Seeking Happiness and Joy

This is a talk I gave at the baptism of a boy I used to babysit. He asked me to speak on the Holy Ghost . He was baptized shortly after his 8th birthday. After graduating from Dixie College, I decided to transfer to Utah State University in Logan. I was entering the real world. I didn’t know anyone attending school there and I didn’t have any relatives living there. I would be going about this alone. My mother, who faced a similar situation years before, knew this would be a challenging and sometimes troublesome process. She, by divine nature, wanted to provide for me what she could so I would be taken care of and adjust easily. She knew she couldn’t go with me, so she provided the next best thing. My mother had a dear friend who was instrumental in her conversion and growth in her early years as a member of the church. Her name was Wanda. I knew Wanda as the woman whose nostrils made me giggle. Wanda and her husband, Frank, just so happened to live in Logan. ...

If you want to change your life for the better, read the Book of Mormon . Need a copy? Request a free copy here . I was browsing a recent issue of The New Era and found this article by President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency . Why the Book of Mormon? Henry B. Eyring, “Why the Book of Mormon?,” NewEra , May 2008, 6–9 When I was a young man I wondered why the Lord needed to have the Prophet Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon to begin the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I knew that God the Father and Jesus Christ had spoken with him. I knew that Peter, James, and John had restored the Melchizedek Priesthood , that prophets had brought the keys, and that Joseph had been taught by apostles and prophets from earlier dispensations. With all of that, I wondered what the place of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon in all of that was. It Is a Powerful Missionary Tool Then I began missionary work. One of my early companion...

I love to sing. It is one of my most favorite things in the world to do. However, it can also be the scariest thing for me to do. As mentioned in the previous post, I sang the musical number during a church meeting tonight. I was asked earlier today if I would do it. Since it was last minute, I opted to sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives , because I had sung it previously when my sister reported her full-time mission . As I was practicing with my accompanist before this meeting a couple months ago, I was ridiculously nervous. This was the largest crowd for which I had ever sung. As I was singing, I came to the line, "He lives to calm my troubled heart." I knew that was true. My Savior could bring peace to my soul. I said a silent prayer and asked for that blessing in my life. After that, I was able to sing freely. Tonight, as I directed the opening hymn, my voice began to shake. My throat began to close, and I couldn't even sing part of the final verse. I was...

I will be singing the musical number for a church meeting tonight. I have chosen to sing a hymn that truly reflects my testimony of Jesus Christ. Click on the link if you would like to hear the music for I Know That My Redeemer Lives . I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, he lives who once was dead. He lives, my ever-living Head. He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need. He lives to grant me rich supply. He lives to guide me with his eye. He lives to comfort me when faint. He lives to hear my soul's complaint. He lives to silence all my fears. He lives to wipe away my tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives all blessings to impart. He lives, my kind, wise heav'nly Friend. He lives and loves me to the end. He lives, and while he lives, I'll sing. He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King. He lives and grants me daily breath. He l...

Not too long ago, a gentleman was speaking at church. He and his coworkers were having a discussion about Creationism. They were saying, if God created the earth, why didn't he leave any evidence that he did so? He did. I echo the words of Alma "The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator."