Mormon Bloggers

Blogging at home. This post might make more sense if you read “Left-Sided Goat-ness” first. Anyways, that post became a talking point for my family, as well as for one of my dear friends and her family. Several situations came up where it fit perfectly… However, I didn’t realize what I wrote until several days after the post went up and then had one of those ah-hah moments. There I was in the foyer last Sunday, waiting for my daughter, reflecting on goat-ness in general and where I am in regards to this principle. You see, I was patting myself on the back because of how I talk to everybody, and how I look past mortal trappings for status such as money, position, education, etc. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Then I was thinking about people I know who try so hard to promote their own status whether it be looks, money, husband, connections, education, talents, family name, whatever. And how some of them pass others over socially because they’re not good enough... Read the rest of this entry »

Matthew 25 is a New Testament chapter with IMPACT! It includes the parable of the 10 virgins, the parable of the talents and the analogy of the sheep and the goats. No wonder we hear about these verses in lessons all the time. Each is a huge idea in itself. Matthew 25 requires re-reading a couple of times. As in, on top of the mountain, yoga-style contemplation and meditation, with Mo Tab playing in the background if the angels don’t show up to sing. It’s like one of those chapters that sums life up in a nutshell – a staggeringly deep nutshell. I can imagine several introspective blog posts begging to be launched from these verses. This is also where one of the most often quoted verses is found: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40) We get lots of charity lessons in Relief Society and Sunday School based on this verse. But the verse I find more thought provoking and the one that gives me... Read the rest of this entry »

Efrain from Peru Elder L. Tom Perry described the New Testament last General Conference in a way that resonated with my soul. “This year all of us have the opportunity to study the words of the prophets in the New Testament in Sunday School. While the Old Testament is a study of prophets and a people, the New Testament is focused on the life and influence of the only Man who came into mortality with dual citizenship in heaven and on earth—our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.” “The world today is so saturated with doctrines of men that it is easy to forget and lose faith in that all-important account of the Savior’s life and ministry—the New Testament. This sacred volume is the centerpiece of scriptural history, just as the Savior Himself should be the centerpiece of our lives. We must commit ourselves to study it and treasure it!” If I were to pick only one of the most pivotal passages in the New Testament, and if I were limited to only that one... Read the rest of this entry »

This is one of the reasons I love our Church.  When they take welfare project on, they do it to the utmost.  Many don’t know we take care of our own poor.  We have many ranches, orchards and food processing plants (approx 187) which are dedicated solely to feeding the poor.  The cost and value of these donations are not figured into the “Emergency/Disaster Relief“ (a.k.a. humanitarian aid) numbers which some antagonists like to mistakenly quote as the sum total, disparagingly dismal amount of charity given to the world. LDS Church ranch making big impact in Florida – ksl.com Click on the link to see the ranch in more detail.  Read More →

An aspect of life and living learned which has taught me a lot about myself and others – why we do the crazy things we do…why we react, feel or acquire the belief systems we have– Everyone is telling themselves stories about what is happening around them. No, wait! It’s really true. We have filters we’ve acquired along the way, some from childhood and all outside stimulus passes through them. We interpret what we see, hear and feel based on those subconscious filters. They’re working all the time without us realizing. My girlfriend Janie told me a simple story that relates this perfectly. You may even find yourself nodding your head here… She was sitting in the back row of Relief Society (all-women’s meeting at an LDS Church) when they announced that a young sister got a brand new calling** as the Relief Society chorister. What was only slightly unusual for our church, was this sister had absolutely no music experience. As in she... Read the rest of this entry »

I think too often, we think of charity as this grand thing that is only put into action by large-scale demonstrations.  We seem to place simple love out of our own reach.  But, as Neal A. Maxwell said, even God’s love is “macro-love with micro-manifestations!”  None of us has true charity as Jesus Christ did, and I don’t think we will any time soon.  But that doesn’t absolve us from the duty, and from the privilege of putting our “widow’s mite” in the coffer.  A smile?  A handshake?  Giving the benefit of the doubt?Maybe we’re don’t have perfect love.  But He does.  I know He’s more than willing to give it to us if we agree to pass it along. Can’t we just be a little…kind? In others’ words…“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”  -Dalai Lama The best portion of a good man’s... Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve been thinking lately about how much little things really do make a difference in my life, particularly in the interactions I have with people. When I’m having a bad day, the smallest, simplest kindness can make all the difference in my world. I also notice how I feel when I try to do the little things. But, too often, I let little things get to me, or I don’t make that small effort to show some kindness to someone. This video reminds me to be a little more kind.  Read More →

