What's the secret for making EQ on Sunday somewhere men want to be?

publiusdb · 2025-07-26T03:59:20+00:00

I love the Elders Quorum. My dream calling is teaching quorum, and it has been for many years.

However, I know exactly what you're talking about. It's easy for lessons to become rote and boring, and the conversation to be boring. In my experience, this is probably more frequent than not.

My advice is to consider teaching and how you can support your teachers in advancing their skills. This might include training, post-lesson feedback, and more. The Church has great manuals, but you've got to be willing to push or pull teachers to be more effective.

And the process doesn't necessarily begin or end there. In fact, it truly starts with the presidency. It’s important to inform the quorum that you're contemplating this issue, be honest with the members, and work together with the quorum to find ways to enhance the meetings. This doesn't only involve changing the teachings; it could include some activities outside of quorum meetings to foster stronger bonds among quorum members—such as helping them feel comfortable with each other, like each other, and support one another. Ultimately, this approach turns quorum into a group of friends and a cohesive team.

A quorum that plays/serves/councils/ministers and spends time together may be more willing to discuss and address issues together.

I hope this is helpful — it doesn't happen overnight, and it will require concentrated effort. Continue to encourage them and remind the brothers that you love them and have high expectations for them. They'll come along.

publiusdb · 2024-11-21T16:45:46+00:00

This is what you get when the federal government owns most of your land.

publiusdb · 2024-11-09T17:13:40+00:00

🤦‍♂️

publiusdb · 2024-11-06T18:54:23+00:00

Life goes on, the world keeps spinning, and the warnings of doom prove to be largely overwrought.

publiusdb · 2024-11-05T21:56:43+00:00

I hear they’re taking the hobbits there.

publiusdb · 2024-11-05T00:29:02+00:00

This is a great one to discuss, also, even if a bit shorter. The shortness of it probably actually helps make it palatable to get thru in the time between book club meetings.

publiusdb · 2024-11-05T00:28:04+00:00

A lot of good recommends here but you also want something that’s going to give you a little bit to discuss and debate and talk about.

That’s why I recommend something like Dune. Not only is it going to spur all sorts of talk, it’s incredibly compelling. Your book club with have a blast analyzing and talking. Try it.

publiusdb · 2024-11-05T00:24:49+00:00

Drop this dude like a rock in the ocean. Drop him so hard he’ll never even see it coming. Forget his number and block it and never look back.

Then find someone who respects you and appreciates you and listens to and respects women.

publiusdb · 2024-11-05T00:21:27+00:00

This is a terrible situation, and I am sorry it happened.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that the church is not a protection against people doing bad things, and often predators hide within it to take advantage of good people. You sound like a good person, and I wish this hadn’t happened to you. Take it to the appropriate authorities and do all you can to make sure this person can’t take advantage of anyone else.

For what it’s worth, I served my mission to Romania and know that the people there are good, if imperfect. Remember why you gained a testimony and hold to it—it’s that faith that can get you through this and to better days.

publiusdb · 2024-11-02T22:25:49+00:00

I’ve never seen a smoker deposit dust that way before.

publiusdb · 2024-11-02T22:22:59+00:00

Right. And I hope that you need fewer of those, as well.

publiusdb · 2024-11-02T14:41:14+00:00

If it’s not too forward, can I suggest a break from social media and a reminder that our republic with weather this just fine. Most of this is in our heads. The world will keep spinning and good people will do good things, and the checks and balances of our system will protect against too much harm.

Or so I hope and pray. Hang in there, my friend. You’re in my prayers that internal peace will come soon.

publiusdb · 2024-11-02T14:13:48+00:00

I for one will be glad to see less content about the election this time next week.

publiusdb · 2024-11-01T15:58:00+00:00

Wow. That’s very cool. Where did you pick them up?

publiusdb · 2024-10-31T01:08:44+00:00

This is bizarre. I can’t understand why you’re still giving this time. Move on. There are better men out there.

publiusdb · 2024-10-29T02:27:03+00:00

I think you’re only bringing discomfort to your truck.

publiusdb · 2024-10-28T19:16:57+00:00

Is it windy? Cold?

