In these chapters Jesus discusses the name of his church and defines what the gospel is. These simple truths lead to the 28th chapter where Mormon informs his readers that 3 of the Nephite 12 experienced a “transfiguration” (3 Nephi 28.17), something we call translation today. The coming forth ofContinue Reading

Romans 12 can be outlined as follows: A. Romans 12:1-2 The mortal struggle – bringing our bodies in subjection to the Spirit B. Romans 12:-21 The body of Christ (the Church) and spiritual gifts 1. Romans 12:3-5 Two important attitudes 1a. Romans 12:3 Your gift doesn’t make you more orContinue Reading

Ephesians 1 is all about who we were in the Pre-earth Council and who God the Father is in relation to us… this is set in the context of First Temple Israelite religion and in the modern Holy Temple I discuss many of these ideas with my colleague Bryce DunfordContinue Reading

Make Your Calling and Election Sure Elder Bruce R. McConkie Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, volume 3:323-355 Among those who have received the gospel, and who are seeking diligently to live its laws and gain eternal life, there is an instinctive and determined desire to make their calling and election sure.Continue Reading

The Hymn of the Pearl and the Cosmic Myth The Cosmic Myth is a story that teaches of eternal truths even though it may or may not be totally historically accurate.[1]Michael Fishbane, Biblical Myth and Rabbinic Mythmaking, Oxford University Press, 2003, p. 11. Fishbane stated, “we shall understand the word ‘Myth’Continue Reading

And a commandment I give unto you that you shall write for him, and the scriptures shall be given, even as they are in my own bosom… for they will hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall not be asleep, and shall abide the day of my coming,Continue Reading

The Rifle Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities.  But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in lifeContinue Reading

The Missing Jesus “If You’re Missing Baby Jesus” by Jean Gietzen. About a week before Christmas the family bought a new nativity scene. When they unpacked it they found 2 figures of the Baby Jesus. “Someone must have packed this wrong,” the mother said, counting out the figures. “We haveContinue Reading

The Big Wheel Author Unknown In September 1960, I woke up one morning with six hungry babies and just 75 cents in my pocket. Their father was gone. The boys ranged from three months to seven years; their sister was two. Their Dad had never been much more than aContinue Reading

The Old Fisherman Our house was directly across the street from the entrance of a popular hospital in the city. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic. One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door. I openedContinue Reading