The Cry of The Trumpet

When God Chooses to Save Souls Instead of Nations Reflections while studying Judges 6–8 While studying the story of Gideon in Judges 6–8, a thought settled into my mind with surprising clarity. If God could conquer the Midianites through Gideon and only three hundred men—an intentionally impossible military situation—then surely He could purify any government on earth today. He could throw down oppressive regimes, expose corruption, or raise up righteous leaders in a single generation. His power has never been the limiting factor. But that does not seem to be His focus in our day. Again and again, the scriptures show that God is far more concerned with the condition of His covenant people than with the condition of their political institutions. He refines individuals long before He restructures nations. He prepares hearts before He rearranges kingdoms. And today, He seems to be directing His people not ...

Zion has always been more than a place. It is a people — a covenant people — shaped by contrast, refined by choice, and anchored in Christ in a world that is not. Zion is what happens when ordinary disciples choose holiness in the middle of opposition, noise, and spiritual counterfeits. It is heaven taking root in human hearts. Scripture gives the clearest definition: “The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” — Moses 7:18 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.18 Zion is unity, righteousness, and generosity — not perfection, but harmony born of covenant commitment. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The gathering of Israel ultimately leads to the creation of Zion—where the pure in heart dwell.” ( Let God Prevail , October 2020) https://www.churcho...

What Is Our Part in a Shaking World? One of the quiet miracles of the Christian story is that God has already told us the ending. Christ wins. Light wins. Love wins. Justice wins. The Lamb triumphs. The kingdoms of this world “become the kingdoms of our Lord” (Revelation 11:15). Knowing the ending doesn’t make the middle easy — but it does change how we walk through it. It means we don’t have to live in panic. It means we don’t have to carry the whole world on our backs. It means our efforts can be rooted in hope instead of fear. So if Christ wins, what is our responsibility now? What does God actually ask of us in a world that feels like it’s burning? We Prepare the World by Becoming More Like Christ President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The Lord needs you to be His people and to be prepared for the Second Coming of the Savior.” ( The Gathering of Israel , Worldwide Youth Devotional, 2018) ...

In Relief Society, we had a thoughtful discussion about obedience and grace. These two principles can feel paradoxical. If we are saved by grace , why must we be obedient ? And if obedience can never “earn” heaven—because none of us will ever be perfectly obedient—why not rely on grace alone? I believe the answer lies in understanding why God gives commandments and how grace actually works . 1. Commandments show us how to live joyfully and become like God. God does not give commandments as a test we must pass to earn heaven. He gives them because they describe the kind of life that leads to joy, peace, and spiritual growth now . “Men are, that they might have joy.” — 2 Nephi 2:25 Christ taught that obedience is an expression of love and alignment with Him: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained: “God does not need us to be obedient so He can love us. We need to be obedient so we can learn to love Hi...

Integrity, Influence, and What a Conversation Revealed Recently, I stepped into a political conversation almost as an experiment. I wanted to see whether calm, respectful, good‑faith dialogue was still possible on difficult topics. At first, it genuinely seemed like it was. Two of us were able to talk through concerns, ask sincere questions, and even find a workable compromise. It felt like a small reminder that “a soft answer turneth away wrath” and that reasoned conversation can still build bridges. But then the dynamic changed. A third person entered the thread already escalated, and the tone shifted instantly. My neutral questions were suddenly interpreted as extreme positions I didn’t hold. Motives were assigned to me that I never expressed. The conversation stopped being about ideas and became about assumptions, accusations, and group loyalty. What struck me most was how quickly the original conversation partner shifted once the audience changed. Positions we had calmly explored ...