Family Home Alone Evening, Part 4

Song: Hymn 19, "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet"

Prayer: Me!

Lesson: read from Brad Wilcox's The Continuous Conversion

• Takeaway: we turn away from the natural man the moment we turn back to God. In other words, we are righteous even when we are imperfect because seeking God is righteousness, no matter where we are on the path to Him.

Activity: singing karaoke-style to Mexican pop songs to strengthen Spanish skills (gracias, Jesse y Joy)

Treat: Tums, because dinner was chili with jalapenos

Family Home Alone Evening, Part 3

Song: Hymn 87, "God is Love"

Prayer: Me, again

Lesson: conclusion of Preach My Gospel chapter 1, "My Purpose"

• Takeaway: Joseph Smith taught that the baptismal ordinance is not complete without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. First comes the baptism of water and then the baptism of fire. The gospel is full of "ands" like this: water and fire. They seem like opposites, but they serve the same function: cleansing, purifying, sanctifying. We need both baptism and the Holy Ghost in order to continue on the path home. We must be clean and guided. We must be holy and inspired. We must be water and fire.

Activity: cleaning the toilet and the shower because gross

Treats: chocolate banana peanut butter milkshake

Family Home Alone Evening, Part 2

Song: Hymn 249, "Called to Serve" (sang along to the MoTab version)

Prayer: Moi

Lesson: continuation Preach My Gospel chapter 1, "My Purpose"

• Takeaway: As Elder Holland says, "be devastated" when someone does not keep a commitment to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. These two things are the first steps on the most important path that person will ever take. I've been trying to find a constructive way to express such devastation so that the person is motivated to change, and I think that it would help to discuss what might be holding them back from keeping the commitment. Then, we could brainstorm solutions together. I could emphasize why I believe these steps are so important and how the Atonement of Jesus Christ enables us to change, including starting new habits of prayer and study. I could then bear testimony of the good and powerful changes I have experienced from reading the Book of Mormon.

Activity: writing a letter to a lonely friend

Treats: popsicle (nothing for Ghost because he's constipated)

Family Home Alone Evening, Part 1

Since I no longer have the structure of a Young Single Adult ward to keep me on track, I will be hosting my own Family Home Evenings. I don't want to get out of this inspired habit because I have a testimony of the positive effects FHE has on families. As Sister Sharon Eubank says, just because my husband and children aren't with me right now doesn't mean that I can't establish good habits. I also thought it would be fun (and responsible) to keep track of my meetings.

Song: Hymn 141 "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee"

Prayer: Me

Lesson: Preach My Gospel chapter 1, "My Purpose"

• Takeaway: the Doctrine of Christ provides not only a pattern for living but a pattern for daily living. I need to exercise faith in Christ (by praying and seeking blessings) every day, repent and improve every day, fulfill my baptismal covenants to love and serve every day, listen to the whispering of the Holy Ghost every day, and endure to the end (which I am interpreting as fulfilling temple covenants and living as though I am inside the temple) every day.

Activity: Household chores, including folding laundry, unloading the dishwasher, and watering the lawn.

Treats: Chicken-flavored Temptations (for Ghost)

Reading the whole Book of Mormon in July

With fewer teaching hours this summer, I knew that boredom would reign if I did not set up a worthy project for myself. So I read the entire Book of Mormon in July. Calculations came down to 8 chapters each day (with one day to spare), and I spread those chapters out between listening and reading on my tablet. I felt this project was worthy for two reasons: (1) I wanted to see the big picture of this book of scripture, and (2) I knew it would force me to spend a good chunk of time each day immersed in the scriptures. Some days, it was half an hour. Other days, it was an hour or longer. Regardless, I spent a lot of time thinking about the prophecies of Christ, his visit to the Americas, and his Second Coming. And I learned something interesting.

I started reading expecting to read a book about the Nephites. After all, Nephi kicked the whole thing off. He was the first political leader and one of the first prophets of the Book of Mormon. Everything that followed made reference to his decision to leave Jerusalem with his father. But this speed-read took my expectations and flipped them onto their backs. You see, during my reading I felt like the Book of Mormon wasn't a book about the Nephites: it was a book about the Lamanites.

After all, the Nephites are essentially defined by their contrast to the Lamanites. Under that logic, any book about the Nephites would have to also be about the Lamanites, and I'm always a sucker for underdog characters. The marginal. The invisible. The silent. The forgotten. Those are my favorite characters in fiction; why don't I have more charity for them in non-fiction?

With that inspiration, which luckily came to me early in the month, I read and learned several things about the Lamanites.

1. God loved the Lamanites. This truth was evident to me through the examples of the prophets. When the Nephites were truly righteous, they sought to help the Lamanites, even during war. It was as if righteousness = loving the Lamanites. The whole purpose of the Book of Mormon, found on the title page, is to convert and bless the Lamanites. How could God not love them? Furthermore, if God loves the Lamanites, then it is clear that God loves us even when we sin. For so much of the Book of Mormon, the Lamanites were considered to be God-less, inhumane sinners. Yet, God still loved them and continually sent messengers to them to speak of His love. How could God not also love you?
2. The Lamanites were good people. They are often described as being more righteous than the Nephites, only lacking the truth. It was the decision of their predecessors that brought a curse upon them, so refrain from judging them. After all, they were worthy of being loved by God. That should tell us something about their true natures. The same goes with the people who we think are our enemies or at least who are different from us. Refrain from judgment. They are worthy of God's love, too.
3. Curses can be lifted. Many Lamanites were converted throughout the Book of Mormon, and God took the curse of the Lamanites away from them. Whatever your curse may be--grudges, addiction, sin, etc.--it can be removed. And the errors of your generation, of your community, of your family do not need to be reflected in you.

Those lessons combined form the big picture of the Book of Mormon: we are redeemable.

