Light and Truth

Beginning with the Black Friday store rush, each year's Christmas season seems to almost always contain the word 'busy'. This year, 2018, was certainly no exception for me. However, through unexpected and divinely inspired events, the Lord taught me that Christmas is meant to be much more of a time of miracles and wonders than being busy. As Thanksgiving in late November passed, a busy schedule commenced for my wife and I. The due date of our first child's birth was nearly a month away (December 28th). And since this child was an answer to year's worth of sincere prayers, as detailed in  this previous blogpost , we wanted to do everything within our ability to prepare for full success. Anyone who's been through pregnancy knows how much work goes into doctor's appointments and insurance in the last month before delivery. Alongside this, the semester at Yale University was nearing the end. With a graduate-level course on statistical inference, another course...

After I was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the year 2001, I looked forward with great anticipation for the next big spiritual step ahead in my life. This, I soon learned, was receiving the  Aaronic Priesthood when I turned 12. And after four years the day came when I was interviewed for, and received, this priesthood. Due to the fact that I grew up with epilepsy, there are many things that I do not remember from my young years, including this day of receiving the Aaronic Priesthood. As much as I wish it would be completely within my recollection, it unfortunately isn't. Perhaps this was because I initially did not realize the significance of becoming a holder of the Lord's restored priesthood. But that lack of realization did not last any longer than a couple of months, put at least partially to rest by a scripture that I consider to be the first to influence me enough towards a change in my life. Within the first couple months aft...