2025 Top Ten: 10-6

 Here we go with the official Top Ten of 2025!

10. It's always interesting to get a spiritual distraction while you're trying to teach!

9. If our homes are the ultimate MTC, we need to consider some of our unintentional limitations.

8. Being a force for good!

7. Need a controversial topic for a quorum meeting?

6. Celebrating our heritage. Again.

Have a safe and happy New Year's Eve! Come back tomorrow for the rest of the Top Ten!

2025 Top Ten: The runners-up

As we continue out Top Ten Countdown, here are those that didn't quite make the cut: Our runners-up.

From December, a revisiting of A Christmas Carol.

Next we jump to July as we explore our pioneer heritage.

Halloween and family history, an unbeatable combination.

I've had vehicles that needed this!

Here's one from Thanksgiving.

And one for the missionaries!

Tomorrow: The first part of the Top Ten!

Top Ten: The sketchbook, part 2

The rest of the best of the sketchbook!

5. I actually know someone who had this as a consideration before getting baptized!

4. A favorite scripture for parents of teenagers.

3. Ever have a companion who couldn't stop talking?

2. This is one of my favorites of the year.

1. A lot of work to get to the payoff, but worth it!

Tomorrow: 2025's runners-up!

Pres. Holland: "Hope on"

In memoriam

President Holland has had a major influence on me — and he's the one general authority I know has read my work. He was president of BYU when I was there, and as such he read the Daily Universe when I worked on it. He had to have read some of my stories from when I was a reporter, or some of my editorial cartoons, and possibly my comic strip, 121.

But more than that, he was always a teacher. And he was never one to back down from the truth. He was valiant in his testimony of the Book of Mormon, the Restoration, and of Jesus Christ.

Of so many stories and quotes, here's one that I particularly liked: "...if your faith is a little test in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine. I know this owrk is God's very truth, and I know that only at our peril would we allo doubt or devils to sway us from its path. Hope on. Journey on. Honestly acknowledge your questions and your concerns, but first and forever fan the flame of your faith, because all things are possible to them that believe."

Here are a few cartoons and notes from and inspired by Pres. Holland:

Before General Conference

Pres. Holland was the Chuck Norris of General Authorities

And the famous ice cream story!

A few conference notes

That story of the brothers in Snow Canyon that no one will ever forget

And, oh those missionary stories!

Top Ten: The sketchbook, part 1

2025 has been a crazy year! Luckily we have coping tools to help us get through it all. For me, the sketchbook can be quite therapeutic (you should see some of the stuff you don't get to see!). Enjoy the first half of this year's top ten from the sketchbook!

10. Whom the Lord calls, he qualifies!

9. There's always that one kid.

8. I've had about 52 weeks like this in 2025. You?

7. Literally.

6. Laman and Lemuel could explain the difference!

Come back on Monday for the rest of the best from the sketchbook! 

The countdown begins!

The end of year countdown always begins with a look back at the "other stuff." This year that was primarily our European trip and theDisney cartoons from the book. 

 

Reach for the stars

Happy Christmas, everybody!
 

Do you have any friends who might be interested?

From a young age, I always thought that the missionaries could have done some good work on the Island of Misfit Toys. They could have a branch in conjunction with the North Pole 1st Ward!
 

Sketchbook: Santa wishes

Receive your gifts well this season.
 

Wise guys, eh?

Our mission-wide Christmas conference was one of the best experiences I had on my mission. The location was adjacent to my first area, so my old companion and I were able to make a quick visit and see some old friends. 
 

What I want

Pretty sure this was on Pres. Nelson’s list too.
 

Santa for sub

It’s good to have someone who will listen. 
 

Sing along

Another one of my favorites!
 

Happiness is

Stumbled across this old Good Heavens cartoon and thought it was worth sharing. 
 

Sketchbook: Intensity

 

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but I won’t let that stop me from repeating myself. After I got my call to Korea, I had time to take some language classes at BYU before I went into the MTC. I studied diligently, got an A. 

By day two in the MYC we surpassed everything I had learned in my six week course. 

Those ain’t sugarplums

Nothing says Christmas like scaring the dickens out of your kids!
 

But with joy

We often hear stories about the hardships and trials of the early pioneers. Yet most of the companies made it through without major incidents or setbacks. Almost all of them report about the singing and dancing that went on at the end of the day. Sure, it wasn’t easy. But it wasn’t always miserable either — they just don’t have the exciting stories!

 

The Wish List

As you can imagine, there was an entire continuum of things I thought a Relief Society president would ask Santa for. I'm sure this represents just a tip of the iceberg!