Time and Making Memories
We had the opportunity on Saturday to watch two of our grandchildren for about 12 hours. Our granddaughter is 4 years old, and our grandson is 2 years old. It was time to make some memories. We made rice krispie marshmallow treats with added crushed candy...
Record Your Blessings
Today I got a new church calling (a volunteer opportunity or "job" assigned to members of the congregation). I am now the ward (congregation) choir director. I’m excited about it! Everyone who gets a calling gets set apart, or given a priesthood blessing that gives...
Prince of Peace with Power to Divide
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. One of my favorite thing about reading...
More Holiness Give Me
One of my favorite hymns in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' current hymnal is a song written and composed by Phillip Paul Bliss entitled "More Holiness Give Me." 1. More holiness give me, More strivings within, More patience in suff’ring, More...
My Health Journey: Jeremiah Was a Good Friend of Mine
Read part two here. During my five-day stay in the hospital, I am confident that I met with every single kind of doctor possible. Some of those doctors made a lasting impression. Some I wish I could forget forever and others I will count in my blessings for...
Jesus Christ the Savior, Part 2: Sharing the Gospel
Editor's Note: Like a few other articles in Walter’s “Arise and Be Men” column, this article was written by someone other than Walter—a fellow gospel brother. (Select articles feature different males whom Walter loves and respects.) As with all of Walter’s “guest...
Human Connection
On multiple occasions on my podcast, I believe, and in other conversations, I have mentioned an idea described by Johann Hari in his Ted talk about addiction: the opposite of addiction is not sobriety — it's connection. If you want to hear his explanation of that, you...
Book Review: The Kindness Givers’ Formula
Have you ever wanted to be a kinder person? There are times when I am driving in rush hour traffic, or dealing with a tantrum, and my tension boils over. I get so worked up that it can take hours to calm down. Those are the times that I really want to be a kinder...
The Family
Do you believe in the eternal nature of the family? Because of some life experiences I had, I didn’t really trust in the eternal nature of families until I asked to be taught by the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost confirmed the truth to me, not only did I feel...
Loaves, Fishes, and 5000 Blessings
John 6 opens with the Savior and His disciples on a mountain, a place of sacredness, perhaps for personal meditation or to prepare for the coming Passover. Christ did have trials and sorrows in His mortal life. Though He was always the perfect example of Heavenly...
You Only Teach What You WANT to Learn
Parents may think their job is to raise their children to be productive contributors to society. Truth is, raising children teaches you all the things you refused to learn when you were a child! The gifts your children bring will either make you or break you....
Thanksgiving: Setting My Priorities Straight
To be perfectly honest, when it comes to Thanksgiving, I've always thought more about how much turkey I can reasonably fit on my plate than about all the things I have to be grateful for. Unfortunately, I would venture to guess that such is the case for many of...
Jesus Christ the Savior
Editor’s Note: Like a few other articles in Walter's "Arise and Be Men" column, this article was written by someone other than Walter—a fellow gospel brother. (Select articles feature different males whom Walter loves and respects.) As with all of Walter’s “guest...
Parenting: Doing All That You Can Do, Then Trusting God
I’ve been watching a situation develop in a family that reminds me of my own parenting days. My husband and I were faced with a child who had a serious problem we didn’t know how to handle. We counseled with each other. We did our research. We talked with the...
“He Saw” in Isaiah 1:1 Taught Me Ways to See
I started studying Isaiah again. Even though I know I don't completely (or probably even partially) comprehend Isaiah's message, I love the beauty of his writing and my eyes open to something new when I study his words. The main reason I study Isaiah is because the...
Measuring Motherhood
I remember years ago when my girls were younger... Whether she has two or ten children, a mother’s life is full. I recall a particular day where, when evening came, I was pretty exhausted. I began to write a quick synopsis of the day in my journal, and as I...
“He Suffered Temptations But Gave No Heed Unto Them.”
There is a verse in the Doctrine and Covenants that has always amazed me. We read in D&C 20:22, speaking of Jesus Christ, that “He suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them.” How does one "suffer" temptations? And if there is indeed suffering and temptation,...
My Health Journey, Part 2: Emergency Help
To read part one of Ashley's health journey, click here. The surgery went smoothly, and I felt like I was on top of the world again. I felt happy and strong for the first time in a long time. It was like the sun was shining again in my life. I could eat. I...
The Struggle
I connect with the words of the prophet Joseph Smith. That may not surprise you, but what I am referring to may surprise you. My reference is to his statement about the struggle of feeling alone and abandoned by friends and church leaders that criticized him for...
Redemption After Repentance
All of us have made mistakes at different points in our lives. Some are small and some are huge. Depending on the magnitude of that sin, you may be saying to yourself, “I’m useless. There is no hope for me. I am not loved. God is ashamed of me. My family is ashamed of...