The Miracle of Enough

I got clued in to the "Miracle of Enough" by Laurel Christensen Day's talk at Women's Conference in 2015. She explains that she misinterpreted the miracle of the loaves and fishes to mean that Christ multiplied the meager food in order to fill the five thousand. However, when you examine the scriptural records of this miracle, not a single one of them--not Matthew nor Mark nor Luke nor John--uses the word "multiply." Sister Day suggests that the food was not changed to fill the people but that the people were changed to be filled by the food. They ate a little, and it was enough. She calls this the Miracle of Enough.

I experience this miracle on a daily basis. So many times, I have waited for blessings that never came or answers that weren't what I wanted or expected them to be. In those times, God has helped me to take comfort in what the blessings I already have, the blessings I was designed to have, even though they weren't the blessings I thought I needed. He has given me the challenge of counting my blessings so that I will realize that I have enough.

The most dramatic example of this miracle involves my work at the Provo Temple. We have the busiest shift in one of the busiest temples, and sometimes there just aren't enough workers to complete the work...or so it seems. God makes sure that His work gets done, one way or another, and our small workforce is always enough under His power. It's the Miracle of Enough.

One of my favorite scriptures also testifies of this miracle. There are two versions of the scripture, which was originally part of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew 6:34 states, "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." I used to understand this verse to mean, "Don't worry about tomorrow; today is hard enough to take care of without trying to take of tomorrow, as well." But the version of this verse in the Book of Mormon sends a starkly different message. 3 Nephi 13:34 reads, "Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof." In other words, "I will give you enough strength and enough power to handle the trials of the day." It is a promise from Christ to perform the Miracle of Enough. Sufficient is the day. Isn't that beautiful?

And this miracle works both ways. Not only are God's offerings enough but He makes our offerings enough. A few days ago, I made an offer on a lovely house. The sellers ultimately accepted a better offer. It was enlightening to realize that God's ways are different from the world's ways. In the world, our offerings will never be enough. We are imperfect, and the world demands perfection. Instant perfection, much of the time. But God takes our imperfect offerings and makes them perfect. He accepts the widow's mite, a small and imperfect offering, and He makes it enough. That, too, is the Miracle of Enough.

Have you witnessed the Miracle of Enough? How has it affected your relationship with God?

May Favorites

I only have one favorite this month. READING! With a lighter teaching load this month, I've been devouring books to satiate my appetite for words. With several visits to the library each week and several more visits to the fitness center (where I have been doing most of my reading), I read or listened to at least 8 books in May.

Listens

1. A Conjuring of Light by V. E. Schwab
2. Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Reads

1. On Slim Unaccountable Bones by Emma Lou Thayne
2. The Class from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
3. The Final Solution by Michael Chabon
4. Star Wars: Guardians of the Whills by Greg Rucka
5. The Lifted Veil by George Eliot
6. Brother Jacob by George Eliot

Of all these books, the one I would recommend the most highly is Code Name Verity, a book that I read last year, too. It is the story of two best friends during World War II: a British spy and a British pilot. They get shot down over France near the end of the country's Nazi occupation and are instrumental in the liberation of one particular city. Oh, and they're both women. And it's sad. But my favorite aspect of this book is the clever structure: for most of the book, you are reading what the spy is writing to her Nazi captors. That first-person narrative displays her unique personality whilst also hiding lies and secrets and maybe even code. You'll laugh and you'll cry and you'll want a best friend like Julie or Maddie to invade enemy territory with you.

April Favorites

1. Better Days 2020

I don't remember how I stumbled across this campaign, but I'm glad I did. Better Days 2020 is a non-profit organization seeking to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave American (white) women the right to vote, and the 150th anniversary of the first woman voting in Utah. They have a clearly organized agenda that includes museum displays, education projects, and plans for the future expansion of women's opportunities in Utah. I am excited to see what they come up with and to help wherever possible. It's got me thinking about getting a graduate certificate in Women's Studies...

2. Utah Valley Magazine

A few months ago, I heard Jeannette Bennett, the founder and editor of the Utah Valley Magazine, talk at BYU about her journey into starting and running a business as a woman. I've since started to read her publication, and I have loved it right from the premise: a magazine focusing on local people and local needs. The magazine is top-quality from design to writing to topics. It has helped me love where I live and connect to my community.

3. #PRINCEofPEACE

The Church has done a phenomenal job with their Easter and Christmas campaigns in recent years. I still think of the Easter theme "Because He Lives" from a few years back. This year's campaign emphasizes Christ's divinity, and I needed a reminder that He is indeed Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace.

4. "Let Peace Then Still the Strife"

Just listen and still the strife.

5. Faculty Women's Association Spring Retreat

This month, I attended an amazing retreat with other female faculty members. We learned about trusting Plan B (and even turning Plan B into Plan A), responding to sexual assault on our campus (start by believing), and designing meaningful life experiences. I had a blast, and I'm still thinking about how to design my life--whilst still trusting in Plan B. Hopefully, I'll have more to say about experience design later.

6. Target's Mother's Day Gift Bag Collections

So cute! And fairly cheap. Now, if I could only find a way to mail them safely to my mum and sisters...

7. Random Acts

This show on BYUTV is thoughtful, inspiring, and hilarious. I enjoy watching familiar faces serve random people. It makes me want to be a better person!

The Nelson Challenge: In His Name

I've been following President Nelson's challenge to study the words, actions, doctrines, prophecies, and commandments of Christ every week. Here is something I studied recently.

Lesson #5

In the Church, we do a lot of things in the name of Jesus Christ. So, what does that mean? And how can it help me turn unto Christ in every thought? How can it help me to learn more of Him and to gain a stronger witness of His power and divinity?

As I was studying, I came across this conference talk by Elder L. Edward Brown in April 1997 titled "Pray Unto the Father in My Name." Elder Brown says,

We we use these sacred words, "In the name of Jesus Christ,"...we are on holy ground. We are using a name most sublime, most holy, and most wonderful--the very name of the Son of God. What power and reassurance and peace come when we really pray in His name. This conclusion may be the most important part of prayer.

