Be or Become
Be or Become is a podcast about being or becoming an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It offers an informal perspective of gospel doctrines and principles as well as real-life applications. Please ask questions, share feedback, and become part of this community.
Episodes
23 episodes
I Don't Have Anything to Add
Have you ever felt like you have nothing to add? Have you felt like others do a better job at teaching or expressing themselves, so you decide to hang back and stay quiet? Maybe you even doubt that your point of view has any value. That is what...
My Favorite Book of Mormon Prophet
I love Abinadi. I am grateful for Alma for being the one to tell his story. Abinadi was a martyr in the Book of Mormon and one of the most powerful stories of a prophet facing opposition in all scripture. Similar to John the Baptist, Stephen, a...
God's People Love Him
There are so many examples of how serving God is a way of loving God. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” He also said, “Love one another as I have loved you.”Jesus also taught us how our service to others is really servic...
Effectual Door Effectual Struggle
I had a friend once tell me of a phrase in the Doctrine and Covenants, that “an effectual door shall be opened for them.” (D&C 118:3) For some reason those words just stuck out to me as a comforting thing. The message was that God would ope...
Why Moses Was Chosen
I just started into the story of Moses in Exodus, and I am intrigued by what kind of a person he was. What do we know about his background? He was saved by his mother sending him in a small raft or arc to Pharaoh’s daughter. He became the son o...
Joseph's Reconciliation
Joseph of Egypt. This is a story of reconciliation and forgiveness, among many other things. It’s hard for me to even describe this story because of the complexity of the emotions involved. I can’t imagine going through any of the things that h...
Keep On Keepin’ On
I want to share a quick object lesson with you. This is something I learned from my mission president, President Clate W. Mask. He was just the greatest teacher and leader for our mission. The lesson is called “Keep on keepin’ on.”I have...
Joseph...Why did you say that?
Joseph, Why Did You Say That?I just started into the story of Joseph of Egypt. One of the first things Joseph does in this story is have a dream that indicated all his family would bow down to him. When I read this, I thought, “Jo...
A New Beginning
A New BeginningI read from Acts chapter 2 today and was impressed by the wonderful beginning and change that occurs in this chapter.The setting was the Day of Pentecost. I found it interesting that this day is 50 days after...
Teach About Jesus Christ No Matter What...
Teach about Jesus Christ No Matter What...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a manual for teachers called Teaching in the Savior’s Way. One of the first sections in this manual is entitled, “Teach about J...
Lessons From Two Jacobs
Lessons From Two JacobsI am going to talk about something I observed from two different Jacobs: Jacob son of Lehi in the Book of Mormon, and Jacob son of Isaac in Genesis. Then I will tie them together.Jacob son ...
Qualifications of a Doofus
Why Am I Doing This?I have been asking myself why I am doing this podcast. I think I finally came up with an answer. Is it a good answer? Probably not, but this is the best I can do.I want to convey that although...
Faith, Grace, and Works
Grace, Faith, and WorksI have heard discussion about the conflict between faith and works several times in my life. I have also wrestled a little bit with it, and I want to share my personal perspective. My views are my own and do...
Temperance
Elder Ulisses Soares recently spoke about the virtue of Temperance in his last General Conference address. If I am being honest, I don’t really think about temperance, but as I thought about it I am starting to realize how much we need it in ou...
3 to 1 Principle
3 to 1 PrincipleI want to share a principle that I learned years ago from a sports psychologist named Craig Manning that became very helpful to me. I actually learned this principle years before I put it into concrete action, and ...
Peter's Lowest Moment
Have you ever felt like you have fallen short? Have you ever thought, “What have I done? How could I have done this? How could I have sunk so far” Regret and remorse can be some of the most painful feelings we experience.My he...
What Does It Mean To "Be" Active Members?
President Dallin H. Oaks told us what Heavenly Father wants for each of us: “That is to be or become active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, proceeding forward on the covenant path into the eternities.”Today I ...
Gratitude In Any Circumstances
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a wonderful talk in 2014 about gratitude called Grateful in Any Circumstances. The talk is loaded with perspective and teaching about gratitude, and how we can have it in any circumstance. Please go listen to t...
God's Covenant to Abraham
In the book of Abraham, we learn that Abraham desired to be a minister, to have priesthood authority, and to bless the lives of others. Chapter 1 verse 2 speaks of his desires:“And, finding there was greater happiness and peac...
Preach By The Way
Today I read Doctrine and Covenants Section 52 and I counted 8 times that it said some version of the phrase, “preach by the way.” Sometimes it says, “preaching my word by the way,” and sometimes just, “preach by the way.”This...
Love One Another
During the Last Supper, Jesus told His apostles to love one another:“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”This is a hard commandment...
Nephi's Broken Bow
In the Book of Mormon, the young prophet Nephi was in a situation where he needed to hunt for food, but he broke his bow. When this happened, Nephi’s brothers and even his parents complained and were upset. They all complained to God, but Nephi...
Be or Become an Active Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
President Dallin H. Oaks, the newly ordained Prophet for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave his first address at a recent BYU Devotional. In this devotional, he spoke about learning about what the Lord wanted him to do now. H...