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Things that matter to me

Welcome to my informal blog!

I use this site to share my ideas and insights about things that matter to me. It’s an archive of my favorite content and a place to share great information about politics, religion, and science.

Thank you, readers!

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(updated 01/30/2023)

Featured Content

The Political Kingdom of God

[This essay is not yet finished, but it will likely be an ongoing project for several years. Enjoy what is available so far!] I’m writing this article in an attempt to clear up a prominent misunderstanding regarding the kingdom of God seen in dream by King Nebuchadnezzar and in vision by the young prophet Daniel (see Daniel 2). Verses 44 and 45 report: 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was

August 1, 2018 1 Comment

The “Rifle Approach” to Healing America

For many years, President Ezra Taft Benson was worried that patriotic Americans were effectively spinning their tires in their current methods of defending the Constitution and attempting to preserve freedom. He voiced concern that we are swinging at the branches by trying to solve all of this nations greatest problems individually, but actually making no lasting progress. The Shotgun Approach President Benson called this the “shotgun approach”, saying that we are metaphorically spraying pellets, hoping that some of them will stop these problems. Abortions, outrageous taxation, out of control deficits, $20+ trillion of national debt, civil asset forfeiture, a failing

February 11, 2019 No Comments

Free Agency vs. Moral Agency

I often find myself in conversations with people who advocate against legislating morality in an attempt to “preserve the agency” of others. They say, “I would never do [xyz wicked things], but it’s not my place to make it illegal for others to do it. We should preserve their ‘agency’ and let them choose on their own whether to indulge in those acts.” I understand the logic of the argument, but through my studies I have come to strongly favor legislating morality. In summary, I’ve learned that agency is the power God has given us over the bodies that He

July 31, 2017 No Comments

About the Author

Just a simple guy with a lot of interests.

I’m a proud member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am the Director of Development and Digital Operations for the Madison Liberty Institute, the Director of Outreach for the Columbus Center for Constitutional Studies, and a student at BYU-Idaho studying Financial Economics.

I am a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I love sharing doctrinal insights and commentary on topics that matter to me.

My Faith in Practice

I believe the solutions to the world’s greatest problems begins with faith in Jesus Christ and a love for God, self, and others.

Love for God

I believe God is mindful of our lives and challenges, and that the key to a truly happy life is a love for God and a commitment to following his plan for our happiness.

Love for Self

I believe we are best able to help others when we first have a healthy love for self. I believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ help us forgive and love ourselves.

Love for Others

I believe the greatest problems in life come from a failure to truly love and care for those around us. I believe we can change the world by treating others as real people.

Politics

I believe the Constitution was established through the inspiration of God to provide a land where free speech and freedom of religion could flourish. I believe the original Constitution established God’s preferred pattern for all governments. As we learn how to practice the rare gift of freedom provided to us by the U.S. Constitution, we will be prepared to help all other nations protect the unalienable rights granted to us by our common Creator.

Influencers & Mentors

Political Organizations

The Restoration Generation is a student engagement project of the Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration. As members of the Restoration Generation, we support and engage in the five educational non-profits directed by Dr. Glenn J. Kimber. Although the Restoration Generation and the 5 non-profits we engage in are multi-denominational, our organizations strive to align our core beliefs with the united voice of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Restoration Generation

Madison Liberty Institute

The Madison Liberty Institute is a 501(c)3 state-based think tank in Rexburg committed to preserving liberty in Idaho. It provides a home to all the student liberty organizations who promote principles of freedom and family prosperity but are unable to meet on campus at BYU due to the school’s political neutrality policy. It seeks to become a “Liberty Training Center.”

The Thomas Jefferson Center for Constitutional Restoration is committed to the restoration of the U.S. Constitution within the intent of the Founding Fathers.

Thomas Jefferson Center

Benjamin Franklin Center

The Benjamin Franklin Center for Constitutional Studies is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to teaching how principles of limited government will help save the family.

The Columbus Center for International Outreach is a 501(c)3 nonprofit committed to teaching constitutional principles around the world.

Columbus Center

Science Research

I spent a year doing a research and operations internship with the Universal Model, a creationist science educational nonprofit, and I love the evidence the team has for the reality of a universal flood and other incredible discoveries.

Recent Posts

Movie Reviews

Why I Liked “The Oath” & My Honest Critiques

A few weeks ago, I participated in the April 2022 FIRM Foundation Expo where I was able to watch an unfinished version of “The Oath,” originally marketed as “Reign of the Judges.” I’ve been following Darin Southam (Darin Scott) and the Reign of the Judges movie project since it first

April 24, 2022 No Comments

Doctrinal Discussion

Sealing Power Brings Hope

NOTE: I have not yet finished verifying all of the quotes that are used in this post. Parents of wayward children agonize over the choices and trials of their prodigal sons and daughters, and the fear of losing them deeply shakes their hearts. It’s unfortunate that one of the most

November 7, 2021 No Comments

Orson Hyde’s Warning to the Jews

Orson Hyde served a mission to the Holy Land to rededicate Palestine for the return of the Jews. On his way to Palestine, he stopped for some time in Germany where he learned to read and speak German in eight days. He had already studied Hebrew extensively in Kirtland and

September 10, 2021 No Comments

The Second Half of the Second Century by Jeffrey R. Holland (Transcript)

The Second Half of the Second Century BYU Annual University Conference August 23, 2021 By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Someone once told me that the young speak of the future because they have no past, while the elderly speak of the past because they have no future. Although it damages

August 25, 2021 No Comments

“Uphold the Hands of the President of the Church” by Harold B. Lee

President Harold B. Lee First Counselor in the First Presidency and President of the Council of the Twelve Before we announce President Smith as the next and concluding speaker of the conference, it seems appropriate to say one or two things. The President of the Church When the Church was

May 28, 2021 No Comments

Savior’s Appearance to Lorenzo Snow in the Salt Lake Temple

The Savior Appeared to Lorenzo Snow in the Salt Lake Temple For some time President Woodruff’s health had been failing. Nearly every evening President Lorenzo Snow visited him at his home. This particular evening the doctors said that President Woodruff could not live much longer, that he was becoming weaker

May 28, 2021 No Comments