LAYING DOWN WEAPONS OF WAR

Forty years ago, I watched the movie, The Mission, as preparation for spending two yeares serving my own mission in the Amazon region of Brazil. Needless to say, it had a profound impact on me. This 1986 film opens with a powerful scene where a Jesuit priest is tied to a large wooden cross by Guarani warriors high above the Iguazu Falls. They push the cross (with the priest tied to it) into the fast-moving river. The cross floats downstream, picks up speed, and is swept over the edge of the massive waterfall. The priest is violently pummeled and battered by the thundering water and rocks as he and the cross tumble down the falls to his death. 

Needless to say, I was glad I returned home safely after my two year service. 

This past week I watched this segment from the movie. I felt it was worth sharing.  Just a little back story about this scene. The main character is Rodrigo Mendoza, who is a hardened former slave-trader and mercenary whose hands are stained with violence. Most devastatingly, he killed his own brother in a jealous rage. As an act of radical atonement, he has chosen the harshest possible penance: to carry every instrument of his old life up the near-vertical cliffs and thundering waterfalls of Iguazu Falls.Here is the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui91q7Y9xPk

Symbolic summary: 

Tied to his waist by thick rope is a massive, bulging net crammed with weapons of war—swords, breastplates, helmets, shields, and the tools of conquest and enslavement. These are not lightweight props. They are heavy, clanging, awkward objects that constantly snag on rocks, roots, and undergrowth. With every step upward, the bundle drags him backward and downward. 

Symbolically, the weapons represent:

• His violent past and the blood on his hands.
• The weight of unrepented sin — guilt, pride, and the dehumanizing life he once led.
• The chains of the old self that refuse to let go easily.

The physical dragging downward is the perfect visual metaphor for how sin and guilt operate on the soul: they don’t just slow you down — they actively pull you back, threaten to make you fall, and make redemption feel almost impossible. Every time the net catches and yanks him, it is sin’s gravitational pull trying to reclaim him. Every time he slips and has to claw his way forward again, it is the soul’s struggle against its own fallen nature.

The Jesuits Priest accompanying him are moved to pity and try (at one point) to cut the rope and free him. Mendoza refuses. He re-ties the burden himself and continues. This is not masochism for its own sake; it is a deliberate, chosen participation in suffering — a physical enactment of the biblical truth that the yoke of sin is crushing, while true repentance demands we carry the full weight until grace intervenes.  

At the summit, the very indigenous people Mendoza once captured and sold into slavery confront him. 

One raises a knife to his throat… and then, in an act of astonishing mercy, cuts the rope instead. The weapons of war plunge into the roaring river below and disappear. The dragging burden is finally released — not by Mendoza’s strength, but by the forgiveness of those he had wronged.

The image of the man bent double, dragged down by the very weapons he once wielded, is one of cinema’s most powerful visual metaphors for the burden of sin and the cost of redemption. It shows that the things we once used to dominate others can become the very things that nearly destroy us — until mercy, not our own effort, finally cuts us free. 

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Sidenote: 

A few weeks ago, there was a small gathering of men where a couple of men presented some thoughts. Here is a brief summary: 

 Groups often become trapped trying to prove who is correct rather than humbly approaching God together for revelation. People must first recognize their own weaknesses and seek God's mercy before expecting divine answers.

 Many religious and social movements fail because they insist on complete agreement rather than cooperation on shared goals. They seek converts to have people be on their side versus seeking for allies. Seeking converts require complete agreement on every issue. Seeking allies means working together where common ground exists despite disagreements.

It was suggested that people often begin with divisive issues rather than starting with common faith in Christ. Communities should first establish shared devotion to Christ and then work through disagreements afterward.

A statement attributed to Joseph Smith that said  organizations often fail because they do not sit in disagreement long enough to separate "gold from dross."

"Joseph Smith arose to give some instructions to the council & especially to the committee. He commenced by showing, that the reason why men always failed to establish important measures was, because in their organization they never could agree to disagree long enough to select the pure gold from the dross by the process of investigation.”  The Joseph Smith Papers, Council of Fifty, Minutes, March 1844–January 1846 (the relevant document is “Minutes and Discourse, 4 April 1844”).

 Rather than rushing to a resolution, it is often better to clearly state positions, thoughtfully reason through differences, seek understanding through persuasion rather than coercion, and allow time for greater clarity and understanding to emerge.

