I was sitting on the stand in Sacrament Meeting yesterday because I was singing with my bishop’s wife and a few other girls from my ward. I relish any chance I can get to sit there because I’ve always had the distinct impression that the stand is closer to heaven in ways that are difficult for me to describe. I’ve borne my testimony enough times and given enough talks to feel the difference between the pulpit and other places in the church building. Yesterday was certainly no exception.I was ... Read Full Story

I gave my lesson last Sunday, which I think went pretty well. You can find the PDF of my lesson plan here if you're as big of a teaching/ Elder Uchtdorf/ church dork as I am and you're interested in looking at that kind of thing. I'm really happy with Microsoft Word 2007 on this one because I was able to make the diagram I wanted with the smart graphics.Perhaps it's just a further indication of my dorkiness, but I was at a single's ward activity yesterday when I realized something rather cruc... Read Full Story

I've been called as a Relief Society teacher! I wanted a teaching calling SO BADLY, and my bishop said they've had this one in the wings for me for a few weeks now. I'm so excited!So my first lesson is on The Infinite Power of Hope, a talk from the 2008 General Conference by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I couldn't have asked for a better topic, or a better talk. It's full of really important information that I feel really confident I can do a lot with, especially in light of almost all of my... Read Full Story

A few highlights from my scripture study I want to share:Anyone who has been a part of my readership for any duration of time will probably know of my love for and testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I'm currently reading in the Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Book of Mormon, and I want to point out a few passages I think are important to remember.In 2 Nephi 3, we read a prophecy of considerable length about the coming of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He is described as one that wil... Read Full Story

Okay, so maybe not yet--but we're making progress! Anyways, greetings to all of my visitors from MormonTimes. It's good to have you here. For those of you who don't know, I call your attention to this from their Today in the Bloggernacle section: Scripture PowerPoint: I would have loved these PowerPoint study helps for my religion-class tests found at Templebound Paradox. Nicely these are good study helps for personal study as well. One is on the Pearl of Great Price, the o... Read Full Story

So, time for some fun!I found a Dear John letter generator, and these were the results of my random selections.Dear John,By the time you read this, I'll be maxing out your Visa. I'm sorry for doing this but, you left me no other choice. I know this might comes as a bit of a shock to you - especially because you're an emotional cripple. But I'm sorry – I just need freedom. I think you're a schmuck, but I don't think we're right for each other. First of all, we'r... Read Full Story

I decided to take Liz's advice and start with Hugh Nibley. Abraham in Egypt has been sitting on my shelf for some time now, and I brought it back from Utah with me with full purpose to read it. I began today, and while I don't have much of a page count to show for a full day's effort, I'm diligently working my way through the information in attempts to take in as much as possible. The longer I read it, the more I understand what it is that I'm seeing, but I'm SO gratef... Read Full Story

So, I'm on leave for Worker's Comp. Never thought THAT would happen. And since my feet have become sore and stiff from moving around too much, I've taken to actually resting in bed--which, so far, has also involved doing 3 loads of laundry. Apparently being lazy and resting are not the same thing. So I figured I would start one of the many books that are waiting for me on this shelf over here. I've certainly accumulated enough good ones, I have no excuse but to start my... Read Full Story

Two nights ago, I was moving some physical therapy equipment in an act of service to one of my families. It had been a long day, during which many things had gone badly, and I was very impatient to move as much equipment out of this third office as quickly as possible. In my haste, I managed to get a hydroculator stuck in the groves of an elevator doorway. It tipped, spilling its scalding hot liquid contents all over my feet. I had second degree burns on my feet before I could even tear my s... Read Full Story

Yesterday was a long day. I mean, I'm no stranger to statements like that--but seriously. Yesterday was a mess that it'll take me some time to sort through in my head. We showed up to my father's funeral just before it started. In all honesty, it was something I wanted to get through as quickly as possible because I was extremely uncomfortable. Celebrating my father is something I've never been good about, and the fact that I was expected to in that setting was simply more th... Read Full Story