If I were Sunday School President...

In this era of ADD and sensory overload there are very few things that can still manage to capture the attention of the "average Joe". The obvious exception is the top 10 list. We can come up a list, anything from best movies to most boring speeches from the 67th session of Congress, and we will be assured that it will draw the attention, ire and admiration of this attention deficient audience. The list is the equivalent of the hamburger; cheap, easy, and an object in which everyone has an opinion. And since we are all about conveniently summarizing things, such as our years, we are subject to myriad lists each December and January.

To keep with this theme I've decided to generate a 10 ten list of potential LDS Sunday School lessons. Our ward recently changed times and I rue prospect of dealing with the afternoon slot. I'm considering a move to the neighboring Lutheran congregation unless someone offers to teach one of these classes.

Top 10 Lessons not found in an LDS approved manual

1. Cain, the White Horse prophesy, obscure comments from Brigham Young, and the truth behind Mormon urban legends.
   
2. 101 Ways to replicate the Cafe Rio menu for your next ward gathering.
   
3. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, and the need for improved institutional oversight.
   
4. How to successfully prepare a lesson with less then three references to your mission.
   
5. Mormon Profiteering: 10 easy steps to side step trademark laws in coming up with merchandising ideas for Deseret Book.
   
6. Culture Shock: A deeper look into life in Utah County and the oddities of Mormon culture.
   
7. Awake!: How to confound a Jehovah's Witness in 4 verses or less.
8. Neighborly Relations: How to peacefully confront and diffuse the awkward conversation from the family in the ward who is pushing Quixtar.
9. Real Estate opportunities in Jackson County, Missouri.
10. Gerald Lund, his writings, and a case for canonizing the "Work and the Glory" series.

Did I miss anything?

Happy Hour for Mormons

We Mormons have a somewhat paradoxical relationship when it comes to dietary habits and eating out. We love to trumpet the healthy results of living sober and tobacco free but point us in the direction of the nearest chuck-wagon buffet and watch us go to town on the stronganoff or meaty casserole. I think that's why certain restaurants resonate within the Latter-Day community. We devour the portions and the faux "upscale" dining experience of the Cheesecake Factory. We dive into the healthy portions of sweet pork at the Cafe Rio. We'll double up the double-double at the In-And Out. In short, we like our food, we like it in family sized portions, and we like it cheap.

Let me make a recommendation to all of you folks within the covenant. This suggestion marries the value that you crave with some tasty meals that you covet. It might require that you step outside of your meat and potato comfort zone. It will force you to leave the suburban ease of the nearest Chil's in favor of the more urban cosmopolitan haunts. But here it is. Drive into downtown and sample the happy hour cuisine of one of the local restaurants.

Happy Hour?

Yessir, you got it right. Look beyond the traditional connotation associated with the word and think with me. After I make my case you should agree with me that this is a rich culinary vein that has not really been mined by the Mormon community. Here is the simple dining formula.

1. Opportunity to try great new food at fancy new restaurants.
2. Opportunity to get that food at exceptional prices.
3. Get it all done early so that you don't need to pay much for your babysitter.
4. Wonderful opportunity for you to observe the debauchery "great and spacious" world that you can use for future Sunday School lessons.

Case in point. Jodi and I recently went to Trader Vic's in the upscale, boutique part of Scottsdale. On a typical night you would expect to pay between $30 and $60 per person. Great food, yes. But not worth the hassle when you've got to put three kids through little league soccer and Applebee's is running their "Two for $20" promotion. Enter Happy Hour. We dine at 6pm and we eat Duck, Gourmet Burger, Virgin MaiTai, and Hummus all for $18. That's how you eat.

So every week you try a new place. You get some incredible dishes. You broaden your horizons. And since you don't drink you end up getting some great deals.

Olive and Ivy is our current favorite place. Take a look at the top of menu. Now picture all of those great dishes and appetizers at $3-$8 a pop. Now we're talking.

