A blog about anything that interests me. So mainly Doctor Who, rhetoric, composition, metaphor and symbol, Mormonism, family, books, and random geeky things. Not necessarily in that order.
It should go without saying that the views I express here are my own, and do not represent those of my employer, church, etc.
Yes, I'm aware of the irony. I EAT IRONY FOR BREAKFAST (it helps with my mild anemia).
I'm a linguistic descriptivist and not a prescriptivist, which means that I'm more interested in studying and describing how language is used by various groups and how it changes over time than I am in enforcing language "rules." However, there is one linguistic development that especially saddens me, and it is the narrowing of the usage of the word "meme" to almost exclusively mean "image macro." It's as if people had started using "technology" to only mean "smartphone" (please nobody point out to me that some people already do that).
According to those who coined the word and further developed the concept, a meme is, very simply put, an idea that acts like a virus, getting stuck in your head and spreading from person to person. Some ideas are more contagious than others.
Religions are memes. So are fashion trends, manners, jokes, selfies, mass shootings, genres, and linguistic innovations. An image macro is a picture with text superimposed on it. As a genre, the image macro is an extremely effective meme. It has nearly taken over Tumblr, for instance, and every six months Mormons on social media are subjected to a massive outbreak of the image macro meme, largely via the #LDSconf hashtag (hashtags are also a meme, btw).
Why does it matter that people call "image macros" simply "memes," when they are really a kind of meme? Because the concept of memes, properly understood, is so useful, and it's useful to have a word we can use to discuss it. If, when I say "meme," all you think of is a picture of a grumpy cat with the word "NO" on it in impact font, it makes it harder to have a conversation about why some ideas are stickier than others.
Alas, the idea of ideas as viruses is apparently less sticky than the idea of pictures with pithy phrases on them. I have little hope that the original meaning of "meme" can be reclaimed.
Image: The LDS Conference Center on Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/onasill/17077928146
It's that time again! Every six months, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gather together, in person or via broadcast, for General Conference. Presiding officers of the Church select their speaking topics by inspiration, often in response to current needs and issues they have perceived through their ministries both within the church and in the broader world. General Conference begins with the Women's Session, held on Saturday evening one week ahead of the rest of General Conference, with the remaining five sessions spanning the first Saturday and Sunday of May and October. You can watch Conference live or on demand at conference.lds.org, the Mormon Channel website, YouTube, or on BYUtv. Shortly after each Conference, audio and text versions of individual talks become available online, and are published a month later in special conference issues of the Ensign and Liahona.
The General Women's Session aired Saturday, September 28 at 6:00pm Mountain Daylight Time (that's 5 pm here in AZ). The remaining sessions were on Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th, at 10am and 12pm MDT each day, with the Priesthood Session at 6pm on Saturday. The Saturday afternoon session was one for the history books, as 3 new members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were called (due to the recent deaths of Elders Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, and Richard G. Scott). The last time there were 3 vacancies in this quorum was in 1906, according to D. Todd Christofferson. Latter-day Saints believe that apostles are called by inspiration, and we sustain them as prophets, seers, and revelators.
For the past few years, rather than taking notes on paper, I've blogged my way through most or all of the sessions (I sometimes skip the Priesthood Session, because I'm not a priesthood holder and twelve-ish hours of church in the space of one week is a lot, even if I do watch four of those hours in my pajamas while eating waffles just because I can). My notes are not comprehensive, but rather reflect on whatever strikes me at the time. I try to update this post at the end of each speaker's remarks. Feel free to follow along, share, and comment!
Women's Session
Right this minute, a lot of my friends are watching the latest episode of Doctor Who. I'm anxious to watch it, too, but it will have to wait until tomorrow, because tonight I'm spending time with my sisters. Several million of them, ages eight and up, all over the world. It's pretty awesome, and I wouldn't miss it for anything.
A few minutes before the session began the First Presidency entered and took their seats, and in the close-up you could see that little trays of mints had been placed next to their seats, along with the standard glasses of water. What a delightfully Relief Society touch!
That looks like a Laurel who offered the opening prayer! Laurels are the 16-18 year-old cohort of the Young Women's program. No wonder she sounded a little nervous.
Rosemary M. Wixom
The knowledge that our life is a gift from our Heavenly Father has enormous consequence, because it means that we have within us a divine nature, and an eternal destiny. "There are two important days in a woman's life: the day she is born, and the day she finds out why" (Elaine Cannon, former RS President). It's up to us to cultivate our eternal destiny. "It comes alive when you live your life to fulfill the measure of your creation." This brings to my mind a conversation I had with a friend earlier today, in which he asked whether I thought we are "supposed to come to different conclusions about how we should live as disciples of Christ." In short, my answer is yes. While there is one Christ, one baptism, and one church, each of us are given unique gifts, and the divine nature is given different expression in each of us. Therefore my discipleship will not look exactly like yours, and that is just as it ought to be. Otherwise I would not need my sisters and brothers in the gospel, and they would not need me, and there would be no reason to strive to build Zion.
Linda S. Reeves
Preceding Sister Reeves' remarks, we watched a video about the friendship between a single sister and a young primary girl she taught. I appreciated the affirmation that even when life does not turn out how we expect or plan, we are needed, and blessed by covenants we make in the church. While mothering, even by proxy, is not in the life plan for every woman, even in the church, the compassion and nurturing spirit which characterizes motherhood is also a characteristic of Christlike living for both women and men, regardless of our life circumstances. I too cherish the time I spend with my nieces and nephews, and with other children I know. I also treasure the opportunity to nurture the testimonies and scripture literacy of the adults I teach in Sunday School, many of whom are old enough to be my parents or grandparents, and many of whom also nurture me. I do believe that as I honor my baptismal and temple covenants and strive to obey my conscience, my power to nurture and to exercise compassion are increased.
I also appreciate Sister Reeves' acknowledgement that for those for whom promised blessings are delayed, the reassurance that all things will be fulfilled if not in this life then in the next, is just too far away for comfort. She quotes Amulek who taught that "this life is the time...to prepare to meet God." That's true, and applies regardless of life circumstances. I wish more people would focus on the ways that I and my single brothers and sisters are preparing, instead of focusing on the things we're still waiting for.
Carole F. McConkie
"Sisters, in this cause, we are all valued. We are all needed.... Righteousness emanates out to the world" when we understand who we are and what we are to do. Perhaps one reason why the most important work we can do is to prepare for marriage and parenthood is because family life with all its joys and trials is a crucible for developing "a broken heart and a contrite spirit," and therefore preparing for those roles by its nature also draws us closer to Christ.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
I said to my roommate, "Listen, I'm not complaining, but it seems like President Uchtdorf speaks in the Women's Session a lot." To which she replied, "Maybe it's because he's so handsome." Yes it's true. Utchtdorf has been consistently voted "Apostle Most Likely to be Mistaken for a Movie Star" since 2004, in a retroactive poll that I just made up.
