Tuesdays with Muerte

Primary answers Primary answers aren't only primary answers because they are given by primary children. They are primary answers because they are essential to our fundamental happiness and eternal exaltation. I need to try to make primary answers more primary in my life. Heartfelt prayer Earnest study of doctrine (scriptures, latter-day prophets, personal revelation) Faithful church and temple attendance Meaningful service Satan is still trying to mess with our agency Satan is real. Tragically, he hates the children of Adam. Over millennia, he has perfected the most cunning ways to molest us. To effectively trouble "A-game" disciples in particular, Satan often distracts us with good  things, then guilts us for not choosing the best . As Wormwood said to his nephew Screwtape, "a moderated religion is as good as no religion at all, and more amusing." (C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters ) Not because I  have to  but because I  want to When fee...

Introduction  Quiz Question : You suddenly find yourself engaged in a cordial but controversial discussion with someone who has equally strong yet opposite moral standards and values as you have. You are respectfully asked to share your opinion on the topic. How do you proceed? A) [AVOID]   In an effort to avoiding contention, y ou hold firm to your beliefs internally, but resist voicing them. Instead of engaging further, you attempt to delicately steer the conversation to a less divisive  topic upon which you can both agree. B) [RESEARCH] You haven't yet developed a firm position on the topic. And you are unafraid to say so. If the topic is intriguing, you ask the person you're speaking with for some resources and promise to return after researching both sides of the topic. C) [SUBMIT]  Disagreeing makes you feel nervous. The other person has some strong points, and you feel unable to adequately defend your position on the topic. Desiring to m...

I wrote this post to help a roommate better understand a priesthood-worthiness conundrum regarding the Word of Wisdom ( D&C 89:4-21 ). He felt the Church's position on abstaining from drinking coffee was hypocritical when sugary sodas and "energy" drinks are just as unhealthy, yet permitted by the Church. It was especially confusing for him to hear that, back in the day, plenty of faithful Latter-Day Saints "got away" with drinking a little alcohol, coffee, and/or tea and were still deemed worthy to hold the higher priesthood and temple recommends. Many problems which members encounter often stem from the mistaken belief that what they have been told my someone in the Church is somehow the Church position, expectation, or official stance. In fact, the error may be in what others have presumed to be the Church's official position. On many issues, the Church has no official position.  So regarding specific applications of teachings found within the Chur...

The Struggle The moment I wake up each morning, a struggle begins. Part of me desperately wants to remain in bed. To combat this emotional urge, I perform a 12-activity regimen designed to get my body, mind and spirit going. According to Roy Baumeister, humans have a finite amount of willpower, which is spent throughout the day. Decision fatigue is a major factor which drains that reserve. This mental energy is depleted by every decision we make, big or small. At day's end, our willpower reserve is often drained. To prepare for this, I employ an early-morning routine to fill my willpower reservoir without having to expend much in the process. If I get distracted by some activity not on my routine, I either quickly do it (to score some easy motivation points), or I write it down to do later. I avoid tasks that derail my flow. These 12 activities are principles, not steps. They are not all necessary, nor need to be done chronologically. To make the routine easier, I choo...

How President Trump Views Himself #'Merica 3D Food Printing #StarTrek 100% Mechanical Watch #Cool Megaman is tough. She's obviously read Peter Pan Ain't sayin' she's a gold digger. "WE APPRECIATE YOUR BUSINESS!!!" After using wet wipes for the first time. All the belts in a half second. Anakin vs Albert Archery dad has always wanted to try this out. Apology Level: Asian Husband Asian Breakdance Photocopier "So why'd you become an athletic trainer?" When I read an extremely compelling article abstract. Baby doesn't like kisses. Apparently, neither does she. Will we ever learn what pervy Vern was trying to communicate here? Backflip Photo Sequence. If a picture = 1000 words, GIFs typically ≥ 100,000 words. Essentially, each one of these GIFs communicates the same amount as (or more than) Harper Lee's To Kill A mockingbird ( 99,121 words ).

My friend and mentor, John Hilton III, a BYU religion professor and LDS author, is writing a new book about spiritual "fence laws" for young adults. On facebook, John asked his friends for examples: "Can you recall a specific time or story in your life where a fence law kept you spiritually safe?" Here's the story I shared: My high school athletic training teacher had a playful, fun-loving personality and was quite the jokester. I loved it when he brought his dog, a high-energy boxer, to school with him. The two were like soulmates—ever ready to run up the nearest mountain. It was energizing just being around them. Additionally, my teacher held himself to high moral standards, despite not being particularly religious.   After school one day in the sports medicine lab, we experienced a pause from the constant stream of athletes requesting attention. I took the opportunity to share with my teacher (and friend) a short clip from one of my favorite comedy f...

Here's a collection of 10 responses I've actually used over the years to fend off grannies and the like: The Awkward Reverse. "Ahhhhh, the ole' 'why are you single' question — the question that philosophers, psychiatrists, psychologists, business experts, botanists, astrologists, astronomers, academics, mechanics, writers, marketers, journalists, politicians, and the guy working at my neighborhood VASA Fitness center wrestle with. Yeah…I don’t think I know the answer either. Why do you think I’m single?" The Obvious. "Well, it's likely because I haven't found the right person yet." The Comical. "I’m on a dating fast. Except it’s not really a fast as it is feeling like I’m in the desert and barely surviving. Food and water, like potential relationships, are really just a mirage." *Break from gazing into distance.* "Wait….what was the question?" The Intellectual. "Like Emily Dickinson, I am seeing...