November 18, 2011

The Book of Mormon, like the Bible, is the word of God and that makes it special. However, when one really studies the Book of Mormon they come to realize how applicable it is for these latter days. The Book of Mormon provides compelling stories and insights that we can immediately apply to our day. For example, the Book of Mormon discusses how a government can begin in righteousness and with great intentions and then evolve into a corrupt institution, even robbing the people and breaking the laws without judicial consequences. The Book of Mormon discusses the various forms of government, the virtues of each, and how one is superior over the other. It is quite enthralling to read. We can take these lessons from the Book of Mormon and then consider what is happening in the US government today. What started out as an inspired government has now evolved into a corrupt institution that feeds on the people’s taxes and is driven by power and greed. Peter Schweizer’s new book, Throw Them All Out, provides a glimpse into the insider trading of US government officials and how they have made such corruption legal for them and illegal for the rest of us. From out of control spending to lining their pockets, Michelle Malkin calls it a Culture of Corruption. To learn more about this just pick up the Book of Mormon and read what prophets warned us about over 2,000 years ago. 

November 7, 2011

I am recently having an email conversation with a Biblically well-educated individual about faith, works and grace and their place in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authors of the Bible did not make it easy to have such a definitive conversation on the issue with a multitude of passages citing the need for faith only to be saved, how grace cannot be purchased in labor, and how works are necessary (or faith is dead) and that which we will be judged on. One cannot come up with a clear story without a great deal of interpretation. Some say works come with faith and that is what activates grace. Others say faith is singular and therefore works are an option. The debate has been going on for centuries and still rages today. In Mormonism faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel and therefore it is a GIVEN that one must have faith in Christ to have any chance of salvation. Once faith in Christ is established then works must follow as a result of putting one’s faith into action – in this case works include keeping the commandments, building the kingdom on earth, and serving others (living and dead). Christ told his disciples “if you love me, keep my commandments.” Works grow out of a love for the Savior, sanctify our faith, and activate the grace made possible through the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. What volume of works is necessary for salvation or exaltation? Christ taught “…For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required…” (Luke 12:48) – therefore one must understand the answer to the question is different for each person. Perhaps another way to put this in the simplest terms possible is: “saved by faith Christ, exalted by faith and works in Christ.” 

October 21, 2011

It didn’t take long on the campaign trail – two weeks ago a Baptist minister introduced Rick Perry at a fund raiser calling him an authentic Christian and later called Mormonism a cult. Perry said he did not believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a cult, but did not repudiate the minister’s comments either – demonstrating that Perry is either a coward or a liar. So begins the process of discrediting Mormonism as a legitimate sect of Christianity by calling it a cult and degrading it in whatever possible for the sake of destroying Mitt Romney, the “Mormon” candidate for president. A cult is defined as “a particular system of religious worship,” indicating that any religion can be referred to as a cult. However, in modern day terms the word cult is used in a more sinister way to refer to false religions whose members are “crazy.” The World Christian Encyclopedia defines a Christian religion as “Followers of Jesus Christ as Lord, of all kinds, all traditions, and confessions, and all degrees of commitment.” The more secular Encyclopedia Britannica writes “…the writers of Christianity… identify everyone as Christian who call themselves Christian.” Must we really get into a debate as to what defines a Christian and a Christian religion and use that against a highly legitimate presidential candidate, or anyone for that matter? Has society not matured enough to skip this senseless exercise that is more reminiscent of children calling each other names on the playground? It is certainly going to be a long drawn out presidential campaign for Latter-day Saints as this is just the beginning of Mormonism getting dragged through the mud by those becoming desperate to discredit Mitt Romney, not caring at all about the impact it has on the gospel of Jesus Christ.   

September 30, 2011

Have you ever thought about those who cannot read (illiterate) and therefore unable to make any sense of the scriptures? These are people who can only listen to the testimony of others and then rely entirely on the Holy Ghost for inspiration and influence in order to gain their own personal testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. For the literate, scripture study is part of a regular routine; while for the illiterate such a routine is not a possibility. The literate can search the scriptures to learn, validate and explore; while the illiterate must decide what to keep and what to toss based upon what they hear and feel. Although this is an unthinkable situation for the literate, it is a reality for a large percentage of the Christian population, especially in impoverished countries. Jesus Christ told his disciples blessed are they that believe but have not seen, referring to Thomas who needed to see Jesus before believing he had been resurrected. Sometimes I wonder if we have more Thomas in us than we think. Do we believe in the doctrines of Christianity because we have read them in the scriptures, or do we read the scriptures because we believe and have faith as Christians? Of course it is a little of both, but it would do us good to exercise a bit more faith without seeing, being more like children and less like adults. The world sees such faith as a sign of ignorance and stupidity. God sees such faith as a sign of devotion and humility.  

September 9, 2011

The Bible clearly outlines that the Jews are the chosen people – something that we still hear today. God made a covenant with the Israelites through Abraham and although they do not accept Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world yet, they are still under that same covenant. Those who are not Jewish are adopted into the House of Israel through accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior and being baptized. The covenants made at baptism are renewed through the sacrament and this allows others to be adopted into the House of Israel and become God’s chosen people. It sounds a bit complicated but it really isn’t. Our family’s adoption of Azriel was finalized last week – he is the 19-month old grandson that we are raising (along with this two twin brothers that are exactly one year younger). We have adopted him into our family and thus he has become our son and we agree to love and raise him as our own as if he was born into our family. Our love for him is as strong as the love we have for our biological children. This same thing happened when we adopted Azriel’s birth mother into our family – she was baptized and is sealed to our family, just as Azriel will be sealed to us soon. We acutely understand the love of a parent for an adopted child and therefore the process of being adopted into the House of Israel is quite clear to us – we know God the Father loves us just as he does his chosen people and accepts us as his own under the sacred covenants made at baptism, which are further extended into the eternities through the covenants we make in the temple. We are so blessed to have Azriel in our home, along with this two brothers, and are grateful for the experiences we have had, and will have, that continue to show us the love of God in our lives. The journey never ends and only seems to get more interesting as life in mortality rolls on.   

August 26, 2011

Maturity is something we all strive for in our lives and it usually comes for the typically person as they go from child to adolescent to adult. It is something we hope our children achieve at an early age to help them make better choices and to be successful academically and socially. But what about spiritual maturity? What is spiritual maturity? To me spiritual maturity is the degree to which we are able to apply knowledge of the gospel and the spiritual experiences of our lives. As we do so we mature spiritually. A cornerstone of spiritual maturity is the application of the atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. The atonement is all encompassing to our souls bringing both forgiveness for sins through repentance and enabling us with the power to overcome trials in mortality. The atonement brings perspective to trails before, during and after so that we can continue to mature spiritually. I have found in my own life that the key to gaining spiritual maturity is putting others first before ourselves, thus developing humility and leading to being open to the growth offered us in Christ through the atonement. Christ was all about serving others and we as his disciples can be more like Him and benefit from the atonement by serving others unselfishly. Further to that, when we make the effort to spiritually mature through reading the scriptures, praying regularly, making good choices, serving, and magnifying the talents that God give us for his glory we will have a greater capacity to apply the atonement in our lives and not only endure trials, but thrive during trials. 

August 13, 2011

The digs are already starting to be levied against Mitt Romney for being a Mormon. The White House this week called Romney “weird,” a set up to a future reference they will surely make about his religion at an opportune time. Some delegates in Iowa, no doubt in part to the continued pilgrimage of Mike Huckabee to keep a Mormon from the presidency, have begun questioning the former governor’s faith leading to the same types of rumors that occurred in 2007 and 2008—which Romney answered in his brilliant “Faith in America” speech in 2007. A radio program I listened to recently discounted Romney’s candidacy saying Americans will question a man connected to a crazy religion, in which the host then proceeded to provide inaccurate (and circumstantial) facts about Mormonism. Have we not progressed further than this in America, a land partially established for the purposes of freedom of religion? Must there continue to be a stream of misinformation provided about a faith that has produced some of the finest Christian people around the globe? It is not only discouraging, it is simply pathetic that this is still happening and that it may keep the most qualified person to turn our economy around from becoming president. While it is still early to tell, the leading indicators suggest Mormonism will be put under the microscope of public opinion, fueled by sensational facts and half-truths, leading to a political execution of a fine man. I do pray that someday America can do better than this.  

