Easter 2026

Easter weekend this year came and went, as it is wont to, with lots and lots of candy. Also, in our case, a few family gatherings. And, as a bonus, general conference on both Saturday and Sunday. We pretty much had the perfect weekend.

On Saturday, we went out to Grantsville for our two-year-old nephew William's second birthday party. Together with most of JB's side of the family, we enjoyed hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and dip, and a delicious peanut butter and chocolate cake that Nicole made for the occasion.

William received a number of gifts, including a harmonica from us. He was not able (yet) to make music with his new instrument, due to being two years old and not having the lung power to blow into it. But he enjoyed dancing along to the music that came from it. And he also loved playing with the balloons that were there.

On Sunday morning, we awoke to find that the Easter Bunny had visited both JB and me, and he had been generous with his offerings. We then gathered with the Plowman side for general conference breakfast at Biz's and Jeff's home in West Bountiful. There were pancakes, bubble buns, fresh fruit, and myriad breakfast casseroles to choose from.

The conference messages all weekend, and especially Sunday morning, were wonderful. It was a blessing to participate remotely in the solemn assembly, raising the right hand to sustain our new prophet, Dallin H. Oaks, and to receive his counsel from the pulpit.

Later that afternoon, we were joined by JB's parents for Easter dinner at our house. The menu included pork loin roast, Lion House rolls, baked potatoes, and carrot cake for dessert.

Conference Breakfast/October 2025

The latest general conference of the Church took place on October 4 and 5. Our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, passed away about a week before; but conference went ahead under the direction of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. JB and I tuned in to all five sessions, and we enjoyed the messages and the Spirit that we felt.

Roxana Bongioanni, whom I taught the missionary discussions to in Lima, Peru, nearly 29 years ago, was in town with her family to attend the Saturday morning session in person. While they were in town for the weekend, they requested to meet up with JB and me for dinner on Saturday. Roxana requested a local Peruvian restaurant, since the ones near them in Sacramento (where they now live) aren't very good. Thus, we found ourselves together at Rocoto in Bountiful.

It was wonderful to reunite with Roxana, as well as to meet her husband, Ross; their son, Bruno; and daughter, Paula—last of whom, you may recall, we had previously met in June 2019 when Paula came out to Salt Lake City to attend EFY. (She has since served a Spanish-speaking mission in New York City.) The food was also pretty great.

JB and I also gathered with family on my side for breakfast on Sunday morning prior to the Sunday morning session. We enjoyed pancakes, breakfast casserole, fresh fruit, and a number of other tasty selections.

Conference Breakfast/April 2025

As we are wont to do around general conference time, we gathered as a family for breakfast on Sunday morning, April 6, prior to that day's morning session.

The food was good and plentiful. The spiritual insights shared from the pulpit were even better and plentiful-er.

Easter 2021

Monthly family dinners with my in-laws resumed this month–at least, we had one on Easter Sunday. Jeremy, Alice, and their kids came over to watch the Sunday afternoon session of general conference  with us, and then we enjoyed an Easter-themed dinner, followed by card games, together.

No one was more excited about this than Leia, who absolutely adores Spencer, Olivia, and Jake (picture here with our puppers):

The messages from our prophet, Apostles, and other Church leaders for general conference were wonderful. The company was equally good!

Surprise Birthday Party

I had another birthday this weekend. In spite of my best efforts, they keep happening each year. Such is life.

Anyhow, my wonderful wife organized a surprise party for me when I returned home from work Friday night. She had invited my mom and siblings and their spouses over for a karaoke party, something I've wanted to do since the Karaoke Cafe closed a few years ago (the place where my birthday parties used to be held, and also, not coincidentally, the site of JB's and my first date).

In addition to inviting the guests and providing the refreshments, JB also baked us a chocolate and peanut butter cake for everyone to enjoy together (one of my favorite creations of hers).

I got to spend the rest of the weekend being instructed by the living prophets, seers, and revelators of the Church at another amazing general conference. Earlier today, we went out to Grantsville to watch the Sunday afternoon session with JB's parents and some of her siblings/niblings, for which she made us even more cake.

I'm enormously blessed with great people in my life, and as cruddy as the year 2020 has been, I'm looking forward to what the next year may bring.

A Pandemic, a Quake, and a Quarantine ... Oh My

What a year we've had this past month ... amirite?

It's not like Paco needs to tell you what's been going on out there since he last blogged, but for the sake of future generation(s) or the cave dwellers who may be reading this post: The coronavirus, or COVID-19, has reared its ugly head into each of our lives in a matter of a few, short weeks. Originating in Wuhan, China, and spreading across the globe, it has changed things for all of us in countless ways.

Many businesses have had to close their doors and numerous public gatherings and events have been canceled in order to help contain the spread. A "stay home, stay safe" order for many of us means that the only exceptions for leaving home right now are for work (those who are "essential"), grocery shopping/takeout, or for medical needs. We've learned new terms like social distancing as we've each tried to lessen the spread and to weather the storm of this disease.

I remember watching the news the night when the first diagnosis was announced here in Utah. Then that number became a few more people, then a hundred, then 300, and currently it's (the last I saw) over 1,800 infected here in our lovely Deseret. The United States, at the moment, leads the world in the number of COVID-19 diagnoses, especially in larger cities like New York City.

