Remembering President Holland

  With the recent passing of President Jeffery R. Holland, I figured I’d just share some thoughts about his teachings through the years. I know there is much more to be addressed than what I have written here, but I hope you enjoy some of the things that stood out to me from the teachings of this former BYU President, Apostle, and President of the Quorum of the Twelve. 

 I saw and shook his hand when he visited my mission. The take away for me there was “the spirit is still and small and does not compete” or that’s how I remembered him sharing it. At my Grandpa’s funeral in 2018, the bishop who spoke said he received a call from Elder Holland while he, the bishop, was at Disneyland with his family. Elder Holland knew this bishop would be speaking at my grandpa’s funeral and it turns out Elder Holland and my grandpa were home teaching companions at one point. Talk about an unexpected plot twist! My grandpa had not mentioned that small detail during his life.

It seemed like Elder Holland was always pounding the pulpit about something. I loved his passion and fire when he spoke. But he was also quite funny. “You shouldn’t be serving tea anyways” was quite the unexpected remark in an analogy portion about the dangers of lust. Who knew we would be getting a Word of Wisdom narrative in the midst of a bridle your passions sermon? Not to mention his commentary about “Monday is coming,” “Hit me one more time, I can still hear you,” “I’m the only thing standing between you and your ice cream Sunday tradition,” or “General Conference is boring, why do we have to do it?” followed by a ploy to have people remember him as “Kearon, Elder Patrick Kearon” which may or may not have been a low key homage to the British spy (“Bond, James Bond” just made that connection). He taught and testified of the Savior. He loved his family and especially his wife, Pat: “True love we are absolutely giddy about—as I am about Sister Holland; we shout it from the housetops.”  People seemed to sit up and listen when he spoke because falling asleep was usually not an option. He testified of the Book of Mormon and of the Bible in a series of talks. He spoke of the First Vision. He spoke of the Holy Ghost. He spoke of angels. He gave new interpretations and meaning to the parables and to interactions of the Savior with his apostles.

In his later addresses, it seemed to me at least, President Holland spoke frequently of the love he had for his sweet wife, Pat. He spoke of how he missed her. I am glad they are reunited again. In his final address, at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, he spoke about missing his wife for the past three Christmases. He also spoke about the song, “I’ll be Home for Christmas.” How fitting that he is now home with Pat again.

 

 It was his testimony and his teachings that I enjoyed the most. His passion and love made him memorable for sure. It was always apparent to me that he loved the Lord and that He wanted to serve and testify of Him. I will miss him, but  I am glad we have access to his talks from General Conference, BYU and other college devotionals, and CES firesides from which we can continue to learn. 

Happy Birthday, President Nelson!

Happy 101st birthday to our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson! Few men live to reach that age and, as I tell my patients, getting old isn't for the weak. I thought there was no better way to celebrate President Nelson than to share some of our favorite memories/teachings from the seasoned apostle. Enjoy!

--Spencer

"Think Celestial!" 

President Russell M. Nelson has shared countless inspiring messages, but one phrase continues to echo in my heart: “Think Celestial!” In just two words, he encapsulates a lifetime of prophetic counsel; a call to lift our gaze, deepen our discipleship, and anchor our choices in eternal perspective.

I’ve listened to all of President Nelson’s General Conference addresses, and I testify that he is called of God and communes with Jehovah. His words are not just wise, they are divinely inspired. Heavenly Father truly desires for each of us, including you, to return and live with Him again. That invitation is always extended. The choice to accept it is ours.

When we “think celestial,” we remember who we are and where we’re going. We are children of God, eternally connected to Him. This mindset helps us realign our priorities, endure trials with hope, and make decisions that reflect our divine heritage.

President Nelson teaches:

“The very things that will make your mortal life the best it can be are exactly the same things that will make your life throughout all eternity the best it can be! Today, to assist you to qualify for the rich blessings Heavenly Father has for you, I invite you to adopt the practice of ‘thinking celestial’! Thinking celestial means being spiritually minded. We learn from the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob that ‘to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.’

Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import. Far too many people live as though this life is all there is. However, your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever. So, think celestial.”

This isn’t just a slogan, it’s a spiritual strategy. It’s how we navigate mortality with purpose, clarity, and peace. So today, and every day, let’s lift our thoughts heavenward. Let’s think celestial. 

-Michael 

"We Can do Better and be Better" 

 I know we’re doing favorite quotes from President Nelson but I took the liberty of sharing my favorite talk. No, I won’t quote the entire talk though it is definitely worth a re visit often (I listened to it last week). It is the talk, “We can do better and be better” from April 2019. It was given in a general conference address to the holders of the priesthood and has served as a “touchstone” address that I go to again and again for guidance and counsel at various times and stages of my life. 

