Home
News & People
Mormon Voices
Arts & Entertainment
Around The Church
Studies & Doctrine
Mormon Living
Emily Jensen updates “Today in the Bloggernacle” every weekday, containing the best of what we've seen from the world of LDS-oriented blog sites.
The extended “Bloggernacle Back Bench” is published Tuesdays.
Friday, July 24
Global pioneers: Happy Pioneer Day! The Bloggernacle traditionally turns to both the past and present in producing posts on pioneer heritage. And I loved this post on "Remembering and Celebrating Our Global History" by guest blogger Reid Nielson.
He discusses historian Andrew Jenson's efforts to "expand the historical awareness of church members" and explains "Latter-day Saints need to realize that much of our most interesting history has occurred abroad. We must remember that the "restoration" of the gospel occurs every time a new country is dedicated by apostolic authority for proselyting."
Comical pioneers: In honor of "Pioneer Day," here is a delightful comic depicting some humorous aspects of the pushing and pulling. Be sure to click on it to get the full-sized effect!
Thursday, July 23
Church library: Report card time. At least for the new Church History Library and Ardis E. Parshall pulls no punches in her grading: appearance gets an A, security gets a B, the catalog... well, Adris says a technological glitch is causing a problem there. And check out more grades on the "Church History Library: First Month Report Card."
Great expectations: What do you expect from the church? Scott B. looks at this question that is often discussed in the Bloggernacle and turns it on its head, instead explaining that "I Expect More Out of Myself." He turns back to his missionary days as well as to the scriptures and realizes that "membership in the church is about giving, not getting." Click for more of his insightful analysis.
Open house: When I first started reading the post "Surviving a Temple Open House," I thought the blogger was talking about surviving in the sense of "we-survived-even-with-an-ansty-little-boy." However, it became much more apparent that this was truly surviving when you see the pictures of the blown out tire on their car. Check out their harrowing adventure!
Lost translation: Ever used an online translator? While fun, they are not always the most accurate of tools, illustrated hilariously at this blog post "You're a Robe and Walking Stick." I specifically liked the Klingon translation. Fun!
Wednesday, July 22
Modern pioneers: Let your soul be stirred by watching "Pioneers: Followers of Jesus Christ" the marvelous new Mormon Messages video by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Learn of sacrifice and challenges and how pioneers, both past and modern, "take up their crosses daily and follow Him."
Mormon fly: It's more "Mormon" creatures. This time Edje Jeter discusses "What Put the 'Mormon' in 'Mormon Fly'." It's a mayfly that lives in the Midwest and you'll learn more than you thought possible by clicking, including this tidbit: "Legend has it that when we kicked out Joseph Smith and followers from Illinois, they put a curse on the river and Mormon flies were the result." Whoa! And while you're there, check out this introduction to the coming month-long blog series "Perspectives on Parley Pratt's Autobiography." It'll be "one month, 10 posts, 10 authors, and 10 different topics" all on autobiography or Parley P. Pratt or both. Looks to be fascinating!
The float: Yesterday I highlighted Robinson Wells' obsession with working on a pioneer parade float, and today you get the sequel: "The Float Again," and this time there are photos. And wow, obsession plus inspiration plus a bunch of hard work really paid off!
Tuesday, July 21
Mother-in-law regrets: "Some mistakes we discover too late to remedy. I expect I shall always regret having spent so very many years fearing (for no good reason), to respond to the open hand of friendship offered by this remarkable woman." So concludes a touching and fascinating but sad post on missing out on a relationship with her "Mother In Law." A good lesson for everyone.
Visiting teaching: Is there an age gap with visiting teaching? Is it better for young sisters to visit teach those close to their age and similarly with older women? So asks this post that looks into the dynamics of visiting teaching. This blogger feels that older sisters are less likely to trust her to serve them. Check out all the experiences throughout the comments.
