Mormon Bloggers

Praise to the Man Praise to the Man is one of my favorite hymns (have you noticed how many favorites I have?). I wish I could have put this out last week to commemorate the martyrdom of Joseph, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith. Every time I read the account, I’m deeply touched by everything it implies. I love the detail of the incident recorded in the LDS Institute Manual, Church History in the Fulness of Times. It’s a long account, but I think it’s worth reading: The Tragedy at Carthage The next morning, Thursday, 27 June, “Joseph requested Dan Jones to descend and inquire of the guard the cause of the disturbance in the night. Frank Worrell, the officer of the guard, who was one of the Carthage Greys, in a very bitter spirit said, ‘We have had too much trouble to bring Old Joe here to let him ever escape alive, and unless you want to die with him you had better leave before sundown; . . . and you’ll see that I can prophesy better than Old Joe. . . .’ “Joseph... Read the rest of this entry »

While your approach to dating needs to change when you are of an age and maturity to marry, your standards of personal morality should not. This video was made for teens, but it applies 100% to young single adults, too. Making yourself an exception to Celestial standards will likely make you an exception to those who live worthy to obtain Celestial life. Tweet  Read More →

I’ve been trying to get around to recording this one for awhile. The audio isn’t perfect quality, but you get the idea what it sounds like. Let me know if you’d like me to make this available in sheet music! Tweet  Read More →

Mormons, which is a nickname for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, believe that God has called prophets in our day, just as there were prophets in the old and new testaments. The living prophet today, who holds the same role and call as Peter in the bible, is President Thomas S. Monson. There are also twelve apostles living today in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their call is to teach the gospel all over the world.   Every six months, in April and October, the prophet, apostles, and other leaders of the church gather to discuss and broadcast a conference where the teachings of Jesus Christ are taught.   Members of the church are encouraged to hear their words and live by their teachings, just as the children of Israel were encouraged to listen to and follow the counsel given by Moses.   I know that President Monson is a true prophet, called by God to declare His word. I know that the twelve apostles are given the same charge, and... Read the rest of this entry »

I was once talking to a friend about an issue she had with something the living prophet had said in conference that she didn’t fully agree with. “But he is the prophet,” I said, “his counsel is coming from the Lord.” “But what ever happened to seeking out direction for yourself from the Holy Ghost?” She said, “We have to ask for ourselves if we should follow the counsel or not.” Her response troubled me. I realized that she didn’t recognize that God is not going to “inspire” us to do anything that is contrary to what the prophet says. That’s not because the prophet is greater than God. It is because the instruction we receive personally from our Father in Heaven will never supersede the instruction given to the prophet from God. His discernment of revelation is flawless, but ours is not. We can be deceived. The prophet will not be deceived. It was as if the girl I spoke to had a testimony of God and His Spirit, but it then stopped there. Indeed, we... Read the rest of this entry »

Image by More Good Foundation on flickr The scriptures talk a lot about keeping prayer sincere – about praying with all your heart, with real intent, and that we should pray fervently every day. We know that an insincere prayer is not as meaningful or as beneficial as the heartfelt, faith-filled prayer. So what do you do when it’s time for evening prayers, and you’re just not feeling into it. Of course it might help to just start praying, and see if you start feeling better about it, but if you’re like me, sometimes it’s hard to be “fervent” when you’re exhausted or in a bad mood. What do you do then? How can you pray sincerely, or with real intent, if you’re just not feeling it? Our Heavenly Father is a person. He’s human – albeit a perfect, all-powerful, omniscient human, but he’s a human being. He knows that we will not constantly have a burning desire to be constantly serving and demonstrating love. But He does want us to talk... Read the rest of this entry »

Everyone’s heard William Henley’s Epic poem, Invictus, which goes: Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud. Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears Looms but the Horror of the shade, And yet the menace of the years Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. But have you ever heard Orson F. Whitney’s response to it? Love it, love it, LOVE IT! Art thou in truth? Then what of Him? Who bought thee with His blood? Who plunged into devouring seas And snatched thee from the flood, Who bore for all our fallen race What none but Him could bear– That God who died that man might live And endless glory share. Of what avail thy vaunted strength Apart... Read the rest of this entry »

Kids are pretty smart, but not many have the gift of expression that this kid has! The story of Jonah from Corinth Baptist Church on Vimeo.  Read More →

Awesome Website Here’s the website we’re talking about in the show: Scriptures Citation Index  Read More →

Imagine you are a fish in a pond. While in school, your teacher tries to convince you that it is impossible to see through water.  Of course this seems ridiculous to you at first, but then he stirs up the mud at the bottom of the pond.  Soon the entire pond is completely clouded.  You cannot even see the fish around you or the teacher.  “See?”  Your teacher says, “you are in water and you cannot see.  Now you know that it is impossible to see through water.” Some of you and your classmates recognize that it is not water that is blocking your vision, but the mud that your teacher spread in front of you that makes it impossible to see.  You recognize that when the mud settles, you will again be able to see again like normal, because the mud and water will again be separated. But some of the fish begin to feel confused and lost.  In panic, they turn to the teacher for help.  The teacher replies, “The only safe place is the bottom of the pond.  At least there, you can feel... Read the rest of this entry »

Printable Download: $3.95 The Lord Is My Shepherd This arrangement of The Lord is My Shepherd has been floating around in the musical side of my brain for a number of years now, so I’m excited to finally have it done and put onto sheet music. Psalm 23, which is the basis of the text of this hymn, is probably one of the most quoted scriptures in the world, and for good reason. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.  Read More →

As some of you may already know, I’m getting a dating advice book ready for publication. My wife and I have a dating advice blog as well, which we’ve neglected a bit lately, but since I post fairly regularly on this blog, I thought I’d post the entries for that blog in both places. So here’s the entry for today! Photo by Shelly Hathaway at shellyhathaway.com One of the important lessons I had to learn quickly in dating is to not let fear of the future rule the present. I suppose I wasn’t unique in wanting to get just the right girl on the first try. As a teenager, I used to think to myself: wouldn’t it be cool if the first girl I ever have 2 dates with turns out to be my wife? Well, that goal was spoiled in high school when a girl I asked out asked me to a school dance, and we never went out again. So modified my goal: Wouldn’t it be cool if the first girl I went out with twice – where I did the asking both times, was the girl I ended up marrying?... Read the rest of this entry »