Life is full of enough difficulty that anyone can easily fall into discouragement and sadness. But it's also full of beauty and wonder and goodness, and regardless of our circumstances, we can increase our joy by consciously seeking to focus on what is good, and not only on what is hard. Yes, it's harder for some than others, and it takes time in any case. "The best things in life...take patience and work." No, I don't think we can talk ourselves out of depression. But we sure can talk ourselves into misery. Walking the path of discipleship, and seeking the companionship of the Holy Spirit, is a source of joy to me, even though it is often also difficult. The eternal joy that is the reward of those who love and serve God is not a far-off promise, for "now is part of eternity." Cultivating Christlike love doesn't always bring immediate happiness, nor does it shield us from sorrow, but I know from experience that approaching life without love and gratitude in my heart is a certain formula for misery.
That's all for now; I'll be back next weekend for the rest of General Conference.
Saturday Morning Session
I love the music of General Conference!
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
An old proverb says, "Tell a man there are trillions of stars in the universe, and he'll believe you. Tell a man there's wet paint on the wall, and he will touch it just to make sure." The moral? It's good to seek knowledge for yourself, but often unwise to disregard the counsel and teaching of trustworthy sources. It's worthwhile to occasionally ask oneself, "is my experience of the church working for me?" Alma asked a similar question to the church in Zarahemla. But I think it matters with what intent we ask that question, and what we do about our answer. My own experience in church is often challenging, but occasionally sublime. President Uchtdorf is teaching a truth that I have learned for myself: often what makes church challenging is all the "sediment" of church programs and traditions that can make it difficult to access the plain and precious truths of the gospel, the fountain of living water that is Jesus Christ himself. But why belong to a church at all, then? Why not just believe in and follow Jesus on my own? Two reasons: first, Jesus commanded his disciples to gather together, to be a community. Second, the labor (and it is labor, however rewarding) of church membership is my school for discipleship. My private devotions are indispensable to the renewal of my spirit, but so is my communal worship. They are both difficult in different ways, and both strengthening in different ways. Yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ is working in my life, and I am grateful for it.
M Russell Ballard Joseph SmithDavid O. McKay taught that when God makes a prophet, he doesn't unmake the man. Of course that is equally true of local church leaders. Being set apart to a stewardship in Zion entitles one to inspiration and imparts strength beyond ordinary abilities--I have experienced such myself. Yet it does not fundamentally change who one is or entirely compensate for one's personal weaknesses and foibles. I believe that God works through imperfect human beings, and I appreciate those who serve in the church despite their imperfections. It requires patience, humility, and a forgiving heart, both to lead and to be led in the church when we all continually fall short of the glory of God. It does help to seek to know, and to increase my understanding of, key gospel truths such as those Elder Ballard teaches in this talk. And we can strive to do better, even as we forgive ourselves and one another. That is how we "stay onboard the good ship Zion."
Richard J. Maynes
My friends and I often talk about the seemingly impossible task of achieving balance between work and the various commitments of our personal lives. If I want to have "balance" in my life, it must be centered on Jesus Christ.
Neill F. Marriott Paul's declaration that "all things work together for good to those who love God" does not mean all things are good, but that God's grace can transform our lives through suffering as well as through blessings. Healthy desire and effort to improve must be coupled with trust in the grace of God, which is the power by which hearts are changed and lives are transformed.
Larry R. Lawrence
Wow, lots of converts speaking from the pulpit this morning. How lovely! Crucial question: "what lack I yet?" What's stopping me from progressing? "The Holy Ghost really does give customized counsel." No matter how far or near I am from where I want to go or who I want to become, I can take one step at a time toward it. When I examine my life, sometimes I feel overwhelmed by all I know I have to do. But it's true that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). I find reassurance in Elder Lawrence's invitation and promise that the Holy Spirit will gently and generously help me to see the next step, and the next one after that. Direction is more important than speed. What a treasure is the gift of personal revelation!
Francisco J. Viñas
Yeah, I'm guilty of some of those "vanities" which can interfere with a full appreciation of and blessings from attending sacrament meeting. I can do better.
Quentin L. Cook
Elder Cook reminds us that no cause, however noble it may seem or be, ought to supersede the cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet I think that I can profitably ally myself as a disciple of Christ with many noble causes. It takes a spirit of discernment to know how to navigate such relationships of trust and mutual endeavor, where we often disagree about central issues, while remaining steadfast in my principles as a member of the church. It also takes faith and courage to know when and how to step back from other commitments so that I can refocus on my discipleship. I believe it is that discipleship which enables me to be most effective in doing good in the world.
Amen to the morning session!
Saturday Afternoon Session
This is going to be a historic session! I can't wait to meet three new apostles! With the growth of the global church, I'm really hoping one of them will be a POC from somewhere outside North America and Europe.
That primary choir! So sweet. Though evidently some of them are more excited than others. One girl looks like she might fall asleep at any moment. One boy's obviously wearing his dad's tie, which is much too big for him. Minimal wiggles. That conference center seats 21,200, and it sure looks like every seat is filled. It takes courage to sing before such a huge live audience, but what a thrill! I bet they'll never forget the experience.
This is it! Ronald A Rasband, Gary E Stevenson, and Dale G. Renlund have been called as members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. All are native Utahns, so my hope for an apostle from South America, Africa, or Asia will just have to wait. That's OK. Things don't always happen when we want them to. I'm looking forward to hearing their messages tomorrow. I have to admit I missed most of the other sustainings and releases because I was googling these brethren.
Robert D. Hales
Young adults face difficult and increasing challenges of employment, debt, and family relationships, but the gospel can provide strength and stability that will help young adults of the church to navigate these difficulties. "Straighten up and fly right" and "never deliberately fly into a thunderstorm." To me, clear skies seem pretty scarce these days. Many of my friends, despite vigilance and careful navigation, find themselves in the midst of small and large storms. But I still believe that Elder Hales' advice about avoiding debt, pursuing lifelong learning, creating and nurturing families, and seeking great mentors, will help see us through the storms of life.
I'm feeling stung by his urging singles not to delay marriage, or to not "date all the way through your twenties," though. Those I know (and as a "mid-single" myself, I know many) who remain unmarried into their thirties and beyond for the most part did not become so because we were pursuing fun, or education, or careers, or anything else at the expense of an earnest search for a marital companion. It is exhausting to hear such continual admonishments, and small comfort to be told that if we're still single through no fault of our own, we will eventually receive those blessings we've patiently sought. It is much more uplifting to me to focus on what I can do now and in the near future to develop as a disciple, whether I must walk that path throughout my life alone or not. So I appreciate the majority of this talk.
Jeffrey R. Holland
In its divine aspect, maternal love "will range between unbearable and transcendent, over and over and over again." But motherhood doesn't always reflect the ideal image we have of it. Nor does fatherhood! I am grateful for parental love, and I do believe that, when it is righteously expressed, it approaches divine love.
I am touched by the compassion expressed and recounted by Elder Holland in describing the love of a family and of church leaders as they held close to their gay son and brother, as he struggled with confusion, despair, and trauma. I'm also touched by Elder Holland's frank assertion that the young man's sexual attraction did not, and was not expected to change, even as he demonstrated his worthiness to hold church callings, a temple recommend, and eventually return to the mission field. This message is much needed by the church, and I hope that it will prove to be yet another step toward preventing for others at least some of the confusion, despair, and trauma that this young man and his family suffered. I don't pretend that the doctrine of the family as taught by the church won't necessarily be a stumbling block to homosexual latter-day saints and those who love them, but much of the anguish that these brothers and sisters suffer is caused not by doctrine, but by failures of compassion.