Monday, July 20
Smashed together: I heard this theory in seminary, the idea that "Many worlds were smashed together to make this one." But this BYU scientist says wait a minute, "let's step back and think about this" and proceeds to provide four points that dissect the theory, leaving it to look unreasonable. Fascinating!
Forever Strong: I haven't had the chance to watch Forever Strong yet, but after reading "Mormonness and Other Phenomena in the DVD release of Forever Strong," I'm curious to see how it fits the mold of a personal conversion story. And it encompasses the themes of repentance and redemption. Cool!
Child yearnings: "Over the years, I have learned to revise my dreams of a family. I started out wishing for a happy, noisy family of four or five kids. Then, as the years went on, I thought three kids would be wonderful. Later, I decided two kids would be a blessing. Eventually, I knew even one would be a miracle. And now I am staring at a future devoid of a family of my own, and I just don't know how to revise my dreams anymore." This is just a glimpse at this heartbreaking post from one single woman who is "Mourning the Children Who Never Were." Sweetly, there are words of comfort and peace scattered throughout the comments.
Great team: "Together and Apart" begins by telling a love story that is familiar in many ways: two returned missionaries meet, have similar classes at BYU, get engaged and then marry. They even share callings at church such as nursery leaders and ward missionaries. Fast forward two years into the marriage when the wife finds out that her husband has "serious doubts about the church." What follows is a poignant post about how one couple works to stay on the same team amidst differing beliefs.
Friday, July 17
2010 Primary: Get a glimpse of the "2010 Primary Theme: I Know My Savior Lives." And this blogger says, "The new book is an improvement over years past -- you'll be excited when you see it! It's written much like 'Preach My Gospel.'" Click to find out more.
Scriptural message: Be one of the first to view Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's testimony of the scriptural canon featured in the beautiful new Mormon Messages video: "God's Words Never Cease: The Bible, the Book of Mormon and Continuing Revelation." Lovely.
Turning hearts: Often one associates Malachi 4:6 with family history work, but in this blog post, Norbert realizes that as he and his father both get older and their roles somewhat reverse, that their hearts are turning to each other. Read this beautifully poignant account of "Fathers and Hearts."
FAIR helps: "In what will hopefully become a recurring feature on the FAIR blog, we present a list of issues that could come up as you teach or participate in your ward's gospel doctrine class. Each issue is linked to an examination and response by FAIR." Cool! Check out this wonderful new resource from FAIR for studying or preparing to teach Sunday School lessons: "Gospel Doctrine apologetics: D&C lesson 27."
Thursday, July 16 :
Cynocephalus mormon: Papio Mormon (Rib-nosed Baboon, Mandrill). Mormoops megalophylla (Ghost-faced Bat). Mormosaurus seeleyi (Mormosaurus). These and other fascinating creatures share a variant of the "mormos" label because before the word Mormon became associated with the LDS Church, it was a zoological term which meant "having the appearance of a hideous monster." Check out these amazing mormos animals (including pictures) at "All God's Creatures, Including Mormos." My personal favorite is the Papilio polymnestor (Blue Mormon) butterfly.
Temple fireside: I love blog notes from interesting presentations; it's just such a great use of the technology! Case in point, likely you missed "'The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God' Notes from Dr. Peterson's Fireside" held last Sunday, but you can click to check out these detailed notes of his presentation (including illustrations). Learn about temple symbolism, ascent stories, building structure and so much more.
Harry Potter: Yesterday's Harry Potter movie opening got BiV wondering about the "role of fantasy and the magic world view in the lives of Mormons." And it prompted this mesmerizing post on "Harry Potter, the Supernatural and Modern Mormonism." She reckoned that the reason why "Mormons do not feel threatened by fantasy and literature with magical themes is that they draw a strong delineation between this type of fiction and real life. And in this I see a giant step away from our nineteenth century religious origins... Though we hesitate to claim supernatural abilities for ourselves, we are constrained to believe the mystical experiences of our forebears." Intriguing!
