LDS General Conference, Saturday Afternoon Session

I just finished a delicious lunch of honey BBQ chicken nuggets, fresh strawberries and raspberries, took a potty break and refilled my water bottle. Time to settle in for another 2 hours of General Conference! Click here to watch live with me.

I got the idea to liveblog GC last April from following ByCommonConsent's liveblog, which they do every conference, with light hearts and multiple voices.

Image: Mormons on the lawn at Temple Square, from http://mormonsoprano.com/

The picture is probably from between sessions in April. But I'm reposting it because it reminds me of when my little brother and I used to go down to the Greenbelt (a park in Idaho Falls) across the street from the temple, and spread ourselves out on a blanket on the lawn to listen to the Saturday afternoon session of conference on the radio. But only in April; it's usually too cold for that in Idaho Falls in October. Sadly, they don't broadcast Conference on the radio here in Mesa; otherwise the weather right now would be perfect for me to go find a spot of lawn near the Mesa temple from which to listen. But I'll just have to settle for the lovely breeze coming through my open window as I watch online. And the upshot is, I can keep liveblogging! I'll offset my own comments on the proceedings below in italics.

Combined Family Choir: "On This Day of Joy and Gladness"

Sustaining of Church Officers. It's a privilege for Latter-day Saints to participate in this process each conference. Raising our hands manifests not only that we approve of these officers' callings, but that we are grateful for their service, and sustain them with our prayers and through our faithful service in the church.

Choir: "I Know that My Savior Loves Me"

Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

A gospel-centered home is a safe place to raise children today. Though evil of all kinds is ever present in these perilous times, "when I think of the future, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of positive optimism." This optimism is possible through faith in Jesus Christ. Many years of effort have produced editions of the scriptures in every language, with footnotes and study helps (a new edition of the standard works was released digitally early this year, and print editions in English became available in August). Studying the scriptures brings strength--it is less important which books we read than that we make it a regular practice. We can find hope and peace for ourselves and our families. Packer relates an oft-repeated story of a dream that Joseph F. Smith had. It does not matter whether we come to the Lord early or late in our lives. No matter how much we have been stained in the journey, we can be washed clean by the atonement of Christ!

President Packer's health has been poor for years now. He seems more frail each conference. Though the effort of speaking is audible in his voice, he must feel very strongly about the importance of the message he offers.

D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Throughout history societies have relied on the moral force of women. I wish to commend women for their moral influence, and encourage them to cultivate the strength which comes from moral virtue. A woman's moral influence is nowhere more powerfully felt than in the home. Women should be serious about ongoing education and preparation to contribute meaningfully in their communities. Quoting Neal A. Maxwell: "Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?" Sisters, I don't wish to over-praise you as we sometimes do in ways that make you cringe. I just mean that whatever your personal circumstances, your moral authority is vital. The devaluation by some feminists of marriage, motherhood, and homemaking can threaten that moral authority. Worldly attitudes toward sexuality threaten women's moral authority. There is no room for a double-standard that condemns women's promiscuity but excuses it in men. But instead of raising the standard for men, our society has lowered it for women. Some, in the name of equality, wish to erase gendered distinctions between men and women. We ought instead to embrace the unique strengths and moral force of women. None of this is any excuse for men and boys to shirk their own duties to exercise moral authority.

It's no secret that there is controversy surrounding the position of women in the church. It seems likely that some may find Elder Christofferson's message condescending, a reiteration of outdated stereotypes. Yet it is also a reminder of the profound but often-overlooked influence of strong women throughout the history of the church. I'm sorry that he has reiterated negative perceptions about feminism, by focusing on a narrow part of it. That part is real, and has a long and antagonistic history with the church. But it's not all that feminism is or ever was. I wish we could engage in a more mutually respectful dialog.

S. Gifford Nielsen, of the Seventy

What would you do if a prophet of the Lord really called you? Well he did, this morning, President Monson called us to engage more earnestly in missionary service. This is the most remarkable era in the history of the church. Let's not let the work go forward without us.

