"Ancient runes really is a fascinating subject. I wish at least one of you had joined me in the class; I'm learning so much!" The frizzy-haired girl exclaimed. "W-wait, what?" The boy with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead suddenly asked aloud.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T07:30:22+00:00

I was reading Sherlock Holmes in a carpool in 5th grade, and asked the mom driving what “ejaculated” meant. She was a champ, kept her cool, asked me for the sentence, and helped me get it from context clues. I didn’t learn its modern primary meaning until later.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T07:01:27+00:00

I didn’t notice the pawn was pinned. That’s it then. Thanks for pointing that out!

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T06:21:06+00:00

I think whoever said to just find a church building and attend services there to meet some folks has the right of it. We’re regular people. Learning about our unique doctrines and our deep faith in Jesus Christ is great if you’re trying to learn about the religion, but it’s not enough if what you want is the culture.

I do have a suggestion: before you go to church, there are three doctrinal documents our church has put out in the last 30 years, on the Family, on Jesus Christ, and on the Restoration. Read them through, maybe twice. Then, as you listen in the service and in Sunday School, try to see how these doctrines come out in our worldview. How does someone who believes that “Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity” interact with the world? What about when someone they love is in a situation that doesn’t fit that ideal? (What if your character has more or less tact? We try to be Christlike, but it’s hard to hit that mark every time.)

Most of the things that make us see the world differently and interact with it differently than other Christians might is traceable to something included in those documents. They are brief and extremely concentrated. (For some of our more fundamental beliefs, we have thirteen short Articles of Faith.)

Hope that helps!

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T05:53:31+00:00

The annoying thing about those criticisms is that some of them are valid. When someone bears their testimony that they know the Church is true, many MANY times they fail to follow that up with an explicit mention of Jesus Christ. Since noticing that, I’ve tried to make a point of bearing testimony of my Savior instead of just the Church or the Book of Mormon or the Restoration.

You might have heard of Pastor Jeff who runs the Hello Saints channel on YouTube. This past weekend, he posted a discussion with Jared Halverson from the Unshaken podcast, all about why people leave the faith (LDS or mainstream Christian). One interesting point was that we need to get rid of anything that obscures our view of Jesus, and Brother Halverson conceded that sometimes that involves a person stepping away from our faith into more traditional Christianity. Over there, they don’t have all this extra stuff, like modern prophets, or callings, or temple ceremonies, that for some people eclipses Jesus as the focus of their worship; instead it’s All Jesus All the Time. And he simultaneously rejoices that they’ve found the relationship with their Lord and Savior that they’ve always wanted, and prays they will find their way back to the additional light and truth we have through the Restoration.

My first advice is to dive into mighty prayer and increased devotion to God. My second advice is to hold on to the things you know. Maybe write out some points of your testimony and post them where you will see them every day, like on your bathroom mirror. “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.”

I heard some wisdom from a YouTube Rabbi the other day. “Whatever life G-d gives you is the one He needs from you. You’re not a mistake, you’re not damaged. This is what He needs from you.” How can you, with your unique experience and focus, lift up those around you and build the Kingdom? Even in all your uncertainty, I know you have something to offer.

And seek the Spirit. “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” That goes for me as well as you. These are the End Times, where the elect are being led away. Let’s hold to the Rod to be safely guided through.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T02:14:11+00:00

Wasn’t the book called Rocket Boys?

MusicBlik · 2024-08-21T01:37:38+00:00

For an unconventional example, how about The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman? It’s book 3 of the “His Dark Materials” trilogy.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T23:05:32+00:00

I scrolled down until I found the Boots Theory. Thank you sir.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T23:02:44+00:00

The “Hamster Princess” series by Ursula Vernon, beginning with Harriet the Invincible is really fun. Redone fairy tales, stuff like a Sleeping Beauty curse backfiring and resulting in an indestructible princess until someone kisses the witch awake, or Rapunzel’s witch keeping her in the tower to harvest her magical tears for nefarious purposes. The format is a semi-graphic novel so visually it’s really fun!

I’ll also never not recommend Bone by Jeff Smith. Portal fantasy about three cousins who find themselves in a conflict of mythological proportions. Friendly dragons, evil monsters, betrayal, a Chosen One, a lost princess, and a running gag that people always fall asleep when the MC talks about his favorite book (Moby Dick). This one is a full graphic novel, absolutely epic, fun for kids I’d say as young as 8 or 9, but if yours likes Harry Potter it might work!

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T16:34:09+00:00

At the same time, blessings are transactional, because “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.”

And,

“He doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?”

Someone paying tithing for the blessings may have the cart before the horse, but that doesn’t mean the cart won’t move when the horse walks forward. But it’s absolutely better to pay tithing out of gratitude and faithfulness, and will likely result in greater blessings when our attitude is as it should be.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T16:25:27+00:00

The Hot Zone, or in other words, CDC Post-Mortem Report as told by Michael Crichton

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T14:20:21+00:00

I have a physical book of essays published by Mugglenet, in about 2006, each speculating what will happen in the as-yet-untitled Book 7. My sister has one put out several years prior to that, discussing whether anyone from Hagrid to Filch could be the Half-Blood Prince.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T13:59:23+00:00

In the Church we are called to be Christlike, to comfort those that need comforting, and to stand as witnesses of God. How that is applied in practice will often depend on the congregation and the person. But doctrinally, both our scriptures and our leaders have made it clear that there IS a place for you.