July 31, 2011

Perspective is everything in life, it is the way we see things and that affects our minds, hearts and ultimately our spirits. How we gain or lose perspective depends on what we spend our time doing. If we spend a lot of time with friends our perspective aligns with that of the friends we spent time with—a sort of group think evolution over time. If we spend time with family our perspective becomes that which reflects family and the values associated with family. If we spend time with the scriptures and in prayer than our perspective becomes that which aligns to the principles associated with the gospel. In life we need to seek a balanced perspective and therefore we first must consider the perspective we want to have on life and then spend our time accordingly to align to that balance. We need not ask the Lord what perspective he wants us to have, the clear answer is that he wants us to have a perspective that is gospel centered and motivates us to do that which is good and builds His kingdom on earth. Sometimes we must temporarily spend time out of balance, for instance I have traveled the last three weeks for work on important projects and during that time my perspective was a bit out of whack—more work perspective and less family perspective. I will adjust my perspective over the next week or so by spending time with my family. We can quickly realign our perspective by getting back to the balanced diet of activities that keep our perspective healthy and in alignment with that which the Lord desires us to have. Luke 12:34 states “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Time is a treasure, and perspective is that where our heart ultimately lies. Therefore we can tweak that scripture a bit to read “for where you spend your time, there will your perspective be also.” Spend wisely in the pursuit of true happiness and the things that will last for all eternity.

July 19, 2011

The New Testament records seven things the Savior said while upon the cross, demonstrating the characteristics of Jesus Christ that are worth pondering. He first said “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), showing the characteristic of forgiveness. He said to the thief “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43), showing the compassion he so often demonstrated during his mortal ministry. To Mary his mother toward the disciple ‘whom he loved,’ he said “Woman, behold thy son!”, and to the disciple “Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27), showing honor and loyalty to his mother and family. In perhaps one of His darkest moments Jesus uttered “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?, translated “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” showing the human characteristic of fear (Jesus knows fear and can relate to us in this feeling). Showing his physical character as being human, despite having an immortal father, Jesus told his persecutors “I thirst” (John 19:28). Reporting to His Father in complete obedience to giving of himself for the sins and infirmities of the world Jesus said “It is finished” (John 19:30). And finally demonstrating his total dedication and trust in His father in Heaven Jesus finally spoke “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). If all we had were these final words we could still get a solid understanding of who Jesus was and the unwavering characteristics he possessed that we would be well to emulate during our journey in mortality and beyond.

June 17, 2011

I am reading about the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and the fact that several of the key figures (Adams, Franklin, Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Monroe) were raised as Anglicans, but were in practice Deists. A Deist is one who believes in the existence of God, but does not attach to that belief the need for the Savior Jesus Christ. In researching a book I am writing at the present, I found this to be a bit surprising. Although one can argue the United States of America was founded on Christian principles, I am not sure we can accurately and confidently say that the United States was founded by strong Christians at the helm. That does not appear to be the case. I have more research to do, but this appears to be the core facts. Does that matter? Does that make the United States any less inspired in its founding and the Constitution any less inspired in its creation? I have long believed that God will reach people where they are at – no matter where that might be. He may reach cowboys through a rodeo church; bikers through a Harley driving evangelist; or drug addicts through music that happens to go across the airwaves. One way or another God tries to reach us and then does what he can when he does. I am looking forward to researching this subject further in order to bring more illumination to the subject.

June 3, 2011

Over the last several weeks I have read stories about a judge banning prayer and religiously related words from a high school graduation (this was later reversed) and the ACLU pressuring another school to remove a Christian related backdrop to a high school graduation. Over the last several years we have seen numerous efforts to aggressively remove anything related to God and religion from public places. In nearly every instance it is removing Christian-related material. Never mind that over 78% of America identifies itself as being Christian (Pew Forum at http://religions.pewforum.org/affiliations), we apparently need to succumb to the 1% or less of America that claims they are offended or will be irreparably harmed by being exposed to such Christian material. For the vast minority of people in America we are being required to “ease God out” of our society and communicate to the next generation that we need to keep God in private places and out of the public eye. Funny thing - take the first letter of my last statement (ease God out), put them together and what do they spell? EGO. Yes, it is man’s ego (otherwise identified as selfishness, prideful, and arrogance) that is removing God from our public places in an attempt to turn us into a Godless nation. It is a pathetic and discouraging fact that many judges and organizations are helping this to come about, showing the Godless in heart have infiltrated our government and institutions of influence. We cannot depend on our secular leaders to lead us in faith, we must lead ourselves and others with our own faith – and that means strengthening our faith in Christ and His gospel regularly. Only in our own strength of faith, with God’s blessing and help, can we overcome this insidious trend of easing God out.  

May 20, 2011

How much are you willing to give up or put at risk in standing up for what you believe? Would you risk your livelihood? Firoz "King" Husein, owner and founder of Span Construction & Engineering, a company that specializes in the engineering and construction of large steel buildings, risked it all in defense of his beliefs. 21 years ago Husein’s construction company landed a contract to build a Costco building and appeared to be running a little behind schedule. Apparently Costco “never” misses an opening day and insisted that Husein work his crews overtime and Sunday’s to ensure an on-time store opening. Husein agreed to working his crews overtime but would not work his crews on Sunday – something that was not negotiable. The shocked Costco executives asked if he was willing to risk his contract with Costco for what appeared to be a mere principle of religion (not working on the Sabbath). Husein said he was and guaranteed an on-time opening. The store opened on time and Husein has been Costco’s exclusive builder of stores worldwide ever since – see the whole story. Once a Muslim and now a Latter-day Saint after attending BYU as a student decades ago, Husein was willing to risk it all to live the principles of the gospel he knows to be true. We must have faith that if we exercise full faith in Jesus Christ, keeping the commandments and living the principles of His gospel, that we will be blessed. We may not receive what we want, but we will truly receive what the Lord has in store for us according to His will. It is not easy to do, but it is always worth it.   

May 6, 2011

Quite a week with the news of Bin Laden’s death. I like many others are happy that he is finally laid to rest an unable to kill any more innocent people. But what is a Christian to think? Revenge belongs to the Lord so let’s not get carried away and consumed with that awful feeling. We are called to fight for justice as the people of God, so justice can be a good thing. However, death, especially violent death, is not something I expect the Savior would celebrate. I can envision Christ being at peace with the elimination of one who spreads so much hate and destruction, while forgiving Bin Laden of his misguided ways. Christ would pray for him and told us to do the same for all of our enemies. That is a tough concept that we must find a way to embrace – praying for our enemies that their hearts might be converted to the Lord and find forgiveness and joy in the atonement of Jesus Christ. When is the last time you did that, or heard of someone doing that on behalf of Osama Bin Laden? I certainly have not and must repent of not having done so. No matter how much we want to ignore this simple principle, it will not go away anytime too soon. So the next time you are asked to high five the violent death of individuals you despise and would like to see wiped off the face of the planet take a moment to ask yourself that incredibly cliché thing: “what would Jesus do?”  

April 22, 2011

Easter is here again – funny, it seems to happen each year around this time! My thoughts this Easter center around the new life in our home: Taylor and Tyler (3 months old) and Azriel (15 months old). Although it has been very challenging having a phase II family to raise, this new life has brought fresh perspective to my mind and spirit and helped me realize once again the miracle of the resurrection and how it permeates our life (or at least should). Christ overcame death to be the first one to receive a perfected and glorified body that will be uncorrupted for all eternity. There will come a time when we too will overcome death and be resurrected to a perfected and glorified state in the Savior Jesus Christ (that is our goal). That may be a long time from now; however, we must symbolically recognize that our everyday lives can benefit from the symbolism of the resurrection in overcoming the challenges of mortality and renewing ourselves in the Lord. Yes, life is hard and our journey on earth is full of experiences that tire us and wear us down. If we wish to be lifted up, to have lasting joy, to feel that sense of inner peace and calm that we long for (some days more than others), we must turn to Christ will full purpose of heart and allow the enabling power of his atonement to fill our hearts. We must relinquish our control and allow Him to guide and direct us as we grow in our discipleship. It is He who is our strength and our redemption from not only sin, but from the adversity of life that can test us on a regular basis. This Easter renew yourself in Christ and find your own resurrection experience to become that person you desire in the Lord – to have that joy that He wants you to have in Him. Thank you for being a part of my journey and helping me to find joy in the living Christ. 

