Krönika i Norra Halland, 28 juni 2013 Johannes sitter med sina klasskamrater på 9:ans skolavslutning och lyssnar till rektorns tal. Alla strålar de, barnen som vuxit upp och som nu står vid porten till vuxenvärlden. De liknar unga kungar och drottningar, redo att gå ut och erövra världen. Plötslig vänder sig Johannes om och ler mot mig. Men det är inget vanligt leende. Han lyser med hela sin kropp. Jag tar snabbt upp kameran och förevigar ögonblicket. Hans blick säger tusen o

Ever since I can remember I have been a fan of David Foster, perhaps the world’s greatest hit maker and producer. Recently he accompanied the gifted Andrea Bocelli to Salt Lake City. There the fabulous tenor sang together with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In our lifetime we are privileged with a few moments of sheer musical magic. This is one of them (I just wish I could have been there). Foster said: “This was as close to a heavenly experience that I think I’ve ever had in m

Automatic translation of text ÄNGLAVAKT Betraktelse i Länstidningen inför St Mikaels dag, 3 okt 2009. Från barnsben har vi hänförts av berättelser om dem. På glittriga bokmärken har vi sett deras vingklädda skrud. Oräkneliga är de tavlor, skulpturer, filmer och bokomslag där vi har skådat deras fromma ansikten. Änglar. Vi ser dem överallt. Ja, åtminstone i kommersiella sammanhang. Men i verkligheten då? Finns de? Kan vi i sanning se dem. En bibelberättelse som alltid har vari

When Johannes was baptized three years ago, Isak was watching with great interest. But when I asked him after the services if he also would like to be baptized one day, he answered: “Oh, no… I don’t want to get wet like Johannes.” But then he thought for a second, and added: “But if I’ll ever let anyone baptize me… it’ll be you, dad!” Lately his excitement has grown to its fullest because of the upcoming baptism. It’s been a special treat just to watch him, seeing a boy who a

ARTICLES ABOUT FAMILY The start of June was a continuation of the end of May, brought about by my debate article Våga stå upp för familjen (Take a Stand for the Family). There were come counter articles by others, with more replies from me as a result. It’s all summarized in Take a Stand for the Family (3): Summary. NEW PAGE: WRITINGS The other thing I spent some time on was to create WRITINGS, a new page that contain my different publications. It’s not a big stack of texts

ARTICLES ABOUT FAMILY The start of June was a continuation of the end of May, brought about by my debate article Våga stå upp för familjen (Take a Stand for the Family). There were come counter articles by others, with more replies from me as a result. It’s all summarized in Take a Stand for the Family (3): Summary. NEW PAGE: WRITINGS The other thing I spent some time on was to create WRITINGS, a new page that contain my different publications. It’s not a big stack of texts

Translate text TANKEN PÅ KRISTI HIMMELSFÄRD Betraktelse i Länstidningen inför Kristi himmelsfärd, 19 maj 2007. Bibeltext: Apg 1:1-11 Fyrtio dagar efter påsk samlade Jesus sina lärjungar inför sin himmelsfärd. Då gav han dem löftet om den helige Andens utgjutande, med åtföljande befallning om att vittna om honom till jordens yttersta gräns, och göra alla folk till hans lärjungar. I dag kan vi se att detta vittnesbörd har spridits världen över. Är vi då alla Jesu lärjungar? I e

Translate text DU ÄR BRA SOM DU ÄR Betraktelse i Länstidningen, Södertälje, 11 aug 2007. Bibeltext: Rom 12:3-8 För sju år sedan flyttade jag till Södertälje för att börja mitt nya arbete som utbildningschef. (Biskopsämbetet är inget arbete i traditionell mening eftersom kyrkan har obetalt prästerskap.) I ärlighetens namn våndades jag en aning, speciellt med tanke på att min företrädare var en sann ledare i ordets hela bemärkelse, och jag var osäker på om jag kunde fylla hans

Translate text Here is the summarized debate history between Bengt Göransson and myself in Kristianstadbladet: I wrote the article Take a Stand for the Family, about the importance of celebrating the family. Göransson objects and attacks my faith in Protect the Children! where he vehemently claims I don’t support UN:s Convention on the Rights of the Child. I reply in I also want to protect the children . There I try to convince Göransson that we are in total agreement in foll

