While a student at a university, many years ago, I remember learning the psychological concept of ‘defense mechanisms.’ They represent the various, mostly sub-conscience, behaviors we use daily to defend and to protect our self esteem (ego). Healthy people normally use various defenses throughout life. Defense mechanisms are most often learned behaviors, mostly learned during…
Tag: Adam
On Work Horses
Bishop J. Richard Clarke stated that, “Work is a blessing from God. It is a fundamental principle of salvation, both spiritual and temporal. When Adam was driven from his garden home, he was told that his bread must be produced by his physical toil, by the sweat of his brow. Note carefully the words: “Cursed…
On Eternal Life
Eternal Life was referred to by Shakespeare as the “undiscovered country.” I like that thought because, in fact, it is an undiscovered country. We cannot go to the National Geographic or any other travel oriented or scientific journal and see pictures and/or find an article about Eternal Life, an article describing where it is and…
On The Devil
“Do you believe in the Devil?” I have heard that question many times in my life. When I was a young child, he was sometimes talked about in the same breath as Santa Claus. One of my friends said something like this, “They ain’t no Santa Claus and they ain’t no Devil neither, because my…
On Communicating
As Jerry Seinfeld once quipped, “According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Does that sound right? This means at a funeral most people would rather be in the casket than doing the eulogy.” There are so many ways to communicate and the most common is with speech….
On Temptation
Temptation has many faces, probably as many faces as there are people to be tempted. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, were tempted by Satan to disobey Father and they partook of the forbidden fruit. What Satan did not know is that Heavenly Father was counting on him to tempt them. By their…
On People Watching
People are an interesting study. People watching, I think, has been a common pastime since Adam. And why not; we are all of various sizes, shapes, color and demeanor. We are as varied as our fingerprints and/or as snowflakes—no two exactly alike. Even though our mortal bodies were all created and patterned in Heavenly Father’s…
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 By Their Fruits
I grew up in a northern region of the United States where we enjoyed the four seasons of the year. It was a long time ago, before fresh produce was shipped all over the country. Fresh fruit in our town was only available during the autumn harvest time. After our fall fruit harvest was over,…
On Baptism For The Dead
It is most curious that the only place in the New Testament where there is reference to vicarious work for the dead is in Corinthians. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men most miserable.” (Cor 15:19) The statement makes reference to another life besides this one, where people…