Gospel Musings

This year I've decided to do my scripture study a little different. Rather than read a chapter or two I've decided to ponder a topic that I wish to understand better and focus my study from a this perspective. In addition to this, I am enrolled in an LDS Perspectives within Psychology course that takes topics of importance to people of faith and examines them from several psychological perspectives in addition to a gospel context. This new approach has brought me to the understanding that while there is much I do know, there are many things I have yet to understand. At times like this it is easy to feel unsettled, and I believe such discomfort can be for our benefit if it motivates us to seek greater truth. For me that is exactly what this has done. It was in this searching that I was reminded of this scripture that puts all faith-bearing truth seekers questions into perspective. "Knowest thou the condescension of God?" "And I said unto him.  I know th...

As most of you know from my frequent Facebook posts, I have been participating in a musical titled  Children of Eden  at CenterPoint Legacy Theatre. The show, while not intended to be a biblical representation of the Genesis accounts of Adam and Eve and Noah and his family, has become one in which I have found many hidden gospel truths. Today's post is inspired by one of the truths pointed out to my by a dear friends and fellow cast member. Towards the very beginning of the first act are the lyrics: "There are things a Father knows a child does not." It's not a particularly emphasized point of the show, but for my friend (and in the following days for myself as well) it has come to draw much reflection. As a man of faith I often reflect on what is truth and what are the different ways that we can know what is true. I recently spoke in Sacrament Meeting about the topic of knowing. It caused me to reflect on what it truly means to know. I have included it below if ...

I have been wanting to create a personal blog for some time now but I've continued to push it off or make an excuse like, "What do I have that's interesting to say?" or "Who would even care to read what I write?" And while I still think I don't have much to say that's interesting or that many people will read what I write I have come to this conclusion: I am not writing a blog for others, I am writing for me. Perhaps as a feeble attempt of a journal, or just a digital relief to the piles of sticky notes that I have up to this point piled on my desk. Either way, here I go. It isn't coincidence that I'm writing today. Today marks the anniversary of one of the most defining moments of my life up to this point. Today is the five year anniversary of my brother's passing. For those of you who don't know the situation let me provide you with a little context, at least from my perspective. In May of 2009 I entered the Missionary Trai...

During the middle of July we spent 10 days on the shore of Galilee. It was a beautiful experience full of reflection, pondering and adventure. Like most of my posts, this will primarily be photos with a brief explanation, but I would like to start it with a poem that I wrote one afternoon while sitting overlooking the Sea: Galilee Tree Beneath a tree in Galilee, a place that now is new to me I feel the gentle waves and wind ring gently through my ears The grass is green and smooth to touch, the rocks are rough and injure much But cool calm waters still my heart and senses now align I think of Him whom Galilee, a place He loved so much to be Calmed hearts and waters seemingly with cool and peaceful words A rock knelt in Gethsemane a green hill known as Calvary a place where all who bound set free do feel my heart to touch I feel the seed inside of me swell and grow and beckon me Ever now awakened of what I am to be The toll is paid the path’s been set my cour...

Day 1 Mt. Nebo On top of Mt. Scopus we see this sight. This is as close as Moses would have gotten to the promised land. From here he could see (on a day not as smoggy as this) the land of Jerusalem.  Bus Troubles On day one of the trip we were on a way to our hotel in Petra, a four hour drive. About 30 minutes into the trip our bus broke down. As we were waiting for the bus company to send another bus we entertained ourselves by playing games, reenacting Lion King and finding an Old Roman road. Alright, end of bus #1 Bus #2 arrives and we load. Bro Judd begins to tell us about the time when his groups bus was stuck in a sandstorm in Egypt. They had to find an old hotel and stay the night, to commemorate he was about to put on the classic 'Horse with No Name' before the music could turn on... BREAK DOWN. The picture above is of bus #2. This time we were stuck closer to around 2 hours (to be honest that is really just a rough estimate) but our guide Youse...

The other day I got an e-mail from my sister gently chiding for me for not updating my blog in almost a month. I thought to myself, "No way, it can't have been that long!" But sure enough when  went and checked my last post was a recap of my trip to Turkey. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I will try and update you on the last month with a couple of photos. Now granted, this is by no means comprehensive but rather a snapshot of the highlights from the last month of my time in the Holy Land. Welcome to the Shpelah. This particular pose is in the Elah valley. Can anyone guess what I'm reinacting? That's right this is a tribute to David slaying Goliath, it took me a couple of practice swings, but I got the technique down pretty good, plus my form was awesome! One of the more sobering experiences of the trip was our visit to the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem. This particular piece behind me demonstrates the suffering of what was not an e...