Our Thoughts

All of my birthdays have always been about stuff. But this year, I’m giving my birthday up. I’m turning 37 years old in September, and instead of asking for gifts, I’m asking for $37 or more from everyone I know. It’s not going to me, though. All of it is going to build freshwater wells for [...]

A couple of years ago I read the memoir Sundays in America by Suzanne Strempek Shea, a Massachusetts novelist. The author’s project was to attend a different religious service every weekend and write about her initial impressions. I felt that it was unfair to judge a faith tradition based on a single snapshot, when so much of [...]

But I think there are simple things we can do to learn more hymns together. I suppose this post is a plea to choristers and Ward Music Chairs everywhere to consciously teach the “unfamiliar” hymns in their wards. This is how I do it when I get to be in charge in my ward: Read [...]

I served as a full time missionary for the LDS church in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission (there was only one mission in Nevada at the time).  Lots of fond memories there.  Blistering heat that would leave your footprints in the asphalt, desert rainstorms / flash floods, really interesting people from all over the world.  [...]

We sang “America the Beautiful” for our closing hymn in Sacrament today. I always feel weird singing it since it seems to be an unofficial anthem of the United States. Granted, there really aren’t many non-patriotic hymns in the hymnal for Canadians to sing in honour of Canada Day. I guess it’s better than singing [...]

In advance of next year’s study of the New Testament in Sunday School Gospel Doctrine classes, the Church has published a smaller paperback edition of the New Testament. This more portable, convenient size (404 pages, rather than 2000+ pages of current LDS edition of the KJV of the Bible) is just over ¼” thick. It [...]

Brother Friberg was born to Scandinavian parents settled in Arizona. In 1921, his family joined the Church, and Brother Freiberg was baptized at eight, the following year. As a young man, Friberg attented the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, where he honed his natural gift for illustration and art. He first made a name for [...]

Dear Ask Mormon Girl: I am sure I will never find a Mormon guy who will make me happy, to marry in the temple. I am 20 years old, I’m not out of time, but I have a lot of problems with church and marriage in general. I was told all my life to accept [...]

A few nights ago, we were reading the Book of Mormon as a family and discussing Alma the Younger. My husband said something about Alma the Younger being the son of Alma who believed the words of Abinadi. One of my sons asked, “Well, who was his mom? What was her name?” And I (with [...]

Yesterday, our ward sang Jesus, Once of Humble Birth for our Sacrament Hymn. Generally, I really try to pay attention to pay attention to the words we sing, so I can get something personal out of the hymn. I often fail at it though. Yesterday, I succeeded. I really like the contrast used throughout the hymn [...]