Bread, what a simple commodity and yet it is considered, almost universally, as the staff of life. There are, in fact, communities, even today, who depend on bread and sometimes bread alone to sustain their very lives. Bread is one of the most significant symbols of Christianity. We are commanded to partake of bread in…
Author: Emil Hanson
On Going Along
One of the saddest phrases one can hear when asked why a person did something wrong is, ‘I had to go along with the others.’ There is something so compelling about friendships and belonging that people have a tendency to do things that, when alone, they would never think of doing. Years ago, while still…
On Adjectives
I was listening to a talk show host the other day and he was saying that the American English language is the most diverse, colorful and complex of all languages. The reason it is, is because over the centuries words, phrases etc. have been adopted into the English language from many other languages. It is,…
On Desire
Desire is the universal and usually uncontrolled addiction of mortal beings. Because of the nature of our affluent society, I am often reminded of the story of the Beggar and the King. The king, while taking his daily walk near the castle wall, came upon a beggar and asked the beggar what he would have…
On Crossing Ourselves
Members of one of the major Christian faiths are often seen crossing themselves, usually as a desire to be blessed or forgiven. Those of us who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should also be in the habit of crossing ourselves, only not in the same way that they do….
On Planting
Even though the planting season is over for the year, we are enjoying the harvest, the results of someone having planted. The word plant has several meanings and each of them is very significant in its own right. For example, something can be planted firmly in place which brings to mind something or even someone that is…
On Existentialism
I was reading an article the other day, by Alex Green on existentialism. Like all other philosophies of life that I have studied, it appears to me to have some obvious truths. A few of its described features, however, do not ring true to me, or, at least, have little or no apparent value. This…
On Symbolism
In Moses 6:63 the Lord tells us that “All things are created and made to bear record of me; things temporal, things spiritual, things in the heavens and things in the earth.” (Certain Hebrew numbers have significant symbolic meaning) When I was a young person I used to believe that the number three was my…
On People
Not every one can say that they have been blessed to have been surrounded by good people most all of their lives. We hear every day how some families are dysfunctional, with abuse and even downright cruelty taking place in their homes. There are people who cannot get along with their co-workers and are faced…
On What Would it be Like
Have you ever thought about what it might have been like to live on the earth, had Lucifer won the war in Heaven, or even had his way in that pre-earth council? Do you even remember the time described in the Book of Moses, when: “Satan…came before me, (God) saying, ‘Behold, here am I, send…