Bradley D. Foster
If I could speak to Elder Foster, I would remind him that there was never a day in the history of the Earth when there was not a battle for the minds and souls of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. That has not changed, and will not change until the work of salvation is complete on the Earth. And in a way that's good news, because we know at least in part what to expect. And we know from past experience that the righteous influence of families are a powerful support to children, youth, and adults as they face those challenges.
Hugo Montoya
Helping others lightens our own burdens. Sorry for the shortness of my notes! I just experienced my first conference doze of the season.
Vern P. Stanfill
In the darkness of mortality, as we stay close to the light of Jesus Christ, and as we add our own feeble lights to those of our fellow travelers, we can see the way more clearly. I love this analogy.
Brother Stanfill, folks on social media are no more or less likely to have private agendas than anybody else I meet, including some of the people I meet at church. Wisdom and experience teach me that I'm more likely to find good teachers and mentors in some places than in others, but I still have to heed the counsel of John, who urged us to "try the spirits whether they are of God." Because I know what the light of God feels like, I am able to compare the lights of others to that light, in determining whether it might emanate through another person from the same source. That familiarity is a gift that I sorely need, and that without care I know I may lose; it's also something that we can all cultivate.
James B. Martino
Our actions and intents affect our ability to receive further light and knowledge, and determine whether given experiences will build faith or not. And there will be times when we may struggle through afflictions and doubts seemingly in vain. "We will all face trials and have questions." Prayer and fasting have real power to help us in such straits. The difference between murmuring and a sincere expression of doubt comes down to intent, but that isn't always evident to others, and if we're not careful we may even deceive ourselves about our own intents. For that reason, it's important to search our own hearts, be careful how we judge others' expressions of faith (or their seeming lack of it), and be careful how and to whom we express doubts and ask questions--or answer them!
Dallin H. Oaks
What a gift it is to know that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, He knows how to succor us in our infirmities, including the many we are subject to in mortality which are not caused by any unrighteousness on our own part, as well as those which are a consequence of sin. Yes, Christ walks the halls of our temples, our homes, our hospitals, our schools, our places of employment, and even our prisons. For those who seek Him, there is no place He cannot be found. Because Christ descended below all things, He is now positioned to lift us above all things. We cannot pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, but we can reach upward, grasp His outstretched hand, and ascend with God's help.
As the children's choir sings the closing song, I see a lot more wiggles, and it's making me smile. These kids are champs, and they sound lovely.
Sunday Morning Session
Thomas S. Monson
"Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)"Let us speak to each other with love and respect" and without crude or deliberately offensive language. Cultivate compassion, and the pure love of Christ. Humility, love, and virtue illuminates the soul and radiates from one's countenance. We Mormons are different, and should embrace those differences that set us apart in the eyes of the world because of our obedience to commandments and gospel covenants. This reminds me of the saying, "Weird is just a side effect of awesome."
President Monson became visibly fatigued as his talk went on, leaning more heavily on the podium, until toward the end he was even struggling to continue speaking. He finished his message, and his counselors, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf, rose to help him back to his seat. This reminded me of Moses, who required the assistance of Aaron and Hur to uphold his hands so that Israel could prevail. I am thankful that President Monson was able to speak today.
Ronald A. Rasband
What a beautiful testimony of the power of God's love, and of our love for God and for our fellow human beings.
Gary E. Stevenson
I believe that gratitude and humility have a kind of paradoxical power. because when we truly feel grateful, and when we exercise humility, it is then that God is able to "make weak things strong" (Ether 12:27). I can sympathize with the feelings of inadequacy Elder Stevenson expressed as he assumes this mantle, because I too often feel inadequate in my church stewardships--and I too can testify of the power of the Holy Spirit to enable us to rise to our responsibilities.
Dale G. Renlund
We now have two heart surgeons serving in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: President Nelson, as well as Elder Renlund. I appreciate the diversity of expertise represented in this quorum, because it contributes to the richness of perspective that these brethren draw upon in counseling with one another about the administration of the church, as well as to the examples they draw on as they teach us in General Conference.
Nice to see an extended camera focus on the members of the congregation joining in the hymn in sign language!
Russell M. Nelson
We're seeing the fulfillment of President Kimball's prophecy that the growth of the church going into the future would be facilitated in large part by the strength and leadership of women who are drawn to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who emanate their difference from worldly expectations in powerful ways. President Nelson declared that we need "women who can speak with the power and authority of God," who have the ability to serve in executive leadership roles, powerfully teach the truths of the restored gospel, and receive personal revelation that enables us to testify to the church and the world. He then related a tender, painful experience in which he lost a patient, causing him to despair and desire to quit practicing surgery. When he had spent a night weeping, his wife asked, "Are you done crying? Then get up, get dressed, go back to work. You need to learn more. If you quit now, others will have to painfully learn what you already know." This counsel is powerful. It applies to me right now. We need women to speak up and speak out, to contribute as full partners! Yes!
“True disciples of Christ are not looking to make excuses for the doctrine, when it doesn’t fit the world’s current concepts.” True disciples represent the Lord, even when it is not convenient.
Claudio R. M. Costa
Keep the Sabbath day holy by telling the stories of Jesus in our homes and to our families. "The Sabbath and the sacrament become much more enjoyable as we study the stories of Christ." I have been pondering ways to improve my Sabbath observance. This counsel, more than any other counsel I've heard on the subject, resonates with me right now as something that will bless me personally. I believe that Sabbath observance should not be hedged about with many rules, as some would have it, but rather be a matter of personal reflection, preparation, and practice, coupled with regular, open-hearted communion with our local congregations. Elder Costa's counsel on Sabbath observance feels right to me. I will do it.
"There Is Sunshine In My Soul" is one of my least favorite hymns, but this arrangement and performance is beautiful. I love it. I love it a lot.
Henry B. Eyring
"The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive, and makes temptation less compelling." It also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood. I do believe that this is true, and have observed that when I am striving to be worthy of the companionship of the Spirit, my capacity to learn and to retain knowledge of all kinds is increased. But I wonder if there might be a danger of mistaking personal bias for the Spirit's witness in evaluating truth-claims. For this reason, it's not only important to seek inspiration by the Spirit, but also to remain open to correction, and to further light and knowledge. Though I am confident in many beliefs, I consider very few as settled beyond doubt. I appreciate President Eyring's reassurance to those who are listening to this message, and who struggle to feel the Holy Ghost, that they have felt its impressions, and that we can learn to recognize those impressions, and act on them, and that doing so will help us to remain worthy of future personal revelation. I also appreciate his testimony that we need spiritual knowledge as well as empirical knowledge, and that pursuing one does not preclude pursuit of the other. The habit of praying in faith and studying the scriptures enhances our ability to receive answers from the Holy Spirit over time.
As the Sunday Morning Session of General Conference concludes with a wonderful, powerful rendition by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir of "The Spirit of God Like a Fire Is Burning", I just have to say--if you watch no other session of this conference, watch this one! The messages, the music--my heart is full!
