Isaiah 51:3, 1471 S Geneva Rd, Orem, UT (2026)

06/18/2024

Part of a major road was blocked off today, and everyone had to take a detour through a neighborhood.

The detour includes passing by the House of the Lord.

I try not to believe in coincidences.

One of my new favorite verses is Luke 15:28
And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.

The prodigal's brother is upset, and for a valid reason.

And chooses to stay bitter and stay out.

Out of the joy and rejoicing.

But it's not in the Father's character to leave us out there.

Even if we don't choose to come to Him, He will pursue us. He is in "relentless pursuit" of us.

He comes out to the son and talks with him.

And lovingly invites and brings him in to His House.

So He will do with us.

Even if we feel so alone, forgotten, and afraid.

We live in the time when He is bringing His House closer and closer.

And He is providing more ways to bring us closer and closer to Him.

Be willing to take the detours He gives you.

05/16/2021

It can be tempting to say I was robbed of a good senior year. COVID-19 dominated every aspect, taking away so many opportunities and experiences. Always getting in the way, always making the future unclear and uncertain.
But as I've been thinking about it, I'm not sure I would want this year any other way.
All the good times outweigh the bad.
I've had so much fun this year with what I have been able to do.
I've been stretched and pulled in new, uncomfortable directions, all for my benefit.
I have grown in new and incredible ways this year, and I now feel like I'm the person I've wanted to be for years.
This year is hard to say goodbye to. It has been the best year of high school — I'd even say the best year of my life. It's been so good; COVID or not, I don't want it to end.

1 Nephi 17 starts with Nephi describing 8 years of tribulation as their family wandered in the wilderness. Leaving their home, afflictions, pregnancies, raw meat, and unknown at the seashore to scratch the surface. Later in the chapter, Laman and Lemuel talk about the same trials.
The difference between the two accounts is perspective and focus. Nephi felt joy and gratitude; his brothers were miserable and angry.
The difference came because Nephi looked for the Lord, his soul waited on Him, and in His word was Nephi's trust. He let God prevail. He saw the Lord fulfilling His promises, being their Light and Guide (1 Nephi 17:13).
His brothers did not choose God or eternal perspective. They saw only the pain at their lot and what they lost, completely devaluing their reward. They complained about their wives' affliction, forgetting the joy of children. They pined at the loss of home, ignoring salvation from destruction.
Of course, looking back, I care about what I've lost. We all have things and people we've lost this year. It's not always remotely easy to move on, but God promises deliverance, joy, and peace. The road is narrow and rocky, but the end reward is glorious. His hand is present, lighting stones as we go. Even if we don't feel joy in the journey always, we can find joy in the growth. God is always moving us from good to better to promised land.

04/04/2021

Something posted just now helped me think of this:
The empty tomb wasn't a sign that hope is gone.
It means hopelessness is gone.

Not a sign that evil had won.
But that God had again prevailed.

The empty tomb did not signify Mary would never see Jesus again.
It meant He was right behind her.

Death had not conquered,
but been conquered.

Because the tomb was empty, we need never be.
Because it looked lonely, we will never be alone.

If Jesus took the time to carefully lay aside the cloth and napkin, how much more care and time and attention will He give us, His siblings, His children, for whom He suffered all.

04/03/2021

Satan does his worst when the best is yet to come.
My seminary teacher recently told of an experience from his mission when they were helping a young man to be baptized and the whole family be ready and worthy.
As the last week before the baptism began, he warned the family that Satan would work really hard the last week to screw it up.
And sure enough, the last day of the week things fell apart.
But through the help of the Spirit, the baptism could still take place the next day.

As you continue doing good, continue in Christ, your life will be far from easy. And especially as the very best gets closer, Satan will work ever harder.
He will throw in distractions, discouragement, temptation, deception, empty promises, justification. He wants to turn your focus from Christ. He wants you to feel like a failure. Like you messed up, it's over, you can't enjoy what's about to come, and you can't fix it. Beyond help. Beyond love. Diminished worth. Doubt, fear, anger, confusion.
Joseph Smith wanted to learn the truth. But it was so hard and confusing. Yet he finally found the path. But Satan threw his worst yet right when he prayed in the grove. He could have given up then. But because he didn't, the Restoration began.