He references Moses 1:21, where Moses says, "In the name of the Only Begotten, depart hence, Satan."

We can send Satan hence if we live in the name of Jesus Christ. We not only pray in His name, but we act in His name. We represent Him, for we have made a covenant at baptism to take upon us His name. We become the undershepherds on the path to become like the true and living Shepherd. To do things in the name of Jesus Christ means to act like Him.

During a beautiful Easter lesson last Sunday, I made a list of things I do or can do in His name:

• In His name, I kneel in prayer.
• In His name, I praise God.
• In His name, I thank God.
• In His name, I seek blessings.
• In His name, I protect my family.
• In His name, I use my talents.
• In His name, I serve His disciples.
• In His name, I serve His abusers.
• In His name, I bless others.
• In His name, I answer prayers.
• In His name, I will live again.
• In His name, I change into a better person.
• In His name, I rise.

Because of my baptismal covenant, renewed every week at the sacrament table, I walk and talk in name of Jesus Christ. I represent Him in everything I do, emphasizing the need for repentance if I do something wrong and thereby misrepresent Him. When I'm at work, I work in His name. When I'm eating, I eat in His name. If I truly keep this covenant, my thoughts will automatically turn to the Savior for whom and by whom I do everything. He is the reason I can do so many good things to build up the kingdom of God. He is also the reason I will do so many good things. 

I can also learn more about the Savior by acting in His name. It makes me think about what He would do or wouldn't do, especially in His relationship with God. My prayers are a lot more reverent and sacred when I pray as Jesus, the Beloved Son, would pray. I'm a lot less selfish and a lot more hopeful when I seek blessings and answers. Acting in His name gives me the confidence to know that I can be perfect like Him someday.

Resistance

The other morning, I listened to President Joy D. Jones's conference talk, "A Sin-Resistant Generation." She was the only woman who spoke during the general sessions, so I paid particular attention to her unique insight. The title and topic of her talk comes from President Nelson's "A Plea to My Sisters" from October 2015, in which he pleaded for women of the Church to, among other things, "speak up and speak out." President Jones did just that as she explained how we can become, and help others to become, sin-resistant.

"Being sin-resistant," she says, "doesn't mean being sinless, but it does imply being continually repentant, vigilant, and valiant." Doesn't that definition make sin-resistance seem all the more attainable? I like that sin-resistance allows for failure, so long as we repent. We should shed our former selves every day and ask for the Savior to make us new, to make us better than before. He'll ask us to work a little in return, but He will certainly answer that prayer.

Of course, I can't use the words "resist," "resistant," and "resistance" without thinking of Star Wars. 

Indeed, Star Wars supports the ideal that a woman's place is in the resistance. First, there was Princess Leia. Then, came Queen/Senator Amidala. The marvelous Clone Wars show brought Ahsoka Tano, Duchess Satine Kryze, and others. The new movies spotlight my sheroes Rey and Jyn Erso. 

President Jones says that our place, whether woman or man, is in the sin-resistance. Still, I can't help but notice that an emphasis has been placed on the women of the Church to lead out in this resistance. I mean, a woman said it in conference and was quoting a talk specifically directed to women. Perhaps we have been called out because we have so many influential roles in God's kingdom on Earth: as sisters, daughters, descendants, ancestors, mothers, teachers, presidents, counselors, advisers, mentors, speakers, healers, missionaries, writers, scriptorians, community members, council members, committee chairs, and so on. Perhaps it is God's plan for His daughters to lead the resistance against sin. We don't do it alone, but we have particular assignments that only we can fulfill. Didn't the first Relief Society president (at least of this dispensation) tell us that we would be an important part of "something extraordinary"?

Truly, a woman's place is in the sin-resistance. Can we rely on you?

The Nelson Challenge: Lamb of God

I've been following President Nelson's challenge to study the words, actions, doctrines, prophecies, and commandments of Christ every week. Here is something I studied recently.

Lesson #4

What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?

...These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 

Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple...

For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Revelations 7:13-15, 17

Every Saturday, I exchange floral shirts and pencil skirts for a long white dress, the uniform of a temple worker. On one of my first shifts, I found an oil smudge on my sleeve, and another woman directed me to the laundry facility in the temple basement. There I was taught how to use a powerful stain remover. First, I had to apply the chemical, which came in the form of a glue stick, to the stain. Then, I had to place a white cloth underneath the stain and rub vigorously across the stain with a wet cloth. The stain would be pushed out of my dress and transferred to the white cloth underneath. 

Of course, I was in the temple the whole time, so the symbolism of that small event shone through to me. We wear white clothes in the temple because they represent the Savior cleaning us with his blood. He transferred the stains of our sins onto himself and purged them away with his power and his sacrifice. 

L'Innocence, William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1893)

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, the lamb that was led to the slaughter and slain. He is gentle and innocent, as we are encouraged to be. It's no wonder that, with his divine and loving perspective, he asks us to feed his lambs, for he sees the true potential of the rough and the guilty. We really can be like him because of his willingness to save us and teach us. He is so patient with our shortcomings, even when we make the same mistakes over and over again. The Lamb of God wants to raise us up from the mud and the dust; he wants to clean our robes so that we can go on to do marvelous works.

That is what I am celebrating this Easter week: that I can enter the temple, the house of God, because of the sacrifice of the Lamb. That I can serve my sisters, both living and dead, because of the innocence of my Brother. That I can rise from my failures to become divine because of my Savior.

I wear white in the temple because I am continually cleansed by the blood of the Lamb.

Living a Strange Life

I'm writing memoirs! I'm afraid of losing fond memories, and I want to be able to look back on the good times, the progress that I've made, and the ways God has guided me. The title of my memoirs? My Strange Life, because that's the best way I can describe it. I was an unusual child, so I had an unusual childhood. There will be stories about fake money, slug monsters, and dinosaurs in the bathtub. You'll hear about the strange things I did as a baby, as a big sister, and as a student. And you can find all these strange memories at the link above.

