Elder Ballard Sez
(a svithe)

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En-her-gy Girl spoke in church today (and did a fine job, btw) (which makes three bloggers to give excellent talks this month). Anyway, she mentioned something my brother blogged about and that I had intended to svithe today, but nearly forgot: the apostolic call to blog.

Yep, the word's come down from Elder Ballard: we Mormon bloggers need to get the LDS viewpoint out on the Vital Issues of the Day.

I'm not much-a-one for a) New Year's Resolutions or b) blogging on the Vital Issues of the Day, but I think we can expect lots of silly talk about Mormons out there in the void come 2008. So my svithe/NYR today is this: I resolve to get into the fray in a wholesome, bright-eyed way, thus obeying a prophet of God and, perhaps, getting interviewed on a highly rated radio program where the host is a jerk and hates everyone. I furthermore resolve not to loose my temper or to stew about that &*^%$$# for ten to twenty days afterward.

I also resolve to stop seeking out monkeys simply to make dog collars from their tails before the ASPCA finds out.

Amen.

this svithe on thmusings
last week's svithe

Happy Birthday, Schmetterling!
Happy Birthday, Joseph Smith!
Happy Unbirthday, Jesus!

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Happy Birthday, Schmetterling!

If you haven't been to my brother Schmetterling's blog you're missing out. Today's Schmett's birthday and I'm going to use him as a stand-in for both my families and say I love you and wipe a cheery tear from my eye.

Anyway, here's a scripture: Behold, you have had many afflictions because of your family; nevertheless, I will bless you and your family, yea, your little ones; and the day cometh that they will believe and know the truth and be one with you in my church.

Happy Birthday, Joseph Smith!

For Sharing Time we had a birthday party for Joseph Smith--we played games like Pin-the-Joseph-in-the-Sacred-Grove--it was awesome.

Anyway, here's a scripture: Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!

Happy Unbirthday, Jesus!

I know, I know: It's not your birthday. Still. Glory to God on the highest. Peace on earth, good will, et cetera.

Anyway, here's a scripture: And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son. And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.

this svithe on thmusings
last week's svithe

Svithe in a Round

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Be nice to your neighbors
--not so they'll be nice to you--
Be nice to your neighbors
It's the right thing to do!

(Clever that.)

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Sometimes a picture of words is more expressive than the words alone.

Yah think?

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Ummm, said the sad little boy as the world walked by and the dust blew past. Ummm. But what about me? Is there a place for me?

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Be kind to your neighbors.

this svithe on thmusings / last week's svithe

Svithe: Today's reading? Isaiah.

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For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.

this svithe on thmusings
last week's svithe

Crèchie Svithe

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Today after church we drove down to Palo Alto for a well known crèche exhibit there. The reason we went was not to see the crèches per se, but to see Brian Kershinik's Nativity, which I had been reading so much about (here, for instance):



I cannot adequately describe how powerful this painting is.
I though I knew it from reading and jpgs and miniature reproductions.
I was wrong.

It was worth the drive.
See it if it comes anywhere near you.
Sit in front of it, oh,
thirty minutes
at least.
Hours if you don't have a four-year-old with you.

As Thomas S. Monson has said, God left the pictures unpainted and the stories untold that we may know the joys and glories of creation. But not only that we may know the joys and glories of creating, but the joys and glories of witnessing other's creations as well.

Through small and simple means


or 136-square-foot canvases,


Joy to the World

this svithe on thmusings
last week's svithe