Sunday Afternoon Session
This is the final session of conference, and usually the hardest one for me to remain awake for. I forgot to buy dark chocolate peanut M&Ms to eat (crunchy things help me stay awake). Plus it's a rare, cloudy day here in Arizona. So if I miss a talk, you'll know why.
The choir sings, "Our God is a God of love / Love is the greatest gift to us / Love is our greatest gift to Him." Amen to that song!
D. Todd Christofferson
Yes, it's worth pausing to consider why the Lord instituted a church at all, rather than leaving worship as a purely personal thing. It's interesting to hear Elder Christofferson historicize the patriarchal order of the church. The early organization arose from the familial structure of early society and adapted as societies became more complex than the smaller family units. Yet the local, temporal, malleable nature of church organization does not mean that everything in the church is optional. Faith must be followed by saving ordinances (though the performance of saving ordinances has changed in different dispensations), and the commandment to gather together as families and communities to build the kingdom of God remains constant. Activity in the church is necessary to a disciple life. Bear in mind two things: first, we do not strive for conversion to the church, but to Jesus Christ, which the church facilitates. Second, the family remains the fundamental unit of the church. The other appendages of the church enhance our capability to do much good in the world, to care for the poor and the needy, and take the gospel to all the world, beyond what we could do alone, or even within our families. The church is the kingdom of God on the Earth.
Devin G. Durrant
Elder Durrant urges members to develop a habit of saving--the amount matters less than the regular practice. "Small efforts sustained over time can produce significant results." He also urges us to "ponderize" the scriptures. That is, to ponder the scriptures daily, and memorize passages that have special meaning for you. The benefit of this practice is to provide a way to elevate your thoughts. I have found that I need a variety of scripture study practices throughout my life, with different practices becoming more necessary to me at different times. For me right now, picking verses out to focus on is less effectual than a deep contextual study, but there are certainly times in my life where pondering and memorizing selected verses has provided just such elevation as Elder Durrant describes--and I would imagine it would be more accessible to children and youth, as well. But I hope that members do not rely on a few familiar scripture study tools, and instead seek to master a broad range of study tools and practices.
Von G. Keetch
The talk began with a story of a visit to a beach where surfers were frustrated by a barrier preventing them from enjoying the big waves, but on closer examination with a pair of binoculars, they discovered that the barrier lay between the surfers and a school of sharks. "Don't be too critical of the barrier...it's the only thing that's keeping you from being devoured." This is a common theme in General Conferences, and in Christian sermons more broadly. Although there may be disagreements about which constraints are most necessary, it is in fact a universal principle that freedom to act cannot exist or be sustained without constraints.
Carole M. Stephens
It looked like Sister Stephens will also be talking about constraints, this time with a story about a young child resisting a seat belt. But then the talk took a different turn than I expected, as Sister Stephens talked about the different strategies she used to try to persuade her granddaughter to wear a seatbelt. Negotiation and threats did not work, but explaining the principle of safety with a sincere expression of love did! If we do not teach principles with love, those we care about will naturally resist the restraints they perceive as being imposed on them for reasons they do not understand. Cultivating trust and love is necessary to cultivating obedience. It is trust and love which motivates the kind of obedience that has the power to transform lives.
This talk greatly enhances my understanding of the principle Elder Keetch was trying to teach. The conference schedule of speakers is set far in advance, and topics are not assigned; I believe that both Elder Keetch and Sister Stephens were inspired to speak on this topic, and that we were meant to hear these messages together.
Allen D. Haynie
What a beautiful testimony of the nature and power of the atonement! "Repentance is real, and it works!" Through the cleansing and healing blood of Jesus Christ, we can be clean, we can be whole.
Kim B. Clark
It's my old university president! BYU-Idaho, represent! I hope Elder Bednar talks in this session too. "Whatever level of spirituality we now have, it will not be sufficient for the days to come.... We do not have to be perfect, but we need to be good at getting better." Practicing individual devotions, participating in church and temple service, and living according to the principles we have been taught will help us grow spiritually. What would it mean to be able to see the world around us the way the Savior sees it? How would my life change if I could? I think I see glimpses sometimes, and it is glorious.
Koichi Aoyagi
I can easily relate to the discouragement Elder Aoyagi felt as a result of his protracted struggle with infirmity, and can add my testimony of the power of such afflictions to purify the soul and cultivate compassion. Times of trial can help us turn to and trust in God rather than in our own strength.
David A. Bednar Ask and ye shall receive! I love my BYU-I peeps. Elder Hales taught Elder Bednar that "When you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most." And Elder Bednar added, "Physical restrictions can expand vision. Limited stamina can clarify priorities." I needed this message right now. And as with Elder Keetch and Sister Stephens, it seems like a perfect pairing with the talk that came before it, expanding on the principles that Elder Aoyagi taught. Yes, imperfections and weaknesses in our leaders (and ourselves) can be encouraging and faith promoting, when we understand that it is God's grace, and our privilege, that he works through weak and imperfect people--and that therefore, if we will turn to him, he will work through us and enable us to do the work that matters most, no matter how weak and imperfect we are. Our departed apostles' lives of disciple service enabled them to bear witness of truth with authenticity and power.
Doctor Who Series 9 premieres on BBC America this Saturday, September 19th, at 9pm Eastern Time. I am excited. In honor of the series premiere, and also this year being the 10th anniversary of the new series (hot on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the franchise), this is my first ever attempt at creating a fandom-themed playlist. I tried to create a sort of thematic arc. I think it's pretty awesome. I hope you enjoy it, too.
Space Oddity, David Bowie, performed by astronaut Chris Hadfield aboard the ISS
Doctor Who Theme (2005-2007), Murray Gold
Wunderkind, Alanis Morissette
On Top of the World, Imagine Dragons
Million Miles from Home, Dune
Starlight, Muse
Don't Stop Me Now, Queen
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, U2
Clocks, Coldplay
Conquest of Spaces, Woodkid
Map of the Problematique, Muse
E.S. Posthumus, Pompeii
Run Boy Run, Woodkid
On the Run, Pink Floyd
One of These Days, Pink Floyd
Cosmic Love, Florence + The Machine
Abigail's Song, Murray Gold and Katherine Jenkins
River Song, Ally Rhodes
End of the World, Ingrid Michaelson
The Call, Regina Spektor
Doctor Who Original Theme Music, Ron Grainer and Delia Derbyshire
B-Sides (a collection of Who-ish songs and fanvids that didn't make the "album" above):
What songs would be in your Whovian playlist? Tell me in the comments.
It seems likely that what I say in this post will offend some friends and readers on either side of this issue. For many of you, the question of whether marriage should include same-sex couples is a no-brainer, and you met Friday's Supreme Court decision with either unmitigated joy or disappointment. Yet I have thought long and hard about it, and I still do not fully know what I feel or ought to think. Perhaps, lacking such moral certainty, it would be wiser for me to remain silent. Yet not to speak, in this moment of profound social change, feels too much like cowardice.
