Third Hour

Adapted from Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s 2016 address "Fathers” The role of a father is oft’ misunderstood. Some even think fathers can amount to no good. They are sometimes portrayed as “bumblers and buffoons,” Yet we know there are many that shoot for the moon To become loving fathers in their own special way. Whether doing the dishes or watching ballet. ... View the full article

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a vehicle, not a destination. But before we talk more about that vehicle, we need to set the stage and talk more about the destination. The destination is, of course, the Celestial Kingdom. Living in the presence of God the Father. But what would you say the key to abiding God's presence in the Celestial Kingdom is? Is it simply believing in Jesus? Is it a completed collection of pure, error-free knowledge about Christ, His nature, and His doctrines? Is it being able to present a completed checklist of ordinances? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that none of those options are totally correct. The character of God God can command the seas. He can create planets, and life itself. He is all-powerful. But here's another question for you: Is God God because he's powerful? Or is God powerful because he's God? In other words, is God God because of what He does or because of who He is? Alma 42 in The Book of... View the full article

A couple of weeks ago a popular investigative tabloid, Inside Edition, posted a shocking interview with famous prosperity gospel preacher Kenneth Copeland. If you haven't had the chance to watch it, here it is. In the video, Copeland defends his lavish lifestyle which includes multimillion-dollar homes and his own private jets. The vast majority of his wealth comes from the donations of his congregation. In a telling response to this article, Costi Hinn—nephew to prosperity preacher Benny Hinn offers his take on Copeland's "outlandish statements and patronizing remarks" which he believes "misrepresent the true Christian gospel." This compelling video and response force us to consider our position on the prosperity gospel. It's well known that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a poor church. Likewise, there are many scriptural attestations that indicate the Lord will prosper those who follow Him. Keeping this in mind, how can we respond to accusations levied against us, which have striking similarities to those charged to Brother Copeland. Let's take a deeper look... View the full article

Thousands of Utahns have seen billboards advertising an "LDS Millionaire looking for his wife" which have been scattered up and down I-15 for several weeks. Some thought these billboards were just a joke, others were appalled that someone would flaunt his money in an attempt to attract a marriage partner. Nevertheless, after a stunning 2,500 applications, an event was held inviting 20 prospective women to meet this mysterious millionaire in the hopes of further pursuing a relationship with him. And what an event it was. They were brought in a limo. Exited onto a red carpet. And even given gifts. The master of ceremonies then gave a few clues as to the identity of the bachelor before dropping the white sheet which veiled him. By the end of the night, he had met each of the women and scheduled one-on-one dates with several of them. Other websites have gone into far greater detail and depth in describing the event, though the identity of this wealthy man looking for love remains unknown to all but those... View the full article

"You're welcome to try." More terrifying and exhilarating words have never been spoken. Albeit these words were spoken by my session leader during Dungeons and Dragons, these words hold a much deeper meaning when considered from an eternal perspective. My family was pretty open to the nerdage. That exposure has brought a lot of good experiences my way. For example, Legend of Zelda taught me how to land surf, as shown in this image. Another mark of my nerdom is that I play Dungeons and Dragons. It is an amazingly fun game. Saying that, I know a lot of people narrow their eyes and crinkle their noses when they hear about this game. Despite the raised eyebrows, Dungeons and Dragons really does have the power to change peoples' lives for the better! How? How does it do this? I'll tell you right now, it isn't using dark magic or anything sketchy like that. So, here are just a few ways that Dungeons and Dragons can improve your life. Dungeons and Dragons teaches... View the full article

Father’s Day approaches. If you are anything like me it is time to acknowledge that you aren’t sure what to get your dad. To avoid another year of mediocre gifts, or accidentally dressing him like this: I recently spent some time with some experts from the local Mr. Mac to figure out how I could get something for my dad that he will actually enjoy. These experts gave me the low down on all things men’s fashion. We talked about neckties, dress shirts, suits, shoes, and belts. They helped me understand what I could expect to spend on certain items, any Father’s Day sales they are having, and how to navigate generation gap based fashion concerns. Ties If anything is an old stand-by for Father’s day gifts it is the tie. The experts at Mr. Mac acknowledged that ties are the most common Father’s day gift. They are one size fits all, and it’s something that the recipient can have more than one of. Most ties can be had for under... View the full article

