Everyday Parables

I have spent my entire life learning about and learning how to better live the law of Sabbath Day Observance. The simple explanation is that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. He told us that this was a pattern for us to follow: rest from our labors on the seventh day. This doesn’t mean do nothing, it is in fact a greater opportunity for us to focus on Him, on the covenants we have made with Him, and on His children who surround us. What I have noticed is that this concept of resting from our labors — from our normal, everyday life — for one whole day has major blessings and benefits in every aspect of our lives. Here are some resources that I mentioned in the episode: This is a more detailed explanation of what the Sabbath Day means: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/learning-and-serving-in-the-church/sabbath-day-worship?lang=eng This is the article on taking a break from work: https://www.verywellmind.com/when-and-how-to-take-a-mental-health-day-3144754#:~:text=While%20one%20day%20might%20not,fresh%2C%20less%2Dstressed%20perspective. This is a longer article on the benefits of focusing outside yourself: https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/outward-action-is-good-for-your-brain This is a shorter and less technical article on focusing outward. Scroll until you see the green words that say: Focus Outward - https://leapforwardcoach.com/focus-outward/ A video I found about outward focus, this is the guy who is sharing things that he has discovered simply by trying them out and seeing that they work: https://youtu.be/0stgUby65Fw?si=jN7PVMP5RSHtI5wJ Mosiah 2:16-17 - 16) …that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. 17) I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/2?id=p16-p17&lang=eng#p16 Luke 10:25-37 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/10?id=p25-p37&lang=eng#p25 Luke 14:1-6 - 3)…Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? 5) And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/luke/14?id=p1-p6&lang=eng#p1 Mark 2:27 - …The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/mark/2?id=p27&lang=eng#p27 This talk is all about the Sabbath and how it can be a delight for those who choose to observe it, I also quoted this talk near the end of the episode - The Sabbath is a Delight by President Russell M. Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/04/the-sabbath-is-a-delight?lang=eng As a side note, I have also learned that the people who regulate how often flight attendants work have adopted this highly beneficial strategy of giving their workers a dedicated day off every six days (meaning that they have day seven off). They discovered it was better for the workers and for their business. You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today we are talking about what it means to actively wait on the Lord. I am going to tell you about an experience I had on a volunteer mission for my church, the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the Dominican Republic. Please note that I restrained myself and only put one chicken in the cover image. Here are the articles I talked about and a few resources that I didn’t mention but that are relevant: Conference talk about the kayak: “The Powerful, Virtuous Cycle of the Doctrine of Christ” by Elder Dale G. Renlund - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/43renlund?lang=eng Article about the fire crew: “Start Moving” by Elder Von G. Keetch - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2011/07/young-adults/start-moving?lang=eng This video is called “Wrong Roads” and talks about ways that God can sometimes guide us: https://youtu.be/yNQC-_srxH8?si=A6Vbfov6WhYfmw2B D&C 98:3 - …all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/98?id=p3&lang=eng#p3 You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

In this episode I am going to revisit the topic of boundaries. I first touched on this topic in episode 2, the parable of the Dam, where I talked about setting personal boundaries and the power that comes from that. I also discussed how God has set boundaries for us called commandments and how freeing it is to live within those boundaries. You do not need to listen to that episode to understand this one. In this episode, I am going to expand on the concept of setting boundaries for children that we take care of. This is a video that I watched several months ago that popped into my head as I was finishing up this episode. Perhaps it will bring you some insight you need: The one I watched: Seeking Jesus, Class 12: Jesus Christ and Fence Laws - https://youtu.be/-sybbILV3m0?si=ARa1l6AqIyWciQ03 Short version: Heavy Burdens and Unnecessary Fence Laws (Come Follow Me: Matthew 11) - https://youtu.be/t4bdmmjnV9E?si=gL_8NmyuSC22jJGF You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

In this episode we will discuss the benefits of having an open-palmed approach to life over a close-fisted one. We will also talk about what those terms mean in the context I am using them. So, tune in to find out! Here are some scriptures I mentioned and other scriptures that illustrate my point that I did not mention: In the New Testament: Luke 23:33-43 = Christ being crucified, forgiving the soldiers, and extending mercy to the thieves being crucified on either side of him. Please note: in not condemning the thief who reviled him, Christ did indeed extend mercy. John 20: 20-29 = an example of Jesus giving with open palms after He was resurrected. In using the King James version of the Bible, this is also the only mention we have that Christ was nailed to the cross when he was crucified. In the Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 11:1-17 = another example of Christ ministering with open palms after He was resurrected. You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

