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.

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

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 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.

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.

What we are reading this week in the #ComeFollow Me program is about the midpoint in the entire story, or history at least, of the Book of Mormon. It’s weird to think that when Mosiah took over with the plates, 470 or so years had passed since Lehi and his family came across the water. That’s like us today, looking back at the 1600s or so. That's a long time.

In reading the Book of Mormon, so many of us get to the Book of Mosiah and look forward to King Benjamin’s speech; it goes on for multiple chapters, is filled with gospel truth, and is quoted so often by so many that it just feels comfortable. So, this time around, I want to learn from something outside of the most famous speech in the Book Of Mormon.

We have been given the gift to kneel down and speak to our Maker. Have you ever thought about that directly? The King of the Universe, the infinitely powerful and infinitely loving God, has given us the gift of prayer. Even more, He pleads with us to speak with him.

The Lord has already won victory over death. He gives that freely to all. I sometimes think about, and am in awe of, how personal the rest of His gifts He gives us through the Atonement.

“This is the Way” . . .

On step at a time, over and over again. One sacrament at a time. Repenting over and over again. Praying to the Father and learning to be more like Jesus day after day. Returning to the temple to serve and learn over and over again. Enduring is not waiting, it is growing, learning, and serving.

The most common way to think about "feasting on the words of Christ" is to think about the scriptures. There is good reason for that, they are obviously the readiest source of the words to read about Christ, but in an of themselves are they sufficient?

A bit of an extended version of a talk, or sermon, that I shared today with some added sections that I did not use due to time limitations. I share many thoughts on prayer and end with a personal story about my mother’s best day and some Grosbeak birds as well.

There is a line in the Hymn, "Thy Will, O Lord, Be Done," that is beautiful and tells me much about the atonement of Christ and the nature of Christ.