Maybe this week has been hard. Maybe you've felt the hopelessness, the distraction, feeling like you've slipped and can't get back up. I have at some points.
But the best is yet to come.
General Conference and Easter.
A weekend full of Spirit and truth and love.
One of the very best things.
Something Satan doesn't want you to enjoy, to learn from, to change from.
It won't get easier.
The harder you try to follow Christ, the harder it will get.
That means you're doing it right.
That means the best is just around the corner.

03/29/2021

He will be with us always.
Our walls are continually before Him.

My study of promises to covenant Israel has been extremely sparse and inconsistent.
But today I decided that would change.

And as I was reading in Moses 1, this promise boldly presented itself.
v 26: "And lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."
He will be with us always.

I decided to study this particular promise.
I searched for other instances of this promise in the scriptures.
Thus far, I have Isaiah 41:10, D&C 6:32; 29:5; 84:88; 88:63, with surely many more to come. I'm committing this week to this promise.

Another passage that the Spirit brought to my mind is Isaiah 49:15-16, and it has become my favorite to ponder.
"Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."

He will not, cannot forget us, due to His nature as Father, Brother, and Friend, and even more as Savior and Redeemer. Our sufferings are forever imprinted in His hands. He not only knows our pain. He's here with us.
Our walls are before Him. Whatever walls we face — insecurity, fears, pain, sin, struggles, sickness, temptation, trials....everything that holds you back, makes you feel trapped, boxes you in, keeps you from your potential, keeps you from full joy, love, peace, light, glory, Jesus — He faces it with you.
He's always with you.
Together you can overcome.

Blessed Palm Sunday!

03/01/2021

In seminary the other day we talked about fears. My teacher had us consider a time when we had faced our fears.

I considered one of my biggest fears being alone.

I really really don't like the feeling or thought of being the only person in a space, or of not knowing anyone around me.
Having no support,
no connection,
no help,
no love,
Alone.

The experience that came to my mind was from a couple years ago.
On a young men's trip we went mountain biking. I ended up getting separated from the group because I took a wrong path.
And I was alone for 17 hours.

This was the best example of when I had to face my fear.
When I felt the most alone, most lost, most disconnected and unsupported.

But then I remembered.

I was never alone.

Not for one moment on that trail.

I remembered the only reason I was able to get through that experience:

God was there too.

I was praying virtually nonstop that afternoon, night, and morning.
And God responded, giving strength, peace, resolve, and direction.

I did not enjoy the experience. But I was not panicked. I knew I was okay because I knew He saw me.

I made this as I looked back, and I reached this conclusion:

The most alone you will ever be is with Christ by your side and God watching over you.

He will never leave you comfortless.

No matter what you face, He's been there, and He's there with you.

02/14/2021

I found out yesterday that I didn't get into the college I wanted.

But I'm really at peace with that.

Honestly, I knew for a while it was coming. I've been stubbornly resisting, but God has been trying to tell me that this other college would be better.

He hasn't said why, not that I've noticed. But that's okay.

I'm convinced that though I didn't get what I wanted, I'm getting what I need.

From a song by The Rolling Stones (super spiritual, I know):

You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find
You get what you need

There's so much we all want in this life.

But ultimately, we're not in charge.

The question is whether we accept the will of Him who is in charge.

Our life is going to be uncomfortable and disappointing. There will be missed opportunities. Letting God lead will take us places we don't expect, places we don't really want. It won't be fun all the time.

But it will be good. Because He is good, and so is everything He creates.

Everything is in His hands.

Where I am and where I'm going from here on out is where He needs me.

And I'm excited to find out why.

02/08/2021

1 Nephi 1:14
"...Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!"
•
God is greater than all, higher than all, marvelous and powerful and good above all. He knows more and is more than we can ever attain or understand in this life.

And He knows YOU
loves YOU
makes time for YOU
is with YOU.