JB and I have been fortunate enough to be able to continue to work throughout all of this (JB from home), but we are keenly aware that not all of our friends and neighbors have been so lucky. Many are worried about the economy, whether they're still going to have jobs when this thing is over, and how they're going to make ends meet until then.

If dealing with all this wasn't enough, we out of nowhere experienced a strong earthquake here in Utah (5.7 on the Richter scale) at approximately 7:09 a.m. the morning on March 18, with its epicenter in nearby Magna. Yours truly was asleep, but it sure gave me a rude awakening. A number of aftershocks followed it that day and have occurred in the weeks since then.

You can't spell pandemic without the word panic. As one who already dealt with anxiety and depression on a daily basis prior to these new challenges, I've had all sorts of thoughts and feelings about these events---not all of them optimistic nor, admittedly, rational. I've had some really hard days mentally, while other days have been ... just okay.

Then, just in time, came general conference this past weekend. Never did it come at a time when I needed it more.

Under the circumstances, the sessions were not held in the Conference Center but rather in a small auditorium at the Church Office Building. Only the First Presidency and each session's speakers and prayer givers were present. Even the Tabernacle Choir members were not there; prerecorded broadcasts of the choir's former performances were aired as the musical numbers instead.

Not once did I hear from any speaker any doom or gloom about our current situation, which was not in any way ignored. They, in fact, acknowledged it directly but also spoke of it as a temporary difficulty and a trial that will pass in time. I heard only faith and optimism in the messages that were given.

While church meetings have been temporarily suspended and temples have been closed until it is safe for them to resume and reopen, the home is now the de facto sacred refuge for us as Church members. Multiple speakers spoke on this concept. This is, in fact, what the prophet, the Apostles, and the other general authorities have been preparing us for over the past few years! The introduction of the Come, Follow Me curriculum and the emphasis on home-centered church have been getting us ready for the current situation this whole time. JB and I are doing our best at present to make our home such a refuge for ourselves not only on Sundays but throughout the week.

In the Lord's due time, His work will roll forth. I believe that there is so much still to be done, temple work foremost among those tasks, that the He will make a way for His temples to reopen before long. President Nelson, in fact, announced eight new temples to be built across the globe, including another one (our third!) in Davis County in Syracuse, Utah; one in mainland China in Shanghai; and another in Dubai, United Arab Emirates---the Church's first temple in the Mideast!

No, general conference didn't magically heal my anxiety about our current situation. Depression and anxiety will still always be there for me to deal with to one degree or another until I am cured of them beyond this mortal existence. But conference did help me immensely nonetheless. It recharged my spiritual batteries and has given me sorely needed direction and hope as we move forward through the next few weeks.

In the meantime, I hope to cheerfully do all things in my power to endure whatever may come in the near future. I look forward to joining my fellow Saints in fasting and prayer this Friday, Good Friday, along with all others from different faiths or no faith who wish to join us, per President Nelson's invitation, as we implore the Lord for help and relief for those suffering physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.

Divinely Assigned Guardians

I remember when the Church's Family Proclamation was first announced. It was September 1995, and I had been serving in the mission field in Peru for just over four months. President Gordon B. Hinckley read the document in the women's meeting prior to general conference.

Among other principles, the Proclamation, just the fifth of its kind ever produced by the leaders of the Church, read that "marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God" and "gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." Our mission president loved every word of it, and so did we. He gave us several copies of it so each companionship in the mission could distribute them to the people with whom we came in contact on a daily basis. It opened a lot of doors for us in our work.

The thing of it is: Everyone we met agreed completely with its teachings and accepted them as universal truths. Nobody had any problem with it, be they members of the Church or non-members.

Flash forward to 2019, not even a quarter of a century later, and we're in a completely different world. Merely repeating the teachings of the Family Proclamation is basically now hate speech and bigotry in the view of many of those in the Great and Spacious Building. I'm disappointed to observe that many of those upset with the Proclamation and the Church's teachings are those who would describe themselves as active members of the Church.

President Dallin H. Oaks speaks on this subject frequently, including at the latest general conference just a few weeks ago. In his latest "controversial" message, "Two Great Commandments," he taught:

"Marriage was ordained by God! And to this day it is defined by Him as being between a man and a woman. God has not changed His definition of marriage. ... Eternal life includes the creative powers inherent in the combination of male and female."

For those familiar with the doctrine of the Church, there are no new concepts here. And yet the backlash came, almost predictably, of Church members critical of Pres. Oaks and apologizing for the Church, its leaders, and its teachings. I observed a number of these conversations on social media, and when I dared speak in defense of Pres. Oaks, I was told by multiple people I was "behaving reprehensibly," that I was not following my covenants to love others, and worse.

It's almost as if Isaiah foresaw this when he wrote: "For they shall be ashamed of the oaks" (Isaiah 1:29).

A friend of mine---one who, like me, sustains Pres. Oaks---wrote: "I believe Pres. Oaks has chosen to follow the example of Abinadi, being a willing sacrifice, laying his life and reputation on the altar for the cause of truth, taking the heat (pun intended) for unapologetically declaring the truth to a hard-hearted people."