April 8, 2011

I thought a lot about new names over the last couple of weeks. The spiritual concept of obtaining a new name has great significance for Latter-day Saints who have attended the temple. Although this doctrine may appear to be somewhat strange to other Christians, the fact is obtaining a new name is something that has deep Biblical roots. Abraham’s name was changed from Abram as recorded in Genesis 17:5: “Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.” Ten verses later in the same chapter God changed Abraham’s wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah. The same happened to Jacob when God changed his name to Israel as recorded in Genesis 35:10: “And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name….” Isaiah wrote “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name” (Isa. 62:2). John the revelator connected the concept of a new name with the temple when he wrote “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name (Rev. 3:12). Remember that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and what appears to be strange may need to be simply understood further. The scriptures provide us answers, as does the Holy Ghost through prayer and divine inspiration.

March 25, 2011

I learned a valuable lesson over the last few weeks. A few weeks ago I wrote about a group of people who were criticizing the Foundation for Christian Studies (FCS) for being deceptive and not forthcoming about the fact that it focuses on only one sect of Christianity – that which is taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism). I was very defensive about it and felt the comments were unfounded and perhaps were driven by a different agenda of simply not agreeing with Mormonism as a form of Christianity. After careful consideration we made several changes to the FCS website to be even more clear – crystal clear – about the focus of the Christian orthodoxy ascribed to by the FCS. We painstakingly made these changes in multiple areas of the website. After further review I am pleased with the changes and agree that these changes make it even more clear and leave little to no doubt in the minds of online passer-bys as they stumble onto our website. Those who know me will attest to the fact that I am stubborn and persistent for sure, but I am also one to admit when I am in the wrong. I was wrong in how I took those comments a few weeks ago and ask for the forgiveness of those whom I offended. They did the FCS a service, especially Tim McMahan who patiently facilitated the dialogue and runs an excellent blog as an ongoing conversation between Evangelicals and Mormons (http://ldstalk.wordpress.com). I have always been an advocate that it is OK for us to agree to disagree on matters of doctrine as it relates to the gospel of Jesus Christ and hope to continue that spirit into the foreseeable future. My prayer is that we can come together and unite to defend core Christian values in order to make this world a better place.

March 11, 2011

A woman wrote me an email the other day, railing on the LDS faith saying “there is no rest from Mormonism,” quoting the scripture from Matthew 11 about the yoke of Christ being easy and His burden light. Her interpretation of this verse was that having faith in Christ should make our lives easy and that we should not have to toil and work as a Christian. Is that true? Is life as a disciple of Christ one in which we are to rest easy and have light burdens? On the contrary, life as a disciple of Christ is spent in service and in building the kingdom of God on earth – not for brownie points, but because we love the Lord and his people and want His kingdom to reign on earth so all bask in His grace. Quoting my book The Biblical Roots of Mormonism: “Faith, works, and grace are the three legs of a spiritual platform that must be mounted to fully praise and experience God. The platform collapses if any of these legs is taken away. Faith is necessary for actions to have meaning, and grace is necessary for actions to have efficacy. There is a centuries-old debate about the matrix of faith, works, and grace. Some see an insurmountable contradiction, expressed here as a question: “If it is by undeserved grace that man is saved, how can faith or works also be a necessity of salvation?” Latter-day Saints disentangle from this either-or construct and embrace faith, works, and grace as a perfect unity. In this unity, a new life in Christ becomes possible, and fear of damnation is replaced with the joy of divine labor under the protection of grace.” So, shall we rest as a disciple of Christ? As John wrote in the Book of Revelation: “…Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13). Rest comes after we endure to the end. When we yoke our lives in Christ we will find service to be easy and our burdens light as a result, but that can only come through our acting on our faith, because as James wrote – “faith without works is dead.”

February 25, 2011

We had a small burst of activity this week around a set of individuals upset that the Foundation for Christian Studies (FCS) website is deceptive. While most will not clarify what they mean by deceptive, most will finally admit that they are angry that we are proclaiming the doctrines of Mormonism to be Christianity, or at least those of a legitimate sect of Christianity. Although I can understand their concerns based upon the fact that the Christian doctrines they ascribe to may be different from the doctrines of Christianity ascribed to by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, that does not make the FCS website deceptive. We make it very clear on the home page that we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and therefore one can expect that what is being taught on the website will be aligned with the Christian doctrines of Mormonism. It is really that simple. If one does not want to learn the Christian doctrines of Mormonism, then they are free to visit the thousands of other websites that teach other forms of Christianity. If one considers for a moment the overwhelming ratio of websites dedicated to cutting down the Mormon faith (negative-driven content) as compared to those that attempt to explain and teach the Mormon faith (positive-driven content), one might start to understand why we felt a website dedicated to a positive view of Mormonism as one of the many sects of Christianity was badly needed. We hope people who visit the FCS website will come with a bit more objectivity and therefore see the site for what is meant to be: one point of view of Christianity.

February 11, 2011

How difficult are decisions to make? How do you make decisions? I have learned over and over again that having faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and being rooted in His gospel allows us to clearly see how a decision should be made. The choices become clear, the possible consequences are illuminated, and the best choice rises to the top. However, being rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t necessarily lead to making the decision any easier. In other words, the decision to be made is clear, but making the decision can still be difficult. For example, you may know that you have to do something because it is clearly the right thing to do; however, you find yourself procrastinating because you don’t want to do it. In times like these I have found that increased prayer with a focus on thanksgiving is the key to gaining strength to make critical decisions. In these prayers it is not so much about asking for strength, but rather thanking your Heavenly Father for all He has done for you and thanking Him for helping you make the decision that needs to be made – as if He has already helped you. In doing so I have found faith is strengthened, courage takes hold, and action is rendered toward a decision being made and life going on as it needs to. I know the Lord will never abandon me, but that doesn’t mean the road will be easy… it rarely ever is. In these instances you can never have too much faith. Indeed, the gospel of Jesus Christ makes clear the right decisions, but we are still free to choose.

January 28, 2011

On September 24th of 2010 I wrote about our grandson Azryel coming to live with us due to the incarceration of my daughter Danielle in Texas. Exactly one year after the birth of Azryel – January 16, 2011 – that same daughter gave birth to identical twin boys (having been pregnant when she began her sentence). My wife and I knew about the twins several months ago and had to take time to understand all of the dynamics associated with the pending birth. Danielle refused to give up custody of the twins and therefore arranging a suitable adoption was out of the question. Should we do nothing the twins would be put into the Texas CPS system until my daughter was either released and the children given to her, or until the state declared her an unfit mother at which time the twins would be adopted out to who knows who. After weeks of intense prayer and discussion, accompanied by a remarkable experience in the temple, my wife and I decided to take the twins into our home to raise them as our own. Should anyone question our decision, you need only read the Family Proclamation to understand why we did this. Although a bit scared and freaked out by this sudden change in our family going from my youngest at 15 years old and making plans to go on a mission in four or five years, we are now gearing up to raise a second family: Azryel (1 year old), Taylor (new born) and Tyler (new born). So far it has been quite tiring, but very exciting and full of wonder My how life can change in an instant! We know this will be very challenging, but we also know this will be a great blessing to us all. The moral to this story for us and everyone else in their mortal journey is to remain flexible, keep a sense of humor, and have faith in the Lord that all will work out as it should.  

January 14, 2011

Joseph Collins wrote "a prudent person profits from personal experience, a wise one from the experience of others." President Monson speaks of the three "R's" of choice – the right of choice; the responsibility of choice; and the results of choice. The forth “R” might be the "reflection" of choice. How do we learn to make good choices? Not only by keeping the commandments and staying close to the Holy Ghost, but by reflecting on the council of wise parents, Church leaders, righteous friends, and the experience of those around us. We need not step out there on our own to break new ground in choice making when so many others have gone on before us to make those choices – we can benefit from observing (reflecting) the results of their choices to evaluate how we might choose ourselves. Some of the greatest pain that I have ever felt in my life is observing the poor choices of others and watching the suffering they have endured and sadness I have felt inside as a result. In every case those choices did not need to be made if the individual had clearly understood these four “R’s” of choice and relied on the Lord for strength. I most often see arrogance and recklessness in those who make poor choices, and occasionally I see ignorance for those who simply did not know any better. Take another look at President Monson’s talk on choices and internalize the great power of what the prophet is teaching us. Choose wisely!  

