Becoming Kings and Queens
This presentation was originally delivered last fall at the “Latter-day Disciples” conference. It is one of the most important things I’ve ever put together. There is a great work lying before us. Each must decide for him or herself whether they will rise to the occasion or be cast out as salt that has lost…
Faith, Grace, and Knowledge
I’ve lately been pondering on, studying, praying about, and discussing with a couple of friends the concept of faith. As I was meditating on several related principles, they suddenly came together in a way that sounded very much the same as things I already believed, but felt different. I’d like to share and hope you…
A Scourge
“And if it so be that [the Nephites] rebel against me, [the Lamanites] shall be a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in the ways of remembrance.” (1 Nephi 2:24) “The [gentiles] shall be a scourge unto the people of this land. Nevertheless, when they shall have received the fulness of my gospel, then if they shall harden their…
Announcing the Shattering Triangles Podcast
After several years of working on content, Todd McLauchlin, Josh Chandler and I are launching a group podcast/YouTube channel. We’ve released a few videos already. You can check that out here. The name of the project comes from an analogy Todd wrote to outline the Lord’s way of teaching us: You can imagine you live…
The True Vine
There are two primary states of being, known by many names. In one, you are connected to the infinite and eternal source of life we call God, having totally surrendered any facet of self to become His avatar. In the other you are cut off from the source, like an unplugged phone, left to your…
The Fountain of Living Waters
As I was praying this morning, seeking to be filled with a greater degree of God’s love, the imagery of running water came to mind. Nephi learned that God’s love is comparable to a “fountain of living waters.” It ever flows out from Him, and down through the rest of creation to the degree that…
Ask, Seek, Knock
I’ve recently been thinking about the imperative we have to seek and ask before we can receive. “Draw near to me,” the Lord says, “and I will draw near to you” (D&C 88:63). “Ask and it shall be give you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: For every…
Always a Student
Every now and then the Lord comes along and interrupts my understanding of what I thought I knew. For as much adjusting at that requires, I’m always grateful because it removes the inhibitions I foolishly place on the Spirit. I hope the spirit my words carry edify and uplift you in your efforts to come…
The Stars
Not many years ago, men could look up and behold the vast array of stars that filled the night sky. Such was heaven’s tangibility. Now, men cannot look up and see more than the works of their own hands—what lights they have created blind them to a greater, deeper reality. Entire civilizations once grounded themselves…
Making Sense of “Mormonism” | Part 3
Many have wondered: if Jesus was indeed the long awaited Messiah, why does the world still seem so unredeemed? If he embodied the greatest conceivable good, why do death and hell still prevail in this world? The redemption of the world at large requires the transformation of every individual who will participate. Death and hell…
All the colors will bleed into one
A friend of mine recently shared this video with me, which I found incredibly touching. Maybe it was something about the earnest spirit conveyed in this cover, maybe it was because my perspective had changed since the last time I paid attention to the lyrics, but I noticed a line I’d never heard before. The…
Even as I, or your Father in heaven is perfect
“Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (3 Nephi 12:48). There are some who will quote the above verse to support the idea that perfection can only be attained after this life. Therefore, you ought not to worry about doing so here,…
Tall branches, deep roots, and the renaissance of Mormonism that is soon to be
At my wife’s insistence, I gave the Exodus roundtable series led by Jordan Peterson a listen—and what a superb recommendation that was. I haven’t found better content from public figures like this in a long time, if ever. It has been very inspiring. The content is gated, but well worth the cost of the DailyWire+…
Making Sense of “Mormonism” | Part 2
Building on the framework of the last episode, I describe what ideal we must worship and attend to in order to escape nihilism and overcome our endemic capacity for self-destruction. We all have an innate desire for life, and a moral sense for what promotes it. By exploring the phenomenological patterns surrounding that conception in…
Have ye spiritually been born of God? Can ye feel so now?
“And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?… And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to…
Making Sense of Mormonism | Part 1
This is the first episode in a series unpacking the unique theological, psychological, and spirutal value Mormonism has to offer. I focus primarily on reframing the modern conception of life, religion, and the world. This initial paradigm shift will provide us the framework necessary to see what is largely missed through our Western lens.
