Dad, Tell Me About the Time (78)

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Have you ever changed religions?

I have never changed religions.

What does Jesus Christ mean to you? If you are not Christian, what other deity is signiicant to you and why?

Jesus Christ is my saviour. He is my spiritual brother and the literal Son of God. He is the creator of this world, and the God of the Old Testament. He is my advocate with my Heavenly Father and He will be my judge after my time on this earth has ended. He loves me and He will judge me with that perfect love. He is the only person to live a perfect life and therefore the only person able to atone for my sins. If I can just stay close enough to him to hear his voice, I know he will always guide me to a life of peace and joy. I testify that this is true.

What would you like to share with your children and grandchildren about your faith?

We live in a difficult world. At times it may feel like we are surrounded with violence, we hear of wars and rumors of wars and it seems that the world is full of hate. People are constantly declaring what is best for us and what we should believe and what is false. At times it can feel impossible to know what to do and what to believe.

I want you to know that through this turmoil there is a source of truth and peace. I implore you to respect and reverance that which is holy. Seek the guiding light of the spirit in every decision that you make, and know that when your heart is hurting, your mind is confused, and your hands hang down, there is a place that you can go to find answers to your questions and peace in your heart. Pray to have the Holy Spirit as your companion and your source of truth. He is real and the peace that he can bring you from your Lord and Heavenly Father is real.

How has a belief in God helped you overcome adversity and trials in your life?

I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be happy. That is why I have gone to Him when ever I have faced major decisions or trials that seem impossible to overcome. Without fail, he has shown me the way to go and has given me the peace that I need to not be swallowed up in fear or depression. I haven’t always had the strength to do what needed to be done, but every time I have followed his promptings, I have come through those trials a happier and better person.

How has your faith been strengthened through the years?

Faith is no different than anything else in life. The 10,000 hour rule says that if you do something for 10,000 hours you become so proficient in that thing that you are a leading world authority in it. The Beattles and their music and Bill Gates and computers are often used as examples of this. While the 10,000 hour rule has been debunked, the idea that practice makes perfect is valid.

Identifying the promptings of the spirit takes practice. Early on in my life I was unsure if I was feeling the spirit or if it was wishful thinking. I decided that if I felt anything that might be the spirit, I would act on it reasoning that my own intuition was better than nothing. Over the years it has become clear to me when the spirit is trying to tell me something. Today I rarely ignore those promptings.