"[M]y beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay[!]"

I've been thinking about Nora Lam over the last few days. Her autobiography impacted me as a young teen—challenging me to live worthy of a relationship with God where I could pray, receive revelation and then act, manifesting faith to move mountains. I wanted to be like her! This is the power of using the biographies of great men and women to inspire youth to raise the bar—to give them a higher vision of what true heroism is. This scene is an iconic moment in the movie adaptation of her life, China Cry, where she is sentenced to the firing squad for admitting her faith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMsgDJtxrT4 Nora ended up escaping from China with her husband and three children through miracle after miracle. The full film is available online for free and it is incredible! https://josephsmithfoundation.org/ziontube/china-cry-the-nora-lam-story-1990/

New vidcast! Debunking Rough Stone Rolling's Treasure Digging Sources with REAL Data (Part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMV_CDKp2BM

Was Joseph Smith a treasure digger? Did he dabble in magical and occultic practices? In Rough Stone Rolling, Richard Bushman advocated a new progressive interpretation of Joseph Smith, depicting him as being involved in ritual magic and using peep stones to find treasure. What if we fact-checked Bushman's sources against verifiable and quantifiable data?

This documentary is phenomenal! Everyone kept telling me I needed to see it and now I know why. The first half is a little slow but the second half is POWERFUL!! The re-enacted stories of persecuted Christians Nip Ripken interviewed in the USSR and China will inspire you. The movie is available to watch for free on Revelation Media. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XX6SWxwKZSE

https://www.revelationmedia.com/watchinsanityofgod/

(Reshare from "Raising the Bar" group) "It takes independence of mind, honesty of heart, faith in God and firmness of character to live the life of a Latter-day Saint, in the face of a frowning world . . . " This framed quote hung in our "girls' bathroom" growing up. Every day, it was a visual reminder—a quiet prompt to choose the higher road—a voice that addressed even hidden internal struggles. While I was brushing teeth, doing hair, finishing chores, I would automatically start thinking about those words and how I needed to change. Often I was facing a crossroads, and this counsel gave me the strength to not compromise—decisions which now I cannot BEGIN to express my gratitude for. This is the power of intentionally placing artwork in your home that will not just bring beauty, but also a call to repentance and holiness.

When I was recently staying in the ICU to help a family member, a dear friend of mine brought three scripture adhesive wall designs we placed on the wall to maintain correct perspective. I routinely change my phone screen and personal room artwork to images that are relevant to a weakness I am striving to overcome or a message I am trying to remember—a visual supportive reminder to live up to what I covenanted to do in this life. So many times while working on documentaries, etc., I'd glance up—tired or discouraged—see the Prophet Joseph Smith looking down, or a scripture or a picture of the Lord, and feel renewed energy. What if your home was suddenly and unexpectedly frozen in time—like Pompeii. What would later generations conclude about your real priorities and your faith by the layout and function of your home? What message are your children absorbing right now?

Patterns of Evidence: Exodus is a thought-provoking fillm exploring "does archaeology confirm the Biblical account of the Exodus?" It is available to watch for FREE for a limited time! https://www.revelationmedia.com/watchexodus/RM16510/ Right now, we are being hit with a nearly unprecedented attack on the scriptures. The historicity, relevancy and integrity of the Bible and the Book of Mormon are being questioned and undermined by scholars both within the Church and without. We need more men and women standing up to defend scripture!

We recently watched this movie, “Do You Believe?” and we loved it! The message of genuinely living for Christ—not to mention the fact that the fathers in the movie were portrayed positively—was a breath of fresh air! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC6tQpCy10w

Courageous Boyhood (borrowed from a Christian ministry website)

Faith & Fortitude
The first principle of courageous Christian boyhood is faith. True courage is an outgrowth of supreme confidence in the sovereign will of God, the reflection of an abiding faith in Christ. The spirit of courageous boyhood is alive in the boy who perseveres through the many challenges of life.

Virtue & Duty
It takes courage to be a virtuous boy in an impure world. But the truly courageous boy is steadfast in his commitment to remain pure in body, mind, and spirit. He is driven by a clear sense of duty to do what is right. He will not be governed by undisciplined passions, or swayed by dangerous peer influence. As a boy, he learns to stand alone and remain unflappable in his convictions.

Adventure & Evangelism
The courageous boy is the boy who is willing to live what Teddy Roosevelt called “the strenuous life.” He eschews the life of ease and sloth. This desire for adventure is not a pagan quest for self-glory, but adventure in pursuit of a higher cause—the advancement of the Gospel and Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Loyalty & Patriotism
Behind the courage of a truly faithful boy is a heart of gratitude. He is grateful for his family, his nation, and for the tender mercies of God in his life. This gratitude motivates him to demonstrate an unflinching loyalty to his Lord, to his family, and to the nation in which he has enjoyed so many privileges and blessings. Therefore, he has the heart of a son and the spirit of a patriot.

Chivalry & Self-Sacrifice
The courageous boy will put women and children first, and treat his sisters like ladies. He understands that a truly courageous boy will be the protector and defender of others. Even his play life reflects a love for those heroes of bygone days who lived and died by the chivalric creed and the principle of serving others.

Dominion & Scholarship
The courageous boy is on a mission from God to take dominion over the earth. This is why he loves to learn, to investigate, to master disciplines, and to search out the mysteries of creation. His basic textbook for life is the Holy Scriptures. Consequently, his loins are girded, his armor is on, and he is ready for battle.

Vision & Honor
“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” The same is true of boys. Without a vision for manhood, a vision of victorious living, boys will perish. But true vision is cultivated by honor. The courageous boy longs to honor his father and his mother. His goal is not just to succeed, but to succeed his godly parents.

Funny thing is . . . isn't this what Brigham Young and Joseph Smith were begging us to do over a century ago? 😬

For those wondering how to move forward and what to do after yesterday, THIS is the answer! Do NOT lose HOPE!

[Captain Moroni] prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land . . . that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.

And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.

And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.

And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:

Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.

And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.

Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.

Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.

Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; (Alma 46)