Recently, I started an adult Sunday School lesson on the Fall of Adam and Eve by saying “Today we are going to partake of the Tree of Knowledge.” I then took a big bite of a juicy red apple. After savoring the taste, I offered another apple to a class member sitting in the front … Read more
The other day I asked this question to my 89-year-old mother. Her answer was, “I don’t believe that for a minute. She knew exactly what she was doing.” It is impossible to know the precise degree to which Eve may have made her decision (about eating the fruit) by being swayed by Satan’s temptations or … Read more
In a great sermon near the end of his life, the prophet Nephi outlined Satan’s plan of action for the last days. It has three parts: 1. The devil will stir up the members of false churches to anger against that which is good 18 But behold, that great and abominable church, the whore of … Read more
Why is it that the first thing an angel always says is, “Fear Not.” Shouldn’t seeing an angel be the most beautiful, amazing, wonderful, delightful, inspiring, experience of one’s entire life? In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve hid themselves from God, Adam admitted that they were afraid because they were naked. The … Read more
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are encouraged to read the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, often. In our weekly Sacrament meetings, we listen to talks on scriptural topics. In Sunday School we discuss sections of scripture that we have (presumably) been studying at home during the prior week. Yet … Read more
“… there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. Doctrine and Covenants 46:11 In Sunday School class recently we were divided into groups to discuss different parts of the lesson. My group was assigned to read 1 Corinthians chapter 12, and 1 Corinthians 14:12, and to … Read more
“Good, as it ripens, becomes continually more different not only from evil but from other good.” C.S. Lewis The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has begun to roll out its “New Approach” to Children and Youth, which will officially begin on January 1. 2020. This new program “is designed to be personalized and … Read more
Nephi provides us with some good advice on how to read the scriptures. He recommends that we liken the people and events in the scriptures to our own lives and the events around us. … I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto … Read more