"Sunday Sermon" After the murder of Joseph Smith, several men claimed they should be the next president of the church. Sidney Rigdon made the most vocal claim. He was First Counselor Presidency. He returned from Pittsburgh, where he had gone into self-imposed exile contrary to the counsel and revelation of Joseph Smith. (Sidney seemed to … Continue reading Brigham Young -“Transfiguration” and Succession to Lead the Church
David Wyman Patten was born November 14, 1799, in New Hampshire, the eleventh of thirteen children. In 1828, he married Pheobe Ann Babcock in Michigan, and they had one stillborn child. David was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint in Indiana, on June 15, 1832, by his brother. “I … Continue reading David W. Patten, the First Apostolic Martyr
"Fun Facts Saturday" In the 1840’s, Nauvoo, Illinois was a thriving Latter-day Saint community on the banks of the Mississippi River. Nauvoo had about 12,000 residents, almost as large as Chicago. In 1845, the year after the mob murdered the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Nauvoo Charter was repealed, and the “City of Joseph” was legally … Continue reading Nauvoo: Brigham Young’s “Whistling and Whittling Brigade” — Law Enforcement by “Nuisance”
"Fun Facts Saturday" “Porter Rockwell killed more outlaws than Wyatt Earp, Doc Holladay, Tom Horn, and Bat Masterson combined, earning him the menacing title, the ‘Avenging Angel.’” Orrin Porter Rockwell (1813-1878) is one of the most colorful characters in Utah and LDS Church history. He is memorialized in biographies, novels, newspaper articles, ballads, and … Continue reading The Famous Porter Rockwell – Prophets’ Bodyguard and Outlaws’ “Avenging Angel”
"Sunday Sermon" The Exhausted Bishop I once commented to a bishop that he looked “exhausted.” He explained: “I got a call in the middle of the night from a couple in the ward whose car had broken down. They had spent the day looking for new cars, and they wanted to know whether they should … Continue reading When to rely upon the Lord and when to rely upon our own judgment
Greyfriars Church, Edinburgh, Scotland In the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, not far from the towering castle, is the small ancient Greyfriars Church. Outside the entrance to the walled courtyard of the church is a unique monument. The monument is a rock and black iron pedestal. Unlike the towering monuments so typical of Britain, this pedestal … Continue reading A Dog’s Supreme Act of Loyalty Inspired the Nation (Greyfriars Bobby)
"Fun Facts Saturday" Mosquito Head Magnified Summer is mosquito season! I hate mosquitoes! I’m allergic to them, and several bites make me physically ill. In giving “variety to the face of the earth,” God, in "His" wisdom, created mosquitoes. Obviously, "His thoughts are not my thoughts." (Is. 55:8-9) While on the outside, a mosquito seems … Continue reading Amazing Facts About the Dreaded Mosquito
"Faith on Friday" "Great Quotes" Be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you … Imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. – Jeffrey R. Holland (“Lord, I Believe,” … Continue reading Be kind to imperfect people – Jeffrey R. Holland (Great Quotes)
"World History" On the grassy plains outside Stirling, Scotland is the famous Bannockburn Memorial. It was here, on June 24, 1314, that Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, confronted the forces of King Edward II of England in the landmark battle for Scottish independence. The English had about 25,000 in their infantry. They also … Continue reading Robert the Bruce: Famous Bannockburn Speech
"Faith on Friday" "Ancient voices from the dust plead with us today to learn this everlasting lesson: prosperity, possessions, and ease constitute a potent mixture that can lead even the righteous to drink the spiritual poison of pride. "Allowing pride to enter into our hearts can cause us to mock that which is sacred; disbelieve in the … Continue reading The Spiritual Poison of Pride – David A. Bednar (Great Quotes)
The London Edition 