The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints   We believe other lands had visits from Christ. They saw signs in the heavens, they knew His name. He taught them, they felt His wounds, He dried their eyes. The Book of Mormon testifies that He came.   We're Christians otherwise nicknamed “The Mormons”. The Chur...

Since I began using Ardour to record music, (and more music), I've always managed to have the same problem crop up, year after year.  The symptoms of this problem are annoying to say the least. I'm running all my audio through an M-Audio 1010 digital interface and I use envy24control to monitor and adjust the channels via. software.  I ...

I'm going crazy in my life again.  I'm kinda weird that way. Things are going well and then I finish a project, or get sick of it, or something else.  Heck, the whole "project" mentality I have is what started this whole "ilovemyjournal" thing (as well as ldscompanion.org).  I also wrote and produced 17 very ama...

  Poetry by Kelly Miller   THis is dedicated to my son Shawn VanWagen who left on his mission in 2005 and that next week I started writing poetry. It has been a big part of my life since and has kept me very busy.  Also, to President Hinckley and his challenge for the members to read the book of mormon. and to Bernice Hutchenson w...

One day along time ago, Before the world began A plan was given to each of us It was placed in our willing hands   There were two parts to this plan One was for all the world The other plan was just for us About our life and what was in store   This first plan included a Savior Jesus Christ, our brother He will come to earth...

Words could not have said it any better. Makes me smile every time I look at it....

Oh, man...  Where do I even begin this post?  And from which angle?  How about I just start typing and figure it out when I'm done....  Yeah, that's what I'll do. I just finished reading this Microsoft article which explains, using no uncertain terms, how to get "IT Management" to see the "value" in upgrad...

This is an audio recording of tonight.  FHE is included. That's about it....

A little less than a month ago, my best friend's wife called me and told me she was planning a birthday party for her hubby.  Well, Scott being my best friend and all, I thought this was a fantastic idea!  After that, I didn't think too terribly much about it. A couple of days after that, I remember Scott telling me that he really want...

I just finished watching the Pixar movie, "Cars" for the 45th time.  Or maybe it was the 4500th time.  I don't know... I lost count. Anyway... During the movie, despite my having seen the movie more times than I've kissed my kids, and even though those kids were crawling all over me and generally trying their best to be a nui...

Before I even begin reading this chapter, I've gotta let you know that this chapter intimidates me.  It is so doctrinally rich, I'm seriously getting anxious just thinking about having to decipher its contents here and now.  I know this anxiety is unfounded because I know that God answers prayers, and I've prayed, so... Let's get to it. ...

It's chapters like these that get me thinking about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ and the "end of the world".  Reason is, is that this chapter happens just a few years before the 1st coming of Christ.  For some reason I analyze these chapters to death, and each time I do, I find more things that seem to parallel what may (or ma...

I just finished reading the talk "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord", and it was a good talk. It made me think of my own upbringing, and the upbringing of my children.  I loved the following statement: "I delight that I am a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves me. I learned of my divine identity in my earliest ...

 It's quite obvious that this chapter is speaking to anyone and everyone (throughout all time) who lives on this land.  Verses 9,10, and 12 are especially insightful. "What will ye that I should do that ye may have light in your vessels?" I love that question.  I never noticed outright that right after the Lord poses th...

A few months ago, I thought I'd get a bit more serious about setting up a semi-professional studio in my home.  It's worked out great, so far! As I've worked with clients, they've been more than happy with the results, and I'm learning new techniques and tricks of the trade at the same time.  So far, so good. So, along this trail, I b...

Interesting that one of the first-mentioned doctrines that Nehor was said to have taught was the very doctrine that led to the beginning of wickedness for the Nephites time and time again.  Pride.  "Being popular"...  Seems to resound with the core of what the adversary teaches.  Verse 4 pretty much testifies to his pr...