December 31, 2010

2010 is coming to an end and the new year 2011 looms. What will 2011 bring to you, your family, our nation… our world? Are we scheduled for more turmoil and unrest, or will there be more peace and calm? The scriptures provide us the signs we should be looking for and it suggests increased confusion, war, and unpredictability leading up to the second coming. Of course no one knows the timing of all of this, we simply know it will come and the events that lead up to the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are both great and dreadful according to Malachi 4:5. It will be great for those who are ready and dreadful for those who are not. So what should we do? The Lord tells us exactly what we should do in the 38th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants in verses 28 through 30: “(28) And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives. (29) Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land. (30) I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Let us prepare ourselves temporally and spiritually and whatever comes will come and we will not fear. Let 2011 be another year of greater preparation for you and your family so as to increase your faith and find peace in your hearts and minds. God’s promises are sure.  

December 17, 2010

What is Christmas to you? Christmas is a lot of things to my family and I. Yes, we totally buy into making Santa Claus a fun part of Christmas for children to the point where my wife has a huge Santa collection we display every year. We put up Christmas lights, a big tree, watch a ton of Christmas movies, and give gifts to one another. You might say the commercial side of Christmas is well entrenched in the Shuster home. At the same time each of these things is put into a spiritual perspective. Among the displayed Santa collection are messages such as “Wise Men Still Seek Him” and other reminders of the Savior. Our yard has the only nativity scene (a rather large one that is well lit) with a huge scripture from Isaiah and a Santa pointing to the baby Jesus saying “Jesus is the True Gift of Christmas.” Among our movie collection are nativity story videos and other clear reminders of the spiritual nature of the holiday. Both the spiritual and the magical can coexist beautifully at Christmas (Santa and Christ). What is most important is our perspective and how we teach our children during this sacred time that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and enjoy the magical spirit of the season. One special note: congratulations to my son Ryan for earning his Eagle Scout rank this week. We love him and are proud of him. 

December 3, 2010

There are three kinds of hearts spoken of in the scriptures: A hard heart, a broken heart, and a new heart. A hard heart comes from turning away from God, usually through pride. By distancing ourselves from God and his commandments (he never turns from us) our heart becomes hardened to his love and promptings. A broken heart comes from being penitent and humble, recognizing our nothingness without God and being receptive to His teaching, reprove, and inspiration. A new heart comes when we give our lives to God, are born again, and are given new life in Jesus Christ. Through being close to God and keeping our hearts soft; by being broken hearted in faith; and nurturing the new heart given to us in Christ, we can become pure in heart as disciplines of our Lord and Savior. It is then that we can enjoy the full blessings of the gospel in our life, serve others with joy and thanksgiving, build the kingdom of God on earth, and feel the complete love of our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ in mortality and beyond. Search the scriptures for references on the heart and begin your own journey towards greater love and spirituality in the vital organ of life – the heart.

November 19, 2010

A new study by Putnam and Campbell (see American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us, New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010) reveals a number of interesting things about the nature and social effects of American religion. Besides suggesting religion has a healthy influence on American society, it found Latter-day Saints to be a particularly peculiar breed, despite its relatively small numbers. Among other things Mormons were among the most devout religious groups in the country; among the most likely to keep their childhood faith as adults; are unusually giving; are relatively friendly to other religious groups; and despite believing that one true religion exists – Mormons believe that those outside of their faith can attain salvation (i.e. reach heaven). Having been a Latter-day Saint for over 20 years these findings do not surprise me, but it is good to find the data bears the facts out so soundly. To many, Mormons are not Christians, while Mormons think of themselves as being fiercely Christian. What this study reveals is a religion whose people live and demonstrate true Christian values in devotion to the Savior, faithfulness in living gospel principles, charitable in giving, loving to their neighbors, and extending a warm hand of inclusion and tolerance to those not of their faith. I do hope that many will consider this study, and many other studies like it which reveal similar findings, and shake off their negative perceptions of Mormonism and stand shoulder to shoulder with us in building the kingdom of God on earth. We don’t need to agree on doctrine, but we must unite together in order to overcome evil toward a better tomorrow. To learn more about the study click here.

November 5, 2010

I’m glad the election is over – I am tired of all of the negative advertising cutting down candidates with half-truths and character assignations. I am pleased that a wave of conservative candidates will be given a chance to shape our nation’s legislative agenda, but I am not convinced that meaningful change will come just because Republicans have taken a greater share of the power in Washington. The change I refer to is that which will inspire provident living among our citizens, the support of Christian-centered values, improvement in education, and the caring for the poor that will inspire them to independence. Call me an ideologue, but I believe that such a society is possible when the nation’s leaders legislate righteously and expound the virtues that are consistent with this social pattern. Out of control spending, the minimization of Christian values, the ignoring of a crumbling educational infrastructure, and the endless dole of welfare make for a weak and entitlement-riddled nation and must be addressed immediately. Before America can change its leaders must change to inspire its citizens toward a higher moral and economic standard. There is still good in the hearts of Americans that can be awakened to a greater sense of duty. Democrat or Republican – I don’t care. I urge our nation’s leaders to turn to the Lord and do what is right for the good of our people.

October 22, 2010

I am still in awe of what we heard in General Conference a couple of weeks ago. That is nothing new, I am usually in awe of every General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To hear living oracles of God speaking to us about the challenges of today and how we can be better disciples of Christ is breathtaking and inspiring. To witness these talks real-time is wonderful, but to have the manuscripts and videos available nearly immediately makes it all the better. We are already putting the talks to use in our family discussions. I was especially moved by the talks in the Priesthood session and those on Sunday afternoon. My wife Marilyn and I are very focused on issues relating with our children at the moment and it was if the speakers knew that and directed their comments specifically to us. I am sure many felt that same thing on a multitude of topics. Take the time to read the talks, to watch the segments, and get the most of each one of the General Conference sessions. I hope I never take these experiences for granted and am continually awe-struck by what I see and hear. May we all treasure what the Lord has to say to us through his prophets, seers, and revelators.

October 8, 2010

The prophet Isaiah counseled God’s people to “stand in holy places, and be not moved.” That same counsel was given by the Lord in revelations recorded in D&C 45:32, 87:8 and 101:22. By virtue of having to live in the world, each one of us is subjected to a constant barrage of messages and stresses that can seriously hurt our spiritual well-being and cause us to shrink in confidence and faith. As recorded in Isaiah 4:5-6, the Lord tells us what those holy places are and the protection we will receive: “And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion” – meaning our homes. “and upon her assemblies” – meaning our churches (stakes, wards, and branches if you are Mormon). “a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night” (direction for our lives). “for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle” – our wonderful temples on the earth. And these places of refuge will provide for us “…a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.” We are promised that if we stand in holy places we will be protected and find reset and refuge. Who doesn’t need rest from the storms of life?

September 24, 2010

Life can be full of surprises – most of us know that. Some surprises are good, some are not so good, and others you just don’t know about. The gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t tell us specifically how to deal with surprises – in fact the word “surprise” or “surprised” only appears three times in the scriptures, all in the Old Testament. However, surprises are can linked to the unexpected or unknown, and that leads us into the subject of faith. Paul wrote “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The prophet Alma wrote “faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” When surprises come to us in our life we may not understand why or how, but we are called to simply have faith and put our trust in the Lord to guide us. This week our eight month old grandson came to live with us on a permanent basis due to some long term hardship experienced by our daughter. Our youngest son is 15 and therefore we thought our child rearing days were over. The Lord had something else in mind. This was a BIG SURPRISE for us – one that is life altering. Marilyn and I took a deep breath, got on our knees, thanked the Lord for our circumstances and the opportunities he gives to us, and then took our grandson (Azryel) into our home. He will be raised with his family and will know the power and love of our Heavenly Father, the miracles of the atonement of Christ, and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. We don’t know what the future may hold with this new surprise, so we simply put one foot in front of the other and walk in faith.

