I was 22 years old and inhaling everything I could about the physical and symbolic nature of temples when I checked out a gigantic book called The Hindu Temple from the BYU library. The nondescript book had no dust jacket or cover art. I had no experience with Hindu temples so knew I could learn a lot. I learned about dimensions and shapes and geometric patterns important to a Hindu temple that translated to temples I felt familiar with more... Read more
COVID-19 canceled church youth camps in 2020. As things opened up in 2021, our bishop wanted to plan a memorable camp for our congregation’s kids aged 12-18; so a youth camp was planned to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio one day and tubing down a river one day. I attended as one of five adult leaders. I’d never been to Six Flags, or any large theme park for that matter, and was excited to try some of the... Read more
I’m a visual learner. So visual parables are especially helpful to teach and remind me things I should know and do. For one of our activities during Youth Camp for the teenagers in our church congregation, we decided to tube down a portion of the South Llano River. The state park had tubes to rent and a space enough for our group to have a shady picnic area near the river entrance. A couple of the adults in our group... Read more
Rototill the Soil Soul, by Kurt Johnson My wife, Desiree, enjoys gardening. So, we dedicated a large, sunny plot of ground in our backyard for her beautiful garden. My contribution is not much. I just rototill the soil. Years ago, I inherited an old rear-tine tiller that was once my grandpa’s. It is a big, powerful piece of equipment that can really turn dirt. But that first year we attempted to till and plant a garden it was hard-literally! The... Read more
I stood at the door experiencing the cacophony that characterizes the sum total of my parents’ family. Voices in varying levels of expression crossed the yard, shrieks of laughter rose from the pool. “Who are these children’s parents?” I laughingly shouted. It’s a phrase I use often to remind myself that I am not. I sat down near my sister, juggling writhing twenty-five-month-old limbs and attempting the containment of her disgruntled fourteen-month-old. I didn’t take one of the girls from... Read more
What does the term “Mother in Zion” mean to you? How do you see that term being applied to women? Curious how others would respond, I posed that question to women from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Following are their responses, in alphabetical order. I loved their diversity of expression and application and also how all the comments tied together. Mother in Zion — What Does It Mean and How Is It Applied? Beverly: I do love the story... Read more
But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; (Doctrine and Covenants 38:7.) How would it be to find the Messiah you worship and adore suddenly in your presence? How would it be to have Jesus approach your fishing boat and call you to follow Him? Or to have Him open the scriptures to your mind as you walked along a road? Or to have Him visit you in your home... Read more
The night I heard about the Salt Lake Temple’s frescoes being removed during the temple’s renovation I laid awake carefully reviewing each fresco in my mind. I’ve spent hours studying them during endowment sessions or while working in the temple. My most memorable interaction with the frescoes happened during a session. Anthony and I had just decided to move back to Hawaii from Salt Lake City. He felt so giddy about the decision. And while I felt happy to return... Read more
How does the Aaronic Priesthood apply to you? Finding out if, and how, the Aaronic Priesthood applied to me was an awesome road of discovery. One of my favorite passages of scripture is Oliver Cowdery’s footnote at the end of Joseph Smith-History. Oliver’s words, full of imagery, transport my mind to Harmony, Pennsylvania, and the banks of the Susquehanna River. “These were days never to be forgotten—to sit under the sound of a voice dictated by the inspiration of heaven,... Read more
Have you wondered about the ins and outs of Online and Home-based MTC (Missionary Training Center)? We come from a long line of missionaries in our family, but my nephew, Elder Austin Bushman, is the first to experience a home-based MTC. Elder Bushman received a call to serve in Spain and to begin his mission experience at a home-based MTC. He has since been reassigned to serve in the Dallas area until/if/when he can travel to Spain as a missionary.... Read more
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