Wednesday, July 15
Staying home: Life throws curveballs as Tracy M. and her family found out when her husband was laid off from his job. Eighteen months later, he is still without work and she chronicles their current situation at "Husband Wife Man Woman." She explains: "We are still planning and trying everything we can to find gainful employment -- but in the meantime, we have learned some priceless lessons ... I know the self-esteem and boost to pride of getting paid for work; he knows the frustration and humility of doing 'housework.' I know the joy of coming home to my kids and a husband I love; he knows the relief and happiness when I walk in that it's no longer all him." Click for more fascinating observations!
MHA 2010: "The Home and the Homeland: Families in Diverse Mormon Traditions." Doesn't that sound like an intriguing conference theme? If you have scholarship to contribute, then ready your paper proposals! Check out more information on the "MHA 2010: Call for Papers."
Mission recipes: What a cute and informative idea for a blog: Mission Recipes. Put together by a mom for her missionary son, it features cheap, fast and easy recipes. How to cook potatoes, beans, rice, casseroles, desserts and more. And there's even a post dedicated to a metric conversion chart. Hat tip to Dr. B for showcasing yet another great site!
Tuesday, July 14
Family history: It's been six months since a bird's eye view listed a new post, but wow, I love this new one. "Our Dead IV" takes the reader on a family history adventure into Dickensian England as this blogger traces part of the life of his great-great-great grandfather. And you know what? I think the grainy photos are the perfect accompaniment to this genealogical journey.
Manual analysis: We're into the last fourth of the Joseph Smith manual used for Relief Society and Priesthood, and the work is still being analyzed in the Bloggernacle. This time, BHodges uses a recent airing of the "Joseph Smith Papers" to study the sources used in compiling the manual. In "The Curriculum Department and the Search for the Authentic Joseph Smith" he quotes extensively from the show in discussing how scholars weighed the documents included in the manual. He also includes the classification system highlighted as an appendix. It's a fascinating way of looking at the teachings of Joseph Smith.
Monday, July 13
Ward changes: "When Are We 'In' A Ward?" asks this blogger while musing on some of the changes going on in his current ward. Looking back at some of his ward experiences, he realizes that "the lesson is that we do need to 'live in the world' just like we need to live and participate in the place where we happen to be, even if it is only temporary." Check out how he comes to understand how to foster ward unity through change.
Four T's: You've likely heard of the 6 B's (now 9) from President Hinckley, but have you heard of "The Four T’s" from President Monson? They are from a September 1997 message and are as follows: tears, trials, trust, testimony." Click to learn the "core message" behind these four T's.
Missionary hats: I was intrigued by this "Missionary Hats Show" and I wasn't disappointed. How interesting to focus on one item of clothing and how it has been worn throughout the history of missionary work. Some of the hats are functional, others cultural, others just fun. Check the headpieces out!
Great pictures: Be sneaky. Quantity is quality. These are two of the "6 Tips to Taking Great Pictures" included in this fun blog tutorial. It also has some fun photos to illustrate the explanations!
Friday, July 10
Own adventure: I love how this poster compared a lesson on growing peaches to reading the scriptures, all while keeping it in a "Choose Your Own Adventure: Experimenting on the Word" format. Check it out this insightful contemporary analogy.
Mary and Martha: This is one of the best interpretations of the story of Mary and Martha I have ever read. When two friends make very different choices, and sacrifices, who's the most "right"? Who's the "Mary" and who's the "Martha"? The answer is insightful: "I believe we were both Mary and both Martha. We are Mary when we let the Spirit tell us what is needful and correct in our lives and direct our lives accordingly, and we become like Martha when we try to validate our own good but difficult choices by comparing our decisions to those of others in an effort to prove that we made "the right choice." The right choice just isn't the same for all of us. Read more about "Healing Martha, Fortifying Mary."
Working at marriage: And for any considering divorce, you need to check out the video from Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the latest from Mormon Messages. It could save or help you re-evaluate your marriage.
