Joy — Seeking and Using God's Gift
Joy is the sign of God's presence. It is the reliable indicator that He is a part of what we are thinking, doing, or being. Thus joy is a vital sign that we are doing as He would have us do.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Three Great Truths that Change Everything
It is human nature to look for the Magic Formula. Most of us are on the prowl for something that will change everything, making us slimmer, happier, richer, and more effective. God has given us three keys. They change everything.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Coming Home in a Pine Box
Would it really be better for a person to come home in a pine box than to come home unclean?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Traffic as the Test of Christian Character
Driving is a magnificent test of our Christian character. We are generally quite anonymous, we have lots of power, and we are fully goal-directed. If anything will demonstrate our spiritual maturity, I suppose that driving will.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Becoming
a Godly Healer
Inadvertently, the young bishop closed off the channels of communication. He was suckered into a debate about the merits of a ward member's complaint and missed the cry of her soul.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Honest Lies and Shaded Truths
Honesty is tricky business. It can be either good or bad. Sometimes we do the bad kind of honesty and call it good. That is very destructive. It is also very dishonest.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Seeking
the Perfect Personality
We all have different personalities.
Each personality type has its characteristic strengths and vulnerabilities.
Is there one personality that God favors more than another?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Finding
Gifts of Wisdom in Books
The
single best source for guidance of our lives is from heaven — whether
delivered by scripture, priesthood messengers, or the still, small
voice. Yet God has repeatedly encouraged us to use all available
resources. So, while acknowledging that His resources are best by
far, we may profitably draw on the very best thinking available
in “the best books.”
By H. Wallace Goddard
Our
Place in the Christmas Story
We all know the story. The story of
the babe of Bethlehem and the man of Nazareth is engraved on our
souls. Yet, if we are not careful, it can become a distant drama
— a story in which we fail to see ourselves.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Getting
Beyond a Testimony
As we study and test the doctrines,
we begin to get a sneaking suspicion that it might all be true.
We could continue to test each doctrine — each of the thousands
― but God might have something else in mind. With a testimony of
many truths, maybe He wants us to move on to the next stage of spiritual
development.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The Glorious Blessing of Inadequacy
As a society, we celebrate competence. We give awards for excellence. We prize innovation. We worship individual accomplishment. God is different. He prefers broken hearts to sturdy competence.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Hands
that Hang Down
It seems that the favorites of heaven
have often been modest, broken-down folks just trying to get along.
Jesus puts them among us to see if we yet understand His invitation:
Love one another as I have loved you.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Walking
in Darkness at Noon-day
God is not randomly throwing handfuls
of candy from the Heavens. I think He very carefully sends precisely
the message that is needed to help us make the next step in our
journeys. As we study the messages, we can get step-by-step instructions
for our journeys that are more reliable than those from Map Quest.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Elevating
Local Heroes
Why are we obsessed with celebrities?
Do we take comfort in seeing famous people act even crazier than
we do? Or do we worry that they are a barometer for our national
well-being? Do we resent their prominence and take quiet pleasure
in their suffering? Or do we grieve for our injured heroes?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Taking
the Measure of Our Progress
There is a direct proportion between
nearness to God and compassion for perishing souls. As we get closer
to God, we will have more compassion. But also as we experience
more compassion, we may know that we are getting closer to God.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The
Keys to Change: A Better Option
For those who aspire to change themselves,
there is a better option than searching for the newest discovery
in the self-help aisles of the local bookstore or the perspectives
of popular television psychologists.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The Key
to Managing Our Lives: What’s Time Got to Do with It?
The days when you go to bed feeling peaceful
are often the days that were packed with surprises, where very little
went according to plan.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The Lesson
of the Washing Machine
Doing good does not
guarantee a life of contentment and fulfilled dreams. We may be
blessed for our efforts with the gift of serenity —
or with new challenges. God will provide precisely the experiences
that can lead us to greater faith and a closer relationship with
Him.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Toddling
toward Godliness
There is hardly any
blessing that we humans cannot easily turn into a cursing. Our natural
minds make us enemies to God and gratitude.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The
Mystery of Jesus
Jesus is a mystery. How do we explain His reckless
disregard for decorum? How do we make sense of His dispensing goodness
to people who were so undeserving while acting without regard for
those who claimed to be good and powerful? How can we design the
formula that will explain His unexpected behavior?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Blessed
by Angels
If you have loved ones on the other side of
the veil, you don't have to miss them. You can invite them over
for a visit.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Turning
Darkness into Light
A vision of each other's best moments is exactly
what we should cherish, remember, and celebrate. We should not allow
the moments when we slip into the muck to eclipse the eternal vision
of what we really are.
By H. Wallace Goddard
“I
Could Not Believe it Myself”
If we are going to test Joseph Smith —
or any other professed messenger for God — why not test him with
key doctrines? If he is truly a prophet, he can stand the test.
If he is not, the evidence will be clear.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The
Cheeriest Person in the Universe
“A jovial, lively person, and a beautiful
man.” I like that. No! I love that! God is the cheeriest person
in the Universe!