“He Held His Peace” Recently I viewed “His Sacred Name: An Easter Declaration,” which is a short video, produced by the Church, in honor of Easter. One phrase in the video, taken from the book of Mark, caught and held my attention: “[He] held His peace.” As I pondered that particular choice of words, it occurred to me that the wording could have been different, “He held His tongue,” or, “He kept quiet,” or “He refused to protest,” or any number of other phrases describing the Lord’s serenity, but the apostle simply stated, “He held His peace.” What a truly profound phrase it is. I reflected on the power of His peace in my life. There was a time, not too long ago, when peace was beyond my grasp. I cherished a particular hope I believed to be worthy, and I felt I had every right to expect its fulfillment. Then, as a part of the Lord’s plan of refinement for me, the realization of that particular hope was withheld. As my plans turned to dust and... Read the rest of this entry »

On the way to seminary each morning, we listen to scripture mastery songs to help my high school freshman memorize them. This week’s scripture is D&C 88:123-124. Verse 124 (“Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to sleep longer than is needful…”) is well known to me as it was the subject of my very first talk in church, a “concert recitation” in Sunday School on a Fast Sunday several months after our family’s baptism back when I was about nine. But what has caught my ear this week came from verse 123: “learn to impart one to another as the gospel requires.” What does the gospel require us to impart one to another? The injunction follows the charge to cease to be covetous, which also intrigues me. Does that suggest that when I fail to share my substance with another that I am coveting? I believe so. And do I relieve my responsibility to impart one to another by paying my fast offerings and tithing? I believe I do not. To be sure there is one element... Read the rest of this entry »

The Blessings of the 13th Article of Faith We live in some of the most challenging times in the history of the world: Nephi, describing what he saw, in vision, of our day, was incredibly accurate when he spoke of the fountain of filthy water, and the mists of darkness which lead people astray: 1 Nephi 12: 16-17. I’m guessing you could all come up with a pretty grim list of filth and mist; a veritable minefield which we have to navigate through carefully, on a daily basis Chap. 14: 17 is exciting because we live in a day when the blessings of the covenant are made available to us–[LDS] Church coming out of obscurity: Elder Maxwell had this to say about our emerging visibility as members of the LDS Church: “Among other things, the past obscurity of the Church is giving way to visibility. The Lord described how He will bring His latter-day work “forth out of obscurity and out of darkness.” Thus, as foreseen, Christ and His work are becoming a light which can no longer... Read the rest of this entry »

You’ve got a problem. I know you have a problem. Your family knows you’ve got a problem. Everyone seems to know you’ve got a problem. Everyone, that is, but you. What does one do in such a situation? How do we help someone who does not want to be helped? In Mosiah we learn that we are to mourn with those that mourn and bear one another’s burdens. How do we live that teaching, especially when the person who needs help won’t get it? The issue is that you are likely to come to me for help. But it will be help for problems that you could solve if you’d solve your core problem. But you don’t see the core problem. Or you see it and won’t do anything about it. King Benjamin teaches we ought to offer help whenever it is requested without judgment of the person seeking help. Does that mean I give the help I’m asked to give, or I try to solve the root problem? At least one of the reasons King Benjamin gives for his direction to help... Read the rest of this entry »

I came across Moroni 7:40-48 this morning.  Our Mission President (Vernon Bingham – Tegucigalpa, Honduras 1983-1985) had us read this scripture passage every morning.  He said that if at least one companion had true charity, there would be no strife.  He had a point. I found that each missionary companion got better than the last, and at some point realized it was more because I internalized these principles rather than the companions conveniently getting better (except for my last, who became a life-long best friend – love ‘ya Missy). 40And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope?  41And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.  42Wherefore,... Read the rest of this entry »