The first thing I noticed this time, is that apparently, Helaman had never had any proof of the existence of the plates of gold Alma and the previous prophets were writing on.  Not entirely sure why that caught my fancy this time, but it did.  I guess keeping the historical records was a pretty sacred thing back then.  I wonder if th...

Today, I woke up to about 6-10 inches of fresh powdery snow all over the place.   It's actually beginning to feel like Christmas time, now! Now, most normal people would say within themselves, "Man, I hate snow on the roads.", but not me. I'm not entirely sure why I'm this way, but it's been this way ever since I can remem...

Man...  I can only imagine what Ammon's joy truly felt like.  After reading D&C 18:15-16, I begin to see why Ammon fainted due to overwhelming joy so many times throughout his mission.  Dedicating a full chapter to nothing but the rejoicing of Ammon seems perfectly reasonable. I always thought his brothers were kind of rude to ...

 If the fortifications that Moroni built in the beginning were enough to astonish the Lamanites to the point that they were afraid to fight, and then failed to kill even one Nephite, while they themselves were slain to the tune of over 1,000 - I can only imagine what the additional fortifications did...  Goes to show that a good Christian...

To tell you the truth, I didn't get much out of the scriptures tonight.  There was a verse from which I thought I could derive meaning. Verse 15. The ax depends on him that wields it for its strength.  Alone, it is nothing but wood and metal.  Used by a person, it can become a powerful tool.  Same thing with a saw. I took ...

Amazing...  It's almost unbelievable that in the space of less than 13 years, a whole nation can go from being wicked, to almost dying of hunger, to becoming incredibly righteous and prosperous, and then coming back to being so wicked that the combined armies of the Nephites and Lamanites can't defeat the wicked part of the people. I've bee...

Well...  All I can really say today is: "Thank heavens for time." The reason I say that, is because if it weren't for time, we'd never get over our sicknesses, and holy crud, I'm about done with this one. Today was the first day Sarah really felt good enough to be home with the kids happy, and healthy for the most part, and if she...

Okay...  I've got to start off here on a postive note, or I'll bring up all sorts of crappy emotions which I'd just rather not get into right now.  I'm sure they'll be brought up sooner or later, but for now, I'd like for you to just take a moment and sup in the absolute goodness found in the photograph on your right. Yeah...  Just ...

Today's not over, but while the kids are taking naps, I thought I'd see what I could do to write about this day so far. First off - I *love* Monterey.  Last night, I don't think I got a whole lot of sleep, but notwithstanding that, I still woke up in an incredibly good mood due to the crisp salty air, the perfect temperature (around 60-68 deg...

To have that taken away which is precious to you usually results in one of two things.  Either you do what is required to get back what was taken from you, or you devalue the thing which was taken, justifying its absence. About three years ago, for one reason alone, my Temple recommend was revoked from me and the ensuing years caused me to ...

Seems that the testimony of Nephi against the people of Zarahemlah was centered around their disbelief in Christ.  Interesting that, as soon a Satan has control over a people, Christ is the first doctrine which is attacked. Also the story of the finding of the murderer of Seezoram is interesting through the eyes of the foreknowledge of God.&...

So two days ago, I found myself on the same stage with the same band I've been with for the past 5 (or so) years, playing pretty much the same songs. Except, this time, something was different.  As I walked around looking at all of the awesome vehicles on the grounds, there was just something wonderful.  I have no idea how to describe i...

Wow....  The last time I woke up (apart from a nap I took today) was Thursday morning, and HOLY COW, craziness has happened. The whole mohawk thing, which I thought was over, escalated to a point where it pretty much boiled over causing Kim to attack my and Sarah's parenting skills, and for them to leave in a rush without allowing Julia to ...

I'm always slightly dumbfounded while pondering on the things that wicked men come up with to justify the signs given by prophets... "Oh no, we can't hit this guy who is telling us we're wicked, so he must have a devil!  GET HIM!" "Oh my!  All these miracles that are happening just as the prophets said they would - can'...