David Andersen

Son of God. Child of the Covenant. Disciple of Christ. Husband. Father. Conservative. I seek not for power, but to pull it down.

[Matthew Watkins @ITalkOfChrist]

A friend of mine recently texted me about this while he was in a stake leadership meeting where the speaker was "blasting 'church culture.'" His words were wise:

"'Church Culture' is a bogeyman we use to disparage our brothers and sisters who do things in a way we don’t like."

[Brigham's Burner @FiredUpCoug]

When you say I have to accept “the Nicene Creed” to be Christian, could you be more specific?

Do you mean the creed produced in A.D. 325 at a council convened by the Roman emperor Constantine, who was trying to settle the Arian controversy and preserve unity in his empire?

Or do you mean the version most Christians actually recite today, which comes from A.D. 381, when another Roman emperor, Theodosius I, convened the First Council of Constantinople to settle further disputes and more fully define the doctrine of the Holy Spirit?

Because that seems like a pretty important distinction.

One was created under Constantine, a Roman emperor with no priesthood authority, whose interest in Christianity was inseparable from his interest in imperial stability.

The other was expanded under Theodosius, another Roman emperor who used state power to enforce religious uniformity.

And somehow I’m supposed to believe that my faith in Jesus Christ is invalid unless I accept the theological conclusions of emperor-sponsored councils held centuries after Christ and His apostles?

You are free to trust those councils, led by rulers of the same empire that crucified Christ.

But please stop pretending that your post-biblical, politically entangled, imperial committee language is simply “biblical truth.”

And stop acting like you have the authority to decide who is and is not Christian based on a person’s willingness to pledge allegiance to Rome’s preferred definition of the Divine.

[Jasmin Rappleye @JasminRappleye]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has officially filed a lawsuit against the exmormon podcast Mormon Stories hosted by John Dehlin.

This is the "unreasonable" demand that led to John Dehlin to walk away from mediation, and led the Church to finally pull the trigger

[AJ Dybantsa @AJ_Dybantsa]

Thank you Elder Rasband

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

We are grateful to know that there are two methods of gaining needed knowledge. There is no ultimate conflict between knowledge gained by these different methods because God, our omnipotent Eternal Father, knows all truth and beckons us to learn by them both.

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

@Norma5387953815 75811

[Athenaeum Book Club @athenaeumbc]

Did you know C.S. Lewis predicted the modern obsession with “being nice” would destroy the soul?

In The Abolition of Man, Lewis argues that when a society stops believing in objective virtue, it doesn’t become tolerant… it becomes manipulable.

He calls the result “men without chests.”

People with appetites and intellects, but no courage, no honor, no trained moral instincts. They can calculate everything and defend nothing.

Lewis saw that once we reject inherited moral law, we don’t become free. We become raw material… easily shaped by propaganda, pleasure, and fear.

Modern man prides himself on compassion while quietly surrendering every standard that once gave compassion meaning.

Lewis’s insight is brutal: a civilization that educates clever cowards will eventually be ruled by tyrants or technicians.

Because when nothing is worth dying for, everything becomes negotiable… including human dignity.

[Jeffrey R. Holland @HollandJeffreyR]

“I love the Lord Jesus Christ. May we strive to see Christ at the center of our lives, of our faith, and of our service. That is where true meaning lies. Until that hour, when Christ’s consummate gift is evident to us all, may we live by faith, hold fast to hope, and show compassion one of another.” –Jeffrey R. Holland (1940–2025)

[BYU Cougars @BYUCougars]

Ngl they can spin it

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

@gregwrubell ESPN: “We don’t talk about Bruno [BYU].”

[HoboJ @HoboJ_]

Let's do some comparisons because as a college football fan I'm annoyed at the crime taking place...

2024 Indiana vs 2025 BYU

2024 Indiana
• SOR: 8
• FPI: 10
• SOS: 35
• Game Control: 6
• AVGWP: 6
^*Boosted numbers after playoff game*

Schedule
vs 4-8 FIU (W 31-7)
vs FCS Western Illinois (W 77-3)
@ 5-7 UCLA (W 42-13)
vs 5-7 Charlotte (W 52-14)
vs 4-8 Maryland (W 42-28)
@ 4-8 Northwestern (W 41-24)
vs 6-6 Nebraska (W 56-7)
vs 6-6 Washington (W 31-17)
@ 5-7 Michigan State (W 47-10)
vs 7-5 Michigan (W 20-15)
@ 10-2 Ohio State (L 38-15)
vs 1-11 Purdue (W 66-0)

•Cumulative FBS Opponent W/L: 57-75
•Cumulative FBS Opponent Win %: 43.18%
• Final Record before postseason: 11-1
• Number of bowl eligible teams defeated: 3
• Best Win: 7-5 Michigan
• Number of wins vs ranked teams in final poll before postseason: 0
• Did not qualify for Conference Championship Game

They were always safely in the playoff. Never in doubt. Never questioned.

