Positively Charlie

Sharing positive messages to brighten your day.

[Clint Teeples @TeeplesCY]

"This guy spent his life trying to disprove the Restoration. In a shocking twist, he ended up strengthening the case for it."

Protestant minister Wesley Walters made it his life's work to disprove the claims of the Restoration, fixating especially on the First Vision.

He thought he found a testable flaw in the story, and he put his foot on the gas.

The story of the First Vision begins with heightened religious excitement in Palmyra. Walters said it never happened. If the first scene of the story is made up, the whole thing must be made up, Walters hypothesized.

Walters built his case on the fact that no newspapers or church records mentioned a revival in Palmyra.

For Walters, this settled it. He published a paper and circulated it widely.

Then Richard Bushman and Milton Backman got involved. They looked at the research from Walters and saw holes in the data.

They took a different approach to researching the Palmyra revival.

They combed western New York town by town. Methodist records. Baptist records. Presbyterian records. Camp meeting sites. Membership rolls.

The picture changed. Revivals in Farmington and Phelps, close to the Smith farm. A Methodist circuit near Joseph's home nearly doubling in 1820. A Presbyterian congregation in Geneva jumping from 9 admissions a year to 80. The religious excitement Joseph described was real and documented.

Bushman also identified the fatal flaw. Missing records prove nothing. Most local meetings were never reported. Walters had built his case on silence.

The answer held for fifty years. Then came a second witness. John Turner, a non Latter-day Saint historian with no apologetic agenda, published a major biography of Joseph Smith. He described Palmyra as immersed in revival culture. Independent scholarship confirmed what the record had shown all along.

Bushman answered Walters directly in 1969. He wrote that Walters may have done as much to advance serious Latter-day Saint historical scholarship as anyone in recent years. The attack forced the research that vindicated the setting he denied.

Walters raised the hardest question critics could ask. The historical record answered back. The First Vision endured because it was confronted, tested, and left standing.

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

I know beyond any certainty in my life that this is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, restored with the fullness of the gospel that God has chosen to reveal in this dispensation of the fullness of time and led by prophets to the present day. 

I respond with humility to the responsibility that God has placed upon me and commit my whole heart and soul to the service to which I’ve been called.

[Neil L. Andersen @AndersenNeilL]

In our day, with social media, artificial intelligence, and all the technology of our modern age, it is very easy to be misrepresented or to misrepresent the intent of others.

Let us be determined to be completely honest and most generous as we speak of others.

[Quentin L. Cook @CookQuentinL]

With the rise of artificial intelligence, it is increasingly important to be certain that what we accept as truth is grounded in eternal principles.

My invitation for you is to choose truth when deception is easy. Slow down enough to listen to the Spirit and allow Him to direct you.

[Carrie McIntyre | The Relevant Questions @RelevantQuest]

Not enough time for real-life experiences and meaningful connections with the people you love? What are you doing right now? 😬⏳🏃🏽‍♂️‍➡️

[Carrie McIntyre | The Relevant Questions @RelevantQuest]

Don’t be a complainer. Retrain yourself not to habitually express how tired, weak, angry, frustrated, worn out, or put out you are. Avoid sarcasm and belittling. Don’t engage in gossip about the people in your social sphere. Don’t be contentious or combative, critical or hypocritical, especially with the people you love and those who most deserve emotional safety in your company.

There are good reasons why Jesus Christ commanded that we “swear not at all” but let our conversation be “Yea, yea; Nay, nay” (see Matt. 5:34-37). Clarity is dignity for oneself and others. It eliminates game-playing. It shows you can be trusted not to trick or ensnare with your words. It is as Jesus would do.

But there’s another reason to obey this command: your adversary is always paying attention. He’s watching you react and testing your responses. He’s looking for cracks in your armor. He’s listening when your words become lazy and careless. He’s moving freely about in the energy of your contentions. Spouse’s annoying habit getting to you today? That’s good fodder for discord. Mad at your boss? The devil can work with that.

Want to get it all off your chest? Walk out of the daily cloud of noise, get on your knees, and give it to the Lord. Pour out your heart endlessly within the safety of His light, where no devil can safely tread. Then stand on your feet with a mind reset for righteous words and deeds.

“Consider how precious a soul must be when both God and the devil are after it.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Mind what you say. With each word, you’re deciding which of them to keep at your ear.

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

I grieve the passing of President Jeffrey R. Holland. Our relationship in education and Church service began more than 50 years ago. It was a long and loving relationship in the work of the Lord.

During my service as President of Brigham Young University, I had the privilege of inviting him—then a young scholar in his early 30s—to serve as Dean of Religious Education.

From the beginning, his influence strengthened the university’s sacred mission to unite spiritual purpose with academic excellence.

Over the last three decades as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he lifted the weary, encouraged the faithful, and bore a powerful witness of the Savior—even through seasons of significant personal trials.

We honor his unwavering devotion, his steadfast witness of the Savior, and his inspired ability to strengthen faith and deepen understanding.

We thank our Father in Heaven for the blessing of shared service and for our united witness that Jesus Christ lives and directs His Church today.

[Ronald A. Rasband @RonaldARasband]

My dear friends, may we be among those Saints and angels who at Christmas prepare Him room in our hearts and come to know Him as your Savior, your mentor, and your friend. Merry Christmas!

[Keith Sakata, MD @KeithSakata]

Your brain doesn’t just decline with age.