If you haven't caught the drift of this post, the basic idea is that I love strange things. Don't believe me? Here is a sampling for you of some of my favorite strange things:

1. Doctor Strange

The trippiness. The goatee. The TILDA SWINTON FIGHTING WITH MAGIC FANS FLBRTGPT. While I was not cool with the whitewashing of an Asian character, I was glad that the hero had a female mentor who was well-rounded.

Fighting like my other favorites: Mulan, and the Kiyoshi Warriors.

2. Strange the Dreamer

I'm only a few chapters into this fantasy book, but so far I have not been disappointed. I've always admired Laini Taylor's writing style and imagination, and this story is a great example of both. There are all sorts of strange and fanciful goings-on, so you bet I'm in. Also, the protagonist is a librarian.

The Great Library was no mere place to keep books. It was a walled city for poets and astronomers and every shade of thinker in between.

3. Stranger Things

Stranger Things combines so many strange things that I love: 80's adventure movies, X-Files-esque science fiction, and outcast characters. Also, people apparently think it's strange for women to have no hair and numbers in their names (I'm looking at you, Eleven and the Ancient One). Honestly, though, Stranger Things made me feel scared, excited, and sad all at once, and I can't wait for season 2 this Halloween. Imagine that timing.

How strange.

April 2017 General Conference Wrap-up

I'm always amazed by the power of General Conference. Divine instruction on dozens of subjects arrives on my little computer screen, directly to me it seems. I find answers to the questions that I ask and answers to the questions I didn't think to ask. Answers I didn't realize that I needed until I received them. General Conference is a modern-day miracle.

This time around, I found some meaningful patterns in the messages. Keeping in mind that everyone notices different things depending on the Spirit's guidance, here are some of my takeaways.

Lead with Love

• President Uchtdorf asked us to motivate people (including ourselves) using the pure love of Christ instead of using fear. We are to follow the Savior's own example of encouraging people to keep his commandments. "If ye love me, keep my commandments," and not "if ye fear me."
• Elder Christofferson followed up by asking us not to create a shame culture or a guilt culture when we call people to repentance. He said that to warn people, which would seem to use fear, is actually to care about people. When we warn of consequences, we should do it out of love for our neighbor. The admonition in D&C 121:41 about the gentleness of our power came up several times during conference.
• Elder Palmer used the scriptural example of the rich young man asking Christ what more he could do. "Then Jesus beholding him loved him," and asked him to change and improve. His call to repentance was born out of love--and out of beholding him, which was explained by...
• President Eyring in both the women's session and the priesthood session as he emphasized the divine identities of the people around us. In the women's session, he shared a parenting experience when the Spirit told him his son was a great person, and that experience led President Eyring to be more gentle. He treated his son with even more love.

Leading with love is one way to become like God. As He mentors us, we can mentor others. We are all placed in our own human orbit, where God has given us specific individuals to mentor and to serve. In my own circumstances, I am keenly aware of the people He wants me to love, and I am also keenly aware that I should be doing that loving work better. Therefore, I am adding a special prayer every day to be filled with the pure love of Christ.

Look unto Christ in Every Thought

• President Nelson encouraged us to take on the mentally rigorous practice of looking unto Christ in every thought (D&C 6:36). He explained how he is trying to do that by studying Christ in the Bible's Topical Guide (the President Nelson challenge that I have been writing about). He clarified that we should not speak of the Atonement or the Resurrection, which were just events, without tying them to Jesus Christ, who is our actual Savior. President Nelson also invited us to study "The Living Christ."
• Elder Ballard also encouraged us to study "The Living Christ."
• Elder Bragg said that we all have an inherent inclination toward light. He also said that the light of Christ is in all things. From these statements, I infer that we can look unto Christ by seeking out His light around us. I can search for evidence of Christ's love and power in the beauty of the world and in the beauty of his disciples.
• Elder Choi warned that, when we seek the light of Christ, we should not look around but look up. He emphasized again that we should look up to Christ in every thought. Looking around suggests having a narrow perspective and caring about the opinions of the Babylon. Looking up, in contrast, suggests that we have Christ and his goals in mind while we dwell here in Babylon. Looking up, I imagine, will lead us to serve and "heed them not."
• Elder Oaks said that the effort to know God continues well beyond the veil of death. While we can begin to know Christ, and the Father whom he represents, we will learn more as we live with him.
• Elder Costa taught us that nothing draws us closer to Christ than the desire to change. That desire is our part of the repentance process. As a person who loves to improve, I hope that love is drawing me closer to my Savior.

Clearly, I need to study "The Living Christ" as I continue President Nelson's challenge. I will also seek more of Christ's light and love in everything that I do. All that I am and all that I do should serve Christ in some way, and I need to focus on that important relationship as I go about my day every day.

Align Your Goals with God's Goals

• From Elder Ballard, I learned that God is a being of goals. He has goals for His kingdom, and He has goals for me. The most important goals He has set are for us to (1) return to Him and to (2) receive His exaltation, or all that He is and has. Elder Ballard encouraged us, as he has before, to have a personal progress interview with ourselves to evaluate how we are working to reach those goals. In particular, we should strive to realign our goals with God's goals, as can be found when we study His plan of happiness, when we study about Christ, and when we study about families.
• Elder Hales reminded us that discipleship is really apprenticeship. We are learning to become like God. Therefore, we should set similar goals to the ones God has set. He gave examples of goals, like crossing the road for anyone in need, living in moderation, and learning from all our experiences. When we have goals like God's, we begin to become like God.
• Elder Sabin encouraged us to "be all in," and to go beyond the minimum requirements of the gospel. He made me want to do good things like a boss (and I always imagine Leslie Knope and her enthusiastic drive when I think of being a boss).
• Elder Rasband told us what to do when God alerts us of His plan through a prompting. He said that we are to be First Responders, to arrive with lights flashing the instant God asks us to do something specific.
• Elder L. Whitney Clayton shared two similar responses from Mary in the scriptures, "Behold the handmaiden of the  Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." And, "Whatsoever he asks of thee, do it."
• Elder Bragg, as mentioned before, taught that the light of Christ is in all things. It gives life and purpose to all we do. As I plan my activities, I should seek the light of Christ in all that I do. I can find a way to build up the kingdom of God in every task.