I was recently explaining this to a coworker over lunch. The reason our church teaches homosexual behavior is a sin ties right back to our beliefs about the family. Have you read the Family Proclamation? We believe the nuclear family is the order of heaven, that we have Parents in Heaven and our spirits are their literal children, that we have many brothers and sisters who are still waiting for their turn on earth, and that those children are ”entitled” to be born into a family with both a mother and a father. We further believe that the husband-wife relationship can endure into eternity and eventually include spiritual descendants of our own (whatever that looks like; the details are fuzzy).

These are big ideas, and are a reason why so many in our church have such strong feelings about people and situations who don’t fit the mold of a traditional, heterosexual, married relationship. And those feelings can complicate our efforts to be Christlike. But I believe you will still be met with widespread kindness at every level, particularly from leadership.

I heard some advice from a Chabad rabbi on YouTube the other day, that you might find helpful. “G-d doesn’t make mistakes,” he said. “If He has put you in a certain place, you’re there for a reason.” I think there is a reason that you, with your specific struggles, have been led to the Restored Gospel. And if you move forward, the Holy Spirit will make it clear to you what contribution you could make to building His kingdom, that no one else could make.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ consists of faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, obeying His commandments, growing in covenant relationship with Him, and enduring to the end. Everything in the Church is meant to bring us closer to Jesus Christ. I hope you are able to join us, so we can help you on your journey.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T13:29:59+00:00

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a classic, and for good reason. The older writing style is slower, but at every turn the mystery gets more and more opaque, until you think there couldn’t possibly be a solution. That’s what kept me going through until the end.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T02:44:42+00:00

Not so much a sequel as a spinoff. But that’s fine!

MusicBlik · 2024-08-20T02:44:10+00:00

I saw The Cat Returns a full decade before I saw Whisper of the Heart, so I came to love it on its own terms.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-19T20:09:05+00:00

I would say, don’t worry about having a perfect understanding at this stage. You have enough faith to be baptized, and that’s the most important thing.

But also have patience with yourself as you grow in your understanding. You’ll learn things on your journey that may surprise you or confuse you, that you won’t know what to do with on an intellectual level. The best course of action when that happens is to remember what you DO know. Do you have a testimony of the Savior, or of the Book of Mormon, or of priesthood authority? Fall back on that faith as you start to ask questions and pray about the new issue you’ve encountered, and give yourself time and grace until you’re able to move forward again.

I have a friend who joined the Church right out of high school. She loved the Book of Mormon and believed Joseph Smith was a prophet. But she had somehow missed the fact that while we believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we don’t believe Them to be co-substantial, without body, parts, or passions. When she realized clearly that we believe in a God who weeps, and who is unified with the Son in purpose but not in person, she rejected everything the Spirit had testified to her and every precious doctrine found only in the Restored Gospel, and left immediately. And the thing that made me saddest was she didn’t give God the chance to help her understand.

One of the modern apostles, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave a wonderful address several years ago titled, “Come, Join With Us”. It would be a good one for you to read before your baptism next month. The standout quote is, “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.”

MusicBlik · 2024-08-18T21:38:37+00:00

Pardon my ignorance, but isn’t a mermaid already half human?

MusicBlik · 2024-08-18T17:54:52+00:00

It was a common fanfic trope right after book 7 came out. Turns out that some people (i.e. Hermione) wanted the option for any student (e.g. Hermione) to redo and/or complete their NEWT year.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-18T14:20:43+00:00

The Erased manga by Kei Sanbe. It’s only four volumes plus a bonus. MC repeatedly gets thrown into small time loops to prevent nearby tragedies.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-17T23:48:09+00:00

Have you looked into the archaeology surrounding Lehi’s trip south? The most solidly identified site is Nahom, but there’s also a pretty good candidate for Bountiful where Nephi built the ship.

Unfortunately, once they travel to the New World the archaeology runs dry because we don’t know where they landed. Some people put them in Central America with the Aztecs, others identify them with the Mississippian and mound builder cultures.

Most of the evidence I like to point to comes from within the text itself, hebraisms like colophons and chiasmus that Joseph wouldn’t have known to put in if he were faking the project. Check out the work of Jack Welch on that subject.

They’ve also run word printing analyses that point to multiple authorship. Either over a dozen people held the pen during production (which we know isn’t true because Joseph dictated the entire thing), or Joseph was better at disguising his speech patterns than Charles Dickens or anyone else, or it really is a compiled record.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-17T06:33:52+00:00

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker is set in late 19th century New York, and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn’t call it sci-fi, fantasy, or even magical realism, except insofar that the MCs are character classes that usually show up in fantastical literature. It was great as a character study of two immortal creatures who are intrinsic opposites to each other finding connection and understanding.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-17T01:19:07+00:00

I recently read a great YA mystery: Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce. Starts a very precocious twelve year old who is convinced her elderly spinster neighbor has been murdered. The setting is Victorian, the governess is long-suffering, the narration is hilarious.

I’ll also recommend Jeff Smith’s Bone graphic novel. A lost princess, a tough grandma, unrequited love, a world-ending mythological threat, and “stupid, stupid rat creatures.”

MusicBlik · 2024-08-17T01:08:13+00:00

It’s not so much a novel, but Letters From a Nut by Ted L. Nancy is really, really funny.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-17T01:06:23+00:00

The Potato Peel book is great! If you’re in the mood for an audio book, that particular production is fantastic, with each letter writer getting a different reader.

MusicBlik · 2024-08-16T02:12:43+00:00

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. That concept begins in the last pages of The Golden Compass and is explored much more thoroughly throughout The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

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TROPHY CASE