Choir and Congregation: "Press Forward, Saints"

Arnulfo Valenzuela, of the Seventy

More missionary stories! "By small means are great things brought to pass." The innocence and youth of our missionaries exemplify this, as does the faithful service of ordinary members throughout the world. Through faithful acts of service we not only bring about great things in our own lives, but have the opportunity to transform the lives of others. "Let us reach out to others with faith and with love."

Timothy J. Dyches, of the Seventy

The story of Jesus visiting the waters of Bethesda and healing a lame man, and the story of Jesus healing the lepers on the road to Jerusalem. As a physician, I focus on healing the physical body. Jesus heals not only bodies but souls. "Come, follow me" invites us to leave our old life behind and draw near to Christ. The trials of life should soften our hearts and as we become converted to the Lord, we become whole. Forgiveness sometimes feels excruciatingly difficult, but it is possible through the grace of Christ. "Have faith and patience in the Savior's timing purposes for you." He stands at the door and knocks. Let us answer by prayer, repentance, obedience.

Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Speaking particularly to those who suffer from mental illness or emotional disorders. However bewildering, these afflictions are some of the realities of life. Our pursuit of godliness will be tried and tested again and again. It is only an understanding of the divine love that motivated Christ's supernal sacrifice that makes our lesser sufferings understandable and bearable. "This dark night of the mind and spirit" is more than just a period of sadness. I had my own glimpse of such an abyss, and though it was temporary, it has given me an enduring sympathy for those for whom it is more enduring. How can you respond when such mental challenges confront you or those you love? First, remember the unchanging love of God for you, no matter what. Seek the counsel of those who hold keys for your spiritual wellbeing. Seek priesthood blessings. Observe the Sabbath and partake of the sacrament. Be alert to potential stressors and triggers in yourself and others, and when you recognize danger signs, make necessary adjustments. If needed, seek the advice of reputable, qualified people. If you had appendicitis, God would expect you to get a priesthood blessing and surgery. He expects us to use the resources available to us. Be grateful for small victories, and be patient. "Patiently enduring some things is part of our mortal education." To caregivers who are responsible for the health of loved ones: do not destroy your own. Don't run faster than you have strength. And remember that charity never faileth. And remember that in any illness or challenge, there is still much in life to rejoice and be grateful for. "Trust in God. Hold on in His love. Know that one day the dawn will break brightly, and all shadows of mortality will flee. Though we may feel we are like a broken vessel, as the Psalmist says, we must remember that vessel is in the hands of the divine potter."

Holland! Y U MAKE ME CRY SO MUCH!?!?

M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Missionary service! After all that has been said, the greatest and most important duty is to preach the gospel. We have been proselyting for 144 years. Are we prepared to lengthen our stride and quicken our pace? Members should increasingly work in partnership with full-time missionaries. Many members hesitate to share the gospel for two reasons. First, fear. Second, misunderstanding of what missionary work is. You might feel you would be asked to do unrealistic things in your relationships with others. Rest assured, that is not the case. If you will pray for opportunities to share the gospel, fear will be replaced with faith and confidence. Then we must demonstrate our faith by watching for opportunities, and they will surely come. They won't require a forced or contrived response but will flow as a natural result of our love for our friends and neighbors. They will respond in the same spirit, though the timing may not be right for them to receive your message, they will appreciate the spirit in which it is offered. You don't have to be outgoing or eloquent. You just have to lift up your voice and speak as your heart is prompted. It is not a burden, it is a privilege to share the gospel. Heed the promptings of the spirit and become engaged in doing what you can.

Choir: "Love at Home" Seriously, those kids are stinkin' cute. And props to them for sitting quietly on the stand for 2 whole hours without going crazy. Hahaha! Little guy in the choir just yawned a HUGE yawn in front of millions. Don't feel bad, little buddy. We all know how you feel. Time for a break!

