* The contents of this post are my own and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Millennial Star or its contributors.

Before anything else, I want to apologize to the folks at By Common Consent for the harsh criticism I insensitively levied against them a week ago. Even though I think that my underlying concerns are valid and deserve to be considered, my presentation was too contentious and personally hurtful.

I would like to explain those underlying concerns, which are really more about the bloggernacle in general than about any specific blog or individual.

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I had not heard about this story until today. Last year, the American Psychological Association sponsored a documentary film with a statement that categorized LDS missionary techniques as “brainwashing” and “mind control.” In response to the APA’s position, two Utah psychologists set up a web site protesting. Look at this description of the strongly anti-Mormon movie. Apparently, Biasfire.com has had success and the APA has issued an apology. Yet another victory for the web and for the forces of Truth!

Imagination does not breed insanity. Exactly what does breed insanity is reason. Poets do not go mad; but chess-players do. Mathematicians go mad, and cashiers; but creative artists very seldom. I am not, as will be seen, in any sense attacking logic: I only say that this danger does lie in logic, not in imagination.

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President Faust said,

There is… a defense against adversity: humor. A thoughtful man said, “There is certainly no defence against adverse fortune which is, on the whole, so effectual as an habitual sense of humor.”

For many years as I have blessed newborn children, including my own, I have blessed them with a sense of humor. I do this with the hope that it will help guard them against being too rigid, that they will have balance in their lives, and that situations and problems and difficulties will not be overdrawn.

…Our leaders have demonstrated that one can enjoy both faith and humor. It was said of President Heber C. Kimball that he prayed and conversed with God “as one man talketh with another” (Abr. 3:11). However, “on one occasion, while offering up an earnest appeal in behalf of certain of his fellow creatures, he startled the kneeling circle by bursting into a loud laugh in the very midst of his prayer. Quickly regaining his composure and solemn address, he remarked, apologetically, ‘Lord, it makes me laugh to pray about some people.’ ”

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By Common Consent has a new look, a new partnership, and a new, high profile blogger.

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