I love setting goals. I am a Planner. When Elder Ballard started his talk, I felt giddy with excitement because I got to plan something. I've begun a study of my patriarchal blessing where I'm compiling a list of God's plan for me to reach our goals. I'm setting smaller goals to evaluate my progress along that plan, and I'm examining my temporal goals to see if they contribute to the kingdom of God. If everything I do leads me to be a better person and to improve the lives of people around me, I will truly "be all in." I'm also adding Mary's words to my prayers: "Behold the handmaiden of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

March Favorites

1. Mayim Bialik's YouTube Channel

I don't actually watch Big Bang Theory, but I first heard of Mayim Bialik because of her work on that show. There was a big hullaballoo about how she was the only member of the cast who actually was a scientist in real life (she has a PhD in Neuroscience), and I read several interviews of her describing her experience as a female Jewish geek. Her YouTube Channel only accentuates how wonderfully unique she is. Check her out here for videos by and about cats, geeks, and feminists. Yes, her naked (hairless) cat is featured prominently.

2. Boss Monster

So much fun. And so many expansion packs. 

Boss Monster is another card game that I tried out this month. The premise just tickles me pink: you play as the monster at the end of a side-scrolling video game (basically, you are Bowser in the castle in Super Mario). You have to play cards to build up your dungeon so that more heroes come to you and more heroes die. Even the box is designed to look like an old-school Nintendo game box.

3. The Nanny

Such joie de vivre!

Shocker! I watched The Nanny a lot when I was growing up, and it remains one of my favorites today. A hilarious, self-possessed female lead who endures being single? I'm in. I'm so in that I've been re-watching all the episodes I have and dreaming about owning the ones I don't have. Also, apparently, I have a theme of awesome Jewish women this month. Go figure.

4. Scamalot Videos

James Veitch, a comedian, responds to spam emails and starts pranking the wannabe thieves. He has a whole stream of funny videos detailing his efforts. Try this one out and then find the rest!

5. 365 Creative Writing Prompts

An old friend posted on Facebook recently that she wanted to put together an online writing group. Lo and behold, I have been looking for an online writing group to join. We've been responding to ThinkWritten's 365 Creative Writing Prompts. I'm posting my entries on my fiction blog, and the prompts are found here. I have been trying to take a horror or magical realism horror spin on each prompt, which is not easy.

6. Ben Byrd Art

They're so cute!

I love Ben Byrd's postcard-sized watercolors. He comes to Salt Lake Comic Con every year, and I book it straight to his booth. I buy the art by the armful and give them away as gifts or use them as decor or bookmarks. Check out his adorable work here.

The Nelson Challenge: Prophecies of Christ

I've been following President Nelson's challenge to study the words, actions, doctrines, prophecies, and commandments of Christ every week. Here is something I studied recently.

Lesson #3

Who Will Wait for the Savior? (Steven Kapp Perry, "From Cumorah's Hill")

I read through the references in the Topical Guide under the heading "Jesus Christ, Prophecies About." My favorite is Isaiah 25:9, which reads, "And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Of course, Isaiah had the most prophecies about Christ out of all the books in the Bible. But this prophecy means something special to me, because I feel like I live in a spiritual waiting room. I'm always waiting for blessings, waiting for the right calling, waiting for the right time (waiting for the right guy, but you didn't hear that from me). Everyone has to wait for blessings. Think of Job or Sarah or Ruth or Esther. The whole parable of the ten virgins was about being prepared to wait. The doctrine of Christ teaches us that we must endure to the end. We must wait, but we should not wait idly. I believe that God uses the waiting room as a classroom. We grow and learn while we wait.

"This is our God; we have waited for him." What do we do while we wait for Christ? Here are a few things I'm trying to do to improve myself while I wait.

• Serve within my "human orbit." God has placed me in my current circumstances for a reason; the people I'm around now are the people I'm supposed to be serving. I'm going to pay closer attention to the service opportunities that are in front of me right now. Every person I meet or know is a chance to serve.
• Study, study, study. The Nelson challenge is a major part of that. 
• Write, write, write. We wouldn't have scriptures or conference talks if people didn't write down their spiritual experiences, inspirations, and witnesses. This blog is part of my attempt to write my own personal scriptures.
• Repent! Every day, with planning and preparation not to make the same mistakes again. I don't want to be caught off guard when the waiting is over.

The Nelson Challenge: Tongue of Angels

I've been following President Nelson's challenge to study the words, actions, doctrines, prophecies, and commandments of Christ every week. Here is something I studied recently.

Lesson #2

Messengers in Christ's empty tomb.

2 Nephi 31:13, which continues to explain the Doctrine of Christ (the gift of the Holy Ghost, in particular), declares that "ye shall receive the Holy Ghost...and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels." The next verse refers to the tongue of angels as "a new tongue." So what does that mean? What exactly is the tongue of angels, and how does it fit into the bigger picture of the Doctrine of Christ?

2 Nephi 32:3 clarifies that "angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore they speak the words of Christ." So maybe the tongue of angels means that our words are directed to the hearts of the listeners, like the promptings of the Holy Ghost. To speak to someone's heart or feelings, you must know their heart. Sometimes that means that we can empathize or we have had similar feelings. But we are not perfect empathizers; we have finite mortal minds. God still knows all and Christ has felt all feelings and the Spirit thus empowers us to speak to the heart even when we personally don't understand. It is enough that Christ understands, and we can simply speak his words.

