We have often feel uncomfortable during pauses in our talks or lessons. However, planned pauses are very powerful. Mark Twain observed, “The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.” Benefits of Planned Pauses Gives the listeners a chance to absorb what you saidEmphasizes a pointLets the … Continue reading Tips for Talks and Lessons #6 -The Power of Pauses
Sri Ramakrishna, was an Hindu Holy Man. This is my version of one of his parables. The story is told of an ancient village nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. The mountains were so high that they blocked the rain clouds. So, the villagers lived a dry and dusty existence. The mountains were … Continue reading “Latter-day Saints” or “Latter-day Saviors” – A Hindu Parable
While serving as a singles ward Bishop I received a unique telephone call from a BYU administrator. He explained, a confidential informant said that another BYU student falsified my Bishop’s Recommendation Form and forged my signature. The administrator gave me the student’s name and asked if I interviewed the person and signed the recommendation. With … Continue reading BYU Student Forged My Bishop’s Recommendation
"Court Case Friday" I despise bullies, racists, and gangs. I had a case that involved all three . I presided over a hearing involving an "Irish" gang. There were four co-defendants. They were all large muscular former high school football players. They were bullies during high school, and they were bullies afterward. They were also white … Continue reading The Local Racist “Irish” Gang
“It is admitted that statements of personal experience, spoken or written, carry more force and make a more lasting impression upon the minds of the hearers and readers than can be made any other way.” (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p. 265) There is power is sharing personal experiences during talks and lessons. Using … Continue reading Tip on Talks and Lessons #5B: Personal Experience Caveats
There is power in personal experiences. Sharing such experiences can be: InterestingEntertainingImpactfulHeartwarmingMovingTouchingSpiritualEnlighteningPersuasiveMemorable “It is admitted that statements of personal experience, spoken or written, carry more force and make a more lasting impression upon the minds of the hearers and readers than can be made any other way.” (Heber J. Grant, Gospel Standards, p. 265) … Continue reading Tips for Talks and Lessons #5A: The Power of Personal Experiences
"Sunday Sermon" What is “Mormon Standard Time?” “ ... because LDS people are busy, many are known to be punctuality impaired. Culturally, this tendency towards tardiness has come to be known as Mormon Standard Time, a term which is somewhat ridiculously similar to Mountain Standard Time, which is the standard time of Utah. Mormon Standard Time does not have … Continue reading “Mormon Standard Time” and the Importance of Being Prompt
"Saturday Sermon" The King James Version of the Holy Bible is my favorite book. Its poetry, stories, wisdom, inspiration and insights are unparalleled. Early English Translations and William Tyndale’s Monumental Contribution During Medieval times, the “Age of Faith,” the Roman Catholic Church proclaimed that the Latin Volgate Bible was the only authorized version. Translating the … Continue reading In Praise of the King James Version
"Court Case Friday" They say, “Confession is good for the soul.” Here are 4 embarrassing episodes when I publicly demonstrated my ignorance of modern technology. Round One: “You Can’t Hurt the Computer” Shortly after becoming a judge, I needed to learn how to use the court computer. My first court computer had a … Continue reading “Fight of the Century:” Me “the Dinosaur” versus the Court Computers
I heard a touching story about a cure for criticism, especially in marriage. This version was written by my friend Andrew Kay. Marriage is not easy! Coming to a marriage with the wrong expectations only makes it harder. There is a saying that has the sting of truth in it. It says, “Men marry a … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Story – “A Cure for Criticism in Marriage”
The London Edition 