Have I got a message for you!

Ever been in a meeting and felt like the talk was meant just for you? Maybe it was meant to be!
 

Heat check

The coldest baptism I remember was one we did in the mountains on the west side of South Korea in February . Yes, there was snow involved. 

The second coldest was a baptism in the Granger Stake (the west side of the Salt Lake Valley). The stake center was notorious for not having any hot water. 
 

Sketchbook: Missionary protocol

Our dog really likes the missionaries. Really likes them. Problem is, she's a Great Pyrenees and weighs something like 150 pounds. And we have sister missionaries.

Pyrenees are herding dogs, which means she wants everyone to be in their proper place — and she doesn't like people to leave. Especially missionaries. So the sisters came to visit, and closed their visit with a message and a prayer. When they stood up to leave, our doggo (who had been napping) jumped up — all 150 pounds of giant dog — and tried to get the sisters to stay by herding them back to the couch.

The sisters were a little surprised. But at least they know that our puppy loves them!
 

Did not our hearts within us burn?

It’s likely much different today, but based on my experiences as a missionary — it was probably the casserole. 

Fill it up!

I thought about making her lamp solar powered, but that seemed a little much. 
 

Lift up your voice

Honestly, it could go either way…
 

Wishful thinking

I found myself wondering what I would wish for if I came across a genie in a magic lamp. As a missionary, that’s definitely what I would have wanted. That, some good peanut butter and comfortable socks. 
 

Sketchbook: A sign

One of the sister missionaries serving in our ward told the story of how she decided to go on a mission. It was something she was thinking about, but she wanted a sign. While she was pondering her choices, she stepped into a classroom at church — and these words were written on the board in giant letters. 

She took that as her sign. And the rest, as they say, is history!
 

A little louder for those in the back

I had a friend named Blair in high school. He played the trumpet. I thought that was kind of funny, in a homonymic kind of way. 
 

We have questions

Is it weird that I feel guilty drawing a Church History cartoon while we're studying the New Testament in Come, Follow Me?
 

Diagonal moves

When you staff a ward, you have to staff with the end in mind. When one piece moves, it can change the entire layout of the board. You move carefully and make adjustments along the way. It's a long game —you just have to hope that the pieces cooperate!
 

Close to you

Our ward is now leaving the accordion doors to the overflow closed in an effort to get more people to sit closer. The back rows are still the first ones taken.
 

Sketchbook: Unplugged

I was thinking the other day about how many things can go wrong when you teach a lesson. Sometimes a video won’t play, or the scripture reference in your notes has the wrong verses. Fortunately we can always fall back on teaching by the spirit, right? Oh, wait — that should be “rely on.”
 

Each mom in her time plays many parts

Happy Mother's Day (USA) weekend to all! 
 

L'esprit de l'escalier

The French have a phrase (above) that means "D-oh! I shoulda said that!" I can imagine the Rich Young Man had a few thoughts running through his head after he talked with Jesus.
 

Making memories

I saw something recently that said it’s not really a vacation if you take your kids. As a parent still have to do the same things, just in an unfamiliar location. 

That’s a little cynical. True, but cynical. 

It really is fun to watch the light of discovery and exploration, even if it results in the occasional nuclear meltdown. 

Caption contest winner!

There were so many good, creative and funny captions that were submitted! Some made me groan, some made me chuckle. There were several references to Elvis, including one that brought together Elvis and the Osmonds (thanks, Arie!). The winning caption, submitted by Rob B., caught me by surprise. It was different from the rest — and it made me laugh out loud. It also brought back some memories that I'd forgotten,* which may have been the clincher.

For his winning entry, Rob will get his choice of one of my cartoon collections.

Thank you to all who entered — you have such talent!

*When I was a kid, we had a neighbor who was an award-winning hairstylist for men. He had a salon out on 3500 South in West Valley. He was often away at men's hairstylist competitions. He had amazing hair. One of his sons also showed prodigious talent in the arena of men's hairstyling, and was being groomed to take over the shop when his father retired, the heir to the throne.

Sketchbook: Speeding up the game

The big leagues made some rule changes in the offseason to help games move along faster. Something like this could help the T ball crowd!
 

A new hope

OK, I can't think of another instance where I've run two Mission President gags in a row. But I thought the idea of Captain Moroni as a cereal mascot was pretty funny, and who else would be more likely to come up with that idea other than a missionary?

That's also the Detroit Michigan temple — because Battle Creek* doesn't have one yet!

*Home of Kellogg's, one of the largest manufacturers of breakfast cereals in the world.
 

Return of the companion

Yes, it's May the Fourth. 

I've got a bunch of Star Wars ties. Some are even suitable for wearing to church! My favorite is either the lightsaber tie (shaped like, well, a lightsaber) or a Yoda tie. It's got a tiny pattern of little Yoda heads

We had a deacon in our ward who had a Darth Maul tie. It was a little unnerving to see a Sith with a sacrament tray!

Have a safe and enjoyable Star Wars Day. And may the force be with you!
 

Winning team

I have this mission memory that's kind of fuzzy. My companion and I were in Yeosu standing outside an electronics shop with TVs in the display case. We stopped to look because Donny Osmond was hosting some kind of beauty pageant or something. It was kind of strange to see someone so familiar on TV half a world away.

The only sporting events we ever saw broadcast were soccer games. Back then, that was a big meh!
 

Hey! It's another caption contest!

You know when you have those thoughts and ideas in the middle of the night and you just know that you'll remember what it was in the morning? That almost happened. I remembered the picture, but I couldn't quite remember the gag. I thought if I drew the picture it would help wake up those brain cells. Nope. No neurotransmitters firing that day, let me tell you.

So here's the drawing. What's the caption? Comment below, email or DM me. Whatever it takes. 

The person who submits the best caption will win a valuable prize. We'll announce the winner next week! Enter early and often!

Thanks!
 

Sketchbook: Ahead of her time

I have an acquaintance who had to be awakened from a deep slumber so he could stand and be sustained for a calling. That was at about eight minutes into the meeting. 

There is something about the pews that just brings it on!