Helaman's Deacons

Just how old were the Book of Mormon stripling warriors? Fifteen years before they volunteered to fight, their parents entered into a covenant never to take up weapons again. That covenant likely included their children deemed old enough to covenant for themselves. Was it possible the covenant included all their children? So the oldest of the stripling warriors would have been anywhere between the ages of 23 and 15.

The youngest of the stripling warriors was probably quite a bit younger than that. Keep in mind, the Nephites later had no problem appointing a 15-year-old Mormon chief captain over their armies. With that fact in mind, I doubt Helaman would have made as much a big deal of the age of his troops if they were all a bunch of 15-year-olds.

Consider this definition from the 1828 edition of Webster's dictionary: "STRIPLING, noun [from strip, stripe; primarily a tall slender youth, one that shoots up suddenly.] A youth in the state of adolescence, or passing from boyhood to manhood; a lad."

Given that definition, I doubt very much there were any 23-year-olds following Helaman. Given that definition, I suspect Helaman led hundreds of deacon-aged youth. So the deacons advisor in today's gag should suck it up--Helaman had it worse.

Today's clever gag came from faithful reader Spencer V.

Making Progress

I must have knocked on tens of thousands of doors as a missionary. (Not at all the most effective way to proselyte, I know.) There were days where a response like the one the lady gives at the end of this gag would have been reason for celebration.

Meat Sparingly

The meat section of the Word of Wisdom has always been problematic (for me). And, I'm pretty sure, if it were revealed today the Word of Wisdom would also include something about high fructose corn syrup. Suddenly, it's not so easy a commandment to keep.

Bark Bigger Than Its Bite

I've been bitten twice in my life by a dog: both times while serving my mission. Another time during my mission, I was sure a dog was going to seriously maim me. By the end of my tour, I was a bit skittish around any canine--including the kind featured in this week's strip. 

Love Thy Neighbor

If this truly is a way to keep the commandments,* then I've got a lot of repenting to do. I'm more a lurker on social media.

*It's not.

Plan for the Future

I'm sure Elder Van Dyke would appreciate his mom's care.

For the first time in over 13 years running this blog, I missed a deadline. Mission Daze comic strips are supposed to be posted on Mondays, today is a Tuesday. To my tens of readers, I apologize.

Law of Consecration

The idea of the united order actually came during Brigham Young's time, making this particular gag an anachronism. If you've got a problem with that, take it up with Eric V., Ava V., and Jena L. (they're the faithful readers that came up with this particular gag). Personally, I thought it was funny enough that I let it slide.