Example
Military Honors or Unlikely Standout
Membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints changed me from a shy, backward farm boy to a standout. As I look back and remember some honors that I received in the military, I see no reason that I would have been chosen for those honors except that I was a practicing member of the Church.
Read MoreSetting the Trap
Zeezrom set a trap to ensnare Amulek as Amulek preached to the people of Ammonihah. “Behold, here are six onties of silver,” Zeezrom said, “and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a supreme Being.”
Read MoreSeeing My Future—A Poem
As she came walking down the hall
The lights went dancing off the wall;
The sight quite took me by surprise
For they were coming from her eyes.
The Most Influential People
Because of my mother I decided early that I would never try alcohol nor tobacco.
Because of my mother I learned that there is a God in heaven. She set me to wondering about God
and Jesus Christ. Are they one person or two? Are they persons? I couldn’t sort it out,
but because of her I knew there was Something there, and that I had to be good.
Alma and His Children
In the middle of the book of Alma are seven chapters that are his parting instructions to his sons. Alma knows that the Lord is going to shortly take him, and there are things he needs to do to prepare. He has two concerns. One is the records and sacred things with which he has been entrusted. The other is his children.
Read MoreQuiet Influences
Chris Stocks told a story today about his wife, Heidi, from her high school days. Heidi has always been everyone’s friend. That’s just the way she is. She says hi to everyone, and ignores no one.
Some years after graduation a young man approached her and thanked her for saving his life. He told her that his high school days had been particularly hard. He felt isolated and alone. He had no friends, and no one ever spoke to him.
Gophers
A gopher is an animal worthy of a short study. The most remarkable thing about a gopher is that it lives a mostly solitary existence in the dark. A gopher’s life is not an enviable one, yet many people seem bent on becoming gophers.
Read MoreAmy and Shawn Geese
What lessons have you learned from birds? This is a valid question that should be asked of every birder.
I, myself, am not an avid birder, but have spent a lifetime watching and learning from birds. I have been interested, for instance, to have observed changes in local avian populations and their habits.
The First Convert
While reading the story of king Lamoni’s conversion, it occurred to me that he was likely the first Lamanite convert to Christianity in their 500-year history. His conversion was the catalyst that led to the conversion of thousands more.
Read MoreLaw of the Boomerang
In my scriptures, beside the 15th verse of Alma chapter 41 I have written “Law of the Boomerang”. The name of the law is mine, but the principle it illustrates is laced throughout the scriptures.
Read MoreWhere Am I in this Picture?
I’d like to paint some pictures for you, and ask you a question. The first picture is actually already painted. It’s the picture of Noah standing on a pile of logs, with arms upraised, as he harangues the jeering and mocking crowd that has gathered to make fun of him for building a huge boat up on a wooded mountain. He’s plainly exasperated by their hard-headedness and hard-heartedness, and they’re plainly convinced that he is out of his mind.
Read MoreMe, a Shepherd in Israel
This is the topic the stake presidency gave Marjorie and the other stake leaders upon which they are to speak this coming year. When I heard it, my mind immediately added punctuation so that the topic became, “Me?!! A Shepherd in Israel.” I might also add the phrase, “Are you kidding?”—I’m a nobody, and everyone else knows it. I’m just a common person and am not capable of herding people around.
Read MoreThe Great People I Have Known
I had the privilege of serving as counselor to Howard Perry in the presidency of this stake. That was over 20 years ago.
Read MoreSalamanders
Marjorie went out to feed the cat yesterday, and immediately came back in to tell me to go look at what was in Aspen’s dish.
Read MoreComparisons
Thoughts at Aaron’s missionary farewell. 23 May 1999. When I was 19, I knew nothing about the gospel.
Read MoreJoseph
One of the greatest heroes from all the scriptures was not a prophet, and left no writings for us to study.
Read MoreThe Art of Reading
Marjorie has said that the only thing she could possibly hold against her parents is that they never read to her.
Read MorePaying it Forward
In my scripture study I’ve come up with a law. I call it the law of the boomerang. Simply stated, it is that whatever you send out will come back again.
Read MoreTemple Conversations
Serving as ordinance workers in the temple, we’re told to be consistently reverent. We’re not to discuss politics, sports, or business.
Read MoreArise and Shine Forth
A talk given to Vanuatu youth
Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for (this nation).
Come and See
The day after John baptized Jesus, he was standing with two of his disciples as Jesus walked by. He said to them, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
Read MoreBlessings Follow the Sacrifice
In 2009 two brothers named Tivles lived side-by-side in a remote village in the South Seas’ island nation of Vanuatu. A pair of missionaries made an exploratory hike out of their normal area and found the two Tivles families.
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