President Russell M. Nelson’s invitations at the Worldwide Relief Society Devotional solidly struck me as I heard him speak them. Make the Scriptures your personal Liahona, the temple your place of refuge and recalibration, and your personal prayers the way you learn where the Lord needs you to be that day. I’ve been pondering and studying a lot about signs of the last days and the reference to the Liahona and temple as a place of refuge and recalibration really... Read more
Terror gripped me as I swayed back and forth in a bucket lift high above the ground. While in a building, the space was expansive, and I felt like I was floating in space. I felt out of control. And that, apparently, is one of my fears. I went up and down in the lift several times. It functioned fine, but I still felt super uneasy because of the motion I felt with the lift’s full extension. The lift exaggerated... Read more
During their declining years, Grandfather Asael and Grandmother Mary lived with their son (our grandfather) Silas in Stockholm, New York. Just before Asael’s death, Joseph Smith, Sr, and his son, Don Carlos, brought Asael and Mary the Book of Mormon and taught them glad tidings of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They both received the tidings gladly, with Grandfather Asael declaring that his prophecy of a descendant who “God was going to raise up … to be... Read more
While celebrating a sealing with my family in Utah last year, I heard stories about my nephews Brady and Bryce, both juniors in high school at the time, and how they chose Christ. They both inspired me, and I’ve thought a lot about how they chose to follow Christ. Brady I heard about Brady’s experience first. Brady picked up an interest in lacrosse as a freshman. He became the JV goalie and was really, really good. The coaches often had... Read more
As I’ve begun reading the Book of Mormon again this year, I decided to pause on verses that I usually gloss over while reading — verses that seem really obvious and plain — to see what new insight I could glean from them. While reading 1 Nephi 10:4, I paused on the phrase raise up. Yea, even six hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem, a prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews—even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior... Read more
It wasn’t until halfway up a 36-foot ladder leaning against nothing but a small ceiling trap door at the top that I realized I had a of fear not having a safety net. I stopped climbing and clung to the ladder that was bouncing after climbing each rung. I felt like I was suspended on a string in space and I froze. I knew that if I climbed up, I would have to climb down. Part of my brain told... Read more
Jennifer Call is a behavioral analyst. I appreciated the thoughts Jennifer shared about making New Year’s resolutions based on gospel principles. From Jennifer Call Are you making New Year’s resolutions? If so you might consider the following thoughts as you decide what you will change in the new year. I love this quote by President Boyd K. Packer. True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study... Read more
Melleny Magill, our ward’s primary president, shared a spiritual thought during our ward council. She ran the St. George Marathon held on October 7, 2023, with 8,000 other folks. Melleny said that somewhere around mile 21 she noticed something in the road up ahead of her. “Is that a body?” she wondered. As she ran closer to the object, she could tell that the blob on the road really was a body! Melleny immediately ran to the woman to see... Read more
I attend a weekly Book of Mormon study group. I was asked to lead the discussion on Mosiah 3 and 4 this week. As I read through the chapters last night, I couldn’t help but notice that President Nelson followed the same pattern in King Benjamin’s experience. At the beginning of his sermon, King Benjamin shared that his divine instruction came during the night. And the things which I shall tell you are made known unto me by an angel from God.... Read more
Imagine sharing holiday cheer worldwide by donating a chicken, school books, or a community well from a vending machine! You can! Giving Machines, our family’s favorite holiday vending machines benefiting local and global charities, are back for their 7th season. Giving Machines Giving Machines make charitable giving accessible and tangible for each member of the family by displaying local and global charity needs, like the ones pictured here: Each item has a dollar amount on its card. You make the... Read more
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