2025 BYU
• SOR: 6
• FPI: 15
• SOS: 35
• Game Control: 14
• AVGWP: 24
^ *most current numbers*

Schedule
vs FCS Portland State (W 69-0)
vs 4-8 Stanford (W 27-3)
@ 8-4 East Carolina (W 34-13)
@ 3-9 Colorado (W 24-21)
vs 4-8 West Virginia (W 38-24)
@ 9-3 Arizona (W 33-27)
vs 10-2 Utah (W 24-21)
@ 8-4 Iowa State (W 41-27)
@ 11-1 Texas Tech (L 29-7)
vs 8-4 TCU (W 44-13)
@ 7-5 Cincinnati (W 26-14)
vs 5-7 UCF (W 41-21)

• Cumulative FBS Opponent W/L: 77-55
• Cumulative FBS Opponent Win %: 58.33%
• Final Record before postseason: 11-1
• Number of bowl eligible teams defeated: 6
• Best Win: 10-2 Utah
• Number of wins vs ranked teams in final poll before postseason: 2 (for sure)
• Qualified for Conference Championship Game

And the committee is saying they have to win out.

Oh but I'm not done. Let's explore that "they have to win out" idea from the committee.... and for the "Why doesn't BYU just beat Texas Tech in the conference championship" crowd...

Let's compare 2025 BYU to another team who went 11-1, lost their conference championship game, and still got in to the CFP... 2024 SMU

2024 SMU
• SOR: 18
• FPI: 13
• SOS: 41
• Game Control: 18
• AVGWP: 16
^ *Boosted numbers after CCG and playoff*

Schedule
@ 3-9 Nevada (W 29-24)
vs FCS Houston Baptist (W 59-7)
vs 10-2 BYU (L 18-16)
vs 8-4 TCU (W 66-42)
vs 2-10 Florida State (W 42-16)
@ 8-4 Louisville (W 34-27)
@ 3-9 Stanford (W 40-10)
@ 9-3 Duke (W 28-27)
vs 7-5 Pitt (W 48-25)
vs 7-5 Boston College (W 38-28)
@ 5-7 Virginia (W 33-7)
vs 6-6 Cal (W 38-6)

• Cumulative FBS Opponent W/L: 68-64
• Cumulative FBS Opponent Win %: 51.52%
• Final Record before postseason: 11-1
• Number of bowl eligible teams defeated: 6
• Best Win: 9-3 Duke
• Number of wins vs ranked teams in final poll before postseason: 0
• Qualified for conference championship game

SMU got in to the CFP even after losing the conference championship game to a 9-3 Clemson.

Now... It is quite clear that 2025 BYU has a better resume than both of these teams.

Why does that matter?

Well it's a little thing called precedent. The CFP Committee has set precedents over time. Not mine. THEIR OWN. Here they are...

• Since the inception of the CFP in 2014, NO 11-1 P4 team has been ranked outside of the top 10 in the final regular season rankings

• 2024 Indiana set the precedent that if you're 11-1 in a P4... You're in, under any circumstance. Because their resume was boo boo.

• 2024 SMU set the precedent that if you're 11-1 in a P4 and you lose your conference championship game.. you're still in.

So, in closing... Yes, BYU should be in the CFP. Regardless of the Big 12 championship game result. I rest my case. Good luck to the defense counsel, you're cooked.

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

@FiredUpCoug Maybe, but they’ve saved me from falling off a ladder about a dozen times and allow me to spend more time inside with my family.

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

We rejoice in remembering our Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born in humble circumstances. Heavenly angels heralded His birth. He preached the gospel of repentance, hope, and everlasting life.

He opened the eyes of the blind, made the deaf to hear, healed all manner of afflictions, and raised the dead. He is the Only Begotten of our Father in Heaven, the Firstborn of God’s spirit children. Through His sacrifice and infinite Atonement, we can be reconciled with God by obedience and repentance.

In this season of light and goodwill, we rejoice in Jesus Christ and in His eternal plan of happiness. We invite you to seek Him and the blessings of His peace. Merry Christmas!

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

This is actually a good scriptural basis for blessing food, and it’s consistent with this direct counsel from the Church in the Family Guidebook. You could say the same thing about the sacrament itself or Christ blessing the loaves and the fishes. It’s not making food “magically healthier” but instead represents a sanctification of the food that the Lord has provided for us.

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

@ESPNMcGee @mugtang Seriously pathetic that you have to stoop to mocking religion for clicks.

[David Andersen @o_be_wise]

Hey @ESPN and @ESPNMcGee, mocking religion might be popular right now, but this is NOT cool. And it's not even funny. https://t.co/VwkT4M5EVx

[Nathaniel @NathanielGivens]

The middle child struggle is real. 📖✨

[Dallin H. Oaks @OaksDallinH]

The family circle is the ideal place to demonstrate and learn eternal values.

[Nathan Andersen 🇺🇸 @nathana1823]

Happy Birthday @charliekirk11!

Get married.
Have children.
Build a legacy.
Pass down your values.
Pursue the eternal.
Seek true joy.

Live like Charlie 🇺🇸