Thursday, July 9
Mormon robots: Bishopric droids, ward clerk in a box, elder kiosks, and a robo-greeters -- these are a few creative ideas about combining "God and Robots" in a Mormon setting. And while I found the descriptions hilarious (as they were meant) I actually found myself nodding to the elder kiosks idea: "Put Elder Kiosk in every shopping mall and airport. 'Welcome, valued citizen. What would you like to know about the LDS Church?'" Fun and functional!
Brigham Young: A bit fed up with some of the negative comments she had seen about Brigham Young, Ardis E. Parshall decided to dedicate whole series of blogs to the 2nd church president. And "Random Reasons Why I Like Brigham Young: One" is the inaugural result. So what's reason one? "I like Brigham Young because he was a hands-on leader." Click in to read many examples of this admirable trait.
Happy Valley: Where is, exactly, Happy Valley? After reading this blog, I found out, no one really knows: "It can be BYU, Provo, Utah County, Salt Lake Valley, the Wasatch Front, Utah, the whole Mormon Culture Region. It can be mocking, ironic, humorous, or straightforward and can be because people are "really, really friendly"...and so on." Find out more in this intriguing study of "Irony and Identity in Happy Valley."
Mormon games: Interested in Mormon Game Design, then check out this fascinating podcast "Conversation with James H. Fullmer," game designer of Book of Mormon Battles and Warriors of the Promised Land. Find out why and how he designed his games and what he learned from the process. Cool!
Wednesday, July 8
Abandoning others: "During recess one day, several mischievous boys found a way to use multiple jumping ropes to tie Travis to a tree. He didn't cry, but his helpless eyes met mine as the recess bell sounded. We were being summoned back to our classroom. I was torn. The rules said I was supposed to go to class -- we got in trouble if we didn't obey the bell. But there was Travis, bound to a tree. Could I leave him? I walked backwards towards the school, then shouted, 'I'm sorry. The bell. Sorry.' I faced forward and ran back to class." And what a hard lesson she learned from "Abandoning my Friend." Click into this incredibly touching post and the subsequently insightful comments.
Trek diaries: If you are one of the wards or stakes preparing for a pioneer trek this year, you need to check out the ongoing series called "Trek Diaries" over at Beginnings New with tons of preparation tips and ideas. Or even if you're not going on a pioneer trek, the latest installment of "trek diaries: what women wore (and what I'm wearing)" is both educational and fascinating. Complete with pictures, this post teaches about shimmies, pantalettes, cage crinolines, snoods and more. Wow!
Diary entries: Ever gone back to read through your old diary pages? This blogger did, and transcribed a few for all of us to enjoy. Read a few of her marvelous "Pages from my diary #1." I loved the first one, from age 10: "After school mom said, 'Today Great Grandma Thacke died.' She's my moms dads mom or my grandpa's mom. She was 89 going on 90, well you know what? Up in heaven I will see her someday. Wherever she is, Hi!!!" Maybe these will inspire you to pull out and/or write your own stories!
Tuesday, July 7
Welfare operations: How much do you know about the bishops' storehouses? If you're a bishop, a service missionary, or have an opportunity to work at the storehouses, then you need to click over to "Bishops' Storehouses -- Training and Information Resources." First get an overview and learn the purpose and key activities of bishops' storehouses. Then check out all the informational videos and presentations on how to serve patrons or work with other volunteers. And finally, there are operation guides to read and print.
Capable Belgian: If you're in the mood to be very impressed (and maybe to be moved to tears) by the tenacity and hard work of an early 20th-century Belgian Latter-day Saint, then you need to read about "Hurbert Huysecom: 'I Did All I Could.'" Living in a war-torn area of Belgium, Huysecom took care of his little branch all during World War I. When church leaders and missionaries came back into the area and praised Huysecom's efforts, he humbly replied, "Oh, it was not much. I did all I could, but it was not much."
Date night: I don't know what's more delightful, that a married couple separately blogs about their ideas on a "Mormon Date Night" or all the date ideas and/or history of the "Mormon Date Night" in Mormon publications. Do you do a date night? Wish you could? Or do you disagree with institutionalizing the idea? See what you think about "He Said: Mormon Date Night" and "She Said: Mormon Date Night."