Sister McConkie offers the closing prayer. Six months ago, this was a big deal. Now it's just par for the course. And the general authorities and officers of the church file out all orderly. Or at least they were. Now there seems to be a bit of a traffic jam because they're stopping to chat and shake hands and stuff. Hey, it's just like the foyer after Sacrament meeting! We Mormons, we like to chit-chat after meetings.

Normally, I'd be done until tomorrow morning. But they're broadcasting the Priesthood session live on the internet tonight! Normally it's only been available online on a delayed basis. This is the first time it will be broadcast live.

LDS General Conference, Saturday Morning Session

Guess what! It's GENERAL CONFERENCE TIME! Awesome, right? I have decided to try live-blogging. But while the heavenly Mormon Tabernacle Choir is singing, I'm going to eat my breakfast cereal before it gets soggy. Hit the jump to follow Conference with me live(ish). My personal observations will be in italics.

Image: the interior of the LDS Conference Center in Salt Lake City. From mapletonnews.com

Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

A historic landmark observed by President Thomas S. Monson: church membership has reached 15 million. Wow! And the number of full-time missionaries has nearly doubled. He reminds us of the Lord's command to "feed my sheep." President Monson is the Lord's appointed spokesman to the church and to the world today, and here's the first piece of counsel he offers this conference: "Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord's vineyard, to bring souls unto him...and he will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill his word."

Tabernacle Choir: "Israel, Israel, God is Calling." MoTab, you give me chills. I love you.

Robert D. Hales, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Brother Hales describes the process of preparing to speak at conference. He promises that if we listen prayerfully to conference, we can receive inspiration about what the Lord wants for our lives at this time. It isn't always in what is said, but sometimes in what we hear and feel from the Holy Spirit as we show our willingness to receive the word of God. "We gather to hear the words of the Lord. And we return to our homes to live them." We should study these messages, and share and teach them with our families. God will speak to you.

Ulisses Soares, Presidency of the Seventy

"Christlike attributes are gifts from God." The Spirit of meekness enables us to perceive our weaknesses and in the process of time, by taking up our cross daily, become strengthened in Christ. We improve day by day, through our own efforts and through the grace of Christ. We cultivate meekness by controlling our tempers and subduing our pride. We can avoid "detours and sadness" in our lives by being humble and walking hand-in-hand with the Lord. He tells an extraordinary story of a Brother Matlango, of Johannesburg, who because of the laws of his country was not allowed to attend church or be baptized. This faithful brother was eager to learn more of the gospel anyway and asked the Bishop of his area if they could leave a window of the meetinghouse open so that he and his friends and family could attend church through the window. Eventually the law changed and later, a ward was organized in his own neighborhood.

Carole M. Stevens, First Counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency

Every man and woman who is baptized and confirmed a member of the Church receives the Holy Ghost and is entitled to receive revelation for themselves. Priesthood has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally--an ordinance that can be received only by a man and a woman together. All of us need the blessings and power that come through temple ordinances. We ought to exercise faith and cultivate reverence for God's power and priesthood authority (that priesthood authority is God's authority was emphasized repeatedly). Heavenly Father is generous with his power--all men and women have access to that power and to the blessings of the ministering of angels and communion with God. We ought to fulfill our individual roles and responsibilities according to the Lord's plan, so that all may be blessed through our ministrations. "Do we receive the gifts given to us with gratitude, grace, and dignity?"

OK, I got behind because you can pause when you are streaming Conference. And I really, really don't like the hymn "There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today". So I'm going to fast-forward and catch up to the live stream! ...it's kind of perfect.

Edward Dube, of the Seventy

We receive callings to serve in the church joyfully, accept releases willingly, and when new callings come, we recognize that no calling overshadows another, that all are important to the building of the kingdom, and we are "not weary in well-doing". "Faith is always pointing toward the future." The early pioneers who set off into the wilderness toward the west did not know exactly where they were going or what the future held, but they knew they were led by the Lord's servants. We cannot see with our eyes at the present time what the Lord has in store for us, but we can have faith in his goodness and mercy. Teamwork and coordination is more important than mere size and strength.