Defenders of man-woman marriage call it "traditional." Advocates of gay marriage talk endlessly of being on the "right side of history." Both the appeal to tradition and the appeal to progress hold no sway for me; they are equally fallacious. For me, this is a matter of relationships: with my God, my family, and my friends. Though I'm fully aware that I cannot always have it all ways, my purpose in writing this is to help those of you who profess certainty to understand the tension that I feel, and that I believe many others share, between our love and respect for our LGBT friends on the one hand, and our deeply held religious and political beliefs on the other. I'm a Mormon through and through, and the focus of my comments reflects that, but I'm not trying to persuade non-Mormons of anything, nor am I inviting argument. I'm just personally working through some stuff and trying to be understood in the meantime. And if you're not interested in understanding me, I get it. I will be sad, but not offended if you stop reading or even walk away from me.
I profess faith in a church which affirms that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and which espouses as a central doctrine that the creation of eternal families is one of the primary purposes of mortal life. I find both beauty and power in the doctrine of the complementarity of the sexes which heterosexual marriage ideally embodies, yet I freely admit being puzzled as to the nature of pre-mortal gender. My study of history and literature across many centuries demonstrates quite plainly that what we sometimes assume to be essential gender characteristics are actually socially constructed, and quite malleable. Even though I believe there are essentially feminine and masculine characteristics, I confess I do not know precisely what they are.
I have felt for some time that these doctrines must be exceedingly painful for those whose sexuality precludes the possibility of fulfilling cisnormative, heterosexual marriage, yet who deeply desire to the bonds of family which we Mormons boldly proclaim to be the crowning glory of mortal life. That it is undoubtedly painful does not preclude the possibility of its being true, of course. Many truths are painful. Regardless, I have seen sufficient evidence to persuade me that most people do not choose which gender they identify as or are sexually attracted to, and cannot change their gender identity or sexual orientation. This, too, creates a theological puzzle for me, yet a lifetime of experience has instilled in me a trust in my God, and in His prophets and scriptures, which despite my incomplete knowledge, I cannot deny. In any case, I certainly don't expect those who don't share my faith to live according to its doctrine.
Despite a great deal of study, I have not found compelling empirical reasons why a government which provides civil marriage at all, has the right to limit it according to the religious beliefs of some of its members. More specifically, I believe that civil marriage, if it exists at all, must of necessity be defined by the will of society. I have heard arguments that marriage must be defined as between a man and a woman because societies have a vested interest in nurturing the rising generation and children are better off being raised by a mom and a dad. But even if we admit there are social and developmental benefits to sexual complementarity in parenting, I believe that same-sex couples can raise happy, well-adjusted, ethical children, just as single, divorced, and widowed parents can. The stable commitment that marriage fosters can only enhance that ability, and I believe that the Supreme Court ruling will have a positive effect on families with LGBT parents.
I honestly do not know whether the Supreme Court's declaration of a constitutional right to marry is correct. I'm not sure I believe in a civil right to marry at all, and even though I do believe that governments which extend the privilege of marriage ought to do so equitably, I believe the balance of power set up in our federal government would have been safer had the issue been settled through the legislative process rather than the judicial. But that takes time, and many people I care about were tired of waiting. I can't help but feel glad for them that their wait is over.
Many on the religious right have expressed fears that the free exercise of religion will be restricted as a result of this ruling. I wish I could believe that these fears are unjustified, but the possibility is real. Nevertheless I choose to believe that we can and will enact and uphold laws and policies which do justice both to the legality of same-sex marriage and to the free exercise of religion. The right of churches to define the sacrament of marriage according to their own doctrines must remain inviolable. Nor should religious people or institutions be compelled to participate in civil marriages against their consciences, so long as their abstention does not prevent others from marrying civilly.
Just as religious liberties must be respected, so must human dignity. Jesus declared that the second great commandment is to "love thy neighbor as thyself." He made no exceptions based on race, gender, or sexual orientation. The legalization of gay marriage does not one whit diminish our duty to care for the poor, the sick, the outcast and the marginalized. Furthermore, regardless of religious affiliation (or non-affiliation) or marital status, all of us do have a vested interest in protecting, nurturing, and strengthening families so that new generations can grow up healthy and wise. On these issues, we ought all to be allies.
I just started reading this book,Five Billion Years of Solitude: The Search for Life among the Stars. It's by a science journalist, Lee Billings. It's beautifully fascinating, so far, and I'm only halfway through chapter 2. Anyway, he's describing this conversation with Frank Drake, the father of SETI. Here is an excerpt:
Beginning in the late 1980s, Drake had begun exploring an idea that made a lunar far side dotted with telescopes seem like child's play.... He wanted to create a telescope that would surpass all others, one with a magnifying lens nearly a million and a half kilometers in diameter. Drake had found a way to transform the Sun itself into the ultimate telescope.
A consequence of the Sun's immense mass is that it acts as a star-size "gravitational lens," bending and amplifying light that grazes its surface. This effect, first measured during a solar eclipse in 1919 by the astronomer Arthur Eddington, was one of the key pieces of evidence that validated Einstein's theory of general relativity. Simple math and physics, judiciously applied, show that our star bends light into a narrow beam aligned with the center of the Sun and the center of any far-distant light source.... There are as many focal points and Sun-magnified beams as there are luminous objects in the sky--imagine a great sphere surrounding our star, its surface painted with amplified, high-resolution projected images of the heavens....
If, for instance, we wished to examine a potentially habitable planet orbiting one of the two Sun-like stars in Alpha Centauri, the Sun's nearest neighboring stellar system, a 10-meter telescope aligned with the Sun-Alpha Centauri gravitational focus could resolve surface features such as rivers, forests, and city lights....
"One of the beauties of gravitational lenses is that since the lensing object bends space, all light traveling through is equally affected," Drake said, squinting into the sunlight beneath one of his lemon trees. "Gravitational lenses are achromatic--they work the same for optical light, infrared, everything. I like to think of what they could do for radio.... You look at the numbers, and at first it seems totally insane, but this is real. You could transmit, let's see, high-bandwidth signals from here to Alpha Centauri using only one watt of power....
"That's the transmitting power of a cell phone," he finished. (pages 35-36)
So, as I'm reading this, you know what pops into my head (I mean besides a steady chorus of "holy cow that's amazing" with full orchestral accompaniment)?
6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;
7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.
8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.
And I'm thinking about how we interpret John's descriptions of what he saw in Revelation as being a pre-industrial man's interpretation of modern or futuristic technology in language his contemporary audience could understand. And I'm thinking that Joseph Smith was, technologically speaking, closer to John than he was to us, and that like John, Joseph's revelations are full of poetry. And who knows, maybe that joke Mormons like to tell these days about the white stones in Revelation 2:17/D&C 130:10 being iPhones aren't actually that far from the truth.
To my mind, that's one of the awesome things about Mormonism. For us, there is no such thing as the supernatural. Miracles, including revelation, are not the result of a suspension of natural laws, but of God's complete mastery over their workings. Now, lest by some chance a reader stumbles upon my blog who isn't familiar with Mormon doctrine, I must make clear that our God is not just some kind of advanced alien but indeed our Heavenly Father, and however much it might reveal to us about the nature and workings of the universe, no amount of scientific study or technological advancement can reconcile fallen humanity to Him or indeed to each other; only the atonement of Jesus Christ can do that. But I believe nevertheless that science is a source of truth and light and that, when used righteously, it is good in God's sight.