Friday, July 24
Global pioneers: Happy Pioneer Day! The Bloggernacle traditionally turns to both the past and present in producing posts on pioneer heritage. And I loved this post on "Remembering and Celebrating Our Global History" by guest blogger Reid Nielson.
He discusses historian Andrew Jenson's efforts to "expand the historical awareness of church members" and explains "Latter-day Saints need to realize that much of our most interesting history has occurred abroad. We must remember that the "restoration" of the gospel occurs every time a new country is dedicated by apostolic authority for proselyting."
Comical pioneers: In honor of "Pioneer Day," here is a delightful comic depicting some humorous aspects of the pushing and pulling. Be sure to click on it to get the full-sized effect!
Thursday, July 23
Church library: Report card time. At least for the new Church History Library and Ardis E. Parshall pulls no punches in her grading: appearance gets an A, security gets a B, the catalog... well, Adris says a technological glitch is causing a problem there. And check out more grades on the "Church History Library: First Month Report Card."
Great expectations: What do you expect from the church? Scott B. looks at this question that is often discussed in the Bloggernacle and turns it on its head, instead explaining that "I Expect More Out of Myself." He turns back to his missionary days as well as to the scriptures and realizes that "membership in the church is about giving, not getting." Click for more of his insightful analysis.
Open house: When I first started reading the post "Surviving a Temple Open House," I thought the blogger was talking about surviving in the sense of "we-survived-even-with-an-ansty-little-boy." However, it became much more apparent that this was truly surviving when you see the pictures of the blown out tire on their car. Check out their harrowing adventure!
Lost translation: Ever used an online translator? While fun, they are not always the most accurate of tools, illustrated hilariously at this blog post "You're a Robe and Walking Stick." I specifically liked the Klingon translation. Fun!
Wednesday, July 22
Modern pioneers: Let your soul be stirred by watching "Pioneers: Followers of Jesus Christ" the marvelous new Mormon Messages video by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. Learn of sacrifice and challenges and how pioneers, both past and modern, "take up their crosses daily and follow Him."
Mormon fly: It's more "Mormon" creatures. This time Edje Jeter discusses "What Put the 'Mormon' in 'Mormon Fly'." It's a mayfly that lives in the Midwest and you'll learn more than you thought possible by clicking, including this tidbit: "Legend has it that when we kicked out Joseph Smith and followers from Illinois, they put a curse on the river and Mormon flies were the result." Whoa! And while you're there, check out this introduction to the coming month-long blog series "Perspectives on Parley Pratt's Autobiography." It'll be "one month, 10 posts, 10 authors, and 10 different topics" all on autobiography or Parley P. Pratt or both. Looks to be fascinating!
The float: Yesterday I highlighted Robinson Wells' obsession with working on a pioneer parade float, and today you get the sequel: "The Float Again," and this time there are photos. And wow, obsession plus inspiration plus a bunch of hard work really paid off!
Tuesday, July 21
Mother-in-law regrets: "Some mistakes we discover too late to remedy. I expect I shall always regret having spent so very many years fearing (for no good reason), to respond to the open hand of friendship offered by this remarkable woman." So concludes a touching and fascinating but sad post on missing out on a relationship with her "Mother In Law." A good lesson for everyone.
Visiting teaching: Is there an age gap with visiting teaching? Is it better for young sisters to visit teach those close to their age and similarly with older women? So asks this post that looks into the dynamics of visiting teaching. This blogger feels that older sisters are less likely to trust her to serve them. Check out all the experiences throughout the comments.
Monday, July 20
Smashed together: I heard this theory in seminary, the idea that "Many worlds were smashed together to make this one." But this BYU scientist says wait a minute, "let's step back and think about this" and proceeds to provide four points that dissect the theory, leaving it to look unreasonable. Fascinating!
