Sacred Change

Last updated on: January 24, 2024 at 3:59 pm By Sharon Black

He sat among the king’s elite “priests”—listening. The king seemed anxious at the prisoner’s prediction of destruction and bondage, but the other priests demanded death. The prisoner was clearly a prophet: his face shone, and none could touch him until his message was finished. That message condemned the state of the kingdom—the king’s brutal and despicable wickedness, the people’s suffering, and the priests’ indulgent, sinful lives—along with explanation of commandments and powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. Despite its threat to... Read more

Vineyard Blessings: God’s Perfect Equity

Last updated on: January 17, 2024 at 4:34 pm By Brad Wilcox

Having spent all his days laboring for the Lord, Peter wondered about ultimate rewards the apostles would receive. As vineyards were often backgrounds in Christ’s lessons, he might have wondered what kinds of vineyard blessings might be given. The Savior responded with a striking inclusive assurance of vineyard blessings for all who serve there. As we know, the owner of the vineyard went early to the marketplace to employ laborers for the day; each was to receive a penny—enough to... Read more

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have A Dream’

Last updated on: January 15, 2024 at 3:30 am By Devan Jensen

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream of equity and freedom for the United States. This blog includes suggestions for sources to learn more about racism and discover ways to heal its wounds. Read more

Moving Forward: Trust, Obedience, Love

Last updated on: January 3, 2024 at 5:01 pm By Abe Mills

As each new year begins, we seek goals for improving our lives, which should include inventory of things we have come to understand with more depth during the past year. Among many, I find myself reflecting on trust, obedience, and love—goals that relate to and depend on each other as we are moving forward to improve quality and usefulness of our lives. Trusting with Obedience My children are involved in sports, but behavioral cause and effect is the same for... Read more

To Find Peace: A Christmas Quest

Last updated on: December 27, 2023 at 1:46 pm By Ganel-Lyn Condie

At this time of year we talk of peace and sing of peace. Yet the news headlines seem to shout a different message. One of war, fear, and darkness. As we drive through neighborhoods, homes are decorated with lights that pierce the dark. Their message of Christmas is connecting with the true source of light and peace: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”... Read more

Christmas Presence: Including Christ

Last updated on: December 20, 2023 at 3:27 pm By Lisa Laycock

Recently we joined one of our granddaughters, who was lying on her back with her head under the branches of our family Christmas tree. She had removed the Christmas presents that were under the tree to make room for us to join her. Her soft voice invited us, “Come and see what I found under your Christmas tree.” Lying on our backs as she was, in the glow of evergreen and light, we saw that she was reaching her hand... Read more

Pure Light

Last updated on: December 13, 2023 at 2:33 pm By Sharon Black

Silent Night! Holy Night! Son of God, love’s pure light The final verse of this world-loved Christmas hymn tells of a sublime gift. On that holy night, our Savior, Jesus Christ, brought His own and His Father’s pure light into a troubled, chaotic world. He is its light and its life—its only hope. On this night, love was celebrated by light in heaven and on earth. A new star lit the heavens—seen by wise men continents away—who had been watching... Read more

A Sacred Call

Last updated on: December 6, 2023 at 8:00 pm By Brad Wilcox

She didn’t expect to be changing eternity. Like many Jewish girls, at age 14 she was promised for marriage,1 not expecting to leave the small village where she was born. But her life and her destiny changed immediately as the Angel Gabriel stood before her and greeted her: “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” Though slightly puzzled by the greeting, neither then nor afterward would she ever question or doubt... Read more

The Precious Present

Last updated on: November 29, 2023 at 8:27 pm By Devan Jensen

An old man in the neighborhood was peaceful. Neighbors wondered what his secret was. He was not healthy or wealthy. Having no family nearby, he spent much of his day alone. But he expressed genuine interest in all around him, and he seemed to relish each new day. When a young boy asked him why he was so happy, the man replied that it was because he had the precious present. The boy wondered what the present could be. Could... Read more

Spirit of Gratitude

Last updated on: November 22, 2023 at 2:50 pm By Abe Mills

“Count your many blessings; name them one by one, /And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” This well known hymn may have been the first “adult” hymn many sang as children. It’s catchy tune and phrases give us something positive to carry in our minds. However, I recommend a mindset that takes out “one by one”—which slows us up. I prefer the approach taught by Amulek and handed down through the ages: “Live in thanksgiving daily” (Alma... Read more