So go ahead. Take the drive downtown. Try some fancy new dishes. Live it up. Consider it a missionary experience....no consider it a wonderful opportunity to broaden the sensibilities of your under worked palates.

What can Dusty Bottoms teach us about Faith?

Three Amigos! is one of those movies that is a veritable treasure trove of memorable quotes and wisdom. Perhaps in 200 years it will be studied by students of literature and philosophy alike. As I was preparing for the upcoming LDS General Conference I found myself leaning once again on this venerable work. This time the subject was faith.

Let me set the scene..........

We are at the mid point of the movie and our dashing Amigos have hit a serious road block. The "INFAMOUS" El Guapo has sacked the village of Santa Poco and has made off with the fair maiden. With the stirring words of Lucky Day spurring them on they have resolved to confront the "INFAMOUS" El Guapo and defend the rights and honor of this small village. They do, however, have one huge problem. They do not know where the lair of El Guapo is and their only direction will be supplied by the "Invisible Swordsman"



A series of steps needed to be precisely followed in order to summon the swordsman and ultimately to receive the directions. While the other two faithfully recite their required lines Dusty incredulously believes this is insane. He complains and half heartedly executes (no pun intended) his requirements. We all know what the end result was. The horseman is killed because Dusty was going through the motions and not following the steps precisely. Those darn Amigos had to find another route to El Guapo.

What does this have to do with General Conference and Faith you ask?

How many of us have been given the standard "read the scriptures, obey the commandments, and pray" response when confronted with a matter of faith? I've lived my life long enough and have had my share of issues; this always seems to be the standard prescription. Sometimes this has worked and other times it has failed miserably? The big difference why? Faith my friends. I must truly believe that my actions will result in the outcome that I am righteously hoping for. Otherwise, like Dusty's assassination of the swordsman, our actions won't yield their desired fruit.

This idea is especially pertinent to me right now. Faith is something that I've been struggling with. It was under these circumstances that I prepared for Conference. And the result was fruitful. Jodi and I were both rewarded with a bevvy of talks that we feel address some of the concerns, issues, and hopes that we have right now.

I feel much better about faith right now and I offer my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Dusty Bottoms for elucidating a key aspect of it to me through the gift of Cinema. Yet another reason to love this movie.

Utah and then some

Went up to Utah for some fun with Jodi's family. Throw in some Jensens and a few Skutch and call it memorable.

Highlights included:

• An afternoon on Utah Lake. No carp or bloated cows spotted in water.



• Mountain biking up American Fork canyon with the brother-in-laws. The trail was exceptionally scenic but somewhat brutal. I am blaming my performance on the altitude. It's incredible to think that Megan will be climbing this road during the Tour of Utah.



• A visit to 'the BYU'. That place is under perpetual construction. Still was nice to visit a few areas that furnished some great memories.


• Every day filled with great meals. The culinary feast culminated with our gourmet foil dinners that were enjoyed in the 'forest'.



• Midway with the family. Always a great destination....a shame that we missed Swiss Days.



• Lunch with the friends.

Saturday afternoon

I'm currently at the library doing some consulting work. But the task is becoming too difficult as I'm listening to the Funeral of the Prophet over the internet.

(Kind of how I feel right now)

Farewell to "our" Prophet

With the recent passing of President Gordon B. Hinckley I began to take stock of the role that his example has played in my life. One of my friends said that President Hinckley meant so much to him because he was the prophet during the period in his life when his testimony came of age and began to mean something to him. I have to completely agree with that. He has been the prophet during just about every milestone in my life. He will be sorely missed.

So I’ve begun the process of looking through old journals and conference talks, highlighting certain themes that have resonated with me through my various journeys and struggles. Above all there is one moment that stands out in my life. The time that he made a surprise visit to my mission.

