Friday, February 7, 2025

6 Historical Figures Who Were Demigods

I'm working my way through the original five Percy Jackson books again before the second season comes out on Disney Plus (and before I start Heroes of Olympus). Rick Riordan did a great job remixing Greek mythology in a way that makes me want to know more about the original stories. As I've mentioned before with Doctor Who, that's a hallmark that the story was done well. On the flip side, the Riordanverse seems to love little Easter eggs of turning real world people into Greek mythology. At times we got a snippet of their stories and sometimes just a passing name drop. I'm not sure how many mentions we got in the first five books, but I'll start with six of my favorites and maybe some head-canons.

William Shakespeare, Son of Apollo

Annabeth noted Shakespeare’s demigod status alongside his role as an Underworld judge. How his work as a playwright qualifies him to judge the dead, I have no idea. For hundreds of years, he’s been praised as one of the greatest writers (even if high school students can’t see it). As a son of Apollo, it makes sense that his works would be so well known and widely praised… even if Apollo can’t write a half-decent haiku to save his immortal life. Still, how does writing Hamlet qualify him to judge the dead?

Amelia Earthart, Daughter of Zeus

The famous pilot who flew solo across the ocean and disappeared. A feminist icon. She was mentioned by Annabeth during "Sea of Monsters" in defending herself to Circe. Apparently, she was mentioned again in "The Lost Hero" but since I haven't read that book yet, I'll say no more. As a daughter of Zeus, it makes says that she was a flying phenom. Despite being lost, her story was well known enough among half-bloods that Annabeth didn't feel the need to expand on her mention. I can only imagine that being daughter of the sky and thunder god helped her navigate as a pilot. Makes me wonder how she could have ever gotten lost, but that might be coming in "The Lost Hero". 

Harry Houdini, Son of Hecate(?)

Talking to Percy in "The Lightning Thief", a Nereid casually mentions Orpheus, Hercules, and Houdini as half-bloods who managed to escape the Underworld. Acting like Houdini's demigod-ness should be common knowledge, our ocean friend didn't mention whose son he was. Perhaps he was an unclaimed demigod who resided in Hermes cabin. But since Hecate is the goddess of magic and witchcraft, I'm going to guess he's a son of Hecate. But since he was famous for his dramatic escapes (that could have killed him) he could be a son of Hades--He was born long before the Big Three's oath after all. But I'm still going to go with the Hecate head-canon. 

Edward Teach, Son of Ares

AKA Blackbeard. Of course the most famous pirate in history is a son of Ares. It’s almost understandable that Circe trapped him, when you think of how Ares and Clarisse love to bully the main characters. That being said, when Annabeth and Percy saves him and the other guinea pigs, Blackbeard and the other pirates made for a good distraction, enabling the escape. And now he can roam the ocean pillaging again. 

Harriet Tubman, Daugther of Hermes

With Luke Castellan being the main Hermes demigod in the original five books, his half-siblings can be easily forgotten. His half-sister Harriet Tubman is famous among mortals for saving former slaves. In "Battle of the Labyrinth" she gets a mention by Chiron (hinting that maybe she was at Camp Half-Blood as a youth). It was said she used clear-sighted mortals to assist in her rescue. Chiron hinted that her Underground Railroad may have even utilized the Labyrinth. 

George Washington, Son of Athena

The primary historical figure of the American Revolution. Of course Washington was a son of Athena. I’m sure the connection to the goddess of wisdom came in handy during the war and his presidency. His mention in “The Lightning Thief” was another passing reference, alluding to crossing the Delaware. But I would love to learn more about out the Riordanverse side of Annabeth’s half-brother. 

Monday, February 3, 2025

Friendship Lessons

    

         Recently, I have been thinking about lessons about friends from movies and songs. I cannot point to why this has been on my mind, but it has sparked this blog post, so we’ll see what insights I can share. Thank you for being a friend!


