jchandle writes

And before he even argues, and before I even fill up There’s a spider on the counter And his lips are painted red.  And before he fills it backwards On the couch-ride to the city There’s a monkey three weeks backward With a cradle for his head.  Today I saw at least 200 Cedar Waxwings in the trees outside Isis, or rather, on the walkway between Isis and Heaven.  I remember when I had my interview day, they explained that we had the name first, and that we’re holding onto it in hopes that our building far outlasts the terrorist group.  The Waxwings were hopping from branch to branch, and chirping with little mini screeches.  I didn’t know what kind of bird they were, but I figured I’d be able to identify them since they were so distinctive looking.  They had bold, yellow bellies, and sharp little crests on their heads like faux-hawk hairstyles. And little black stripes on their faces that went out from almost their beaks and back to almost to where their win...

  That Jesus of Nazareth was crucified is the most well established fact about his existence. In fact, had he not been executed under the authority of Pontius Pilate, I’m not sure we would know of him at all today. His life and ministry would have been reduced to a few pages of obscure history, like the lives of other zealous Jewish dissidents of the time.  But he was crucified. And his followers were forced to understand his teachings in light of that unexpected reality. We can hypothesize that writings once existed which detailed the sayings of Jesus disconnected from any foreshadowing of a crucifixion. But all we have of them now is what we assume was quoted from these sources in the 4 canonized Gospels. If Jesus had not been crucified, it is unlikely that we could even hypothesize about these writings.  I’m not sure how strongly I believe that Jesus was physically resurrected. I oscillate between hoping he did and hoping he didn’t. And those hopes tip me back and fort...

  In President Dallin H. Oaks’s April 2022 General Conference address he said: Fundamental to us is God’s revelation that exaltation can be attained only through faithfulness to the covenants of an eternal marriage between a man and a woman. That divine doctrine is why we teach that “gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” The source of this fundamental doctrine he identifies in a footnote as D&C 131:1-4, which thanks to Early Morning Seminary, I have memorized. It reads:  In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees and in order to obtain the highest a man must enter into this order of the priesthood, meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage, and if he does not he cannot obtain it. He may enter into the other but that is the end of his kingdom. He cannot have an increase.  I actually really appreciate this part of President Oaks’s talk because I’ve banged my head against a wall...