A New Direction

It's time to unveil a new iteration of my blog.

For the first 10 months of my mission, I posted under the heading Rejoice, the Lord Is King!, which is also the title of one of my favorite hymns. My posts reflected how my fledgling faith in Jesus Christ was strengthened through my missionary experiences in Fairview and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

For the last five months I've blogged about my gratitude for simple things. A Thousand Beautiful Things allowed me to number and expound upon the many beautiful blessings in my life. The inspiration behind the title is a favorite Annie Lennox song I listened to at home.

In keeping with this tradition of music and gratitude and faith, tomorrow I will present Let Wisdom Mark the Way, which draws its name from a line in the popular hymn Choose the Right. As I was writing one day it occurred to me in an instant that all of my posts center on life lessons I've learned from people. I learn most by listening to others, observing their actions and absorbing their knowledge—be it family and friends at home, members of the church in my community, gospel investigators in middle Tennessee, or casual acquaintances in any number of locations throughout the world.

More than just numbering the things I'm grateful for, Let Wisdom Mark the Way allows me to share important life lessons I've learned through observation, reflection and application. And it gives me an opportunity to shout out to my loyal audience—you—the people in the many places I call home and abroad who have forever changed my life.

Because the gospel is fundamentally life-changing, it should come as no surprise that gospel can be found in ordinary events, everyday conversation, and regular meditation. All around there is gospel wisdom to be found, for as the prophet Alma testified—

[A]ll things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator. (Alma 30:44, emphasis added)

In your quest to let wisdom mark the way, don't neglect the most important gospel resources of all—the scriptures and the words of living prophets. And—please—feel free to post comments, questions or suggestions as we learn together.