I finally came up with an answer. Is it a good answer? Probably not, but this is the best I can do. I want to convey that although I am a middle-aged doofus, I can still thrive as a happy follower of Jesus Christ and member of His church. You can too! Even I can successfully “be or become an active member of the Ch...

Grace, Faith, and Works I have heard discussion about the conflict between faith and works several times in my life. I have also wrestled a little bit with it, and I want to share my personal perspective. My views are my own and do not officially represent the church. A hot-button scripture about this is 2 Nephi 25:23, which says, “...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we...

Elder Ulisses Soares recently spoke about the virtue of Temperance in his last General Conference address. If I am being honest, I don’t really think about temperance, but as I thought about it I am starting to realize how much we need it in our society today. Elder Soares points out that this is a Christlike virtue, and that He lived it throughout His life.  I find it interesting that Temperance...

3 to 1 Principle I want to share a principle that I learned years ago from a sports psychologist named Craig Manning that became very helpful to me. I actually learned this principle years before I put it into concrete action, and I will explain why. I call this the 3-to-1 principle, and it is very simple. When you evaluate your performance, intentionally think of three things that you did well, b...

Have you ever felt like you have fallen short? Have you ever thought, “What have I done? How could I have done this? How could I have sunk so far” Regret and remorse can be some of the most painful feelings we experience. My heart goes out to each of us when we feel our hearts drift away from the gospel. I believe we all have our moments. I read about the Apostle Peter this morning. The Rock. Pete...

President Dallin H. Oaks told us what Heavenly Father wants for each of us: “That is to be or become active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities.” Today I am going to talk about being an active member of the church, what that means, and different ways we can go about it. There are many directions I could take this d...

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk in 2014 about gratitude called Grateful in Any Circumstances. The talk is loaded with perspective and teaching about gratitude, and how we can have it in any circumstance. Please go listen to this talk. I am going to share only one small insight from this talk, and I feel almost disrespectful in sharing only this small portion. There is so much mo...

In the book of Abraham, we learn that Abraham desired to be a minister, to have priesthood authority, and to bless the lives of others. Chapter 1 verse 2 speaks of his desires: “And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteous...

Today I read Doctrine and Covenants Section 52 and I counted 8 times that it said some version of the phrase, “preach by the way.” Sometimes it says, “preaching my word by the way,” and sometimes just, “preach by the way.” This phrase really stuck out to me and I thought about this content that I am creating. My goal is to share some spiritual insight each day that comes from my scripture study an...

During the Last Supper, Jesus told His apostles to love one another: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” This is a hard commandment. It is not only hard to love one another, but it is also hard to fully learn to love as Christ loved. He said, “As I have loved you.” How has He loved us? Does Jesus love unconditionally? I...

In the Book of Mormon, the young prophet Nephi was in a situation where he needed to hunt for food, but he broke his bow. When this happened, Nephi’s brothers and even his parents complained and were upset. They all complained to God, but Nephi got to work and built a new bow out of wood. He went to his dad, Lehi, and asked where to go to get food. In answer to his prayers, Nephi was directed to t...

President Dallin H. Oaks, the newly ordained Prophet for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave his first address at a recent BYU Devotional. In this devotional, he spoke about learning about what the Lord wanted him to do now. He said this: “As your leader, I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us—and that is to be or become active members of The Church of Jesus Chr...