I recall a book I gifted my brother called Surround Yourself With Greatness by former BYU and NFL tight end, Chad Lewis. I might have read the intro but that’s all. I do remember Chad speaking about the book with a reporter once and what he shared has stuck with me. In summarizing what the book was about, he said something to the effect that you are what you surround yourself with. If you surround yourself with skunks, you are going to stink. If you surround yourself with people who are great, you will be great. I have heard John Bytheway refer to a similar idea which he calls "The Parable of the Marinade". Friends have a big influence on this and so it can be important what friends you choose. 


I have been blessed with friends throughout my life, but perhaps the most important thing I have learned about friendship is the importance of being a good friend. I do not have a perfect answer about what being a “good” friend means, but I hope to share a few insights that I have received from some of my favorite “friend” lines from movies.


“You’ve got a friend in me” from “Toy Story.” 

Andy’s interaction with his toys is a nostalgic look at what playing with toys can be. Add to the fact that the toys can come to life and are looking out for Andy and the journey that Woody and Buzz go on to becoming friends and it is a great friend journey. This line from this song is a good summary of what we want in a friend, someone to rely on.



“Never had a friend like me” from “Aladdin.” 

Robin Williams’ performance was spot on with this song and the message is one that I think I can see in the friends that I have. While there may be similarities in the friends that I have, each is unique and brings different strengths and to the proverbial table, providing me the opportunity to learn from each of them



“No man is a failure who has friends” from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” 


This message is written on Clarence’s copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer which he gifts to George Bailey at the end of the film. In the context of what Jesus told early leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Doctrine and Covenants 88:117, “ye are my friends,” I think this means that no one on earth is a failure because Jesus is our friend. Elder Buckner spoke in greater detail about this scripture in the October 2024 General Conference. 



Now, I know this is not a comprehensive list of all the friends’ examples that are out there, but I hope it can be a good start to reminding us all the importance of being a good friend, being grateful for our friends, and always remembering that the Savior is our greatest friend. 

Friday, January 31, 2025

Who is the Brigadier?

Once upon a time when Doctor Who was barely on the air for a few years, they introduced a character that was probably meant to be a one-off. But he appeared again the next season. Was the Brigadier meant to be more? Or did the writers think they’d forget about him? One thing is sure, Doctor Who wouldn’t be the same without Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart.

Before UNIT and before he was a brigadier, Alistar was a lieutenant-colonel in the British Army. During this time period, he met the Second Doctor and encountered the Great Intelligence and its yeti (and they made it seem for a moment like the would-be brigadier was the bad guy). By the time he encountered the Doctor again, he was formally a brigadier with UNIT, facing off against the Cybermen.


After these two encounters with the Doctor, the Brigadier probably thought he was done with the Doctor (and maybe hoping he was done with him). But after the Doctor’s forced regeneration, the Third Doctor pretty much dropped on his doorstep. While the Doctor was exiled to Earth, he worked for/with the Brigadier as scientific advisor and I can’t express enough how much I appreciate Lethbridge-Stewart’s exasperation with the Doctor–even better when there were multiple Doctors in play during “The Three Doctors”.

TJ and I discussed it on the podcast recently, but I’ll reiterate it here: There was something great about having a consistent human character for the Doctor to come back to, even after leaving UNIT. Year after year and face after face, the Doctor came back to the Brigadier. The trust and rapport between the man and the Time Lord was amazing. And each Doctor portrayed that same on-screen chemistry so well with him.

In later years, though sent off to South America, the Brigadier still held such respect for the Doctor, wishing only for a return salute (according to his daughter). There were a couple times with the Tenth and Eleventh Doctor that that friendly (albeit skeptical) face would have helped. He was certainly a sight for sore eyes when he teamed up with Sarah Jane and her friends to get into the Black Archive. I’m glad that Nicholas Courtney was able to appear that last time in modern Who before his passing. News of the character’s passing was relayed to Eleventh Doctor during “The Wedding of River Song” happened with such reverence, solemnity, and simplicity that I couldn’t have hoped for a better send off. 

