Recently, I wondered “Why Do We Think We Have To Go It All Alone?” My friend Roxanne Carlile responded with an interesting comment that flooded my mind with thoughts. Our society is so interesting. The way we think we need to appear as if we have it all together. But also, the way we seem to have no idea how to respond when someone does go out on a limb and bare their soul. We are so uncomfortable with any... Read more
During the April 2018 General Priesthood session of General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson made a statement that I can’t get out of my mind. It perfectly summarizes the desire of my spiritual quest and how I view women’s roles in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “We see faithful women who understand the power inherent in their callings and in their endowment and other temple ordinances. These women know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and... Read more
Sometimes after the ruckus of running a million different directions and not feeling like I really accomplished anything, my soul is tired. Sometimes after hearing of tragic news near and abroad and acknowledging humanity’s pains and sufferings, my soul is tired. Sometimes after hearing of the devastating and often horrific trials people are enduring, my soul is tired. Sometimes after adulting day in and day out, my soul is tired. Sometimes after repeatedly putting off the things I want to... Read more
And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire. One of my seminary students imagined a vengeful Jesus zapping the wicked with unquenchable fire. I love hearing what others imagine or expect the fulfillment of prophecy to be like! It seemed like a great moment to talk about unquenchable fire and how our choices impact our flammability. Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego and the Fiery Furnace... Read more
While studying the Doctrine and Covenants, the amount of times the Lord told the Saints to “Fear not” has really impacted me. This injunction from the God of Daniel in lions’ dens, men in fiery furnaces, Ammon standing alone against warring Lamanites, David facing Goliath. I want this sure firmness in mind and soul. While camped in Winter Quarters, the Lord told Brigham Young and all members of the restored Church Go thy way and do as I have told... Read more
[M]y beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith... Read more
In Seminary this morning, we joyfully “discovered” the location of Zion. (And by “we joyfully,” I mean I exuberantly shared my excitement to my beloved sleep-deprived, some semi-comatose but nonetheless present, teenaged students.) We’ve talked for a month about Zion as a gathering place and why such a gathering place was a needed and a little about how it would function. But today, we finally reached Doctrine and Covenants 57 where the Lord revealed Zion’s location—Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. “which... Read more
One of my greatest desires is to find the parents of John Reed Mitchell, Anthony’s second great-grandfather. John Reed magically shows up in Parker County, Texas, in the late 1800s with land and census records galore. But Anthony’s two genealogically minded family members and I are stumped as to his whereabouts before Texas. Census records and other information consistently say he was born in Alabama, and we have a birth year, but we cannot find him. The Mitchell line formidably... Read more
I’ve been pondering the power of sanctifying sacrifices and why each of us needs them. Of course, the Savior’s atoning sacrifice is the ultimate example. His sanctifying furnace enables all who repent to also be sanctified. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Do our sanctifying sacrifices enable others to be sanctified through the truth, too? Abraham’s Sanctifying Sacrifices Abraham and Isaac’s sacrifice, patterned after the Father’s willing sacrifice of His Only Begotten... Read more
I am fascinated by spiritual gifts and their manifestations. The number and diversity of spiritual gifts are as numberless and diverse as each individual. The Lord promises that His children receive at least one gift, but aren’t limited to that. In fact, He commands us to seek and ask for spiritual gifts so we can know of His abundance, avoid deception and benefit others. But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the... Read more
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