Thoughts and stories, by Pal

  FAITH   BOOKS One man’s unlikely spiritual journey from Black Panther to Latter-day Saint By  Trent Toone     May 24, 2022, 11:00am MDT Facebook Twitter SHARE Ed Willis is the author of “Panther to Priesthood,” an autobiography that tells his experience as a member of the Black Panther Party and his conversion to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Deseret Book The reaction Ed Willis receives when he shares his story is generally positive, especially when he informs people his reason for joining the Black Panthers was  not  to kill whites or champion reverse racism. “The Black Panther Party is quite a mystery to many,” he said. “If you weren’t of a progressive political persuasion, you probably didn’t know that much about them.” Willis and his wife, Wanda, joined the Oakland chapter of the political organization during a time of social upheaval in the late 1960s. Ed served as security and stockpiled his own weapons, ammunition and Moloto...

Homecoming on 9-11: An Unexpected Missionary Miracle By  Mark Albright  · August 14, 2020 The following is a part of the Missionary Moment series curated by Mark Albright. The morning of 9/11/2001 was an exciting morning for the Rogers household. Our son Allan was coming home from his mission in Taiwan just a little after noon, and we decided that the kids should go to school and we would pick them up a little early and then head to the airport. I had just dropped off Lincoln for early morning seminary at Centennial High School, and was returning home, listening to the news. The last story, just a quick 10 second blurb was about an airplane that apparently had crashed into one of the World Trade Center Towers. The radio newscaster comment, “sounds like something out of a movie” has always stuck in my mind, the way he said it was almost “exciting.” I remember getting home and quickly turning on the news to see if anything was on regarding this p...

I'm sure that all of us who participated in the world-wide fast and prayer invitation by our Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, on Friday April 10, 2020, have felt blessings -- of faith, and with many -- healing.  It is a scientific fact that new cases of the virus have gone down quickly since April 10th! 7 Experiences from Worldwide Fast Participants You Don't Want to Miss by LDS Living  | Apr. 15, 2020 After President Russell M. Nelson’s invitation to participate in two worldwide fasts, people of other faiths joined together with members of our Church—both those who haven’t stepped foot in a church for years and those who attend every Sunday—to plead with heaven for relief from COVID-19. And while the coronavirus pandemic is still ongoing, miracles have undoubtedly taken place. The stories began to roll in even before the fast—witnesses of the power of fasting. For some, the fast brought healing of a physical nature and...

From Meridian Magazine, on Valentine's Day, 2020 Co-workers with Angels: Angelic Involvement in the Lives of Missionaries By  Anne Hinton Pratt  · February 13, 2020 Cover image: “Angel” by Brian Kershisnik. This is the day of the great Gathering of Israel.  The time in earth’s history where more mortals are becoming aware that they can be  co-workers with angels.   It’s a day of angelic presence, direction, and miracles. We have an army of missionaries in the field, as well as those of us who pursue that great work.  Many have reported the manifestation of angels as they gather or are gathered to Israel.  I want to share four of such experiences. Angels Told Him to Listen                                            ...