My Yoke is Easy
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) The Lord’s Burden “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath…
New Wine and Old Bottles
Only they that have ears to hear will hear,til the Lord God make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all nations;For the glory of God is to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. But when the Lord God shall make bare his holy arm in in the eyes of…
The “Science” of Sanctification
For the last five months or so, I’ve spent almost all of my spare time on writing an essay I hope to publish as a video, or maybe a series. It’s taken greater priority for me than posting anything on this blog, but every now and then I have moments of clarity that I feel…
“For they perceive not the light”
I think the attitude of every light bearer is something like this: “In the absence of an enemyYou think me the enemyIn the presence of an enemyI am your greatest friend” It’s becoming more and more clear to me that one’s ability to discern light is proportional to the degree of darkness they perceive. People…
The Next Phase of the Winding Up Scene
A very distinct feeling came over me the morning Roe v. Wade was overturned—like a condemnation that rested on the United States as a whole had been lifted. This lifted curse allows for two things to happen: 1) those who insist on supporting abortion will create more centralized spaces where this can happen; the most…
The Coming Flood
There was a certain village that dwelt at the bottom of a canyon. Though their ancestors were said to have prospered on higher planes, they found comfort in the canyon’s familiarity. As a matter of fact, most had never left the canyon, and regarded any such legend concerning their ancestors to be mere myth. Those…
Perfection, pt. 7: Eternal Life
Our path that began at the strait gate ends at the tree of life. Lehi’s analogy of this process highlights the journey aspect. There is a path we must walk, and a rod to which we must cling. It may take us up and down, and through mists of darkness, but will eventually lead us…
Perfection, pt. 6: Becoming a Saint
Christ promises a new heart to every person who comes to Him. His intention is to put His law in our inward parts, and write it in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; cf. Ezekiel 36:26-28). He is the Word of God; as we plant Him in our hearts, His love, character, and Spirit will grow within…
Perfection, pt. 5: The Narrow Way
When a seed has been planted, the growth process is not finished—it’s only just begun. As the seed persists in its state of immersion, receiving all the necessary nutrients, it will in time grow into a tree bringing forth fruit; then it will be perfect. As Nephi rightly points out, after we enter in at…
Perfection, pt. 4: The Strait Gate
In order to enjoy the glory that Christ enjoys, we must live the law that Christ lives. There is no other way. Heaven is a lifestyle, the same way a healthy diet is; those who eat healthy are naturally going to feel better than those who do not. The order of heaven is no different;…
Perfection, pt. 3: The Order of Heaven
After finishing my last post, I couldn’t help but feel something was left unfinished. As I pondered on it for a few days, I realized I needed to make an interjection here before diving any further into the actual process of becoming heavenly. Previously, we defined perfection as full maturity (like a tree bearing fruit).…
Perfection, pt. 2: His Grace is Sufficient
Because perfection is a matter of being, our focus ought to be in becoming more rather than doing more. Once we take care of the becoming, the doing will naturally follow. The only hope we have of becoming heavenly is through the grace of Christ. His grace is sufficient to transform us—to turn our weakness…
Perfection: Being vs. Doing
When Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48), the word perfect is translated from the Greek τέλειοι meaning mature (like a tree bearing fruit), full grown, having reached its end, complete, etc. This is a much different idea than our Greek/Western conception of perfect, which has more to do with giving a flawless performance…
Challenging Traditions
In order to know God, we must be wiling to challenge our traditions. God’s order and glory is truth, and His truth is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Because we are born into a fallen world, cut off from His truth, we inherit false traditions, habits, assumptions, and biases. These run deeper than just religious affiliation; they…
Seeing As We Are Seen: Discovering Who You Really Are
You are infinitely more than you think you are. Because of the fall, we have been born into bodies cut off from the light and presence of God. Consequently, we have no recollection of our premortal (eternal) identity. We say God is the Father of our spirits, and that is true enough. However, this sentiment…
Seek and Ye Shall Find: The Spiritual Paradox of Objective Reasoning
This will be a follow up post to “Obstacles to Receiving Greater Truth,” continuing the thread of self-deception and obtaining truth. There’s no such thing as being objective. For the last few hundred years, our modern culture has perpetuated the belief that we can think about and observe truth as though we’re just outside spectators.…
Good Friends
This last week I’ve been especially grateful for good friends. I struggle putting in words how I feel. Many are familiar with the revelations Joseph received in Liberty Jail. However, many are not familiar with the fact that those sections of the Doctrine and Covenants are only portions of a much longer letter. When sections…
Establishing the Cause of Zion 