Notes on Being Mormon: Opinions, Love, and Truth

In the light of the very public surgical and medical transformation of a famous man into a famous woman, lots of opinions and declarations and words are being thrown around. I don't really want to address the issue of trans-genderism or the current societal popular opinion that gender is fluid. 

2014: The Year in Review

This is mostly for my personal use in the future, because I can barely remember what happened last week without checking my calendar, and one day I might wonder, "What year did I actually, in fact, lose my mind?" and I can skim through my blogs and hopefully find it. The date, not my mind. That's long gone.

Notes on Being Mormon: The Adversary

The definition of an adversary is: "One's opponent in a contest, conflict or dispute. Synonyms: opponent, rival, enemy, antagonist, combatant, challenger, contender, competitor, opposer."

Often in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we refer to Satan as "the adversary", and tonight I have a few new thoughts about him. 

The Worst Conversation

The other day I had to have a conversation with my 11-year old daughter that I had dreaded. I knew it would happen one day, but I really, really didn't want it to. No, I'm not referring to "the talk"-- we've had that conversation a few times and continue discussing it as new questions come up. I don't really mind those conversations. This is different.

Parenting Stuff, Idea 1: Relationships

Idea 1: Relationships are the most important thing.

Photo courtesy: CrystalHollenbeck.com

If you believe in the afterlife, and I do, then I assume you believe you will have loved ones around you there. Therefore, all you take with you when you die are your experiences, your memories and your relationships. Relationships are based on love, so start there. Love your children. 

Ten Rules of Maturity

1. Never, ever start a sentence with "No offense, but..."
2. Ask for what you want. Always and without fear! No one can read your mind except God and even He wants you to ask so you can get to know Him! You never know whether you can have something unless you ask. (This includes applying for jobs, requesting training or schedule changes, asking the waiter for a take-home glass because you hate for them to dump out that refill of strawberry lemonade that you really didn't need and requesting a discount on... anything!)
3. Be okay if the answer is "no". It's usually for the best.
4. Be kind to everyone. Especially your spouse.
5. When you have to say no, say no. Don't dither or string people along. Just be clear and kind.
6. Wisdom comes through mistakes. If you aren't making mistakes, you aren't trying hard enough.
7. Allow others to make their own lives-- you actually can't control any other person.
8. Tolerance is not embracing or adopting others' choices. Rather, it's understanding, accepting and defending their right to make them.
9. The most important things in life are relationships. The second great commandment was to love each other. The first was to love God.
10. Live life like you mean it. You aren't the center of the universe, but everything you do matters.