71 Years ago today — an excerpt from the autobiography of Jack Bytheway who served as a lookout and gunner’s mate aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3). The Kamikaze Attack (All Hell Breaks Loose) I had taken my place on lookout watch at about 1600 hours (4:00 p.m.) The day was Wednesday, February 21, 1945. I… [Read More]

Going through our old family videos, we discovered this Mini-Concert I performed for the Logan Institute students at Utah State University in early 2000.  The entire concert was an hour long, but we’ll throw in a few clips for the next few months on “Throwback Thursdays” :).  And please go easy on me, I obviously… [Read More]

It has always been interesting to me that when angels appear to men in the scriptures, they often begin with the words, “Fear not.”  Perhaps seeing an angel is a frightening event, or, could it be that these heavenly beings notice that we live much of our lives in a state of fear and doubt?… [Read More]

While pulling a handcart in Wyoming during my stake’s Pioneer Trek a few years ago, I came up with what I thought was a pretty clever book title – “Lifestyles of the Great and Spacious.” The title, you may have noticed, is similar to an old TV show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” I… [Read More]

I started writing a new book several months ago, but I never finished. I thought I might ask my friends for some advice:  Is this topic interesting to you?  Should I finish this book?  I’d love to know what you think.  Here’s Chapter One: Chapter One A Second Witness of Christ, and Much More I’ve… [Read More]

As we prepare for a New Year of studying the Book of Mormon, I thought you might enjoy reading about an experience of my long-time friend Randal Wright.  Brother Wright is a frequent teacher at BYU Campus Education Week and his written a dozen or so books.  He was teaching an institute class in Austin,… [Read More]

Joseph Smith’s birthday was 210 years ago today.  When you think about it, you are reading this blog, from an LDS author because a fourteen year old boy said a prayer.  Because of that prayer, and because of all that happened in the Sacred Grove that Spring morning, thousands of people walked across a continent,… [Read More]