Purple and scarlet and fine twined linen

Somehow I think the Lord's instructions would be a lot easier to follow than some of those DIY kits to make stuff.
 

Palate cleansers

We had the missionaries over for dinner the other night — Elder Randolph from Utah and Elder Childs from Nevada — and we asked them what their favorite dishes were for dinner. We got some interesting answers. One of them said "chicken soup," which I never would have guessed.

It reminded me of some of the chicken soup I was served as a missionary (claws and all). There was another soup that was a missionary favorite, miyeok-guk I think it was called. We just called it "creatures of the deep." It frightened me.

There was more than one dinner appointment that I dreamed of having instead a Brick Oven pizza or a Big H burger. Imagine my excitement to learn that in my new area they had both a "MacDonald" and a "Kenturkey Flied Chicken"! MacDonald wasn't bad — good burgers and a mascot that looked like the Oregon Duck. After looking in the windows of the "KFC" we decided it was safer not to go in.

Nowadays I find myself with a longing for good, authentic Korean food. Weird how that works!

 

Fridge worthy

We've been having fun with our Primary class and the stories of Moses. We made a book of the plagues, we made Play-doh fishes when they crossed the Red Sea, and we drew pictures of the Ten Commandments.* I don't know how much the kids learned, but they made art!

Incidentally, this is exactly how I feel whenever I finish a cartoon. It may not be funny, but it's art! I have no less authority than Calvin and Hobbes on this one.

*We did taste-testing for manna, but it was way less artistic than the other lessons. Variety, right?

 

They're keepers

Yes, I know that moms serve in other places — I would never dare disrespect the Young Womens program! — and I know there are women who are not mothers who are in Relief Society. I'm taking literary (or is it ecclesiastical?) license for the sake of a joke.

Thank you.
 

Sketchbook: Monday, Monday

Mondays were our P-day. We were excited to see them come, but by the end of the day we were often worn out. These missionaries are probably at the end of a P-day Monday rather than at the beginning!
 

Two factor authentication

Hahaha.

Again, I hope Moses is forgiving!
 

We're going to the promised land!

I think many of us can relate to how Moses felt as he led the children of Israel.
 

Hot off the electronic press!

I know this is something you've been clamoring for: the Kindle edition of our Disney book, The Pickletons go to Disney. It's now available on Amazon! 

Written by fellow cartoonist Ryan Stoker and illustrated by me (although I did write two of the cartoons!), the book is described thus: 

"It doesn't matter if you've been once or a hundred times. Disney parks are the most amazing, magical places to visit with your family! They can also be the most frustrating, expensive and comical experiences of your life as well!"

For your reading pleasure, you now have the choice of hard copy, electronic — or both! Get your copy today. It's almost as good as being there!

What's in a name?

According to Pres. Nelson, peculiar comes from the translation of the Hebrew word segullah. That means it could be translated as "valued property" or "treasure."

It's also possible that peculiar child could also be translated as "weird kid."
 

I'm trying to liken!

It's like that old saying, "There's a Mothers Day and and Fathers Day, why isn't there a Children's Day?"

The answer? "Every day is Children's Day!"
 

Sketchbook: Some assembly required

I can imagine Aaron standing by, watching the people making an idol. But two things irritated him. One, that they were making an idol, and two, they were doing it wrong — and that drove him nuts! He stepped in to fix it because they were messing it up. At least that's how I imagine it; I can't imagine Aaron volunteering to make a god after all the experiences he'd had with Moses.
 

But we have our permission slips!

Long walks almost every day. Hot, dry desert. Limited food and water resources. I've chaperoned field trips where the kids griped if they had to be on the bus for a whole hour! I can't imagine what it was like for Moses!

I struggled with how to describe the trip: worst? best? longest? most boring? I think I made the right choice in the end. Forty years is a long field trip!
 

Another milestone

Wow. I just reached the 6,000th post on this site! A few of them have even been funny!

Thank you for coming along on this ride. I hope there are many more to come!

*I have a tradition of running my first published cartoon when I reach significant milestones. Enjoy!

 

Some days are like that

I've seen kids fall asleep in nursery, and I've seen tired teachers, but I've never seen a kid leave sharing time who wasn't full of energy!
 

It's a mystery

My guess is they got a deal on the day-old stuff.

I love that the literal definition of manna derives from man hu, which means, "What is it?" Seems like the perfect food for the school cafeteria, the precursor of mystery meat.
 

Sketchbook: That stinks

Scatalogical humor has no place on this website, thank you very much.

Maybe he should have been sitting on a stool in the corner a la Dennis the Menace. But I liked the idea of bubbles in the tub.

And this is as far as this sketchbook is ever going.
 

Those Red Sea moments

My version is trying to make it across the bridge to home during rush hour. Some days it feels impossible!
 

Was that to go?

Hahaha.

I've said it before, and I'll likely say it again: I hope those old prophets have a sense of humor!

 

One more verse

 

Morning has broken

We've all had — or been — that companion.
 

Sketchbook: In the court of Pharaoh

Although this does correspond with this week's Come, Follow Me, it's easy to understand why this stayed in the sketchbook.
 

General Conference: Sunday Afternoon Session

 

General Conference: Sunday Morning Session

 

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!

 

General Conference: Saturday Afternoon sketch notes

 

General Conference: Saturday Morning sketch notes

 

Holy Saturday

"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."

 

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." 

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."

 

Teaching 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."

 

Teaching Tuesday

"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."

 

Cleansing Monday

"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."

 

Palm Sunday

"And a great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the 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."
 

Close, and yet...not

It's easy to understand how some practices came into being. It's almost like the real thing! Kind of like the copycat recipes for J.Dawgs sauce.
 

Which team?

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!