One of the things I love about conference is seeing and hearing the voices of an increasingly international church leadership. Elder Dube is from Zimbabwe! He was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy just last April. And according to lds.org, he's 50 years old. He doesn't look a day over 30. 

Elder Bednar! Holla! BYU-Idaho solidarity!

David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Two important lessons about the law of tithing. (Oh look, a list! haha, Elder Bendar, I love you man, but you are SO predictable!) The first lesson is about blessings that come to individuals and families as they obey the law of tithing. The second lesson is about the importance of tithing to the growth of the church. When we live the law of tithing we often receive significant but subtle blessings that are not what we expect but bless our lives in extraordinary ways. Among such blessings are the gift of gratitude, enhanced discernment, greater personal determination, greater capacity to act and change our own circumstances, increased spiritual and temporal capacity to do more with less, a keener ability to prioritize and simplify, and an enhanced ability to take care of what we already have. We receive "greater capacity to change our own circumstances rather than expecting circumstances to be changed for us." (And there go his itemizing fingers! It just wouldn't be a Bednar talk without them.) Assurance, peace, faith and hope; stamina, perspective, and resolve may be precisely what we need to persevere, though we might wish instead for deliverance.

Lesson 2: "The simplicity of the Lord's way." The Lord's law of finance for the church is defined in D&C 119 and 120. It's simple: all members give one tenth of their increase, and this fund is disbursed by a council under the direction of the Lord, and at present these funds are used to fund welfare services, meetinghouses, teaching materials, educational institutions, etc. 2 basic and fixed principles: the church lives within its means and does not spend more than it receives, and a portion is always set aside for contingencies and emergencies. These are the same principles that are repeatedly taught to all members regarding their personal finances.

Dang, I'm 5 minutes behind the live stream again. But the pause button is making live blogging easier. Yay technology!

Tabernacle Choir, "Keep the Commandments." But wait! They're singing a new, second verse! Oooooh!

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 2nd Counselor in the First Presidency

We do not require anything of our members, but the Lord asks that we consecrate all. The lay clergy of our church receive no pay, but the people give of their time freely. Every six months, we watch 10 hours of talks! And every Sunday, we attend 3 hours of church services! This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the service and sacrifice that members willingly make. "Why would anyone want to join such a church?" The LDS Church is one of the fastest growing in the world. There are many reasons, but here are just a few: First, the church was restored in our day by Jesus Christ himself possesses the authority to act in His name, and is led by continuing revelation from God. Another reason is because of the many great opportunities available for doing good. Baptism is the starting point in our walk of discipleship. We find joy, healing, comfort, and forgiveness here. One might also ask, if the gospel is so wonderful, why would anyone leave? Some might suppose that it is because of being offended, or because of laziness, rebelliousness, or sin. The reality is not that simple. Many leave after years of struggle in their conscience with honest questions. We grieve when they leave, but we honor their privilege to worship God according to the dictates of their own conscience, just as we claim the same privilege.

"When the entire truth is eventually known, things that didn't make sense to us before will be resolved to our satisfaction... And to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine. I suppose the church would only be perfect if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and his doctrine is pure, but he works through us." 

Despite the imperfections of His servants, God will not allow his church to stray from the course that He has set for it. There are few members of the church who have not wrestled at some point with serious doubts and questions. "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith." Do not allow your doubts to keep you from enjoying the blessings that come from exercising faith. If you feel you don't belong, you might be surprised to discover that you fit better than you think We need and are strengthened by the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives of our worldwide membership. All fall short of perfection. Do not allow personal sin, or the perceived hypocrisy of others, to keep you from receiving the atonement of Jesus Christ. "Come, join with us...there is room for you here.... Come, join with us, for here you will find what is precious beyond price...the words of eternal life, the promise of blessed redemption, and the pathway to peace and happiness."