September 10, 2010

My blog last week addressed the Glenn Beck Restoring Honor event at http://studychristianity.org/blog/. I was disappointed by the reaction from some Christian leaders who didn’t take exception to Beck’s message of faith and unity under God, but rather protested that Beck was not a Christian therefore should not be preaching such a message! Reverend Alan Rudnick, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa in his August 30th blog titled “Beck is No ‘Christian’ Leader” writes “If millions of people want to follow a man who claims to know “the path” to restoring American through Mormonism’s god, then count me out,” adding “Mormonism and Christianity are not the same thing.“ Are these insecure Christian leaders really still stuck on Mormonism not being a legitimate denomination of Christianity? I thought we were past that petty proclamation, especially during a time when the unification of all faiths under God is so important. I am convinced that fundamentalist Christian leadership is so afraid of the spiritual power, truth and Christ-centered focus of the LDS faith that no matter what the cause they must have some reason to complain against and degrade the Mormon Church. As Christ said: “.. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand (Matthew 12:25). When will the Christian elite stop dividing the Christian faithful and stand shoulder to shoulder against the forces of evil with ALL Christians, not just those that fit their narrow definition? Until that happens Satan will continue to have a field day on the children of God.

August 27, 2010

If one desires to gain a greater understanding of the majesty and awesome glory and power of God the Father, I suggest going for a hike through a mountain trail. I am a regular hiker and recently had the opportunity to do so with my wife, youngest son, and my older brother from Stinson Beach up to Mount Tamalpais in Northern California. It was a relative rain forest with huge ferns, redwoods, and a variety of wildlife and foliage. WOW – what a great hike. I kept marveling at how God creates all that he creates and how each element is entirely unique. How the ecosystem works in perfect harmony and regenerates itself without the help of man. My thoughts then turn to the fact that I as an individual am part of God’s plan, just as everyone else is on this earth. We have the opportunity to walk this journey in discipleship with Christ to find joy and happiness in mortality and prepare ourselves for life in the eternities. It is a perfect plan, but only if we embrace it and live the gospel so as to understand the plan and make the most out of it. How blessed we are to have such a loving Heavenly Father, a forgiving Savior in Jesus Christ, and the truth-revealing inspiration of the Holy Ghost. To that I gladly accept the admonition of those who tell me to go “take a hike!”

August 13, 2010

If one desires to gain a greater understanding of the majesty and awesome glory and power of God the Father, I suggest going for a hike through a mountain trail. I am a regular hiker and recently had the opportunity to do so with my wife, youngest son, and my older brother from Stinson Beach up to Mount Tamalpais in Northern California. It was a relative rain forest with huge ferns, redwoods, and a variety of wildlife and foliage. WOW – what a great hike. I kept marveling at how God creates all that he creates and how each element is entirely unique. How the ecosystem works in perfect harmony and regenerates itself without the help of man. My thoughts then turn to the fact that I as an individual am part of God’s plan, just as everyone else is on this earth. We have the opportunity to walk this journey in discipleship with Christ to find joy and happiness in mortality and prepare ourselves for life in the eternities. It is a perfect plan, but only if we embrace it and live the gospel so as to understand the plan and make the most out of it. How blessed we are to have such a loving Heavenly Father, a forgiving Savior in Jesus Christ, and the truth-revealing inspiration of the Holy Ghost. To that I gladly accept the admonition of those who tell me to go “take a hike!”

July 30, 2010

This week some doctoral students discussed that without knowledge of history, culture and other social aspects of ancient times one cannot fully understand the Bible. The group felt that one had to be into the mind of the writer or things could easily be taken out of context. I began my involvement in the conversation by adding the aspect of “translation” can also act as a barrier to understanding. However, I then took the group down the path that the scriptures are for the common person, not only for the learned. When Tyndale translated the scriptures into English for the common person he was quoted as saying: "“I defy the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of the scriptures than you!” We understand the scriptures not by becoming scholars, but by first and foremost relying on the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost sets aside the need for scholarly understanding and puts into the hands of the truth seeking individual spiritual understanding that transcends the need to know culture, history, context, etc. When we add to the inspiration of the Holy Ghost a knowledge of history, culture and so forth our understanding can become enriched and more full. If this was not the case, then we might as well go back to the days of the early church where the peasants relied on church leaders for their spiritual understanding - and the church used this power as control over them. No thanks!

July 23, 2010

Why do some people feel a need to have religious debates? I guess it can be stimulating for some, but it can get also get ridiculous. With my new book reaching the masses I am starting to get that familiar communication via YouTube and email about how “wrong” I am in my explanations of Christian theology. I guess I could be wrong in one or more places, but one must keep in mind that my book is my opinion. Although everything regarding the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in my books comes from the Gospel Principles manual and is official Church doctrine, my Biblical explanations are formulated in part from teachings I have come across from the LDS faith, but also from my own study. The point is, we can have our own Christian views and share those with others civilly. Since there is no way to “verify” any of us being conclusively right, there is no need to lash out and accuse me or anyone else of blasphemy. If you don’t like my perspectives on Christianity then don’t buy my book. I welcome communication from all people to share their views and ask questions on mine, but there is a line that is crossed when someone becomes so worked up that they begin getting personal and nasty, destroying the credibility of their message. Let’s all keep calm – we are brothers and sisters in Christ and can discuss these things in a rational and loving manner.

July 16, 2010

The new trailer for my latest book The Biblical Roots of Mormonism (co-authored with Chuck Sale) has finally arrived at YouTube (Click Here). The Biblical Roots of Mormonism, offer a unique validation of Mormon doctrines as revealed in the Bible. The book shows how the Bible, standing alone, sustains Latter-day Saint theology and practice. Biblical teaching and Mormon understanding are discussed side-by-side. Key Bible passages are quoted, not merely cited. The Book includes 23 chapters, more than 300 distinct topics, a comprehensive index of more than 1,000 biblical references, a bibliography to aid further study, and an extensive table of contents for easy reference and lesson plan building. Nagging questions are answered about the nature and purpose of Jesus Christ; the Trinity; premortal existence; faith, grace, and works; the afterlife; God the Father; the Holy Ghost; Satan; modern revelation and prophets; Joseph Smith; capital punishment; same-gender attraction; abortion; polygamy; and much more. This book is an important contribution to Christian literature. It is clear, concise, and highly readable. It will deepen the appreciation of Latter-day Saints for their biblical heritage. It will strengthen ties between Mormons and other Christians, enhancing positive dialogue and deepening mutual understanding throughout the Christian world. And it will help non-Christians better understand Christianity in general, and the Mormon practice of Christianity in particular.

July 9, 2010

King David was a man after God's own heart. Brave, faithful and wise, David slew Goliath, ruled Israel and wrote the Psalms. However, David also fell trap to one of Satan's oldest tricks in the book which led him to commit the most vilest sins that anyone can commit. How? It started when David stayed home as opposed to fighting for his nation (2 Sam. 11:1). Then David while home watched Bathsheba as she bathed (2 Sam 11:2) - not a sin, but he apparently fixed his sights on her beauty. Then instead of letting that go he nurtures the thought (2 Sam. 11:3) and then sends for her and sleeps with her and she conceives (2 Sam. 11:4-5). Already in a serious state of sin David tires to cover it up by having Bathsheba's husband sleep with her (2 Sam. 5-11), but Uriah stays true and David's secret plan is foiled. Desperate to cover up his sins (plural now), David sends Uriah to the front lines to be killed (2 Sam. 11:14-17). Thinking he has covered up his sins successfully the prophet Nathan tells him that God knows what he did and David is exposed (2 Sam. 12:7). David followed a pattern of one sin upon another as opposed to just coming clean to begin with through repentance. David eventually does repent as see in Psalm 51. God will give us a clean heart and hands if we admit our guilt, rely on the atonement of Christ to cleanse and empower us, and be faithful to his commandments. If David, a man after God's own heart, can fall prey to Satan's trickery, so can we if we don't seek the Lord everyday and the strength that comes in Jesus Christ.

July 2, 2010

We are approaching 4th of July, the day our nation celebrates its declaration of independence. 234 years ago a tattered bunch of colonies and brave individuals stood up to tyranny and sacrificed the lives of its finest to begin this great nation of ours. The vision was to have freedom (religion, social, etc.), to exercise personal responsibility, and to prosper according to the God-given talents each person possessed. Eventually those tattered colonies would become a powerful and enduring nation, a beacon of freedom and liberty for the entire world. It is clear to see how God has blessed our nation to prosper in a multitude of ways. It is equally clear to see how our nation is our own worst enemy as we have found a variety of ways over the last several decades to weaken our nation and break down the values on which the United States was founded. As our constitution hangs in the balance, there are forces that would turn this great nation into a run-of-the-mill country operating under a massive government and a generic set of twisted ideals. Disappearing is the vision on which the United States was built upon, being replaced by a "progressive" vision. This 4th of July let us remind ourselves of how our nation came to be and the blessings of God that helped bring about our original independence and the preservation of freedom and liberty in the centuries that followed. We can be there again, but we must stand up and be brave as we did 234 years ago.

