My family and I recently visited Palmyra, New York and Kirtland, Ohio—sites of the early church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I found a replica of the first book of hymns, compiled by Emma Smith. It is a small brown book with gold leafing, about 3 in x 4 in x 1/2 in thick. …
Author Archives: benmortenson
A Vein of Gold
I took the kids camping, and Geneveive got up early to take me exploring. We found the opening of an old mine shaft, which are so common in the Colorado mountains. Old miners would find a vein of gold and silver and dig down to follow it as far as they could or until it …
Amae
There is a Japanese word for a concept that has perhaps no equivalent in English. Amae means relying full on the good will and generousity of another. It has a connotation of taking love for granted, assuming it will always be there, as a child of a doting parent. As a child, did you ever …
In Process of Time
The Prophet Joseph said that the process of becoming more like our Heavenly Father will bring clearer views and greater enjoyments, until we overcome the evils of this world, and lose every desire for sin, until we arrive like the ancients, at that point of faith where we are wrapped in the power and glory …
His Mission to me
Jesus Christ described His mission: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To …
The Power of little kindnesses
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” Leo Buscaglia
Expect Surprises
“During His life, Jesus Christ often challenged people’s long-held traditions and beliefs.” Come Follow Me Even his closest friends and followers found themselves regulary baffled by Jesus’s methods, priorities, and corrections. Peter was told “Get thee behind me, satan, for thou savorest not the things of God,” when he tried to tell Jesus he shouldn’t …
Making choices that won’t dissolve under pressure
We are pouring some concrete in the front yard for a front porch. The team of builders needed to remove with a jackhammer, concrete orginal to the house. It was 62 year old and so solid! We hope our new concrete porch step will last even longer. It made me think how valuable construction materials …
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The Arithmetic of Forgiveness
Peter once asked Jesus an honest question: How many times should I forgive someone who trespasses against me? He knew to expect the unexpected from Jesus, and since the Rabbis of his time taught that you should forgive 3 times then stop, Peter estimated that the perfect number might be 7 times. That still feels …
Stretch
“Jesus entered into a synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.And he said unto him Stand forth.And he said unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”Mark 3:1–5 Like so many of His miracles, here Jesus asked …
On the Path of Life... 