In The Beginning

A couple of weeks ago, as I was pondering the idea of Christ being in the image of His Father (male and female) and pondering a statement made in a class about how women are responsible to bring spirits down from heaven (descension), and men responsible to return them (ascension), I began thinking of alpha > > Read More …

Should We Teach Christ’s Atonement or Christ’s Ascension?

Today during Gospel Essentials, we had a great conversation about the Atonement/Resurrection of Christ, and how that impacts our lives. Naturally, this included a discussion about the first and second death, how we would all be resurrected, and the dual benefits of Christ atonement: freeing us from the chains of justice, and freeing us from > > Read More …

The Power Of Godliness Is Manifest (continued)

As I lay in bed pondering ordinances and yesterday’s clues, I wondered how I might share these things with my LDS brethren. I thought that a “lesson plan” might be constructed this way. Note: this is purely hypothetical. Write two columns on the board, with 10 rows per column with the title “Miracles.” Ask for > > Read More …

The Power Of Godliness Is Manifest

I have heard this quoted so many times. I don’t think I have ever understood it. Using the contrapositive of D&C 84:20-21 we have: if the power of godliness is manifest, then there must have been ordinances and priesthood authority. How does that work? For example, if a young boy exercises faith sufficient to see > > Read More …

Clothing Our Nakedness (1)

While pondering and studying the idea of nakedness as a symbol, and covering ourselves with the atonement of Christ (e.g., Adam and Eve receiving a covering through the sacrifice of an animal), I came across a set of scriptures that include a principle that I have never heard taught that challenges my entire thinking regarding > > Read More …

Upon the Mountain — Introduction Addenda (Part 1 of 4)

Awaking this morning, it was made clear that there were some things of import missing from the prior post. On July 24th and 25th, we received some singular revelations. This was in consequence of offering the prayer on July 23 to ask for a little more time, for which the parallels to the servant pleading > > Read More …

Musings on the Sacrament

Preface Seven weeks ago, Joy and I began writing the following “document.” It was subsequently forwarded to a significant number of associates for review and comment. With one notable exception (thank you LL), we received virtually no feedback. It may be that people are simply too busy. Perhaps it is too long. It may be > > Read More …