June 25, 2010

World cup soccer fever is around the world with citizens bringing out their colors and patriotism to cheer on the home team. It's quite amazing how a sport can go almost dormant for four years and then become the center of the world's attention for a few weeks. There are three reasons for this dynamic: First, soccer is the world's most popular sport, played on more streets and playgrounds around the globe then baseball could ever hope to be. Soccer requires only a ball and whatever is around for a goal. Second, people can't help but rally around their team - it is a sense of pride in one's nation. Lastly, it is a time for everyone to forget the stresses of life and allow themselves to just get lost in a passionate and competitive game. I would love to see America's passion for God and nation be stirred up in this same way, but not every four years for the election of a President, but continually so that we can solve our nation's problems and keep the spirit of God flowing through everyone's veins. To be a strong and vibrant nation we need that. Too many sit on the sidelines with lukewarm faith, apathetic passion, and little pride in the home team. The result is a nation in crisis with people who don't care. May each one of us wake up every day with the fervor of the world cup in our souls, cheering for the home team and bringing out our colors in Christ to lift our nation up into the hands of God.

June 18, 2010

Death is not final, but death can bring pain out of a sense of loss and wandering through old memories. My father passed away last Friday after several weeks of struggling in the hospital - he was 83 years old. Although 83 is not necessarily old by today's mortality standards, it is surely old enough to have lived a long life. My dad was a pilot, engineer and scientist, but mostly he was a husband, father, friend and much more to many people. We want our loved ones to hang on for us because we enjoy having them there and can't stand the thought of them being gone. It is a common human emotion no matter what religion you are a part of. For Latter-day Saints, as with most Christians, death brings an end to mortality and the beginning of life in the eternities. Progression continues and we take with us all that we have learned on earth - or as the book of Revelation writes: "and their works do follow them" (Rev. 14:13 and 3 Nephi 27:12). The work of progression is eternal beginning in the premortal existence until the time of the Final Judgment - and even then it is likely to continue. I am sad my father is gone, leaving us with only memories and without the sound of his voice, the feeling of his touch, or the care of his counsel. He gave us so much during his mortal life and I thank him for that. I love you Dad - see you on the other side when the time comes for me to join you and the rest of our family.

June 11, 2010

Religious online forums are an interesting breed. Ideally such forums should allow people to share ideas and thoughts towards a greater understanding and learning of one another's faiths. However, all too often religious online forums become platforms for people to harshly evangelize their beliefs with no thought of collateral damage. Instead of sharing in the spirit of spiritual exchange, it becomes a battle for whose right complete with personal attacks and complete disrespect. Their interpretation of scripture is always right and yours is always wrong. From time to time I decide to get involved in the conversation and am reminded of the often uncivil nature of these forums. I truly try to help increase understanding by sharing my views, only to find many in disagreement spouting every reason in the world why the Mormon faith is false and its doctrines full of holes. It seems no one is really listening to one another, rather they simply want to get their point across at all costs. Should you decide to brave one or more of these forums that can be likened to the wild west of web, consider the following: 1) always be respectful and kind in the spirit of Christ; 2) never launch personal attacks; 3) Remain calm; 4) don't stay on the defensive all of the time - it is OK to ask questions and allow someone else to defend their own faith. It is not for the faint of heart, but every now and then a real truth seeker enters the discussion and you may help them understand a different perspective on the gospel of Jesus Christ.    

June 4, 2010

It’s official – The Biblical Roots of Mormonism is shipping from Amazon and should be in brick and mortar stores soon! This will be a very important book for many individuals inside and outside of the LDS Church. For Latter-day Saints Biblical Roots will be a testimony builder of how deeply woven the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is in the marrow of the roots of the Bible. Mormons can confidently converse with their friends and neighbors about Christian theology using a common foundation in the Bible. For non-Mormons Biblical Roots can either be an awakening or a stumbling block. It will awaken those who have felt the spirit about the LDS Church but have not acted upon it. They will read and the Holy Ghost will touch and inspire them to the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—hopefully to the waters of baptism to start a new life in Christ. It will be a stumbling block to those who fight against the Mormon faith in vain to disprove its doctrines and slander its good name. With over 1,000 biblical references across a wide range of topics, Biblical Roots soundly demonstrate the strong biblical foundation on which the LDS faith is built today and how modern day scripture is the key to further understanding. This is the Lord’s work and not the work of man. We pray Biblical Roots will open up dialogue between many to bring about new understanding and respect among all Christians, that we might join together in the Savior and build the kingdom of God on earth.  

May 28, 2010

It's time to chime in on the Arizona Immigration Law. I try not to let politics seep into the weekly thought, so let's focus on three key issues that we all need to keep in mind as we take sides for or against the controversial law. First, the law is addressing a major problem the state of Arizona is having which is costing them billions of dollars every year in healthcare, education, law enforcement, and other directly related matters. Second, the law is focused on rooting out those who are breaking the law, not those who are law abiding. Third, Arizona is a sovereign state that has the constitutional right to enact laws they feel are necessary to protect the welfare and well being of the citizens of their state. Having said all this there are people-related issues that will result from the unintended consequences of the law and that is extremely unfortunate, yet unavoidable. Bottom line, it's a mess that will take time to fix and Arizona lawmakers are taking a long term view of the issue and made the hard decision to draw the line. It was wildly unpopular with many, but sometimes the courageous have to stand up for what is right and invariably will take the arrows for doing so. The gospel of Jesus Christ is about personal responsibility and I believe the Arizona law tries to address personal responsibility. Only time will tell. 

May 21, 2010

My oldest brother Tom is a wise man, having lived and experienced a great many things - both good and bad - that have allowed him to gain such wisdom. He told me this week that as parents our jobs are to "prepare the child for the path, not prepare the path for the child." WOW - that really resonated with me! I think all too often we spend our time as parents preparing paths instead of focusing on preparing the child. We want our kids to be successful, but at what costs? If the path is too easy the child will stumble when the path becomes difficult. If we focus on the child to be prepared for whatever might come, it doesn't matter what the path might bring. There is nothing more valuable we can give to our children then the gospel of Jesus Christ and all of the principles that go along with the gospel. It is not only about having faith in Christ, but the principles of the gospel such as hard work, honesty, integrity, accountability, provident living, and so forth. It is about allowing them to fail sometimes so they can learn. It is about demonstrating for them how to navigate the path in good time and in bad. We are not responsible for our children's joy - they are through their choices. We are responsible for teaching them how to find joy. Thanks Tom - I needed that.   

May 14, 2010

Laws exist that we might live within appropriate boundaries, protect the greater good, and demonstrate our love of God. There are three kinds of laws: 1) Natural Laws (governed by nature); 2) civil laws (governed by the police and our justice system); and 3) God's Laws (governed by God and the great mediator and judge Jesus Christ). We must obey the laws of each category or pay the price of not doing so. Just because we don't believe in one or more laws doesn't mean we are not subject to the consequences of breaking those laws. We can say as much as we'd like that we don't believe in gravity, but when we jump off a building we are going to fall. We may not agree with a civil law, but if we break it we may go to jail. We may not believe in God and choose to not follow His laws, but nonetheless when we break his laws it is a sin and we will pay the consequences. In some cases we can break all three laws at once and then we are really in trouble. So as to not confuse ourselves we need only remember God's laws and we will be OK with the rest. God's laws are very complete and help us stay on the "narrow" path that leads us to eternal life and keeps us living within the bounds the Lord has set for us - bounds that keep us physically and spiritually strong. Be a law keeper in Jesus Christ, not a law breaker and you will have joy and happiness.    