By H. Wallace Goddard
God's
Plan — Kinder
than We Dare to Expect
The fact that liars, sorcerers, adulterers,
and whoremongers will be allowed to pay for their sins and receive
a degree of joyous glory may seem to be too kind to be true. Yet,
that is what we should expect from a God who is perfect in knowledge
and perfect in love. His plan is always kinder than we had dared
to expect.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Going
Down the Waterslide in God’s Embrace
For some people, trusting God is
as natural as eating. It seems to be written in their natures. For
others, it is difficult. Yet those who never release themselves
into His embrace
however reluctantly miss out on the biggest adventure and central
purpose of life.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Meeting My Grandma
I grew up with three remarkable grandparents,
but one grandmother died when I was a baby. I yearned to know her.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Flourishing in the
Course of Life
God is determined to give us as much
education as we are prepared to receive. We can drop the courses
that frighten us in order to appear successful —
but we will miss out on the learning that matters most.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Charitable
Dialogue
Jesus should be the God of the American people,
but I don’t think that compulsion is the right method. I believe
that Jesus would have us treat Samaritans, publicans, sinners, foreigners,
Muslims, and even Democrats with love and respect.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Getting From Childishness
to Godliness
We all eat stew from life’s general
pot. Yet some are stunted while others flourish. Why is it that
some extract nourishment for their goodness while others get only
poison for their minds and souls?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Welcoming
the Messenger of Heaven
How can we prepare for, value, and memorialize
His messages? How can we make Him a more welcome and regular Guest?
By H. Wallace Goddard
Shafts
of Light through the Trees
Cherishing the Things that Matter Most
Big houses don't seem so important
when we cherish the things that matter most. Coveting is subdued
by love.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Different Parenting Books
for Different Purposes
No matter what kind of parent you
are, you can find a parenting book that will help you do your job
more effectively.
By H. Wallace Goddard
First
Comes Charity, Then Comes Teaching
Children learn just what combination of whining and demanding will
get them what they want. And many parents learn to be endless lecturers.
So both sides lose.
By H. Wallace Goddard
Charitable Parenting:
A Case Study
Many parents appreciate the no-nonsense
approach to managing children given by one national columnist, but
it provides quick solutions that create long-term problems.
By H. Wallace Goddard
In
Good Company
We are often not very gracious
with each other. Even in our more objective moods we assess, judge,
measure, evaluate and thereby minimize our fellow travelers in the
journey toward Home. Virtue offers a better way.
By
H. Wallace Goddard
Making
Peace with Ourselves:Some
Kinds of Esteem Matter More than Others
My reading of scripture and my experience
in life converge to convince me that I am unwise to put my trust
in the arm of flesh. I'm taking my chances with God.
By H. Wallace Goddard
What
is Real?
What is real? Is the real found most
truly in the gritty, sharp-edged, crushing experience of life? Or
can we "get real" if we begin to see God's hand in our
lives?
By
H. Wallace Goddard
Are We Not All Beggars?
The poor are, as much as anything,
our rendezvous with Jesus.
By
Wallace Goddard
A Predictable Process for Joy
Do you want a stiff jolt of joy? Sit
down and record those things for which you are grateful. After recording
those that come easily, push yourself to frame challenges as blessings.
See what happens. (This article made the Editor's day when she read
it.)
By H. Wallace Goddard
The
Lord Offers Something Better than Self-Esteem
The instinctive response to assaults
on the self-esteem movement is commonly shock: “So, does God want
us to hate ourselves?” No. He wants us to forget ourselves and follow
Him.
By
H. Wallace Goddard
The Cure for the Latter-day
Sickness
When King Benjamin said “If ye should
serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable
servants,” was that a gloomy message?
by
H. Wallace Goddard
Sicknesses
of Our Times
I am amazed that more
Latter-day Saints have not recognized the self-esteem movement as
an effort by Satan to sell dark doctrine of self-centeredness as
holy gospel. Self-esteem as popularly taught is indistinguishable
from self-celebration, pride, arrogance, and egotism. The fruits
of the self-esteem movement may well be the fulfillment of prophecy.
By H. Wallace Goddard
The
Accidental Architect
It is easy to see our lives as random and uninhabitable
as a house after a tornado, especially if we are not feeling close
to the Architect.
by
H. Wallace Goddard
Modern Myths and Latter-day
Truths
Great
Books for Families
Sometimes we accept the cultural myths
without examining them. Sometimes we teach them without testing
them.The truths that guide our lives should pass three tests.
By
H. Wallace Goddard
Stuck in the Second Act
of Truth Three Act Play
There is one way we can get a true
measure of each other. It is when we have the mind of Christ. When
we are filled with Him, we see as He sees and love as He loves.
By
H. Wallace Goddard
The
Trouble with Competition: When Winning is Losing
Is it possible that the final test
for entrance into God's kingdom is that we are gracious in the same
spirit in which He is?
by
H. Wallace Goddard
The
Reluctant Gift: Putting Our Time on the Altar
When God sends opportunity to us, what is our
attitude? Do we demand proof that it is from God? Do we give grudgingly,
reluctantly, sparingly?
by
H. Wallace Goddard
A
One-Step Program to Wellness
We've heard much about overcoming
the natural man. Is it truly possible? Or just an elusive goal?
