I've seen this before!

If it's July and it's after the Fourth, that means it's time to turn our hearts and our cartoons to honor our pioneer ancestry!

I know I've said this many times before, and I'll say it again: I hope a lot of these folks have a sense of humor!
 

Editor's note: The Oregon Trail game showed the hardships of traveling as a pioneer. The game often ended with the player dying of starvation or dysentery. 

Sketchbook: True to the faith

There are some who think that kids on the trek should experience everything. But sometimes it's a little challenging to come up with blizzards and mobs, so they settle for the little things.
 

Fireworks

From the Disney collection, if for no other reason than it has some pretty good fireworks that I made in Illustrator. 

If you're looking for something to add to your summer reading list, click on the link to the right. The book is available in paperback and Kindle!
 

The show

Elijah and the priests of Baal is one of the most awesome stories in the Old Testament. I love his trash talking, and when the time comes for his turn, he totally crushes it!*

For those who may argue that the real original fireworks show was Sodom and Gomorrah, I would point out that there wasn't anyone who actually watched that. Except for Lot's wife. And she wasn't a big fan. In fact, she was kind of salty about it.

*It may also be argued that this was the first example of a fireside. The jury is still out on that one.
 

Small voices

Sometimes Primary is the most spiritual when it's the loudest.
 

Caption contest results

What a lot of great entries in the caption contest! In fact, I'm going to directly steal an idea from the Ward Cartoonist and include all the entries in one mega cartoon!

To give credit where credit is due, these are the submitters:

• Drumming up support... Klinton
• A few minutes on this... Arie VDG
• Share our talents... Sonny
• This could really spice up the Primary... Sonny
• Music of the gospel... Sonny
• Sis. Reyes Quartet... Adam T 
• In-a-gadda-da-vida... Jim J
• Pioneer children... Mark B
• Checked the handbook... Adam T
• Drumming up interest... Kerry O
• Home MTC... Jim B
• Cymbalism... Jeff B
• I'm beat... Bob
• Honorable mention (but not included)... Ben B

Thank you for all the wonderful (and funny) submissions! DM me if you'd like a semi-valuable prize for your entry!

Sketchbook: Free kick

There's got to be some way to keep track of who's nice to the missionaries!