Mormon Bloggers

There’s plenty to worry about in the world. Macro events, micro events. Global warming, unusual weather patterns, natural disasters, war. Family concerns. What the kids are up to. Will one’s job last? Will one finish school? Will one get accepted into school? And on and on. All of these things (and more!) can disturb our peace of mind. The question is, does worrying do any good? Not for me. Part of the point of the gospel is to bring us peace. Consider the Savior’s words to Peter and the apostles prior to the Lord’s atoning sacrifice. Just after he prophecies that Peter will deny him three times, the Savior says, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me” (John 14:1). Later in the same chapter he says, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (verse 27). Don’t worry. (Resist the urge to hum like Bobby McFerrin.) Telling... Read the rest of this entry »

The story of Jesus walking on the water has so much personality. In just a few verses, the account is rich with perspective, depth and self-reflection. I used to think that the Savior was chiding Peter for his seeming lack of faith, which prevented him from walking on the water. Then, with the help of my friend Janie, the admonition from the Savior to Peter became something more meaningful, even gracious and hopeful. The story starts off with John the Baptist being beheaded through the efforts of a scheming, dancing seductress. When the disciples tell Jesus, he reacts by seeking to be apart and finding some solitude in an unwanted desert place. He gets there mostly by ship. When the crowds find out where he is, they follow him on foot. When he discovers the multitudes have followed him, he takes compassion and heals all their sick. But now they are in the middle of nowhere, where Jesus originally went to be alone and there is no way to feed the crowds. They are far from home. Next... Read the rest of this entry »

Brightness of hope. Fear and worry are one of life’s most draining forces.  One day it hit me that fear & worry are where we predict the worst possible outcome and suffer for it ahead of time.  So ridiculous what we do to ourselves, how we bind ourselves up with these two emotions!  They are the opposite of “brightness of hope.” Sometimes we lose our brightness of hope. I wouldn’t say worries and fear are the opposite of love and faith.  Because that belief also says to someone who is worried “you lack love, you lack faith – you fall short.”  It seems more fitting and charitable to realize love and faith have the power to vanquish fear and worry. We have the roots of love and faith within us and sometimes we need to conscientiously tap into those roots and grow them.  We have the capacity for the Garden of Eden wherever we are. So how do we find that inner strength and peace and bring it to its full... Read the rest of this entry »

I anticipate. I think ahead. I plan ahead. I look forward to the future. I also anticipate the bad. I act in advance to prevent disaster. I worry. I fear. The first is healthy. The second is not. To encourage the first type of thinking and reduce the second, I’ve been practicing mindfulness—thinking and living in the present, [...] All Content Copyright (C) 2007-2009 TJ Hirst. No content may be reproduced without the copyright owner’s express written consent. Thinking Now, Not Thinking Ahead  Read More →