It's hard for me to disagree. I recently re-read Abinadi's words in my own scripture study. A few passages stood out to me:

Abinadi's opponents claimed that "he pretendeth the Lord hath spoken it. ... O king, what great evil hast thou done ... that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man?" (Mosiah 12:12-13).

Abinadi said, "I must fulfil the commandments wherewith God has commanded me; and because I have told you the truth, ye are angry with me. And because I have spoken the word of God ye have judge me that I am mad. ... My words fill you with wonder and amazement, and with anger" (Mosiah 13:4, 8).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell spoke prophetically in 1978 when he said:

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters; in the months and years ahead, events will require of each member that he or she decide whether or not he or she will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions (see 1 Kings 18:21). ...

"This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ."

We certainly have arrived at that day and will be there for some time, I think.

Moroni also spoke directly to those of "the holy church of God": "Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies---because of the praise of the world?" (Mormon 8:38).

I suppose Pres. Oaks keeps speaking on this topic because people aren't getting the message. The number of those murmuring about it speak to this. I suspect he will continue to speak on it for the same reason.

"They did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them" (1 Nephi 2:12).

It's clear to me how the two great commandments work together: You must love others while simultaneously upholding the truths contained in the scriptures and taught by the modern prophets. You don't have to choose only one or the other, in spite of what the world teaches.

In his talk, Pres. Oaks spelled it out, and I don't think he could have spoken more plainly: We will all inherit a kingdom of glory, but only those who will strive to keep all of the commandments will inherit the highest, which is exaltation with our Heavenly Father. Teaching the true nature of those commandments and inviting others to inherit this kingdom is an act of great love, not of condemnation. Conversely, knowing the true path while also teaching others that remaining on a path that leads to lesser things is an acceptable option seems like an act of betrayal.

I realize that there are strong feelings about this topic. But I also believe there is a way for every son and daughter of God to obey this and every other commandment that has been given (see 1 Nephi 3:7). I believe a loving, wise Heavenly Father can and will provide a way for all who wish to find it.

I also find it significant that both the initial announcement of the Family Proclamation and President Oaks's latest talk on the subject occurred in the women's session of general conference. When Pres. Oaks mentioned the "divinely assigned guardians of the eternal family," he was speaking to the women of the Church. In a world that will teach the next generation, including my nieces and nephews, the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture, I will point them toward God's truth and not the world's counterfeits for it.

"Notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God" (Moroni 9:6).

Rationalization and Other Made-Up Stuff

Recently, I watched an old favorite film, Back to the Future. I listened to the commentary this time through, learning in the process what is perhaps not really all-that-secret of a Hollywood secret: Filmmakers make up a lot of stuff.

One of the filmmakers said that when it comes to science fiction movie plots, there's always a bit of actual science thrown in with a lot of made-up stuff. The flux capacitor, for example, is (gasp!) made-up science.

It can go the same way with religion. Throwing in a bit of actual doctrine together with made-up stuff comes in the form of rationalization.

In one of my favorite talks of the latest general conference, Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke on this topic:

"In today's world, the question 'What is truth?' can be painfully complex to the secular mind. ...

"Caught in today's confusion, it is no wonder that so many consign themselves to the words spoken 2,500 years ago by Protagoras to the young Socrates: 'What is true for you,' he said, 'is true for you, and what is true for me, is true for me.'"

This reminds me of one of the phrase "I'm just living my truth," which you see a lot in social media and in the culture right now. The thing is, there is no such thing as "your" truth. There is the truth, which exists independent of your opinion, and then there is your opinion, and the two do not always meet.

John Adams said: "The truth is always the truth, in spite of our feelings."

Elder Andersen continues:

"In opposition to the truths of eternity, there always have been counterfeits to distract God's children from the truth. The arguments of the adversary are always the same. Listen to these, voiced 2,000 years ago:

"'[You] cannot know of things [you] do not see. ... [Whatever a person does is] no crime.'

"'[God is not blessing you, but] every [person] prosper[s] according to his [own] genius.' (Alma 30:15, 17)

"'It is not reasonable that such a being as ... Christ ... [would] be the Son of God.' (Helaman 16:18)

"'[What you believe is a foolish tradition and a] derangement of your [mind].'" (Alma 30:14, 23, 27)

I am troubled as I see a great deal of this type of rationalization among friends and acquaintances on social media. I've observed multiple friends, including returned missionaries and otherwise faithful Church members most of their lives, let doubts fester and faith decay to the point they leave the Church.

My heart hurts for them. Like Nephi, I am "grieved for the hardness of their hearts" (1 Nephi 7:8). I am saddened for the loss of covenants that would bless their lives and their families' lives in exchange for a road fueled by rationalization that leads only also to anger, bitterness, and cynicism.

In a January CES fireside address, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on the snowballing of doubt:

"'Doubt, unless changed into inquiry from reliable, trustworthy sources, has no value or worth. The stagnant doubter, one content with himself, unwilling to make the appropriate effort, to pay the price of divine discovery, inevitably reaches unbelief and darkness. His doubts grow like poisonous mushrooms in the dim shadows of his mental and spiritual chambers. At last, blind like the mole in his burrow, he usually substitutes ridicule for reason, indolence for labor, and becomes a lazy scholar. Doubt is not wrong unless it becomes an end in and of itself. That doubt which feeds and grows upon itself, and breeds more doubt, is evil."

