I’ve been pondering the importance of ward or branch activities after seeing how a simple event touched a number of lives. Our High Priest Group chose to do a chili dinner recently and invited anyone interested to come. The night before, a new convert and I worked together to cook up a few batches of chili, including a new white chili recipe, and several other men made some tremendous batches. (In Wisconsin, as in most parts of the US, many of the men fancy themselves as experts in making chili – and out here we make it awfully well, especially when some women are nearby to help out. My wife gave us a lot of much needed help.)
From Millennial Park to Millennial Star: Imagery of Truth Flowing from an Ensign to the Nations
February 25, 2006 — Jeff Lindsay
I like finding religious symbolism in some of the photos I take. As my little gift to Millennial Star, here are some photos I took last summer at Millennial Park in Chicago. There are some scriptures I’ll add to the photos that follow – but I’ve got to run to our Stake Temple Day in Chicago right now, so I’ll add them later tonight. But I’d appreciate any comments you have on the symbolism you might see in any of these images. (And Geoff, if this is too odd, just delete it!)
More Time with Family? Really? The Feb. 11 Worldwide Leadership Training Broadcast
February 19, 2006 — Jeff Lindsay“Supporting the Family” – what a great theme for Church’s Worldwide Leadership Training broadcast that I attended out here in Appleton, Wisconsin on Saturday, Feb. 11. You can read or listen to the talks given by going to the “Supporting the Family” broadcast page at LDS.org.
In this training meeting for Church leaders, I was happy to hear that we need to do more to respect the needs of families and NOT get in the way by demanding too much time of members. Avoiding unnecessary meetings and activities was a particularly welcome recommendation.
A Plug for Foreign Language Study – And Multitasking Podcast Paradise
February 18, 2006 — Jeff LindsayWe know it’s going to happen, this thing about the Gospel going to all the nations of the earth. That may not mean that the Church will be recognized and allowed to send missionaries in all nations, or even allowed to hold meetings, but I believe nearly everywhere will get some exposure, and I believe that new “official” doors will yet be opened to us in many nations.
Will we be ready? What if China’s leaders had a change of heart next week and said “let a thousand religions bloom”?
On Ammon, Google, and “Cooperation with Tyranny”
February 16, 2006 — Jeff LindsayI love the story of Ammon, the son of a Nephite king who forsook the throne to go deep into Lamanite territory to bring the Gospel to others. Ammon and his peers changed the course of history, bringing thousands of former enemies into the Gospel and into friendship with the Nephite people. (And he killed some people, got a lot of converts killed, and helped trigger a war or two – it was a busy mission.) But one aspect of Ammon’s ministry has often given me food for thought: he went into enemy territory and provided aid to an enemy government.
