Author Archives: Brian Duffin

God’s favorite scripture

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Last Saturday night my wife shared her notes from Deseret Book’s “Time Out for Women” conference with me. While I hope to share more notes with M* readers after she types them up, one key point stood out from a talk given by LDS author John Bytheway.

My wife asked me what I though God’s favorite scripture might be. There are so many good scriptures that could qualify as His favorite, but the answer given by John Bytheway made sense to me–the sacrament prayers (here and here).

Why would these be God’s favorite scripture? Discuss.

Random Mormon Poll #13: General Conference

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I’m also curious to know what your favorite talk from General Conference was. Feel free to share in the comments. I included the Relief Society meeting from the previous week and the Priesthood session. Great talks in both meetings!

Come unto Jesus

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As a missionary, I was taught that my purpose was to invite others to come unto Christ through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. Some of the sweetest and most tender experiences in my mission came by way of these sacred ordinances.

Saturday night, I was privileged to attend the convert baptism of a young single adult in my ward. This young man’s story closely paralleled the conversion story of my wife, with his parents also being in opposition to his baptism as my wife’s parents were to hers.

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Random Mormon Poll #12: Keeping the Sabbath day holy

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The Sabbath is the Lord’s day, set apart each week for rest and worship. In Old Testament times, God’s covenant people observed the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week because God rested on the seventh day when He had created the earth. The Lord emphasized the importance of Sabbath observance in the Ten Commandments:

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8–11).

After the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Lord’s disciples began observing the Sabbath on the first day of the week, Sunday (see Acts 20:7).

In the latter days, the Lord has commanded us to continue observing the Sabbath. He has promised that if we obey this commandment, we will receive “the fulness of the earth” (see D&C 59:16–20).

Because the Sabbath is a holy day, it should be reserved for worthy and holy activities. Abstaining from work and recreation is not enough. In fact, if we merely lounge about doing nothing on the Sabbath, we fail to keep the day holy. In a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831, the Lord commanded: “That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High” (D&C 59:9–10). In harmony with this revelation, we attend sacrament meeting each week. Other Sabbath-day activities may include praying, meditating, studying the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets, writing letters to family members and friends, reading wholesome material, visiting the sick and distressed, and attending other Church meetings.

“Sabbath,” True to the Faith, (2004),145–47

Feel free to expound on your vote with a comment. Please remember to play nice and be respectful of others.

On the path of glory (or, rest in peace, Mary)

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Mary TraversAfter almost 33 years, I can still remember, quite vividly, actually, the first time I heard Peter, Paul and Mary sing one of their most memorable and well-known songs, “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

I sat captivated by the unique sound and joyous harmony of three very talented folk singers.

Today, sadly, one of these voices is now silent.

Mary Travers, of the group Peter, Paul and Mary passed away September 16, 2009 after a courageous battle with lukemia. She was only 72.

She never knew me personally, nor I her, but I feel like I came to know her and her fellow singers through their music. Our politics were as divergent as anything, but music can bridge almost any gap. It did for me, anyhow.

I admired her principled zeal and tireless work for the many social causes which she and her trio embraced and supported. Her music transcended politics and embraced her love of all humanity.  Her passing has a left a hole in my heart and in the soul of  the America she loved dearly.

And so today–almost 33 years since I first heard her melodious voice and a charming tale of innocence lost–I feel a deep sense of personal loss and a realization that my childhood friend is now gone.

God be with you, Mary. Rest in peace.