Have you ever seen ‘The Matrix’? Of course, you haven’t, its rated “R”. But I have it on good authority that there is a scene where Neo, the main character, is about to have an all-out good vs. evil battle. He is asked what he needs as he prepares for combat. via giphy It's an iconic scene. The need for guns is a hot topic throughout the world. What makes it applicable to this article is that many members of the church feel just like Mr. Neo here. They like the idea of having, well, lots of guns. These people have rational explanations as to why their gun ownership is proper. They do not have a monopoly on rational explanations, however. There is a contingent of church members that take issue with guns and any kind of violence. The absolutely crazy thing about members of the church falling on either side of the debate is that they can exist as members of the same church. How can two people who are... View the full article

Music has a way of getting in our bones and reaching into the core of who we are. For instance, lyrics stay with us far longer than the spoken word and I often find myself singing a song I learned back in my middle school years. Some of the darkest days of my life have been punctuated by soothing melodies that reminded me of uplifting memories and a brighter future yet to come. Despite the fact that a lot of the music I listen to comes from a secular source, many songs contain religious themes that remind me of eternal truths. Here are 5 feel-good songs with eternal truths to brighten your day. 1. Sometimes a Prayer will Do sung by Celtic Woman First of all, Celtic Woman is a wonderful group. Second of all, the art of prayer is a powerful tool given to us. Just to be clear, prayer is not a cure-all that immediately removes hard things from our lives. However, it is a channel by which... View the full article

Every Tuesday at Brigham Young University, a guest speaker gives a devotional. This week's guest was psychologist Phillip Rash. He touched on a subject that usually doesn't get quite as much attention as it deserves. He chose to speak about the people who may have "never felt like they truly belong" at BYU, the Church, or in their community. About the periphery Phillip Rash speaking at BYU on June 4, 2019. In treating the subject, Rash spoke about how those who do feel accepted should treat those who may be having a different experience. "The important things is that we try," he said. "We acknowledge that there really is a margin and that some people have lived on that margin for a very long time. We acknowledge that history leaves scars. We rid ourselves of prejudice and withhold judgment. We listen with love and understanding and we activate holy empathy by recalling how we too were once strangers in the land of Egypt." There's a lot to be said about this speech. He touches... View the full article

Okay, so obviously Mean Girls isn't often a vehicle for gospel learning (although, if I'm being totally honest, I did reference it in my missionary farewell talk), but I can't think of a better way to start my article than this: Regina George: "You're like, really pretty." Cady Heron: "Thank you!" Regina: "So you agree? You think you're really pretty?" For a long time, I'll admit to being a Regina. I mean, I didn't create a burn book or punch anyone in the face ("One time she punched me in the face... It was awesome!"), but I did have an alarm that would go off in my head blaring the word "Conceited!" any time someone complimented their own appearance or admitted they were smart or funny. You think your haircut looks good on you? Self-absorbed. Think you look awesome in that dress? Stuck up! Said you deserved that 'A' on your history test? Sheesh, brag much?! Basically, if someone liked themselves or gave themselves credit for something, I thought they were vain. But liking yourself? Being... View the full article

I was on a small island in the Central Pacific. My companion Elder Mattison and I woke up one clear, sunny morning with plans to perform a service project for a ward member in conjunction with members of the Elders Quorum. We hopped on our bikes and set out to round up some of the brethren to let them know it was time to start. Our first stop was Beeria, an older, single member who looked like an islander version of Robin Williams. As we approached his house, nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. Beeria's House The backside of Beeria's house. Beeria's house was more like a medieval fortress than the traditionally wide-open stick huts which you commonly find on the islands. It was unlike anything I ever saw during my two years there. A huge stone wall, painstakingly built from oceanside rocks he had chiseled off and gathered with his bare hands, encircled much of the enclosure. We stopped our bikes and called out to him from the path,... View the full article

