Opening hymn, "Sweet Is the Work"

I heard of a new bishop who tried to stock up on healthy treats. That didn't last long!
 

Sticky hands and a pure heart

You don't see the same thing happen in Gospel Doctrine.
 

True colors

I substituted in Primary last week. One of the seven-year-olds in my class told me he was really upset. He thought he had a red marker for his scriptures, but instead he had a brown one! Something like that can really throw off your scripture study!

I also learned why cats have long whiskers. That was bonus information!
 

What once was lost

Finding sheep is one thing. Getting them to follow you is another. 
 

Sketchbook: Work zone awareness

Road construction season is underway, so it’s time to remind drivers to slow down and pay attention in work zones. 

This idea would certainly garner attention, yet somehow I don’t think it would slow down drivers. If anything, it might encourage speeding!
 

Nature study, Disney style

Another from the Disney series, although it might be a little more PG than my normal fare. It reminds me of Boy Scouts when we worked on a couple of merit badges, such as Nature and Environmental Science. Sometimes all of us learned a little more than we intended!
 

Fitter than ever

My old missionary ties have won the office’s ugly tie contest for several years running. And, yes, they still fit!
 

Open in case of emergency

I sometimes wonder if this isn't true.
 

Smoke gets in your eyes

I’m told that this is a rare occurrence. 
 

Sketchbook: Getting along

The conference addresses about being peacemakers and being kind were awesome reminders of how we should be. Sometimes the best place to start with that is our own front door. 
 

An eye-opening experience for the mouth

It’s always the food that surprises them. Crêpes are amazing in France (as are the French fries) and pasta and pizza are awesome in Italy. 

The language often surprises them, too. Especially when they realize the people in country are saying the exact thing they studied in class! It’s like they discover that they’re in on a secret code!

Enhanced flavors

Ice cream is great. Gelato can be amazing. 

What I find amazing is this isn't the first time we've had kids eat gelato after they dropped it on the ground. I'm not sure the five second rule applies to the streets of Paris when they're three weeks into a garbage strike!
 

Packed full of jam

Maybe it was timing — the week before Holy Week may not be the best time to visit the Vatican. But whatever the reason, it was crowded! And with one of the must-see sights being the Sistine Chapel, that's where everybody was! 

Because there were so many people — and I swear, it was a fire marshal's nightmare! — the docents were funneling people through there as fast as they could! We were shoulder to shoulder with a couple of thousand other people, shuffling like lemmings from the entrance to the exit. I was able to get a quick glimpse of the ceiling, but not nearly the feast on the masterpieces that I had hoped.

I'm sure it was amazing!
 

Flying the friendly skies

We just got back from taking a group of students to Europe for a spring break trip. It was mostly fun — except for the trip home. 

For some unexplained reason, the airlines couldn't access the tickets for half of our group. They were paid for, they were visible in the system. But none of the airlines could print boarding passes because someone else had them locked in the system. At one time we had six people from three different major airlines — Lufthansa, United and Air Canada — on a conference call trying get our boarding passes to print. And it was the same with each connection!

Each time they were able to print out boarding passes and we made it just in time to catch the flight, but then we had to do it all again at the next airport.

We all made it home, all on time, and all on the same flight. We even had all of our luggage! But what a crazy ride!

 

Sketchbook: Safety first

I don't remember — didn't they talk about this in an episode of The Safety Zone?
 

Easter Week: The Resurrection

"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

"Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou has laid him, and I will take him away.

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

"Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

Happy Easter!

 

Easter Week: The Burial

"The man went unto Pilate and begged the body of Jesus.

"And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein man never before was laid.

"And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on."

 

Easter Week: The Crucifixion

"And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

"And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into they hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost." 

 

Easter Week: Gethsemane

"Then said he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

"And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt."

 

Easter Week: Jesus Teaches His Disciples

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me doing; I was a stranger, and ye took me in;

"Naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

"When was we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

 

Easter Week: Jesus Teaches

"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

"On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

 

Easter Week: Cleansing the Temple

"And Jesus went in to the temple of God, and cast our all of them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

"And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

 

Sketchbook: It's a smashing idea to follow the prophet!

The smashed bottle trope has become ubiquitous in the Church memeisphere. The memes started during Elder Haynie's talk and they show no signs of slowing. But do you remember a few years ago when Pres. Nelson talked about how he poured out all the liquor from his parents' stash in the basement and broke all the bottles? I think he has a thing about liquid containers!

What was your favorite part of General Conference? Any new temples in your area?

Easter Week: Palm Sunday

"And a great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from trees, and strawed them in the way.

"And the multitudes that went before, and the followed, cried, saying, Hossana to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord' Hosanna in the highest."

 

General Conference Notes: Sunday Afternoon

 

General Conference Notes: Sunday Morning

 

General Conference Notes: Saturday Evening

 

General Conference Notes: Saturday Afternoon

 

General Conference Notes: Saturday Morning