Whoever Wins, Chill A Bit. 

Best election advice ever.  This paragraph is particularly important:

I’m not an Obama fan, particularly, but a lot of people I like and respect are. To treat Obama as something evil or subhuman would not only be disrespectful toward Obama, but toward them. Instead, I hope that if Obama is elected, their assessment of his strengths will turn out to be right, and mine will turn out to be wrong. Likewise, those who don’t like John McCain or Sarah Palin might reflect that by treating Palin and McCain as obviously evil and stupid, they’re disrespecting tens of millions of their fellow Americans who feel otherwise.

 That’s truth right there.  One reason I (mostly) stay away from political posts is the disrespect - the assumption that those who disagree are total dupes or willingly participating in evil.

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In real life

 [My first political post in a long, long while.  This is my one statement on the current campaign.  Other than here, I'm going to stay away from political posts because I abhor the lack of charity that permeates them.  The basic idea behind this was borrowed from Ann Althouse].

Yes, I’m conservative (mostly).  Yes, I’m an Alaskan (despite being in Texas at the moment).  If you think you know how I’m going to vote, you’re probably wrong.

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Any, General, In real life

Part 4 (Memory) here. Part 3.5 (Using Analogies) here. Part 3 (Style) here. Part 2 (Arrangement) here. Part 1.5 (Sources) here. Part 1 (Invention) here. Part 0 (introduction) here.

Well, it’s been awhile, and despite the title, this is not the last installment.

Delivery is something that can be overdone, and when it is overdone, it ruins the talk.

I’ve seen people with horrid delivery move me to tears and plenty of well-versed orators have left me feeling cold.

The first rule is: The Spirit matters most. The second is: Don’t fake your delivery.

That said, here are some ways you can improve the delivery of your talk without faking it. You don’t have to be trained in public speaking (although that’s always a plus, when not overdone), but there are small things anyone can do to improve the delivery of their talk. And if you have the Spirit in your words, a well-delivered talk can move from very good to great (or even excellent). Read more…

Any, In real life, Sacrament meeting

Page 19 -21.  It’s part of a larger article (that starts on page 18_, but his anecdote about high school wrestling and promptings from the spirit can be found on those pages.  Though the artists rendering on page 20 is all wrong.  It looks nothing like my father and the school color and logo in the picture aren’t of any high school I’ve ever seen.

Now, here’s what didn’t make it in the issue: Read more…

Any, Biography, Fun, In real life, Sports

For those who may not know Chelsie Hightower, she was recently a semifinalist on the popular television dance series “So You Think You Can Dance.”  She made it to be one of the top three girls on the nationally syndicated show, which is quite an achievement.  She also happens to be a member of my ward.  In fact, in the first episode of her audition they featured a clip filmed in her home and the recreational areas of the same residential complex in which I live.  She also is an excellent ballroom dancer, a talent and sport which I have been involved with and have personally competed in for many years.

Chelsie was asked to give a talk in our sacrament meeting today.  Having shortly returned from filming the show live in Los Angeles, I can only surmise that they asked her to speak on her experiences dancing on the show.  The stake president was invited to the meeting and was on the stand presiding.  I’d like to share some of the things that she related which I thought were very thoughtful and honest.

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In real life, Sacrament meeting

Part 3.5 (Using Analogies) here. Part 3 (Style) here. Part 2 (Arrangement) here. Part 1.5 (Sources) here. Part 1 (Invention) here. Part 0 (introduction) here.

Sorry this is so late.

Anyway –

Memory is the most overlooked aspect of giving a great talk.  Write your talk out (whether by hand or on a computer) and you have it handy.  No need to memorize it.  At General Conference, the GAs even use teleprompters.  So, there’s clearly no need to memorize your talk, right?

Wrong (sort of).

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General, In real life, Sacrament meeting

I recently took a trip to Utah to visit family and celebrate my grandfather’s 84th birthday.

After serving in World War II, raising six children and working as a cook and a plumber to support his wife and children, he looks remarkably good for 84. His favorite line after each birthday is, “I have just 10 more years to go.”

My grandfather has lived a long and fruitful life. Seeing him last month caused me to reflect on my own life and what I have to look forward to.

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General, In real life Forever Families, LDS, Mormon

Part 3 here. Part 2 here. Part 1.5 here. Part 1 here. Part 0 here.

Analogies, metaphors, similes, allegories, etc. all can work well in a sacrament meeting talk (or gospel lesson). They can also be where the talk (or lesson) fails completely. Because Jesus taught in parables (which, when asked, Jesus interpreted allegorically), these types of teaching tools have the highest possible endorsement. But caution is also warranted.

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Any, General, In real life, Sacrament meeting, Sunday School

The Millennial Star is pleased to present the following guest post from Stephanie Abney. Stephanie (Peterson) Abney is a member of the LDS church and resides in Mesa, AZ, Mesa Mountain View Stake, with her husband of 38 years, Jim. They have a remarkable and growing family (5 kids - 4 living - assorted in-laws and at last count, 14 grandchildren). Stephanie is currently a writer and a substitute school teacher. She writes regularly for the Arizona Beehive newspaper and is the General Vice-President of American Night Writers Association (a network for LDS women writers).

I’ve gone back to school in order to complete a degree in Education and to become certified so I can start teaching full-time and not just substitute teach. I just finished a summer school class called, “Introduction to Education.” I really loved this class, not just because the information is so useful but because I think I managed to sign up for a class taught by a “master” teacher, Mr. Ted Telepak, at M.C.C., Mesa, AZ. Just observing him I gained great insights about the kind of teacher I want to be.

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Guest Post, In real life

Though my reading matter currently focuses on my dissertation, occasionally I read something not at all related, just to keep myself sane and my mind from becoming too specialized (although it’s interesting how often this “extracurricular” reading works its way into my dissertation).

Though I am not much of a sports guy, I do exercise regularly (specifically, I do CrossFit) - so, when I saw this book, I thought it looked interesting enough to read. Steroid Nation: Juiced Home Run Totals, Anti-aging Miracles, and a Hercules in Every High School: The Secret History of America’s True Drug Addiction by Shaun Assael is an interesting, well written book that deals with the use and abuse of steroids and other drugs in America. Full of lots of interesting anecdotes, salacious scandals, and depressing stories, overall I enjoyed it.

Except for the part about Mormons. Because, according to this author, Mormonism is partly to blame for steroid abuse in America.

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Any, General, In real life, Sports