It was the shot heard round the world — or, you know, the song heard... in Provo, Utah. Same difference. 💁‍♀️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=49&v=pkf6aTcNlgA JK! Studios, founded by former members of the beloved BYUtv sketch comedy team, "Studio C," is now home to some of the aforementioned's favorite cast members, including Matt Meese and Stacey Harkey — and these two recently explained in an interview with Deseret News that some JK! Studios members will be on NBC's brand-new comedy competition show "Bring the Funny." While Harkey and Meese weren't allowed to divulge which JK! Studios cast members would be on the show, Paste Magazine released an article yesterday introducing BTF's contestants — and according to them, six members of JK! Studios will be on the new show: Mallory Everton, Matt Meese, Jason Gray, Natalie Madsen, Jeremy Warner, and Stacey Harkey. As for deats on the show, here's what we know about "Bring the Funny" so far: it will be hosted by comedian Amanda Seales while the panel of judges includes Twitter queen Chrissy Tiegen, Saturday Night Live's... View the full article

One of my favorite miracles in the New Testament is when Christ calms the tempest. He and His apostles are on a boat when Christ falls asleep; then, as the storm becomes progressively more violent, His terrified apostles awaken Him. They knew that if anything could be done to calm the storm, it would be through the Savior's miraculous power. They were right. The Savior stood and "rebuked the wind" and calmed the crashing waves, telling them to "be still." In the apostles' moment of fear and need, the Savior came through and quieted the storm — so it would make sense, then, that He gave His servant, in a moment of need, the power to do the same thing. This event took place at the same time the King Follett sermon was delivered — one of the most famous discourses in Latter-day Saint history. Delivered on April 7, 1844, it was also less than three months before Joseph Smith's death. ChurchofJesusChrist.org states about this discourse: "Joseph Smith arose at... View the full article

According to christianpost.com, "Pope Francis has officially approved a change to the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:13 that replaces 'lead us not into temptation' with 'do not let us fall into temptation.'" It's a move the Pope has been pushing for since 2017, when he said that Matthew 6:13 is a poor translation, because it describes a God that leads people into temptation. "What induces into temptation is Satan," the Pope said in 2017. Joseph Smith Translation The Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6, according to the Revised Standard Version (Catholic edition) of the Bible, reads thusly: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Pope Francis is changing the Lord's Prayer for Catholics to the following (changes bolded): Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy... View the full article

Miracles are a huge part of the New Testament. The works of Jesus were indicative of His divine sonship. He restored sight to the blind and raised the dead. But not every premature death was reversed, and not every blind person was healed. “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:25—27) If the Son of God was able to heal any malady and prolong any life, and if He was as kind and merciful as the scriptures tell us, why didn’t He heal more people? Why did He only send His servant to a single... View the full article

We've all been there. It's the start of the new year (or any other time) and you identify a few habits/goals/resolutions that, if kept, are sure to improve your life for the better. It's time to get after it. You hit the gates running at first, going several consecutive days or even weeks exercising each day, flossing nightly, or eating the proper amount of fruits and vegetables. Then, before you know it, you revert back to your old ways. The snooze button on your alarm clock is far more enticing than a morning workout, flossing is a time-consuming pain, and you rediscover your love for fresh baked cookies and salty snacks. Resolution broken. It's amazing how often this happens. Countless successful and happy people from all walks of life make and break well-intended goals every day. Why is it SO hard to stick with a new objective we have made, especially when we know it will benefit us? Is there any way to form habits you will actually keep? There sure is. Cue... View the full article