In this episode we are going to talk about mistakes, annoyances, and setbacks of life and how we can choose our attitude towards these things. (Spoiler: you can choose not to be annoyed or worried). Please forgive the fact that the cover photo is of an orchestra and not a choir. It was the only graphic available to me at the time I made this. You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

This week’s episode is about life, growth, and miracles after ruin. What happens when we watch a major landmark of our lives come crashing down. You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today we are going in depth on yeast and its significance in the Passover Feast and some lessons I have learned by studying these things. Here are the two websites that I used to research the tradition of throwing out the leaven: https://gracewyoming.com/passover-and-the-exodus/ https://blogs.bible.org/the-seven-feasts-of-israel-unleavened-bread/ You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today we are going to talk about spiritual healing and some important tools that we have to help that process. In this episode we will talk about how spiritual healing relates to healing from an internal infection like a sinus infection, ear infection, or UTI. There is nothing remotely even remotely gross or off-putting unless the mere mention of an infection makes your gut churn. In which case, skip this episode. I read scriptures from Revelations 12:7-8, 11-12 as found in the King James version of the bible in this episode. You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

In this episode, we are going to talk about a topic that is usually referred to as “run your own race”. The idea behind it is that you shouldn’t worry about what anybody else is doing or if they might be judging you. You simply do the best you can and let others do the best they can. I believe something important is missing if you live only by that phrase. This is an amazon link to the book I mentioned. I will have it be known that I agree with 99% of she says. The book is about centuries of successful parenting strategies that cultures such as the Maya, Inuit, and Hadzabe use (meaning they still use them) to great effect. These strategies work for more than just children: Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans by Michaeleen Doucleff https://a.co/d/3izqEom You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today we will be discussing something that President Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints discussed in his talk “Let God Prevail”. I will include a link in the episode notes. In that talk he discussed the term “myopic”. Meaning to be nearsighted. I felt that I should do this episode because as someone who has physical myopia, I thought might be able to share some insights about spiritual and mental myopia. This is a link to the talk “Let God Prevail” by President Russel M. Nelson: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

The credit for the idea behind today’s episode goes to a friend I was talking with. We were discussing compartmentalizing and how it can exclude so much good from your life. His analogy is not the same one I am going to share today, but it gave me the idea. A link to a scripture about everything being spiritual to God: Doctrine and Covenants 29:34 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/29?lang=eng Links to scriptures about asking God for help in every aspect of life. Alma 37:36-37 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/37?lang=eng Alma 34:20-27 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/34?lang=eng Ether 2:14 - (really, all of Ether 2 and 3 is a cool story about asking for God’s guidance and acting in faith) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/ether/2?lang=eng Links to scriptures about the power of faith: Hebrews 11 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/heb/11?lang=eng James 2 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/james/2?lang=eng Alma 32 - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/32?lang=eng You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today’s episode is about making and keeping covenants with God. And about the immense blessings that come from that. Big thanks to Steve0 at IMGBIN for the main part of today’s cover image. https://imgbin.com/user/Steve0 Here is a youtube video with the wacky dancer in it (warning, it’s loud): https://youtu.be/AArsrcX6yCs?si=5Ng1O1U602kJfe2M Here is a link to a chapter in Preach My Gospel about Laws and Ordinances of the gospel: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/lesson-5-laws-and-ordinances?lang=eng#title3 Here is a link to the scriptures about the Word of Wisdom that I mentioned. Don’t skip any if you really want to study it and learn. Yes, it is the whole chapter: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng Here is an Amazon link to a wonderful book I read about the Word of Wisdom: The Word of Wisdom: Hope, Healing, and the Destroying Angel https://a.co/d/9dLsNYF I’m not going to put resources for other specific gospel laws, ordinances, or covenants because there are too many for the length I would like to keep this and I don’t want anybody to think that one doesn’t matter because I forgot to put it here. Remember, I am not a blanket authority. Or even an authority. I am simply sharing thoughts. If you want to look up a covenant or a commandment, the church website is a great place: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/?lang=eng You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback or criticism, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today we are talking about trusting God when life changes and that you are capable of sharing His light wherever you are in the world. The Rexburg Temple photo gallery, picture number 4 is the Celestial Room. https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/rexburg-idaho-temple/photographs/ A video about the refiner’s fire, which I mentioned but I will not talk about in detail until a later episode https://youtu.be/-DIIgm6xABQ?si=1L1JHp2kMVipJ3Pr A video about the house parallel by CS Lewis that I mentioned https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2014-06-1360-he-is-building-a-palace?lang=eng You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any negative, judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today’s episode is about loving yourself and forgiving yourself. True self love is not full of ego and vanity. Forgiving yourself does not mean that humility is absent. This is an article written by Corrie Ten Boom. During World War II, she helped hide persecuted Jews in her family’s home. They were betrayed and she and her sister were sent to a concentration camp. I do not know what happened to the rest of the family. After many horrible experiences (which are very briefly mentioned in this article), her sister died mere days before the war ended and they were freed. Corrie Ten Boom began to travel around sharing about forgiveness. This article is about a powerful experience she had at one of these talks as well as a few other stories about forgiveness she had experienced. There is a very powerful parallel between forgiveness and the swinging of a large bell. https://guideposts.org/positive-living/guideposts-classics-corrie-ten-boom-forgiveness/ I mentioned 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 in the episode https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/2?lang=eng#p14 You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any negative, judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

