Month: January 2008

It was a demanding day. Many projects. With some luck I might complete the essential tasks by the end of the day. I put my fingers to the keyboard just as a colleague stuck his head in my doorway. “Do … Read more

It is cause for serious reflection that Latter-day Saints have been as gullible with respect to self-esteem as the world in general. It has been taught by well-meaning teachers in Primary, Sunday School, Aaronic Priesthood, Young Women, and Relief Society. … Read more

Who are your heroes? Who are the people you know who embody everything that is admirable and good? Who are the people who have most blessed your life with kindness, generosity, and warmth?

Heroes and holiness

My heroes include Rhea … Read more

The fruits of the self-esteem movement may well be the fulfillment of prophecy

Old Scratch must be especially proud of some victories. Getting the wicked to sin is nothing, of course, but any time he can get God’s people to … Read more

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

There are a handful of doctrines that undergird the Atonement of Jesus Christ: Mercy. Love. … Read more

I had the blessing of growing up with three remarkable grandparents. But one grandparent died when I was a baby. I yearned to know her.

A Blessed Heritage

I was named after Grandpa Wallace. He was a prominent man in … Read more

“Why do you talk so much these days about the problems you and Dad used to have?” queried the teen daughter.

Mom sighed. “Because it hurts so much to think about the good times we had that are now gone.”… Read more

At a time when I was at a spiritual and professional crossroads, I desperately wanted counsel from my wise and compassionate dad. But he had died a year previous. I missed him terribly.

Fortunately I got even more desperate as … Read more

A father died. His young adult daughter missed him terribly. She thought about him regularly.

Her sister chided her: “By missing Dad, grieving over him, and insisting on his attention to your life, you are keeping him from doing his … Read more

Humans have a tendency to categorize. When we confront a new person, we promptly (and often unconsciously) start a process of sorting that person into categories. Educated or not? Religious or not? Nice or not? Attractive or not? Decent or … Read more