Love and Tolerance and Standing for Truth

With recent events in the United States and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding same-sex marriage, I have been having an almost constant debate in my head.   I have read a lot of posts and articles written by people in and out of the Church with varying opinions and I agree …

Mormon Monday: Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

I was asked to speak in Church yesterday on the subject "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice" and I though that others might be interested in my remarks so I am posting them here in preparation for General Conference in two weeks. “Come listen to a prophet’s voice,  And hear the word of God. “ …

Mormon Monday: On Christmas Music – Why I love German hymns

I am often criticized by my friends and family (in a loving way, though) for being a bit of a Scrooge at Christmastime.  Mostly because I do not seem to enjoy Christmas music as well as others.   I have written before about my thoughts on Christmas music, and I am of the same opinion still …

Mormon Monday: What I have learned of God being a father

There is a wonderful little video produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and published on YouTube and other places, titled Earthly Father, Heavenly Father.   It details a day in the life of a father and makes the parallel to our Heavenly Father.  It ends with a quote that I have long …

Mormon Monday: Themes from General Conference October 2014

As I was going back over all of the tweets and retweets I sent during this past General Conference last weekend, I opened up a spreadsheet and started organizing some of them into what I found to be distinctive themes that emerged during the Conference.   If you pay attention, you will always find that there …

Mormon Monday: On Mormonism and Homosexuality

Last Sunday, on assignment from the Stake Presidency, our Bishop held a special meeting with all of the adults in the ward during the third-hour of church services. He had been asked to give a presentation on the doctrines behind the Church’s position on same-sex attraction. It was great lesson, a good discussion where he …

On General Conference

About a week and a half ago I stumbled upon a link to a General Conference address during my scripture study, and noticed again something I had long known about, that the Church has made General Conference address available online going back as far as 1971.   The thought struck me that it would be possible …

Mormon Monday: On Missionary “Work”

I do not like to do missionary work.   There.   I’ve said it.   I know you were all thinking it.   Or, most of you, anyway.   I do not like to do missionary work.  No matter how many times I hear a General Conference talk or Elder’s Quorum lesson, I find myself coming back to the conclusion …

On Why I Am a Mormon, or Why I Stay

“And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things”  1 Nephi 11:17 I feel that I should caveat almost all of my posts with this scripture.   It sums up my positions rather nicely.   I do not know everything, but there are some …

Thoughts from General Conference, April 2014 Edition

We were once again blessed to enjoy a General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   I was able to watch all sessions at home with my family, while simultaneously following #ldsconf on Twitter, joining in the online conversation and participating in a back and forth with friends around the world.   I …