And almost just as simply, the torch was passed to his daughter Kate Stewart in “The Power of Three” and Jemma Redgrave has portrayed her with such grace and honor that could only fit the Brigadier’s daughter. I love that, despite the passing of Nicholas Courtney, the legacy of the Brigadier has lived on into Doctor Who. In some ways it makes sense to pass the torch along within UNIT but it makes it even better that his daughter took the mantle of authority, skepticism, and loyalty.

Looking back on the Brigadier, I wonder what the writers originally intended for him alongside the Second Doctor. There’s no way they could have predicted his impact on the Third Doctor era when he first appeared. I love that strong, loyal men and fathers have been portrayed throughout the 60+ years of Doctor Who. Though we never saw Kate Stewart on screen with her father (unless you count the Cyber-Brig), the impact he had is obvious with each appearance she makes. And that makes me want to be even more intentional day by day with my daughters.

So here’s a salute to the Brigadier!

Monday, January 27, 2025

LDS Geeks Podcast #34: Future of Marvel

If I need an insight to existing or upcoming Marvel content, one of my go-to people for questions is Joe. With so many Marvel projects coming down the line this year, I figured I needed to grab him for a podcast episode to discuss what's what with the first few. Enjoy!

--Spencer

Friday, January 24, 2025

The End of the Arrowverse

You may have seen the trailer for James Gunn’s Superman movie appear on social media in the last month or so. Coincidentally (or maybe on purpose) December also had the series finale for Superman & Lois, the last of the so-called Arrowverse shows. It’s a bit sad that the significance of this finale kind of went over my head until I saw Grant Gustin and other Arrowverse stars posted on Instagram. Only a few years ago, my TV watchlist included all five Arrowverse series of the time and I was invested in each show. But after some poor storylines, some cancellations, and the pandemic, I lost my enthusiasm for the shows. That being said, it is the end of an era (cue Friends reference) so I wanted to highlight the good, the bad, and the ugly for these shows that I spent so many hours watching. 

Arrow

It all began here with Oliver Queen and but I was definitely not drawn into Arrow at first. I think it wasn’t until I watched some of The Flash with TJ that I decided to give the franchise a try (but naturally I had to start with Arrow). While it didn’t pull me in initially, I think Arrow might be my favorite of the Arrowverse stories overall. It incorporated wonderful flashbacks (giving me flashbacks of my days watching new episodes of LOST), it took chances introducing characters that led wonderful years of The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, and best of all it ended beautifully. Sure, Oliver’s sacrifice during "Crisis on Infinite Earths" was tragic, but the aftermath gave closure needed for the show to end (even if its final spinoff idea was never fully resolved). None of the other shows would have existed or have been successful without Arrow, so I can’t overstate the importance of Oliver’s journey. 

The Flash

First introduced during a two-part story on Arrow, Barry Allen sped onto the screen and became my favorite of the Arrowverse heroes. I know plenty of people got annoyed with Iris, but I loved their dynamic as the years went on (yes, even her “we are the Flash” comment). I really hoped for a satisfying ending to this series when the last season was announced. I’d grown tired of redeeming villain after villain in the series. Sure, that’s the ideal, but it felt like lazy writing to turn each big bad to a good guy. Even in the series finale event, the villain was redeemed. It became less of how fast Barry could run and more about how much he could talk people down.  

Constantine

It didn’t even last a full season before getting cancelled, but Constantine came around around the same time The Flash began. I watched this series once and I was bummed about how short lived it was—Constantine had some great characters. But at least some of the stories left hanging here got (kind of) resolved during Legends. I just wish Constantine’s friends would have come back too. 