May 7, 2010

Kindness never goes out of style and is something we can never show too much of. It is one of the attributes of the Boy Scout law. It is something prophets of the Church have encouraged us to show often to others, regardless of their race or religion. According to Webster's dictionary kindness is "showing tenderness or goodness; disposed to do good and confer happiness; averse to hurting or paining; benevolent; benignant; gracious." Mark Twain once said "kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the and the blind can see." Mother Teresa, one of the kindest persons to ever walk the earth said "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile." It is incumbent upon Christians to all using Jesus as the ultimate example of kindness. The apostle Peter taught that kindness leads to charity - which is the pure love of Christ (2 Pet. 1: 7). Let's all be a little more kind today and everyday so that we can make this world a better place. 

April 30, 2010

I am reminded of the importance of listening to and heeding the words of modern day prophets. In 1998 Gordon B. Hinckley spoke in a priesthood session of conference about the need to get our houses in order as he warned things might become economically difficult in the coming years. He encouraged financial restraint and responsibility and urged those who could to get out of debt. He likened the situation to the time of Joseph where there was seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. That was 12 years ago and now we see the world in a state of financial and economic chaos. Those who heeded President Hinckley's counsel have greater peace in their lives today as they are prepared for the turmoil we are in. The words of ancient prophets as written in the scriptures are important for us to read, ponder, and pray about on a daily basis. There is wisdom in doing that. However, there is even more wisdom in giving ear and obeying the words of God's chosen mouth pieces in the present time. In that there is even more wisdom. 

April 23, 2010

They say patience is a virtue. What is patience? We typically think of patience as a willingness to wait - I would add "for that which is worth waiting for." A study was conducted decades ago with young children where they were given the opportunity to eat a single marshmallow, or if they waited 15 minutes they would be given two marshmallows to eat. The researched then left them in the room with the marshmallow behind a two way mirror. A certain percentage of the children ate the marshmallow right away; some waiting a while before eating it; while others were able to wait the full 15 minutes. While these results were interesting, the rest of the story was the study tracking these same children 25 to 30 years later. Invariably those children who were able to wait the longest to eat the marshmallow were the most successful in their lives in family, career, and spiritually. Those who ate the marshmallow the quickest generally had more difficulty in their lives. The scriptures tell us that to be patient is a wonderful thing. Let us try to exercise patience in all things, waiting for that which is good and being slow to that which is not in our best interests. 

April 16, 2010

Education is a wonderful blessing that is highly available to nearly everyone in the United States (US). That is not the case in many other countries and therefore should never be taken for granted. Public kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) education is "free" in the US, paid for by tax dollars - often property taxes. Although some school districts in the US are in bad financial shape, generally K-12 is alive and well in every community. Beyond K-12 there are Junior Colleges, Public Universities, and Private Universities that can allow further education for those with a K-12 education or a GED. There are grants, scholarships, and financing available to help fund college education in the US. It is not cheap, but it is infinitely worth the cost. Exploding costs of college aside, the opportunity is there for anyone who desires an education, which is something not everyone in the world has access to. Gain as much education as you can - the Lord will bless you for it. 

April 10, 2010

General Conference was last weekend (including Easter) and it was fantastic as usual. We never tire hearing the words of prophets, seers, and revelators and the rest of the Church auxiliaries. Their spiritual insights are so powerful and practical for the entire world, not just Mormons. All who speak are not given assigned topics, they pray to discern what to speak about. In the 21 years Those who watch conference regularly will know you will never see two talks on an identical topic; however, there is always wonderful overlap in way that creates themes. Last weekend the theme was families, the atonement of Christ, and strengthening faith. There was a particular focus on parents listening to their children and ensuring they stand in holy places through service. How wonderful it was to hear God speaking to us through these chosen vessels (men and women), accented by beautiful music. We thank the Lord for these conferences twice a year, and for reinforcing what is spoken in the Ensign magazine. What a great blessing. 

April 2, 2010

It is the weekend of Easter - the holiest of all times for Christians. We celebrate the atonement and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We do so by first recognizing the agony of our redeemer in the Garden of Gethsemane where he took upon himself the sins of the world (every sin ever committed and ever will be committed). His pain was so great that "his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground" and his soul was "exceeding sorrowful, even unto death." After being taken, judged, and scourged he was crucified at Calvary. Three days later Jesus Christ emerged from the tomb, overcoming death in his glorious resurrection. Although painful to consider the agony experienced by our Savior, we rejoice in this ultimate act of love in that it makes it possible for us to be forgiven for our sins and have everlasting life. Without the infinite atonement of Christ we would be lost forever with no chance of happiness or life everlasting. This Easter season let us ponder more fully the atonement of Christ, while keeping in our hearts all year round its meaning and impact on our lives as Christians.

March 26, 2010

Personal scripture study should be a primary form of worship for our lives. Each day it is important to come before the Lord to read His word, ponder their meaning for our lives, and pray to receive further personal revelation. This is not a group exercise, this is personal exercise between the individual and our Heavenly Father. Some people call these "personal devotionals." It doesn't matter what book of scripture one uses - it could be the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, or the Pearl of Great Price. Some choose to add talks written by the General Authorities of the Church to augment the scriptures, bringing fresh insights to the worship experience. It doesn't matter how one does this, what matters is that it gets done - and done each day or as much as possible. In the crazy world we live in one must put on the whole armor of God everyday and there is no better armor than the word of God in our lives. Let us be valiant in this endeavor so that we can be strong to weather the storms of life and be in a position to build the kingdom of God on earth through our testimonies in Jesus Christ our Lord.  

March 19, 2010

It appears one way or another a new healthcare bill will be passed soon. Many Americans want it, many do not. Some politicians want it, some do not. The facts are dizzying, the truth is difficult to find, and the dynamics are breathtaking. The bottom line is that our country needs healthcare reform, but our country is broke and cannot afford more debt. The cost of healthcare is too much - period! That must be addressed through reducing costs of care (i.e. $12 boxes of tissues in hospitals), enacting tort reform (i.e. $10 million suits for malpractice), and sensible insurance company regulation. A plan emerged this week regarding passage of the legislation without a vote in Congress, allowing members of Congress to not have to be associated with the current train-wreck of a bill. For anyone who has ever read in the Book of Mormon about secret combinations this is exactly what is going on. This is America and we legislate in the open where everyone has an opportunity to witness and participate in one way or another. Any limitation of such or attempts to restrict are purely anti-Constitutional and have no place in American politics.    

March 12, 2010

We live in an information rich world. It use to be (decades ago) that someone had to go to the library to access a vast repository of information, nearly all of which was relevant and credible. Now all one needs to do is go online to gain access to endless repositories of information. The problem is, a great deal of the information online is questionable at best; therefore, the challenge today is not accessing information, it is finding relevant and credible information. Because there is a desire for instant gratification in today's society few will take the time to check out and vet the information they come across online, often accepting the first few searches that match a desired perspective. As a market research professional I am appalled some of the information I come across online - blatantly untrue, carelessly pulled together, and in some cases incredibly deceptive. We must be careful about where we get our information and must apply critical thinking to that which we come across. Thank God for the Holy Ghost which is the ultimate processor of spiritual information we come across. Without it we are blind and can easily be deceived.

March 5, 2010

I am a conservative politically as are many Christians. The dichotomy for many of us is that Christ believed in personal responsibility and accountability, but also taught that we must take care of the poor and needy - a mixture of principles today characterized by both conservatives and liberals. It is a balance that we have totally lost in the political arena. These principles are not mutually exclusive and are in fact complementary. We have lost the vision of personal responsibility and accountability in our society, leaving many people uneducated and looking for a handout. America needs a long term vision on this issue that includes teaching everyone how to fish instead of giving away endless supplies of fish without any labor required to reciprocate. We need to include dignity in the plan and the ability for one to increase self-esteem and the desire necessary to make a better life for one's self and family. We need to look beyond the moment and into the future - beyond elections - and into the next generation. I pray we can gain this vision as a country to pull ourselves out of this current state of affairs.    

February 26, 2010

There are those that struggle with everyday things and become frustrated at the outcome. I will counsel with them and often conclude that the core issue is DESIRE. Fundamental to achieving anything is the desire to do so. Even when we don't like what we are doing, there must still be a desire to at least "get it over with." The simplicity of this thought is overshadowed by the complexity of the human spirit. When we don't really want to do something how can we have a desire to do it? The desire at that point is the vision of a greater whole. The vision of moving on to something you like more; the vision of success as a student, a professional, a parent, or most importantly a servant of the Lord. We must dig deep into our heart and mind and muster the desire (or motivation) to succeed at the small things in order to enjoy success in the bigger things. In the parable of the talents the Lord tells the two faithful servants "thou has been faithful over a few things, I will make the ruler over many things." Once we master this simple truth we can truly do great things in our lives and in the lives of others. 

