Foundations of Truth
The foundations of our beliefs are critically important. The world is awash today in what the prophets have called the philosophies of men mingled with scriptures. In an educational and entertaining format, we will briefly examine the roots of some of those philosophies and the effects they have on our world and our thoughts. Then, lest we be overwhelmed with doom and gloom, we will look at the antidote prescribed by a servant of God (Neal A. Maxwell) — do what God sent you here to do, your individualized plan of happiness! We’ll finish with a unique twist on the theme of personal mission which should prove both enlightening and exciting. Come expecting to have your world changed, and then go out and change the world!
If you want to get the most out of this presentation, you can prepare by reading any or all of the following:
Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Meeting the Challenges of Today” (BYU Speeches, Oct. 10, 1978).
President Spencer W. Kimball, “The Gospel Vision of the Arts” (Ensign, July 1977).
President Ezra Taft Benson, “Flooding the Earth with the Book of Mormon” (Ensign, Nov. 1988).
President Thomas S. Monson, “Be Strong and of a Good Courage” (Ensign, May 2014).
Von Hansen has a passion for exploring and explaining God’s hand in history and for helping students find the place which God has prepared for them in history. Von created the Providential History Series, four wicked-awesome history courses (a student’s description, not his!) which he has taught up and down the Wasatch Front from Huntsville to Santaquin. Von also shared his historical and constitutional analysis as a guest commentator in For Our Time, a documentary video series exploring prophetic parallels between the Book of Mormon and our day. Von earned a BA in History from Brigham Young University and is currently working to finish a master’s degree in Political Economy from George Wythe University. He has been married to the former Amy Jo Hawkins for twenty-four years, and they have seven amazing children (you might just know some of them!), a son-in-law, and two granddaughters. And two cats, which Von was never fond of, but which he has treated so kindly that he has fooled them into liking him.