Category: Journal
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A pinch of perspective
Over the last three days at Old Pinery (plus getting ready to go and unpacking after getting home) I have walked tens of thousands of steps without having to try to reach a goal. (13.5k, 22.6k, & 9.7k) Along with that, I thought about how little we were trying to accomplish during those days (it…
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Insights from our patriarch
Insights on section 84 from our patriarch, Brother Brinton. Introduction to Section 84: During the month of September 1832, elders had begun to return from their missions in the eastern states and to make reports of their labors. It was while they were together in this season of joy that the following communication was received.…
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Intention beats precision
I have always sought to be precise when performing priesthood ordinances and I’m sure the Lord appreciates that but what the Lord desires much more than precision is pure intention. The Lord requires the heart and a willing mind. It is those with clean hands and a pure heart who honestly strive to make and…
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An interesting metaphor
In Elder’s Quorum someone described mortality as God’s workshop. If mortality is God’s workshop I think it’s telling that His intended product isn’t something like furniture but rather carpenters. His workshop is a classroom—a teaching workshop.
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Recycled earth
In the temple this morning I realized a possible mechanism for explaining the gap between the scientific age of the earth including discoveries of ancient humanity and the scriptural account of mankind which only stretches back a few thousand years. It is conceivable that God could reuse the same terrestrial sphere for multiple cohorts of…
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Reduced to one word
In the temple this morning I realized that if you wanted to summarize the gospel of Jesus Christ in a single word that word would have to be repentance. The whole summary of the gospel is that Christ made repentance possible for the rest of us. In fact, the mission of Christ summarized in a…
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A sacred visit
Laura and I visited Andy and Marsha at the care center again tonight. The good news is that Andy will be discharged on Saturday. Toward the end of the visit Andy told us that he had gained a greater understanding of the gospel of love and a greater connection to Christ over the course of…
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He is risen!!
That phrase has been going through my mind all day. It is my anthem for Easter. For me, that is the central source of joy in the gospel.
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Agency and consecration
In the temple this morning I caught on to the significance of the words “for your sake” as Heavenly Father placed a curse on the earth so that it would bring forth thorns, thistles, briars, and noxious weeds after Adam and Eve choose to take the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and…
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Easter Joy
Last night Laura and I watched the first part of Season 5 of The Chosen. Asking the first scenes was the triumphal entry into Jerusalem and I really noticed the exuberance of both the apostles and the people as Jesus rode into the city. I thought that was the kind of joy that we should…