Sources of Influence

There are many people, resources, books, music and media that have been an influence on Ryan, and the topics he chooses to write about in the books:

Influential Books:

Return from Tomorrow: Private George Ritchie's account- where he experienced death and returned with detailed accounts of the afterlife, including a trip through areas of the spirit world, encounters with spiritual beings and a transformative meeting with Jesus Christ. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Return+from+tomorr&crid=1TEG1S5M9PX4N&sprefix=return+from+tomorr%2Caps%2C209&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals- Immanuel Kant

This book and Kant's Critique of Pure Reason were very influential to Ryan's analytical style and approach. They also help support foundational concepts such as the limits of reason for addressing the ultimate causes of creation and the universe.

Religious and Spiritual Influence- From Ryan:

Something about me is that I belong to a Christian church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints- that believes that existence can be an eternal progression in a positive direction. I have often noticed in living my life, that after having made a mistake that I’ve learned from, and possibly grown from, things feel more perfect and more on track than if I had never made the mistake (and had and all the experiences of learning and growing from it afterward).. that often I am stronger, more resilient, and have more wisdom than if I had never made the mistake (or that God can help make our lives more perfect, after a mistake or imperfection).

In our church, we believe this is true with the Biblical story of Adam and Eve, that that their fall, from an innocent state into this dualistic realm (where we entered into experience through sets of contrasting complements- such as hot and cold, wet and dry, health and sickness, pleasure and pain, and joy and misery), allowed the possibility of spiritual progression and growing more like our Heavenly Father. Our church has the belief that all people are children of God, and that our Heavenly Father had a plan for the happiness and progression of souls, and that part of that plan was the design of mortality to be a place where we would start as imperfect beings and grow and progress through making mistakes, and that through the atoning sacrifice and grace of Jesus Christ, we would have the opportunity to repent and become better, to have the possibility of mercy opened for us and to be forgiven for injury we cause to other souls during this life- rather than straight consequences for negative actions we are accountable for- and to grow more and more into the likeness of our Savior and Heavenly Parents.

The scripture often cited that I really like from one of our scriptures- in comparable length and purpose to the Bible, and that we read alongside it- the Book of Mormon- is that “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

Some favorite (influential) talks:

1. Jesus Christ and Your New Beginning- Elder Patrick Kearon: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/10/31kearon?lang=eng

2. Our Earthly Stewardship- Elder Gérald Caussé: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/31causse?lang=eng

3. Divine Love in the Father's Plan- President Dallin H. Oaks: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/51oaks?lang=eng

4. A Higher Joy- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/35uchtdorf?lang=eng

5. We Each Have a Story- Elder Gerrit W. Gong: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/04/26gong?lang=eng

6. I Love to See the Temple- President Henry B. Eyring: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/17eyring?lang=eng

Influential Media:

1. It's a Wonderful Life

Clip- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnV8Q6a41fI

2. The Ten Commandments-

Clip- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUm6rC0o7Po