A witness from God can be relied upon. As you read our thoughts, beliefs, and experiences, we invite you to obtain a witness for yourself. If something we say or imply does not ring true, then you should feel no obligation to accept it. Life is an individual and unique journey with God. Although we can help and encourage each other, we need to be careful not to come between God and another person.

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Sunday, March 17, 2024

A Busy Young Man

 Written by Denver Snuffer, Illustrated by Emily Willis

This illustrated version of a short parable illustrates the tale about discovering God's presence. Until we move off life's busy highway to the quiet and meditative place inside each of us, we may not notice God has been with us all along. Now Available on Amazon


Friday, March 8, 2024

Book of Mormon Stories

Stories retold by Jennifer Willis, Illustrated by Emily Willis

We created this resource to help teach the children important lessons taught in the Book of Mormon. Children can understand the simplified language found in Book of Mormon Stories, and 448 colorful pages help hold their attention. We've simplified the 1840 Book of Mormon, and each page is given equal measure . . . prophecies, revelations, stories, and doctrine. 

Book of Mormon Stories (hardcover) is now available on Amazon. For better pricing, contact the Willis Family directly. [If you don't have our contact information, you can leave a comment with your contact information, so we can contact you. Your comment will not be posted.]

Your children can also listen to all the chapters on YouTube. Here's the first chapter.







Sunday, March 3, 2024

Trouble

We are enjoying watching "The Chosen" with our children.

“. . . You'd make a little trouble if you understood. You know trouble ain't bad if bad is good . . .” Stir up the waters? Hmmm . . . Trouble



Trouble


[Verse 1]

Throw me like a stone in the water

Watch the mud rise up

Dress me like a lamb for the slaughter

Pour me in your cup

Should've known that we'd bring trouble

Trouble gon' find you here

Trouble


[Chorus]

I was one way when you found me

I was not the one you see

And the only thing that happened

Was this stranger in between

And you can say your eyes are open

You might think your hands are clean

Till the wind blows in and dirt kicks up

In ways you've never seen

Yeah, trouble

Yeah, trouble


[Verse 2]

Use me till I'm scraping the bottom

Make my well run dry

Shake them coins, I know where you got 'em

Kiss me, kiss me bye

Should've known that we'd bring trouble

Trouble gon' find you here

Yeah, trouble


[Chorus]

I was one way when you found me

I was not the one you see

And the only thing that happened

Was this stranger in between

And you can say your eyes are open

You might think your hands are clean

Till the wind blows in and dirt kicks up

In ways you've never seen

Yeah, trouble

Yeah, trouble


[Bridge]

Trouble ain't bad if bad is good

I said, trouble ain't bad if bad is good

Oh, you'd make a little trouble if you understood

You know trouble ain't bad if bad is good


[Refrain]

I was one way when you found me

I was not the one you see


[Instrumental]


[Outro]

Yeah, trouble

Trouble gonna find me here

Trouble

Yeah, trouble

Trouble gonna find me here

Trouble

Yeah, trouble


Saturday, March 2, 2024

Terrible People

I’ve often thought about what kind of people will gather in Zion? . . . TERRIBLE people! Really? Why would peaceful, God fearing people be described as terrible?


. . .  and it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God. And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it. And it shall be called Zion. . . and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another. And it shall be said among the wicked, Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible, wherefore we cannot stand. . . when they shall know it, it may be terrible unto them, that fear may seize upon them, and they shall stand afar off and tremble. And all nations shall be afraid because of the terror of the Lord, and the power of his might. Even so, Amen. T&C 31:14-15


. . . For behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her . . . And the days shall come when the nations of the earth shall tremble because of her, and shall fear because of her terrible ones. The Lord has spoken it, Amen. T&C 51:9-10


. . . in this, the beginning of the rising up and the coming forth of my church out of the wilderness — clear as the moon, and fair as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners. . . JSH Section 1:12:4




For those unprepared to ride the enormous waves, I imagine Zion will be terrible. I can envision myself surfing with my friend. He’s having the time of his life riding the high waves, while I gasp for air in the undercurrent. Fun for him :) Not so fun for me :(



I don't think living in Zion will be like riding a gentle mare. I imagine it will be more similar to mounting a rearing stallion.


