A Letter

Dear Custodial Department at the Place Where I Work,

I appreciate your need for automatic toilets. The sanitary benefits would appear to be huge. However, is there a way for you to reduce the water pressure slightly so that water does not SPURT out of the toilet when it flushes? Water splashing from the toilet onto my nylon-covered legs is not the most pleasant experience.

Signed, a concerned intern.

So you all know

Over the last few weeks I have seen a lot of buzz on the internet debating various topics of LDS doctrine, I have watched news reports of a former seminary teacher being convicted of raping his student, and have heard of friends and acquaintances leaving the church for one reason or another. With all of this negativity being raised in one arena or another, I decided that I wanted to raise my voice here. It might not have a far reach, but I sure will feel better.

I know that God loves his children. I know He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the right way to live in order to return to live with him again. I know God set a pattern of communicating with His children through prophets. I know that God once again chose to have a prophet on the earth when He called Joseph Smith to be the prophet in 1830, and that since that time, we have always had a prophet on the earth.

I believe in the admonition of the Savior to judge people by their fruits. One fruit is "The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ." I believe it is what it says it is, another testament that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, and that it affirms the Bible's claim that Christ rose from the grave.

Another fruit is the actions of the people. No, we are not a perfect people - far from it. But we are trying. Our humanitarian efforts go to far countries such as Mozambique, or close to home at local food kitchens. These efforts are for Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists - anyone who is in distress or in need.

Finally, I just want to point at that for every argument somebody can make as a reason to leave the church or doubt whether or not it is true, another argument can be made to stay. If you are looking to leave, have your doubts, or concerns, please ask. Ask your faithful friends, ask leaders, but most importantly, ask the Lord. I don't know everything, I have been hurt by LDS members, and I have had my own confusions. All I do know is that I need God in my life, and when I go to church, when I pray, and when I read the scriptures, I feel God's love for me. And that's why I keep going.

And so it goes

In the continuing tradition of sharing the odd injuries that I sustain, I have one more story for you, my faithful blog readers. I went shopping with my mom the other day, and was trying on a cute turtle-neck when the tag (almost with a life of its own) went directly for my eye. Luckily my eye was closed, but I really did get a cut on my eyelid from a pricetag. Yet another injury I do not recommend.

In other news, I have been in ward-limbo for the last month. The last time I attended my Provo ward was August 15, and I had every intention of starting my new ward as soon as possible. However, a series of events in the last month have led me to be unable to attend my own church services (but some weeks I have attended 2 sacrament meetings, so don't think I'm falling away!). This week, I realized that since it has been over a month since I have belonged to a ward, I had every intention of attending my new singles ward. I stayed in Provo last night, so I woke up early to drive up to C-town to get ready and make it to my new ward. However, when I went to get back in my car to drive to church, my dear car refused to start. I simultaneously laughed and held back tears as I walked to my home ward. Here's to another week of a social life consisting of playing with my adorable 2-year-old nephew.

Good Advice

Impressive rutabaga!

I've decided I want a pen-pal. Just a few requirements: male, LDS, and relatively normal. Hot and extremely wonderful would be an extra bonus. I thought of this while watching "You've Got Mail" the other night as I was putting in a few extra hours of work formatting reports. I figure right now I'm so busy with work, it might be nice to have a pen-pal who will fall desperately in love with me, then in a while, we'll meet and already be in love. While "Over the Rainbow" is playing somewhere in the background. That would sure be easier than the other ways I have tried to meet people.

Oh, and Emma, I think you should date someone like Greg Kinnear's character in that movie. Or just a Greg Kinnear clone.