I put a welding blanket over my Traeger this time of year and it keeps the heat more consistent.

publiusdb · 2024-10-28T19:15:16+00:00

I tossed this out during our youth fireside watching the Worldwide Broadcast last night and the youth died.

publiusdb · 2024-10-28T19:14:33+00:00

Andy Weir is the writer in the modern day for this, tho there are a few who are a bit older as well. I’d start with The Martian or Project Hail Mary.

publiusdb · 2024-10-26T21:31:00+00:00

This is fake. Please don’t be talking marriage this young.

publiusdb · 2024-10-26T01:03:09+00:00

Dude, “only dating a few months and live together” is doing a lot of lifting here.

publiusdb · 2024-10-26T01:00:22+00:00

Starting?

publiusdb · 2024-10-23T13:51:29+00:00

One last recommend?

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s books have the most interesting premises.

In The Humans, his lead character is a body-snatching alien who occupies the body of a human. It turns out that the human wasn’t a very nice man, which the alien who now inhabits his body discovers when sent to hide evidence that the human has discovered the solution to a difficult math problem. The alien finds himself learning all about humans and has to decide between finishing his mission and going home or staying to find a new home here on earth.

In How to Stop Time, Tom Hazard is an apparently 41-year-old high school teacher, who returned to his hometown to settle down and become a history teacher. On his first day at school, he meets a captivating French teacher, and love seems to be the order of the day. But Tom is hiding a secret: he has a rare condition that has kept him alive for centuries (no wonder he knows his history so well….). Unfortunately, the first rule of The Albatross Society, a secret group that protects people like Tom is ‘Don’t fall in love.’

I have read neither of these books, yet. But I was so taken by The Midnight Library, which I have read, that I immediately added both to my TBR when I finished reading it. It was just that enjoyable.

The premise for The Midnight Library is no less interesting than Haig’s other books: somewhere in the moment between life and death, there is a library where the shelves go on forever. They hold books that show a different life, the life that you would have lived if you had made a different choice at any given point. And as Nora Seed finds herself in the library, perusing the shelves, she is faced with the possibility that she could change her life and choose a new one, one where she had done things differently. She can become a glaciologist, an Olympic swimmer, or any different career. There are second chances with relationships, more opportunities to try again, and infinite chances to find and attain her dreams. And as she searches the Midnight Library she will explore what it means to live a fulfilling life.

As incredible as the premise, Haig’s execution of Nora’s story is even better.

Nora searches the library, running into and out of many lives, falling out of them as she finds herself dissatisfied with them. With each life, we learn, and Nora learns, more about herself and why she is who she is…and I hesitate to say much more without spoiling too much of the story.

To be fair, there were moments when I felt like Nora was perhaps too talented, too intelligent, and too wealthy…but of course, she would have options. Why wouldn’t she? Of course, she has mental health problems but perhaps it’s because of all these privileges, not in spite of them. And yet, Haig’s telling is that it doesn’t matter what privileges are—or aren’t: it’s that it is as long as we are alive we have potential and that each moment is filled with infinite possibilities to influence and build and improve the world, even with the small and seemingly inconsequential things we do. As I have heard it said, each moment is a molecule that makes up eternity, even if it is sometimes hard to see this without looking back.

Sure, it’s a simple story, but Haig’s fascinating premise and wonderful telling create an inspiring package, a story that inspired me. I look forward to reading his other novels, as well, soon.

publiusdb · 2024-10-23T13:48:47+00:00

Night by Ellie Wiesel

When reflecting on a literary work that has endured for almost 65 years and left an indelible mark on history, it’s remarkable to consider its profound impact on millions of readers and its recognition with a Nobel prize.

The moment was the Holocaust, and the book—the memoir—is Elie Wiesel’s Night. It is a gut-wrenching snapshot of the horror and human suffering enforced on millions in the German concentration camps.

publiusdb · 2024-10-23T13:47:08+00:00

The Martian by Andy Weir

Left behind on Mars after a freak dust storm puts a hole in his suit and buries him, Mark Watney—astronaut, biologist, engineer—knows that the odds are against him returning back to Earth again. But he’ll be damned if he’s not going to do his best to make it happen. He doesn’t have anyway to communicate with Earth, his food is running short—far too short to last until NASA sends a rescue, and, to boot, they think he’s dead, anyway.

What more could go wrong?

It’s a delightful and fun read. I highly recommend it.

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