Check www.pbs.org for your local listings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of America's fastest growing religions, and its influence circles the globe. The church has 12 million members today and over half of them live outside the U.S. Yet the birth of Mormonism and its history is one of America's great neglected narratives. This four-hour documentary brings together FRONTLINE and AMERICAN EXPERIENCE in their first co-production to provide a searching portrait of this fascinating but often misunderstood religion. Produced by award-winning filmmaker Helen Whitney ("Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," "John Paul II: The Millennial Pope"), the film will explore the richness, the complexities, and the controversies of the Mormons' story as told through interviews with leaders and members of the church, with leading writers and historians, and with supporters and critics of the Mormon faith.

Weighty Matters

 

I see the pain in your eyes

And know your secret

That painful truth buried

Deep within

 

What are you hiding

Underneath all those layers?

What do you fear?

 

Are you afraid someone will

Discover your secret?

 

Or are you afraid you will

Discover your secret…

 

Something more wonderful

Than you can imagine

 

You.

Beautiful Post from Know Your Neighbor

Visit knowyourneigbor.typepad.com for the full post.

 

Mourning Virginia Tech

I thought it was just the weather; we'd had four straight days of rain.

But when I read Kat Duffey's poem late that evening, I realized I was also mourning the loss of life in Virginia .

When we suffer trauma or loss, in order to heal, we need to share our story, or bear witness , of that loss.

My profound thanks to Kat for writing and sharing her poem "the moment". For in doing so, she has given voice to our own stories of loss. And as we mourn together, we too shall be comforted.

the moment

for Virginia Tech…for 9-11

what is this part of us
that yearns
to "mourn with those that mourn?"

that aches to touch the
pain
of so many
so far away
whom we do not know?

it stretches forth
from us –
a silken thread of
connection
weaving a cloth of sympathy
to help absorb the tears
of those who were
closer
than
we.

we stand back –
we dry our empathy –
we draw a sigh of relief…
"there but for the grace…" we say –
feeling safe.
feeling spared.

for the moment.

Life is Imperfect. Participate Anyway.

I enjoyed this article I just read by Kris Kolk  www.lslneighbors.com.

 

She writes: 

 

"I love visiting historical homes, but I could learn more by seeing the homes as they were being used.  During daily life, wooden floors probably weren't polished and there were no red ropes keeping people out of rooms. 
Instead of viewing a still life shot (in real life), I would rather see what's cooking in the kitchen and what's hanging on the line out back. 

The residents were messy, unpredictable and inefficient, just like we are today.  Dressing up their lives portrays a false image.
We do not have to be ready-for-show to do what we love.  If we wait for conditions to be perfect before embarking on a project or fulfilling a dream, it will never happen.  We will never have enough money, time or approval from others. 

So what?  We are allowed to play, even if we don't "perform" flawlessly.
Don't listen to those promoting insecurities.  Ultimately, in the very end, we are judged by our hearts, not by the orderliness of our lives.  What a relief!  Perfection is not the goal.  You don't get recognition for being perfect and it is incredibly dull. 

Celebrate your individuality and get on with your passions!

 

 

Interesting Read

Read Dinner and a Mormon:

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/070413dinner.html

This is a well-written call to arms for LDS members to reach outside of their comfort zone and open up to the world around them. The only concern I have is with the last paragraph in which the assertion appears to be that these efforts will improve public opinion or possibly lead to missionary opportunities. To me, that is not the point. I have covenanted to Love My Neighbor As Myself. All that is truly important is that I am following Christ's example and striving to be charitable in all I think, say, and do. Mormons, like all people, simply need to follow the Golden Rule and not worry about the outcome.

My Great Grandparents

More googling ancestors

Arminta Missouri Lee Echols

Have you ever googled your ancestors? My Mom-1964-notice any resemblance?

Lyrics for the Day

Good Man:
(David Wilcox)

Let me apologize in advance
For the way my friend behaves
He'll pick a fight and take a holy stance
He's so proud that he's so saved

I hope you don't judge Jesus
By the things my friend will say
He holds a bible like a dagger
And he twists it just that way

He just loves conversation - like a cat loves a bird
I guess he's always been a good man - in the worst sense of the word

The good knights went out to save the day
In the age of the crusades
A sharp sword on a tortured soul
They were sure the point was made
Any tool can be a weapon
If it's used with that intent
The devil's great at quoting scripture
And confusing what it meant

So all the evils done for Jesus - it is a history so absurd
But there will always be a good man - in the worst sense of the word

They 'jacked a plane to make a sneak attack
They were trained to die in flames
Their last words were to God above
Just to praise His holy name

For all the terror and destruction
They felt no sense of shame
You gotta wonder why religion
Can make people so insane

But their devotion was unquestioned - follow straight and never swerve
The devil always needs a good man - in the worst sense of the word

Passover Peeps

Just. Too. Fun.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/
17025280@N00/sets/72157600038845249/

General Conference Reflections

As I grabbed a quick moment with my Book of Mormon this morning, I flipped to the following passage from 2 Nephi Chapter 9:

50 Come, my brethren, every one that ^a thirsteth, come ye to the ^bwaters; and he that hath no ^c money, come buy and eat; yea, come buy wine and milk without money and without price.

51 Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your ^a labor for that which cannot ^bsatisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and ^cfeast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness.

It reminded me not only of the topics discussed in conference last weekend, but also of the simple truths of the gospel...that the energy and time to which I direct my efforts should be expended in internalizing and operationalizing the everlasting truths and principles of the word of God. I think this is a beautiful passage and it has set the tone for my day. I hope you enjoy it too!