I had been out for about a year. We were notified that Elder Holland was going to make a visit to one of the cities in the mission and speak. For several weeks we made an effort to publicize the event and organize caravans to the sort of distant town of Edinburg, some 5 hours away. To be honest I remember that the response to the invitation was somewhat tepid. It seemed like a long way for people to be driving. After much effort we were able to get 3 or 4 buses prepared for the journey. I remember being somewhat disappointed that we couldn’t get many people signed up for the trip. I also remember being very excited to hear an apostle in my remote part of the vineyard and for the chance to run into a few mission buddies.

The weekend of the event arrived. The missionaries left early so that we could attend a special training session with Elder Holland and Busche that Saturday night. The ride down almost felt like a road trip. A bunch of young men working to suppress the world and focus on missionary work. Soon enough the conversation drifted towards girls, life back home, and other conversations from a distant world that we no longer belonged to. There was almost a feeling of spring break amongst us; a brief respite from our hard efforts.

We arrived in McAllen late that afternoon and were quickly shuttled off to the nearest Stake Center for training. I’m sure that our leaders were somewhat frustrated because we were so eager to renew old acquaintances rather then to learn. Quickly gossip started to spread that the Prophet was going to be present for the big speech in the morning. I quickly dismissed the gossip because it was coming from the same Elders who gossiped about everything and anything. The leaders soon got a hold of the situation and we were caroled into the meeting room.

As soon as we sat down something changed. I remember feeling a palpable and tangible energy. It was a buzz that caused my heart to speed up and hair to stand on end. The rumors of a visit from President Hinckley persisted….but now they seemed real. We began to sing hymns in anticipation of the arrival of Elder Holland. We probably sang 10 hymns in a row. It didn’t matter because all of us felt this incredible energy.

And then all of the sudden we caught a glimpse of an old familiar face entering in through a back door. Without hesitation we stood up and sang in unison, “We Thank Thee o God for A Prophet”. I have never sung with that much emotion or conviction. I couldn’t help but weep with joy. I looked around and everyone else was in the same exuberant emotional state that I was as well.

He took to the podium and called the meeting to order. The first thing that he wanted to do was to meet us all in person. For the next 20 or so minutes we all walked outside into the foyer and were able to shake his hand and say hello. It was an absolutely incredible experience.

The evening carried on and I was completely enveloped by his presence. I don’t remember exactly what he said or what doctrine he shared. I know that he offered some kind words of encouragement. He could have been speaking about Kolob for all I cared. It was the feeling that I will remember. It was on that night that my testimony of living Prophets became cemented.

I have heard him speak several times and even interacted with him on a couple of occasions but nothing will ever come close to that evening while I was a missionary. I have never felt feelings like that with that kind of intensity ever since.

I don’t laud or admire President Hinckley just because he wore the mantel of Prophet. His character alone demands adulation irregardless of his standing within the church. He was so approachable, so wise, and so kind, so giving. In short he was the kind of person that you would, without hesitation, be proud to associate yourself with. He was my Prophet in the very same way that he was your Prophet. It seemed like we all had a personal relationship with President Gordon B Hinckley.

LDS Feminists

One of my friends recently sent the following link, http://whatwomenknow.org, and asked for my thoughts. I suppose to better understand what it means you should read a recent General Conference talk given by Sister Julie Beck of the Relief Society and the carefully chosen words of the women who signed and issued the statement on the website.

While I agree with a lot of what was said I have to question the way in which these people issued their concerns. By going to the trouble of calling out a specific talk and then signing their names it seems like they've drawn a pretty strong and definite line in the sand. I couldn't help but think that there would have to be a better way to deal with these "slights" then to publicly call out someone like that.

I can sort of understand the motivations for these statements but I don't necessarily agree with them. It appears evident that these women feel that their chosen lifestyles have been called into question by the church. It seems like they want the church to confirm to their chosen lifestyle, not the other way around. I might be wrong but that's the way it appears. I have done this before but haven't gone to these lengths.