Friday, March 1, 2024

If You're Not Wrong, You Can't Repent

If you can’t see you’re wrong, you’re not going to repent. How is it even possible to repent if you can’t see your problem? Real repentance can only begin when your conscience convicts you. I emphasize BEGIN to repent. The recognition of your dysfunction has to come from deep within you. No human can tell you what you need to do to repent. It is your connection with God that initiates this process. 


Repentance doesn’t need to take a long time, but it usually does. Once I’ve recognized my dysfunction, it usually takes me about 5 years of constant effort to repent. There are many examples I could share; I’ll share just two:


A Christmas Present for Jesus


Years ago, I wanted to give Jesus a Christmas present. He’s already paid for my sins, so at least I could give Him those. I might sound stingy, but I decided to give Him just one of my sins. My plan was to make a real change throughout the year in the upward direction. 


I started with my most annoying dysfunction. It was something I learned to do as a child, a family dynamic that felt comfortable and natural. . . using pouting, sulking, manipulating, and guilt tripping to maneuver and operate when things didn’t go my way. I really didn’t like it when others used these tactics on me. I remember telling my mother, “You’re sending me on a guilt trip, and I am not going!!!” But I could see I was also using those same tactics on others because they kind of worked some of the time.  


So the process of repentance began. Time after time, I failed. What used to be unnoticeable by me stood out like a sore thumb. It was obvious I wasn’t doing too well. It was like cleaning up the cobwebs and cluttered rooms of my soul. It would have been easier to keep the door shut on some of the rooms. I would clean up one mess, just to see another mess that was hidden under the clutter.


I didn’t do it alone. I felt the Lord’s guidance and encouragement, but He didn’t just take away the dysfunction. I was required to learn the lessons. I was given many situations where I would practice. I tripped and fell many times. My dysfunction became so obvious to me, and I saw my weakness and failure glaring back at me. 


A year later, I was apologizing to Jesus for giving Him the same boring present I gave Him the previous year. I had made some progress, but there was still a lot to learn. After five years of continued attention, I finally felt I had improved to the point where I could BEGIN to repent of another dysfunction. Yes, I still have hiccups here and there, but I am different than I was. As a bonus, I am now quite good at identifying the manipulator and all that goes along with that package. 


I continue to give away my dysfunction to Jesus but am kind of slow. It takes a long time for me to be successful in keeping some of the most simple commandments. The process continues year after year.


Currently Repenting Of . . . 


The summer of 2021, I was in a situation that was super triggering. When I am triggered, it is ALWAYS my problem. I’ve believed this principle for over 35 years and have even published a picture book about this guiding principle. 


I struggled for months, and I couldn’t figure out my problem. It really looked like the other person’s problem, but I knew that couldn’t be true. So, I laid my case before the Lord and asked, “What is my problem?” 


The answer came quickly and clearly, “You are a codependent people pleaser. Do not project your garbage onto others, and when they project their garbage onto you, receive it as meaning nothing.” 


Wow! Jesus was right. None of my friends would have given me that feedback, but it was true. Jesus identified the root of my issue. I was trying to please someone else, and they couldn’t be pleased. When I stopped trying to please them, the problem resolved itself. 


For the last three years, I’ve been given many opportunities to repent of my codependent people-pleasing tendencies. I've been in this repentance cycle for a little less than three years. I am learning to trust God in all things and stop depending on unstable humans for validation and acceptance. I am happier than I’ve ever been, and am feeling freedom I did not know was possible. It’s been lonely at times, but absolutely worth it! I’m in the middle of a repentance cycle. We’ll see what happens in the next 2 ½ years.