One of my favorite teaching activities for the first day of class is to have students write a metaphor or simile for their writing, or for themselves as writers. Lately I've also had students add an image that represents their metaphor. The activity is a way to introduce some concepts and practice some technical skills right off the bat, but more importantly, it's a quick way for me to get some insight into how my students think about writing.
As with last conference, my blog will try to capture some of my thoughts as I listen to conference messages, rather than reporting on what was said. I encourage you to watch the messages yourself, or read the text versions which are distributed a day or so after each broadcast. You can find excellent summaries of each talk by visiting Conference at a Glance. General Women's Session, March 28th 2015
Yes, that's right. The General Women's Session. A tiny change of wording, from "meeting" to "session" marks this twice-yearly gathering of LDS women as an integral part of General Conference. Not a nice extra. Of course it always was, but words matter; recognition matters. Such small changes happen all the time in the church without fanfare; you have to be paying attention. And remember that "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass."
Cheryl A. Esplin
The contrast set up in this talk bewteen "seemingly smart men" who ridicule the gospel, and the humble faithful, who find truth through revelation, is a common one, and it bothers me every time I hear it. Even though I believe in revelation as a source of truth, I am also a scholar. This dichotomy doesn't dominate discourse about knowledge within the church--we also often hear about the commandment to seek wisdom and knowledge on all subjectsout of the best books--so why does it still bother me?
Carole M Stephens
I appreciate Sister Stevens' nuanced approach to empathy. It is a good reminder that even where our personal experience is limited, we can exercise compassion and humility in expanding our sphere of influence, and it occurs to me that a sphere of influence means not just that we are able to influence others, but that we open ourselves to more abundant positive influence from others.
Bonnie L. Oscarson
It being the 20th anniversary of the Family Proclamation, the theme of this session is clearly "defend the family" and there is a lot of emphasis on the type of defense: valiant, bold, upstanding. As traditional as LDS views on the family are in many respects, I appreciate Sister Oscarson's reminder that the church has always championed women's education, and encouraged women to be leaders in both domestic and public spheres. I believe that continuing to champion traditional roles such as wife and mother, husband and father, does not mean having "regressive" attitudes about gender roles, but rather a more expansive view of what women and men can do and be, and how society can strengthen families by supporting women and men in their family roles.
Henry B Eyring
Desires to help, to serve, to have compassion come from the Holy Spirit, and from our faithfully answering the call of discipleship to "bear one another's burdens". What strikes me most is how important it is to listen, and to understand, in order best to serve those we love. I think sometimes in our zeal to ease others' burdens, we skip that essential step. But how can we bear one another's burdens if we don't really know what they are? Another important point: we lighten others' burdens best by strengthening them, rather than merely trying to take their burdens away. Christlike compassion is key, for "charity is the pure love of Christ."
Saturday Morning Session, April 4th 2015
My live stream of conference is experiencing some technical difficulties; it keeps freezing. If you're following live, please forgive me; I'm now several minutes behind the live feed.
Henry B. Eyring Fasting is one of the most beautiful religious principles and practices I know, and one that is practiced in different ways by many religions. Fasting is not only a practice of self-abnegation, whether of food or other things. It is self-abnegation coupled with a special gift of charity--that is, a gift above what ought to be a disciple's everyday charity. It's not about adding to a disciple's burdens, but a way God has given His faithful to bear one another's burdens. It is a source of spiritual strength and tangible goodness in my life, and I testify with President Eyring that its blessings extend around the world. Those of us who live in relatively prosperous circumstances perhaps do not fully realize the profound gift that the law of the fast is.
Boyd K. Packer
As much as I am moved by the image of covenant marriage and family relations he describes, perhaps a greater message for me lies in President Packer's actions. His health has been frail for many years, and continues to decline. Yet every six months he sits (because he can no longer stand) and shares a message and a testimony with the church and the world, though the physical struggle this entails is visibly increasing. I have asthma, and I know what it feels like to struggle to gather enough breath to speak. Yet here is a man who, while he has breath, however faint, uses it to proclaim the gospel.
Linda K. Burton
Recently I read the blog of a woman who had, as her daily scripture study, been reading all the General Conference talks given by women since 1971. Among the powerful insights she shared was a rhetorical one. She noted that over the years, women conference speakers had explicitly addressed the women of the church. Sister Ostler supposed that this contributed to the perception that when a woman stood at the conference pulpit, it was a good time to take a quick break. Though like Sister Burton today, our women leaders of the church have long addressed the general body of the church and sometimes even men directly, the perception persists for many that women's messages at conference are not as worthy of our attention. Sister Burton's counsel about righteous relationships between husbands and wives, men and women, is certainly of great importance to all of us.
Dallin H. Oaks
Last week, I taught the Parable of the Sower as part of our assigned Sunday School curriculum. As I prepared that lesson, what was impressed most upon my mind was that in the parable, we are neither the sower nor the seed, but the soil--and the power of the parable for us depends upon our reflecting on the condition of our hearts, and the knowledge that we have the power to cultivate or neglect our spiritual soil. Elder Oaks' message is a direct invitation to so reflect, and a call to repentance.
L. Whitney Clayton
"We actively choose to believe, just as we actively choose to keep other commandments." Yes, belief is a choice, but not a free one. That is, we are expected not merely to choose to believe for belief's sake alone. We are expected to study the grounds for belief, to "overcome our doubts" as Brother Clayton says. And belief entails both consequences in the form of covenants we make and keep, and blessings as we live according to our beliefs.
L. Tom Perry
I appreciate Elder Perry's emphasis on strengthening marriages and families, and stressing the ideal of family permanence, rather than only focusing on traditional family structure. As marriage and family ties are among the most precious and sacred gifts available to us in this life, we who take up the cause of defending family as the bedrock of a healthy society have much work to attend to within our own houses. More than talking about what families ought to be, we need to foster environments where families can grow, thrive, and endure. I believe that such a focus on our own families will do more to strengthen the role of family in society than will judging others' families--or their lack of families. Elder Perry's talk is not shy in denouncing "alternative lifestyles," yet my mind keeps returning to Matthew 7:3-5. I think most Latter-day Saints do not only believe but strive to live the principles of eternal families--but we still have much work to do toward building up our own families and the families within our communities. There are other threats and challenges to families besides those posed by counter-cultural perceptions of family structures.
Saturday Afternoon Session
The lds.org live feed continues to stall, so I've switched to BYUtv. Seems OK so far, but apparently I missed something in the sustaining of church officers. Oh hey! There's former BYU-Idaho President Kim B. Clark! I suspected he was going to be called as a Seventy.
Thanks to Twitter I now know that somebody voiced their opposition to sustaining the First Presidency. That's the first time in my memory that an opposing vote has been made (but not by any means the first time it's happened). It was respectfully acknowledged by President Uchtdorf.
David A. Bednar
I'll admit, I was distracted from a large part of Elder Bednar's talk by thinking and reading about the sustaining of church officers. But my roommate declared, "that talk was awesome!" so I'll definitely have to go back and watch it again.
