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God is Personal, but He's NOT Casual
Back to the Tree: A Different Perspective on Lehi's Dream
What Does Your Anger Monster Look Like?

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We're not just a book company! We're an "experience" company! Are you a #truthspeaker through art? Do you know an artist who speaks truth through their art? Visit (or send them) to https://kentstead-media.com/art-submissions/ #artexperiences #readingexperiences #kentsteadmedia We want art that tells a story of truth. Any fundamental, unchanging truth. For example: forgiveness, love, service, personal progression, humility, repentance, etc. When we look at the artwork, it should inspire each individual with what truth they might need. It should uplift. It should create interest. There is a lot of amazing art in the world. We want something NEW. Teach a truth others have taught but, do it in a new way.

It is far too easy to judge people only by what they do when they are learning. But this life has conditions, aspects of choice (agency) that are in place so that God can judge us by what we learn, and who we choose to become because of what we have learned. We become fully accountable as we learn for ourselves right from wrong and which we most desire to choose, to embrace, and to become. The six (6) conditions, or aspects, of agency allow us to learn and become who we desire to become “without being condemned by the learning process (Brad Wilcox)”. What have you learned from the Let-It-Go-Doctrines series? Tell me! DM, or reply in the comments. What has helped you most to “let go”? I can’t wait to hear! #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #whatgodislike #thestufflifeismadeofpodcast #letitgodoctrines #churchofjesuschrist #thechurchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #videoseries #ldsspeaker #ldsblogger #ldspodcast #integrity #howtoliveyourbestliferadio #goanddo

It’s easy to react with fear when we, or others we love, make mistakes or sin. But we don’t have to fear. The atonement of Jesus Christ has taken care of everything. “But so many people take the atonement of Jesus Christ for granted!” you say. Of course, they do. And, so do you. We all do. How can you help them appreciate it better? How can you appreciate it better? We risk driving people away from Christ, rather than toward Him, when we react with fear when mistakes have been made, or sins committed. Instead of helping them learn from their mistake, or sin, and reassuring them that they are of worth, and can still receive ALL the good that God has for them; we often make them feel as if they have lost everything and can only get a second rate, or third rate, set of blessings because they have made mistakes in the learning process—or have taken a different path than us in their learning. The purpose of the atonement is so that we can learn without being condemned by the learning process. Thus, we should focus on learning from mistakes and sins, NOT the mistakes and sins themselves. You are not the sum of your sins. You are not the sum of all your kept commandments, either. YOU ARE THE SUM OF WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED from those sins, mistakes, commandments kept, etc. Neither are others the sum of their sins or good deeds. Others are beautiful, amazing, children of God, who can be the sum of their godly learning IF you will help them to be. #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #whatgodislike #thestufflifeismadeofpodcast #letitgodoctrines #churchofjesuschrist #thechurchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #videoseries #ldsspeaker #ldsblogger #ldspodcast #integrity #howtoliveyourbestliferadio

Have you ever wondered how God can “let go”? How He can watch all the suffering down here on earth, all the wickedness, all the imperfections, and the troubles…and not step in and fix it all right now? I’ll tell you why. Because God has made sure that ALL the six (6) aspects of agency have been met here on this earth—and He’s the perfect parent. And experience with good and bad is something that He will not remove, nor can He, or He would cease to be God. Without allowing us to gain experience, He would frustrate His own plan. Why is experience so necessary? Good experience, bad experience, all of it…why is it so necessary? Because we CANNOT be fully accountable without it. We can’t be saved without it (D&C 131:6). We can’t be condemned without it. Experience creates full accountability. We can’t choose God on accident. We have to choose Him on purpose. Too often we want to create an environment with no opposition, suffering, or pain—for ourselves and others. We mistakenly believe that such an environment is how we will save ourselves and others. But, did not God send us here to earth? An imperfect environment? God didn’t remove opposition or experience. He placed us right in the thick of it. But, He ensured that ALL the six (6) aspects of agency were met. Manipulating and controlling others away from “experience” is not how we help them develop a relationship with God, nor is it how we save them. It is by ensuring that the six (6) aspects of agency are met that we help others through God’s plan. You and I can “let go” when we see experience (#goanddo) as the path to understanding, not the path to imperfection. Our goal cannot be to be to be perfect in our way. Our goal must be to become perfect in God’s way…by using our agency to develop a relationship with Him and through that relationship receive ordinances and covenants that sanctify us and cleanse us through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It is not by avoiding experience that we become perfect. It is by using that experience to come unto Christ that we become perfect (Moroni 10:32). #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #whatgodislike #thestufflifeismadeofpodcast #letitgodoctrines #churchofjesuschrist

