Precepts of Power

The origins of Thanksgiving are found in the 1621 feast shared by the Pilgrims and Native Americans. It also has origins in the Israelite Feast of Ingathering.

By imagining how future generations might misinterpret the origins of modern texts, we can learn how to trust in the Bible despite its complex past.

Stephen did not limit his activities to the seemingly temporal aspects of his calling. Do we sometimes make that mistake when called to “logistical” roles?

Like the Canaanite woman, we may sometimes feel like second-class citizens in God’s eyes. But if we humbly submit to God’s will, we can still receive miracles.

From the account of Jesus miraculously feeding the 5,000, we learn seven keys to unlocking an abundant mindset and lifestyle.

Does the Ensign Peak Advisors / SEC ruling mean that the Church of Jesus Christ is a corrupt corporation that hordes wealth instead of helping the poor? No. Here’s why.

When we examine the full arc of Jacob and Esau’s story, Jacob’s underhanded obtaining of the blessing becomes a powerful polemic against strife and deceit.

Does the Tower of Babel story recount an actual historical event? The city of Uruk in early Mesopotamian history bears striking parallels to this biblical tale.

The results of a (very ad hoc) study I conducted on how often Latter-day Saints use non-KJV translations of the Bible, and the main reasons they do or do not.

Why is the King James Version (KJV) the official English Bible used by Latter-day Saints? What are its advantages? What are the advantages of supplementing it with a more modern translation? If I do, which modern translation should I use?

Four self-assessment “troubleshooting” questions to ask ourselves when we’re petitioning the heavens with faith but seem to be getting no response.

The scriptures abound with promises that angels can attend us. But what role can angels play in our lives that the Holy Ghost doesn’t already fill?

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed by the many things we feel commanded to do. But God cares more about quality (who we are) than quantity (what we get done).

When an appliance misfunctions, we troubleshoot it. This post offers a “troubleshooting guide” for some common reasons we fail to receive answers to prayers.

When we fail to receive answers to our prayers, often the solution lies not in increasing our faith or desire, but in developing better technique.

Emotional mindfulness is a prerequisite to taking responsibility for our emotions and developing full emotional self-control. But how do we develop it?

The value of goals is not so much in achieving them, but in how the process of setting and striving for goals alters our behavior.

Did you know that birthday parties include rituals? And so do weddings, and Eagle court of honors? Our lives are full of secular rituals. Let’s explore why.

“Ritual.” We avoid or even shy away from the word, yet nearly all our acts of worship involve ritual. So what is ritual? Why do we use it, and how does it work?

Isn’t it strange that we go through anywhere between 12 and 30 years of formal education, yet we fail to master the principles of success in the most basic areas of life?