Tuesdays with Muerte

Kenneth Rooks poses after winning the silver medal in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase final, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. Ashley Landis, Associated Press According to a Church News article , Kenneth Rooks, a former Brigham Young University track star and Latter-day Saint missionary, said that Alma 26 from The Book of Mormon inspired him to win a silver medal in the 2024 Summer Olympics men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.  In the chapter, Ammon says, " I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things " (verse 12). Rooks said this passage reminded him to be humble and trust the Lord. He also said that he was thinking about being an instrument in God's hands and that the Olympics were an opportunity to do that. Inspiration I draw from Rook's Olympic story: Rooks feared how he would measure up to internati...

Lyrics Sheet music Song Review Few hymns bring me greater peace than  My Shepherd Will Supply My Need . And no one sings it better than the Tabernacle Choir. Here are some of the couplets I find most meaningful: In pastures fresh He makes me feed, Beside the living stream. For me, this imagery reminds me that wherever I am, I am partaking of God's creations for me. He is my constant source of nourishment, whether I recognize His hand or not. ( Mosiah 2:20-24 ) He is the living stream. But it is up to me to come to him to receive His life-giving water. A word of Thy supporting breath, Drives all my fears away. "Peace." ( Mark 4:35-41 ) This lyric reminds me of the many times God's Spirit has banished my fear.   Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, Doth still my table spread; When my senses are trained on the surrounding threats, this verse reminds me to keep my attention on the Savior. He will provide. In fact, these perceived threats may just be opportunities to become ...

I want to be an under shepherd for Christ, but I fear my light is not super bright. Is my dim light enough? Dim Lightbulb  by  Aditya Vyas When I love people, I desire to be open with them. That includes the deep joy I find in my relationship with Jesus Christ. The Rub But here's the rub. When I hear "motivational" quotes like,  "If you want to give light to others, you have to glow yourself.”  And “Ours is the responsibility to keep our lights bright for others to see and follow.”  —Thomas S. Monson "Stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all  places" (Mosiah 18:9, emphasis added). "As we live the gospel, love and serve others, stand strong in the face of temptation and persecution, and bear testimony in word and deed, we will draw others to Jesus Christ" (" Our Call to Share the Savior's Gospel ,"   Liahona,  July 2023, 7). I think: "You must be flawless before you can invite someone to be mor...

The purpose of my talk is to help you to move the mountains in your life by following President Russell M. Nelson’s 5 suggestions from his April 2021 General Conference talk, Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains . When I was taught my first lessons on faith, I mistakenly thought that I would, one day, be expected to develop sufficient faith to literally move mountains. I can’t tell you how relieved I was, 30 years later, to hear President Nelson clarify that those mountains were figurative. He elucidated,   My dear brothers and sisters…through your faith, Jesus Christ will increase your ability to move the mountains in your life , even though your personal challenges may loom as large as Mount Everest. Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other personal problems. Your mountains will vary, and yet the answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a pa...

Personal Introduction By way of introduction, my name is Bryan Tanner. 30 years ago, I was a kid in Redmond, WA; I lived just down the street from Microsoft campus and the U.S. HQ for Nintendo. 20 years ago, I was a freshman here at BYU, positive that I was going to revolutionize the biotech industry. 10 years ago, I got my first big-boy job in a completely different field, creating learning experiences for companies—first for the Air Force, and then for Church HQ. That obviously didn’t work out because a few years later, I came back to BYU as a student. I attended a South Provo ward in this stake. (For those doing the math, yes, President Hansen was Stake President at the time.) 2.5 years ago, I married my dream girl and we have a baby boy on the way. Last week, I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation on a potential model to help people in my field transition from academia into the business world. Purpose I’m grateful for this brief moment I have to be with you. I believe tha...