Consecration
Our Latter-day Faith Virtual Fireside in February, 2023 discussed the topic of “Consecration.” It was an amazing discussion. What does consecration mean to/for you?
129: Experiencing Scripture Literally and Spiritually
Mark Crego and Kajsa Berlin-Kaufusi explore scripture from both a literary and spiritual perspective, while Dan is on vacation.
The Divine Mother Within
The following is a talk I gave on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022. See the notes below the post for links to additional resources. Eighteen years ago, May 8th 2004, it was Mother’s Day, just like today. Except then, my mother had been in decline with dementia and a host of problems. On that day, …
Church and Authority
Church and Authority are tough topics for many Latter-day Saints. In our September/October fireside, we shared how we negotiate these tensions.
Responding to Authority
Sarah Kimball gives a remarkable response to Joseph Smith’s invitation into polygamy.
The Heart of Parents and Children
In reading Section 2 of the Doctrine and Covenants, I have discovered meaning for me, not so much in the 1838 text we read in the official version, but rather, the original Hebrew text from which it was taken, and how that changed over time. In my personal experience I feel that the turning of …
The Theological Content of the First Vision
I believe we should take the first vision, in both versions, as a personal call to holiness and a prophetic call toward open truth-seeking. Understood this way, the First Vision becomes accessible to us all, as we seek discernment in our spiritual experiences. It becomes a call to relationship with God as we seek truth in all things.
The Dark Night of the Soul
The Journey of Faith is often equated with the phrase “The Dark Night of the Soul.” It’s a time of struggle in order for us to rediscover our relationship with God. Yet the phrase itself refers to a poem by St. John of the Cross entitled “On a Dark Night,” and very much reflects the …
The Path is Not Always Easy
Sometimes the Path before us is harder than we expect. This morning, walking along a trail, I became stuck, and the Way became more clear as a result.
A God Has Died
Let the same mind be inthat was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form, he humbled himselfand became obedientto the point of death—even death …