"Sunday Sermon" The Lord has been very gracious and generous in answering my prayers. My first answered prayer, that I remember, occurred when I was a young boy. A friend had thrown my baseball into the ivy in my parents’ front yard. Half of the yard was covered with overgrown large-leaf ivy. It was like … Continue reading My First Answered Prayer
Most religions believe in the power of faith and prayer to comfort and heal the sick. For most of these sects, religious healing accompanies conventional medical care. A few of these sects rely exclusively on religious healing. They oppose medical care. They put their trust in God. To rely on human medical treatment is to … Continue reading Law and Religion: Refusing Medical Care and Vaccinations for Religious Reasons
I had a couple personal encounters with Satan during my mission in Britain. These confrontations gave me a strong testimony of the existence of Lucifer. I know that he lives. One Sunday evening, my companion Elder R. and I went to a social gathering at a member's home in Cheltenham. Several missionaries, investigators, and … Continue reading My Shortest Prayer – One Word
I was in the spiritual doldrums. I felt distant from Deity. So, I knelt in prayer. I wanted to know that Heavenly Father was actually listening to me. I wanted to know that I was “getting through.” After praying fervently at length, the Spirit revealed that I had gotten through. Father was, in fact, listening … Continue reading My Weirdest Prayer
Miracles of Providence God is a God of miracles. The Lord provides. His miracles of providence are prevalent. Most church members have both witness and personally experienced these miracles. Miracles of Controlling Nature and the Elements Church members have also witnessed the miracle of the controlling nature and the elements. This usually occurs when church … Continue reading I Experienced an Amazing Miracle of Nature
Praying for Relief from Drought, then Flooding, then Drought, then Flooding Utah Drought In 1978, while I was at BYU, the state was coping with a severe drought. The saints were asked to pray for rain. They did, and the Lord answered their prayers. Sure enough, it started to rain. And then it rained, and … Continue reading Watch Out What You Pray For!
I have been a fan of C.S. Lewis since the early 1970’s when I set the goal of reading everything he had written. The following quotes and concepts are the highlights of that project. Clive Sinclair Lewis (1898-1963) One of the greatest Christian apologists/defendersBorn in Ireland“Culture shocked” upon moving to the “hated” EnglandWounded in … Continue reading C.S. Lewis – Favorite Quotes and Concepts
6 Vital signs of physical health and well-being During my frequent visits to the doctor, six things always take place. First, they take my weight. Second, they check my blood pressure. (Unfortunately, they take the blood pressure after the trauma of taking my weight.) Third, they take my pulse. Fourth, they check my temperature.Fifth, the doctor … Continue reading 6 “Vital Signs” of Spiritual Health
My World’s Religions professor and favorite philosophy professor was a practicing Buddhist. He shared this short, but profound, story with us. This is my version. In ancient India, an old holy man was granted a rare audience with the Buddha. The holy man entered the sacred temple and walked past the marble columns of the great hall … Continue reading Buddha’s Advice: “Next Time, Take the Boat.”
My criminal law professor started each class by shouting, “Criminals are stupid!”He would then share a dumb criminal story. Clearly, not all criminals a stupid. But a lot of them are. As detectives observe, “We don’t catch the smart ones.” I have prosecuted or judged so many dumb criminals that there will be several blog posts … Continue reading Stupid Criminals
The London Edition 