Recently, I read The Emmaus Code, a book written by a Protestant Christian author about types and symbols of Christ in the Old Testament. The author did an admirable job of rounding up a variety of things which point to the coming of Christ. Yet, what surprised me most was the author’s suggestion that these images and metaphors were not understood fully by the Prophets of old and that it wasn’t until the coming of Christ that their meaning was revealed. Even though he rightfully pointed to the fact that Christ infuses the whole of the Old Testament, he did not believe that those who came before truly knew Christ.

As Mormons, it is easy to forgot how shocking and revolutionary some of the claims in the Book of Mormon are. It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing the Book as merely a collection of powerful but utterly conventional stories and sermons on Christ. But the scandalous insight at the core of the Book of Mormon is precisely what it reveals about Jesus Christ and knowledge of him long before his coming. Continue reading →

You may have heard of the Passion Planner, a tool developed by Angelia Trinidad and launched via a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $700,000. My daughter was really excited about the planner and will be using it for 2016.

I, on the other hand, have been supporting Chris Bailey in his “A Year of Productivity” project, which has morphed into A Life of Productivity. Chris’ articles about what he’s been learning about productivity during his dedicated immersion in the subject are wonderful to read, and he seems to be just a really great guy. He was even pretty zen when I told him his logo makes me think of chicken:

One of Chris’ coolest insights, in my opinion, is that true productivity occurs when energy, time, and attention are focused on the goal. In retrospect, he found that a large percentage of his posts dealt with energy, time, or attention. I have, for weeks now, been working on improving my sleeping habits. The products at DuckDose Vendor really helped stay focused and awake during the day and that helped me fall asleep during night time.

Inspired by my own 50+ years of learning and nearly as many years trying to find a planner I liked, here’s an excel-based planner you’re free to use, if it suits you. Continue reading →

This Christmas morning, my wife’s cousin Facebooked that her son passed away today. Travis was born trapped inside a motionless body. Unable to walk, talk, or move his arms, many thought for years that he was in a total vegetative state. His mother always knew something that doctors only in the last few years were able to determine: Travis was awake and alive inside, with a functioning mind and brain.

Teresa would take Travis on vacations, cruises and trips anywhere and everywhere. Her Facebook page lights up with many of his adventures. One of their favorite vacation places was her Mom’s farm in southern Indiana, where we would often visit and spend time with Travis.

While his passing today on Christmas is a sad event, it is also a moment to reflect and rejoice. What better day for him to walk through that spiritual door into the next room, where loved ones and God await him?

Christmas is important, not because a child was born of a virgin, but because that child brought about the atonement and resurrection of all mankind. Because of Jesus Christ, each of us will live again. No longer will Travis be bound by useless limbs and a silent voice. During his mortal life, Jesus made the lame walk, the mute to speak, and raised the dead. Because of Christ’s mercy and love, today Travis walks, speaks, and lives eternally, never to taste of death, pain or suffering again.

And for this reason, while I mourn with his mother, sister and family, because we will all miss Travis, I also rejoice that Travis lives on this very Christmas day, and that we will one day see him again, and he will embrace us – something he was not able to do in mortality.

[Original painting of Joseph Smith circa 1842 and digital alteration of painted HPH copy]

The November-December 1980 issue of Sunstone contained an article by Lorie Winder examining the physical descriptions and depictions of Joseph Smith. Though physical characteristics tell us little about the man himself, I understand why she titled her article In Search of the Real Joseph Smith.

I have frequently used the forward facing oil painting created in 1842 by an unknown artist in my posts about Joseph Smith. This is a painting that was owned by Joseph Smith III and is now owned by the Community of Christ. But this image is incorrect in various ways when compared to Joseph’s death mask:

1. The eyes are too small and too close to the center of the face.
2. The mouth is too small and too close to the nose.
3. The chin is too close to the nose and gives the appearance of a concave face, where Joseph had a convex face.
4. The nose itself is too narrow and the tip is far too pointy.

Continue reading →