Portraits of Faith

Looking Up at the Temple Brings Peace

Time in the Temple will help you to think celestial and to catch a vision of who you really are, who you can become, and the kind of life you can have forever. Regular temple worship will enhance the way you see yourself and how you fit into God’s magnificent plan.

Finding Joy Through Trials

My wife in fact did beat this nasty disease and was called home in January of 2022. Although this has been a tough couple of years, we find great joy in knowing that she does not suffer any more and that the promise of that priesthood blessing was fulfilled.

A Slowly Focusing Vision of the Atonement

Ten years from now, will I come back to this and realize how much I only knew in part? Perhaps. But a lifetime of seeing through a glass, darkly, a journey of slowly focusing vision, has brought me a deep love for the Savior and His Atonement, and for that, I kind of like it.

Glimpse Into Eternity

In some ways, the sealing power has greater meaning as life unfolds. The Temple is many things: a house of study, a house of order, of learning, of faith and glory. Most of all a house of love.

The Right Path

God has a plan for each and every one of us. He knows us intimately. We learned that praying for patience was particularly important as we pushed forward.

Refining Our Faith

This journey transformed our faith from a set of beliefs to a dynamic, evolving relationship with a loving God who is eager for us to learn and is full of grace when we make mistakes.

Perspective

While I know that there will always be difficulties, my testimony has been strengthened with the added perspective of hindsight. Looking back, I now see that some of the trials have turned to blessings.

My Three Most Cherished Relationships

These three relationships are my foundation. They mean everything to me. I am so very grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints where I can continue to learn about, grow closer to, and develop my relationship with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost.

Don’t Take the Good Things for Granted

When a hardship comes along, it may seem overwhelming, and we may feel an immense sense of loss. Most things we lose are temporary. An eternal perspective is important. The things that matter most and the things we should pursue have a more eternal impact.

Revelation Personalized for Our Learning

A few weeks later, my friend stumbled upon an article that she found interesting and sent to me. It was from a professor and expert on the Book of Mormon, written decades ago and comparing the (at the time) newly discovered Dead Sea Scrolls (ancient holy writings) to the content in the Book of Moses in the Pearl of Great Price.

Putting God First

I’m so grateful that God has a perfect plan for each of His children. That experience was a huge wake-up call to me that I needed to put God first in my life.

Building a Reservoir of Faith

In retrospect, we can see that the time we spent longing, questioning, and wishing, was exactly what we needed to build a reservoir of faith we could tap into when we faced the difficulties of parenting precocious young children.