In this address, President Nelson begins by addressing how prophets in the scriptures are often called upon to teach and invite people to repent. He then proceeded to share more about repentance with the following:

"The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”

Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent,” He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies."

This serves at the backdrop for his invitation to repent in 2 specific ways: in how we treat our bodies and in how we treat the women in our lives. I find myself seeking to continually care for my body in a better way and often find the words from this talk coming to mind as I seek to do so:  "Your care of that temple is important. Now, I ask you, brethren, are you more interested in dressing and grooming your body to appeal to the world than to please God? Your answer to this question sends a direct message to Him about your feelings regarding His transcendent gift to you."

Furthermore, I find myself repeating his words about caring for the women in our lives when listening to my wife or daughter: 

"Brethren, your first and foremost duty as a bearer of the priesthood is to love and care for your wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her. Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being. Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is. Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife’s heart. Seek to bring her joy. Seek her counsel, and listen. Her input will improve your output."

Doing better and being better are part of the eternal nature of progression and President Nelson's invitation to repent  was a good reminder of the need to find ways to progress. He was and is very disarming about his invitation to repent. It is not a guilt trip or a harsh invitation, rather he is inviting us to find specific ways to change and become more like our Savior.

-Russell 

"Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives"

I have a great love for President Nelson. He has been the prophet for the entirety of my marriage (I remember hearing the news of President Monson's passing while I was on my honeymoon). When contemplating which of the Prophet's teachings I wanted to share in this post, a quote kept coming to my mind: "In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

In many ways I find this equally comforting and depressing. It's hard to raise children in an increasingly evil world, which brings me down at times. However, the promise is there that with the influence of the Holy Ghost. Whether it's the temptations surrounding us on a daily basis, struggles with mental health, or struggles with interpersonal relationships, the Holy Ghost can and will guide us where we need to go or the direction we need to take. This is a hard one for me at times because I feel like my mental health struggles impede me from feeling the Spirit's comfort. It takes conscious thought at times to remember to hope for that guidance.

In this talk, he also said, "If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation." Whether we're talking about politics, celebrities, mental health, the gospel, or anything else, the internet is saturated with garbage. There's plenty of truth out there as well, but it takes time, effort, and personal revelation to sift through it. I pray that I can internalize these principles more and I look forward to hearing from our prophet again in October.

-Spencer

LDS Geeks Podcast #37: Crossover Popping on the Apricot Tree

I've wanted some sort of collaboration with "Pop Culture on the Apricot Tree" pretty much ever since Michael joined them to discuss Arrival. This month Carl from their podcast joined me for ours to discuss how it all came to be. Enjoy!

--Spencer

I am a Child of God; Therefore, What?

(Guest post by Spencer's dad)

Who are you? We are each many things depending on our family or employment and other chapters of our lives. President Russell M Nelson told the young adults of the church (May 2022) what our most important label should be.

“First: Know the truth about who you are. I believe that if the Lord were speaking to you directly tonight, the first thing He would make sure you understand is your true identity. My dear friends, you are literally spirit children of God. You have sung this truth since you learned the words to “I Am a Child of God.” But is that eternal truth imprinted upon your heart? Has this truth rescued you when confronted with temptation?”

He continued by describing labels that he once had “All other labels that have applied to me—such as a medical doctor, surgeon, researcher, professor, lieutenant, captain, PhD, American, and so forth —would fall somewhere down the list.”

Spencer with Papa at Master's Graduation

President Nelson goes on to describe a potentially negative label that could be applied to him. “Some might label me as an “old man.” But I’m a lot younger than Adam was —and Noah too. Agism, racism, nationalism, sexism, and a host of other -isms are universally limiting.”

Since I left on my young(er) mission (Feb 25, 1982) (42 years ago) I have watched (on video) or read every General Conference session. In 1982 Russell M Nelson was a heart surgeon. In 1985 he was called as a member of Quorum of Twelve. Each talk he has given in the last four years has been “his best talk ever” (according to me).

How much you and I would have lost had we labelled President Nelson as an old man!

President Nelson urged us to identify ourselves by three long term labels: “First and foremost, you are a child of God. Second, as a member of the Church, you are a child of the covenant. And third, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Like our eye glasses these identifiers changes help us more accurately see who we are and who others are. Some of our titles have not changed in decades father/mother, son/daughter, husband/wife, grandfather/grandmother, etc.

The practical responsibility of these eternal callings changes over time. When we pass into the next life we may find that these titles continue to adapt.

President Nelson concludes by saying “I am simply saying that no identifier should displace, replace, or take priority over these three enduring designations: “child of God,” “child of the covenant,” and "disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Ponder the first identifier - I am a Child of God. This song is beloved by church members of all ages.

