Our little girl has been hospitalized—for the second time—for now over a month, and it has been one of the most agonizing experiences of my life. But there have also been miracles, oh so many miracles from people fasting and praying for her.
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We live in a Fallen world that often times feels broken. Terrible things happen to good people. Dreams go unfulfilled. The guilty go seemingly unpunished for their crimes. Or even worse, we are the guilty ones in ways big or small, and we see no way out of the mess that we’ve created. There are many good and beautiful things in this world that I don’t mean to discount. But I also want to acknowledge that we all experience dark times too, sometimes so dark that it seems there is no escape.
This is why we all need a Redeemer, someone both loving enough and powerful enough to pull us from these dark places.
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If you have even the smallest amount of contact with the internet, you’ve likely witnessed at least some of the AI craze from last year. People have used generative artificial intellegence to create pictures, stories and essays and poems, life-like videos, and even software. All with varying degrees of quality, for sure, but it is still a mind boggling leap in technology.
All the pandemonium has had me thinking a lot about what it means to be an artist, to be human, and what it takes to truly create something.
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Learning is always easier with a teacher. Sure, you can eventually figure things out through trial and error. But teachers, whether they be the author of a how-to guide or a tutor physically sitting beside you, make the process so much easier.
The best teachers walk alongside you on your journey, guiding you to the best resources, correcting you when you misstep, and encouraging you through their example. They show their love through the patience and persistence of their teaching.
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Do you know anyone with a scar?
I have a few. The most noticeable one is a straight line across my elbow. I got the scar after a nasty bike accident. I lost control of my bike while going down hill, flipped over the top of my handlebars, and landed directly on my elbow.
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We live in a fallen world full of decay and change. Food spoils. Disease rots the body. Homes and vehicles need constant repair. Flowers blossom, but then die and fall to the ground. Fads come and go. Children grow up while grandparents pass away. World economies and politics are in constant flux.
With so much change, it’s easy to wonder, “Can I count on anything ever staying the same?”
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Happy Easter everyone!
In the days leading up to Easter this year, I’ve appreciated all the reminders of Jesus Christ, our Savior, and the ultimate sacrifice that He made for us. Because of Him, we will be saved for both death and hell. Jesus Christ gives us salvation!
Recently I heard a talk on Amulek’s sermon in Alma chapter 34. I keep finding myself coming back to its beautiful message. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite chapters of scripture. Normally, I like to break up quotes into smaller chunks, but I really wanted to share Amulek’s testimony as a whole. So please resist the urge to skip the long block of text and take a moment to soak in his testimony of the Savior.
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When my great-grandma was little, their family had chickens. One rooster in particular was mean. It would chase her around the yard with her screaming, it screaming, and her screaming some more.
Eventually her dad got sick of the screaming, so said-rooster became dinner. The whole family felt rather satisfied stuffing the ornery rooster in their bellies—except my great-grandma. She hated the rooster so much that she refused to even eat it.
Thousands of years ago, a rather different kind of story happened. God warned Moses that the worst plague of all was coming to Egypt. The first born son in every family would die. However, the Israelites could protect themselves with a very specific sacrificial offering—a firstborn lamb without blemish would need to die in their stead.
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The scriptures teach us that spiritual light comes from Jesus Christ.
(more…)“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
John 1:4-5,9
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
1 John 4:8
Whether or not the scriptures ever officially used it as one of His names, Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Love. During His earthly ministry, love filled everything He did and said. He commanded us to love God and our neighbor. He told parables of forgiveness, selflessness, and reconciliation. He healed and lifted and befriended everywhere He went. And then His life ended with the greatest manifestation of love, as He gave up His mortal life so that all of us can one day have Eternal Life.
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Our Advocate 