Supergirl

Enter the multiverse! While initially separate from Arrow and The Flash, Supergirl quickly became an integral part of the Arrowverse. I wasn’t the father of girls when I grew to love this show, but it gave me an appreciation for Kara Danvers—especially in a time period when people will constantly criticize other female heroes (see Captain Marvel). I loved that Kara took the spotlight and Superman was a secondary character for once. But as much as I loved Supergirl, I grew frustrated with this series for the same reason as The Flash. Why do we have to redeem every character? At least with Supergirl, I felt like we had a somewhat satisfying-ish finale. Thank goodness they didn’t try to redeem Lex Luthor in the last season. That’s all I’m saying. 

Legends of Tomorrow

I love a good band of misfits. Add in a time travel aspect and it almost had a Doctor Who feel with superheroes. There were points that I enjoyed Legends more than the main shows, partly because the seasons were shorter and partly because they weren’t afraid to take risks. We got some wonderful original characters in this series and it was nice to not take the series too seriously. I hated that the series got abruptly cancelled on a cliffhanger. I wish they’d done a TV movie to wrap it up or at least resolve things verbally in The Flash, but no dice. It was never fully resolved and I’m still bitter. 

Black Lightning

At first I didn’t want to invest the time into Black Lightning, but it immediately went on my watchlist after it was announced that Jefferson would be on "Crisis on Infinite Earths". Only three seasons long, I think this series ended up a wonderfully self-contained story. Other than Jefferson appearing during "Crisis" and "Armaggedom", a singular underwhelming reference to STAR Labs kept this story unique in the universe. It was a story about a retired superhero, an educator, and his family. 

Batwoman

With a back door introduction to Batwoman, we got a new show during the "Elseworlds" crossover. I know there were lots of complicated issues with the cast that I won’t pretend to understand, but even with introducing a new Batwoman I think this show did well. Unfortunately, like Legends, this show was unceremoniously cancelled. At least some of the loose ends were taken care of during the other shows… except that Ryan’s Batwoman never met the other heroes during the course of her series… so that was weird. 


Superman & Lois

I was really looking forward to the idea of this show, as "Crisis" approached. But I was confused and disappointed that all of a sudden Clark and Lois had teenage sons that I was supposed to be invested in. I was willing to write that off with other post-"Crisis" changes… until they ended up making this series completely separate from the other shows. What was the point of making all the Arrowverse shows into one universe if they were gonna separate this Superman again? I’m pretty sure that was a post-pandemic decision. At least their new universe gave another great twist on Lex Luthor. Also, I think all of the shows should’ve had a ten-episode finale season like Superman & Lois did. 

Expanded Universe

One of the things I loved about the Arrowverse is that it didn’t stop with the CW shows. Throughout the eight series, we had legendary DC series and movies incorporated into the multiverse. CBS’s Flash was the most prominent, appearing a few times and clips during "Crisis" flashback. "Crisis on Infinite Earths" gave us insight into Bird of Prey, Lucifer, and Smallville. Other brief appearances and mentions included the 1989 Batman film, the 1966 Batman series, Ryan Reynolds’s Green Lantern, Superman Returns, the Flash from DCEU, and the series originally on the DC Universe streaming platform (Swamp Thing, Doom Patrol, Titans, and Stargirl). I would have loved for any and all of these to appear and reappear (I think Stargirl was supposed to crossover at one point), expanding the multiverse, but cancellations and COVID messed that up. Maybe we can get more multiverse expanding moments with James Gunn’s new DC movies. If the Arrowverse taught me anything it’s that anything is possible in a world of superheroes if you have the right writers. 

Monday, January 20, 2025

What We Want From The Bluey Movie

It's been a very long time since a children's TV show announcing a feature length film has made adults excited to see it. But here we are, the Bluey movie has been announced, and everyone's favorite Blue Heeler is going to come to the big screen. So what do adult Bluey fans want from this monumental film? 


Bandit-The World's Dad

As funny as all the characters are, Bandit Heeler has become the poster boy for healthy masculinity and positive fathering. Bandit is always down to play whatever nonsense his kids come up with, eager to jump in to help Chili whenever she needs a hand, and is never too macho to show wear his heart on his sleeve. We definitely need more Bandit in our world, showing us all what a positive male role model looks like. 


