Writings

Before Thanksgiving day, 2022 a friend of my wife and I gave me an interesting assignment.  She said: “Merlin, here is a scripture I’d like to have you ponder upon.”  She then shared with me this scripture – Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29)  Linda, I have pondered upon this … Read more

A Sacred Experience with a Prophet of God Merlin Frei – September, 28, 2022 I share this experience with the hope that it may expand your vision and understanding into the lives of humble servants of God, who are called to testify of the majesty and divinity of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Sometimes we are … Read more

The Water Pump Merlin Frei     When I was about 10 years old, my parents allowed me to travel alone on the train from Idaho Falls to Nampa, Idaho to visit my  cousin, Harry.  He lived on a farm  near the small town of Marsing, Idaho.  It was an unforgettable experience  for me and … Read more

Hello My Friend, Today I will share with you a Visual that the Seminaries and Institutes of Religion shared with us when we lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma many years ago.  I hope you enjoy this visual. It is the best visual I have ever seen in helping us understand God’s love for us and why … Read more

Joseph, A Symbol of Our Merciful Savior (A story of forgiveness)      If you have never done anything stupid, fallen on your face, or felt guilt for past mistakes, then this message may not have great meaning for you; but for me, Joseph makes the atonement of Christ real.  It brings tears of gratitude and … Read more

​ Introduction As you age, your body and mind changes, and so does what you need to stay healthy. Regular physicals, dental check-ups, medications, eye exams – the list of a senior’s health needs goes on. It can certainly feel overwhelming at times, but the older we get, the more important it is that we … Read more

A. Merlin Frei     Have you ever had a dream so powerful that you pondered and thought upon it for days? It was a short dream, but the truths that were taught were powerful and could expand one’s vision to the point that his life would be changed forever. Our son, Doug, an officer in … Read more

You’re caught up in a cycle. You know the one. You’ve been talking down to yourself for a while. Every word in your mind points out your flaws and mistakes to where you think you’re going to go crazy from listening to it if you haven’t already. Negative self-talk can be just this insidious. It … Read more

Come unto Christ–Sermon at Mountain View Ward November 29, 2020 Merlin Frei      Good afternoon Brothers and Sisters.  It is a beautiful day and I am happy to be with you today. We have just enjoyed a celebration of Thanksgiving which was a culmination of #givethanks opportunity which President Russel M. Nelson invited us to … Read more

Come Follow Me for Sunday School: “He Works in Me to Do His Will”, Enos – Words of Mormon By Diana Webb · March 22, 2020 ​ In this week’s readings, we will cover almost three hundred years of Nephite history.  Enos begins in 420 B.C., and the book of Omni ends about 130 B.C.  The editor … Read more

     The most important truths we can learn have to do with God.  He is the creator of all things, including us.  Man was created in the image of God.  Just as the animals were created after their kind, man was created after his kind.  We are sons and daughters of God.  We call … Read more

     Are there laws that determine whether or not we can be happy or is it just a matter of making up our minds to be that way?  Does happiness mean living in a blissful state all of the time?       We see ads all the time of happy people who have fancy homes … Read more

     While reading to my wife from the Old Testament, we read of the parting of the Red Sea and the destruction of the army of Pharaoh (Exodus 14 and 15). The Lord gave a promise to the Children of Israel that if they would diligently hearken to His voice and do that which … Read more

Copyright © All rights reserved worldwide. YOUR RIGHTS: This book is restricted to your personal use only. It does not come with any other rights. LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This book is protected by international copyright law and may not be copied, reproduced, given away, or used to create derivative works without the publisher’s expressed permission. The … Read more

A Trip to the Moon and Back      Two of the most important sources for sharpening our “eyes to see and our ears to hear” are scripture study and prayer.  Here is an interesting and thought- provoking analogy that helps us see the importance of the scriptures, coupled with prayer:      Let us suppose … Read more

     Elder Frei and I, and Elder and Sister Griffin, had been scouting out a campground in the mountains of Tenerife where we could hold the 2002 Seminary Super Sabado. We had planned to go on to Puerto de la Cruz, to attend a Seminary class, but Elder Griffin received a telephone call as … Read more

