Same Beginning and Ending, but a Different Journey
It's Friday—my first Aloha Friday as a former Hawaii resident. I woke up a little chilly in my room in the basement of my parents' house. At 8:00 am, I finally wondered what the temperature was. It was a solid 59 degrees (basically totally freezing to me). Before...
Flower Power
Several years ago, my wife and I were called to serve a Member and Leader Support mission in the Northeast. Once we got settled, we looked forward to our assignment from the mission president. After consideration and prayer, he sent us to a small town quite a few...
Bearing Fruit
All winter I contemplated the tree in my new backyard. The realtor had said it was a fruit tree, but didn’t specify what kind and I hadn’t thought to ask. In the spring, small white blossoms grew on bare branches. Then a late frost killed all the flowers and with...
Change: A Refreshing Perspective
Sometimes we struggle with change, but change is good. Change is refreshing. Change is why we were put here on earth in the first place. Change is what the Atonement of Jesus Christ is all about. Now if you are thinking this doesn’t feel entirely comfortable, I...
Am I Ready to Be Clean?
As I was giving my dog, Casper, a bath, he was sitting on his feet. Actually, everything that he could possibly hide from me was underneath him: feet, legs, tail, stomach, etc. He even had his head tucked in tight. The only thing I could reach without a fight was his...
How To Help An Autistic Child In The Classroom, Part 1
If you have come here seeking to help an autistic child in your class, I commend you. Good teachers will change the world. And I hope the tips I have here will help you. These suggestions are for younger children who aren’t self-aware yet. For anyone reading this and...
Be Still More Often
I used to practice the organ in the Old Rock church in the evening after I got home from work and while Anthony was still finishing up with work. I loved that old church. The layout and finishings were so amazing. I'd walk through the church by street light...
Women in the Kingdom: Doctrine vs Culture
In recent years, I have learned more about women's issues and paid closer attention to both the inequalities between women and men in our society, as well as spaces that have actively elevated women. I am so proud to be a Latter-day Saint woman, especially now. In...
Why I Left the Church — and Why I Came Back Again, Pt II
This is part two of Elisabeth's post "Why I Left the Church — and Why I Came Back Again." To read the first part, click here. In July of 2019, I was officially bored of being angry all of the time. It was so old. I had a whole life to live and I was exhausted...
Connect With the Past to Find Strength for the Present
When we study the lives of our ancestors, we learn lessons for our own lives.
Pondering the Wall Samuel Climbed
My friend Roxy Kimokeo sent me a wonderful gift. In the chaos of moving while still working full time, Roxy sent me her thoughts about Samuel climbing a wall which elevated my thoughts out of the never-ending to-do lists. Back in the pre-COVID days when a...
Agency and God’s Love
One important tenant of faith in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that of agency. We believe that God granted each of us the right to make choices for ourselves. Just as a wise earthly parent allows his children to make certain decisions alone and to...
Special Occasions and Eternal Consequences
At some point in my childhood, my mother decided to use her good silver every day. She loved her silverware and wanted to enjoy it instead of saving it for special occasions. She knew this was risky business with four children, a dishwasher to tarnish, and a garbage...
What I Wish I Could Have Told You- Decoding My Autism.net
As I have mentioned before my brother writes a blog called Decoding my Autism. This week he posted something that spoke to my heart as an autism mom and sister. So with permission I am posting it here. It is an open letter from my younger brother, and what he wishes...
You Can Find Light In Darkness
Scriptural references to Light fascinate me, especially about light in darkness. Light continues to be my most studied topic. Doctrine and Covenants 88 and 93 are especially favorite chapters. These verses from Doctrine and Covenants 88 fill my mind with so many...
Figuring Things Out
I would like to begin by acknowledging that in the last couple of months, I have finally felt like my life is falling into place. That sounds rather dramatic. I don’t mean to say that my life was ever truly “out of sorts," but rather that I never felt like I...
Why I Left The Church of Jesus Christ — and Why I Came Back Again
This post is part one of two (part two is to be aired next week) written by Elisabeth Reilley of backintohisfold.blogspot.com. My name, Elisabeth, is the germanic variation of the Hebrew name, Elisheva (אלישבע). The meaning of my name is translated roughly to...
Is Someone Watching You?
You almost never know if you are being observed or judged by others — if someone is, so to speak, watching you. The following event did happen and proves we all must be on guard about what we do and who we are. While I was growing up in the state of New York,...
Flora Patton Shows Us How to Let Our Lights Shine
I want to tell you about someone I completely love and admire, someone who has taught me more about the innate desire to fit in and include others, have a distinct purpose, and make a difference with her talents than anyone else I have ever known. I want to introduce...
Self-Talk and a Sound Mind
Anyone remember wearing a mood ring? So groovy how it would change colors based on your feelings. As a tween, I had something like a mood ring. It was a sticker you put on your hand to monitor your stress. If you felt calm and relaxed, the color was brown. The more...
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