I also like the end of this verse: "wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ." Having the gift of the Holy Ghost does not automatically allow us to speak the words of Christ. We must contribute by studying the words of Christ. We need to give the Spirit material to work with. If the doctrine and wording and love of the Savior's teachings are always in our minds, it will be so much easier to share his words with others.

So, the content of the tongue of angels is the words of Christ. What about the delivery? In a regional conference a few years ago, President Nelson himself shared that angels are messengers. Think of every instance of an angel in the scriptures: that personage was there to share a message. Who else would like to share a brief message with you? The missionaries! It follows, then, that one way to speak the tongue of angels is to spread the gospel through missionary work. Of course, Preach My Gospel has much to offer by way of instruction. Perhaps it is truly a manual on speaking "a new tongue."

Lastly, as far as my study went, I turned to Elder Holland's conference address, "Tongue of Angels." In this talk, he defined the tongue of angels as speaking with faith, hope, and charity. This kind of speech encourages and uplifts the listener. It is not biting or fiery but is bridled and sacred. I imagine that this speech requires a lot of thinking beforehand, probably even prayer so that the words are spoken with care and love. We are to be gentle and humble in our speaking. Similarly, the Savior speaks peace. The voice of the Spirit is still and small. We can learn a lot about divine speaking from their examples.

This study has made me think about my own speaking. Do I speak with the tongue of angels, or am I living below my privilege? How could I better bridle and temper my speech? Here is my plan to revise my actions:

1. Continue President Nelson's challenge and feast on the words of Christ.
2. Pray (when possible) before difficult or significant encounters, like sharing the gospel or working at the temple.
3. Listen to the Spirit when talking to someone one-on-one.
4. Be generous and honest with compliments.
5. Speak up to people and not down to them. In other words, speak to them as the gods and goddesses that their spirits are. As C.S. Lewis said, "the dullest, most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship."

The Nelson Challenge: Baptism by Fire

In January, President Russell M. Nelson issued a challenge to the young adults of the Church: to take time each week to study Christ's actions, words, laws, and doctrines as recorded in the scriptures. He recently wrote a blog post about how he fulfilled this very assignment. He included pictures of the notes he typed up and the markings in his Topical Guide.

As I am ever in search of a better way to study the scriptures, I have accepted this challenge. I confess to giggling with glee at the sight of President Nelson's scripture notes (so organized! so thorough!). I started by snatching the nearest copy of the Book of Mormon and searching for Jesus Christ in the index. There are several pages of entries for this subject, which is no surprise when you consider the Book of Mormon to be Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Anyway, I read a few snippets of verses right there in the index, and came across some interesting things that led me to deeper study.

Lesson #1

2 Nephi 31 covers the Doctrine of Christ from faith to repentance to baptism to the gift of the Holy Ghost and finally enduring to the end. I've heard these repeated over and over in Church lessons, but I wanted to go deeper and find a way to live the Doctrine of Christ better. I paused over the verses describing the gift of the Holy Ghost as a "baptism by fire." Why is the Holy Ghost so frequently compared to fire? I mean, the Spirit of God like a fire is burning. But why?

Feel the burn.

We know that the Holy Ghost is a cleansing agent, meaning that the Holy Ghost purifies us in the same vein as the washing of baptism. Fire burns away impurities (think refiner's fire) and is often associated with ordinary things becoming holy (think Moses' burning bush). Fire also produces light, which is associated in the scriptures with glory and truth and intelligence. After all, Christ is the light of the world. So, the Holy Ghost can make us holy and more like the Savior.

I also associate the Holy Ghost with receiving inspiration from God. The word "inspiration" contains the root "spirare," from which we also get the word "spirit." Inspiration literally means to breathe into. Breathing is what gives us life; therefore, inspiration is God giving us life, both physically and spiritually. We breathe oxygen, and what else needs oxygen to endure? Fire. The Holy Ghost ties us to the life-giving force that is our Heavenly Father.

Application: if you are feeling less than holy, seek the fire of the Holy Ghost. Create circumstances around yourself that invite the Holy Ghost to be your constant companion and, like the missionaries, never go anywhere without that companion. Seek inspiration more. Seek it in better ways. Ask questions as you study the scriptures. Set down the electronic device that consumes your quiet moments and reach out to the Spirit instead. Be still. Breathe. Burn.

Plot is super amazingly tremendously important, or is it?

In Ray Bradbury's Zen in the Art of Writing, he describes (among other things) his writing process and writing philosophy. I appreciated his commentary about plot and its relationship with the characters. Many writers will describe themselves as a Pantser or a Plotter: they either write by the seat of their pants without planning ahead, or they prepare a plot to follow before they start page 1. Bradbury seems to be more of a Pantser. I'm an avid Plotter: I have to know where I'm going when I write. Last year, I tried to Pants-write, and it ended poorly for me. The project was awful and uninteresting to me, and I lost track of the things I loved.

However, I believe in Pants-writing while I Plot. When I have thought through main plot points and who the characters are, I listen to those characters about what they would do or how they would respond in certain situations. And I revise as necessary. Heck, I even revise after the plot has been written in stone. That chapter outline is only a guide to keep me going, a reason to wake up and write. But to have a truly authentic plot, I need to bend to the wills of the characters I created. I let go of the logic and embrace the emotions of the story.

"Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.... So, stand aside, forget targets, let the characters, your fingers, body, blood, and heart do."

Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing 

February Favorites

1. Star Trek Trexels

This addictive mobile game is just what my Trekkie heart needed. Basically, you are an admiral in charge of staffing a Federation starship. You have to produce resources and spend them on away missions, training officers, and building rooms to make the ship function better. My favorite feature is the ability to add characters from the various Star Trek shows to your ship. My new goal in life is to recreate Voyager within this game. Plus, I play the role of an admiral. Help, I think I've died and gone to Star Trek Heaven.