This is not to say that it is wrong to have questions or doubts about doctrine or events in Church history. Everyone does at some point. But if you feed the beast, as the old saying goes, it will come to you every time it's hungry.

Whenever I have a doubt or a question, I think of the many, many times I felt the Spirit burn and testify of the truth of the Restored Church, the Book of Mormon, and other important issues. That knowledge is crucial as I study out issues and work them out through study, prayer, and pondering.

In the same fireside, Sister Ruth Renlund said:

"The blogosphere cannot replace scripture study and reading the words of living prophets and apostles. Foster your faith by going to trustworthy sources to find answers to your questions."

Yes, I realize the irony of sharing that quote in a blog post.

Sister Becky Craven, second counselor in the Young Women general presidency, also spoke on rationalization at general conference:

"Because of our mortal nature, don't we sometimes rationalize our behavior, at time referring to our actions as being in the gray, or mixing good with something that's not so good? Anytime we say, 'however,' 'except,' or 'but' when it applies to following the counsel of our prophet leaders or living the gospel carefully, we are in fact saying, 'That counsel does not apply to me.' We can rationalize all we want, but the fact is, there is not a right way to do the wrong thing!"

In an April 2016 general conference talk, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said that a lot of the rationalization so prevalent in our day not only comes from those who have left but also from those still within the Church:

"The Church in its divine mission and we in our personal lives seem to face increasing opposition today. Perhaps as the Church grows in strength and we members grow in faith and obedience, Satan increases the strength of his opposition so we will continue to have 'opposition in all things.'

"Some of this opposition even comes from Church members. Some who use personal reasoning or wisdom to resist prophetic direction give themselves a label borrowed from elected bodies---'the loyal opposition.'

"[T]he Book of Mormon describes three methods the devil will use in the last days. First, he will 'rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good' (2 Nephi 28:20). Second, he will 'pacify, and lull [members] away into carnal security,' saying 'Zion prospereth, all is well' (verse 21). Third, he will tell us 'there is no hell; and ... I am no devil, for there is none' (verse 22), and therefore there is no right and wrong. Because of this opposition, we are warned not to be 'at ease in Zion!' (verse 24)."

It's a day in which the mobs "(teach) for doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). I'm grateful for the gospel and also for the living prophets, seers, and revelators, who help us to see "things as they really are, and ... things as they really will be" (Jacob 4:7).

General Conference April 2019 Review

The latest general conference of the Church was held a couple of weeks ago now. I certainly enjoyed all of the talks I was awake for (forget the fact that I slept through 1½ sessions on Saturday; but I guess that's why they put them online and also publish them in the Ensign in May).

I'm sure you've dying to hear my take on this latest conference. (Admit it, both of you readers; you have been tossing and turning many a night.) So, here it is.

 - We all need to get our houses in order. That was certainly an overarching theme. Pres. Russell M. Nelson said, "Time is running out." When a prophet of God says something like that, better sit up and listen. And then get up and do something about it.

 - The era of temple building is moving forward boldly, with a number of additional temples announced. JB and I watched the Sunday afternoon session at her parents' home in Grantsville, and when a temple was announced for the Tooele valley, they were overjoyed at the news.

 - In our aforementioned dinner out with the Del Carpios and our other Peruvian friends, Elder Del Carpio (who is an Area Authority Seventy) told us a number of things he learned in the general authority training meeting he had attended that Thursday morning. One of the emphases was on the gathering of Israel, and that theme was certainly reflected in many of the conference talks.

Another is on the reclaiming of the one sheep that has strayed from the 99, which was part of the rationale, as he understood it, in the Church reversing its policy on the baptism of children of same-sex parents (a hot-button topic, to be sure, and one I'll discuss a bit more in a future post here; so, buckle up, both of you). See Chapter 10 of Acts for a reference on how the gospel was spread from the Jews to the Gentiles in New Testament times.

 - According to Mormon Newsroom, another item Pres. Nelson shared at one of the general authority training meetings was this statement: "If you folks are not being persecuted on a daily basis, you are not doing your job very well."

Wow. Are we to expect, then, that persecutions of and against the Church and its leaders will increase? And does this apply to all of the other members of the Church, as well?

It certainly sounds like it.

 - Priesthood session, now a once-a-year meeting, returned for this conference, for which my brothers, my nephew Luke, and I gathered at Mom's house to watch Saturday night. The entire First Presidency spoke, and when Pres. Nelson stepped to the pulpit, I was fully expecting a social media fast, not unlike the one he challenged the sisters to take six months ago, for the brethren.

This did not happen. However, he did speak of something no less important:

"Brethren, we need to do better and be better in how we honor the women in our lives, beginning with our wives and daughters, our mothers and sisters.

"It is the foremost duty of each man to love and care for his wife. Become one with her. Be her partner. Make it easy for her to want to be yours. No other interest in life should take priority over building an eternal relationship with her.

"Nothing on TV, a mobile device, or a computer is more important than her well-being. I invite you to do the following: (1) Take an inventory of how you spend your time and where you devote your energy. That will tell you where your heart is. (2) Pray to have your heart attuned to your wife's heart. (3) Seek to bring her joy. (4) Seek her counsel and listen.

"Her input will improve your output."