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ gave more flack to the Pharisees than any other group of people. He really stuck it to 'em. As it turns out, Christ has a BIG problem with hypocrisy, and the Pharisees were the embodiment of it. Their actions didn't match their words. supposed beliefs didn't match behavior. What their mouths were saying didn't match what their hearts yearned for. To them, Christ said, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 23:27-28) Times have changed, but people haven't. Hypocrisy looms darkly overhead in this, the twenty-first century. Of course, not everyone is a hypocrite all the time. I don't know who you are, so hopefully none of the following examples applies to you at all. But from a broad, societal viewpoint, you're probably well acquainted with some of these: 1. Religious tolerance Our society prides... View the full article

The Amish are a minority religious sect that abstains from anything that comes from the modern world. They also espouse strict Christian morality. This article isn't a history on the Amish but rather seeks to be an exploration of one of their practices. Rumspringa is a term derived from German that loosely means "running around outside the bounds." When Amish youth reach 16 they are free, if not encouraged, to run wild. Religious and community laws relating to sexual morality, substance abuse, entertainment, and other Christian principles are temporarily rolled back as youth decide whether or not they would prefer to live the Amish lifestyle. It is a period of permitted debauchery that is justified as a method to try the youth's desires. If they really want to live according to the dictates of their religious consciences then they will reject what the outside world has to offer. If they desire riotous living, then they are free to abandon their families, church, and faith. What if The Church of Jesus... View the full article

Listening to podcasts has almost completely wiped out my desire to attend my university classes. It's also almost obliterated traditional talk-radio (which I can't complain about) and can be heaven for Type A, "get-to-the-point" personalities. But my favorite kinds of podcasts are the ones that offer insight into culturally taboo topics—especially those relating to the Church. I love these podcasts because some topics within church culture are so hush-hush that not addressing them can be so isolating. You know the kind I'm referring to. Sex, suicide, same-sex attraction and marriage, and excommunication are just a few examples. But isolation isn't the only thing we risk when we avoid talking about these topics. Avoidance also perpetuates negative stigmas and unfair judgments. Needless to say, it's time to start opening up about some of these topics and seeking to understand them—which is exactly what some members of the Church have started to do. Within the last few months, I've started to follow 3 really incredible podcasts. Each of these has its own unique... View the full article

In 2013, 12-year-old Ashtyn Poulsen was diagnosed with leukemia. The battle rages on today. The Poulsen family chronicles Ashtyn's journey on the Facebook page, Ashtyn's Army. Most recently, according to Ashtyn's Army, her kidneys have been getting worse. They're not processing enough of the fluids that Ashtyn needs to be consuming, which means the excess fluid is absorbed by other parts of her body, including her lungs. In short, Ashtyn is a fighter, but things are getting worse. It was in the wake of these crushing developments that a visitor showed up at Ashtyn's hospital room. Here's what Ashtyn's mother posted a few days ago: https://www.facebook.com/AshtynsArmy/posts/2159598460835749?__xts__[0]=68.ARB7MIFT5aCrnWfteg-hidNWmOPqKbS7fqO_CuSHSKKB7FAC9HUE-l7SQ6Ju6-ogs9VG53ZDB_Ot3f3ND5UHNecR1fcwCGHUh0zfM_HUdEFUsKwvZ2S9nhjhFUrQ7kQObvp0v206aDLjrONmYOOKzPcy2TnpQ7mA7OmHKu63TKve7MTTElBNJ_DcKZU0uRuI8MQpF8GmvXdMmFnhMqGHaaek1uw5CowbrQAZpbqCqajJmdvnJx-TxJQngGuva-Dvv3QQjBCC0oktuj02gcNEwcFxswkaesqO_oo8fmEAYvFKlDuzsFeEKcLegpLUmEpXZ1UxH0EjqaVYhXNVPU-JfD2cdA&__tn__=-R Just in case you're unable to see the actual post, here's what Ashtyn's mom wrote: •My thoughts about our Memorial Day• I sat on the hospital couch Monday morning discussing with Jason the possibility of losing our daughter. Everything is being done to save her life but her body is not showing any signs that it will improve, so her comfort is our priority. I began thinking back on different... View the full article