Tabernacle Choir: "Come Ye Thankful People, Come"

That's it for the morning session. I'll be back in two hours to live-blog the afternoon session. You can watch it with me by clicking on the link below! 

October 2013 LDS General Conference Live Stream

Berry Experiments

I should be revising a portfolio paper right now. I promised my committee chair I'd send her a complete draft by the end of the month--which is Monday. And I promised my study buddies I'd have a draft of it to workshop tomorrow. But here's the thing: I've been working like a dog all week, and my brain is fried. I need a break from academic writing. So I decided to make myself some treats.

Plus, I wanted to try my hand at the step-by-step cooking/baking photo blog post genre.

See, it was my turn last Saturday to do the grocery shopping, and I love berries. And they were on sale. So I bought a lot of them. I mean A LOT. So on Sunday, I made a pie. A chocolate uber-berry no-bake non-dairy cheesecake.* Mmmm-MM! It was delicious, and by far the most attractive pie I've ever made. Not that that's saying much--I'm pretty new to the pie-making business.

But it didn't use very many berries. I still had a lot of berries. And you know, fresh fruit doesn't last forever. So I made some chocolate covered strawberries. 

Chocolate covered strawberries are easy (and also tasty). I wanted to try something different. I still had tons of raspberries, so I decided to make some chocolate raspberry cups. I put some melted white chocolate at the bottom of a mini-muffin pan, put two raspberries in each, and then I poured some melted semi-sweet chocolate over the top. Later, it occurred to me that I might have trouble getting the chocolate out of the pan, because I didn't use liners or anything. But I poked at their edges with a knife and they popped right out. 

And they were DELICIOUS. 

Except there was too much chocolate. 

I know, right? I can't believe I'd say that either, but it's true. There was too much chocolate. They were hard to bite into, and the raspberry-chocolate ratio wasn't right. Well, we ate them anyway. Mostly I ate them. But I did share some with my roommates.

Even after completing this highly educational experiment, I still had a lot of berries. I could have just eaten them, but I had bigger ideas. I planned further experiments for my remaining test subjects, but didn't carry them out until tonight, spurred by the fact that my brain was beginning to dribble out of my ears from all that academic writing, and those berries weren't going to keep forever.

I decided to ditch the muffin pan. I dropped a bit of white chocolate in rows on a wax-paper covered cutting board and put a berry on top of each. In retrospect, maybe I should have left some just like this, because look how pretty! Or maybe I could have melted the chocolate to an even thinner consistency and just drizzled some delicately over the top. But who am I kidding? I'm not really the delicate type.

I wanted them completely covered in chocolate. I figured that it would get really messy if I tried to roll them in chocolate and then put them back on the paper. I also figured I could just pour chocolate over the top of them.  

That sort of worked. But I could tell that I was going to end up with a "too much chocolate" problem again. Also, it wasn't looking very pretty. I decided to roll them after all, and then drop them back onto the wax paper.

Just as I predicted, it was messy. Overall though, I think they're slightly better looking than the "dribble chocolate over the top" models. And they certainly have a more reasonable berry-chocolate ratio. When I finished making my twelve white-chocolate-enhanced berries, even though I'd been snacking on the raw ingredients as I worked, I still had a few more raspberries left. So I just rolled those in chocolate too. Might as well.

Messy, but DELICIOUS. I plan to conduct follow-up experiments to improve my methodology and satisfy my need for chocolate and distractions from doing actual work.

*Chocolate Uber-berry No-bake Non-dairy Cheesecake Recipe: 

Ingredients:

Sliced strawberries

Raspberries

Blackberries

Any other berries you want

1 8-oz package of plain Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese

2 C thawed non-dairy whipped topping

3/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 C (1/2 stick) margarine, softened

1/2 C sugar

1 graham cracker crust

Directions:

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chocolate chips on MEDIUM for 1 minute. Stir. If needed, heat in additional 30-second increments on medium until melted and smooth.

