Author: Ben Minson

The Certificate

Ben MinsonLeave a comment

A certain nation, among the smallest in the world, was entirely enclosed by a larger nation. The two had a friendly relationship, with the government of the larger having helped the native ethnic group of the smaller to establish their own country and to develop some autonomy.

Inside the smaller nation lived a particular man who pursued a profession as a social worker. He obtained a license from the government and practiced for several years. However, among his own people, opportunities to build His clientele seemed limited. He decided to move to the larger country to improve his prospects.

Continue reading →

Giving the Best Chocolate

Ben Minson1 Comment

The Parable of the Best Chocolate represents the trap we can fall into when making an offering to Heavenly Father. He makes some not insignificant requests of us. From the time of Adam until Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses, the firstling of the flock was to be dedicated to the Lord and offered in sacrifice as an atonement for sin (Moses 5:5, 20). It had to be without blemish of any sort. Giving a flawless firstling required faith that there would be more to come.

I wrote this parable about the time I realized that in a particular aspect of my life, I was not giving God the best. (I won’t pretend that it’s the only aspect.) During the work week, I aim to go to bed around 9:30pm so I can get about eight hours of sleep before I get up and fit in everything I want to do before going to work. I have small children who wake up anywhere between 5:45 and 7:00 in the morning, and an adult needs to be conscious. It works out fine because the majority of the time, I’m already awake by the time they wake up.

Continue reading →

The Silver Pitcher

Ben Minson2 Comments

Upon her marriage, Sandra received a glistening silver pitcher. It came from her mother with a card indicating that the pitcher was on permanent loan to Sandra, and she could return it at any time when it suited her, such as perhaps when she had accumulated enough of her own things that the pitcher no longer fit with her décor. Her only condition was that Sandra take care of it and return it in the same condition.

Sandra prized the gift above all the others. She had admired it as she grew up. For the first several years of her marriage, it stood visibly in the front room with the newlyweds’ few other quality items that they wanted guests to see. She filled it sometimes with decorative synthetic flowers and other times with crafts she made herself. She kept it polished and always handled it with care.

Continue reading →

The Other Inmate

Ben Minson3 Comments

A certain man called Bernhardt was sentenced to twenty years in prison for crimes against others and the state. Defiant at first, he cursed the prosecution for tarnishing his character, the jury for believing them, his defense attorney for failing to prove innocence, and the judge for taking away his freedom.

The same day he entered prison, another man was confined to the same cell. He introduced himself simply as Joshua. Otherwise, he seemed unusually closemouthed about his background, his family, and even what he had done to earn incarceration.

Continue reading →

Meeting the Man from the Hill

Ben MinsonLeave a comment

About 600 years before the birth of Christ, an angel showed a young man named Nephi a vision. By way of introduction, he asked Nephi if he understood what the condescension of God meant, and Nephi admitted that he didn’t (1 Nephi 11:16–17). In response, the angel declared, “Look and behold the condescension of God!” (v. 26) and showed him the ministry of Jesus, beginning with his submission to baptism at the hands of John the Baptist.

Often, the word condescend has a negative connotation; I think of it as someone talking down to me or being patronizing in their treatment of me. The other person thinks he or she is on loftier standing. But the phrase “the condescension of God” means much more and is much more positive.

Continue reading →