February 19, 2010

There are many individuals dealing with depression and issues relating to bipolar and other mental illness. It is often tough to cope with and difficult to manage. My family has dealt with such issues for decades, one of my siblings even taking his life after a battle with depression. It is a serious matter indeed. I have come to understand that the formula for success in overcoming such handicaps is often fourfold: 1) clinical: taking advantage of available prescription medications and psychological treatments; 2) spiritual: praying to endure by turning to our Heavenly Father in Jesus Christ for strength to overcome the trials; 3) friends and family: allowing those who care about and love us most to help; and 4) service: losing ourselves in the service of others that one might have joy and forget about the issues that plague. The combination of these things will help anyone battling with depression and other issues of mental health to overcome their handicaps and find lasting joy and happiness. It won't be easy, but it will be worth it.   

February 12, 2010

My brother Tom once told me that the word "ego" is really an acronym for Easing God Out. I was taken by this simple truth and realized in more ways than one he was right. It is important for us to believe in ourselves as children of God and have confidence that we can persevere, overcome adversity, and glorify God in our professional and personal lives. However, we can easily cross the line with too many "I's" and "me's" to the point where we become arrogant, self-centered, and begin taking too much credit personally and draw the glory away from God and others who may be lifting us up. Psychologists will tell us that self-esteem is critical to the development of the human spirit, but we must not sacrifice humility and meekness for an overpowering ego. As the saying goes: there is no "I" in the word team. Let us be a cohesive team with those we surround ourselves with and the one being who created us and gives us strength in his son Jesus Christ. Life is so much more joyful without the ball and chain of an over-inflated ego.   

February 5, 2010

The tragedy in Haiti has triggered an outpouring of love and support. I have also seen some criticism of the efforts by Haitian locals who feel the support is coming with a forced Christian message – meaning there is preaching going on while food, water, and bibles are being handed out. As a Christian I love witnessing to others and sharing of my faith, but there is a time and a place for evangelism. I strongly believe in the power of example as being the greatest method of witnessing of Jesus Christ one can provide. I am reminded of the many acts of service by Christians in all parts of the world without mentioning anything about Christianity or trying to hand out scriptures. What happens later is that those very people who were served, once their life is through the crisis, seek out the churches and organizations who rendered that selfless service to them because they remember the example of love and kindness they showed. Witnessing of Jesus Christ can be the simple example we demonstrate without a word spoken.  

January 29, 2010

Cedar Fort has just accepted our new manuscript and scheduled it for an early summer 2010 release. On this book I invited Chuck Sale, my editor on Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest, to be my co-author. While I don’t want to give away entirely what the book is about, let’s just say that comprehensive support for Mormonism as being the most biblically-based Christian sect is on its way. We are certain that this will increase the testimony of Latter-day Saints everywhere as they come across references and piece together things they never have before. We know many Latter-day Saints will want to give this book to their friends and family who are not LDS so they can see why we are so passionate about our doctrine and that in the Bible we have much in common to discuss. It took two years to research this book and the result is a spirit-driven and divinely inspired work that we feel blessed to have been a part of. We will keep you updated. God Bless.  

January 22, 2010

New life in the world is always exciting. My daughter Danielle gave birth to our grandson this week and there was a lot of excitement about that. Procreation with God is still a miracle to me. I'm not talking about how to make babies, but how a spirit enters into the tabernacle of flesh and becomes a living soul. We can explain it theologically, but we can hardly comprehend the process and its impact on human life. God the Father is the father of all spirits, including the spirits of everyone who has been born or ever will be born on earth (Hebrews 12:9). All men and women are the spirit offspring of God (Acts 17:29), chosen before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4). Before Jeremiah was born, the Lord knew him, sanctified him, and ordained him a prophet (Jeremiah 1:5). As we look into the eyes of each newborn child we yearn for them to remember where they were less than a year before, to speak of life with God, and to tell us about their premortal experiences. The plan of God is that we would forget our premortal life and experience mortality without those memories. We celebrate new life and the journey that comes with being children of God, making new memories along the way.

January 15, 2010

The scriptures are clear that being idle as an individual can be dangerous; thus all of God's children are encouraged to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness" (D&C 58:27). We must be careful to be busy with important things that indeed bring to pass much righteousness, and not in things of little worth. President Thomas S. Monson urged us to resist being "in the thick of thin things." The Savior taught to "seek ye first the kingdom of God." I am reminded of the parable of the talents in the 25th chapter of Matthew. The servants with the greater responsibilities were able to accomplish great things, while the servant with the least amount of responsibility did the least and was admonished for it. I enjoy being busy and accomplish far more when I have many things to do. Multi-tasking is a learned art and each one of us needs to learn it! The current day and age rarely affords us the luxury of focusing on one thing at a time. Let us be busy in important things, putting God first, and lengthening our stride to reach our full potential in Jesus Christ.

January 8, 2010

Few people will include in their New Year’s resolutions the goal of more patience and perseverance. My wife told me years ago to not include her in any prayers I might have for more patience – she did that once and the Lord delivered. Ouch! I believe patience and perseverance are the key to reaching goals, including the smallest or largest of New Year’s resolutions. I religiously set goals every year and employ the strategy of “a little bit at a time.” In any goal one must never let best be the enemy of better. Setting a big goal that requires an “all or nothing” approach is usually doomed for failure. If one wants to lose weight then set the goal as 2 pounds per month, for a total of 24 in the year. This year I wanted to reach 50 pull-ups and 150 push-ups. I am adding one pull-up and five push-ups each week. I will reach that goal by the end of the year. Whether it be academic, professional, spiritual, or physical goals, focus attention on patience and perseverance doing a little at a time. The scripture says: “line upon line, precept upon precept.” Successfully reaching a small goal is far more valuable long term than failing at a large goal. God bless.

January 1, 2009

My oldest son Jason was married this week - congratulations to he and his wife Mckell. It is completely cliché, but my how time passes so quickly during our time here on this earth. Our mortal existence is so short, but there are times when it can seem so long. We spent over two decades raising my son. There were times when it could not go fast enough, and times when it went by in a flash. The song "Cat in the Cradle" from long ago can be very true to life as we as parents can miss a few things when our kids are growing up and then when we finally want to spend some quality time with them as adults their busier than we are. What really counts is how we used the time we spent together. There were scout campouts, sporting events, school activities, family vacations, family prayer, and shooting pool in our basement. Although not all of his choices were those which I would have made, I am confident that he will be a good husband, a great father, and a solid Christian who will help build the kingdom. Quality time with our children is so important - before you know it they will be off on their own.

December 24, 2009

Christmas can be many things to many different people. For some it is more spiritual with a focus on the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. For others it is more commercially oriented with the glitz and gifts. Whatever it is, things just seem to feel different at Christmas time. People are happier, more gracious to one another (except on Black Friday), and more willing to do service. Christmas has the power to bring out the best in people. Maybe it's the lights, the trees, the decoration, the music, and/or something more deep within our hearts. Whatever it might be I pray that we can capture that feeling within our hearts and propagate it throughout the year. Much easier said than done of course; however, if we focus ourselves on the origins of Christmas - Jesus Christ and the miracle of His birth - we can have that joy in our lives every day. This means personal daily devotionals of reading the scriptures, praying, and meditating on the Savior and what he means to us personally. I know that if we do this the Holy Ghost will touch our souls and deliver us that Christmas feeling each and every day. It is there waiting for us. Merry Christmas.

December 14, 2009

Welcome to the new official website for Eric Shuster at www.ericshuster.com. With this new website we hope to create a place of interest, inspiration, and valuable information that will keep you coming back often. Besides providing content on myself (Eric Shuster) as an author, this site will direct you to resources that are complementary to the books I release and media that will augment and enhance your experience as a reader – regardless of your religious or spiritual orientation. We have included links to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, making sure there is something for everyone. Take a moment to click around and let us know how we might improve our website to better serve you. Come with us as we embark on this new phase of our journey.

© 2009 Eric Shuster. All Rights Reserved.