It sounds like I have a great deal of homework to work on for (at least) the next six months.

Conference Breakfast/April 2019

The latest general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was held over the weekend. As is our custom, the boys congregated at Mom's home in North Salt Lake Saturday night to watch priesthood session together while snacking on Costco cheesecake.

We also gathered as a family at Mom's home again Sunday morning for breakfast, after which we watched the Sunday morning session of conference together.

JB and I also took advantage of the opportunity to deliver birthday presents to our April birthdays (Graham, Jenna, and Jackson), like the Fun Aunt and Uncle we are. Jackson was particularly grateful for his new Infinity Gauntlet from the Avengers movie series.

We spent the rest of conference Sunday out in Grantsville at JB's parents' home, where we have a dual role as Fun Aunt and Uncle with JB's side of the family. It's a tough job, but we are more than qualified to do it.

Things Both Great and Small

In the October 2001 general conference of the Church, Pres. James E. Faust, second counselor in the First Presidency of the Church, gave a talk titled "Some Great Thing" in which he shared the following:

"We are all familiar with the Old Testament story of Naaman, the captain of the Syrian hosts, who was a leper. A little Israelite servant told Naaman's wife that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Naaman came with his chariot and horses to the house of Elisha, who sent a messenger to instruct Naaman, 'Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.'

"You younger boys know how it is when you show your hands to your mother: she'll tell you to go and wash! But Naaman was not a young boy. He was the captain of the Syrian hosts, and he was offended by Elisha's instruction to wash in the Jordan. So he 'went away in a rage.' One of Naaman's servants with a wise head remonstrated with him and said: 'If the prophet had bid thee [to] do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?' Naaman then repented and followed the counsel of the prophet. The leprosy disappeared, and 'his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.' 'Some great thing' in this instance was extraordinarily simple and easy to do."

Pres. Faust then went on to say:

"We do not prove our love for the Savior only by doing 'some great thing.' If the prophet personally asked you to go on a mission to some strange and exotic place, would you go? You would probably make every effort to go. But what about paying tithing? What about doing your home teaching? We show our love for the Savior by doing the many small acts of faith, devotion, and kindness to others that define our character."

That talk has stayed with me over the years. It has been on my mind these past few months while I've observed the prophet and other leaders of the Church ask its membership to do some things that ultimately are not that different from what Elisha asked of Naaman.

At the latest general conference in October, for example, Pres. Russell M. Nelson spoke of "The Correct Name of the Church," stressing the importance of using the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when possible and of avoiding the use of the term "Mormon Church."

Reacting to this, one Church member ranted on social media: "This is not the policy change you order up if you're conforming to the modern world. The modern world doesn't like long and gangly names that are confusing and ambiguous. Say 'the Mormons' and everyone knows who you're talking about. Say the now approved 'restored Church of Jesus Christ' and everyone says, 'What?'"

Well, in the first place, the Church has never at any point in its existence been about "conforming to the modern world," nor do I suspect it ever will. (And I thank my Heavenly Father for it!) In fact, I suspect the divide between the Church and the world will only continue to grow farther apart until the Savior comes again. Beyond that issue, however, it seems the point of this clarification (not a "policy change") sailed right over this person's head.

At the same general conference, Pres. Nelson also invited the sisters of the Church to take a 10-day fast from social media. I'm aware of several sisters who did so, including JB. (But I'll let her tell her own story of the things she learned by doing so.) Others, though, did not, and posted on (where else?) social media their reasons for being exempt from this challenge. It was October, once again, and was nearing election time when the prophet spoke on this, and I read the statuses of those who mentioned their need to raise their voices for democracy, smashing the patriarchy, and the like instead.

Speaking of November's election, as a third example of one of those small and simple things, the Utah Area presidency of the Church asked its members to oppose the passage of Proposition 2 in Utah, which was to legalize the use of medical marijuana in the state under certain conditions.

I read in The Salt Lake Tribune (where else?) this hot take at the time:

"The presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (sic) sent out a ... letter requesting that local Utah church leaders encourage THEIR congregations to oppose Prop 2, which would legalize medical marijuana in Utah. Not only does the church have no place inserting itself into political matters ... but they are also not listening to their membership and to the general public on the matter. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, 54% of people who identified as 'very active' in the church support the legalization of medical marijuana, and 74% of somewhat active Mormons said they supported it."

I got this letter (mentioned by the above writer) from the Utah Area presidency. If a Church leader asks me to do such a thing, it is good enough for me. I didn't vote to support the measure, but it passed anyway and was later amended by the state legislature. (That is also another story and not something I want to re-hash with this post, whatever your feelings on the matter may be.)

Some would call this "blind obedience," but I don't for a second. I obey because I have a testimony of the Church and that its head is the Savior, Jesus Christ. Following the counsel of my leaders has blessed me every time I have done so. And yes, one of those things was "go[ing] on a mission to some strange and exotic place," and I "ma[de] every effort to go."

We all have the choice, like Naaman, to obey or to "go away in a rage," even if it is a metaphorical one or one of indifference.

In the future, I expect the Church will continue to ask both small and "great things" of me, and I know that I will be blessed when I hearken to those things.

In concluding his aforementioned talk, I conclude this post with the words of Pres. Faust: "May we all be faithful in doing the day-to-day, ordinary things that prove our worthiness, for they will lead us to and qualify us for great things."