One of His names is Emmanuel.
God with us.

He is great and marvelous.
And He is among all the inhabitants of the earth.
Each inhabitant.

He is elevated beyond comprehension.
But He is not distant.
He holds the power that created and organized every particle of the universe.
And He wields that power for YOUR good in YOUR life.

And He has time and intense love and mercy for every soul that comes to Him.
He will not let His children be lost.

He is here.
He is waiting.
He is always ready to use His power
to still the storms of life
to carry you through the ocean to the promised land
to deliver you from your bo***ge
to topple your prisons
to save you from lions
to be with you in the fire
He is here.

01/22/2021

I thought this line from the Book of Mormon title page was significant. The record of sacred writings was written and sealed by Mormon and Moroni, and then given up to the Lord. Imperfect people, and then God kept it and used it.
I think of a child's drawing that a father proudly displays on a fridge. Something imperfect—maybe even unrecognizable—that the child pours their soul into making as perfect as they can, and the father treasures it. Not because of the art itself, but because he loves the child and the effort.
Moroni acknowledges a few times that the record is flawed and imperfect. But God reminds him that His grace is sufficient. Moroni offered up his imperfect efforts, and God accepted it, treasured it, and uses it to bring about His marvelous work.
He will do the same with us. What matters is not how the finished product looks, but where our heart is. If we have a desire to serve we are called. He accepts our efforts, our desire to become like Him and do His work, and His grace helps us get there.

01/17/2021

Joseph had a lot of doubts leading up to Moroni's visits. He started to understand his calling and purpose and role in God's plan, but he was still a boy, and as such he did things that made him question his worthiness. As he describes it in JS-H 1:28, I don't think he really had much to worry about, but it worried him. Especially because the heavens seemed silent, he worried about his standing.
Then when Moroni came, he called Joseph by name, and said he was sent from God and that He had a work for Joseph. He didn't mention any of what weighed Joseph down. Just showed him God's trust in him and how He saw him.
Often we can be our own worst enemy. I know personally I beat myself up a lot and don't give myself enough credit. I feel so weighed down and inadequate and like I'm falling short. Last night I was thinking about it, and I had a thought to ask God how He sees me and felt about me. Peace and love flooded into me, and He pointed out all the things I'm doing right. I felt much more confidence, comfort with myself, and purpose. This morning it continued as I found out from someone else more ways that me doing what I'm doing is exactly what is needed, even answers to prayers.
Satan hit Joseph hardest when he was doing exactly what God wanted him to do. Maybe our darkest, most doubting times are the times we're doing some of the best things.

01/17/2021

Bet you never expected Backstreet Boys lyrics on this page.
"I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
As long as you love me."
How perfectly befitting of a boy band.
I've been thinking about this song lately, and I can't help but hear Christ saying some of the words. With some small changes:
"Don't care what is written in your history
As long as you're here with me
I don't care who you are
Where you're from
What you did
I will always love you."
And how true that is. His love is unconditional. No matter where you come from and what you have done, what you look like, you can come to Him and find peace, belonging, and grace.

01/14/2021

Life was not going well for Joseph and Emma from the beginning. They were "very poor, and the persecution [was] so heavy upon [them] that there was no probability that [they] would ever be otherwise" (JS-H 1:61). They were mocked and ridiculed, afraid and unsafe, and in need of money to travel to Pennsylvania.
Then they found a friend. Martin Harris came to then right in their hour of need, no doubt in answer to much prayer. He was able to provide financial aid and offer friendship, which would have meant a lot when their circles of true friends and believers were dwindling.
The Lord will do the same for you in your life. Your darkest moments are where He wants to help you most. He will send help, angels on both sides of the veil, a friend, a thought, a feeling, a hand on your shoulder, a hug, a song...the Spirit works in many ways, and they will be used to lift you. In the midst of our afflictions we will find a friend. And what a Friend we have in Jesus.

Isaiah 51:3

06/18/2024

05/16/2021

04/04/2021

04/03/2021

03/29/2021

03/01/2021

02/14/2021

02/08/2021

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