I spent some time outside today taking photos of random things. I came to realize that it takes time to really see. I took a lot of ordinary shots before I finally started to recognize what made the things I was looking at interesting. Once I could see that, I could take more interesting photos. It was fun. And a nice way to procrastinate the writing that I felt stuck on. Still, once I was done taking pictures, it was so much easier to get the words flowing.

(Read and Follow the Directions)

The courage of a strong faith is a mighty thing. I read this the other day, and it seemed to fit with the Book of Mormon verses farther down here.

“But brethren, we have been given something more: the priesthood of God, the power of God restored to earth by holy angels. This makes you different. You no longer stand on neutral ground. Your faith will grow not by chance, but by choice.
How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes. Why did the Savior say to Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”? Because there is an adversary who delights in destroying our faith! Be relentless in protecting your faith.”  – Elder Neil L Anderson, General Conference, October 2015

I have been given the blessings of having priesthood ordinances and covenants in my life. I cannot treat them casually. I have made a choice about where I stand. I choose to stand with God as a witness of Him at all times.

Book of Mormon, Alma 56

44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? 45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites. 46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.