The Grit We Need Today
There is a concerning trend I’ve observed over my thirty years as an educator: many young people—and even adults—are losing their “grit.” Apathy and distraction are on the rise, driven by the pull of social media, gaming, and digital devices. It’s not just a loss of resilience; it’s a drift away from the values and strengths that help us face life’s challenges.
I grew up in a different time. Outdoor adventures like camping, fishing, and exploring filled our days, and TV was a rare treat with only three networks and unpredictable reception. Shows like The Lone Ranger, Knight Rider, MacGyver, The A-Team, The Rockford Files, The Six Million Dollar Man, SWAT, Airwolf (the list could go on)—they inspired courage, resourcefulness, and the importance of helping others. Those themes left a lasting impression, shaping not just my childhood but my outlook on life.
The Stories I’ve Written
Years ago, I decided to channel those values into stories of my own. I’ve been fortunate to publish six novels, each inspired by themes and genres I loved as a child but infused with gospel-centered messages:
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Heaven’s Shadow (2001): A science fiction adventure exploring faith and the eternal perspective.
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Rewind (2004): A Twilight Zone-inspired tale about the lessons we learn from both our good and bad decisions.
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Standoff (2005): A high-stakes SWAT story tied to principles of trust and redemption.
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Chaos (2007): A suspenseful chase where divine intervention aids an everyman fighting to clear his name.
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Port in a Storm (2025): A reminder that evil thrives when good people fail to take a stand —a high-energy martial arts adventure tackling human trafficking and showcasing resilience in the face of overwhelming evil, set on a tropical Caribbean island.
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Shaken (2025): A devastating earthquake has hit the region and Conner is in a race against time to reach his estranged father—a high-energy dystopian adventure of survival and resilience demonstrating how faith can rise from ruin.
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Each book was originally written with my children and grandchildren in mind. My goal was to share uplifting messages wrapped in action-packed adventures. If others found inspiration in them, that was an added blessing.
Inspired by the Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon has profoundly influenced my writing. Its themes are timeless, and its stories resonate today more than ever. Take the account of Helaman’s Stripling Warriors. These young men embodied courage, faith, and the ability to rise above their circumstances. They were teenagers—just like many of the youth I’ve worked with over the years.
Consider this: When Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, the word stripling meant “a youth in the state of adolescence.” Some scholars believe these warriors were as young as 12 to 15 years old. Their story illustrates that age doesn’t limit one’s ability to stand for truth and righteousness.
Helaman’s praise for his “little sons” amplifies their exceptional courage:
• They stood firm despite their inexperience.
• Their preservation in battle was nothing short of miraculous.
• Their faith reminds today’s youth—and all of us—that with God, all things are possible.
This theme—that youth, despite their age and incredible odds, have the ability to succeed—is key. Our youth need to realize that, in the past, there was a level of maturity and grit that helped young people navigate incredible challenges (think especially of the young soldiers who fought in wars such as the Revolutionary War, World War I, and World War II!). Recently, our own church recognized the higher maturity levels in third-world countries and reduced the missionary age so that these more mature youth can serve as missionaries. I served a mission in Venezuela (a “third world country” in many respects) and can tell you firsthand just how strong and resilient the youth I interacted with there were compared to youth in our country.
A Call to Action
I miss those television programs that cheered the hero on (unlike the anti-hero of today) and inspired all of us to look within and ponder whether we have it in us to fight against evil as well. A key message from Knight Rider was “one man can make a difference.” Our youth need to hear more of that today!
So, if you’re looking for a fun reminder of the need to push back against the world’s challenges, I hope you’ll give novels a try. And if you find them uplifting, please leave an online review—it makes a difference. Then, look for ways YOU can contribute to motivating others to keep fighting the good fight. Perhaps there is a picture you’ve been meaning to paint, a poem you’ve wanted to write, a journal you’ve been meaning to start, an article you’ve researched and want to submit to a blog, or even start a blog of your own—SOMETHING you can use to call attention to what you feel is truly important in this life. If so, I encourage you to start and SHARE it with your children and grandchildren—with all of us! They, along with so many of us, need to hear messages of encouragement. And if we can do that creatively, all the better!