[Part 4 in a series about improving gospel teaching. Previous entries in the series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3]

Continuing the discussion of principles that define good teachers…

Read more…

Any

I just saw this article in the Boston Globe, which I thought was unusually well-done for that newspaper. The basic point is that, while Mormons are generally conservative, they have key differences with evangelicals and conservative Catholics. Mormons are less likely to oppose abortion in all instances, they are more likely to support stem cell research, they are more likely to support the teaching of evolution in schools and they don’t get as riled up about the prayer in public schools issue. In general, given the Globe is a liberal newspaper, the article is complimentary (”those Mormons are not as crazy as those Neanderthal evangelicals” is the general tone).

The article even points out that Mormons are much less likely to get politically-tinged sermons at church.

In general, an article well worth reading.

Any

Later on in this post I will quote extensively from an e-mail I receive supposedly from a Denver emergency manager. As you may know, Colorado and the central/northern plains had two blizzards in a row in December, and snow was so high it covered roads, stranded people and in general caused havoc.

The e-mail makes a very important point: since when is it the government’s job to rescue people who don’t prepare for natural disasters?

Read more…

Any

You know how how there are rumors occasionally flying of some letter from the First Presidency that some people say their bishops and stake presidents have said exists or reads to them, and others say their bishops or stake presidents have confirmed that no such letter exists? I’m in the middle of that right now, but it’s not for anything that important. However, I must know! I must! (Even though it changes nothing.)

So does anyone know if there is a letter from the First Presidency that says that it is up to the discretion of the respective stake presidents whether to have the full 3-hour block on Christmas Eve day? I have some friends and family who say there is such a letter, and their wards are indeed only having sacrament meeting. I have some other friends who are quite certain that no such letter exists, and their wards are having the full block, not because their stake president decided to do it that way, but because no letter exists.

(My ward is having the full 3-hours of meetings.)

Any

NOTE: This was written on 30 November, but M* was sick, so it wasn’t posted then. Thus, when you read “today” it is referring to 30 November.

I returned home from my mission (in Chicago) 10 years ago today. Ten years ago! I’m old! I was ready and eager to come home. I was looking forward to sleeping in (though I now consider 6:30 to be sleeping in), no longer wearing a dress, and no longer talking to people. After a year and a half of being social and outgoing, I was really ready to be alone.

Read more…

Any

A post inspired by a relatively recent visit to the dentist to get some cavities fixed. Shudder. And, yes, I knew these things before, but the correlation is fun and soothing to my dentist-fearing soul.

1. Improvement comes from pain. It may be physical pain or emotional pain or spiritual pain, but when it is over – after you have been through the refiner’s fire – you are closer than you were before to wisdom and charity and perfection.

Read more…

Any

Thinking about becoming a U.S. citizen? The application for naturalization has basically normal questions. One, however, caught my eye. In the section to determine if the applicant is “of good moral characterâ€, the question is asked, “Have you ever persecuted (either directly or indirectly) any person because of race, religion, national origin, membership in a particular social group or political opinion?â€

According to the application instructions this and the other questions in the section (mostly about taxes and plans to overthrow the government) will be used “to determine your eligibility for citizenship.â€

So how bad of an anti-Mormon do you have to be before you can’t be a U.S. citizen?

Any

Bryce’s post about playing the piano brought several comments bemoaning the lack of pianists in wards and branches. I find myself wondering if someone in my bishopric reads this blog because today in Sacrament Meeting a new Sunday school class was announced. During Sunday school, any who are interested are to meet the Relief Society room for piano lessons. We have very few pianists in my ward, and those few spend Sunday being shuffled from piano to piano, and the bishopric would like to add more people to the mix. Thus, this new class is being created to hopefully get some more people up to the level of playing the simplified hymns and/or a set of Primary songs.

Read more…

Any

An article in yesterday’s USA Today contains results of a religion survey. The finding they found most findworthy? 91.8% of those surveyed say they believe in God, a higher power, or a cosmic force, but they had four distinct views of God’s personality and engagement in human affairs: Authoritarian, Benevolent, Critical or Distant.

Read more…

Any

I was baptized at the age of 8, like most kids in active member families. Though I don’t have a lot of memories from that young age, I am very happy to report I remember my baptism quite well.

I turned 8 on 2 July 1980. I was happy I wouldn’t have to wait long before I could get baptized – the stake baptism for that month was 5 July. For my 8th birthday, from my parents I got my own set of scriptures. For my birthday/baptism, from my ward/Primary I got a Book of Mormon (do you remember those medium blue ones with the gold angel Moroni on the cover? That was the one I got) and a picture of Jesus, which still hangs the wall of my bedroom at my parents’ house.

Read more…

Any