This is a faith-centered, multidimensional blog, which I use to explore discipleship through my heart, might, mind, and strength. It blends personal stories, practical advice, intellectual study, and testimony-driven reflections into one coherent space. Some posts will be more lighthearted or creative, while others will be deeply introspective or scholarly.
To focus on substance and minimize influence by popularity, I have intentionally disabled comments, likes, and social metrics. This is designed for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints seeking authentic, thoughtful content, but also for anyone curious about seeing spiritual truths in everyday life, culture, and creative contexts — from missionary work to music, art, or pop culture. I hope to create a quiet space for reflection, learning, and spiritual growth in myself, and if others benefit, then I am grateful.
- Heart posts explore emotion and personal experience.
- Might posts focus on action and application.
- Mind posts dive into study and reflection.
- Strength posts highlight both personal offerings and reliance on Christ.
Recent Posts
- “You Must Master It”: What the Story of Cain Teaches About Sin
When people speak of the “first sin” in scripture, they often point to Adam and Eve. Yet the word sin itself first appears in Genesis 4—not in relation to the Fall, but in the story of Cain. This detail aligns closely with Restoration teachings about the Fall as a necessary step forward rather than a… Read more: “You Must Master It”: What the Story of Cain Teaches About Sin - Studying the Accounts of the First Vision: Journal Edition
One of the best things to come out of Deseret Book in recent years has been the “Journal Editions” of the scriptures, complete with the much needed improvement of more room in the margins for notes. For Christmas last year, I got myself one of each (The Old Testament, The New Testament, The Book of… Read more: Studying the Accounts of the First Vision: Journal Edition - Abinadi: Looking Back to Moses & Forward to Christ (A Study Guide for Mosiah 11-17)
Abinadi has a tremendous impact on the rest of the Book of Mormon and the religious history of the Nephites and Lamanites. He converted Alma the Elder, whose personal ministry and the ministries of his descendants (Alma the Younger, Helaman, Shiblon, Corianton, Helaman II, Nephi II, Lehi, Nephi III, Timothy, Jonas, Nephi IV, Amos the Elder, Amos… Read more: Abinadi: Looking Back to Moses & Forward to Christ (A Study Guide for Mosiah 11-17) - Insights from D&C 29: The Plan of Salvation is a Chiasmus!
For one of my scripture studies, I tried to trace the phraseology of each verse in D&C 29. It’s been an absolutely amazing and very rewarding study. I posted the verse-by-verse intertextuality analysis in my other post here. (You might want to look through that first before continuing, so you can understand the section better.)… Read more: Insights from D&C 29: The Plan of Salvation is a Chiasmus! - Side-by-Side Comparison: D&C 4, 6, 11-12, 14
In light of D&C 4 being in the chapters for Come Follow Me this week, I created this side-by-side comparison of the revelations in D&C 4, 6, 11, 12, and 14. Each of them have similarities and obvious intertextuality. A few interesting points: This, of course, doesn’t mean that the revelations weren’t inspired by the Lord, nor that they weren’t specially meant for those… Read more: Side-by-Side Comparison: D&C 4, 6, 11-12, 14 - A New Verse for “This is My Beloved Son”: The Transfiguration on the Mount
For my scripture study today, I was studying the different accounts of God witnessing of His Son, Jesus Christ. I realized that the Primary Song “This is My Beloved Son” didn’t have a verse for the Transfiguration on the Mount (Matthew 17:1-13; 2 Peter 1:16-18). So, I made one! It’s probably not the best (and… Read more: A New Verse for “This is My Beloved Son”: The Transfiguration on the Mount - Offer God a Dandelion & He will turn it into a Rose
“Our perfect Father does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such Child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammeringly but smilingly we present God with a dandelion – as if it were an orchid or a rose! If for now… Read more: Offer God a Dandelion & He will turn it into a Rose - The Careful Wording of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses
When studying Doctrine and Covenants 5 and 17, I was intrigued by how the wording of the Testimony of Three Witnesses is exactly obedient to the commandments given by the Lord in the D&C. I knew that Oliver, David, and Whitmer took their commandment from the Lord to be witnesses of the Book of Mormon seriously as evidenced by their lives—but it… Read more: The Careful Wording of the Testimony of the Three Witnesses - “Rely upon the things which are written”: The Book of Mormon’s Influence on D&C 20
In D&C 18:1-5, the Lord gives a commandment to Oliver Cowdery to “rely upon the things which are written” [i.e., the Book of Mormon] as he drafts the Articles of the Church of Christ—”for in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock.” Oliver’s Articles of the Church of Christ didn’t make it… Read more: “Rely upon the things which are written”: The Book of Mormon’s Influence on D&C 20 - Doctrine and Covenants 29: Latter-day Israel & the Last Days (A Verse-by-Verse Study Guide)
Doctrine and Covenants 29 was revealed to Joseph Smith in September 1830 at Fayette, New York, in the presence of six elders prior to an upcoming church conference. These six elders were “seeing somewhat different upon the death [and transgression] of Adam” (original heading by John Whitmer) and also sought to better understand the establishment… Read more: Doctrine and Covenants 29: Latter-day Israel & the Last Days (A Verse-by-Verse Study Guide)