This week I was at a Self Reliance Workshop where we have both folks who are LDS and folks who aren’t LDS.

One of the women in the group was suffering a physical ailment. So she requested that two men who hold the priesthood stay after for a couple of minutes to give her a blessing. When one said they didn’t have any consecrated oil to perform the blessing, the woman replied, “Oh, I do.”

A man who is not LDS was lingering, so the woman explained that she was going to be receiving a blessing and invited him to remain, if he wished. They quickly established that he is from a faith tradition where such blessings are performed, and he felt comfortable remaining.

I loved to witness this. I loved the way the woman reached out to one who might feel ostracized and excluded, welcoming him into the experience, yet not forcing him to participate against his will. And I love that she was prepared to be blessed, even had neither of the men with power to bless been prepared.

The next day I was at a craft festival, one of the largest on the east coast. And I happened upon a lovely turned key fob. From my friend’s example, I decided that I, too, will be prepared to be blessed, or prepared at least to facilitate a blessing should a situation like that occur in future.

Decades ago my grandmother had an art buddy, a lady with whom she shared many of her learning and painting and selling adventures. Connie was attractive with strawberry blonde hair. Where my grandmother had borne five children, Connie had no children.

Because my grandmother shared far more information with us than the average grandmother might (artist, don’t you know), I was told about Connie’s marriage.

Connie had two beaus at the time she decided to marry. One was a widower with several children. He was not well-to-do, but when they embraced, Connie’s blood sang.

Connie’s other suitor was a complete gentleman. He was well-to-do and nattily dressed. He had never been married. When Connie was with this suitor, she felt like a princess.

Connie followed her head rather than her heart and married the man who made her feel like a princess. It was only after the wedding that she realized the man had no intention of consummating their marriage. He showered her with gifts and all the outward trappings of love. But in the bedroom nothing happened. Continue reading →

Today Bill Cosby was found guilty on all three counts associated with his interactions with Andrea Constand.

Mark Makela/Getty Images

The furor over the Cosby situation may explain why the LDS Church released a statement today regarding how they dealt with a predator in 2014: Mission President Misconduct in 2014

Sometimes there’s a predator in our midst. When it is clear cut, as in the 2014 case, reaction is swift and comprehensive.

There are other times when the case is not as clear cut, for any of a number of reasons.

We’ve already commented ad nauseum about the issue of abuse. So comments on this post will be moderated to keep comments down to real gems.

Every once in a while I pop my head out of my obscure isolation and wonder at what I see.

Today, I noticed a number of articles about the fact that there was a pay gap between the two actors on The Crown playing Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip.

Everyone is outraged that Claire Foy, whose realization of the young Queen Elizabeth is brilliant, received less per episode than Matt Smith, who sometimes wandered on screen and realized the role of Prince Phillip.

It would be brilliant if we could be paid for our great performance. Claire Foy is amazing in that mini-series. I recommend it (but skip the episode about Princess Margaret’s polyamorous husband-to-be if you don’t want to see actors’ bodies without clothing – a bit of art that is far less pornographic than the reality, but pornographic nonetheless).

Back to the pay gap.

Here’s the thing. Matt Smith had become a very well-known actor prior to accepting the role in The Crown. Matt wasn’t being paid for what he was doing on The Crown, per se, but to secure his talents given the high demand warranted by his prior work. Continue reading →

President Russell M. Nelson began his global ministry tour in London, England, on Thursday, April 12, 2018. Hundreds gathered at the Hyde Park Chapel to see the prophet.

“We’re bringing the love of the Lord to the people, and they will learn to love each other,” President Nelson said. “You read the paper and see how angry people are with one another. The Lord’s way is the way of peace. He said love one another as I have loved you.”

After London, President Nelson will travel to Jerusalem on his worldwide tour to cities in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Hawaiian Islands. President Nelson is joined on the tour by his wife, Wendy, and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and his wife, Patricia.

I remember a similar tour decades ago, when I was a missionary in Italy and Russell M. Nelson was a newly-ordained Apostle. I also remember President Benson’s first public address after he was made President of the Church, where he addressed the Annandale, Virginia Stake and issued his first prophetic invitation for us to particularly read the Book of Mormon.

I appreciate the work the Mormon Newsroom does to make it possible for us to experience some portion of the excitement of events like this around the world.