Forever Strong: I haven't had the chance to watch Forever Strong yet, but after reading "Mormonness and Other Phenomena in the DVD release of Forever Strong," I'm curious to see how it fits the mold of a personal conversion story. And it encompasses the themes of repentance and redemption. Cool!
Child yearnings: "Over the years, I have learned to revise my dreams of a family. I started out wishing for a happy, noisy family of four or five kids. Then, as the years went on, I thought three kids would be wonderful. Later, I decided two kids would be a blessing. Eventually, I knew even one would be a miracle. And now I am staring at a future devoid of a family of my own, and I just don't know how to revise my dreams anymore." This is just a glimpse at this heartbreaking post from one single woman who is "Mourning the Children Who Never Were." Sweetly, there are words of comfort and peace scattered throughout the comments.
Great team: "Together and Apart" begins by telling a love story that is familiar in many ways: two returned missionaries meet, have similar classes at BYU, get engaged and then marry. They even share callings at church such as nursery leaders and ward missionaries. Fast forward two years into the marriage when the wife finds out that her husband has "serious doubts about the church." What follows is a poignant post about how one couple works to stay on the same team amidst differing beliefs.
Friday, July 17
2010 Primary: Get a glimpse of the "2010 Primary Theme: I Know My Savior Lives." And this blogger says, "The new book is an improvement over years past -- you'll be excited when you see it! It's written much like 'Preach My Gospel.'" Click to find out more.
Scriptural message: Be one of the first to view Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's testimony of the scriptural canon featured in the beautiful new Mormon Messages video: "God's Words Never Cease: The Bible, the Book of Mormon and Continuing Revelation." Lovely.
Turning hearts: Often one associates Malachi 4:6 with family history work, but in this blog post, Norbert realizes that as he and his father both get older and their roles somewhat reverse, that their hearts are turning to each other. Read this beautifully poignant account of "Fathers and Hearts."
FAIR helps: "In what will hopefully become a recurring feature on the FAIR blog, we present a list of issues that could come up as you teach or participate in your ward's gospel doctrine class. Each issue is linked to an examination and response by FAIR." Cool! Check out this wonderful new resource from FAIR for studying or preparing to teach Sunday School lessons: "Gospel Doctrine apologetics: D&C lesson 27."
Thursday, July 16 :
Cynocephalus mormon: Papio Mormon (Rib-nosed Baboon, Mandrill). Mormoops megalophylla (Ghost-faced Bat). Mormosaurus seeleyi (Mormosaurus). These and other fascinating creatures share a variant of the "mormos" label because before the word Mormon became associated with the LDS Church, it was a zoological term which meant "having the appearance of a hideous monster." Check out these amazing mormos animals (including pictures) at "All God's Creatures, Including Mormos." My personal favorite is the Papilio polymnestor (Blue Mormon) butterfly.
Temple fireside: I love blog notes from interesting presentations; it's just such a great use of the technology! Case in point, likely you missed "'The Temple as a Place of Ascent to God' Notes from Dr. Peterson's Fireside" held last Sunday, but you can click to check out these detailed notes of his presentation (including illustrations). Learn about temple symbolism, ascent stories, building structure and so much more.
Harry Potter: Yesterday's Harry Potter movie opening got BiV wondering about the "role of fantasy and the magic world view in the lives of Mormons." And it prompted this mesmerizing post on "Harry Potter, the Supernatural and Modern Mormonism." She reckoned that the reason why "Mormons do not feel threatened by fantasy and literature with magical themes is that they draw a strong delineation between this type of fiction and real life. And in this I see a giant step away from our nineteenth century religious origins... Though we hesitate to claim supernatural abilities for ourselves, we are constrained to believe the mystical experiences of our forebears." Intriguing!
Wednesday, July 15
Staying home: Life throws curveballs as Tracy M. and her family found out when her husband was laid off from his job. Eighteen months later, he is still without work and she chronicles their current situation at "Husband Wife Man Woman." She explains: "We are still planning and trying everything we can to find gainful employment -- but in the meantime, we have learned some priceless lessons ... I know the self-esteem and boost to pride of getting paid for work; he knows the frustration and humility of doing 'housework.' I know the joy of coming home to my kids and a husband I love; he knows the relief and happiness when I walk in that it's no longer all him." Click for more fascinating observations!
