Walk the Line (2005)

Posted on January 22, 2008 by Tristi Pinkston

While not a particularly easy film to watch, “Walk the Line” is still breathtaking in its gritty reality. I came away deeply moved by this Oscar-winning movie. Joaquin Phoenix plays a young Johnny Cash, a man with a deep voice and an unusual talent for music. As a boy, he often sang hymns with his brother, Jack, who was studying to be a preacher some day. In a freak accident, Jack is killed, and their father never got over it, often saying that the devil took the wrong son. He never saw the good that was in the young Johnny. … Continue reading →

LDS Weeks in Review September 30-October 13

Posted on October 15, 2007 by Miriam Caldwell

This week Tristi introduced a great new series that will answer common questions that those of other faiths may have about the church. She answers her first question in Gospel Questions: Are Mormons Christians? Tristi continues her insight into the scriptures with 1 Nephi 5:16-21, 1 Nephi 6 and thoughts about the war chapters, 1 Nephi 7:1-5, 1 Nephi 7:6-15, 1 Nephi 7:16-21, 1 Nephi 7:22, 8:1-11, 1 Nephi 8:12-18, 1 Nephi 8:19-25, 1 Nephi 8:26-34, and 1 Nephi 8:35-38. Miriam reviews several General Conference talks in “The Things of Which I Know,” “The Restoration of the Gospel,” “This Day,” … Continue reading →

Focus on the Sacrament

Posted on October 13, 2007 by Miriam Caldwell

One of the most important things that we do at church each Sunday is partake of the Sacrament. Often this special ordinance is simply thought of as routine, instead of being treated as sacredly as it should be. It is vital that we each take the time to prepare ourselves to renew our covenants each Sunday. It is also important to apply the covenants that we make to our daily lives. Here is a list of five things you can do to make taking the Sacrament more meaningful. 1) Ideally your preparation should be taking place all week. Take time … Continue reading →

Simplify

Posted on October 12, 2007 by Miriam Caldwell

There were several talks in conference that spoke about the need to simplify your life. They emphasized the importance of choosing the best out of the good and better things in your life. This is an area in which I personally know I need a lot of improvement. I often try to do too much and overextend myself in so many ways. Following is a list of reasons that you may be keeping the good in your life instead of making room for the best. 1) You may be afraid of letting someone down. There may be a commitment that … Continue reading →

LDS Week in Review September 25-September 29

Posted on September 29, 2007 by Miriam Caldwell

We have had a great week in the LDS blogs! I hope that you will take the time to review these great articles. Tristi continued her series on scripture study with 1 Nephi 4:21-38, 1 Nephi 5:1-6, and 1 Nephi 5:7-15. Miriam offers some insight on spiritual development with Your Prayers. Additionally The Gift of the Scriptures talks about the many blessings that the scriptures can bring into your life. Your Preparation for the Sacrament gives suggestions on how to prepare yourself spiritually each week for the Sacrament. Several articles focused on strengthening the family. You can review your children’s … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: Deathbed Repentance

Posted on July 13, 2007 by Nola Redd

Perhaps one of the most misunderstood quotes in scripture comes in Luke 23:43. As Jesus hangs on the cross, a thief also hangs to his side, acknowledging that his punishment is just while the Savior has done no wrong. Jesus then answers, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” So many have taken to heart the possibility that a deathbed repentance will lead to eternal glory, but this is not so. According to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the aforementioned phrase meant that the Savior and the thief would be in the world of spirits that very day. At … Continue reading →

Gospel Doctrine: “I Know Him Not”

Posted on July 9, 2007 by Nola Redd

This week’s Sunday School lesson focuses on the trial and crucifixion of Christ. After His arrest, the disciple Peter followed Him from afar. When recognized, he denied knowing Jesus three times, as Jesus had earlier predicted. When the Lord turned and looked upon Peter, the disciple remembered his vow to follow Jesus to prison and to death (Luke 22:33), and he “went out, and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). Here we have a man, a disciple who loved Christ earnestly and sincerely, and who had already given up so much to follow Him. Why would he then deny the Savior? President … Continue reading →

Read the Instructions!

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Nola Redd

Let me start this blog by saying I am both a nerd and a convert. Oh, yes, and a readaholic. When you add those three together, you get someone who did an amazing amount of research into the church both before and after joining. I’d like to take a great resource that you may have overlooked – your manuals. The church has provided an amazing number of resources throughout the year. My first calling in the church was as the ward librarian, and I was amazed at the number of books available. (I’m one of those people who has to … Continue reading →

A Review of “Plan of Salvation” by Matthew B. Brown

Posted on April 21, 2006 by Candace Salima

Simply the best book I’ve found, to date, written about our Father in Heaven’s plan of salvation. This comprehensive coverage of the topic is absolutely breathtaking. Would you like to know how Adam and Eve came to be, according to the prophets? Br. Brown has done extensive research and shared it in the book. Do you understand what occurred in the councils in heaven which precipitated the creation of the earth and our sojourn into mortality? Do you understand the fate of children who die too early? Do you realize the hope, the promise and the beauty of the plan … Continue reading →