D. Todd Christofferson
Yes, marriage is not just about the love shared by a couple, but is a heavenly gift that entails responsibilities to God, children, and society. Marriage between a man and a woman, with the attendant bearing and nurturing of human souls, holds a unique place within LDS theology. Our position on the family is ultimately founded on this doctrine, and not on social science. "No one is predestined to receive less than all that the Father has for His children."
Wilford W. Anderson
The dance steps of the gospel are the things we do; the revelations and doctrines of the gospel are the music by which we dance. What a beautiful extended metaphor! Yep, our dance is a peculiar dance. Let's not sit on the folding chairs around the edge of the cultural hall. The melodies of the gospel are love unfeigned, longsuffering, patience, and kindness. And it is up to us to practice harmony in our homes and congregations.
Dale G. Renlund
"Saints are sinners who keep on trying." Conversion is a sweet change, and one that is always available to us. "No failure ever need be final." We need space and time for personal growth. And as this is true for me, it is also true for my neighbors, perhaps especially for those who offend or injure me. There is room in the church for everyone who is trying to become more like Christ. If we don't try, we're just Latter-day Sinners. If we stop trying, we're Latter-day Quitters. And if we don't allow others to keep on trying, we're just Latter-day Hypocrites.
Michael T. Ringwood
Success is not measured by position or authority, but by the effects our service has on living souls, including our own. Whether or not we have an official calling, we can continually seek for ways to meet the needs of those within our congregations and spheres of influence.
Quentin L. Cook
I dozed off, but the beginning and end of this talk were promising. I especially appreciated the message to be respectful of those whose traditions and cultures seem to cause concern or conflict with some aspects of the church. And the message that, contrary to rumor, people are not increasingly leaving the church, and in many measures, members are stronger and more active than in the past.
So, here's a bit of a post-script, because there has been a lot of emphasis on strengthening families so far this conference, and a lot of folks both within and outside the church have this idea that the Mormon concept of an ideal family involves ultra-conservative gender roles and stuff, and I see something much more rich and complex and beautiful, as illustrated in this Mormon TV ad that I completely love.
Sunday Morning Session, April 5th, 2015
There is no sound more beautiful than the sound of "Alleluia!" sung on Easter morning. He is Risen!
My blogging may be slightly slow or sparse for the first few talks because I promised my roommates Easter Waffles, and they're still cooking!
Thomas S. Monson
God does answer prayers. My experience has rarely been as dramatic as the one shared by President Monson about the young missionary, but I have consistently received answers--often clear, sometimes involving more effort to discern.
Rosemary M. Wixom
What an important talk! If you are confident in your testimony, be willing to respect others' doubts, and if you doubt, be willing to respect others' confidence. Trust the light and reason you have--help will always come when you need it, and it will be enough. Jesus Christ will never turn you away.
Update: I love what this blogger wrote about President Wixom's talk. I hope you'll read the whole thing, but I'll share one quote in particular:
To love and empathize with another we need to do our best to hear and represent their voice authentically, and we don’t need to say just the perfect thing in response.
Jose A. Teixeira
The joy of abiding in Christ can continue despite great tribulation. And "abide" denotes continual contact. Through the internet and social media, we have both the ability to disconnect from others even when we are physically present, and the ability to have more continual contact with the gospel and with those we love. Let's choose to use these tools to draw closer to each other, to the body of Christ which is the church, not forgetting to draw closer to Christ through frequent prayer and scripture study.
Gerald Causse
It is easy to take for granted the marvelous things that are close around us. The feeling of marvel can be a source of energy and joy. Yet we are prone to slip back into complacency, to lose our sense of wonder. Faith cannot be anchored in wonder--it must be anchored in the plain and simple truths of the gospel. So anchored, if we pay attention, we will find our sense of wonder at all that God has done for us constantly renewed.
Brent H. Nielson
This is the second talk of this session that focuses on how we ought to respond to those who deviate from the gospel path. We cannot compel them to stay or to return, but we ought to continually show our love, and be willing to greet them with open arms in our homes and congregations. This feels especially poignant in light of recent, public dissension by church members, which has too often been met by short-tempered invitations to "love it or leave it," or as I saw more than one Tweet express yesterday, "sustain the Brethren or find another church." Such expressions are not in harmony with the example of the Savior. I believe that if we will abide in love and patiently wait, the light of Christ will guide those we love to our eternal home, and if their path takes a few detours, those who return will have learned things that can strengthen all of us.
Jeffrey R. Holland
I was far too enthralled by Elder Holland's marvelous sermon on the Fall and the Atonement to write anything. I cannot add anything to it. Watch it, read it, again and again.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Grace unlocks the gate of heaven and opens the windows of heaven to pour out God's blessings upon us. No amount of good works can earn our way into heaven, but the mercy of Christ is a free gift, which not only opens the way but blesses those who seek the Lord with the strength to complete the journey back to God. Salvation cannot be purchased by sinners at any price. We serve God, not to earn anything but to show our love and gratitude to Him who redeemed us with his blood, and because His love working in us inspires us to do and to share goodness. God does not wait until after we have expended every effort, but commences with us immediately when we turn to Him, and abides with us as long as we endure.
Sunday Afternoon Session
We're in the home stretch of conference, and I'm physically and mentally fatigued. I've reached the stage of conference where I have to stand up to stay alert. Fortunately, I have an adjustable keyboard stand.
Robert D. Hales
Religious liberty and respect go hand in hand. And we are responsible to safeguard these sacred freedoms and rights. Ultimately, how we live our religion matters more than what we say about our religion. Amen to that!
Kevin W. Pearson
All of us are susceptible to doubt and deception. "Hang in there" is not a principle of the gospel. Enduring to the end means something more. It is a firm commitment to stay the course we entered into when we made sacred covenants. This talk is painting a pretty bleak picture of the internet and social media: "searching #spaciousbuilding will not lead you to a knowledge of the truth." But it is true that we generally find what we seek, and we cannot afford to stop seeking gospel light. So, here's a confession: I've developed the habit of checking social media in the morning before I open my scriptures. I believe there's great good to be had through social media as well as great potential for harm. But I think my priorities, as attested by my behavior, are mixed up.
Rafael E. Pino
Whoever's in charge of the sound system this conference has really reduced the volume of the non-English conference speaker. It makes it a bit easier to hear the English translator, but I miss being able to catch fragments of other languages.
Perspective really does make a difference. If we're too far away or too close, we are likely to miss important details, and even to mis-perceive what we are seeing altogether. Love and gratitude are great perspective-correcters, in my experience. And an eternal perspective can help us weather the everyday and the acute pains and anxieties of our mortal lives.
Hahaha! Dieter F Uchtdorf suddenly started conducting in German: Oops! I forgot to speak English!