2. Women and Entrepreneurship

I attended a lecture this month hosted by the Women's Services and Resources office at BYU. Jeanette Bennett, co-founder and editor of several Utah Valley magazines, spoke to us about how her experience as an educated mother drove her to start her own company. She gave us 11 tips on how to succeed and reach our dreams.

• Be positive. See the good.
• Be persistent. "Do the thing or bust!"
• Be passionate. Lose track of time because you love the work you do.
• Be excellent. Be hard to replace.
• Be present wherever you are. Minimize distractions.
• Don't take life too seriously.
• Defy logic if it's right for you. Act on revelation.
• Communicate with kindness.
• Feed your soul.
• Be you!
• Trust the Lord.

I never wanted to start a business before, but now I'm giving it serious thought. This line of thinking brings me to my next favorite...

3. The Oregon Trail Card Game

I love games, clearly. Never have I been so close to winning without actually winning, and that distinction is what I love so much about this game! Gameplay is similar to the computer games of ancient yore, with a few exceptions. There are a few things I would have adapted differently from the original games, which only makes me seriously consider starting a game-making business.

4. Recent Changes to My Calling

Why is this unusual subject one of my February favorites? Because attending the training kind of lit of fire in my brain. I walked away with renewed motivation, clear purpose, and new ideas on how to be a better Temple and Family History missionary. That's right: one of the main changes in my stake is that my committee members are now labeled as missionaries, which is exactly what we are for the dead. I have so many ideas to spread the spirit of Elijah; I'll keep you updated on what works.

5. Asset Enrichment Service

A post showed up on my Facebook feed the other day and it directed me to a service opportunity I had never heard of. A few years ago, the Church put out a call for user submissions of writing, art, and photography. Now that they have received thousands of submissions, the Church needs help tagging these resources for people to easily find and use. Basically, you are given a photo with a title and description, and you get to suggest tags that may apply to the photo. It's incredibly easy and fast, but it's clearly a massive project. Crowdsourcing only works with a crowd, right?

Also, as I took the screenshot for this blog post, I couldn't help myself. I had to tag a few pictures before I returned to blogging. It's a little addicting.

6. Writing Excuses Podcast

Because I spend so much time listening to audiobooks, I rarely listen to podcasts. However, the Writing Excuses podcast is the one I return to again and again. The presenters are concise, funny, honest, and brilliant (though they claim to be "not that smart" at the beginning of every podcast). They give excellent advice and writing prompts. When I'm in a writing slump, I simply listen to a single episode of Writing Excuses, and it rekindles my passion for writing.

Sunday Thoughts: Verse

I was recently reading through selected writings of John Rosenberg, former dean of the College of Humanities at BYU, when I came across some interesting etymology. I give all credit to Dr. Rosenberg for pointing this information out.

The word "verse" comes from the Latin root "vertere," meaning "to turn or change direction." When we finish singing a verse of a song, we turn back to the beginning and start again.

This root can also be seen in words like "versus," when people turn against each other, and "reverse," when we turn back in the other direction.

Most importantly, this root can be seen in the word "convert," to turn with someone. In gospel terms, we are truly converted when we turn with Christ, away from the world and toward goodness, righteousness, and eternal life. We change directions, and as President Uchtdorf pointed out in "A Matter of a Few Degrees," we should be making course corrections daily. We should become converted daily. When we err, we should become converted immediately.

Turn with Christ. Isn't that beautiful? And we have a reminder of it every time we sing multiple verses of a hymn.

Good Arguments

I recently had the opportunity to judge a writing contest on campus. Students submitted their best persuasive papers, and I got to read and evaluate 11 of these arguments. I was amazed at the sophistication of both topic choices and writing styles, but I was most impressed by the rhetorical choices the writers made.

This experience got me thinking. We all need to make better rhetorical choices. In our era of instant distribution and charged emotions, it is easy to fire off an argument without thinking too much about who will read it and how they may respond. Through this writing contest, I got to read thoughtful arguments written by millennials, a generation often disparaged for being privileged with such technology and social media. My experience taught me that this generation is actually getting ready to take charge of the future in brilliant ways.

Lessons from millennial rhetoric, or ways to improve your own arguments:

1. Do not spray audience repellent.
To use another insect analogy, you catch more flies with honey. The challenge in arguing is that your audience initially disagrees with you. In some circumstances, they might even be referred to as "the enemy." But your goal in arguing is to remove that misnomer and replace it with "friend." Insulting your audience will not encourage them to believe you or agree with you or befriend you. Instead, identify with your audience and acknowledge their concerns as valid.

2. Appeal to your audience's emotions.
As logical as we like to think we are, we are highly emotional people, especially when trying to persuade each other. Use your word choice, tone, and personal experiences to steer the emotions in a direction favorable to your case. The best papers I read for this contest were structured around the extreme trials of the writers. They elicited my sympathy and, in a twist of logic, proved that they know what they're talking about. Don't underestimate emotions.

3. Serve your audience.
The most powerful argument that I read was basically trying to convince the audience that life will be okay after a loved one dies. This claim brings to mind the baptismal covenant to "mourn with those that mourn [and] comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:9). Above all, your argument should serve your audience. I think if you start with that motivation, the Spirit will guide you to say what needs to be said. Your rhetoric will be cleaner, kinder, and more effective. Don't make the audience be the servant; be the servant yourself.

Now, go out into the world and argue. We need arguments in order to discover both truth and Truth (doctrine). We need to know how to make a point without harming someone. We need arguments to collaborate, to get things done, to improve the world. So argue, and argue well.

Lessons from Moana: "But This Does Not Define You"

When I saw Moana in the theater, I sat down front and was covered in salt water by the end of the movie. I blamed my condition on the beautifully animated ocean, but I was actually drowning in my own tears. The movie was sad and joyous and inspiring, and my eyeballs could not handle it. But my brain could! Here is my favorite lesson that I learned from Moana:

Bad things do not define you.