Vesta Cook and Joy Cook Peterson The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at Rawtenstall England       This is the story of the miracle of the rain which happened to the Dale R. Cook family while they were on the building mission in Rawtenstall, England from November 1964-1966. This mission was a grand … Read more

​      Once in a while there comes along a person who leaves a footprint in your life.  His contribution usually comes by way of a good example and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Such an example to me is a man by the name of Caleb.  Many of you will recognize … Read more

     Two of my Granddaughters just returned from a vacation to Europe.  One of these precious girls had previously lived in Germany during her Air Force years.  She had always wanted her younger sister to experience Europe as well.  She planned and prepared to save enough money so both of them could travel there … Read more

​ He was a little taller than she and a bit unkempt.  She was pretty, but not what you would call beautiful. They seemed to care deeply for each other, he especially so as he put his arm around her and drew her in closer.  They were ordering a sandwich at Subway.  “Why did they … Read more

  24 Golden Hours      To help us understand the value of a commitment, I would like to share a story I read many years ago which has a powerful lesson for each of us who is desirous in improving our lives. This is a story about a girl named Charlotte.  I do not know … Read more

​ Sometimes just the thought of setting a goal seems so difficult to do and to keep.  Here is an idea that will make it easier and fun to do.  It is an idea adapted from an article published in the New Era Magazine for youth in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. … Read more

Here is an interesting article I read from the magazine Country Extra, May, 2019.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

​      Recently we have had our two youngest grandchildren visiting us. I would like them to have wonderful future in America and decided  to write on this subject:  “What will America be like for our grandchildren?”  It is very clear in the scriptures and in the writings of modern prophets.  I shall quote … Read more

  As we review decision’s we have made in life most of them could probably be categorized into two columns.      1) I Wish I Would Have                                                   2) I’m … Read more

​Upon arriving home from work, a father wanted to read the newspaper, but his young son kept begging, “come and play with me.” Seeing a picture of the world in the paper, the father had a brilliant idea. He tore it into small pieces, thus making a puzzle. Handing the pieces to his son, he … Read more

April 28 is National Superhero Day. It is the brainchild of Marvel Comics and was established in 1995. Perhaps superheroes such as Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman come to mind first when you think about this subject. But really, it only takes one small act of kindness or bravery to become a superhero yourself. And … Read more

  One early morning, my wife and I were walking up the ramp to the Idaho Falls Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to begin our assignments as temple officiators.  We were walking briskly and passed an elderly gentleman making his way up the ramp as well.  As we passed, I … Read more

Wisdom is acquired through life’s experiences, study, and through application of true principles.  The Savior’s wisdom was enhanced by his willingness to be obedient to his Father.  He said, I seek to do the will of my father, who sent me. Through latter-day revelation, He revealed other sources we should contemplate in order to grow … Read more

  It’s no fun to be lost and most of us can relate to that. I remember as a young man of getting lost while driving through Arco, Idaho, of all places – just made a wrong turn. Fortunately sometimes it is easy to find your way back and other times it is not so … Read more

(A review of some powerful ideas from a book by the same title authored byShad Helmstetter Ph.D.) What do you say to yourself when .. The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning and you grope your way into the bathroom and first look in the mirror? Did your first words to yourself work … Read more

Many people travel throughout life with too mean an estimate of their own abilities. Consequently they spend their strength on small tasks and never venture into the realms of possibility, where ones true powers lie, having never put them to trial. In 1912, Harry Leon Wilson wrote a novel entitled Bunker Bean. It is an … Read more

Here is a story of obedience, generosity, and kindness from a young man, only 75 years of age! Abraham, then known as Abram, was obedient to the Lord in leaving his kindred and traveling to the Land of Canaan, known as Israel today. He took with him his nephew Lot – son of his brother, … Read more

  If you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the gifts, skills and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a parent. What’s important in leadership is refining your skills. All … Read more