Summer 1838, Orson returned from serving as a missionary in England to Far West, Missouri just as trouble began. Orson was very ill and exhausted. Unable to get out, friends called on him and filled his ears with news of the escalating conflict between the Latter-day Saints and angry locals.Continue Reading

In 1871, in the tiny Mormon farming settlement in Spring Valley, White Pine, Nevada (about 60 miles from Ely), Latter-day Saint Newman Hall found himself entirely out of flour and unable to feed his family. He asked some of his neighbors for help, but no one had a surplus. FinallyContinue Reading

Within two months of his baptism on August 20, 1831, William E. McLellin, a former schoolteacher, became deeply involved in the restoration story. Following his conversion, McLellin was ordained an elder and preached the gospel with Hyrum Smith for a few weeks before traveling to Orange, Ohio, in late OctoberContinue Reading

Lydia Goldthwaite was born on June 9, 1812, in Sutton, Massachusetts. Lydia was the third of twelve children born to the Goldthwaites during their time in Massachusetts and later New York. In the fall of 1828 Lydia married Calvin Bailey, with whom she would have two children, Roseanna, and Edwin.Continue Reading

Often young people ask questions like, “My parents are divorced. Who am I sealed to?” While these questions may vary in a myriad of ways, they essentially come to the very heart of the sealing ordinance, to the very center of the truth that marriage covenants are sacred before GodContinue Reading

As we have read the beginning chapters of the New Testament, I am inspired by the attitude that Mary exhibited when she is told that she is to be the mother of the Son of God.  We can only imagine the way that others would have judged her, being inContinue Reading

Have you ever been betrayed by close friends?  Has anyone ever spread lies about you and hurt your reputation?  If you answer yes, then you have a friend in the prophet Jeremiah. “The days of Jeremiah were among the most difficult and momentous in all Jewish history.  How stirring theContinue Reading

There is an increasing sentiment among some seminary students that the world is overpopulated, running out of resources and that the future looks bleak.  Many students have expressed to me thoughts such as, “What’s the use?  The world is going to end anyways.  Why get married and have children?  WillContinue Reading

I used the following story in conjunction with several important passages in the later chapters of Isaiah.  I will be posting how the chapters are connected to this amazing experience in future posts.  This story is a stunning illustration of the importance of staying engaged in the present.  We neverContinue Reading

This contains links to a few books that have helped me understand the context and content of the scriptures. As an Amazon Affiliate, I do earn a small commission from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you). Click here to see all of my favorite books on Amazon. Imagine that youContinue Reading