A Silver Lining
It's been raining here all day. Rain, rain, rain! So much for our plans for the day. Now, we have to postpone them for tomorrow which means tomorrow's agenda has to be pushed off for another day. Ordinarily, postponing tasks for another day isn't such a big deal but...
Lehi and Lessons in Faith
Lehi is the first Book of Mormon hero. Although we don’t currently have his writings, we learn of him through his son Nephi, who wrote the first record of his family and people. From Nephi, we learn that Lehi was a good father, a prophet, and a man of great faith and...
Do You ChaCha?
No, not that Cha-Cha! Information is my business so I’m very wary of information that comes from unverifiable sources. I view it with the kind of suspicion reserved for “Get Rich Quick” and “Lose 30 pounds in 3 weeks” schemes. As an information seeker, I need to know...
Happiness is Having a Plan
Recently I’ve found myself contemplating my future should I outlive my husband. The truth is that he is not well and it is likely that I will survive him. It isn’t a happy truth or a fact I care to look at too closely—nevertheless, it remains. I could choose to ignore...
Helping in the Midst of Such Great Suffering
The world has been overflowing with grief in the past few weeks. It’s made me stop and think about my part in all of this. I don’t live near any of the recent disasters, either inside or outside of the United States, but still my heart weeps right along with these...
Happiness is the Ultimate Treasure
The President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormon Church,) has a wonderful way with words. Long before he became our Prophet and Seer, I enjoyed listening—and learning—from this great man. Twice a year Mormons enjoy a General Conference,...
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
My daughter asked me yesterday, with great concern in her young voice, why bad things had to happen to good people. She was thinking of the people in Burma (Myanmar) and in China with the recent, horrific events they’re experiencing. I thought of what a deep question...
The Book of Mormon and Nation Building
In many ways, the Book of Mormon and the Bible are similar. Both testify of the Savior’s divinity and of our Heavenly Father’s active role in our lives. However, there is one significant difference: the Book of Mormon was written for us. Although it was written in...
Each One Has the Responsibility
I’ve been studying recently in an instructional booklet put out by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon church because of our belief and use of The Book of Mormon). The instructional booklet is called Improving Gospel Teaching....
Home – The Central Place
This title, “Home – The Central Place,” caught my eye. I was reading in an instructional booklet put out by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (casually called the Mormons). The booklet was called “Improving Gospel Teaching: A Leader’s Guide.” Published...
How to Read the Book of Mormon
My father was not a member of the church. I converted as a teenager without my family. One day I found a copy of the Book of Mormon under the driver’s seat of the car while retrieving something he sent me for. It had a bookmark in it, and was clearly well-read. I...
Happiness is Found in Heavenly Father’s Plan For Us
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (or Mormons,) we have additional scripture and revelations that have increased our understanding of the premortal life, our purpose in mortality, and our potential for eternal life. The Prophet Joseph Smith...
Serving Behind the Scenes
As a new convert, you probably won’t receive, just yet, the so-called “important callings.” Most new converts, except in areas where the church is new, aren’t chosen to lead organizations or do the jobs that garner attention and praise. One of the wonderful things...
The Everlasting Priesthood
In 1842, twelve years and five months after The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized, the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored and at that point, every key to the kingdom of God was restored upon the earth. In September 1842, the Prophet...
Happiness is Knowing that Jesus is the Christ
If you search the internet you will find many studies which proclaim that religious people are happier than non-religious people. Faith seems to be the predominant factor in their happiness—faith that things can and will get better, that there is hope, that they are...
Born of Goodly Parents
The Book of Mormon begins with a celebration of good parents. Nephi, who was a teenager when the Book of Mormon begins, but a grown man by the time he began to record his record, wrote, “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” Nephi’s parents were Lehi and...
Choose Not To Take Offense
We had the most wonderful surprise yesterday. Yesterday, a dear man chose to come worship with us. I watched as this brother was embraced and welcomed. One by one, people came over and spoke with him. From where I was sitting, it looked as if expressions of brotherly...
Staying For All Three Hours of Church
The other night I received a visit from my Bishop, from the local Singles ward that I attend, and one of his counselors. They were concerned about my injury and wanted to see how I was holding up. After a nice visit we started discussing the ward, and I asked my...
A Focus on Service
This last Sunday I attended a meeting with my fellow Family Home Evening Committee members. It is our calling to plan and prepare the singles ward family home evenings for those singles that are living away from home. In such cases, the ward becomes the family, and so...
A Musical Testimony Meeting
Years ago I experienced a Sacrament meeting that I will never forget. After partaking of the sacrament, my Bishop arose and addressed us. He had us all open our Hymn books to the First Presidency preface to the hymns, where he read, “Inspirational music is an...