Anna wrote a comment to Alive through the Love of God, and asked some really good questions. I was trying to keep my reply short, but was only half successful, so I’m copying these words into a new post instead. (I think I will do that also in the future with my longer replies, in case someone else wants to read them.) Here are Anna’s two question: “a) If trials and sufferings leads to something good for other people, does that mean that we shall not try to take away these s

Do you ever seize to be amazed? In India a baby girl, Lali, was born with two faces, a very rare condition knowns as craniofacial duplication. When I saw this photo I thought, “Oh no! Poor child. Poor family. How will they ever survive this enormous trail?” But then I read the article in the Chicago Tribune. I was simply awestruck. Instead of feeling “cursed” by God (or the gods), this family actually feels blessed, even believing the child to be the reincarnation of a Hindu

A friend sent me this link, to my great joy – not only because I love photography, but more importantly, because I love my Saviour, Jesus Christ. I just had to share it. For those of you who feel similar to what I feel for Jesus, your love will deepen when watching these images, I promise. For those of you who have not yet felt the light of Christ in your life, but would like to understand this wonderful power, and what impact it has on the soul, maybe this will trigger a de

“We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) It’s been a good Easter. The family has been together a lot. My mother-in-law, Silvana, has also been here. She is really sweet. She took all of the kids one night so Angelica and I could have a date for the first time in who knows how long. Having small children is wonderful, but being alone with your wife now and then is worth gold. But the weird thing… not long after you leave your children, you start missing them, ev

In reference to Why a Prophet? (1), how can one then, in actual fact, know that a prophet is a true prophet? Let me give you a somewhat different approach: About six years ago a man came for regular visits to our local congregation. He looked just like a prophet, or rather, the way you would expect an ancient prophet to look like: an older man (although he wasn’t that old) with a meager outfit and a really long beard. He had an inward bound character and appeared, to put it

Those of you not of my faith might have to exercise a little patience this week, as I, and many with me, use much blog space to honor our prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, who just left us. Having said that, I don’t want to excuse myself from writing what I think needs to be said. (After all you are here of your own free will – for which I thank you.) My soul rejoiceth that we in this day and age are privileged to hear the word of God, straight and clear, from a living prophet. No

The saddest news just reached me: Our beloved prophet, Gordon B Hinckley, has left us at age 97. For twelve years he has been the most exemplary leader for the Church, and he will be missed. Here is the full story: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/ In this state of mixed emotions I shed a lot of tears; I am sad, and feel a great void, because of his passing; but there are also tears of gratitude for what he has accomplished, and also happiness that he now has come home

Last week I taught a few Institute of Religion classes at Bolliaden, a Young Adult conference in the Church. The theme of the conference was Walking on the Straight Path. The students brought a good spirit and the participation level was high. Like I often say, I feel privileged to teach in such settings, especially since I feel as though I have been taught just as much – if not more – as my students. Our discussion came to focus a lot on faith, as being the opposite of fear.

Our family has adopted a special Christmas tradition that I guess could be blended with New Years resolutions. After all the presents were opened, stomachs stuffed with goodies, and the general noise level subdued, the attention rate of our children was a lot better after than before Santa’s arrival. Since timing is everything with kids, that’s when we hit ’em with the nativity story in Luke, chapter 2, after which we talked about the wonders of that first Christmas. We alway

I know I posted a different Christmas card earlier, but I (and the family) can’t help sending this second one (with a photo by courtesy of the Nativity Story, a motion picture from 2006). To me this photo is amazing. I am filled with so many thoughts and emotions when looking at it. I don’t even know where to start – so just feast your eyes on it and let yourself go. In the past weeks I have met many people in different circumstances. Most of them are more or less stressed by

A week ago we lost one of our oldest, but dearest members of our congregation, Agnes Traviss. Yesterday her funeral was held. Until my release two months ago, I had been her bishop for several years. I had truly enjoyed her company. She always wore that gleaming smile on her face that would make you forget your own worries for a moment. Often when I looked at her from the stand I thought about her life as a single woman, struggling to get by. She had had many reason to compla