Just as organizations must work through conflict constructively, husbands and wives should seek revelation together. Neither spouse should seek to dominate the other. Instead, they should first identify and build upon their common ground, bringing only unresolved differences before God in humility and faith, seeking His guidance.

The central message is that Zion, unity, and divine guidance cannot be achieved through force, majority votes alone, or an insistence on proving who is right. They require humility, patience, honest communication, mutual respect, strong families, and a sincere collective desire to seek and follow God's will together.

THE PERFECT DAY

Photo on a hike for the Summer Solstice in 2015.

The summer solstice will occur this Sunday, June 21, at 2:24 AM MDT. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year, with 15 hours and 3 minutes of sunlight. Sunrise is at 5:57 AM, and sunset is at 9:01 PM. If you include twilight (the light before sunrise and after sunset), the day feels even longer—closer to 17+ hours of usable light.


It is also Father’s Day on this year’s summer solstice.

Male and female, yin and yang, dark and light all play an important role in summer and winter solstice observances. According to Chinese philosophy, yang forces are more potent during the summer solstice. Yang represents the masculine principle—light, heat, and activity—and is associated with the sun, heaven, and strength. Yang is strongest at the summer solstice but begins to decline immediately afterward. Yin (darkness, rest, and inward energy) then begins to gradually increase. The cycle is always shifting; it is never static.

Here is a beautiful quote about the summer solstice, in which it is symbolic of the “perfect day”:

"The scriptures tell us the connection between acquiring light and truth and obedience to the commandments is direct, immediate and inescapable. It can be acquired in no other way. “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” A “perfect day” seems clear enough. Cloudless and clear, at the apex of the summer solstice, a “perfect day” would be filled with light and warmth. That kind of symbol powerfully captures an image. The image is suggesting to us what standing in God’s presence would be like. The Millennium would be a “perfect day” in which the “light of the earth” will dwell among mankind. So that is what we seek. But how does one “receive light” and “continue in God” so as to receive more light?"

"This principle is explained further: “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." This is another way of describing the same growth in grace. From a lesser to a greater degree you progress in light and truth as you obey the commandments. That growth increases the brightness of the light in the mind of the obedient “until the perfect day.” Think about what is implied by this phrase. A perfect day would be bright, clear, warm and at the zenith of the summer solstice. If you were trying to find a metaphor for being in God’s presence, you would use such a phrase. That is what receiving the Second Comforter is like; the Perfect Day, in which there is no longer shadow, darkness or clouds. There is clarity, vision and warmth. To get there you must keep the commandments"

The Second Comforter - Conversing with the Lord through the Veil, KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS, pg. page 56)

Sidenote:

Across the world, cultures observe the summer solstice as a meaningful spiritual moment tied to the sun, nature, and renewal, expressed through traditions that reflect shared themes of light, unity, and reverence. From Austria’s mountaintop bonfires to Tasmania’s tradition of welcoming the longest day with an ocean swim at sunrise, and from witnessing the sunrise at Stonehenge to gatherings at the pyramids of Giza, these observances often incorporate fire, ritual, and community. Together, they symbolize rebirth, warmth, and a connection to a higher power. Despite cultural differences, these practices share a common purpose: recognizing the longest day of the year as a sacred time for reflection, gratitude, and spiritual renewal. 



Austrians celebrate the June 21 solstice by continuing a medieval tradition of lighting mountaintop fires, blending historical roots with religious symbolism.



Stonehenge was built to align with the summer and winter solstices, and every June 20–21, crowds gather to witness this ancient tradition of watching the solstice sunrise.

The Great Sphinx of Giza is positioned between the pyramids of Khafre and Khufu at sunset on the summer solstice, with the sun setting between them to evoke the ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for “horizon.

In the city constructed by the Mayans, people gather to celebrate the summer solstice near the Temple of Kukulcán. Due to its construction, one side is always illuminated in light, while the other — is engulfed in darkness.


In Tasmania, the summer solstice tradition involves sunrise swims where people gather at beaches or river mouths to swim as the sun rises—symbolizing renewal, energy, and a deep connection to nature.

Addendum:

Joseph and his brother Hyrum left Illinois to escape mob violence on the summer solstice of 1844. At the behest of friends, he returned across the Mississippi River to surrender to the Illinois authorities the day after the solstice. Four days later, as sunlight began its decline, both were slain.

