“A kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.” Fred, from “A Christmas Carrol”.

As children learn to speak, they may babble as the desire hits them, even at seemingly the wrong times. As children grow, they speak out as thoughts hit them. We should think of our prayers that way. When the thought hits you, pray about it. You don't need formality to speak with God.

“Tales from the Hudson,” released in 1996, stands out in Michael Brecker’s discography. The album showcases Brecker’s virtuosic saxophone work and gathers some of the most influential jazz musicians of the time. This star-studded lineup, filled with my all-time favorite musicians, is one of the album’s features that sets it apart.

I was talking with some family the other day on a long drive about how being a millionaire was the mark of the easy life when we grew up. Having a few million made you ultra-rich. It was the dream of all monetary dreams. The difference in our world today is the growing number of billionaires.

Simplifying means doing or experiencing less in the moment. It also removes things from your life to make that more manageable, but it does not need to mean having less in total.

Would I listen or be more like the Nephites, pushing him out of the city and ignoring his warnings?

My wife and I went to see Marcin Wasilewski Trio last Saturday night. It was a small place - Paderewski Symphony Orchestra Academy of Music. We had never heard of the place; it seemed like a small private school affiliated with the Orchestra. Everyone there - everyone - spoke Polish. The entire audience seemed to know each other, and we did not hear a word of English from the crowd. We both loved the show, and I could not have asked more of a group I had wished to see live for a long time.

Mirrors do not just reflect our faces back at us; in countless other ways, they help us see things that would otherwise be invisible.

I was told something once, or maybe I read it—it doesn't matter, but it has always stuck with me. It is both simple and very complicated. It is easy to understand, yet it can take a lifetime to figure out. I was told, "You are not your feelings."

I don't know how possible it is to reach perfection in this, but we do have a perfect example to follow. We need to see people through Christ's eyes. As we get better and better at that, we will see the naturally lovable person under the mask this world has put on them. Everyone you will ever meet is a divine son or daughter of God. If we can try to see that, loving them is easier.

This is the part I loved the most about this book. Rich Villodas's time on the Sermon on the Mount really got me thinking much deeper about a few topics and not only what Jesus really meant, but it also helped me think of ways to apply those teachings in my life better. This is what the author calls "walking the path."

If we saw preparing as practice, this might help us maintain the daily effort. Practice is usually seen as a way to be ready to play in a sports match or to perform in an artistic or musical performance. If we don't practice and prepare, we will either lose or not perform to our ability.

We had an interesting conversation today in our Sunday School class. It was related to the chapters we have been reading in The Book of Alma. The discussion was about why some people feel that repentance is painful. Many do. I have at times as well. We probably all have. To cut to the end of our discussion, that is the adversary trying to cause you to feel like it is not worth it to improve. It is not worth removing the guilt and shame of past mistakes. It is not worth the trouble or is not needed. None of those answers will remove the pain.

I once had a manager whose idea of a one-on-one meeting was to spend the entire time complaining about my teammates. - by name. But let’s talk about the kind of meetings that actually matter if done correctly: the one-on-one meetings. When done right, these gems can transform your work, school, and home life.

Alma and Amulek made choices and followed the Lord and their faith in Him. Alma chapter fourteen not only contains one of the more horrific scenes in the Book of Mormon, maybe in all of scripture but also provides a great example of choices made. God will not force us to do the right thing. He has given us our agency.

In Chapter 5 of Alma, Alma preaches to the church in Zarahemla. They are not doing as well as they should be doing, and Alma is called by the Lord to command them to repent. In the process, he asks many questions throughout his sermon. It was suggested in a Sunday School Class that these could be used for self-reflection and pondering.

Jesus told his followers, and we see in many other places in the scriptures, that all who ask will receive an answer.  All who seek will find, and all who knock shall have the way or the door opened to them.  I have wondered, probably like all of us at some point, if this is just an unlimited or unqualified promise for us.  Can I have anything I want just for the asking?

The church is not a set of books, a bunch of buildings, or a series of classes. It is not a typical organization, a charity, or a business. The church is more than a set of doctrines or beliefs. The church is us. The church is the "Body of Christ" or everyone working to become more like our Savior.

The true essence of wisdom lies not just in possessing it but in the very act of acquiring it. This notion is truly inspiring. The journey towards wisdom starts with the persistent desire and decision to 'get' wisdom.

Reflecting on my time spent in theaters during the 1980s, it’s a surprise when I stumble upon a film that I didn't catch at the time. 'Midnight Run' is one such film. I’m a big fan of Charles Grodin. His deadpan straight way of delivering comedy I’ve always loved. And the chemistry between him and Robert De Niro is really fun in this movie.