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(This image was created with the assistance of DALL·E 2) Over the past few weeks I’ve been reading the book of 1 Samuel with my 10 year old daughter. We’ve really enjoyed exploring God’s faithfulness in these incredible stories. One of our favorite parts is the story of Hannah. We were both touched and inspired by her…
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(Image created using OpenAI’s DALL-E tool via ChatGPT.) I saw Wicked today and really loved it. For me, Wicked has been more than a musical—it’s been a companion through some of the most formative and challenging moments of my life. So it was so powerful to see a show that I have loved for nearly…
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Reflecting on Brad Wilcox’s Perspective on Grace When I was a Latter-day Saint, Brad Wilcox’s talk on grace profoundly shaped my faith. His analogy, comparing grace to a piano lesson, offered a perspective that resonated deeply with me. David Snell recently interviewed Brad Wilcox on the topic of grace, and even though I am no…
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One of the promises of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that it offers the “restoration of all things.” Latter-day Saints are told that their church brought back ancient lost traditions and covenants that originated at the time of Adam and Eve, but were lost during the Great Apostasy. Joseph Smith and…
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Today I watched a YouTube video by someone who is investigating the LDS Church. He talked about his experience being challenged to abstain from tea and coffee. The missionaries promised him that doing so would help him get an answer as to whether the LDS Church was true or not. Their challenge actually should help…
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Preface I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to engage with my friends who are watching LDS General Conference this weekend. I have seen that people respond very negatively to even gentle criticism of specific talks and I want to let my LDS friends enjoy the weekend without being a source of negativity.…
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One of my favorite things about the Gospel of John is how it depicts the exalted status and nature of Jesus Christ. John 1 famously begins with a verse that unequivocally declares that Jesus was “with God” from the beginning and himself “God. (John 1:1) Jesus is also depicted as the one through whom “all…
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One of the sparks that ignited the Protestant Reformation was the sale of indulgences. These indulgences promised that the living could, by making a financial contribution, contribute to their ancestors escape from purgatory. Martin Luther responded with indignation to Johann Tetzel’s declaration that “As soon as the gold in the casket rings the rescued soul…
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As I reflect on my time in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I often find myself struggling for a proper analogy or framework for talking about my time in the Church. I can’t deny the many positive experiences I had, nor can I deny that there are many significant similarities between my…
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Over the past few years, my worldview and perspective have shifted in so many profound ways. While nothing has impacted me more than the word of God, there have been a lot of really significant books that have shaped my perspective and understanding. These are all books that I highly recommend. I want to write…