Is there anything better in life than curling up with a good book? The ideal situation is that it's raining (just over here channeling my inner Phyllis Vance from the Office) and you're drinking hot chocolate, obviously. But rain or no rain, a good book is one of the greatest joys in life. Jesus Christ Himself commanded us to learn from "the best books" — but there are so many great ones out there that it can be difficult to know where to start! Luckily, I've got your back. I've compiled this list of fabulous Latter-day-Saint-related titles that you need in your life, like, yesterday. So go find yourself a cozy nook and settle in, because you're never going to want to put these amazing reads down. Biographies Insights From a Prophet's Life: Russell M. Nelson by Sheri Dew Description: "Insights from a Prophet's Life offers a candid view of President Russell M. Nelson, the seventeenth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, from childhood to the current day. More... View the full article

Okay, maybe not ALL my life lessons. They definitely didn't teach me how to calculate a tip or change a tire (which I still can't do, to be totally honest, because I have the upper body strength of a newborn mouse). Honestly, Laman and Lemuel could be pretty bad dudes and, at first glance, it may seem like there's not a whole lot to learn from their examples. But even still, I did learn a few ("I learned a few of my life lessons from Laman and Lemuel" wasn't as catchy of a title, okay?) of my most important life lessons from them. Namely, they taught me that so much of life and the joy that we find in it boils entirely down to our attitude. Making the Right Choices Someone needs to add an inch or two to Nephi's outfit... via The Living Scriptures When I think of Laman and Lemuel, I won't lie — the first thing that comes to my mind is the Living Scriptures depiction of them...... View the full article

In January 22, 2019, Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge of the Quorum of the Seventy gave an incredible devotional at Brigham Young University. He touched on how to find truth and the truth he found after completing a rather unusual task: As part of an assignment I had as a General Authority a few years ago, I needed to read through a great deal of material antagonistic to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, and the events of the Restoration. There may not be anything out there of that nature I haven’t read. For the next 27 minutes, Elder Corbridge explains what he learned from the experience. Watch the video below, or continue reading for a summary of his devotional: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSEsLtwKzvw Primary and secondary questions Elder Corbridge's goal in this speech is to answer the question: How do we close the gap between our beliefs and the truth? One of the ways he suggests accomplishing this is to focus on primary questions instead of... View the full article

My wife and I planted a garden this month. Squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, bell peppers, and strawberries. I figure that before I risk raising a child, I should at least be able to raise a few plants. We'll see how it goes. Seeds are interesting things, though. As I've tried to grow them in the past I've noticed something I find rather counter-intuitive: When left alone, most seeds just don't die. They're resilient. Stash them on a shelf for two, three years, and they're still good to plant. But once they've sprouted, that new plant is much more vulnerable than it would have been had it just stayed as a seed. Now, it can die hard, and die fast. The vulnerability of potential Seeds are safe when they're not planted. But that's not what seeds are for. Seeds, though resilient, are pretty much useless unless you plant them. They don't do anything. I mean, I guess you can eat some of them (pumpkins, sunflowers, peanuts), but ultimately their purpose is to... View the full article

Throughout the history of The Church, there have been many individuals called by God to help lead His children here on Earth. In examining their teachings and mannerisms, it becomes evident that they are all different. Since The Church was founded, some Church leaders have been accused of being too brash, out of touch, or overbearing. We recognize the real pain this can lead to. Such pain begs the question, why does God call these individuals in the first place? Here's a defense of God's offensive apostles. They Don't Have the Luxury of Teaching Easy Truths When the Lord commands something to be taught, His leaders must have the faith to teach it regardless of how they think it will be received. Oftentimes it's not easy to do. On February 16, 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon received the well-known revelation contained in Doctrine and Covenants 76, commonly referred to as "the Vision." At the time, the vast majority of Church members were converts from Protestant faiths which preached the... View the full article