One Climbs

I came across a blog that I have really enjoyed reading and I wanted to share it with anyone who comes here to read. The author knows quite a bit about symbolism and I have really enjoyed reading his insightful posts.  Hopefully you will as well. Click here to check it ...

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At The Crossroads

He stood at the crossroads all alone, The sunlight in his face; He had no thought for an evil course, He was set for a manly race. But the road stretched east and the road stretched west, And he did not know which road was the best; So he took the wrong road and it lead him down, And he lost the race and the victor's crown. He was caught at last in an angry snare Because no one stood at the crossroads there To show him the better road. Another day at the self-same place A boy with high hopes stood; He, too, was set for a manly race He was seeking...

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The Great and Abominable Church: Part 1

In some of the earliest chapters of the Book of Mormon, Nephi sees in vision the formation of the church of the devil. He uses various names to describe this organization including the church of the devil, the great and abominable church and the whore of all the earth. He goes into great detail when speaking about this organization. Nephi includes this vision in his record for our benefit. His people never had the Book of Mormon. He knew it would be critical for us to recognize and avoid deception at the hands of all entities which comprise the church of the devil. If we are unable to do so, we will be grasped with the devil's awful chains....

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Is It Such A Fast I Have Chosen?

Often the word fasting conjures memories of growling stomachs, odd testimonies we’ve heard on the church’s monthly version of open-mike night, or the petitions we’ve occasionally offered in unison with family or ward members for some mutual desire. Even when we focus on the generally taught and accepted purposes of fasting, we still miss the point of this beautiful church ordinance. Yes. I said ordinance.As a missionary I heard it taught that prayer was like sending a letter to God while fasting was like sending a telegram (or to modernize, an email). Over the years, I’ve also heard fasting presented as a means of self-mastery, a way to make...

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Snippets

I've decided that I want to keep track of my daily scripture study, so I'm going to start a sort of study log under the label "Snippets". I'll spend the next few days commenting on themes developed in 1 Nephi chapters thirteen and fourteen, because that is where I am currently reading in the Book of Mormon. In particular I would like to take a closer look at the great and abominable church. What are it's goals? What means does it use to accomplish those goals? And most importantly, how can we recognize and combat this organization? If you are interested in taking a detailed look at the Book of Mormon, chapter by chapter, then snippets is the...

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What is Church Ball?

It is four, six minute quarters played according to high school rules. It is a group of generally overweight, overly geared, and overly hairy men attempting to show everyone else exactly why they were selected for the Junior Jazz all star team way back in sixth grade. The cliche often used to describe Church sponsored basketball is, "the brawl that starts with a prayer". Yes, men tend to take their Church ball seriously. Emotions run high when one is vying for stake and region dominance. However, despite it's well earned reputation as an outlet for old burnouts to relive the glory days of their youth (you know, when they should have made the...

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The Sociopolitical Message of the Book of Mormon

The Book of Mormon is truly an amazing book. Within its pages is the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught that the Book of Mormon is the "most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book" (TPJS, 194). That statement alone should be motivation enough to encourage serious study of the book, yet Joseph wasn't alone in reinforcing the importance of this book. Prophets both ancient and modern, as well as the Lord himself have testified of the importance of this work. For instance, on one occasion the Lord stated that, your...

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