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by Casey Peterson (bio)

As I walked into church last Sunday, I was hit by the social buzz that accompanies mission farewells. The chapel was filled to about twice the normal capacity with youth in the 16-21 year-old demographic, anxious to hear their friend speak, partake in the social gathering, feel validated in missing their regular ward meetings, and hopefully get fed a good meal afterward. They filled in the seats all around my family, and before skirts and slacks even hit the seats, cell phones were out and in full surfing/texting mode. I was mildly amused until the guy next to me dumped half the water tray in my lap as he was unsuccessful in texting with one hand and passing the tray in a level, upright position to me with the other hand. At that point I felt the spiritual disappointment for the lack of appreciation for a sacred symbol that I had looked forward to all week. I felt the disgust with his lack of courtesy in respecting my right to worship. I felt ashamed for his device addiction that didn't allow him to hear a great meeting or feel a special spirit. And I felt embarrassed to be feeling all of this while I should be focusing on the sacrifice of my Savior and the continued blessings of his gospel in my life.

As the sacrament concluded, my five year-old daughter came to sit on my lap, and gently asked if she could play with my phone. We live in an age that playing who can put your hand over your siblings hand game, drawing in a coloring book, or tracing your hand on the back of the program have been surpassed by free downloads of all kinds. Horse puzzles, interesting kids games (including bible-themed), and many others now have an amazing effect on keeping my squirming children quiet for the duration of the meeting. Step 1, make sure the phone is muted, step 2, sit back and focus on whatever un-kid related activity you want to for the meeting. It's that simple. Except for the fact that uncomfortable thoughts hit in those times, and one hit me.

"I am conditioning the exact behavior that I am condemning," I thought. "I'm taking the easy road, letting an electronic device entertain her, depriving her of learning reverence, paying attention, occasionally navigating the weird, the boring, or possibly the inspiring discourse given." I grew up without a phone in meetings, but still have to fight the urge to check a sports ticker, or venture beyond my Gospel Library app on my phone. However, allowing my kids to learn that behavior from a young age leaves little hope for them and conditions them to use sacred time for entertainment time. It reflects poorly on my stewardship as a father.

This reflection activity has led me in a careful self-analysis of my teaching, particularly during worship services. While it may be harder to go back to squirming, occasional boredom, or even apathy, I may also get back to helping my children to learn from a gospel that teaches endurance, perseverance, and work-to-learn mentality. Not easy, but I hope worth it.

Bloggernacle: Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover ...

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by Ben Johnson (bio)

"Hi, my name is Ben and I'm a Bloggernacle-holic. It's been 30 minutes since my last look."

I have a long history with the Bloggernacle. I honestly don't remember when I first started but it's been many years. I also have a rocky history with the 'Nacle. Sometimes I love everything I read, including the comments. Other times I want to punch it in the face and lose its phone number. In the end, though, I always come back.

I think the trick is moderation, not necessarily with time but with content. There is only so much one can take of 100-comment-producing screeds. Sometimes you need to lighten things up. I'm not kissing tookus here, but that's one of the reasons I like MMM. There's a nice balance here.

Not too long ago I decided that in order to participate in the Bloggernacle and maintain my own sanity, I needed an outlet. Thus Astute Doofus was born. Astute Doofus is my lazy attempt at blowing off steam and having a good time. Admittedly, the attempt is crude and sometimes not well thought-out, but don't let that stop you from dropping in for a few minutes. I'd love to have you.

Currently my plan is to post something every day until I run out of ideas or I quit the Bloggernacle for good (yeah right). But for now, please stop by and take a look around.

As a side note, I am working on what will be the greatest post in internet history. When it goes up at Astute Doofus I'll let you know. It will be worth checking out.

MMM Sermons: Gospel Teachings About Lying

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by Saint Mark (bio)

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints call them "talks," but most (non)Christians call them sermons. This is a series of sermons that many Latter-day Saints love and believe. I hope these sermons promote and perfect your faith as they do mine.