Conference Breakfast/October 2018

Over the weekend, we gathered around our TV sets, along with millions of other members of the Church, for our biannual general conference. As has been tradition for the past several years, we gathered at Mom's house Sunday morning for our family conference breakfast, which included breakfast casserole, pancakes, bacon, strawberries, and other goodies.

After breakfast, we watched the Sunday morning session of conference together, enjoying the opportunity to hear from our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, as well as some of the Apostles and other general authorities.

McKenna and Graham spent some time drawing as we listened.

This is how we roll. And we always have a great time together.

Easter

It's Easter Sunday (did ya notice?) and also the second day of the 188th Annual General Conference of the Church! Normally, we meet up at Mom's house for breakfast together prior to the Sunday morning session of conference, but since Mom is home sick today, we instead met up at Mike's and Jana's house in Layton.

The kids took part in our annual Easter egg hunt and had a great time looking for goodies.

General conference was pretty amazing, but then again, it always is! The Saturday morning session yesterday was also a solemn assembly in which we sustained our new prophet. President Russell M. Nelson, as well as his counselors in the First Presidency, President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring. In addition, we also sustained the first Asian-American and Latin American members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of this dispensation: Elders Gerrit W. Gong and Ulisses Soares, respectively.

Priesthood meeting last night featuring a change: the end of high priests groups in wards, which are being combined with elders quorums. The Church is also consolidating some of its priesthood meetings (which means fewer meetings; hooray!).

Following priesthood session, JB and I traveled to downtown Salt Lake City to visit an old friend of mine, Janett Cuba del Carpio, whose father, Carlos Cuba, was my mission president in Peru. Janett's husband, Elder Fernando del Carpio, is an Area Seventy in Tacna, Peru, and they were both in town to attend general conference.

There were two other special announcements today during the afternoon session: Home and visiting teaching programs are being discontinued and replaced with "ministering" objectives. I guess we'll find out more about those in the weeks that follow. Also, Pres. Nelson announced seven new temples to be built in: Layton, Utah (Davis County's second!); Richmond, Virginia; Salta, Argentina; Managua, Nicaragua; another in the Philippines; and the first temples in both India and Russia.

What an inspiring, uplifting weekend it was. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to sustain a new prophet and to feel the mantle upon his shoulders as he taught gospel truths. So many wonderful messages delivered so many incredible teachings.

A Prophet's Voice

Though we were deeply saddened as a Church by the passing of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson, from "this frail existence," the work of the Lord moves forward, "boldy, nobly, and independent," as Joseph Smith said. At a press conference last week, we learned that the senior Apostle, Russell M. Nelson, had been set apart as the 17th president of the Church in these latter days. For counselors, he had chosen Presidents Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring.

I know that President Nelson is a prophet of God. As he spoke, I could feel the mantle of his calling already on his shoulders. And I look forward to sustaining him and his counselors formally during this April's solemn assembly at general conference.

To my LDS friends who are saddened to see Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf no longer a counselor in this new First Presidency, now back in his place in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, as well as Pres. Eyring now serving as second counselor where he had once served as first counselor, I say: This is not any sort of "demotion" in any sense of the word. We will still hear from and be taught by both frequently, and they aren't going anywhere.

There is precedent for this type of change when a new prophet has been called. Pres. J. Reuben Clark Jr., for example, had served for many years as first counselor to both Presidents Heber J. Grant and George Albert Smith during the 1930s and 1940s when President David O. McKay, who became prophet in 1951, called Pres. Clark to instead be his second counselor and another Apostle (Stephen L Richards, who had higher seniority) as his first counselor. Shortly thereafter, Pres. Clark remarked in general conference: "In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declines." A similar reorganization in 1970 with the calling of Pres. Joseph Fielding Smith moved Pres. Hugh B. Brown from the First Presidency back into his place in the Quorum of the Twelve.

Though Pres. Nelson is at the helm here on Earth, I know that the Lord is in charge of His church, and His work goes forth. What an exciting time to be alive! We have so very many reasons to be grateful.

Conference Breakfast/April 2017

One of our family traditions at general conference time is a breakfast prior to the Sunday morning session, after which we watch the session together.

The kids had a great time. So did the rest of us.

Another Birthday and Matters of the Heart

It's actually my niece's birthday today, though more will be coming about her soon, as a landmark event is taking place in her life in the next few days, and we have yet to make our annual birthday excursion together. Assuming she's not too busy . . . unlike some people.

Ahem! I share a birthday week with my niece, and due to circumstances I was unable to prevent, I turned another year older Monday.

I think age 11 or 12 was approximately the last time I fully expected people to make a big deal about my birthday, or at least it should have been. Still, it's wonderful to see people still try to make a fuss, each in their own way.

My caring, faithful Aunt Marilyn, for example, has never missed a single birthday . . . ever. Not even while I was overseas in Peru as a missionary. A letter, birthday card, and some money arrived over the weekend:

. . . and, as was requested, I purchased some ice cream with it:

It's really great to have people send you ice cream money during everything's-pumpkin-flavored season. I do not say sarcastically that this is perhaps one of the Lord's thousands, possibly tens of thousands, of little tender mercies that perhaps I do not always pay attention to, happening all around me daily.