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese, margarine, and sugar on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add whipped topping and chocolate, mixing on low speed until well blended. Spoon into crust.

Arrange berries on top of the pie any way you want. Chill in refrigerator until firm (about two hours) before serving.

Pepper Potts: Pepperpot!

Pepper Potts: Pepperpot! 

That is all.

Photoshop courtesy of my friend Mark Laffan. 

Thanks for indulging my incredibly dorky sense of humor, man!

Growing Up, and Growing Up Again

I just read "The Real Reason Why Grown-Ups Love Young-Adult Fantasy Books" over at one of my favorite blogs, io9. The author, Marie Rutoski (herself a writer of YA fantasy), suggests that the most powerful element of YA Fantasy is the essence of change which is inherent in the experience of youth. I think she's on to something. Puberty is perhaps the most archetypal, embodied change that all of us experience, and it's one that continues to bewilder us. It's only natural we'd attempt to make sense of such profound transformation through stories.

Rutoski notes the odd structure of some coming-of-age stories, such as C.S. Lewis's Pevensie children, who grow up in Narnia, are transformed back into children when they return to England, and there have to grow up again. It occurred to me that this twice-growing-up might be semi-autobiographical. You see, Lewis was an atheist, and it was "fairy stories", as he called them--and an encounter as an adult with one fairy story in particular (Phantastes, by George MacDonald), that first "baptized [his] imagination" and started him on the path to conversion. You can read more about his conversion in his books, Surprised by Joy and The Great Divorce. At the close of The Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader', Lucy is heartbroken by the thought of never seeing the Great Lion, Aslan again:

“It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are -are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there.” 

It's apparent that Lewis himself believed that he had been drawn to the world of fairy stories so that he might encounter in some of them what he called "holiness," so that, eventually, he could recognize its original in Christianity. So, having abandoned Christianity as a child, he grew up in the world of Fantasy, and returned to Christianity as an adult, becoming "as a little child" in the faith, before growing into one of its greatest apologists.

I also recall a conversation I had with my oldest brother, years ago, when his children were very young. He said that when he graduated college, he felt like he was finally a grown up. But when he got married, he realized that he still had a lot of growing up to do. And when he had children, he felt that he was only then really starting to grow up.

Last year, I fell in love for the first time in my life. I'm in my thirties, and I thought I might have been in love once or twice before, but it had seemed like a pale thing--not at all like what others said being in love was like. I had thought that what poets and lovers called "love" must just be exaggerated, or that I just wasn't the sort of person who could feel it, until it really happened, and though I had a hard time describing it myself, there was just no mistaking it. And I discovered that I still have a lot of growing up to do, because when it comes to love, with all its joy, intensity, exhilaration, silliness, messiness, patience, hurt, forgiving, and learning to be an "Us" instead of a "Me", I'm like a little child. That first love made me glad, and it made me grow, even after the relationship itself was over. Every time we open our hearts, we grow--the more we open our hearts, the more we grow. I still have a lot of growing to do.

Two weeks ago, my youngest brother got married. He's just a couple of years younger than me, and it's been a privilege to grow up with him. In many ways, because of the physical challenges our family has faced, we had to "grow up" faster than many children do. He has been very responsible toward his family for as long as I can remember. But maturity is a pattern woven of many threads, and some are longer than others. I've admired the man my brother has been for many years, but as he stood next to his new wife, I saw a man I'd never seen before, and with a heart full of sisterly pride, I thought "Now he's really grown up." Then my oldest brother's words echoed in my memory, and my second thought was "No, this is just the beginning of really growing up."

I don't think we ever stop growing up. All life is change, is transformation. Adolescence and young adulthood may be the most tangible stage in the process, but for all its "firsts", it's by no means the most profound. The end of all our "growing up", after all, is to become as our Father in Heaven is. Jesus taught that we must become "as little children," humble and teachable, if we are to grow into the kinds of beings who can inherit His kingdom, and this, I think, is a process we must repeat again and again, because every time we think we've finally grown up, we discover we still have much more growing to do. The sorrows, hurts, griefs, and shames of mortal life--those are growing pains. But for all its awkwardness and agonies, youth, with all the revelations of first experiences, is also often a period of ecstatic joy. So, I'm looking forward to growing up, and growing up again.

