During whale season, I perch on a vantage point and scan the horizon. I wait and watch, fully anticipating a reward for my efforts—a burst of air and water from a spout, a pectoral slap, and the ultimate reward, a breach. Humpbacks migrate to the islands every winter to give birth and breed again before the trek back to Alaska. They frolic off shore. Last year, my cousin Valerie and I climbed a path, sat on the side of the... Read more
I’d just slid back under my covers to read after a morning chat with Anthony and our dog when an an alert hit my phone. Extreme alert BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. At the same moment, Anthony’s voice boomed from the living room, “Delisa!!” We met in the hallway, both staring at our phones. We don’t have “normal” TV, so Anthony ran to the garage to listen to the car radio. Three stations... Read more
I planned everything around something I believed to be true. I posted a link to information of our beloved President Thomas S. Monson’s funeral on our ward Facebook page. In my mind, the funeral was Friday (so this Friday) at 10:00 AM MST, so 7:00 AM HST. I planned my entire day around this timeframe so that I could participate with the prophet’s funeral. I got home from grabbing some groceries at 6:57AM. I asked my husband to cue up the... Read more
As our family sat reading about biblical inheritances, I smugly responded, “Yay, the firstborn gets double.” The second oldest, firstborn son even more smugly responded, “The oldest son gets double.” Except for very, very few instances, I knew he was right. (Don’t tell him I said that.) I think I retorted with some comment about him having to take care of dad when dad was old then. Dad redirected and retrieved family scripture study. To say I took an interest... Read more
What started as a curiosity to identify angelic ministrations in the Old Testament became a full-blown search to identify scriptural stories of angel sightings. The scriptures below record angels’ participation throughout the New Testament. Zacharias And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer... Read more
The Christmas story celebrates hosts of angels singing “Glory to the Highest!” I wondered how many times angels interacted with mankind during Old Testament times. Here’s a list of angelic ministrations I found during the Old Testament timeframe. Adam And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of... Read more
This year has been a profound season of growth for me. After a miscarriage in March, I spoke publically about the experience and my sorrow. I’d written of our struggles before, but really felt terrified to talk openly about my pain. But actually saying the words to an audience led me to deep healing. Since then I haven’t encountered the same triggers when people ask if we have children and why not. I found peace. In some sense, I thought... Read more
Especially during the Christmas season, each character in Luke’s record comes to life for me. I crave details and long to ask them about their experiences. So I search and search for tidbits that can enhance the story I’ve embraced in the New Testament. Elisabeth descended through Aaron’s priestly lineage. I love the description of Elisabeth and her husband Zacharias. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they... Read more
Abraham’s great grandfathers went less active. I’ve been studying Abraham, related to several questions I have, and kept coming back to the verse that says, “My fathers, having turned from their righteousness, and from the holy commandments which the Lord their God had given unto them, unto the worshiping of the gods of the heathen, utterly refused to hearken to my voice.” I wanted to know more. Abraham descended through the patriarchal line from Adam to Noah and through Shem >... Read more
I became a huge fan of a man I’d never met before. He came into our lives as a counselor in the Lubbock Temple presidency. He exuded Christlike love. I enjoyed being around him. But even more than that, I loved his mind. One Sunday, our bishopric asked him to come talk to us during Sunday School. It seemed like the topic was whatever he wanted to cover. He covered a wide basis of teaching from Joseph Smith and the... Read more
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