Portraits of Faith

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“Lord, Jesus,“ I prayed, “forgive me and help me to forgive him.” I tried to smile. I struggled to raise my hand but I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity.

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.

We moved to Washington D.C. shortly after getting married and built our lives together. Trials and struggles never went away.

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.

May it make a difference in our lives. May we become a Zion people. May we love everybody. May we mourn with everybody.

Being laid off may seem like a complication, but we know that it was, in fact, a blessing, although it was difficult to see it as such sometimes.

Brothers and sisters, I leave you my bishop’s blessing. I pray for you. The Lord wants you to have a new relationship with the scriptures. He wants to teach you.

So, this confirmed to me that the Lord was not finished with me, he needed me to teach the children in our ward the power of music and the importance of his word through song.

Since we got engaged and married, we’ve had many experiences that have tested our faith. But the most important aspect of all these experiences is the principle of putting God above all things. This has helped us to move forward and continue on the covenant path.

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.

May I issue you this humble challenge? Make a promise to Father that you will read this book everyday until your last breath.

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.

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.

My prayers have shifted from asking for what I want to ask to be open to what He wants for me. I have a lot to give, and I have some ideas on how I can share my gifts.

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.

Alex Boye and Angela Lijenquist share their testimony through music that because He is risen from the dead we can also rise with Him and through Him.

Jared and Ashley Christensen share their testimony of the Law of the Fast.

After being shaken up so much from the experience and not understanding what happened, I reflected on the subtle thoughts I had had and how I had not acted upon them.

I know that the Lord is accomplishing His work with us in ways we can’t possibly appreciate. I know that the Lord continually orchestrates the intersection of our lives with others to achieve His work.

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.

I love my Savior. And I love that Christ’s grace gives us the power and potential to become like Him!

With gratitude for all things great and small, I know that I can recognize and accept adversity and blessings in my life.

I know that relying on our Savior we are able to find relief from our worldly burdens and cares, regardless of the size and weight.