My Experience In Truth

Wonderful! Fantastic! Absolutely brilliant! That is how I would describe Al Carraway's new book "More Than the Tattooed Mormon." Scriptures aside, I have never been more affected by a book than I was with this one. Let me tell you why: First of all, I want to point out that this book is dedicated to the reader. That means you and me. Right from the start Al decided to make it personal. All throughout the book she reminds us that the book is not about her, it's about us and our relationship with God. She teaches us that life, although difficult, can be absolutely glorious if we put our trust in Him. Next, this book made me feel incomplete. but not in a bad way. Maybe a better way of saying it is that it made me "hunger and thirst after righteousness." (Matt. 5:6) Reading this book made me realize that my life could be so much better than it currently is. It made me realize that when you put God first, He takes care of your needs and He blesses you more...

Today I saw the most heart-wrenching scene I have ever seen in my life: a sister missionary from France, holding back tears and staring longingly up at the French flag on Temple Square. Dear Sister, m y heart goes out to you!  My eyes were wet  the moment I saw your face. Never in my life have I seen such anguish! I can't imagine what you are feeling, 5,000 miles from home! I know you are trying to be strong, but I can se the pain you feel in your eyes! Oh, dear Sister, don't be afraid to cry! God Himself is shedding tears over the tragedy that has befallen your country. You are not alone! Let the tears flow, dear Sister, for we will be here to catch them! May God speak peace to your heart, and may God take care of your country!

There's a phrase that's being said a lot lately and it REALLY bugs me. When talking about different races, people say: "God doesn't see color, and neither should we." And so here's what I have to say: Are you serious??? Do you really think that God is colorblind? Do you really think that he doesn't see people's skin color? Do you really think that when He looks at us we're all the same? That's definitely not the God I know. The God I know MADE color, and He made us. If your skin is black, God made you that way ! If your skin is brown, God made you that way!  If your skin is white, God made you that way!   Of course God sees color! And the best part is, He loves it!  God loves color! God loves diversity! God wants us to be unique and He wants us to see each other's uniqueness! He wouldn't have put us all here on the same planet if He didn't want us to see each other's color. Somehow in the fight for equality, we lost...

"The Shedding Tree" There is a forest near my home Where through the ages trees have grown. Tall and mighty, towards the sky these trees have grown to please the eye. But though they're tall and heaven bound their roots are shallow in the ground. They grow too quickly to give thought to the parts that eyes see not. For many years the trees stand tall but just one storm can cause their fall. And when they finally hit the ground they split and crack with thundering sound. And so their growth is all for naught and all their wood is left to rot. Now here we learn a lesson true: that looks and status will not do. Though fame and glory we adore to grow up strong we need much more. Another tree stands near my home out in a field, it's all alone. It is not pleasing to the eye it's wind-worn, crooked, all awry. But there it stands, still in its prime this tree has stood the test of time. While other's grew up t...

One day while serving an LDS mission in Benicia, California, my companion and I were knocking on doors looking for someone to teach. Anyone that has served a mission knows well the days of endless rejection. This was one of those days. Near the top one particularly large hill we knocked on a door, and almost immediately we heard the sound of two young boys running to answer it. The following dialog is what we heard through the door: (we assume they were looking through the peephole): Younger Boy: "I want to see who it is!" Older Boy: "I'm older so I get to see first." Younger Boy: "I never get to see first!" Older Boy: "You can see first next time." (Older boy looks out) Younger Boy: "Who is it?" Older Boy: "I don't know, it's just a couple weirdos." Younger Boy: "I want to see! I want to see!" Older Boy: "I'm still looking." Younger Boy: "Let me see! I want to see!...

That's it! I can't take it anymore! I have to address the topic. I am absolutely SICK of how big the porn industry is getting! It's absolutely disgusting! Until now I've just sat back casually, hoping that the Fight The New Drug movement would do some good, but I now realize they can't do anything without us. It's time for us to join them. It's time for all of us to fight! Porn is disgusting. It makes me sick. There is nothing good about it. It distorts the mind, harms the body, and ruins the soul. It's a drug more harmful than any other. PORN KILLS LOVE. That is a fact. What an absolute tragedy it is when someone trades real love for the temporary satisfaction of porn. It literally brings me to tears when I hear of a family torn apart by it's vile influence. I can't stand to think of how many hearts have been shattered because of it. Do you know what real love is?  I mean real , lasting , meaningful love? Let me tell you. Real lo...

One of the hardest things you will ever have to do is accept God's will when everything inside of you wants the opposite. It's difficult when you try for months to make something happen and then God tells you no; that it's time to stop; that it's time to move on. It feels like my soul has been ripped from inside of me and I'm left empty; wandering without a purpose. I know that God is real and I know that he wants the best for me, but it's so freaking hard to accept! How do you move on? How do you start over? I really really really don't want to do this!....Please don't make me do it!......please...... *sigh* .....ok.....I'll do it.....