Something New

Bluey has given us so many iconic moments, from the Grannies to everything that Muffin is. It would be easy for the movie to rehash old gags and inside jokes, but I think we all know the writers can do better. We want to see something that's brand new to the Bluey canon-a new gag, a new game, new characters, something new for us to fall in love with. I have absolutely no doubt that whatever the writers come up with will be absolute fire, I just hope they aren't restrained to rehash an old product. 

Same Animation

There's some weird tendency in animation that tries to tell us that digital 3D rendering is somehow better than 2D animation, as though the idea of older fashioned animation isn't worthy of the big screen. The animation in Bluey is simple but beautiful in its execution, giving us all the detail we need and the expression we want. If we have to see another weirdly 3D animated atrocity like what they did to Muppet Babies and Garfield I think we're going to skip. Keep Bluey looking like Bluey! 

Musical Number

This is probably the DisGeek inside me but I would give anything for this movie to be a musical. Big dance numbers with the characters, ear worms that I can sing while waiting in line at the pharmacy, and maybe a big emotional ballad a la Let It Go. I'd be disappointed if it was a jukebox musical Trolls style, I want something original, big and flashy. 

In fact, that's what I want for the whole movie. 

-JOE

Friday, January 17, 2025

Moana 2 Goes "Beyond" with 3 Spiritual Lessons

Last month, we took our five-year-old to see Moana 2 for her birthday. It was her first time at the movie theater and if her hanging off the handrail (like Moana hanging on the boat) is any indication, she loved the movie. Sequels are always hit and miss and while I can't pinpoint if I liked Moana 2 more or less than the original, but it resonated with me and hit me hard in the feels.

Spoilers ahead.

My 5-year-old was literally hanging onto the railing like this.

Going Beyond

Shortly after finding "Beyond" on Spotify, I shared my initial impressions about the song on the podcast. I went into the movie without much context for the song and was kind of worried that the context of the movie might change the song for me. Not so. 

With Moana going further than her ancestors had gone before, she risks never returning to her sister and she has to face fears she didn't know she had. Like her grandmother's spirit tells her in the movie, three years after her initial voyage with Maui, she knows what she has to lose now. This (the song and movie) all happened as I accepted and prepared for a new job. I was at my last job for over three years (not unlike Moana 2 taking place three years after the original).

Going beyond what's known or familiar is scary. I started my new job last week and I'm reminded how much I struggle with change--even when I know it's the right move. It's a good thing that my daughter loves "Beyond" so much because I've been using it as my anthem to give me strength when I feel too stressed or intimidated by all the changes. The fear is still there and there have been plenty of tears (the movie made my wife and I both cry) but there is resolve. 

I loved seeing other ancestors, like Tautai, as animal spirits.
Isolation

I tried to find the exact quote but couldn't, so I'll have to paraphrase. When the spirit of Tautai Vasa appeared to Moana to set off the adventure, he told Moana that isolation would be the end of their story. That's why the journey in Moana 2 was so important... Nalo had separated the peoples of the ocean and kept them isolated for generations. To join together and to grow together would mean life for Moana's people.

Similarly, the adversary often tries to keep us in isolation. Through sin, addiction, mental health struggles, or whatever else he can use against us, Satan wants us to stay isolated because he knows that's how our stories end. Before I met my wife, I thought of abandoning roommate life and living by myself. A wise bishop reminded me that "it is not good for man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18) and while that scripture is directly related to Adam's need for Eve, I've never forgotten how it applied to me. Sure, some people thrive living on their own, but I think that bishop knew me well enough to know that I'd end up isolated.

We need other people in our stories. That's why we have families. That's why we have the Church. And I can tell you the difference it makes for me when I reach out and actively avoid isolation (and I can "isolate" even when I'm surrounded by family, coworkers, patients, etc.). Even just in my first week, I noticed the difference I felt mentally and emotionally when I tried connecting with patients and coworkers, instead of letting myself drift into the background because I'm new and insecure. So while there's something to be said for "me time", nothing good comes from isolation. 

