According to Wikipedia, Kaizen is a Japanese word that means “change for the better” or “improvement”. The English translation of the word is “continuous improvement.”

Last week I participated in what is termed as a “Kaizen Event” or, more appropriately, a “continuous improvement event” where my team and I looked at a business process to identify and eliminate waste.

We utilized several six sigma tools (e.g.- activity of the operator, activity of the process, process map, etc.) in order to identify the waste and how best to eliminate that waste.

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When I attend the temple with my wife, I always look forward to an outpouring of the Spirit as I am instructed during the presentation of the endowment.

Friday night my wife and I enjoyed a special experience as we watched two hearing-impaired patrons view the endowment presented through American Sign Language and closed captioning.

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Despite the fact that he spells his first name wrong, Kieth Merrill has to be one of my heroes. In a recent Deseret News article he said the following:

“We must embrace the virtues and values (of the LDS Church) as LDS filmmakers,” he said. “We can’t walk with one foot in both worlds. I have tried to walk that fine line as an LDS filmmaker.”

Kieth has started a project discussed here and here called Audience Alliance Motion Picture Studios to promote good movies that support traditional values.

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Well, I have (defended isn’t the right word – how to put it?) suggested possible ways to view Romney’s shifting political views in a more charitable light. Mainly, this was because I was offended by the knee-jerk partisan attacking that didn’t do much beyond view Romney’s rhetoric in the most uncharitable and worst possible light. (I think Charity, if a true principle, undergoes its greatest test when politics are involved).

But that doesn’t mean the criticisms aren’t valid.

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Long ago, when I was on my mission, my companion and I attended a funeral. The specific denomination has been lost to time, but it was a Protestant Christian church. At one point in the service, the congregation stood and recited the Lord’s Prayer. I joined in. My companion stood, but she didn’t say it, though I’m not certain if it was because she didn’t know it well enough to say it, or because she thought it was wrong. Her reaction to me saying it – “You know this?” combined with a look like I was going to Hell – led me to think it was sort of both. I merely shrugged and said, “Sure,” and that was all we ever said to each other about it.

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