There has been a significant effort to gather and preserve documents related to Hyrum Smith. It is the most comprehensive single source of material related to Hyrum available today. The work to prepare this research project for publication continues. The hope was to release the first volume this Sunday, on the summer solstice, but there is still much to be done. I want to express my deep gratitude to all those who have worked so hard. Featured below is a concept for the book cover, created by my close friend Bob Sonntag—one of four designs created for the four volumes.

BURDENS WE CARRY

It has been months since I last posted. The struggles of life are real, and I think we often underestimate the burdens others carry.

I recently learned about a Native American tradition called a burden basket. These baskets are part of a ritual used to hold the burdens we can no longer bear.

Traditionally, burden baskets are made of cedar wood, as the cedar tree is believed to absorb tears, anger, and sorrow. People would write their burdens on a slip of paper and place them inside the basket, allowing it to hold their grief, pain, and sorrow.

As part of the ritual, the basket is later burned, and the ashes are scattered in a peaceful place—symbolizing release, healing, and moving forward. 

 

I take great comfort from this blogpost: 

".. in the coming day when death, sickness and pain have passed away, and God will wipe away every tear from every eye, that it will include wiping away God’s own tears from His eyes. For God has not been unmoved by our disappointments, aloof from our broken hearts, and distant from our cries. He has been and is present throughout it all. He understands, cares, and weighs every moment of our plight, and intends to comfort us always. Whether in life or in death, He is intimate and affected." 

"We need to abandon old ways and begin anew. Until we are open to the new truths offered through the Gospel, we can’t even start the journey. We’re headed in the wrong direction and don’t even know it. First, we need to realize our direction is wrong. Then, stop going that way. When we turn to the new direction, we’ve begun repenting. From repentance comes light and truth. At first, just turning to face the new direction is a great revelation. But you’ve not seen anything until you walk in that direction for a while. As you move toward the light and receive more, the world itself changes meaning and nothing you used to think important remains important." Excerpt from the definition of "Becoming as a Little Child", Glossary, Covenant Christian Edition Scriptures


Below are few photos I have taken over the past two months that have been peaceful places for me.

Sunrise Hike in the Wasatch Mountais 

Salt Lake Temple - Today is the 133 year anniversary of the dedication on April 6, 1893

 The cornerstone was placed on April 6, 1853. It took 40 years to build. Dedicated 133 years ago today, on April 6. 1893. 

A lot has changed over the years,  not only the inside of the Salt Lake temple but to the overall beauty of Temple Square. 

Gone are many of the mature trees, lush grass, intimate courtyards, and vibrant gardens. In their place are expansive concrete plazas, paved walkways, and large, modern white buildings that some find somewhat stark or plastic-like in appearance.

Photos of Temple Square before the reconstruction: 

-----------

CURRENT PHOTO AS OF TODAY - APRIL 6, 2026 (still in progress after 6 years of being closed) 

At least some things never change in their beauty. God's Creation. Some photos taken a few weeks ago on the Equinox. Photos of The Sunrise, The Sunset and The Evening moon in the night sky on the Spring Equinox 2026.

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF REMEMBERING

LOOK BACK AGAIN AND SEE:

Almost 10 years ago I drove up to Boise. I was asked to put together a video to be shown at a conference up there. I used photos that I had taken on some hikes and a trip to Israel with my wife back in 2012.  I came across it again this past week. I had forgotten I had created it. It was fun to watch it and remember my experiences at each place I took those photos.  The word remember is an important word. It even has more meaning in the Hebrew translation of the word. 

To remember in Hebrew, is not just a passive recollection, but actively calling something to mind. To honor it, like we do at a memorial like the unknown soldier grave. To remember is an sacred of act, especially in solemn or covenantal settings.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=howqzRWap0k&list=RDhowqzRWap0k&start_radio=1

Sidenote:  

I just got back from being with the same friend that asked me to create the above video. On my drive up, I spent an incredible afternoon on pristine land, untouched from Babylon. Majestic animals roamed the fresh green grass just beginning to emerge. Clear signs that the spring equinox is drawing near.I hiked up to a crystal clear spring of living water flowing out of a mountain. I hiked up to a crystal-clear spring of living water flowing straight out of the mountain, with vibrant green vegetation thriving along its banks.