Redwood Forest, May 2010. 

That's my brother who just got married, 

looking at a tree several hundred years old, 

which still has plenty of growing up to do.

Oreo Cookies: A Review

I've written a few blog posts lately that will never see the light of day. Well, one of them might, eventually, when I figure out just how much of my soul I can stand to bare in a blog that, while actually read by a tiny handful of people, could potentially be read by anyone. Or until I figure out how to couch what I want to say in a way that doesn't reveal so much of my soul (which might be a lost cause).

Meanwhile, I recently discovered that Oreo cookies have proliferated a whole bunch of flavors, so I'm going to post a frivolous review.*

Last year I decided I was eating too much junk food, so I convinced my roommate (with whom I share groceries) to go on a "candy fast" with me. The rule was, we could eat goodies, but only if we made them ourselves. The plan worked well; within about a month and a half I'd lost most of my taste for pre-packaged sweets. Of course then the holidays happened, and we went back to eating store-bought goodies, though not nearly as much. Anyway, as I said, I lost my taste for most junk food. But not Oreos. Because Oreos are awesome.

I haven't tried all the new flavors, but here is a list of all the ones I have tried, from least to most favorite.

Birthday Cake Oreos

These ones have the normal chocolate cookies, and the cream filling has rainbow spots of food coloring, like the sprinkles in a birthday cake. I guess the filling is supposed to taste like cake, too. I'm not sure. This variety of Oreo is just gross. I didn't even finish the one cookie I tried.

Strawberry Milkshake Oreos

Awesome in theory, right? I mean, strawberries and chocolate were practically made for each other! Sadly, not awesome in practice. Maybe it's because my candy fast killed my sweet tooth, but the free sample I tried grossed me out. Seriously, it made my teeth hurt, it was so sweet. Also, the strawberry flavoring didn't really taste like strawberries. So much wasted potential.

Peanut Butter Oreos

Sorry, PB lovers. I like peanut butter as much as anyone, but peanut butter flavored Oreo filling is just not the same. On the other hand, dipping an Oreo in peanut butter is something I ought to try sometime, now that I think about it.

Heads or Tails Triple Stuf Oreos

The Heads or Tails variety of Oreo has one chocolate cookie and one vanilla cookie. The Triple Stuf variety has even more filling than the regular Heads or Tails, which, like all the other non-classics, has as much filling as a regular Double Stuf. But Triple Stuff is overkill; it is just too much filling. I felt kind of gross after eating just one.

Neapolitan Triple Double Oreos

This cookie is like a fusion between the Strawberry Milkshake Oreo, the Chocolate Oreo, and the Heads or Tails Oreo (see below). It has three vanilla cookies, with one layer of strawberry cream and one layer of chocolate cream. The problem with this cookie is, it's too big. Also, like I said, the strawberry flavoring isn't so great. But there is less of it, so it's better than its cousin. Once again, a cookie that just doesn't quite live up to its potential. I'm not sorry I bought a bag, but not likely to buy them again.

Raspberry Oreo Fudge Cremes

These Oreos have a thin chocolate wafer, a thin layer of raspberry cream filling, and are coated in chocolate fudge. If there is any fruit better with chocolate than strawberries, it's raspberries. Having tasted the strawberry milkshake variety, I was skeptical, but ultimately could not resist the lure of raspberries and chocolate. Sure enough, these cookies were overly sweet and incredibly rich. However, I had an idea inspired by the tragic effects on chocolate of Arizona's ridiculous summer heat: I put the rest of the bag in the freezer. These cookies are much better frozen. Almost worth buying again, maybe. Or maybe not. After all, with so many flavors to choose, why go for something less than totally awesome?