Neil L Andersen
God is mindful of every people. The marvelous work of the gospel is moving forward. One way we can see the hand of God moving the work is in the continued building of temples throughout the world, enabling more saints to obtain temple covenants, and perform saving ordinances for their ancestors. As important as growth in church membership is, so is growth in the spiritual lives of church members, for the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
Jorge F. Zeballos
Once we become covenant members of the church of Jesus Christ, our responsibility becomes nothing less than to keep that covenant and obtain exaltation. "How...could we be content with anything short of exaltation if we know that exaltation is possible?” Because I have developed a relationship of trust with the Lord, and because I have made covenants to follow Him, I can continue along the gospel path, fulfill the duties and receive the blessings of discipleship, even in the face of doubts. I can patiently persevere as I wait for further light and knowledge.
Joseph W. Sitati
This is an interesting reading of God's commandment to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it." Rather than taking it as rhetorical threefold amplification of a single commandment to bear children, Brother Sitati takes it as a commandment in three parts. First, to bring forth fruits of the spirit. Second, to bear and nurture children. Third, in the commandment to subdue/replenish the earth, he focuses on wise stewardship of the earth's resources. As a single, childless member, I appreciate this interpretation of Genesis 1:28, because I am able to more clearly see my role in fulfilling it, not in an anticipated future way, but here and now.
Russell M. Nelson
Is the Sabbath really a delight? For me it can be, but it isn't always. It is sometimes a struggle to continue to choose not to engage in school work on Sunday, but I've learned that I need to rest from one kind of mental work and focus on another; when I do so, I can return to my school work on Monday with renewed energy. I love to take Sunday naps, and it's the one day I don't ever feel guilty for dozing off instead of doing more work. Church attendance sometimes feels like a chore, but when I am sufficiently attending to my personal worship, then I am more able to enjoy the sacrament and appreciate the fellowship of my ward members, even if some of the talks or lessons are sometimes less edifying and more pro forma than they ought to be. One delight of my Sabbaths is the stream of family emails that trickle into my inbox over the course of the evening. Being miles away from any immediate family, I rejoice in this family bonding activity. Another delight comes when I answer the invitation to deeper study of the scriptures offered through my calling as a Sunday School teacher.
That's it, brothers and sisters. A closing song and prayer, and then it's farewell from the conference center for another six months. I kind of miss having closing remarks from President Monson, but I appreciate his age and need to conserve his strength. I was glad for his message this morning. God be with you till we meet again!
This blog post, by the mother of a child with dystonia, is such a great reminder of the perils of judging strangers. The author, Heather, writes about having her parenting judged by a stranger on a street corner—something I'm sure we've all seen (and maybe been guilty of ourselves). She then beautifully describes what can happen when you choose to exercise empathy and offer help, rather than judging.
I think part of the reason it resonated with me is that so many instances of misjudging parents involves children with "invisible" disabilities. And although I'm not a parent myself, that's something that strikes me right at home, because "invisible" disabilities affect people of all ages, including members of my family. So I want to add to the story by telling one of my own.
Image: A straight flight of stairs, at Porta Garibaldi sotterranea station, Milan.
At one of the universities where I've taught, the English department and the ROTC are in the same building. One morning as I stepped into the elevator on my way to my office on the 3rd floor, I was joined by a member of the faculty whose office was on the 2nd floor, as well as three cadets who were on their way to the 4th floor. As the professor stepped out on the 2nd floor and the doors were almost closed behind her, one of the cadets remarked that if she weren't too lazy to climb a single flight of stairs, maybe she could lose a few pounds and not need to take the elevator; the others laughed and nodded.
I glared, hoping that my disapproval of their hypocritical judgment was evident in my face, but said nothing. It was not my place to "out" my colleague. But I knew that she has MS, and I knew that meant taking the stairs was not an option for her. Even a short flight of stairs is a double hazard for a person whose motor skills have been affected by MS. She could easily slip and fall, and even if she didn't, taking that single flight of stairs would drastically deplete her already limited store of energy for the day.
I knew all this because my mom has MS, and not long before, she had lost her balance and fallen while simply hanging laundry outside on level ground, causing a broken hip that had to be surgically replaced. But I said nothing, because my colleague's disability was none of these strangers' business. Instead, I went to my office, closed the door, and angrily punched my chair as I fought back tears.
This dedicated teacher, and my mother, defied the MS odds because they were still walking on their own feet, without a cane or walker. They work hard to keep it that way, and part of that work involves avoiding even a few stairs whenever possible. But I realized that to these young men at the very peak of their physical condition, my colleague and my mother just looked like podgy old women who had let themselves go.
My mom still takes walks nearly every day. You can barely notice her unsteadiness—unless you know what to look for. I can spot a person with an MS walk; I've seen it all my life. But to the rest of the world, it's invisible. I've heard people whisper unkind things behind my mom's back for using the handicapped stall at a public toilet; they couldn't see that she needs the hand rail to get up and down safely. I've seen people glare at her for using one of those scooters at Wal-Mart, but then get up to reach something from a top shelf; they had no way of knowing that doing the grocery shopping, even with a little motorized help, would leave her exhausted for the rest of the day. But that's the whole point: they had no way of knowing. And it was none of their business, anyway.
So the next time you catch yourself judging a parent whose child is screaming in the middle of the cereal aisle, or a fat person stepping onto an elevator instead of taking the stairs, ask yourself: what don't you know about them? and why should you care? Hint: you should care. Of course you should. But caring is the opposite of judging.
Experienced writers know that the hardest part of writing isn't putting words on the page: it's revision. It's massaging and coaxing and wrestling and chiseling texts into the proper shape, the proper texture. I've been working on this article for a really, really long time. It's now in its 9th major revision, and it's 30 pages long, and last week, I realized that the bottom half of it needed some serious reorganizing. So I fell back on an old-school revision activity: the literal cut and paste.
It works like this. You take a printed copy of your paper (or in my case, thankfully, only half of it), and some scissors and glue, and you cut it into paragraphs. The glue is for pasting together the parts of paragraphs that span multiple pages. After your paper has been chopped into its component paragraphs, you mix them up and you find a large surface and you lay them out in your new order (this activity can be an interesting peer response technique too, if you let someone else rearrange them for you. Among other things, when somebody else tries to put your paper back together in the right order, you really start to get a sense of how important transitions are). Here's what my reassembled text-puzzle looked like:
Each column is a different subheading (though actually that first column contains two subheadings (one is transitional), and the remaining four are all sub-subheadings). The paragraphs with larger space between them are primarily transitional or meta-textual. The paragraphs on their sides didn't fit conceptually very well; that's my way of visually representing that they need to be heavily reworked or deleted (one of them was deleted, along with a bunch of bits of other paragraphs; the other three were reworked).
Using this method, I was able to get a birds-eye view or map of how my paper needed to be organized, which made my digital cutting & pasting much easier to manage. Of course I didn't exactly follow the map in the end. Reorganizing so many paragraphs required a lot of line-level revising too, and that in turn created alternate (and better, I think) organizational possibilities for the several paragraphs. It also gave me a better visual sense of how my sections were balanced than merely scrolling through a .doc could. And it offered me a fresh perspective on the text overall. After 9 revisions I was really having trouble seeing the trees for the forest; physically handling each paragraph individually was eye-opening.
I'm a proud tech nerd, but I have to admit that sometimes, low-tech solutions work better.
Now if only I could think of a better title, and a better conclusion for that beast.
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