I stood outside in a windy, cloudy and raining morning waiting for a special delivery that had experiences multiple delays and plenty of opposition. This private truck pulled up. 

As soon as we began to unload the contents, the morning rain storm passed, the clouds parted, and the sun came out. I believe we can experience that symbolically every time we read our scriptures. 

THE IMAGE OF GOD

It's been a minute since I last posted. My wife and I just got back home from the West Coast. It was a much-needed healing trip. As much as I love watching sunrises from mountain peaks, I think I love sunsets by the ocean with my wife even more.

We've been married for almost 32 years, but we've known each other for nearly 45. Like every marriage, ours has had its share of ups and downs. Through it all, we've learned to reason together and work through difficulties. We still are learning. However, we stay committed during the good times and the bad, in sickness and in health, and for the richer, or for the poorer. I truly believe that until we master those skills in our own marriage—listening deeply, understanding each other, and finding common ground—it's hard to reason together and resolve conflicts effectively with anyone else.

Grateful for the journey and for my wife who's been by my side through it all.

A few quotes: 

"The restoration points to eternal marriage as man’s glorious destiny. The restoration also began to make eternal marriage in the image of God again possible. Therefore all the elements of the gospel point back to marriage as God’s final purpose for mankind.

The gospel is all about marriage and family. The creation was for Adam, and creation was “not good” until Eve was given as a spouse and helpmeet for Adam. From this simple account of man’s origin, we see everything from the stars above to the world itself led inexorably to the marriage of Adam and Eve. As a couple, the two were “the image of God".

Is your marriage in the image of God? Is there godliness about the way you and your spouse  interact? Would angels see the image of God in your relationship? These are not just noble notions to be attained in the afterlife, but describe what marriage could and should look like. Is the glory of God within your marriage? “The glory of God is intelligence, or another words light and truth."

excerpts from Preserving the Restoration 

... 

"The most important marriage skill is listening to your partner in a way 

that they can’t possibly doubt that you love them."

....

"In a marriage, both people can be right at the same time, and both people can be wrong. Remembering this is essential for good communication."

....

"When we listen, understand, and respect each other’s ideas, 

we can then find a solution in which both of us are winners."

....

"The goal is to have a conversation in a way so that 

you can have another conversation tomorrow." 

...

"Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood 

that they are on the same side." 

....

"Learning to communicate in marriage isn’t solved by applying a magic potion

 —it’s a path of discovery. ... You’re now both part of a team and you need to proceed 

through the rest of your married lives as a team."

Here are a few photos from our trip:

Sidenote: 

A Combination of four events this past 24 hours:

• A SOLAR ECLIPSE
• THE LUNAR NEW YEAR
• RAMADAN
• ASH WEDNESDAY

There was a solar eclipse yesterday, February 17, 2026. This eclipse coincided interestingly with the Lunar New Year, marking the start of the Year of the Horse (specifically the Fire Horse, a rare combination that occurs only every 60 years). This year symbolizes energy, freedom, forward momentum, bravery, speed, independence, endurance, and vitality.

Today, February 18, 2026, is a remarkable convergence of significant religious observances across different faiths. Today marks the beginning of Ramadan for many Muslims (with the first full day of fasting often starting today or tomorrow depending on local moon sightings) and Ash Wednesday for Western Christians (Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, and others), kicking off the season of Lent.


Ramadan:
Fasting during Ramadan commemorates this revelation and serves as a time of spiritual renewal, heightened devotion, self-discipline, gratitude, and empathy. From dawn to sunset observant Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and intimate relations. The fast isn't just physical—it's meant to foster self-control, avoidance of sin (like gossip or anger), extra prayer, charity, and reflection. It builds compassion for those in need by experiencing hunger and thirst.


Ash Wednesday:
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in Western Christianity, a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of preparation leading up to Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ's resurrection. It emphasizes repentance, humility, and the need for reconciliation with God. The day draws from biblical themes of penitence (e.g., ashes and sackcloth in the Old Testament as signs of mourning or turning from sin) and Jesus' 40 days of fasting in the wilderness.


This overlap on February 18, 2026—right after the annular solar eclipse and coinciding with the Lunar New Year—is quite unique, highlighting themes of renewal, reflection, fasting, and spiritual focus shared across these traditions, even as their specific meanings and practices differ

Footnotes; 

2015-09-02 Preserving the Restoration

DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL -WINTER SOLSTICE

Today is the Winter Solstice. 

