Thoughts After LDS General Conference

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Before I take President Nelson’s 10 day fast social media challenge, I need to share a few thoughts and feelings I’ve had watching the soul stirring General Conference this weekend.

I’ve had such overwhelming feelings that we are truly in the very last of days before Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It’s so evident. The world is in complete commotion. Especially morally. Yesterday, an apostle of the Lord mentioned simple truths about the eternal nature of our personal identities as male and female, and today is getting attacked by so many.

The church is going to be one of the last institutions standing on certain universal principles, and for that will be persecuted by the whole earth, until its enemies will be banging on the temple doors. It will not fall because it’s His church, but times will get much worse. If we each aren’t rooted in truth and light, we won’t make It through the storms that are coming.

Likewise, Satan seeks to destroy us, individually, at every angle. And he’s very calculated. His mission is to take over each one of our hearts minds until he sinks our souls. He wants to isolate us after he takes over our mind. He wants us to eventually give up. His hosts of unseen spirits are gathered with a plan of attack. Just like water trying to get in a boat, he surrounds our vessels trying to creep in ANY possible crack. We can sink, but through Christ we can rise again and stay the course back to Him. (See Ether 6:3-13)

Many years ago I took Moroni’s challenge (Moroni 10:3-5) to read and pray and ask of myself if Jesus Christ was the head of this church, and if we have living prophets. I did. I had a sacred experience. It changed my life. It continues to change me. Anytime I start to stray off the path I can feel my soul slowly grow cold, I go through the steps of faith in Christ, repentance, spiritual baptism by partaking of the sacrament, and I will, inevitably, through the gift of grace and mercy, feel the Saviors love beckoning me and telling me that all is well. I’m renewed in Him. It’s real. I promise.

Why do I publicly and openly share this on social media? I echo the words of Nephi written in the Book of Mormon, “For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved.” I share this because I love you.

I’m sorry if I offend any of you with my controversial posts or cultural disagreements I have. I post to get people thinking, some for fun, but mostly because I deeply care for the current affairs of our country and our next generation, who will need to take the torch of truth into even darker times ahead. We need to be engaged. We must fight (with love) for our freedoms. Especially religious freedoms. Satan will not stop with his darkness. But through us, God’s light can shine and dispel all evil. Christ is the light of the world. So are you.

I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

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It’s a war for souls-Dale Lloyd

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I share this story because I recently talked to a friend who’s son may not go on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I told her not to fear, no matter what happens with him. Because there are missionary moments all around, all the time. Here’s one…

In or around 2011 I was on my police patrol bicycle with one of my patrol partners making sure the streets of Salt Lake City were safe and sound. A gentleman named Dale Lloyd approached us and started talking about our bikes. He knew more than I did about my own bike. For some I was in a bad mood that day and actually wanted to ride away from the conversation, but for some reason we kept talking to him.

During the conversation I had very distinct feeling that this man needed help, not the kind of 911 help you may be thinking, but spiritually. Yes we all need help spiritually, but this thought was like lightning to my mind. I remember I didn’t want to talk to him about anything like that when I was in my police uniform.

Against my fear, I started probing and asking him where is was from, where he lived, etc. The next thought came to my mind that I needed to invite him to watch a certain video that was playing just a few blocks away at Temple Square (downtown Salt Lake City). All of the sudden I found myself inviting this man to watch this video, and as I did, I could feel the Spirit of God start to surround our conversation. My partner (who had gone on an LDS mission) started sharing his testimony with this man as well. The feeling was intense. Undeniable, really. I ended with my testimony about the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and as we rode away, I said “Don’t forget to go see that movie!” While peddling, “Can you believe we just did that?” I said to my partner.

Months and months past and I forgot about the encounter. I received a message from another officer in the department that said, “Call Dale Lloyd”(with a phone number). Apparently Dale had tracked down another cop to find me. I didn’t recognize the name at first but when called I knew exactly who it was. Dale expressed on the phone that he went to the movie and that he hasn’t been able to get our conversation on the corner of 1st South and Main Street and the way he felt.

I knew that I had to meet up with Dale and so I invited him to lunch. We met and he somewhat broke down to me and explained that he had once gone on an LDS mission over 30 years prior, and that he had never felt the way he felt when we (my partner and I) testified to him. That night I had an impression to get him a set of scriptures and deliver it to his house. I even got his name embossed on the front of the scriptures.