MHA 2010: "The Home and the Homeland: Families in Diverse Mormon Traditions." Doesn't that sound like an intriguing conference theme? If you have scholarship to contribute, then ready your paper proposals! Check out more information on the "MHA 2010: Call for Papers."
Mission recipes: What a cute and informative idea for a blog: Mission Recipes. Put together by a mom for her missionary son, it features cheap, fast and easy recipes. How to cook potatoes, beans, rice, casseroles, desserts and more. And there's even a post dedicated to a metric conversion chart. Hat tip to Dr. B for showcasing yet another great site!
Tuesday, July 14
Family history: It's been six months since a bird's eye view listed a new post, but wow, I love this new one. "Our Dead IV" takes the reader on a family history adventure into Dickensian England as this blogger traces part of the life of his great-great-great grandfather. And you know what? I think the grainy photos are the perfect accompaniment to this genealogical journey.
Manual analysis: We're into the last fourth of the Joseph Smith manual used for Relief Society and Priesthood, and the work is still being analyzed in the Bloggernacle. This time, BHodges uses a recent airing of the "Joseph Smith Papers" to study the sources used in compiling the manual. In "The Curriculum Department and the Search for the Authentic Joseph Smith" he quotes extensively from the show in discussing how scholars weighed the documents included in the manual. He also includes the classification system highlighted as an appendix. It's a fascinating way of looking at the teachings of Joseph Smith.
Monday, July 13
Ward changes: "When Are We 'In' A Ward?" asks this blogger while musing on some of the changes going on in his current ward. Looking back at some of his ward experiences, he realizes that "the lesson is that we do need to 'live in the world' just like we need to live and participate in the place where we happen to be, even if it is only temporary." Check out how he comes to understand how to foster ward unity through change.
Four T's: You've likely heard of the 6 B's (now 9) from President Hinckley, but have you heard of "The Four T’s" from President Monson? They are from a September 1997 message and are as follows: tears, trials, trust, testimony." Click to learn the "core message" behind these four T's.
Missionary hats: I was intrigued by this "Missionary Hats Show" and I wasn't disappointed. How interesting to focus on one item of clothing and how it has been worn throughout the history of missionary work. Some of the hats are functional, others cultural, others just fun. Check the headpieces out!
Great pictures: Be sneaky. Quantity is quality. These are two of the "6 Tips to Taking Great Pictures" included in this fun blog tutorial. It also has some fun photos to illustrate the explanations!
Friday, July 10
Own adventure: I love how this poster compared a lesson on growing peaches to reading the scriptures, all while keeping it in a "Choose Your Own Adventure: Experimenting on the Word" format. Check it out this insightful contemporary analogy.
Mary and Martha: This is one of the best interpretations of the story of Mary and Martha I have ever read. When two friends make very different choices, and sacrifices, who's the most "right"? Who's the "Mary" and who's the "Martha"? The answer is insightful: "I believe we were both Mary and both Martha. We are Mary when we let the Spirit tell us what is needful and correct in our lives and direct our lives accordingly, and we become like Martha when we try to validate our own good but difficult choices by comparing our decisions to those of others in an effort to prove that we made "the right choice." The right choice just isn't the same for all of us. Read more about "Healing Martha, Fortifying Mary."
Working at marriage: And for any considering divorce, you need to check out the video from Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the latest from Mormon Messages. It could save or help you re-evaluate your marriage.
Thursday, July 9
Mormon robots: Bishopric droids, ward clerk in a box, elder kiosks, and a robo-greeters -- these are a few creative ideas about combining "God and Robots" in a Mormon setting. And while I found the descriptions hilarious (as they were meant) I actually found myself nodding to the elder kiosks idea: "Put Elder Kiosk in every shopping mall and airport. 'Welcome, valued citizen. What would you like to know about the LDS Church?'" Fun and functional!