I try my best to observe all the equinoxes and solstices each year, usually by hiking in the mountains.

Not every hike is beautiful.
Not every hike is there good weather to see the sunrise.
Not every hike is pain free.

Not every hike is enjoyable.

Many hikes (especially in the winter) are dark, cloudy, lonely and painful.

However, every time I do hike, I come back home, grateful for the experience. 

This morning, I was grateful for a break in the clouds only for a moment to see stars and heaven above. 

GIVING THANKS, and the Four Things You Must Never Do

“Whatever is good in any circumstances we must thank Him for; whatever is hard we must accept as His will and try to learn from.”

On the eve of Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a quick thought.

Thanksgiving isn't just for "counting your blessings" and being grateful for all of the good things in our life. Real gratitude is not selective. Thank God for the bitter things as well as the sweet. The grateful person thanks God for everything that comes from His hand, because everything (even the painful) is being used for our eternal good and His glory. So this year, I’m learning to say thank You for both the feast and the famine, the laughter and the tears, the triumphs and the failures, and the joy and the pain.

Sidenote: I wanted to share the lyrics to song I heard on the radio as I was driving into work this morning:

Selected Lyrics from the song: "I Need You" by Jet Trouble

God, please help remind me of the things I cannot see
When I'm broken down, defeated, believing lies from the enemy
God, please help remind me of the day death lost its sting
That I know You have a plan in the midst of suffering
I need You to make things whole
I've been lost, Lord, search my soul
I need You to be so close
I felt numb and can't take much more

I've witnessed things I can't explain
I know He's good, He's never changed
But life is hard and full of pain
Come and do work in me, come and do work
Speak life to the broken things

_______________________________________________________



Sidenote:

This past week, a close friend of mine led a lesson/discussion. I wasn’t able to attend, but he sent me the handout. It contained a lot of quotes that I think are very important that I need to remember in my own life. The topic was “Covenant Christian Conduct.” Here are a few of them:

Four Things You Must Never Do

“There are four things you must never do. Joseph Smith separately discusses four things. The first, of course, is “to aspire.” Satan aspired, and that was his undoing. Never aspire and never be ambitious. You don’t aspire in this world if you’re going to get anything you want in the next. Never accuse. Of course, Satan is “the accuser.” The word diabolus from which the name devil comes means accuser. He is called “the accuser of his brethren” in the scriptures. Adam said to Satan, “I will not bring a railing accusation against thee. Let God judge between me and thee.” Adam would not accuse Satan after what Satan had done to him, you see. So we don’t accuse anybody, no matter how guilty they are. Then you do not contend. The first thing the Lord says to the Nephites is there shall be no more contentions among you as there have been. This is my gospel that there shall be no contentions. All contention shall cease, for contention is not of me, but all contention is of the devil who stirreth up the children of men to anger to bloodshed and things like that [paraphrased]. So we never contend and never coerce, if that’s the case. And those are the four things that everybody wants to do today. Everybody is aspiring to high office, and everybody accuses in order to get it. Everybody contends; it’s a very contentious world we live in, a competitive world. And we back it all up in the end; the bottom line is force. We have to have the force, coercion. We have all four things.” Hugh Nibley (1993), Teachings of the Book of Mormon: Semester 1; Lecture 21: 2 Nephi 25–28 - Nephi’s Prophecy of Our Times.


“There are a few absolute and categorical ‘Thou shalt nots’ in the scriptures which we are far from taking to heart. We have been told that under no circumstances are we to contend, accuse, coerce, aspire, or flatter. These practices will be readily recognized as standard procedure in getting to the top in our modern competitive society. What all of them have in common is a feeling of self-righteousness.” Hugh Nibley (1974), Brigham Young and the Enemy, 2:7.

FORGIVENESS IS TO ABANDON ALL HOPE OF A BETTER PAST

Photos taken on a hike to the top of Sunset Peak in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

  The view from Sunset Peak of the backside of Mount Timpanogos. 

"Forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past."

Jerry Jampolsky, 

author of Love Is Letting Go Of Fear

Forgiveness is an acknowledgment that what has happened is permanent and cannot be undone, no matter how unfair it was.

Forgiveness is letting go of control. When you forgive, you release the hope or expectation that the past could have unfolded differently, which in turn releases you from being confined or controlled by past events.

