First Post -- Long Overdue

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Isaiah 30:8

Hi. My name is Bill, and this is my first blog post on my first blog. I have felt for some time that this is something I've needed to do, and I've finally gotten around to doing it. I will try to post regularly, but as a husband, father, member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and grad student, my schedule is often rather packed.

As the name of this blog implies, I'm intending this blog to be basically focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the scriptures, and other related topics. I don't claim to have any special knowledge or training in these areas. I am not a student of ancient languages, archeology, or anything like that. I don't know Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, or any of those other languages. (I do know Portuguese and a little bit of Spanish, but that's beside the point.) I have never personally met President Monson, President Hinckley, nor do I really have any special "in" with any of the general authorities of the church. I do not claim to be anything other than what one person called a "foolish mortal in desperate need of the Atonement." I have all sorts of my own problems and weaknesses and foolishnesses. However, I am a faithful member of the Church, I know it is true. Just like millions of other people, I'm trying my best to do what I know I should. In this blog, I hope to share some of my thoughts, feelings, ideas, and convictions about the Gospel and my Savior.

I welcome any comments or thoughts. I do not intend this to be a big discussion board, and I absolutely do not want this to become the battleground for contentious arguments. If you have any comments, questions, concerns, ideas, or other things that would be better served in an email to me, you should direct them to the email address that I set up for this blog, BillsLDSBlog at gmail. (That is at gmail dot com, of course. -- Sorry, just trying to stop bots and phishing, etc.) Other questions can probably be best served by visiting the official church websites here and here, or perhaps by visiting another blog by one of the many faithful Latter-day Saints. (A network site with links to many LDS and LDS-themed blogs can be found at lds.net. Unlike the official Church websites, these blogs are not to be seen as official statements by the Church.)

I take full and sole responsibility for what I post on this blog. My views are not to be construed as official Church doctrine or anything like that. I'm learning just like everyone else. I welcome any questions or comments.

Thanks,

Bill