Classic Oreos

The original, non-double stuf variety is perhaps not that exciting, but still a very creditable cookie, and I would not snub it at a party.

Double Stuf Oreos

The second-oldest variety of Oreo is better than its older brother. Always a welcome sight at a party table or picnic.

Heads or Tails Oreos

And now we're down to the top three. With a decent amount of filling and both chocolate and vanilla cookies, this baby can't go wrong, especially if you dunk it in your cookie-complementing beverage of choice.

Chocolate Oreos

How do you make one of the greatest cookies of all time even better? Make the filling chocolate. Honestly, I don't know why it took Nabisco so long to go from regular Double Stuf to Chocolate. Chocolate cookies, with chocolate filling, dipped in chocolate (soy) milk makes a teriffic trifecta of chocolatey goodness.

Mint Oreos

The only thing better than Chocolate Oreos. It's the perfect blend of crunchy, creamy, chocolatey, cool mint awesomeness. I don't buy them often because it's too easy to consume half the bag without realizing it.

*Disclaimer: Neither I, nor anyone I know, works for Nabisco, or owns Nabisco stock, or has anything to gain financially from Nabisco. However, if Nabisco would like to send me free Oreos, I would not say no.

Independence Day

It's Independence Day, and most of my family are up in Utah today, having the annual Robinson 4th of July Picnic at a park near my grandma's home. It's been a tradition for as long as I can remember, and I've been there most years. But because of work, I couldn't make it this year. So while my extended family are barbecuing, eating tons of watermelon, playing Oh Heck and Settlers of Catan and Boggle, and the younger ones are splashing around in the creek, I'm sitting at my computer in Arizona (because it's too hot to go outside) thinking about what Independence Day means to me personally.

It's the birthday of the United States. It means parades and picnics and fireworks,  patriotic songs and speeches, wearing red, white, and blue and eating cakes decorated to look like the American flag. It's a celebration of American culture, from the exalted to the ordinary (but mostly the ordinary). Yet Independence Day isn't just about America--at least, not for me, and I believe it's true of most Americans. Independence Day is a celebration of liberty--an abstract concept, built in our individual and collective consciousness through the repetition of words, ideas, images, and experiences.

It began (the holiday, though certainly not the idea) with the now-immortal words of the Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable Rights; that among these, are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

Liberty is not only a matter of good government, nor only a secular, philosophical, or humanistic principle, but a sacred principle that constitutes both a right and a duty, both to maintain it, and to use it wisely. The Old and New Testaments, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and other scriptures from many religious traditions, affirm that liberty is God-given and essential.

I love my country. I cherish the freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of the United States, though I have to admit, most of the time I simply take them for granted. I didn't have to sacrifice my life's blood for them--the hardest things I have to do (so far) to maintain them is to study principles and current issues, talk (and sometimes argue) about them, and vote. I don't love everything my country does, and I worry deeply sometimes about various directions it's going. But I believe in what Jefferson said, and I believe that despite its faults, our system of government is still capable of fostering liberty, justice and prosperity on a scale almost unique in human history.

I love this land--especially the west, where I've spent most of my life. The endless canyons of the Wasatch mountains in northern Utah, the magnificent red rocks of southern Utah; the cool, high desert of the Snake River valley in Idaho;  the rolling wheat-topped hills of the Palouse in Washington, which, in late summer, when the wind blows, look like a great golden ocean; and the strange brown beauty of Arizona that I'm only beginning to know. There's so much space out here, it's no wonder we Americans tend to dream big. I haven't ever traveled abroad, though I hope to, but I see much that is admirable and good about many other countries, and I appreciate the love my foreign friends have for their native lands. I love America not only because of the principles it stands for (however imperfectly), but also simply because it's mine. I'd rather live here than anywhere else.

I was going to write more--about culture and people and faith and family; this post was going to be really ambitious, but it's taken a surprisingly long time for me to write this much. The picnic in Utah is almost certainly over, and meanwhile my stomach is growling. It's time to go barbecue something.