I am a child of God - how does that affect how I see myself?

I am a child of God - how does that affect how I see my (imperfect, wonderful, sometimes annoying) family members?

I am a child of God - How does that affect how I see co-workers?

I am a child of God - How does that affect how I see other church members?

I am a child of God - How does that affect how I see strangers I meet each day?

Over the next ten days I will consider those questions. In two weeks I will write up some observations I made as I tried to see those around me?

The Book of Mormon and My Gas Cap

(Guest post by Spencer's dad)

Last time I mentioned that my gas cap cover was frozen. When I pulled the opening lever, the gap cap panel did not open. How was I going to put gas in the vehicle?

My first reaction was to come back to our apartment and find a screw driver. With a screwdriver I could pry open that stubborn panel. What do you think would happen if I had done this? At best it would scratch the paint of the car. If I pushed and pulled hard enough I could bend the panel out of shape. My next tool might have been a hammer, so you can imagine not much good would happen if I went that route.

Before I got out the door with the screwdriver my wife offered another suggestion. We both agreed that something had frozen in the mechanism. She suggested I pour cold water on the panel. This would melt the ice on the sticky mechanism. With one quick splash of water the ice in the mechanism melted and open it went.

Sometimes our hearts are iced over like that mechanism. Fixing the broken pieces of our hearts will often be easier by melting rather than by poking (or hammering).

Reading the Book of Mormon is one of the best medicine available to a broken human (which is all of us). Here are a few promises of blessings we can receive by studying the Book of Mormon.

Peter M. Johnson has a unique conversion story. In this 17-minute video below Peter shares his story in a unique way.

In Brother Johnson’s first (and so far) only General Conference talk he said “Read and study the Book of Mormon every day, every day, every day. My Book of Mormon studies tend to go better when I read with a question in mind…The Book of Mormon contains the words of Christ and helps us remember who we are.”

His formula every day, every day, every day will help us know who we are. Remembering that you are a beloved child of God could help melt the ice that builds on our hearts during the storms of life. Reading Book of Mormon, every day, every day, every day is a simple medicine.

President Russel M Nelson made another simple and promise filled encouragement to read the Book of Mormon:

“I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day. (October 2017 Conference)

Which of these promises do I need most in my life?

A). Making better decisions every day

B). Answers to my own questions

C). Direction for my life

D). Immunized against the evils of this day.

In this chapter of my life I need all four. (Seems like I needed all four promises in every chapter of my life). You and I can have all four of these soul healing cures from one spiritual medicine … Read the Book of Mormon every day.

Try it. Test it. You will be blessed.

Filling Your Tank with The Book of Mormon

(Guest post by Spencer's Dad)

Recently I was getting low on gas. When I went to fill it up a mechanical problem stopped me. The culprit in question is the cover that protects the round gas cap. I pulled the open button and it did not open. There was no way to fill the gas without this panel opening.

In reality I had over half a tank of fuel left. I could probably drive around Whitehorse for another week. But there would come a day that an empty gas tank was going to be a problem. Yes, one of you would come and ferry me and my wife home. (She might not be amused at running out of gas somewhere).

Experience has taught me that a low gas tank can be a problem too. When gas tank is low and weather is just right, condensation can make the gas seem dirty. You have power sometimes. But starting it and maintaining power does not work when condensation takes place.

Another time my gas tank still had about 2% of gas left. However, since I had parked on our upslope driveway the gas tank thought it was empty and would not start.

While driving the Yukon winter don’t drive anywhere near empty. Nothing is going to be better because you are closer to E (that means Empty not Extra) than to F (Full not Failure)

In our personal lives, let’s not run our spiritual gas tank near empty.

The Book of Mormon is a super fuel that can fill our tank and charge our battery. In this post (and next time) I will share with you some of the promises we have about how reading the Book of Mormon can bless your life.

In his second last talk - President Thomas Monson pleaded for us to read the Book of Mormon every day. He said:

“If you are not reading the Book of Mormon each day, please do so.,,,

"I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives.”

[Thomas Monson gave 249 General Conference talks in his time as an apostle. The final talk was a five minute encouragement entitled Kindness, Charity and Love. The second last, quoted above, is entitled "The Power of the Book of Mormon".]

At least one church member in the April 2017 conference took Pres. Monson’s talk to heart. Six months later, Russel Nelson (then 93 years old) described some of what he learned as he did what Pres. Monson asked.

“Since President Monson’s challenge six months ago, I have tried to follow his counsel. Among other things, I’ve made lists of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals. Looking at the Book of Mormon through these lenses has been an insightful and inspiring exercise! I recommend it to each of you.”

("The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?") 

