Study Insights

There are so many "gifts" in our lives, how do we determine which ones are from God and which ones are not? Another way to ask this is, how do we judge between what is good and bad? In this confusing time where many say "Lo, here ! or Lo there!" knowing how to recognize and "prize the good" becomes essential. The Savior taught us in the New Testament to "Judge not" but in context of the overwhelming scriptural accounts of the necessity to distinguish between good and evil ever since Eve's wise choice in Eden and the need to choose wisely, we must judge... The Book of Mormon helps clarify when the Savior visited the Nephites in the Book of Mormon, by giving the injunction to judge "righteously". How are we to use this judgement? Do we use it to condemn? Do we use it to criticize others with no hope in our hearts for their improvement or progression? Or do we use it to learn to distinguish what should be prized and what should not? Mo...

"We don't lose who we are, but reveal who we are through the gift of forgiveness"  It is sometimes easy to think that if we forgive someone, we are giving up a piece of our identify a piece of ourselves.  Somehow we justify, things wouldn't be fair, it wouldn't be right, the equation wouldn't be balanced, and justice not satisfied if we were to let this thing or things go. After all the pain and disappointment we felt at the root of it certainly was real, and how can that exist and their not be justice to balance it out?!  It strikes at the root of our very fundamental need for justice, which a need in itself is in fact elemental to who we as people and children of God are. It is also elemental to God, so it should not be a surprise that we as His children feel this need. As I search the scriptures, forgiveness and to forgive are different. To forgive is the act (could happen quickly or slowly) of offering forgiveness to someone or something. Forgiveness and ...

  What do the New Testament scriptures say about being happy? Romans 14 : “Has though faith ? Have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself by what he tries or approves.” ( If we approve things that require us to have faith in God, happy are we. As the next verse says if we try things he has not approved we are not happy- what has he approved? Faith, repentance, love, forgiveness, baptism…. ) 1 Peter 3:14 “But if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye; and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and hope” ( Through suffering happy are ye, IF you sanctify God in your hearts (faith/repentance) and be ready to bear testimony of Him ) 1 Peter 4:12-14 “Beloved ( You ), think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you ( the things that have happened to you...

Hi everyone! I wanted to start recording some of my study thoughts. Obviously, not all of them as some personal study concepts are so personal that it is best not to share them. But, some should be shared and recorded and I hope used by future generations as they like ancient Wayfinders use them to navigate what I am sure will be a continually changing world. But instead of using the stars as fixed points of reference to find their way across the vast and sometimes turbulent ocean, use the eternal truths contained in t he scriptures and in the whispering of the Holy Ghost to navigate their way across what can be a vast and sometimes turbulent life, home to their Heavenly Parents and return with Honor. I'm reminded of a line in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy -  "The Return of the King" . When King Theodan is passing, after years of being caught in a mental stupor of anger and apathy for so long, but returned once again to his full strength to inspire his people to stand nob...