I began the Big Day Itself Monday by conversing with Mom, who had suffered through a terrible weekend of sleeplessness, shortness of breath, and overall exhaustion. Though she had a doctor's appointment scheduled that afternoon, she looked even worse Monday. Her lips had turned blue, and she said, "I feel like I'm having a heart attack."

Off we went to the ER, where it was determined that she was suffering from congestive heart failure. No wonder she couldn't sleep for the past few weeks. The biggest, strongest heart I've ever known was in serious trouble.

With respect to her privacy, I won't go into any more details at this time, except to say that we've been worried, we've prayed, and we've tried to comfort those who stand in need of comfort. We're in the middle of that struggle as I type these words. We don't know exactly what's going to happen at this point, though we are grateful for the dedicated medical personnel seeing to her every need.

Yet during the week, I've also seen my family rally around the cause, sacrificing and giving of themselves freely to help out where help has been needed. I've seen neighbors come over with dinner, which may be one of the most cliché things about Mormon culture, yet it amounts to manna from heaven at times like these.

During general conference over the weekend, President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

"Life is filled with detours and dead ends, trials and challenges of every kind. Each of us has likely had times when distress, anguish, and despair almost consumed us. Yet we are here to have joy? . . ."

"Just as the Savior offers peace that 'passeth all understanding,' He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension. . . . His joy is constant, assuring us that our 'afflictions shall be but a small moment' and be consecrated to our gain."

And so, my Big Day was not really about me (nor did it have to be), but yet in a way it was; for I was surrounded all day by the people I cherish most, and whom love me most. I heard from literally hundreds of friends through social media, texts, e-mails, and phone calls.

Though as a family we lamented the circumstances that brought us together, we had each other, and through the Lord's promises, we will have each other for a long, long time, come heck or high water. And that was and is enough. To me, it is the most important of all of His tender mercies.

Conference Breakfast

On General Conference Sunday, as is our custom, we gathered together as a family (minus Ben, Adi, Christian, and their two-day-old baby Graham) for breakfast prior to the morning session. Jackson was there for the video games:

. . . but he also emerged out to listen to the prophet's message.

The kids participated in an Easter egg hunt one week after the actual holiday, as we were not able to get together on Easter Sunday. Jake and Kira picked up a lot of good loot:

After the conclusion of another fantastic conference, Kylee and seven-month-old Daniel enjoyed a cool breeze on the back porch:

The strawberry we put into Daniel's pacifier kept him busy for quite a while.

The Rock of Revelation

What a fantastic general conference of the Church that just concluded today. There were many, many talks that edified and inspired, new words introduced into the LDS lexicon ("ponderize" and "idiotsyncracies" among them), and prayers answered through the messages that were given.

A word about the three new Apostles (Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund) who were called to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve: I do not know much about these three brethren just yet, though I understand some of you do. I did listen to Elder Rasband's recent CES fireside, and I enjoyed many of the sentiments expressed. I am looking forward to being instructed by these men in the months and years that come and, in the process, learning more about them.

I was, however, disappointed to read a few comments by people I know who expressed disdain at "three white guys from Utah" being added into the Twelve, complaining about a perceived lack of "diversity."

Whether or not that is true, I do not believe that is the issue that matters here. To these friends and acquaintances, I urge you to focus on one vitally important concept: Do you believe that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God?

If the answer is yes, then arguably you also hold to the idea that he is, therefore, the Lord's mouthpiece for the Church here on Earth, and these callings are the result of divine revelation. Even if you were expecting possibly someone else to fill those empty chairs in the Conference Center (and, admittedly, I may have been among that number until the names were read), I invite you to think about the fact that he has spent many hours in meditation and prayer in making these assignments and has not done so to fulfill a perceived quota.

The Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. He looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. Even if we often do.

If the answer to the above question is no, well, odds are you just might have found something else to be upset about had the "diversity" you desired been achieved. I've been on social media enough to know that the Great and Spacious Building tunes in to conference, too. Because, hey, pointing fingers is more fun.

My own testimony of Pres. Monson was solidified again last night while listening to him speak in priesthood session and hearing what the word of the Lord was at this moment in time. He summed up the gist of his message by saying:

"My message to you tonight is straightforward," he said. "It is this: Keep the commandments."

I've said this before, but it seems that all I really need to know, I learned in Primary.

Want to know some of Paco's other thoughts on some of the specific talks? I'll be blogging on a few in the weeks that come. You might also follow me on Facebook and Twitter if you've got a lot of free time on your hands, because he was active on both fronts trying to #sharegoodness. Like you do.

Disturbers and Annoyers

The Island of Misfit Toys went to stake conference this past weekend. I had to miss the Saturday night session due to a prior commitment (improv up in Clearfield), but I got to go to Sunday afternoon's excellent concluding session. During his talk, one of the counselors in the Salt Lake City mission presidency, who was visiting our stake, shared and expounded upon Joseph Smith—History 1:20, which reads in part:

"It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom (emphasis added)."

I love this scripture, and I love the phrase "a disturber and an annoyer."

Many people might be offended to be called either a "disturber" (disturbed?) or an "annoyer"—but not this Paco. When it comes to disturbing or annoying of this nature, I consider it to be a badge of honor.