Yes, for some it falters:
Older → less activation

For others, it rewires:
Young → one hemisphere
Older → both hemispheres

This HAROLD effect = the aging brain "compensating" by recruiting extra circuits (neuroplasticity)

[Clint Teeples @TeeplesCY]

Podcaster Steve Bannon suggested yesterday that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fosters an environment that leads to violence.

He said there’s something wrong with the Church and that the Church should address it.

This is a serious charge, so I looked into it:

[Carrie McIntyre | The Relevant Questions @RelevantQuest]

Imagine you’re a Christian that has been instructed by trusted clergy and family, possibly since childhood, that Latter-Day Saints are not Christians and should be condemned. Then one day you look to your shoulder and find a Latter-Day Saint right there next to you on the straight and narrow path, following Jesus Christ, pointing to Jesus Christ, preaching of Jesus Christ, doing the works of Jesus Christ, obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ, and calling himself a Christian. He’s walking in the same direction as you, albeit with a slightly different gait (which, incidentally, is exactly what other Christian denominations do that are not identical to yours) but despite all evidence, you are to believe the Latter-Day Saint—this member of The Church of Jesus Christ—is not a disciple of Jesus Christ but an imposter.

From a religious perspective, that’s pretty scary. The only explanation, other than the “impossibility” of his actually being a Christian, is that those people you trusted are mistaken, or that this person is some sort of evil doppelgänger waiting to pounce. But the pounce never comes. He just keeps on following Jesus Christ, and to your dismay, he says that he is a Christian and believes that you are, too. He is happy to be your brother in Christ. He does not mind if your beliefs are not identical to his.

Why does it feel so threatening?

Because we all fear being deceived, especially those with honest intent, and particularly when the risk is retribution from God. Most religions have no doctrine that protects honest seekers from their own theological follies. There may be no clear doctrine for the infant who died without baptism, or the Hindu who lived and died having never heard of Christ—not even a protection for the Christian who joined the “wrong church.” Can you imagine anything more terrifying than thinking you can be tricked out of the grace of Christ and thrust down to hell merely by misunderstanding Him?

That’s not the way it works. God is not vindictive. But hear me, Latter-Day Saints: they would rather offend you than God. They would rather risk unjustly condemning you than fall under condemnation themselves. Grace doesn’t work that way. The afterlife doesn’t work that way. But if you thought it did, how careful (or reactive) would you be?

So tell the truth, boldly and with rejoicing. But don’t punch down. Do not push anyone off the straight and narrow way, however often they may try to elbow you into a ditch. You belong to the Church of Jesus Christ, and your fruits show the health of the tree. Just be Christian, so the seeker who sees you will find.

[Clint Teeples @TeeplesCY]

This is Sharon Eubank, director of Latter-day Saint Charities.

Few people on earth know more about humanitarian relief and aid distribution.

Here’s what she says when people ask why the Church doesn’t spend more on humanitarian work:

[Clint Teeples @TeeplesCY]

If we’re going to judge the character and legacy of Joseph Smith the prophet, let’s start with the world-changing results of his work.

The facts speak for themselves.

Here are the facts:

[Ryan Smith @RyanQualtrics]

“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. “
-Jeffrey Holland
#Sundaythought

[David A. Bednar @BednarDavidA]

In a world that increasingly may mock our beliefs, we will be known by our kindness, our service, our integrity.

What a remarkable time to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and to never be ashamed of His gospel.

[Hank Smith @hankrsmith]

Some thoughts on the structure of the Book of Alma. What do you think?

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

The idea that a person can be spiritual or worship God without organized religion is popular in our day. Some may wonder, “Why do we need a church?”

While developing a relationship with God is personal and can certainly progress independent of church participation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exists to teach the fulness of His doctrine and officiate with His priesthood authority to perform the ordinances necessary to enter the kingdom of God with our loved ones forever.

In other words, church attendance and participation help us focus on our eternal priorities. In addition, those who forgo church attendance and rely only on individual spirituality forfeit many opportunities to make sacred covenants with God, including in holy temples, or qualify to perpetuate their family for eternity.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is “the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23) and that He organized it “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). We affirm the scriptural origin and need for a church directed by and with the authority of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We need the Church because the Savior taught that “whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:55). May we all remain steadfast in our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church as we seek eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.

[Jeffrey R. Holland @HollandJeffreyR]

I know many who struggle with perfectionism. Around the Church I hear many who struggle with this issue: “I am just not good enough.” “I fall so far short.” “I will never measure up.” I hear this from teenagers. I hear it from missionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members.

As children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become.

With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness always in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include excessive guilt trips or demolishing our self-esteem.

I believe that Jesus intended the commandment “be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48) to be a tribute to who and what God the Eternal Father is and what we can achieve with Him in eternity, not a harsh verbal reminder of our shortcomings.

Except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing about being perfect.

[Jack Carr @JackCarrUSA]

This has to be the longest standing ovation for anyone or anything I have ever witnessed.

4000 high school students in Normandy, France standing to honor our World War II veterans.

This area in northern France has not forgotten the events of 80 years ago.

Honored and humbled beyond words to be here with my daughter volunteering with the @bestdefense_ supporting their mission to “take care of the ones who took care of us” assisting World War II veterans as they return to the sand and soil on which they fought.

[Matthew Watkins @ITalkOfChrist]

1/ How far does prophetic revelation extend before it conflicts with personal authority? How should we respond to "the gray area"-- prophetic "suggestions" that go against our plans and even the interests of our family?

Consider the following experience from Pres. Nelson... 🧵