Pressing Forward

Five – no, Six Years Later

I just graduated from the University of Utah with my MA in US History this past May. Learned more than I thought I would and am thinking about how to continue this blog or whether I should stop it. Blogs are so passe. It’s all Instagram and Twitter and Facebook now. But I also have […]

Why it’s so quiet here

There are a lot of reasons. A) I’m sick of focusing on myself. And blogs – especially writer blogs focused on self promotion (no matter their subject) do that, a lot. Also, so does Facebook. Anyone who knows me on Facebook knows I’ve gone pretty much silent there. B) I’m mother to my children and […]

Public and private worship in the Book of Mormon

Within the Book of Mormon, hundreds of years apart in time but only a couple of chapters apart, we have two examples of worshiping God: Enos and King Benjamin. These illustrate the kind of relationship we should have with our Father in Heaven and also with our fellow beings. Enos relates to us a very […]

I believe in Christ because The Book of Mormon is true

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I am convinced on every level. Intellectually, having studied the documented process, contemporary witnesses, and the text itself I find there is no other explanation other than that Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon, “by the gift and power of God.” (Title Page, Book of Mormon) […]

Experiencing the Book of Mormon

One of the first things to understand about the Book of Mormon is that it’s a history. As Nephi explains, it’s account of the ministry of the peoples of the Book of Mormon. Because of that, most of the book is story based, but not just any stories. These are accounts specifically included to lead […]

Tender Mercies

A couple of weeks ago, I started school online through the Pathway program of BYU-Idaho. I will be honest: I knew that I would learn something but I mostly entered the program so I could matriculate into BYU-I online. It has not turned out to be just a bridge I must cross before I can […]

Writing in a Journal

I got a journal when I was 12 years old. I didn’t write regularly in it, but enough is there to bring me back to that time and attitude. One entry, March 3, 1984, on the second day of having the flu, started out with this: Today was just as bad a day, except maybe a […]

Thoughts on the Parable of the Sower

I get to teach Primary. For non-Mormons, Primary is our organization or ministry, if you will, for children ages 18 months to 12 years. It’s a wonderful calling to have. I love teaching. I really don’t care what age it is, just let me teach. Children can be challenging, but teaching them is a unique and […]

Pressing Forward

I’ve been a bit hesitant to jump back into this. Even with several posts in my buffer, I’m nervous. Yet I can’t shake the feeling that now is the time. So, here is the re-inaugural post: The lost two years of this blog, when I wrote in it, focused on moving my career forward. But a […]

Hello world! Again!

Okay, it’s still morning, so I can say “Good Morning World!” A new dawn after my blog apocalypse. My dear husband, Vladimir, found an old backup. Our previous provider, very well known, is proving again and again that they just don’t care about their customers. They used to be good, and we used to recommend […]