Guiding
Our Lives: Feelings and Fortune Cookies
Cultivating spiritual sensitivity
is a life-long process. How do we distinguish between promptings
from God and false feelings from the adversary?
What
Earthly Good Are Heavenly Beings?
Heavenly beings, eternal truths, and
scenes from the history of this world are more available to us than
we ever supposed.
The
Conspiracy of Nature: Are We Set-up for Failure?
Is nature set up to conspire against us? Or
is there some meaning and purpose to it all?
Welcoming
Heaven into Today
God has set us up for success and
given us a method whereby we may prove Him. Come and test His doctrine
for its truthfulness.
Endure
to the End of Garbage
Is
it really possible to move forward in the gospel when you just cannot
seem to overcome a particular sin?
The Advanced
Curriculum in Love
God
designed marriage to help us grow spiritually. Too often we focus
on our discontent in marriage and ignore the greater path to joy
that can be found in being truly charitable partners.
The
Power In Parenting
Parenting is many things, none of
which is easy. We can, however, tap into holier sources that will
give us the tools and ability to provide godly parenting to our
children.
Surrender in Order
to Conquer
Life and the gospel is filled with paradoxes. We must lose
ourselves in order to find ourselves. By submitting we become
strong. The servant of all will become the Master of all.
Goddard explores the idea of submitting to God's will in
this thought provoking piece.
The
Perils of Excellence
If
we were to create a caricature of the typical American commencement
address, it would entail Famous Person X coming to say to a group
of distracted students: “Take this one virtue (for which I
am duly famous) and make it the theme of your life."
The
Great Discovery: Jesus as the Balm of Humanity
Sincere
mortals have one central challenge in mortality, figuring out what
to do with our persistent badness. We strive to be good and regularly
fall short. We seek to be holy but we have holes in our knees and
stains on our elbows. This burdensome fact of mortality haunts our
journey. “When I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because
of my sins” (2 Nephi 4:19).
The
Great Presumption
A bright,
sensitive young man told me about his recent battle with his brother.
Harsh word and threats were traded. The young man told me, “If
he apologizes sincerely, I will forgive him. But I rather like being
estranged. He doesn’t come around so much. It is nice not
to see him.” It seems that it is human nature to occasionally
enjoy recreational resentment. We love to nurture our grudges and
culture our complaints. The Lord recommends a different path.
Marriage
and the Parting of the Red Sea
There
is nothing quite so helpful for mortals as total desperation. As
long as there is even a sliver of hope that our efforts might remove
us from our dilemmas, we are likely to keep floundering along. But
when we come up against impossibility, then we may discover the
Power.
Resisting
God in our Lives and in Our Minds
If obedience and consecration are turning our wills and lives over
to God, then maybe faith is turning our minds over to Him. It won’t
do to say we believe in Him while chafing and fidgeting against
His purposes. That is why it is the first order of mortal business
to know God.
Seek
the Face of the Lord Always
Where
do we find God? At the end of our journey—or somewhere along
the way?
Surrendering
our Minds to God
For
each of us, God stands ready to part the Red Sea. Yet all we can
think of is tired feet and endless tracts of wilderness. God invites
us to warm ourselves at the burning bush. Yet the prospect of those
sacred moments is eclipsed by the chilly nights we spend alone.
Cultivating
a Little Emotional Intelligence in Children
As
emotional intelligence became a national craze, authors rose to
the challenge. Bundles of books rolled off the presses promising
to help us develop children who could leap tall emotions in a single
bound.
Is
Strait and Narrow Confining?
I
wonder if God would endorse a re-write for the latter-day frontiersmen:
"The possibilities are many and the gates are varied. Have a great
time wherever you go."
The
State of the World: A Progress Report
We
need to set aside our unbalanced human perceptions and try to see
the state of the world from the heavenly perspective.
Clinging
to Misery
Our
natural way of thinking makes us enemies to God.
Finding
a Way to Bless Rather than a Reason to Judge
Humans
have a tendency to categorize. We all sort people into categories
based on whether they meet the qualifications that we judge to be
important.
When
Being Right Isn't Good Enough
The command to love as He loves must have
special application (and particular challenges) in marriage.
What
Do I Have to Offer?
Recently
a beloved missionary called to ask us a troubled question. "Why
am I so weak and imperfect? All the people love Sister So-and-so.
I'll never be like her. I just want to give up."
The
Surprising Cost of Parenting Programs
All
ideas on parenting are not created equal, and some "good ideas"
may not be so good as others.
The
One Source for Happiness
Many
decisions are difficult because we are trying to justify a choice
beneath our highest standards.
Stepping
Out of the Time Line
We
mortals are so immersed in time that we rarely glimpse timelessness—let
alone eternity.
Putting
the Doctrine of the Atonement to Work in Family Life
To
make better family life, we should fill ourselves with the doctrine
of the atonement.
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