Brigham Young: A bit fed up with some of the negative comments she had seen about Brigham Young, Ardis E. Parshall decided to dedicate whole series of blogs to the 2nd church president. And "Random Reasons Why I Like Brigham Young: One" is the inaugural result. So what's reason one? "I like Brigham Young because he was a hands-on leader." Click in to read many examples of this admirable trait.
Happy Valley: Where is, exactly, Happy Valley? After reading this blog, I found out, no one really knows: "It can be BYU, Provo, Utah County, Salt Lake Valley, the Wasatch Front, Utah, the whole Mormon Culture Region. It can be mocking, ironic, humorous, or straightforward and can be because people are "really, really friendly"...and so on." Find out more in this intriguing study of "Irony and Identity in Happy Valley."
Mormon games: Interested in Mormon Game Design, then check out this fascinating podcast "Conversation with James H. Fullmer," game designer of Book of Mormon Battles and Warriors of the Promised Land. Find out why and how he designed his games and what he learned from the process. Cool!
Wednesday, July 8
Abandoning others: "During recess one day, several mischievous boys found a way to use multiple jumping ropes to tie Travis to a tree. He didn't cry, but his helpless eyes met mine as the recess bell sounded. We were being summoned back to our classroom. I was torn. The rules said I was supposed to go to class -- we got in trouble if we didn't obey the bell. But there was Travis, bound to a tree. Could I leave him? I walked backwards towards the school, then shouted, 'I'm sorry. The bell. Sorry.' I faced forward and ran back to class." And what a hard lesson she learned from "Abandoning my Friend." Click into this incredibly touching post and the subsequently insightful comments.
Trek diaries: If you are one of the wards or stakes preparing for a pioneer trek this year, you need to check out the ongoing series called "Trek Diaries" over at Beginnings New with tons of preparation tips and ideas. Or even if you're not going on a pioneer trek, the latest installment of "trek diaries: what women wore (and what I'm wearing)" is both educational and fascinating. Complete with pictures, this post teaches about shimmies, pantalettes, cage crinolines, snoods and more. Wow!
Diary entries: Ever gone back to read through your old diary pages? This blogger did, and transcribed a few for all of us to enjoy. Read a few of her marvelous "Pages from my diary #1." I loved the first one, from age 10: "After school mom said, 'Today Great Grandma Thacke died.' She's my moms dads mom or my grandpa's mom. She was 89 going on 90, well you know what? Up in heaven I will see her someday. Wherever she is, Hi!!!" Maybe these will inspire you to pull out and/or write your own stories!
Tuesday, July 7
Welfare operations: How much do you know about the bishops' storehouses? If you're a bishop, a service missionary, or have an opportunity to work at the storehouses, then you need to click over to "Bishops' Storehouses -- Training and Information Resources." First get an overview and learn the purpose and key activities of bishops' storehouses. Then check out all the informational videos and presentations on how to serve patrons or work with other volunteers. And finally, there are operation guides to read and print.
Capable Belgian: If you're in the mood to be very impressed (and maybe to be moved to tears) by the tenacity and hard work of an early 20th-century Belgian Latter-day Saint, then you need to read about "Hurbert Huysecom: 'I Did All I Could.'" Living in a war-torn area of Belgium, Huysecom took care of his little branch all during World War I. When church leaders and missionaries came back into the area and praised Huysecom's efforts, he humbly replied, "Oh, it was not much. I did all I could, but it was not much."
Date night: I don't know what's more delightful, that a married couple separately blogs about their ideas on a "Mormon Date Night" or all the date ideas and/or history of the "Mormon Date Night" in Mormon publications. Do you do a date night? Wish you could? Or do you disagree with institutionalizing the idea? See what you think about "He Said: Mormon Date Night" and "She Said: Mormon Date Night."
NEW TODAY
MOST POPULAR
YESTERDAY