Are Faith And Doubt Always Mutually Exclusive?

First off, I want to say, that it is not my intention to be negative about what has been said about the subject.

We heard in the conference – again – that faith and doubt can not coexist in the same heart. I both agree and disagree, based on my personal experience and from reading the Scriptures and Church magazines and literature.

I Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

I realized something yesterday, that was not surprising, but it somehow still surprised me a little. I’ll have to do some explaining, to let you know what I mean.

Last year, when Pres. Hinckley died, I felt as if I had lost a friend. No, I didn’t know him personally, in all honesty, but after following him for over 20 years, I knew enough about him – had read the books written by and about him – to feel that I did know him. Pres. Kimball was the president of the Church, when I was baptized, and had been for a few years, so that I didn’t hear very much about any other presidents. I was a missionary, when Gordon B. Hinckley was called as third counselor in the First Presidency – presidents Romney and Tanner were incapacitated because of illness, as was Pres. Kimball.

Praise to The Man

So Christmas is on its merry way and media reports are all full of worried merchants agonizing about people not spending enough money. I realize that selling (mostly unneeded) junk is how many people earn their living (starting with the kids who work 12-hour shifts 7 days a week, while still starving, in Asian factories) – but let’s look at why Christmas is celebrated by Christians in the first place.

Nostalgia Moment

Since today is the 29th anniversary of my baptism, I thought I’d engage in some more exhibitionist self-analysis. I have been on a recovery trend lately, after suffering some health problems, and it is with gratitude that I look at my life as a whole. The lessons of life can be hard sometimes, but with the right attitude, anything can be a positive influence for us.

Testimony Or Certainty

In October General Conference this year, Elder Carlos Godoy’s talk was titled Testimony As A Process. I really loved it. It was important for me, because it highlighted the fact that powerful spiritual experiences are not necessary for a strong testimony.