I don't know what is going to happen here. Maybe it will spur some debate within the church. Maybe some people will be censured. Maybe things remain the same. I doubt that. Members of the church are becoming more educated and more independent. It's almost as if the church is just one of many membership cards that we now hold.

Recent Church Talk

I was recently asked to speak at church in my new singles ward. I guess it is rather interesting considering that I am not even a member of the ward. Here is the text of the talk I gave. I ended up shelving the talk in favor of following a more rough outline.

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Brother Swenson has asked me to offer some thoughts regarding General Conference last week; particularly on the importance of following the prophet. Using the talk titled “Becoming Wise unto Salvation” by Elder John E. Fowler as a guide I will share a few remarks.
We are all here more or less doing the same thing. We are having a mortal experience and learning to use our free agency in order to find the true happiness that will ultimately lead us to Celestial glory. But thanks to free agency, temptation, and sin that clear vision can oftentimes get muddied down in things that slow our progress or even bring misery. This whole notion was made clear to me on a recent trip to a music festival in Austin, Texas. While this trip gave me the opportunity to sample some world class music and food it also allowed me to observe some people who have, perhaps, lost sight of the plan of salvation or of values in general. Between all of the free loving hippies, pot smoking teenagers, and strange smelling Europeans I was exposed to a multitude of differing philosophies and outlooks on life; most of them differing from those of the Latter-day Saint persuasion. I was reminded of the scripture in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 that was recently quoted by Elder L. Tom Perry in last week’s general conference.
“The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears…And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”


That scripture does a masterful job of illustrating the feeling of “relativity” that exists in our age. We live in a world that no longer values a true sense of right and wrong. It has become a day of “everyone’s” philosophy for themselves. There is no certainty, they say, it all depends on where you stand. This is not a wise point of view, we know better then this.
As we struggle to make our way through this maze of uncertainty we have been given certain aids to help us along our journey. These things are fixed and unchanging and we are to grasp on to them if we are to stabilize our lives. The principle source of this aid comes from the counsel of both modern and ancient prophets. These chosen vessels of the Lord understand his will and receive inspiration as it pertains to our people. General Conference is our designated time to receive this counsel.
Before I continue with my remarks let me share a statement from Elder Fowlers 1992 talk that underscores the importance of General Conference.
“Do members of the church truly understand the importance of the messages spoken from this pulpit in general conference session held in the tabernacle? Do they understand their responsibility to “hear the voice of the Lord through his servants? For certainly whether by the Lord’s voice or by the voice of his servants it is the same.”