Today’s episode explores what happens when we exclude God from our lives. And how quickly He will help us when we let Him back in. Here’s a link to a wonderful talk about asking God to help us recognize the parts of our lives that are blocked: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2015/10/what-lack-i-yet?lang=eng#title1 And a wonderful video about our potential: https://youtu.be/vV2YlnbXgAs?si=pn2sJP6-hHc7ufNr

In today’s episode, we are going to talk about traffic jams, those highly frustrating and sometimes stressful slowdowns on major roads like I-15. How might a traffic jam be different if we could see what was actually ahead, and not just a best guess by road signs or maps? Here is a recent talk by our prophet Russell M. Nelson: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/47nelson?lang=eng#author1 Here is a link to the scripture in Amos I mentioned: Amos 3:7 This is a scripture that explains about prophets and seers. Mosiah 8:13-20 Here is a talk for deeper study: https://speeches.byuh.edu/prophets-can-see-around-corners Another resource for deeper study: Succession in the Presidency https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/teachings-of-the-living-prophets-student-manual/chapter-3?lang=eng And here is a highly simplified version of that last resource. It was meant for children, but sometimes if you are confused, stuff meant for children is the easiest way to start: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2016/04/how-are-prophets-called?lang=eng#title1 You can contact me at [email protected] I accept constructive feedback, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any negative, judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored.

This story was inspired by my feelings while I was going through postpartum depression. Those feelings lasted from a few months into pregnancy and a year and a half after he was born. This story will, by no means, explain what everyone goes through. But it absolutely described what I felt. So, today’s episode is about working through depression with God’s help. You can contact me at [email protected] . I accept constructive feedback, helpful comments, stories about how the podcast has helped you, and sincere questions. Any negative, judgmental, rude, or otherwise unhelpful emails will be rightly ignored. Video about depression: Like a Broken Vessel https://youtu.be/IrNqGqy5kbQ?si=drvDMSGBI_RIPRkk

What happens when your world comes crashing down around you, but you turn to God?

Boundaries are important to healthy relationships. God knows this and he gave us boundaries to help us be closer to Him and to help our relationships with others on Earth and with ourselves. Notes from the episode: This is the Teton Dam Collapse information thanks to Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teton_Dam And you can find a good picture of the Hoover Dam under the operation section, again thanks to Wikipedia https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam And here are 2 resources from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints about Boundaries https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/09/young-adults/how-to-set-boundaries-for-well-being?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/support-guide-help-for-spouses-and-family-of-those-in-recovery/8-be-firm-and-steadfast?lang=eng

We all have the opportunity to help God with His work, to be a tool for good. But what happens if we feel like a broken tool? And what happens if we aren't ready to be made whole? Notes from the episode: Let God Prevail by President Russell M. Nelson: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/46nelson?lang=eng