Doctrinal Essays

I love truth! Especially when it comes from unexpected sources. Several years ago I found myself in a bout of seasonal depression, mixed with a bit of despair from where I was (and wasn't) in life. I felt stuck, and as though life had dealt me an unfair hand. It was the end of December 2012, when I was directed to a Forbes web article , which I don't normally read. It featured ten suggestions for making New Year's resolutions. It was a good read, all in all, but suggestion number nine had a doctrinal ring of truth unparalleled from any secular source I've come across. Not to sound overly dramatic, but it changed my life. #9 - What is the outcome you want? What stands in your way? How do you overcome these obstacles? These three simple questions will keep you from being victimized by any situation. Creators change the world. Victims just bi*ch about stuff. ( Forbes ) I thought about apologizing for the expletive in the article, but to be honest, its raw boldness s...

I love truth. In its lofty pursuit the seeker of truth must occasionally collide with false precepts which are all around us. These are the cultural and political beliefs that are touted as truth but which have no eternal footing, and by 'footing' I'm referring to doctrine - or better still, 'canon'. The purpose of scriptural canon, according to the LDS bible dictionary is, "A word of Greek origin, originally meaning a rod for testing straightness" . Canon gives us a foundation for comparing all philosophies against - a litmus test as it were - and if that ideal synchronizes well with canon, then it passes the test. Those with no canon in their lives are those described in Ephesians as " carried about with every wind of doctrine " ( Ephesians 4:14 ). Lucifer, who's pride led him to think more of himself than God, loves to set forth his own propaganda in every way possible. We see it in media, at church and in our societal culture. It oft...