John's Journey Journal of Insights

One of the huge challenges for many of us long-time members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, particularly here in Utah, where living the gospel (to at least some degree) is just a natural way of life that we are brought up with, is that it becomes far too easy to take the gospel of Jesus Christ for granted, and to judge those who don't live it like we do. It's what we have always been used to, so we have a difficult time understanding those who have a harder time making it to church or keeping the commandments, and then it's easier for us to become judgmental of them. Question: If someone has a more difficult time than others choosing the right, is that because they are just not as good, worthy or righteous? I am seeing how Satan uses shame to cause all of us to believe that, causing those who struggle more with righteousness to give up on it, and to believe the lie that they are worthless in God's eyes, and then causing the rest of us to agree with t...

Perhaps one big reason I tend to express unpopular views is because I find great value in opposition. I mean, it's not that I want to create opposition, because I don't. I'm not trying to get attention nor create trouble. We don't need to seek or create more opposition, but I think it's important to embrace the opposition that we face. I do believe there are more important truths that people are not considering enough in the positions I take, but that is not what I'm discussing here. I think too many of us too easily try to escape opposition, myself included. But opposition is a such a valuable key part of God's plan for us. It is what agency to choose between right and wrong are all about. It helps us learn and grow, and truly brings joy. So we don't need to be afraid of opposition, but we can embrace it. I have heard it suggested that in our pre-earthly life, when Satan opposed God's plan with his own, to force everyone to righteousness, Satan'...