I invited Dale to church with my family the following week and he accepted my invitation. He came from Salt Lake to West Jordan, Utah. I was actually teaching a Gospel Principles class that day and it happened to be on Joseph Smith and The First Vision. The entire class I had a prayer in my heart that Dale would feel to know the truthfulness of the story, unquestionably. Later, we exited the church building and I walked him to his car. He burst out in tears and said “I know now that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God!” I started to cry with him. It was one of the most powerful moments of my life. Dale started to go back to church with his Mom and Dad.

It’s almost 2019 and Dale and I have been close friends since. Dale was recently diagnosed with several severe medical conditions that have threatened his life and put him down and out, and in the hospital for many days in a row. I hope he pulls out of it. But one thing I do know is that he now knows God on a deeper level. So do I. It’s a connection and moment in space that can never be taken away.

Sometimes I think back at moments like this and wonder if maybe this is why God called me to be a cop for 7 years of my life. I have a lot of stories like this when I look back, spiritual stories, too many to count and write about. But these are the most precious to me.

I didn’t serve a full-time mission and I used beat myself up for so many years that I came home early from it. I wasn’t mentally ready at the time. But I’m here to testify that we are missionaries EVERYWHERE we go and that God will put us in the path of so many, if we will just be willing to open up our mouth when He asks. It’s souls that are on the line. It’s a war for souls. And when we help find one and bring them to God, everyone’s souls are healed. I thank God that I crossed paths with Dale. I think he did more for me than I did for him. I need more moments like that.

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Opposition for Our Growth

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I’m convinced that whenever you step up a level in life, or even want to, there will be an inevitable opposition of resistance against you; especially spiritually speaking. It was designed this way.

It’s almost as if the devil is allowed to try send stronger winds on your sea of progress based on how big our ships gets, and how fast we are going towards our destination. And the crazy thing is, God allows that opposition for our growth.

Each degree up we take brings new demons down on us; in other words, new levels in life will bring new devils in life. And those devils give us the resistance we need to grow to greatness. We just can’t let the water into our ship and allow it to sink us. If there’s no enemy within us, no enemy from the outside can stop us. Only we can stop ourselves.

Some would be scared and deliberately sabotage their growth because of this principle, but we weren’t destined to stay stagnant. We are destined for a fullness of divinity. And that will take a lot of growth from the painful blessing of opposition.

 

 

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Real Wonder Woman

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My wife Stacey just brought up some great points to me today about the elections. Paraphrasing what she said just now…

“It’s sad to see all of these “political leaders” so happy to see “women and minority’s” taking more political seats. Why should that matter? When did gender and race have more weight than competence and character? Isn’t that sexists and racists? Further, if gender and race are just a social construct, why celebrate women and minorities winning elections when there’s “no such thing” as either?

I love this Wonder Woman stay-at-home wife of mine, best dang wife and mom on the planet doing the greatest duty a Wonder Woman can do, Yes, She is a Real Wonder Woman!!

 

 

 

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Light

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“Every person who lives in this world radiates light, which affects and influences every other person in the world. Our choices in life determine what we really are. The radiance of the light that emanates from our countenance is determined by the choices we make, and is a powerful force in human relationships. And every person is the recipient of that radiation. The Savior was conscious of that reality; and to a degree so are we.

Whenever Jesus came into the presence of an individual He was conscious of a light emanating from that person’s soul, and which was mirrored in his countenance. He knew the behavior and conduct, and the choices a person had made because that behavior and those choices were reflected by the radiating light in one’s countenance. My dear brothers and sisters, we must make nobler choices. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. Every moment of life we are affecting, to a degree, the life of every other person with whom we may come in contact, and who comes within the sphere of our influence.

Every person is affecting every other person who lives. We cannot for one moment escape this emanation, this radiation of light that emanates from our countenance. Life is a constant state of radiation and absorption of light. To exist is to radiate light; to exist is to be the recipient of light. And we choose the qualities we permit to be radiated by the light within us, determined by our behavior, and by the choices we make.”

David O. McKay

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Relative Finder

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Has anyone ever heard of Relative Finder? It’s awesome. It allows you to go back and see how you’re linked to ancestors generations back, also people still alive. Found out George Washington is my 3rd Cousin 11 times removed. Joseph Smith, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, all in my line through my Mom’s side. Maybe they gave me a pep-talk before I came to earth! Love this stuff.

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