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.)

Taken somewhat out of context, but it’s too good to pass up:

Sometimes, reading Tolkien, I am reminded of the Book of Mormon.

—Harold Bloom on The Lord of the Rings.

Discuss.

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.

Continue reading →

A post inspired by a relatively recent visit to some denture professionals in Perth to get some cavities fixed and my dentures whitened. 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.

Continue reading →

Has been very, very weak so far. Despite still being on of the best shows on TV.

Continue reading →