It's all in your head

An alternate caption for this might be, "When you said you found an arrowhead, I thought you meant something completely different!"

It's ready to harvest

You can often tell the age of a missionary by the whiteness of his shirt.

Can you feel so now?

In one area, Yeosu, we kept a collection of wedding announcements that we had received as missionaries. It kind of took the sting off whenever one of us got one that was unexpected.

Sketchbook: Title of Trouble

I can imagine that if Captain Moroni had older sisters, it would have helped him develop those skills that served him later in his career as the Nephite military leader. He had to think fast, be quick, be innovative and creative, know when to stand and fight and know when to strategically retreat. Who better than an older sister to help him learn those things?

The sounds of scriptures

Too much of a good thing

Ever wonder how Scouts can survive on a diet of ramen and peanut butter?

The eye of the beholder

I've been there in the morning with the Boy Scouts...and lived to tell the tale!

Written in the stars

In case you were wondering, yes — this was modified after Anton Yelchin passed away.

All the colors of the camp

Caption contest winner: more power to you!

Congratulations to Bob, our caption contest winner!

Many of the captions submitted for this cartoon mentioned "Scripture Power." My wife was amazed that I hadn't heard of it before. Maybe it just wasn't on my radar, because now I'm seeing it everywhere!

Thanks to all of you who submitted ideas. I'm still chuckling at some of them — and scratching my head at others!

Sketchbook: Factory direct

Our ward just got a new elder, straight from the MTC. His companion is excited to be a trainer, to teach him in the way he should go!

This sketchbook is kind of an example of why I have the sketchbook in the first place. I have an idea, write it down and draw a rough idea of it. By that point I have a pretty good idea of whether it will work. This idea worked better in my head than it did on paper — but I still kind of like it. I like the idea of having a companion delivered just like "a major award!" Maybe I'll have to work on the concept some more.

One more note: tomorrow we announce the winner of the caption contest. Could it be you? It's not too late to enter!

Pearls of Wisdom

Yeah, this really was one of the things my dad used to say. But he was usually right — a lot of the time he was the smartest person in the room! And he should have been... he spent most of his life in school. He taught elementary school for his entire career and spent many years teaching night school. And he hardly ever missed an episode of Jeopardy!

He touched a lot of lives and was a lifelong learner. Here's to you, dad — the smartest guy in the room!

Family ties

This is the kind of thing that happens at our house. The boys buy me a tie, and then they borrow it. A few months later I find it, and the cycle starts over again.

By the way, it's not too late to enter the caption contest! The winner will be announced on Tuesday. Stay tuned!

Tell me about rank advancements

You can learn a lot from Scouting!

Another caption contest!

It's time for another caption contest!

I somehow forgot the absolutely brilliant caption I had for this cartoon, so now I'm calling on you for help — plus you could win a valuable prize if your caption wins!

You can submit your idea in the comment section below, send it in by email or message me some other way.

Give it a shot! If you don't enter, you can't win!

End of days

It's the last day of school/first day of summer vacation in our school district. Today's entry is less of a gag, but more of an attitude!

Virtue of the word

Times like this remind me of what it says in Alma: "And now,as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just — yea, it had a more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them — therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

Trust that Higher Authority!

Sketchbook: Every creature

Every missionary has at least one animal story. I can't tell you mine (it's too gross, sorry!).

Called to wait

Actually, I think brothers are worse for hogging the bathroom. They generally use app all the hot water too!

Howe, now.

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Gordie Howe, possibly the greatest hockey player ever. He was good enough to earn the nickname "Mr. Hockey" and was the NHL's highest scorer until Wayne Gretzky came along. Now he's No. 2.

He was one of my hockey heroes as a kid, along with the likes of Bobby Hull, the Esposito brothers (Phil and Tony), and my favorite, Bobby Orr.

Howe had a long professional career, extending it long enough that he could play on the same team professionally as his sons. He was tough, he was cool, and he was an amazing player — and now he's off to ride that big Zamboni in the sky! RIP, Mr. Hockey!

Living in a fantasy

When talking with some of our young men recently, I was surprised to find that many of them didn't realize that missionaries did more than walk around all day, teach occasionally, eat at members homes, and baptize from time to time.

Happy is the mission mom who has missionaries who know how to do things! And happy is the companion who has a companion who knows how to cook!

Forever friends

Considering what it went through, my college backpack should have been considered for an honorary degree.

It's our high school's graduation tonight. Congratulations!

Speaking their language

That's one of the favorite words of a graduating senior: scholarship!

A vacation that lasts

There are always those students...

Sketchbook: Lift up your voice and scream

Some hymns were just meant to be sung at the top of your lungs!

Ties that bind

There's no feeling like the one you get when your kids ties his own tie for the first time.

There's also no feeling like trying to untie said tie, because they probably did it wrong!

Some gave all

There's the stuff the kids accidentally overhear, and then there's the stuff that gets reported in Primary.

New worlds, new civilizations

Locker clean-out day has to be one of the most frightening and disgusting days of the entire school year.

Packing light

It's easier to travel if you don't take all your emotional baggage with you.

Total recall

The missionaries came over last night to tell us that one of them just received a special transfer: he's headed to another mission. But before he goes to the new mission, he has to report to the MTC for "additional training." Hmm.