The Cry of The Trumpet

In the earliest chapters of scripture, we meet two brothers—Cain and Abel—whose offerings to God set in motion a tragic unraveling. Abel’s sacrifice is accepted; Cain’s is not. And from that moment of perceived rejection, a spiritual descent begins—not because Cain was doomed, but because he chose resentment over repentance. The Seed of Dissatisfaction Cain’s offering, according to Moses 5:18–21, was not accepted by the Lord. The text doesn’t suggest God was arbitrary or cruel. Rather, Cain’s heart was misaligned. Joseph Smith taught that Abel’s offering was made in faith, symbolizing the Only Begotten’s atoning blood, while Cain’s lacked that sacred intent. Cain wanted approval without obedience. He expected divine favor on his own terms. And when that expectation wasn’t met, his countenance fell. “If thou doest well, thou shalt be accepted.” —Moses 5:23 This was not condemnation—it was invitation. A moment of divine mercy. But Cain, rather than humbling himself, chose com...

Seeing others through Christ’s eyes challenges us to move beyond comparisons and embrace divine compassion. Because of my work as a therapist and my time in theater, I’ve learned to see God’s image in every person. This is, in large part, a gift God has given me.  Many around me wrestle to see what I see. In Matthew 20, Jesus tells the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, where everyone—whether hired at dawn or dusk—receives the same wage.  Again, in Luke 15, the elder son resents his father’s generosity toward the prodigal. Both stories confront our human obsession with fairness and reveal God’s boundless grace. How can we shift from envy to genuine joy when God’s generosity seems unfair?  I sometimes think of it from this perspective:  if I and my friend were waiting for work in the market, both needing to provide for our families, but at dawn, only I am hired, do you not suppose that I might hope for my friend to find work also? ...