Forgiveness focuses on the future: By no longer dwelling on the past or being consumed by anger, you create space for healing and building a new path forward.

There are things that have happened in the past that we wish were different. We wish we could fix it or that somebody would have said or done something differently. The reality is, we cannot change the past. All we can do is learn to accept it and to forgive what didn’t measure up to our expectations.

“Christ taught that there is atoning power in forgiving others. As a result of the things He suffered, He understood that men must forgive others in order to be able to obtain forgiveness. There are many things men do in which they lack the capacity to make amends. The price they must pay for their own transgressions is paid by forgiving all others of their offenses"  DS, Come Let Us Adore Him

FACING THE STORM... like a buffalo

A few weeks ago, on October 11, 2025, I went hiking up into the mountains in Big Cottonwood Canyon on a late Friday afternoon. The goal was to summit to see the sunset and then hike down the mountain before dark. We reached the top, which is well above 10,000 feet, and enjoyed the views but missed the sunset due to the clouds, though we could see the last bit of sunrays. Dark clouds began to quickly rush in toward us. The storm came barreling in so fast that we were enveloped in the clouds. It began to thunder and lightning. It started to rain, hail, and then a full blizzard. Complete whiteout.
We were dressed for the cold and had brought food and water. With a strong headlamp, we faced the storm and were able to make it back to the truck and arrive home safely.
On the same day, a young Utah father took his three young children—an 8-year-old daughter, 4-year-old son Ezra, and 2-year-old son—hiking up Big Cottonwood Canyon too. They also got caught in this sudden winter storm with torrential rain, snow, and freezing winds that stranded them overnight on the mountain. The father shielded his kids with his body through the sub-zero night, sacrificing his own warmth to keep them alive. Rescuers airlifted the family the next morning. They all were hospitalized for extreme hypothermia and frostbite, but survived.

Here are few photos I took from the hike.

The reason for this post: 

When a storm approaches, cows try to run away from it. I wonder if that is were the word coward come from. Since they’re slower than the wind-driven storm, they end up prolonging their exposure—running with the storm means they get wet, cold, and miserable for longer. 

Buffalo charge directly into the storm. They face the storm head-on. By facing it directly, they pass through the worst of it faster, minimizing the time spent in harsh conditions.

Buffalos don’t seek storms or create them—they just know how to weather them.

Head First into the Storm photo taken by Chris Irwin

Life is full of storms—unexpected challenges, overwhelming obstacles, and difficult periods that test our resolve. When it comes to handling life’s inevitable storms, our approach can make all the difference. How we handle these storms matter. I want to be more like a buffalo and less like a cow. 

Accept life’s injustices gracefully

Photo taken last week of the Sunrise coming up over the Wasatch Mountains.

"And behold, it is written, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; 

but I say unto you that ye shall not resist evil, 

but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, 

turn to him the other also." 

3 Nephi 12:38

A close friend of mine shared some insight on this verse: 

"When Jesus said that when you are smitten on your right cheek, turn and give your left cheek to be smitten as well—that is not a peace-making act. That is an act of defiance. In first century Judea, a slap to the face was an act of public humiliation. It was a technique to enforce superiority. Romans would do it to Hebrews, masters would do it to slaves. This is not an act meant to injure. Instead, it is a public display of superiority. 

When Jesus says to offer your left cheek, that is an act of rebellion. That is not a passive, peaceful act. You are saying to your master or abuser, “hit me again because I recognize a higher power than you.”

That same verse is written like this in the Covenant of Christ, a modern English version of the Book of Mormon. Here is another beautiful insights to that verse:

"Accept life’s injustices gracefully,

 and when someone hits your right cheek, 

turn to him the other also."

3 NEPHI 5: 26 CoC

Our world would be a better place if all of us tried to live by the principles found in this Sermon. I am trying to at least take one verse at a time to apply it in my life until I am ready to move on to the next one.
_______________________


Sidenote:

I received the following advice this past weekend.

"I think it would be wonderful for you to write a blog post about why you continue attending church as an active member, even though you disagree with some things that happen there. That could genuinely help others who are wrestling with similar questions. I agree there’s much that’s good in the church — my daughters, for example, love girls’ camp and the youth programs, even though they haven't been baptized into the LDS Church."

 I hope you’ll consider putting your name to your words on your blog. You have many good things to say, and standing behind them would be a powerful example. If you truly aren’t afraid of being known by your congregation, perhaps allowing them to discover your writing naturally — with your name and face behind the words — could open the door for honest conversation when they’re ready."

