lds – Plurality of Doctrines

October 26, 2025

Sacrificing the Firstborn

The fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin is told as following:

There was once a miller who was poor, but he had one beautiful daughter. It happened one day that he came to speak with the king, and, to give himself consequence, he told him that he had a daughter who could spin gold out of straw. The king said to the miller: “That is an art that pleases me well; if thy daughter is as clever as you say, bring her to my castle to-morrow, that I may put her to the proof.”

August 20, 2025August 24, 2025

The Gift of Sales

In the latter part of serving my LDS mission the church decided to revamp methods of ways in which we teach and approach people. Several zone conferences and district meetings centered around these new methods and emphasis. Prior to rolling out training to the whole mission, the mission leadership, namely the Assistants (APs, Apes, or whatever name is your preference) went on exchanges with missionaries that were close to the mission home at the time to train missionaries on these new methods. So it was my lot one fated day to host one of the Apes in my area and take him around to see the people we were teaching and also do some door to door.

August 8, 2025August 8, 2025

Witnesses and Dimwits

Not long ago I had a dream that left an impression on me. Not some fantastical or visionary dream, but a dream that does what dreams are supposed to do – help process what is in your subconscious. This was a dream similar to many I’ve had in the past. Ever since I returned from serving a mission, I’ve had dreams that I’m being sent back out on one.

July 21, 2025August 8, 2025

Follow the Profit

“In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit”. So starts one of the best fictional stories known to mankind. A hobbit named Bilbo Baggins who enjoys the simple, comfortable, and cozy life of the Shire is one day met by the wizard, Gandalf. Gandalf and a group of dwarves convince Bilbo to leave his quiet life to go on an adventure across the land to the Lonely Mountain in hopes of retrieving a massive treasure seized decades earlier by the great dragon, Smaug. He was promised a portion of the treasure for his assistance.

June 8, 2025

The Fee for Salvation

Years ago while I was a missionary, my missionary companion and I started teaching a gentleman that was a successful businessman. As such, he was often busy, but interested in learning more about the LDS church and what it taught. Because of his busy schedule our lessons were strictly by appointment. We met every few weeks. He would give us a call when he was available, and established the tradition that if we were having a lesson he would buy us lunch or dinner so we could feast on the good word and good food. I’ll always remember something he said before one of our appointments. He said, “Don’t worry, I’ll pick up good food. I don’t believe in eating food that doesn’t taste good.”

May 25, 2025May 30, 2025

You want someone to preach to you?

In effort to adhere to tradition established with my other posts that typically start off with a personal story or analogy from other stories told, I similarly would like to start this post with a reference to part of a movie I’ve seen many times.

March 29, 2025May 5, 2025

What is Truth?

In the premise of the original Star Wars Trilogy, we meet a young man named Luke Skywalker. After encountering some trouble in the desert of Tatooine , old Ben Kenobi, formerly known as Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi comes to the aid of Luke. They return to Kenobi’s place of residence on Tatooine and have a lengthy discussion about the Old Republic, the clone wars, Jedi Knights, and Luke’s father, Anakin Skywalker. Kenobi, reveals that he was once a Jedi Knight, like Luke’s father. Luke having been raised by his aunt and uncle whom didn’t want Luke to have the same fate as his father, didn’t know much about the details of how his father died. He simply asks Kenobi “How did my father die?” Kenobi responds:

“ A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father.” (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope).

As the story continues, Luke follows Kenobi as a trusted mentor on a mission which ultimately leads to the destruction of the first death star, which is also where Kenobi is defeated at the hands of Darth Vader himself.

As time passes, Luke eventually has to confront Vader in an attempt to rescue his friends in Cloud City. As Vader gets the upper hand in battle, Luke is cornered, and Vader reveals something to Luke he was not expecting. Vader said, “Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.” Luke replied, “He told me enough! He told me you killed him!” to which Vader said, “No. I am your father”. Luke, emotional and in denial said in response “No. No. That’s not true. That’s impossible!”. (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)

March 23, 2025March 29, 2025

Requirements for Salvation – The Doctrine of Christ

Many years ago, as a new missionary, my companion and I were out “contacting” individuals that happen to be out and about in their yard working, or relaxing on their porch on a hot summer day in the South. We approached one lady probably in her 30’s. My companion after introducing himself, led with one of many lines that we were taught were good to spark interest in what missionaries teach. “Would you be interested in learning how you can spend eternity with your Husband?” my companion asked. “Oh hell no!” was this lady’s response, and something along the lines of she has spent enough time with her husband. Or perhaps it was “Oh Hell? No!”. While a true story, I hope you can recognize my attempt at humor in sharing this as I write on the following subject: The Doctrine of Christ.