Which plague was this?

Would Pharaoh have been intimidated? Probably not. Annoyed? Definitely!

Sketchbook: Spiritual GPS

They say that patriarchal blessings can be like a spiritual map. But sometimes it only becomes clear when you look back!
 

Even more true

I thought this was relevant when I first ran it six months ago. It seems even more true today!

As you get ready for General Conference, be sure to download The Ward Cartoonist's General Conference Activity Packet! Always loaded with great stuff to help keep everyone engaged!
 

Setting expectations

Some of my best memories from my mission came from when I suffered the most. Some of my worst memories from my mission also come when I suffered the most!
 

Distractions

I can still remember the best places to eat in my old areas. Although I'm certain that by now most of them are long gone — but their memories live on!
 

Wearin' o' the green!

Sometimes it's easy to go a little overboard with holiday celebrations!

Happy St.Patrick's Day!
 

Sketchbook: For our day

There are a LOT of podcasts about the scriptures and about the Church. Some of them are really good. Others? Well, they run the spectrum. The thing to keep in mind, in my humble opinion, is that podcasts can make a good supplement to scripture study. But nothing beats being in the scriptures yourself.

That's my soapbox for the week!
 

And it's time for a five-minute break!

Some days it does seem a little intense at the MTC. Our teachers were always good about sensing when we needed a break or had to blow off a little steam.

I don't remember doing much in the way of arts and crafts in the MTC. That came later, in the field.
 

Likened unto us? You bet!

Wait until you hear about the families in the Book of Mormon! It's almost like the scriptures were written for dysfunctional families. And if you think that one family in your ward really is perfect, well — guess again!
 

Matching tie and handkerchief

There are a lot of things to learn from the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Fashion is probably the least important of those lessons.
 

Messin' around

One more pottage gag before we move on!

When I was going to school, one of the best pizza places in town was right across the street from office where I worked for my campus job. I ate there nearly every day. Later on, I lived right next door to it. I'll tell you what — I'd take a pepperoni and pineapple over a bowl of beans any day!
 

Sketchbook: All natural

I think I've seen the "natural stupidity" joke elsewhere, but it feels like it fits well in a missionary setting. If you knew some of my companions, you might agree!
 

A wellspring

In the Bible, a lot of good things happen when people visit wells. It's a consistent theme in both the Old and the New Testaments. 

Interestingly, to me anyway, this is the second cartoon I've made about the courtship of Isaac. They both include drinking fountains at school.
 

Big blessings

I've been in some Primaries that felt that big!
 

The teaching pool

Our local missionaries are doing a great job. They have some excellent people they're working with!
 

A covert from the storm

Does the amount of time I spend on gospel study affect the weather at all? Probably not. Although it might help calm some of the internal storms.
 

Sketchbook: Hidden treasures

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things to do was to snoop through the junk drawer at my Grandma's house. There was always some sort of undiscovered treasure there!
 

Stay connected

You've gotta keep near those hot spots!
 

As far as the eye can see

With posterity as numerous as the sands of the sea, it must have been difficult for Sarah and Abraham  to get a babysitter.
 

A few good men

I love how Abraham tried to negotiate with God to find enough righteous people to avoid Sodom being destroyed. He haggled from 50 down to 10 until God just walked away. And even at that low number they still couldn't find enough good people to save the city!
 

Hi, Abraham. I'm dad!

I mean, this guy named his kid after laughter! Fun fact: The first time that laughter is mentioned in the Bible is when Abraham laughs at the news that he is going to be a dad (see Gen. 17:17).*

There are those who say that this gift of originating dad jokes is how all the world shall be blessed by Abraham's seed!
 

*His wife Sarah is the second person in the Bible who laughs (Gen. 18). Although she just chuckled internally, while Abraham fell on his face with laughter!

Sketchbook: Aftershock

Or maybe it was the Primary President's kids. Either way, it can be a lot for a babysitter to take in!
 

