Where my thoughts just might ramble and roam . . . We just finished with our bi-annual General Conference. It’s a world-wide gathering that takes place every 6 months, with speakers from all around the world. …

A veil was never meant to protect what was on the inside, but what was on the outside. On my most recent podcast (you can access it here) I talk about the “unveiling of women.” There has been — and there is still — a great misconception about veils. I’m…

To make something holy is to “set apart as sacred”. Our trials, when endured well, can make us holy. It was October 1996 when I received the call that my parents were both killed in car accident. The shock and grief were almost overwhelming, and there were many days and…

What did it really mean “to till” and “to keep”? — The usual Biblical translation rendered is that Adam was placed in the garden to “till it and keep it.” Gen 2:15. But think about it. We know that there are layers upon layers of meanings, symbols, metaphors, and parables in the scriptures. And Genesis is no different. The writer had…

One of the biggest differences between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other denominations is that we believe that Eve’s choice in the Fall was a holy and righteous one; a necessary, vital step for all of mankind to take on the path to becoming more like our Heavenly Parents. — Why would this distinction be important? Because the treatment of the daughters of Eve is a direct correlation, causation, and consequence of how the story of Eden is translated and interpreted.

There is nothing more exciting about the unfolding restoration than the increased understanding of the priesthood, the expansion of women’s roles, and how entwined both men and women are with the priesthood. What is the priesthood? Priesthood is both the authority and power that God uses to “bring to pass the immortality and eternal…

One of the most beautiful symbols that the heavenly messenger sheds light on for the Tree of Life dream in 1 Nephi 11 is the vision of Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus. In fact, it is the very first vision symbol that the messenger brings to the attention of Nephi. Why is that? And why do we only give it a brief, cursory glance in our gospel discussions? — When we think of the scriptural Tree of Life, the two most common books that our minds go to are Genesis and 1 Nephi. The Tree of Life, as we understand it, stands next to, but not necessarily opposite, of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or, as…

The three gifts brought to Jesus after his birth — the gold, frankincense, and myrrh — bring to remembrance the ancient Jewish temple and the promise of the return of the High Priest. — It is recorded that wise men from the east brought gifts of Gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus. Frankincense and myrrh were the main ingredients of the two perfumes of the oil and incense used in the Holy of Holies in the first (original) Jewish temple. …

Women are created as and designed to be holy beings “She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.” Genesis 2:23 Rabbi Halevi noted that in this verse, the Hebrew word that was used for man is not adam. …