Letter to the Class

image Redemption is a experience that changes all who see it. For some it's a process like a slow baked potato. Others it's like a Polaroid and in a flash of light the change occurs. I know for me, redemption has been slow. Decades have passed to realize how important Jesus is for me and weirdly (at least to me) that my imperfect mortality is needed for him. It seems at times, that there are people only we can touch in the way we weirdly know how and we speak the language that changes and touches the hearts of others. Let me give some examples... When I was on my mission in California, while serving it last area, we came across a Satanist. He wanted to speak about repentance and in a matter of minutes he was weeping. He wanted to repent of his dark ways. My companion, understanding his lingo, turned to me and said something like, I am about to say some things, forgive my speech. The next five minutes he said so much fowl language, I was shocked on the inside but cal

image Brothers and Sisters,  In 2011 Elder Dallan H Oaks said, "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming." Towards the last few days of his life Nephi wanted his people and by association us to make it to God and have no excuse on his part for not being there. We should be doing the same. Insuring that we squeeze every last ounce of good we can share as the Savior did in his most pressing moments. The last three chapters emphasize purity by water and fire. The same can be said about a potato that is going to be eaten. A potato needs washing before the fire that truly prepared it for consumption. So are we. Baptism by both water and fire completes the task. The power and keys of the priesthood complete a process much Luke and oven. We alone cannot provide the heat that purifies and efficiently prepares us for our eventual meeting wit

Image My wife pointed out today that the poetry style of writing of the book, Tess of the Derberville, is difficult to understand. Isaiah at times is no different.  At times I struggle to understand the Book of Mormon, Isaiah chapters. What I have learned though this week is a true jem.  2 Nephi 26:23–28, 33 Jesus Christ wants everyone to come unto Him.  Through our the course of my life I have come to realize through the scriptures that Jesus needed to do what he has done. While most of us want to do the will of the Father,  Jesus is unique in that he needed to do the will, not only because of the Father but because of you and I. I don't know how it is done but he knows us, you and I, we are important to him. Through our obedience we become the children to the Savior.  When we are running like one of the three pigs to others for strength, let's the weaker in to build them up as the Savior does to us. 2 Nephi 28:2; 29:7–11; 30:3–6 The Book of Mormon is a blessing. 

image I admit that Isaiah is at times difficult and almost impossible to children. Babylon, Assyria and Persia are places that even we adults cannot grasp the idea of warring nations neighboring us. That said let's pan to our homes and hearts by using a parable of the three pigs.  In three pigs let's assume all three are saints and their homes are their testimonies. All are built on the rock and when the rain and mild weather of life comes, their homes  stand. Now comes the wicked one, the wolf. The wild first requests enterence much like the Assyrians. He asks to enter through the radio, tv, cell phone and dark influences. In this approach he doesn't have to destroy the testimony or temple home. He walks in because he is invited and it doesn't matter the strength of the home or testimony, be it celestial, terrestrial or telestial. And all of this because he promised not to destroy our homes. My advice, don't. Be mindful of this approach.  Now if we push

Image Brothers and sisters, I learned a few things this week reading and studying Isaiah. I'll going to bring up a few scriptures. Now I am not a prophet and these thoughts are that if a father and husband. Carnal minded vs. Spiritual minded. The scriptures say in Romans, 8:6-8 "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." Isaiah, Paul, Nephi and Jacob saw our day as did all the prophets. we should daily be engaged in prayer, studying the scriptures and walking upright before God and man. We should daily repent and really strive to be the best we can be. We are children of a Father in Heaven and he loves us. We should strive to return that love through charity and faith. Will we be naked or clothed before God (2 Nephi 9:13)? In other podcasts I have learned h