I don’t know about you but there is something calming and comfortable about General Conference. It doesn’t matter where you are at in the world or in your life there’s just a feeling during that weekend that this is where you need to be. It’s like coming home from a long trip and being greeted by an old friend. We long to hear President Monson share another incredible story or quote Shenandoah for the 16th time. We feel so absolutely assured hearing President Hinckley offer sage advice. We feel a slight twinge of guilt as Elder Scott peers into our souls and teaches us doctrine that, while maybe hard, is nonetheless true. The messages shared with us are familiar but they resonate. And to those who apply them they are a source of immense happiness.
For me General Conference is about feeling….feeling this sense of “everything is going to be alright if I just listen and do what they say”. It is sometimes difficult to have a concrete grasp of their messages upon the first listen and oftentimes one talk can blend into the other. That’s why we have six months between sessions so that we can study them and discover how they apply to our own personal salvation. I would like to spend the rest of my talk discussing how I’ve prepared for General Conference and how I’ve learned to get the most from the weekend.
Preparation:
First things first, we need to come prepared to hear. Since we can now view conference from the comfort and convenience of our own couch we have the tendency to treat this as any other program we’d watch on TV. Sometimes I attend out of habit. Meaning I show up in my pajamas, get a bowl of cereal, casually listen, and wait for someone from the General Primary leadership to speak so that I can sneak in a nap. The results are very little gained but a stiff neck, lost time, and a wasted opportunity. A very wise bishop once counseled me to pray specifically that I might receive answers during General Conference to questions or issues that I was struggling with. This focused my attention and allowed me to receive the personal revelation regarding my life.
So in short we need to come prepared to listen. A lot of power of these messages rests in their subtlety. To the unprepared listener they appear to be routine and redundant but to the humble and ready ear they are the exact message that needs to be heard. If we are not in the right stand of mind or humility we might pass up a lot of the best opportunities to learn.
Attention:
Once we are prepared we are ready to listen, to really listen. Oftentimes there are many distractions to take our attention away from the subtleties of the message. I’ve noticed that I’m able to get more from conference when I actually get dressed up and head over to the church and listen. Less donuts but better results.
1 Kings 19:11-12 states:
“And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake;
And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”
It’s through quiet contemplation and attention that we are able to hear the whisperings of the spirit. These whisperings can come as quickly as they go so we need to ensure that we capture these insights as soon as they are received. These impressions can often take root and become sound principles that we can build from.
Revisiting the topic:
Conference goes as quickly as it came and we are soon left with a few impressions and some bad Pomory’s commercials. We obviously don’t have big enough nets to catch the entire deluge of what is shared during conference so we have the next six months to ponder and apply those principles that are especially pertinent to our lives.
We know our own lives, our own circumstances, our own weaknesses, our own yearnings. When we study the conference messages with that understanding we are able to be richly rewarded with specific counsel for our unique set of circumstances. Sometimes we might listen to a talk five or six times before we are able to glean the intended message. Sometimes the wonderful insights that we obtained are completely lost on someone else. Each of us is unique and though the gospel of Jesus Christ is universal it can be felt and learned in different ways.
Here are some insights that I received from recent conference talks. Most of them are based on the April session because I have only begun to digest the remarks from last week. Perhaps you felt the same way perhaps you learned something completely different.
· From Elder Holland I learned that I am truly not alone. And that, regardless of what difficulties I am facing in my life, I will always have a loving Savior who can understand and succor me.
· I learned about true humility and learning to become like a child from Elder Eyring. This talk offered me a pattern from which to make a very important decision in my life.
· Elder Hales taught me about the amazing gift of free agency and the enormous impact for both good and evil that our decisions can have on ourselves and others. His story that recounted his experience with President Spencer W. Kimball and his remarks regarding our ability to withstand Satan left a profound mark on me.
· Elder Packer used the example of Corianton to illustrate the how the law of justice and mercy work in our lives.
· President Monson, always the storyteller, used the Tongan makefeki to illustrate just how dangerous certain sins can be if we don’t make the necessary effort to avoid them.

These are just a few examples of some of the recent talks that made a measurable impact on me during the last six months. They will not soon be forgotten because I made the effort to allow them to be studied and applied towards my life.
In closing I want to testify that the teachings and counsel offered during General Conference represent one of our best opportunities to combat the sin and uncertainty that we face today.

Testimony---

Sunday Thoughts

It's Sunday evening and instead of laying in bed and trying to satisfy myself with whatever cable television has on, most likely weekend stalwarts such as Die Hard or Speed, I opted to spend some quiet time in the office. Sunday is a day of peace and reflection and sometimes I feel like I let the tv get in the way.
Today was a good day. I was able to spend alot of time with Alexandra. She is really starting to show some personality and is now smiling rather liberally. I was also able to spend some good time preparing my Sunday School lesson the importance of families. Church was good, the usual Sunday lineup of high council speakers was broken up with a missionary homecoming. Dinner was a very tasty and tender pot roast, venerable american sunday tradition. We even had one of our good friends over. All of these things are what make Sundays the most enjoyable day of the week.
Now I can quietly read and get myself ready for another week. I still think I can get more out of my Sundays but I am happy at the progress that has been made. I don't give myself enough time like this, truly a shame. The best thoughts and moments of learning come at quiet times when one is free from the distractions of every day life. Thats why I need to take Sunday observance more importantly, I don't want to rob myself of these benefits.