Growing up in the gospel, I came to the incorrect conclusion that the only way the Holy Ghost felt was “a burning in the bosom.” So, unless I felt that, I assumed He wasn’t with me. I often heard others talk about how the Holy Ghost told them to pull over, helping them avoid a car wreck. That’s about all I ever heard. And I knew that if that was the sum of the Holy Ghost’s point in my life (to tell me how to drive or when to bear my testimony), then it wasn’t much of a point. If the Holy Ghost is a gift, then there has to be more to it. What I have learned in my life is that the Holy Ghost interacts differently with me based upon what He’s trying to get me to think about, do, or learn. And, it has often been by experiencing Satan’s enticements and attacks—and making mistakes—that I have learned to better identify the Holy Ghost’s enticements and instruction. It is, in fact, true that we can’t completely understand how the Holy Ghost works if we don’t experience and understand how Satan’s works (D&C 29:39). It’s not just being tempted to sin versus being prompted to share your testimony. The Holy Ghost’s communications are individual, powerful, and tailored to our circumstances and needs. So also, Satan’s tactics are individual, powerful, and tailored to our circumstances and weaknesses. Learn to identify how Satan attacks and entices you, and you will learn to see more clearly how God guides, saves, and teaches you through the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Don’t condemn yourself, or others, for making mistakes or sinning as you learn to identify and follow God’s enticements versus Satan’s. Learning to tell the difference is the point, not the mistakes we make as we are learning that difference. #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #whatgodislike #thestufflifeismadeofpodcast #letitgodoctrines #churchofjesuschrist #thechurchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #videoseries #ldsspeaker #ldsblogger #ldspodcast #integrity #howtoliveyourbestliferadio

I sit in on a lot of Sunday School discussions where parents talk about their fears about their kids. I’m surprised at how often people say, “Well, should I talk about [fill in the blank] with my kids? Because I’m worried if I talk about it, they’ll get curious and teaching them about it will lead them to sin.” WHAT?! If we don’t teach our kids about pornography, sex, drugs, alcohol, LGBTQ feelings and attractions, then other people will. CORRECT and COMPLETE instruction is our responsibility as parents. If we are not teaching our kids correctly, or completely, we can’t “let go”. We will carry some of that accountability and responsibility. Disclaimer: that means YOU have to go and get correct and complete instruction first. I don’t know about all of you. But I don’t need extra responsibility and accountability. I’ve got enough of my own. As well, I don’t want any of my kids or family members to get their information on truth from an incorrect, or incomplete, source. Do you? Curiosity is good. Asking questions is good. Leaving ourselves, and children, uninformed…bad. But this doesn’t only apply to sin. Don’t leave your family (or others as inspired) uninformed about good things either. Testify of truth. Share your experiences with God. Keep them correctly and completely informed on the good as well. They need ALL of it. If we don’t know what’s good or what’s bad, then we can’t be saved, or condemned. What? Yes. We can’t be saved in ignorance. Which also means we can’t be condemned in ignorance. (D&C 131:6) #thedoctrinelady #dailydoctrines #whatgodislike #thestufflifeismadeofpodcast #letitgodoctrines #churchofjesuschrist #thechurchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #videoseries #ldsspeaker #ldsblogger #ldspodcast #integrity #howtoliveyourbestliferadio

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Category: About Me

Why Baptism? Baptism 101

About Me, doctrine

Why Baptism? Baptism 101

I remember my baptism with mixed clarity. Some details are vibrant and mark the day, even ingrain it in my … Continue reading Why Baptism? Baptism 101

Suicide: don’t cast off your godly power to find joy

About Me, doctrine

Suicide: don’t cast off your godly power to find joy

I’ll never forget, during one early morning seminary class, several years back now, when a student shocked me with a … Continue reading Suicide: don’t cast off your godly power to find joy

God is Just: #whatgodislike from the story of Samson

About Me, doctrine

God is Just: #whatgodislike from the story of Samson

I tend to feel guilty asking God to bless me when I’ve messed up that particular day. I feel unworthy … Continue reading God is Just: #whatgodislike from the story of Samson

The Pursuit of Patience

About Me, doctrine

The Pursuit of Patience

The Lord has spent much of my life, all of it really, teaching me how to be patient. I don’t … Continue reading The Pursuit of Patience

When Was Your Last Golden Spiritual Moment? Create One Now!

About Me, doctrine

When Was Your Last Golden Spiritual Moment? Create One Now!

When I was younger I was pretty good at basketball. When I was in seventh grade I started on the … Continue reading When Was Your Last Golden Spiritual Moment? Create One Now!

Home is Where the Heart Is

About Me, doctrine

Home is Where the Heart Is

When I was younger, my family visited relatives in Utah every summer. During those visits, I often found the wards … Continue reading Home is Where the Heart Is

Recognizing the Guidance from the Holy Ghost: You Can Do It

About Me, doctrine

Recognizing the Guidance from the Holy Ghost: You Can Do It

While all of us may have some experiences and memories of times when we have received clear impressions and instructions … Continue reading Recognizing the Guidance from the Holy Ghost: You Can Do It

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