Rift by Todd Robert Petersen, a review

I’m a city girl. I grew up in the great Northeastern megalopolis where it’s possible to drive for six or eight hours along Interstate 95 without seeing evidence of the existence of rural America. During my BYU years, I looked down my nose with derision at the wrangler-wearing Animal Science majors, and viewed any part [...]

Prattler

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. James 1:26 “I wish you hadn’t told me those things about *Michelle,” my husband said as we drove from the Cheesecake Factory. We would meet up again with Dave and Michelle [...]

Let’s hear it for the boys

I am a feminist. I used to be afraid to say that aloud for fear people would think I was that kind of feminist. But the truth is I am a feminist and I have known it since the day I called out my dad for not letting the Laurels go deep sea fishing when [...]

Flu’s Blues

It started with a few coughs and a sniffly nose. Within hours my son was shivering under a blanket on the couch. Body aches, headache, a raging fever that lasted for three days, and hacking, coughing and lots of whining followed. And that’s how the swine flu (excuse me, the H1N1 virus) arrived at our [...]

It’s Rated What?

“I watched an R-rated movie,” I blurted out at the dinner table. My father took in a deep breath that indicated profound disappointment in my actions. We were all quiet for a few minutes. My mom passed the salad. “It was Rain Man,” I couldn’t help the words as they tumbled out of my mouth. [...]

The Ugliest Time of the Year

I hate politics.

O Remember, Remember

About a month ago one of our ward missionaries sent me an email explaining that they are getting ready to launch a missionary blog and asking if I would write down my conversion story for them to post. I agreed, and though I haven’t started writing it yet, I’ve been thinking a lot about it [...]

I’m gonna live forever, I’m gonna learn how to fly!

Tearful parents, a missing little boy and a shining silver balloon sailing against the magnificent backdrop of the Rocky Mountains— all so that mom and dad could get a little screentime. And who can blame them? A near-tragedy that hits the national news these days is almost a guarantee for a tabloid cover, a book [...]

I disagree with Bruce R. McConkie

Yesterday in Institute, we were talking about the premortal existence, and the nature of intellegience. We talked about everything from eternal natures to foreordination to Mozart. It’s a heavy topic on the best of days, and I’ll admit to a niggling feeling all throughout the lesson. I tried to contain myself, but clearly not enough, [...]

Hating laundry? Read this.

I came across this letter from a pioneer woman to her daughter while visiting the Smithfield historical museum with my children. It’s an instructive letter on how to do laundry. I loved it so much that I took a photo of the transcription, typed it up, framed it, and hung it next to my washer [...]

Workers of the Ward, Unite!

In my first singles ward, our bishopric held a special retreat to teach new ward members about being an active part of an adult ward. Brother Thompson used an analogy I have never forgotten. “When you’re at a potluck dinner,” he said, “the person who is assigned to bring the roast beef is someone who [...]

Spiritual Mentors

Who are the most influential women in your world? I checked out The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women; Forbes magazine claims their list “isn’t about celebrity or popularity; it’s about influence. Queen Rania of Jordan (No. 76), for instance, is perhaps the most listened-to woman in the Middle East; her Twitter feed has 600,000 followers.” [...]

I love Mormons!

Formerly a television writer and romance novelist (though she doesn’t like to admit that), Mama calls parenting her three beautiful boys her most challenging job. You can take a peek at her life at The Elmo Wallpaper, which is featured on the New York Times blog roll where she has also been a guest columnist. [...]

To Sleep. Perchance.

I just settled into my office chair to write this blog post. It is 10:52 p.m. I realize that I need to get up by 6:45 to get my oldest son off to Jr. High, but with an out-of-town husband and a long day of kid-shuttling, laundry-folding, assignment-grading, journal-editing and potty-training (yes, I started down [...]

Alms

The Relief Society President held up a small, stuffed animal with button eyes. “We will be making these for an orphanage in Honduras,” she said with a little too much delight. The sisters gathered together with ready sewing machines and willing hands. My friend’s heart sank with those words. It plummeted further as she realized [...]

The Hard is What Makes it great

I’m going to brag a little today. I finished the Chicago Marathon this weekend. Twenty-six point two miles of road, bridges, cheering fans, fluorescent signs, balloons, volunteers, music, bananas, Gu, Gatorade, water, sweat, and yes, some tears. 40,000 runners and over a million spectators crowded themselves onto the streets of the city, undeterred by the [...]

Spellbound by Story

Yesterday afternoon, kids occupied, house relatively picked up, I crept into my bedroom and sat down with a drink and the book on the top of my reading pile, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Published in English in 2004, I’d had friends rave about the book and look at me incredulously [...]

Twoo Wuv

In the late 1950′s, a man was stirred by the soul of a woman in his ward. He couldn’t get this woman off his mind. He discussed the matter with his Bishop. He had only spoken to her once. The story winds and meanders for a couple of months, and ends with the boy and [...]

My Life’s True Mission

At twelve, I felt the first stirrings of destiny. What plan did God have for me, and how could I follow it? I took German and French, discovering I had a knack for languages. Maybe I’d serve a mission. Perhaps I’d become an ambassador, maybe even feed the hungry masses in India. I loved, loved, [...]

Launching our youth into adulthood

Recently our ward had the exquisite pleasure of welcoming home not one but two missionaries on one Sunday (in the process reducing the number of current missionary plaques in the foyer to one). The abundance of love and support for these young men was palpable. But it was more than that. As we listened to [...]

Sometimes, Always, at the Temple

Maybe I’m a little selfish in my temple service. Because mostly, it seems that I go for me. I do like to think about the woman I’m doing ordinance work for. I like to think about her—I wonder what she’s like, if she’s there with me, if we’ll someday meet and connect in a heart [...]

To thine own self be true (but you might be less happy)

I recently read the following article. It said that American women are becoming less happy, while American men are becoming happier. They suggested it was due to women taking on more roles outside of the home. Stating that women are increasingly disconnected and distracted, and as they get busier they have less time for the various parts of [...]

Warm fuzzies!

What an amazing General Conference. Inspiring words, concepts, images, and moments from these past two days have filled me with goodness, like the jar of boldly colored pompons President Monson received as a birthday gift. Elder Holland’s thundering testimony of the Book of Mormon! The richness of divine love, spilling like gold from President Uchtdorf’s [...]

UP CLOSE: Online Life– General Conference

I didn’t get to relish Elder Uchtdorf’s talk yesterday. Between some sort of scuffle over Legos and finding crayons and gathering ingredients for apple cake it was all too soon that his sonorous voice pronounced, “Of this I testify, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” Argh! I missed it. No worries. I can [...]

It’s a Funny Thing

On Monday, I had a really good, deep belly laugh. It burst forth, drowning out the softly playing music, bubbling up from somewhere in my toes. After the initial guffaw, I chortled harder because I was only wearing knickers, and everything was starting to wobble. Then I totally cracked up because not only was everything jiggling [...]

Sermons and sweaters: General Conference Traditions

The upstairs hall is crowded with plastic garbage bags, bursting with shorts and flip flops bound for DI. The bedroom drawers are filled with neatly-folded sweaters, footie pajamas, and fleece-lined jeans. It’s the first weekend in October, which means that our house will be filled with the sounds of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the smell [...]

Segullah: Gifts of the Spirit

Treat yourself to some time reading Segullah: Gifts of the Spirit. It’s been available in print for a while, and thanks to Johnna, our wonderful webmaster, it’s also available online. It’s always hard for me to choose favorite pieces to highlight, but here are just a few that are worth your attention: Dreams as Gifts [...]