The Sunday Dilemma

The NFL is my favorite sport/league. It has been ever since the Jazz faded into oblivion. But my love for this sport has never really had a chance to blossom. Why? Sunday football. As long as games are played on Sunday I will always watch with a strong feeling of guilt.
Sunday's are designed to be a respite from the day to day grind of work and life. If executed properly a Sunday allows one to relax, regain perspective, and refuel for another week. Family time, quiet thought, church, and relaxation are key ingredients for this to happen. Through in the NFL into the mix and the whole cake gets half baked. Do you get my dilemma?
So what usually happens is that I will go to church and prepare my lessons but my thoughts will be on how the Cowboys are performing. Hence I will be "going the motions" on both things. I can't really get into the season; but more importantly, I am short changing myself of the benefits associated with proper Sabbath observance.
As I really dissected my love for football I realized something. Most of my interest in the sport peaks in the obsession. This is attributed to the fact that I can control the time I give to the sport and can avoid Sunday watching. Plus, every team has a chance when everyone's record is 0-0.
Anyways, I am at an interesting crossroads. I know what direction I need to take but I regret having to say goodbye to to a life long friend. I am afraid that I will demote myself to a casual NFL fan in order to regain the real blessings of Sunday.

Gadianton Jihad

Just an observation from my scripture reading, nothing more.

The books of Helaman and early 3rd Nephi contain many passages that detail the problems created by the dark and secret works of the Gadianton Robbers. This clandestine group worked in the shadows and constantly thwarted the efforts of the government and church, even to the point of quietly controlling key government posts. While it didn't appear that they were able to influence to most righteous saints, they were able to get to the vast majority whose faith wasn't as strong.

The actions and tactics of this group caught my attention, given what is currently going on in the Middle East. While their motives might be different, Al Queda appears to use many of the same techniques employed anciently by the robbers. The most striking similarity is how they employ quiet and guerilla tactics, blending in among the people and using unconventional warfare. They both appeared to be extremely devoted to their cause, to the point of employing fear and elaborate rituals to ensure loyalty. I won't go as far to say that Satan is the author of Al Queda but both groups were set on the destruction of their enemy, the US now and the Church in ancient times.

This observation isn't too significant but it has shown me that human nature is virtually the same, regardless of place or time. The problems, tendencies, conditions that existed thousands of years ago still exist today. That is why I can read the writings of ancient prophets and still benefit from their teachings. The fundamental aspects of life are always the same.

A thought regarding the apostacy

I have been spending a lot of time with the missionaries these days. This has given me plenty of opportunities to particpate in the lessons they teach. It has been very rewarding. Recent changes in the lesson/discussion structure has included the apostacy and restoration as some of the first principles that people are taught. The first lesson, as taught by local elders, is longer and discusses more complex ideas then I was accustomed to teaching while an elder.
It was during one of these recent first lessons, or discussions or whatever they are called these days, that I was struck with a thought. Not a thought that would in anyway shake my testimony, but a thought that raised an issue that I don't feel has really been addressed. I am hoping that some of the occassional and silent watchers of this page- namely Bell and Gar- will help me with this.
We were at the point in the lesson where the apostacy and restoration were brought up. The elders were discussing what comprised a dispensation and what it meant to be in a state of apostacy. The next few minutes were spent teaching about the rejection of the early apostles and the darkness created by the apostacy. I got to thinking. According to our calculations and understanding of time, we have inhabited this earth for something like six or seven thousand years. (Gar correct me if I'm wrong) Why would the lord allow for such a long apostacy when that period of roughly 1,700 years would account for something like 25% of our existence on earth? That equals millions of people who never even had the blessings of the church and priesthood in their lifetimes.
It seems hard for me to think that a perfectly executed plan would include such a long period of time where there was little eternal progress. I realize that the millenium and temple work will help all of these people out. I also realize that, compared to the answers provided by mainstream religion, this one makes much more sense. This thought doesn't really shake my faith, it's just something I want to better understand.