The whole concept of defining a person has interested me for a long time. I pay attention to how people identify themselves. I listen for the words, "I am." I am Bob, or I am tired, or I am the Avatar. Often, in a story, a character will identify themselves in several different ways before the end. Moana, in particular, learns her identity over the course of the movie (as a Disney protagonist should) and then something interesting happens. She discovers the true identity of someone else.

There be soft spoilers in this territory.

Moana sees beyond the scary exterior of an antagonist and sings a chilling song as she realizes what is going on. Speaking of the villain's monstrous appearance, she sings, "But this does not define you. This is not who you are."

The gospel has a similar message. It teaches us that we are eternal beings who lived before this existence and who will live after it. We came from Divinity and we will return to Divinity. But sometimes it is hard to remember that. We lose sight of our true identity and make mistakes. We may even be viewed as monsters. Villains. Bad guys. Sometimes bad things happen to us even when we're doing good things, and they distract us from our potential and our goal. We become antagonists to ourselves. When that happens, we could learn from Moana: This is not who you are. Bad things do not define us.

Instead, how are we defined? Another song provides the answer: I am a Child of God.

So, why don't bad things define us? Whether we are guilty or innocent, don't bad things change us, twist us, transform us? They may alter our perception or our temporary circumstances, but nothing can change our core definition as children of God, as recipients of heavenly and powerful and divine love. Like with physical DNA, our spiritual DNA cannot be undone. Our parentage cannot be reversed. What can be reversed are our mistakes and distractions, the deviance from course. Because of Christ, we can shed our monstrous disguises and become who we were designed to become. He is the source of our hope and the reason we can say, "This does not define me."

January Favorites

1. The new Nanowrimo Goal Trackers!

I'm back in the writing game thanks to this simple feature of the Nanowrimo website that allows me to set a writing goal and track my progress--outside of November! I've wanted this function for years, and I am pleased with its customizable elements. I chose to track my writing hours as I revise (since word count during revision fluctuates significantly), and even though I am currently behind in my hours, I like what I see.

2. An old love, Star Trek: Voyager

I came to the Voyager game way late, but better late than never. As a child, I watched Next Generation occasionally, but I really got the Star Trek spin-offs when I discovered them on Netflix. Voyager is by far my favorite spin-off: a female captain with quirks and flaws, a crew of diverse ethnicities and alien races, a dramatic tale of being lost in space--this show has it all!
2a. Some favorite episodes: Season 3.25 "Worst Case Scenario," Season 2.21 "Deadlock," and Season 4.18 & 4.19 "The Killing Game, Parts 1 and 2"

3. A new love, One Day at a Time

This Netflix sitcom is about family, and I am a sucker for shows about family. I am also a sucker for shows that provide insight into a different demographic. In this case, Cuban-Americans play on center stage, allowing me to consider what I have in common with them and what their unique strengths and struggles are. Plus, Rita Moreno. What more could I want?

4. Community Involvement a la Parks and Rec

I recently finished rewatching Parks and Recreation for the hundredth time (or so), and Leslie Knope always gets me fired up to be more involved in my community. Also, certain current events are getting me fired to be more involved in local government. So, I am now a volunteer at the Orem Public Library. I had to visit the Orem Police Department and City Center for the first time in order to apply for the volunteer position, and it was neat to walk past the City Council chambers and see the Orem seal lit up in a dark room. Anyway, I repair books so that (1) the city can save money on replacing books and (2) the children of my community can read and learn and grow. Plus, I get to be around books more. 5 out of 5 stars, would recommend.

5. Roasted Baby Carrots

I don't like raw carrots. Ever since I was a baby, I have had an odd reaction to something in carrots. It's almost like eating extremely sour food. HOWEVER. I discovered this month that I enjoy roasted baby carrots. It would probably be regular carrots, too, but I am too lazy to chop them up into bite-size chunks. Baby carrots come in smaller quantities and smaller chunks. Just sprinkle some salt, onion powder, and garlic over them and pop them into the oven for about 30 minutes. Delicious!

6. Mary Poppins musical

BYU put on a production of the Mary Poppins musical, which I saw in 2010 on the Broadway tour in Atlanta. I loved it the first time, partly because of the special effects: people and kites fly, and a certain chimney sweep tap dances on the ceiling. I thought BYU would not have the means to incorporate that level of effect, but I was wrong. They did a great job! Also, "Feed the Birds" always makes me cry. Also also, I want to be as confident as Mary Poppins when I grow up. After all, the song "Practically Perfect" is her singing about how perfect she is, "so people say."

Gordon B. Hinckley

I'm a little excited about the Relief Society manual for 2017. It features a certain adorable President Hinckley.

This is one of the most adorable pictures of him and Sister Hinckley.

In preparation to learn more from him and about him, I'm drawing on all my mind powers to remember him. He was the prophet of my youth, and he left a distinct impression on my life.

I remember when he challenged all members to read the Book of Mormon. We read it as a family and I was asked to speak about the experience in church. I recall feeling guilty for not reading it on my own, but looking back, there was nothing wrong (and likely many things right) with reading the Book of Mormon in a family setting.

I remember the 6 Bs: be smart, be clean, be true, be prayerful, be grateful, be humble. I also remember that he later added 3 more Bs: be positive, be still, be involved.

I remember when he dedicated the Salt Lake Conference Center and how the pulpit was built from a walnut tree that he planted.

I remember when he waved his cane at general conference.

I remember that he focused on building temples all over the earth.

I remember when he issued the Proclamation on the Family and the Living Christ.

I remember when he was on 60 Minutes.

I remember that he was confident that everything would work out.

And I remember when he died. I know exactly where I was and how I found out. I was sitting on the stairs at ward prayer during my freshman year and a friend announced it to the ward. My roommate burst into tears. Two days earlier, my Living Prophets class had finished our unit on President Hinckley. It felt like I had finally gotten to know him, and then he left.

Well, he's back in a way, and I look forward to learning even more about him this year. Miss you, President Hinckley!