Polygamy should be legalized in the U.S. I don’t say this because I hope that the Church will return to it’s polygamy days. I’d rather it didn’t, but I don’t think I would be too bothered if they did (multiple sexual relationships, even if more often sequential rather than concurrent, are so common in popular culture, that I’ve been indoctrinated enough to just find it normal). No, I think it should be legalized because of what it seems to have become: instead of a lifestyle choice between adults, it has become a child abuse issue.
Monthly Archives: July 2005
Mormon Girl
I’ve been intrigued by the recent spat of creativity on the bloggernacle (see here and here), so I thought I’d try out the fad at M* too. Ten points to the person who can correctly identify what work of contemporary short fiction I’ve ripped off. And ten more points to anyone who wants to say anything about it.
THROW away those embarrassing old clothes; wake up at 7 a.m., you don’t want to get used to being lazy, do you?; don’t eat your roommate’s food; don’t spend money on stupid things and while you’re at it, don’t do stupid things that end up costing you money; work harder; be nicer;
Those deceptive TESOL Mormons
I don’t know how it is now, but not long ago there was a big rush among BYU students to go teach English in China. BYU’s English Language Center is excellent, and the BYU TESOL department has produced many excellent teachers, but even among non-TESOL students there seems to be great interest in language. Part of it has to do with the numerous returned missionaries who served outside of the U.S., but even among those who didn’t there seems to be an interest in languages, foreign nations, and cultures.
Mafia to Mormon
So during a recent trip to the nearest LDS book store, only four hours away from Miami by car, I picked up Mario Facione’s amazing book “Mafia to Mormon.” This book is the true story of a Detroit temple worker who grew up nearly illiterate, became a medium-level mafia don and then got converted after conversations with two missionaries who wandered to his house. I’m still stunned at this story, most of all because it has taught me once again that the Lord’s ways are not ours.
Monday Mornning Millennial Star Question: Testimony Meeting
Given that wards have only twelve Fast and Testimony meetings every year, each with approximately 35 minutes dedicated to the sharing of testimonies, and given that about 150 adult members attend a typical American ward, for each member to have an opportunity to share their testimony, each member is allocated 2 minutes and 48 seconds of testimony time yearly.
Given those facts, how should we handle members who speak for 5-8 minutes every month or two? (I know of someone in a full-size ward who monopolizes the pulpit for 5-8 minutes every testimony meeting.) What is the proper response to a member who eats 20 times their share of ham at the ward dinner, leaving many people without?