Month: February 2008

“Truth” is not as it seems.

If you were told that a certain son of vagabond, ne’er-do-well parents had organized a rag-tag group of friends into crusaders who went around challenging the respected ways and, having no visible means of … Read more

Imagine a house created by a tornado. It might have a fascinating combination of building materials including car parts, street signs, and tree branches together with soaked wallboard and fragments of PVC pipe. The host of materials might make the … Read more

The word real gets used in many ways. “Get real!” is a common invitation to confront ugliness. For example, in the course of a conversation about life’s challenges we might express an optimistic sentiment. In reply a battle-hardened soldier of … Read more

We all want joy. And we know the formula for getting it. Yet we often muddle along in misery instead of climbing toward joy.

Intriguingly the research on optimal human experience says that people are likely to experience different varieties … Read more

Making a neighbor unwelcome

Imagine that you have a helpful neighbor who seems to have a steady affection for you. The neighbor writes you notes and brings you treats. You do not respond. The neighbor drops by to visit and … Read more

It is an unusual baby who arrives on the mortal scene concerned foremost about the well being of others. Imagine a newborn saying (or acting as if to say): “Wow. I can see that all of you look very worn … Read more

Abominable creeds

In 1811, Joseph Smith Sr. had a vision of an open, barren field. He was perplexed by the dreariness of the field and was told that “this field is the world, which now lieth inanimate and dumb, in … Read more

Life can be a brutal course. There are so many ways to fail.

As a young adult I used to grade myself every day—initially in three areas, which grew to twelve areas, then seventeen areas, and ultimately twenty-eight areas. Every … Read more

The central metamessage in all Church curricula may be that the answers to life’s challenges are found in the scriptures and the counsel of modern prophets. All of our lessons are strongest when they are organized around key scriptural stories … Read more

Sara is the youngest of our three children. She was always more cautious than Emily or Andy. I don’t know why. We never tricked or deceived her. She was just more cautious. In fact, she was born two weeks late. … Read more