Our study of the Book of Mormon can bless us starting today. President Ezra Taft Benson (in his first conference as President of the church) gave this promise

“I promise you that from this moment forward, if we will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts, God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto unknown.” ("The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion")

“A blessing hitherto unknown” can help deal with any challenge you and I will face today in 2024.

Next time I will tell you how I fixed my gas cover. (Not the way I first thought). Fear not I am able to refill the gas tank on our mission vehicle long before it hits empty.

As you go forward you to can fill up your spiritual tank by reading The Book of Mormon daily, you can have the energy to go where you need to go.

Why the New Preach My Gospel is Important

It's been almost 13 years since my mission (the first time) but I still have a great love for Preach My Gospel and an affinity for the missionaries--loved having our elders live in the apartment below us. In recent years, as phrasing like "the covenant path" and "gathering Israel" have been used more, it's only made my desire grow to share my testimony. So when the Church released an updated edition of Preach My Gospel (I'm calling it PMG 2.0 in my head), I was excited. But not for the obvious reason. 

In the last couple weeks, I'm sure there have been plenty of things written in the LDS blogosphere about the differences between the old edition and PMG 2.0 (I found this one from LDS Living, if you're curious). What I got excited for is how this tool for missionary work is evidence of ongoing revelation. Just like how For the Strength of Youth was updated to invite youth (and all of us) to follow the Spirit and get our own answers, instead of having rules prescribed for us.

We talk about having a living prophet and receiving the word of God, but I know for most of my life I haven't considered what that really means. Living in the South for the last two years, I've definitely been around a lot less members of the Church than I did in Utah. But I'm also around a lot more openly religious people than I was growing up in Canada. So to see these good Christians trying to get answers to prayer by personal revelation, I'm grateful for a prophet and that I have help with the answers.

Let me give you an example: Last year I was at a guys night with a mixed group of Protestant, Catholic, and Latter-Day Saint friends. Our host, a Protestant guy, offered refreshment including iced tea and snacks. When I turned down his iced tea (he was missing my preferred soda anyway), he questioned it, because he's read the Word of Wisdom and correctly quote that it says "hot drinks". It was a small exchange but it got me wondering over the months following. While there is still debate and speculation as to why coffee and tea, but not Pepsi and Dr. Pepper, we had clarification that "hot drinks" refers to tea and coffee. Why those two? I dunno. But it impressed upon me the importance of prophets.

Even when looking at modern-day scripture, like the Doctrine and Covenants, we still have prophets and apostles teaching us further from what Brother Joseph taught. I mean, to be fair, he lived 200 years ago; the world has changed significantly since them in technology, transportation, and temptation. The Bible and the Doctrine and Covenants never spoke of pornography, but even 20 years ago porn wasn't as prevalent as it is now.

As we look forward to move revelation (General Conference is only 3 months away), this is the message I want to share with everyone: there is a prophet on the Earth today. And, to bring things back to missionary work, he has called young men and women (and senior couples like my parents) to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end."

I want to finish off with a statement from the Prophet Joseph that I memorized when I was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant:

"The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

The Passing of a Guardian: A Mormon Geeks Tribute to President Monson

For two and a half years of my life I lived in the suburbs of Chicago. One of my favorite parts about living out there was the proximity to Nauvoo. I would frequently go out there to enjoy the historical sites and enjoy the spirit of that place.

On one of my last trips to Nauvoo in the summer of 2015, I happened to pass by a t-shirt shop fairly close to the temple, and saw the below shirt. Given my love of the First Presidency and Guardians of the Galaxy, I felt that it was a no-brainer to buy it 😀

And sadly, one of our beloved Guardians of the Galaxy has passed on. 

Within my 29 years of life, I've only clearly remembered the passing of President Hinckley 10 years ago this month. President Hinckley was the prophet of my youth. He called me to my mission in Brazil and signed my mission call. I remember finding out in my first area that he had passed away. I felt like I had lost a close friend and a hero.

It is with similar feelings that I woke up to the news of President Monson's passing this morning. When I think of true Christians who exemplify charity towards their fellow men, devotion to the Savior, and service to the Kingdom, Thomas Spencer Monson is at the top of the list. 

Even at his very weakest, he left us with two powerful sermons this past April in General Conference. May we heed his counsel to love one another and to read the Book of Mormon.

The Kingdom will roll ever on, Zion will continue to be established, but for today, and in gratitude for the past 54 years of service to the Kingdom as an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, We Thank Thee Oh God for Thomas Spencer Monson

On behalf of the Mormon Geeks community, we express our deepest condolences to the Monson family and invite all of our readers to follow President Monson's example by serving those around you over the next seven days.



**Details of President Monson's funeral can be found here**