This is me, David Christenson,  taking this advice to heart. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I enjoy waking up early in the morning to reach a mountain summit to see the sunrise. If you have been a reader of this blog, I try to be balanced in what I write, from posting photos from my hikes to things that I see happening in my religion that I was raised in.  My mom is my biggest fan and supporter of my blog. She is my main audience who I write for. We discuss a lot of my posts. On occasion, she has asked that I edit some of what I write.  I appreciate her insight. She is currently serving as a temple worker. We both miss my dad who passed away last year. 

LDS want their cake and eat it too? i.e. Garments, Polygamy, and Gender Topics

It seems I only get around to posting about once a month these days. I wish I had more time to post. There are so many things I would like to share. Here is just a few thoughts I had today.

The LDS Church and its members seem to want it both ways. They want their cake and eat it too.

Here are three examples:

1. LDS Church maintains that Latter-day Saints should be a "peculiar people," especially in our stance on modesty and the wearing of garments—yet we're changing the garments to better fit into the world, to the point where we can't tell who's wearing them and who isn't.
2. LDS Church teachs that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and had many wives—yet cling to the image of him as only married to Emma. 
3. LDS Church emphasizes the importance of men being men and women being women, yet we removed the very masculine Christ statue at the Hill Cumorah and replaced it with a much more feminine-looking Jesus.

First of all: The New (less than modest) Garments 

Today was a big day for LDS members across North America—especially here in Utah. It marked the first day that sleeveless garments were available for purchase. Women (and men) arrived early at Deseret Book stores before they opened to snag the much-anticipated items. I drove by our local Deseret Book later that morning to check if the rumors were true. Sure enough, the parking lot was packed, and a line still stretched out the door. I heard that some distribution stores in Utah County had lines wrapping all the way around the building.

One LDS woman shared on social media that she had bought the new sleeveless garment and showed what you can now wear while still wearing garments.  

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Second, We teach that Joseph Smith practiced polygamy and had many wives—yet cling to the image of him as only married to Emma.

Case in point: the newly remodeled Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City. I walked into the grand main lobby—hard to guess how many millions were spent—and noticed just two portraits hanging on the wall: Joseph and Emma.
That’s it.

Where are the portraits of his other wives? If God commanded him to enter plural marriage, and we still teach this to our children in Sunday School, why hide it in our most prominent historical spaces? We don’t deny the doctrine, but we quietly erase the evidence. It feels like we’re preserving a monogamous myth while preaching a polygamous past. And now, we're even teaching it to kids as young as 3. As I mentioned, the LDS Church is now including Joseph Smith's plural marriages in a Primary storybook—"Doctrine and Covenants Stories"—released earlier this year (2025). It's a cartoon-style chapter aimed at the youngest kids, framing polygamy as a tough but divinely commanded act of obedience. But it sparked major backlash from members upset about introducing such a complex (and painful) topic to toddlers. Within weeks, the Church pulled it, made edits to soften the language, and even deleted a few pages. Here's a side-by-side of the original version (first released) and the edited one—see how they dialed back the emphasis on "obedience" and Emma's mixed feelings:We seem to hide that, if he really was married to more than one wife, but still teach it.. even now to the children.

Here are the front doors that you enter into the newly remodeled Joseph Smith Memorial Building

This is what you see when you walk through those doors in the above photo.

Close of the only two painting hanging on the wall. Where are his other portraits of his other wives?

 See below the side by side of  the original version that was first released and then the edited version. 

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And Lastly, We emphasize that men should be men and women should be women, with Jesus Christ as the ultimate prototype of masculine strength and divine authority.

For decades, a powerful, muscular statue of Christ stood in the visitor center at the Hill Cumorah—one of the most sacred sites in Latter-day Saint history. It embodied that ideal: a strong, commanding Savior.

But a few months ago, the Church quietly removed it.

 Original statue of Jesus Christ.

A closer view of the original statue of Jesus Christ close up. 

In its place? A much softer, more feminine-looking Jesus.

Here is the new statue. From a distance, it almost looks like a woman. 

Here is a close up of the statue. 

If Christ is our model of godly manhood, why replace strength with such a feminine looking man than looks like He is wearing a dress? Seriously makes me wonder who approved this statue.