Thoughts and stories, by Pal

  LATTER-DAY SAINT LIFE David T. Morgan: 2 scriptures that help us understand why God allows us to pass through hard things By  Dr. David T. Morgan   May 02, 2022 05:00 AM MDT Twitter Pinterest Email Print Shutterstock I often get questions about the purpose and origin of mental health challenges. Are they part of divine design for our growth? Are they effects of choices made by others that afflict our development? Are they the natural, random outcome of living in a fallen world? In my experience, the answer to all three of these questions is “yes.” Understanding the beginnings of such issues can bring insight. But ultimately, those who are affected are still left with the long, arduous journey of growth and change that transforms poor mental health into more effective functioning. I don’t believe there is a way around that process. Practically every good thing requires much hard work and years of consistent determination. Advanced education, good health, material wealth,...

  This is a very insightful article, and can be very consoling to each of us! LATTER-DAY SAINT LIFE How can I know that I have been forgiven? This parable holds the answer By  S. Michael Wilcox   March 16, 2022 07:55 AM MDT Twitter Pinterest Email Print Shutterstock The September 2020 pick for  LDS Living Book Club  is  What Seek Ye?   by S. Michael Wilcox. Follow the LDS Living Book Club  Instagram  for more insights with the author. The most common inquiry I receive from members of the Church is, “How do I get answers to my prayers?” The next most common is, “How can I know I have been forgiven?” Or, in other words, “How can I be assured I have been made whole in this area?” Sometimes the question is, “How can I be confident of my standing before the Lord?” At times, we tend to believe that the Savior’s mercy covers just about everyone but ourselves. I wrestle with this as much as anyone. Much of our anguish over our own failings comes not ...

  Don't we learn the most from the adversity we go through?  It seems so after!  There are those who are suffering all over the world right now!  Let's pray for them.  Especially Afghanistan!  Could a Loving God Allow Such Suffering? By  Daniel C. Peterson  · August 19, 2021 A reader of my blog “ Sic et Non ” has raised the venerable problem of evil.    Philosophers term it the question of “theodicy,” which focuses on whether and (if so) how, given the existence of evil, a belief in God’s goodness and in divine providence can be justified.  For the faithful, this is often one of the thorniest and most difficult of challenges.  And it seems, at least temporarily, to have cost my reader his faith in a benevolent God. In a recent blog entry titled “ On a Disagreeable God ”, I had written that “the God who revealed himself through the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Restoration” is a kind and benevolent Father who wants to give us eve...

This is so powerful, we ALL should read it! How should we respond if we think a former prophet said something wrong? By  Mark A. Mathews  · July 9, 2020 Cover image via history.churchofjesuschrist.org. In the current climate of historical figures being attacked, some have taken their aim at some of our early prophets and sought to vilify them for their perceived mistakes or weaknesses. But, how should faithful saints today look at possible mistakes of these inspired prophets of the past? Many years ago, I was studying a doctrinal topic in the BYU Library when I came across an old discourse from an early church leader. As I read the talk, I quickly recognized that what I was reading was not doctrinally correct. I knew it was wrong because it contradicted the standard works and the teachings of living prophets. I was confused how this early Apostle, who was usually so inspired and instructive, could have taught something that was wrong. As I refl...