I’ve finally finished Memory Lane, a project that I’ve chipped away at over a number of years since the early days of the pandemic. On this site, I wrote a large number of stories that dated from my earliest memories and came up to the then-present day. There wasn’t a lot of rhyme, rhythm, orContinue reading “Launch of Memory Lane”
Tag Archives: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
How to Know the Lesson Is Not Boring
This past Sunday, the local Church leadership asked me to teach the young men ages 12 to 18. I got about one day’s notice but I was a seminary teacher for four years, so whatever, I agreed. For the Latter-Day Saints out there, the lesson was about King Benjamin’s address. Most teachers focus on hisContinue reading “How to Know the Lesson Is Not Boring”
God Hears and Answers Prayers
A few months ago, I was listening to a radio show in which a woman discussed growing up Jewish but not believing. In adulthood, she had come back around to her faith. She recommended a particular technique for conversing with deity. She said to go out into nature, settle somewhere, and speak to deity withoutContinue reading “God Hears and Answers Prayers”
Eulogy for Levi Martin
On December 18, 2022, Dave Martin posted to a group chat we are part of that they had lost their son Levi to suicide. I went to the Martins’ house to be with them and stayed several hours through police interviews, the medical examiners, and family and friends showing up. I returned the next nightContinue reading “Eulogy for Levi Martin”
The Sunday Night Draper of Eternity
Lauren and I used to watch Mad Men on Sunday nights, but the show was so relentlessly dark and my moods were so blue that I tapped out about halfway through the series. A year or two later, I was reading a Q&A by sportswriter and owner of Grantland (now The Ringer) Bill Simmons inContinue reading “The Sunday Night Draper of Eternity”
Satan Has a Lousy Job but Someone Has to Do It
For years, I’ve told people, “Be grateful for Satan—it’s a lousy job but someone has to do it.” In Latter-day Saint theology, opposition to righteousness is absolutely required: “For it must needs, that there is an opposition in all things” (2 Nephi 2:11). According to the prophet who said this, without opposition there can beContinue reading “Satan Has a Lousy Job but Someone Has to Do It”
Departure Day
At Salt Lake City International airport this week, and it was departure day for a big batch of missionaries leaving the missionary training center and heading to all parts of the world. I was in line with about twenty of them at Cafe Rio. I texted Lauren: when did we start sending twelve-year-olds on missions?Continue reading “Departure Day”
The Car that Refuses to Get Away
Jeff stands quietly at the bottom of a stairwell. Adrenaline courses his through him, and he breathes deeply trying to remain calm. A dark-haired man in a black collared shirt stands next to him smoking a cigarette. “Any minute now,” the man whispers. “He’ll come right down those stairs. Don’t let his shoes touch bottomContinue reading “The Car that Refuses to Get Away”
Murder Ward
The man’s son was dressed in his white shirt and tie and sitting at a desk in Paraguay; the man viewed him on screen through Facebook Messenger. His son coughed hard. “You sound sick,” said the man. “I’m not sick, Dad,” said Elder Laws. “I just went shopping, and they took my temperature and IContinue reading “Murder Ward”
Stop Snitching
Their cheeks were pink from the cold air, but they were both sweating from their run. “Lindsay was being a jerk, Dad,” said Grant. “Oh my gosh!” Lindsay exclaimed. She looked at the man. “He was soooo slow.” “It’s not my fault. I haven’t worked out in, like, six weeks.” “So the Missionary Training CenterContinue reading “Stop Snitching”
His Smile Lit Up a Room and Other Things to Say at My Funeral 