Getting Lost

I'm the type of person who likes to know what to expect and to have a certain amount of structure in my day. Even on a day off, I like to have a certain amount of plan to optimize my self-care (if that's even possible). Part of going "beyond" has meant having no clue what to expect in my new job and the new year. It's meant trusting in the Spirit's guidance as I figure life out day by day. 

While on the surface it sounded like a classic villain song, Matangi's "Get Lost" can be encouraging. Though it sounded like she was manipulating Moana, her advice was not unfounded. Despite my wish to have a clear path, my life has never played out like that. Sometimes the best advice really is to "get lost" and try something unexpected. Combine that advice with Anna's "The Next Right Thing" and it can be helpful in getting out of the rut I feel when stressors feel too heavy to carry. 

I could have a perfect to-do list and plan to get everything done and check all the boxes. Sometimes the best thing to do is go with the flow and "get lost". I don't know. I'm still figuring that one out, but in the movie Moana thought she knew exactly what to do or what she was supposed to do. And while Matangi's song sounded manipulative, it showed Moana how to get out of her own way so that she could rescue her crew (and Maui) and save her people.

"Beyond" These Lessons

I feel like I could keep saying more and more about this movie and the lessons I've learned from it and the songs. There are themes throughout the movie pointing towards identity, community, leadership, diversity, and self-confidence. I'll certainly watch it again after it hits Disney Plus (and I'm sure my daughter hanging off the couch this time) so don't be surprised if there's more Moana content from me in the future. Just like the credit scene setting up another sequel or Disney Plus series, there's more to come here.

Monday, January 13, 2025

LDS Geeks Podcast #33: Third Doctor Companions


We're back for some more Classic Doctor Who! The Third Doctor had some amazing companions and even the UNIT personnel were pretty great (except for Yates). I hope you enjoy our latest episode!
--Spencer 

Friday, January 10, 2025

The Power of Miracles


I recently finished the first season of Digimon Adventure again and I’ve already started Adventure 02, with Davis front and center (because he’s obnoxious and needs to be the center of attention). But as obnoxious as I found him as a kid, he’s grown to be one of my favorite Digimon characters in recent years. 

Delusional about his soccer prowess and his relationship with Kari, he shouldn’t have been the first choice to lead the second generation of Digi-Destined. He was jealous and impulsive and he let his emotions dictate his actions (geez, maybe I’m more like him than I thought). However, there’s something about him that makes him one of my favorites now. 


In the endgame episodes of Adventure 02, the Digi-Destined faced off against MaloMyotismon. While the other five kids were scared witless, Davis had nothing but wit. And this is where Davis’s unwarranted confidence came in handy:

MaloMyotismon: "I must admit, I'm impressed with your tenacity."

Davis: "Wait till you see my bullheadedness."

MaloMyotismon: "I'm curious to know why my mind illusion was ineffective against you. How can it be that you have no insecurities or unhappiness for it to feed off of?" 

Davis: "What do I have to worry about? I've got my friends, my family, the Digimon. Besides some guy with a letter-opener on his face trying to kill me, I'm happy to say I don't have any problems."


Yeah, Davis is too persistent for his own good. But it’s that persistence that saved the Digi-destined multiple times. For example, it was Davis who refused to give up and leave Ken’s base when he was the Digimon Emperor. Because he refused to leave, he found the Digi-Egg of Miracles and Veemon golden armor digivolved to Magnamon. 

Maybe that’s what miracles take. Persistence. Tenacity. Bull-headedness. Resiliency.

Without digging into the specifics, last year was rough on my mental health. While I never contemplated self-harm (thank goodness) there were plenty of times in which I wanted to give up. Maybe call out sick for a month or something, you know? Fortunately/Unfortunately, sometimes it feels like I’m too resilient for my own good. It’s exhausting to keep trying and to keep getting back up.

