ALONE!

The few moments during a mission between companions when you are utterly alone can be terrifying!

Cheat Codes

For those of you not familiar with the term, "cheat codes" are the collection of instructions spelling out what a gamer must do to overcome obstacles and navigate mazes in order to complete a video game. Some gamers reject cheat codes out of hand and would rather figure out everything on their own, but the majority of folks playing video games, I suspect, have no problem searching out a cheat code from time to time.

Of course, in real life the stakes are infinitely higher and the path infinitely harder to find on one's own. That's why everyone should be drawing on life's cheat codes.*

*The scriptures. I'm talking about the scriptures.

Final Goodbyes

Elder Van Dyke exaggerates. It's three weeks.

Ministering Angels

Here's a list of changes to church programs since January 2009 (the month I started this blog):

Discontinuation of enrichment, change in missionary ages, discontinuation of Varsity and Venture Scouts, combination of high priest groups and elder's quorums, discontinuation of home and visiting teaching, creation of ministering assignments for Melchizedek and Aaronic Priesthood as well as Relief Society and Young Women, discontinuation of all scout activities including (sniff) the pinewood derby.

Did I miss any? For each of those programs I've drawn at least one gag. This has made my back category full of out of date references. Maybe I'll have to start clearancing those particular comics at half off.

Last Train

President Hinkley spoke to us missionaries while I was in the MTC. He said that we'd shed more tears leaving the mission field than we did saying good-bye at the beginning of our missions. Wouldn't you know it? He was right.

Steadying the Ark

Uzzah was the unfortunate guy who stuck his hand out to steady the ark when it was falling and was immediately struck dead. I struggled to understand the fairness of the whole event until I saw the ending of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Just kidding.

I still struggle with the fairness of particular Old Testament story. I suspect it is just a matter of cause and effect. The Lord previously warned the Israelites that they were under no circumstances to touch the ark. I'd like to think that, all things considered, his touching the ark didn't weigh into Uzzah's final judgement.

Regardless of the meaning we are supposed to take from this particular account, I doubt it has anything to do with touching your sibling's stuff.

Mission Tats

If getting a tattoo on your p-day isn't included in the Missionary Handbook, it's only because it is such common sense.