Snowplow

Surprise!
 

Cold, shiver and bronze

Our ward has a lot of hills. Sometimes our elders walk, sometimes they ride bikes. Oftentimes they ask for rides. But they love it on those rare occasions that they get to use a car! 
 

Up, up in the sky!

As I read my scriptures for Come, Follow Me the other day, I noticed something. Pres. Monson told us to "Look up." Pres. Nelson told us to "Think celestial." And God told Abraham to "Look now toward heaven."

I have a feeling there may be a not-so-hidden message in there somewhere!

 

All wet

One of the hazards of living in the Pacific Northwest.
 

Presidents Day special

Because it's Presidents Day in the US, I thought I'd take a look back at a few of my favorite mission president cartoons.

 

I'm ready whenever you are!

There's the oft-asked question: "Where are all my Valentines?"
 

Self-sorting

I learned this week that Noah's Ark could be compared to a temple: It's protected with a covering, it had three stories (similar to how they did the endowment in the early days), and Noah took his family inside to save them.

I started to feel a twinge of guilt about my Noah cartoons. But then I got over it. I think he'd get a kick out of some of them.
 

Feeling carpe

Do you ever get stumped when someone asks how your day went?
 

They check in...

Noah was a brave man among the prophets. Not only did he have to take care of the cute and fuzzy animals, he had to keep an eye out for the creepy bugs and reptiles as well.
 

Sketchbook: Good pitching

There's so much symbolism to uncover in the story of Noah's Ark! Not the least of which is that good pitching wins games.
 

The big one?

It's easy to lose touch of the outside world when you're serving a mission. 
 

I hope I'll be ready to reach and teach

It's true. You can't get in a door if you can't get it open.
 

For your benefit and learning

I'm sure everyone has a subject that just doesn't make as much sense to them as they would like. I liked algebra because we got to make pictures. Well, line drawings and Battleship and Utah addresses. And I loved geometry because we went from lines to shapes. But beyond that, I don't think even a Urim and Thummim could have helped me! 
 

Wibbly-wobbly

Time takes on a different meaning during a crisis or an emergency situation. Ten minutes in the dentist's chair, for example, is a lot longer than ten minutes in the ice cream parlor!

Maybe that explains why my one-transfer stay in Chinju seemed sooooo long!
 

Sketchbook: More or less

This quote from Elder Kearon's fireside stood out for me. Hope scrolling beats doomscrolling any day!
 

City boy

Apparently they just fly off the shelves. 
 

Size matters

 

We're coming for you

Sometimes finding feels like a game of hide and seek, missionaries vs. the area.
 

Car Wars: To boldly go

It's hyperspace if you're in the Star Wars universe, warp speed if you're in the Star Trek universe. Either way, is there anyone who has driven in a snow storm who hasn't thought this?

And, by the way, Tiwi (the device that monitors missionaries' driving) doesn't care which one it is, as long as you're not driving aggressively. To paraphrase Han Solo's words, "Drive casual." 
 

Sketchbook: A rough road

One of the more difficult things cartoonists experience is the challenge of trying to come up with something that's funny, witty, clever or even thought-provoking no matter what is going on in your personal life. If you're sick, on vacation, or reading the headline news, there's always that obligation you have to your readers to bring a little more light or a little more joy to their day.

There's a strip from Zarahemla Times that comes to my mind. It doesn't say everything I'd like to say, but it's a start.

Let's be kind to our sibs, okay?

Watch your step

Doing service was consistently one of the most fun and rewarding activities as a missionary. Whether it was helping someone move or building a new chapel, it was good to be out helping others.
 

That's chill

More inspiration from the Psalms. These verses do a great job of describing the cold!
 

That's pretty slick

Sometimes when you read the scriptures, a verse just pops out at you and gives you guidance or inspiration. Like this one did for me.
 

A long time ago

We've had a couple from our ward who have been out in the mission field for what feels like ten years now.