I recently spent some time on Facebook doing some profile stalking—like you do—in which I looked at the profiles of numerous people who once used to be my friends but who have now unfriended me.

Disclaimer: I have not ever unfriended someone on Facebook for having a different viewpoint or opinion on any matter. (If someone has been outwardly rude or insulting—the opposite of being a "friend"—then that is a different matter altogether.)

There's a few more who had unfriended than I had previously believed. And many of them, I'm rather positive, have unfriended me because of my views on political and/or moral issues. In fact, I'm certain of it.

This fact used to bother me, but it really doesn't now. I'm okay with it. My views are not shared with malice. They are not meant to offend nor to irritate but, rather, they are expressed out of love for the gospel and the Father's great Plan of Happiness, and for the joy that they bring me and my family. They are meant not to disturb or to annoy my friends but, instead, to disturb and to annoy someone else entirely.

As President Hinckley once said, "We are compelled by our doctrine to speak out" ("Why We Do Some of the Things We Do," October 1999 general conference).

The First Amendment: It's fan-tastic!

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12; emphasis added)."

I've been told by some that I talk about politics a great deal. Well, I'm guilty as charged. It's because there's a great deal of spiritual wickedness in high places in our time. It's not only in foreign lands, but it's right here in the United States—in Washington, D.C., as well as locally, too. It's another reason why I speak out.

While watching an episode of the Ken Burns documentary "The Roosevelts" today, I heard this magnificent quote from one of my top 5 favorite U.S. presidents, Teddy:

"Neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong."‪

In other words, if you're not a disturber or an annoyer, than you might unwittingly be one who aids and abets.

I can't stay neutral. I feel I must stand up for many of the things I believe. I'm happy to be among the disturbers and annoyers. And I'm trying my best not to be disturbing nor annoying in the process.

There is a difference.

The Ever-Changing Narrative

Have you noticed how the narrative is changing, and it is changing very subtly?

In the early days of the same-sex marriage debate, proponents of SSM used to argue that "if you don't want gay marriage, then don't get one" or "who people choose to love is none of your business," and also that "it doesn't affect you."

With SSM now spreading across the country—albeit mostly through judicial fiat and not the voice of the people—these advocates are no longer saying these things. They want more, and they want you to be forced to accept their point-of-view.

I loved today's press conference given by Elders Christofferson, Holland, and Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with Sister Marriott of the Young Women General Presidency, calling for nondiscrimination laws for all while also emphasizing the importance of maintaining religious freedom.

"Accusations of bigotry toward people simply because they are motivated by their religious faith and conscience have a chilling effect on freedom of speech and public debate," Elder Oaks said. "When religious people are publicly intimidated, retaliated against, forced from employment or made to suffer personal loss because they have raised their voice in the public square, donated to a cause or participated in an election, our democracy is the loser. Such tactics are every bit as wrong as denying access to employment, housing or public services because of race or gender."

Sadly, the reaction from many of the naysayers to this press conference was predictable, and it shows that their narrative is indeed changing.

A New York Times editorial written in response to the press conference argued that the Church was merely seeking "legal permission to use their religion as an excuse to discriminate." Another Facebook post proclaimed, "I'm for liberty, but I don't see why church owned businesses shouldn't play by the same rules as everyone else."

In other words: That whole claim that SSM "doesn't affect you"? We didn't really mean that. It fit into our narrative for what we wanted at the time, but not now. We are not content anymore to say that it doesn't affect you, because we are going to make sure it affects you, like it or not. It's not enough that SSM is fast becoming legal across the 50 States (and, let's admit, inevitably will be legal in all 50 once the Supreme Court, in all of its wisdom, gets done with the issue this June); we will force you not only to participate in same-sex weddings whether you want to or not, neener neener, you hateful, bigoted, ignorant, knuckle-dragging prudes who cling to your religion and guns.

It's a disappointing because it's a view that is both dishonest and, ironically, demands tolerance while not showing tolerance in return. It is also, as I said, predictable.

The same old rhetoric keeps on pouring forth, and I suppose it will for the foreseeable future. "You can't force your religious beliefs on other people, blah blah blah." Very true; you can't. Yet these are the same people who, ironically, believe that you can, by contrast, in the so-called name of equal treatment, force private business owners who do not agree with SSM to bake cakes, provide flowers, officiate weddings, etc. for SSM ceremonies, or otherwise they will face fines, jail time, loss of business, public flogging, etc.

It all seems to be about revenge and/or retaliation rather than equality, doesn't it?

Unbelievable.

In addition, I'm saddened to see self-proclaimed temple recommend-holding, faithful members of the Church openly criticize what three Apostles said today. As Elder Lynn G. Robbins said at the last general conference, "Thinking one can please God and at the same time condone the disobedience of men isn't neutrality but duplicity, or being two-faced or trying to 'serve two masters.'"

I feel "grieved because of the hardness of their hearts, and also, because of the things which I had seen, and knew they must unavoidably come to pass because of the great wickedness of the children of men" (1 Nephi 15:4).

At the same time, I feel immensely grateful to belong to a church that doesn't budge on the eternal truths of God's Plan of Happiness in the face of critics, detractors, and the ever-changing tide of popular opinion. The straight and narrow can appear to be very narrow at times, but it remains the only way nonetheless.