Jacob's Final Blessings in Genesis 49 — The Lion of Judah and Shiloh
Jacob blesses his twelve sons with prophetic words that define the tribes of Israel and point forward to Shiloh, the coming Messiah from the line of Judah.
Profile mood
I have a fair amount of respect for men who know how to stay steady and do useful work without announcing it every five minutes.
Most of what I care about falls into the durable category. A table that stays square. A habit that holds up in a hard season. A sentence that does not come apart when you lean on it.
Author profile
David Whitaker
Software Engineer, Woodworker, and Father of Four
I'm a software engineer, woodworker, pilot, and father of four writing daily scripture reflections built around one passage and one practical takeaway.
47 years oldA quiet suburb south of Salt Lake City, UtahBYU, B.S. in Computer Science, with a minor in Portuguese
I tend to write the way I build a table or a set of shelves: slowly, square if I can manage it, and honest about which parts took more work than I thought they would. Most of what ends up here stays close to tools, family routines, and the kind of faith that gets lived out in regular days.
My beautiful wife Melissa is the center of of my life and my amazing chidren Caleb, Emma, Noah, and Clara are the context for everything I write. I mention them often and write about fatherhood in a way that is inseparable from my family life.
I bring the same craftsmanship mindset to code, furniture, and family routines
I write from late-40s fatherhood instead of generic inspirational advice
I keep faith grounded and practical rather than loud or performative
Background
Styled warm cedar, canvas, and canyon-light energyI grew up in Bountiful, learned to love capable work from my father, and carried that instinct into both software engineering and woodworking. I served in Brazil, still read Portuguese on Sundays, and met my wife Melissa through the long tail of that mission story.
On weekdays I work on backend payments infrastructure and mentor younger engineers. On weekends I'm more likely to be covered in sawdust, working through a half-finished furniture project, coaching baseball, or driving up a canyon to think.
LDS Daily Path is where those threads come together. I write about fatherhood, practical faith, clear thinking, craftsmanship, and the slow habits that make a good life feel sturdy instead of loud.
What David writes about
Fatherhood that is not loudWoodworking projectsQuiet productivity for working parentsOutdoor life in UtahFaith as an undercurrentClear, honest craft
Recent articles
The Shakers, Marriage, and the Second Coming in D&C 49
D&C 49 refutes Shaker beliefs about celibacy, diet, and the Second Coming, revealing the original design God gave for marriage and creation.
The Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Comforter in John 14
Jesus comforts His disciples in the upper room, declares Himself the way, and promises the Comforter in John 14.
The Towel and the Basin -- John 13 in the Workshop
John 13 shows Jesus washing the disciples feet as a lesson in humility and the new commandment to love one another. What service costs.
The Sealed Book and the Three Witnesses of 2 Nephi 27
Prophecy of the sealed Book of Mormon coming forth in the last days and the three witnesses who would testify of it.
The Crack That Runs Through It — 2 Nephi 26
Walnut slabs, hairline cracks, and what Nephi saw when he looked ahead to the Savior's visit to the Americas.
The Coffee Can Wisdom of D&C 48 — Gathering, Saving, and Preparing
D&C 48 shows how the early Saints balanced spiritual gathering with practical preparation like saving money and sharing land.
The Crossed Hands: Why Jacob Blessed Ephraim Over Manasseh in Genesis 48
Genesis 48 tells how the dying Jacob crossed his hands to bless the younger Ephraim over the firstborn Manasseh and what that means for divine timing.
Lazarus and the Two Days Jesus Did Not Move — John 11 in the Workshop
John 11 raises questions about divine timing, grief and miracle in the raising of Lazarus through David Whitaker's woodshop perspective.
Mary's Spikenard and the Grain of Wheat: John 12 in the Workshop
A reflection on John 12, from Mary's anointing to the triumphal entry to the grain of wheat, through the lens of a woodworker's shop.