But whether in a religious sense or not, miracles don’t come from giving up. Miracles take endurance and faith. Maybe in my case they require a little self-care too. Bull-headed Davis would have never released the Golden Digi-Egg or tripled Veemon’s digivolutions (still bitter that Magnamon didn’t appear in the final battle) if it weren’t for his determination. 


So here we go into a new adventure (the new year and Adventure 02). Time to channel Davis’s bullheadedness as I fight my way into whatever comes next. Maybe even draw inspiration from his Digi-Eggs of Courage and Friendship as well (even if Davis’s courage usually presents more as impulsiveness). Take courage and stick close to loved ones. 

Despite the hate that The Digimon Movie has received from fans over the years, I want to close out with one of my favorite Davis quotes from the movie that reminds me I’m not alone, even when I don’t want to be resilient anymore:

Monday, January 6, 2025

Animorphs Teaches Me to Hold On


 I have recently been reading through the Animorphs series or rather listening to it during commute time or when outside running or taking care of animals. Spencer and I recently recorded a podcast episode introducing the series. During the course of my recent reading and listening, it is amazing to me how often I have wondered, “Oh boy! Are these guys going to make it out of this alive? Is someone going to die?”  Then, I remembered that this is a series of books.  A long series of books, too! These characters are going to be alright because they were going to show up in later books. 


It dawned on me that this is similar to our life experiences. Sometimes we may find ourselves or our loved ones in a situation that seems dire, and we may ask ourselves, “How will we get out of this?” Thinking about situations in the world today and in the past couple of years may have prompted similar questions. Just like I found comfort knowing there were additional books that the Animorphs were to show up in, we have additional chapters in our lives that we are to be the main characters in. Furthermore, the Lord Jesus Christ can be the “author and finisher” of our faith. With Him on our side, it is all going to work out. We may not see a way out, but He does. He knows the end from the beginning. We have our agency, of course, and there will be hardships and difficulties along our journey, but He will be with us and knows what lies ahead for us.


Sister Camille N. Johnson, former General Primary President and current General Relief Society President of the church said in the following in a conference address:


“I testify that the Savior is ‘the author and finisher of our faith.’ Will you invite Him to be the author and finisher of your story?


“He knows the beginning from the end. He was the Creator of heaven and earth. He wants us to return home to Him and our Heavenly Father. He has everything invested in us and wants us to succeed.


“What do you suppose keeps us from turning our stories over to Him?”


This is a good question to ask ourselves. I know that fear and uncertainty are big things that keep me from turning my story and life over the Lord. I pray and try to stay close to Him, but I sometimes wonder if everything really will work out alright.


A song from an EFY album called “Where Faith Lives” reminds us of the power of faith and turning things over to the Lord:


“It doesn't live at the end of a rainbow,

It doesn't sleep at the edge of your bed

And sometimes it doesn't fit so well

With the plans you're making in your head

But just before you reach the service station,

Right before the car runs out of gas

In the eye of the tornado

With all the strong winds blowing past

That's where faith lives

That's where fear tries to go

That's where everybody guesses

And you're the one who knows

And it may take the most that you can give

To find the place where faith lives

It lives in the fiery furnace, 

And it lives in the lion's den

And sometimes in the wilderness

Where it lives and dies and lives again

It lives where the doors fly open, 

It lives where the sun comes out

It lives in the window where you throw away all your doubts

You can't find it any easy way

Because it's all about the things that you can't see

But all the same it's right before you

Every time you get down on your knees”

 


The book of Hebrews teaches,Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

So, when things seem uncertain or unsure, rest assured that Heavenly Father is aware of what you are going through and feeling. As we trust Him and recognize that He knows what we are going through, we can rest assured that things are going to work out. You are a character in the series of events that makes up the rest of your life and eternity, much like the characters in the Animorphs series make up the series and must be present for its duration.