You can find this talk in its entirety here.

As a former law clerk of Chief Justice Earl Warren, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, an expert on the exclusionary rule and a former judge of the Utah Supreme Court, Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles knows a thing or two about liars, I mean lawyers.

In this talk, Elder Oaks strives to remind a group of lawyers-in-training how important it is to "be honest with their fellow man." Not only is this a requirement to enter the temple but it is one of the ten commandments God gave to Moses: "thou shalt not bear false witness."

Elder Oaks pulls no punches on topics he addresses and is as comprehensive a speaker as you will find.

Lying is sinful, as it has always been, and there is no exempt category for
so-called “lying for the Lord.” Lying is simply outside the range of permitted
or condoned conduct by Latter-day Saints - members or leaders.

A lie is also furthered when one remains silent in a circumstance where he or she has a duty to speak and disclose. In other words, a person lies by concealing when he
or she has a duty to reveal. Some relationships and some circumstances create
such a duty ... In contrast, when there is no duty to reveal all and when one
has not made an affirmative statement implying that all has been revealed, it is
simply incorrect to equate silence with lying.

What do you think about lying? Is silence lying to you?

The Hidden Family System

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by Seattle Jon (bio)

I read with interest Michael Farnworth's short article The Hidden Family System in the latest Sunstone (Issue 169). He starts out with some lines from Alanis Morissette's Perfect:

Don't forget to win first place
Don't forget to keep that smile on your face
Be a good boy
Try a little harder
You've got to measure up
And make me prouder
We'll love you just the way you are
If you're perfect

He continues with the following: "In Mormon discourse, we talk about the family being an institution more important than any other and beyond reproach. But the sad truth is, more people are hurt emotionally, physically, and spiritually in the family than in any other institution."

Michael argues not that the institution of the family is bad, but rather that its members are unaware of why they act the way they do. For the first ten years of our marriage, my wife and I remained essentially unaware of the unconscious processes we'd acquired in our childhoods and brought into our marriage. Only over the past few years, as we've matured as parents and companions, we have become more aware of these processes and worked to rid ourselves of those we don't want to see continued into the next generation.

Saintspeak 15: Liberal Mormon

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by Seattle Jon (bio)

Another installment from Saintspeak, the mormon humor dictionary from Orson Scott Card. Previous installments can be found here. Reproduced with permission from Signature Books.

Liberal Mormon (see also Conservative Mormon)

1. As perceived by a Conservative Mormon: a Mormon who wants to pervert the gospel to fit the doctrines of men instead of waiting for the Brethren to receive revelations. Liberals talk about being guided by the Spirit but usually find that the Spirit is telling them to espouse currently fashionable American liberal causes and ideas.

2. As perceived by another liberal Mormon: a Mormon who believes that the Lord won't give you any answers unless you ask him intelligent questions. Liberals believe that a Saint should be sensitive enough to recognize truth and humble enough to accept it whether it comes from the Brethren or Boethius, Newton or Nietzsche.

Mormon Doppelgängers 14: Bruce R. McConkie & The Proclaimers

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by Scott Heffernan (bio)

See all Doppelgängers here.

Yep.

Giveaway 28: Winner

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Seattle Jon lives a few blocks from what has to be one of the few Deseret Industries outside of Utah. With fewer members around to pick over the church books, he is constantly buying hoarding. For this giveaway, he is again dipping into his private collection to offer the following gently used church books to one lucky winner.

The Lonely Polygamist, Brady Udall (read reviews or read what's been written on MMM)
Mormon Scientist: The Life and Faith of Henry Eyring, Henry J. Eyring (read reviews)

Temples of the Most High, N.B. Lundwall, 1945 Edition (read reviews)
Jesus The Master Teacher, Lowell L. Bennion (read reviews or read what's been written on MMM)
The Growing Season, Carol Lynn Pearson (read reviews or read what's been written on MMM)

And the winner is: Barb (link to comment)

Please respond via email with your address by Friday, March 29th to claim the books.