These are some of the various adventures of my life.
Is Being a Disciple of Jesus Hard?
“I grieve for those who leave the Church because they feel membership requires too much of them. They have not yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants…and keeps them—has increased access to the power...
Refined by Affliction
Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is Hard Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not easy. There are many promises that we will be blessed if we keep the commandments. We...
A Covenant of Peace
”and after they had entered into a covenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.” Alma 44:20 It always amazes me as I read through the Book of Mormon to see how stout the people were with their covenants between each other. When a...
The Grace of Christ Works In The Darkest Places
I will open rivers in high places and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. – Isaiah 41:18 The Prophet Isaiah often gives us these beautiful images as he strives to portray prophetic...
Redefine Winning
The other day, I happened upon a comment on LinkedIn that caused me to really think. The post was about a small local dessert shop that had a line out the door and was therefore winning. The comment contended that they could not be winning because they had a...
Facing Our Trials
Sometimes it is hard for me to talk about trials for a few reasons. My trials are never as hard as someone else's, I am very blessed, and I am somehow fearful that if I talk about trials then the Lord will see fit that it is time to face some. This is not to say that...
A Prince of Peace
When we celebrate the Christmas season we tend to recite various names of our Savior. As Handel made the words of Isaiah famous, the term Prince of Peace has, justifiably, become synonymous with Jesus Christ. However, he is not the only Prince of Peace that we learn...
A Quick 2021 Family Recap
What a year it has been! We are excited to share with each of you some of what has transpired for us throughout 2021. We understand that it has been challenging for so many. We are grateful for the blessings we have received and are thankful that we can share that...
A Return to Forest Bathing
“Wilderness is not a luxury but necessity of the human spirit.” –Edward Abbey Two of the past three days have been significant strides for me; I have been outside on thirty-minute walks. A few months ago, we moved to a new home that is a stone's throw from the lake...
Overcoming the Virus of Dualism
One of the gravest affects of our time, and of history, is the effort to reduce another person, or class of people, to something other than human. It is this effort to dehumanize that has been the purpose behind so much of the troubles of society. It destroys...
An Alaskan Family Adventure
We just got back from our Alaskan family adventure out of Anchorage. This trip was so much fun. There is a lot to say about Alaska but we loved it. We loved the wild places, the mountainous terrain, the glaciers, the wildlife, the rivers, the people, and the vastness...
Denali National Park
We spent a wonderful 3 days in Denali National Park. We got to see the mountain and lots of wild animals and spaces. Here are some of the amazing things that we saw. [gallery type="rectangular" link="none" columns="4" size="medium"...
Late Winter Fly Fishing
I have some great friends. I am lucky to have been able to make good friends over the years and be able to stay in touch with them. My friend Brian is one such individual. We have done some amazing things together over the years. One of our favorite things to do...
By Way of Exhortation
As Moroni finished up the compilation that we now know as the Book of Mormon, he sealed it up with a promise. Amidst the promise of being perfected in Christ are a few things that he left behind as challenges to each of us. Moroni understood that it is not enough to...
The Power of Our Democracy
These past couple of months have been trying for me emotionally. I have never been that passionate over political things. I certainly had my views and deep opinions. Many of which, in political relation, were very much opposed to what I believe now. My faith in Christ...
My Favorite Christmas Story
For many of us, we may recall Christmas Eve gathered with our family and reading over the words in the Biblical account of the Savior’s birth as recorded in the second chapter of Luke. This was my childhood. I love the story of the babe in Bethlehem wrapped in...
Maintaining Hope
And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the...
As We Age
Age is an interesting thing. We hit these milestones based on a crafted calendar that is based on the lunar and solar processes. As the sun makes its full progression from our birth we count that as another year older. With age we are told that more wisdom comes. I am...