One of my callings in church is to help out with home teaching. While, on the whole, our quorum is tight and headed in the right direction we still have an issue with making our visits. Our stats for August were atrotious and the responses that I received on the phone were apathetic at best. So today I had the uneviable task of trying to stir up some response regarding this important and overlooked calling.
The response we received was slightly warmer then the tepidness I have been getting over the phone. One of the brothers went as far as to dispute one of the scriptures that we read, D&C 20:52, on the grounds that the responsibility to watch over the members belonged to the teachers and not elders. We were blunt with the assessment of our performance and I sensed some people were defensive. I have never understood the "my life is too busy and my families too unreachable" mentality that prevails in some quoroms. Hometeaching is a simple gesture that goes along way in helping members, less active or otherwise, feel fellowship and a little spirit. I apreciated the strong and heartfelt endorsement from the quorum president, I feel it validated our message and offered another testimony.
Anyways, we do love our new ward. We do a good job of being inclusive with everyone who attends. There is much to be proud of, but also, much that still needs to be done. We are in a good position to contribute.

Thoughts from church

I truly enjoy the ward that we attend. There is an amazing diversity in its membership. We have one of the wealthiest areas, the country club, and one of the poorest areas, in south Phoenix, within our boundaries. We are a culturally, spiritually, economically, ideologically diverse group of people... all seeking to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I think that this diversity makes this an understanding and unpretentious ward. We are honestly seeking to help one another learn and develop spiritually. It probably wouldn't have been our first choice, had we been given one, but it is where we need to be. There are so many opportunities to serve and be served and so many people that can benefit from our testimony. I am now a ward missionary, there are hundreds of opportunities here, and I haven't felt this involved since my mission.
The services were good today. There was an emphasis placed on temple work and genealogy. This is an area that we have put a low priority on so it served as a wake up call. While no earth shattering comments or statements were made, the quiet reassurance of some familiar doctrine was all that I needed to feel compelled to improve.
I am now reading the current First Presidency message concerning role of mothers and fathers in families. This is a very critical and pertinent subject, given the current trends in our society. President Faust was very clear with his message. A child should be raised and nourished by both a mother and a father who are equally Yoked and led by the priesthood. This stands opposed to current notions of latch key kids, single parent families, and irresponsibility. I am so grateful that we have inspired leaders to give us guidance and reassurance during such turbulent times.

LDS Cinema

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a showing of the "Testaments" with the missionaries, an investigator, and a recently reactivated member. Overall the experience was superb and the investigator came away with a better appreciation of the Book of Mormon. The Temple Visitors Center is an amazing resource to have for the missionaries.
But, I came away with a couple of reservations. They was nothing that would affect my testimony...maybe just a couple of comments about the way in which the movie was presented. To me these things somehow detracted from the spirit of the message. Here they are:

- Though Christ and his visit to the America's is the central theme of the movie, there are too many unnecessary subplots that detract from it. The inclusion of a cheesy love story kind of cheapens the experience for me and made it appear that the movie was trying to entertain as much as it was trying to testify of Christ. There were even a couple attempts of comedy.
- The above mentioned observation coupled with the cinematography and other affects made the story appear more like a full blown movie then films that the Church typically produces. If this is the case than I feel like I should judge it the same way I judge a movie that I see at the local theatre. If that is the case then I have to give it a low grade for its lack of character development, thin plot, and low quality cinematography.
- I didn't feel the spirit as strongly as I have in other church films and even as I have felt in secular movies that are currently available. This might be attributed somewhat to the fact that I was making those observations and not focusing on Christ.

While I applaud the church for making an effort to use the media to express certain Gospel truths, I do believe that they would be better served by sharing it directly rather then trying to include it in a fictional story.

Just some thoughts......the church is still true.