Important distinction

Many of my cartoons are drawn from real-life experiences.

Don't ask.

 

Sketchbook: We welcome you today!

We had a linger longer "saladpalooza" and someone brought a green Jello salad with shredded carrots and pineapple. Was it sincere, or was it ironic?

And since you asked, yes, someone else brought funeral potatoes. Does that count as potato salad?
 

Well done!

According to my ancestors' journals, the crickets ate everything.
 

Pix or it didn't happen (it's the Reel thing)

Have you ever seen a picture of Brigham Young smiling? It's a little unsettling.
 

The timing stinks

Imagine fleeing from Nauvoo and getting stuck in a construction queue or being shunted off to a detour!

Maybe that's why they fled Nauvoo in the dead of winter!
 

When you're looking for an excuse

July isn't just for pioneer-themed gags. It's a time when LDS cartoonists also dust off the Church history cartoons that build up during the off years of Come, Follow Me curriculum. 

This one almost stayed in the sketchbook, but it makes me laugh. 
 

Sketchbook: FTOYWDKM — WWJD

If you haven't visited my friend Arie's webpage (aka the Ward Cartoonist), he's been on a one-man crusade. It bothers him how many people get up to the microphone in church and begin their remarks with, "For those of you who don't know me..." He says it's a tired cliché (as most clichés are). Just start by telling who you are — it doesn't matter whether they knew you before. 

I was messing around in my sketchbook and as I pondered that idea, this gem emerged. I mean, the point is is for us to know Him, right?

Let's be supportive and rid ourselves of this sacrament talk cliché. Thank you for your support.

Editor's note: My personal pet peeve is,"I would like to thank..." Why not just say thanks? But that's a discussion for another day!
 

Family connections

I don't know how it is where you are, but when our stake does a trek experience, they usually try to incorporate some sort of family history activity to go along with it. This would certainly make it more interesting!

 

What songs of the heart

The hardest part of this gag was figuring out which music pioneers to reference. Johann Sebastian Bach? Ella Fitzgerald? Chuck Berry? Mack Wilberg? Sugarhill Gang?

I should mention that we shouldn't get pioneers confused with the Sons of the Pioneers, a western singing group that helped launch the career of Roy Rogers, amongst others. 

Days of '48

Cartoonists often play the "What if...?" game, where you ask yourself what if (this thing) verbed (that thing)? For example, what if it snowed on fast Sunday? What if Brigham Young ordered flowers for Mothers' Day? What if things could get worse? You get the idea.

The other day I asked myself, what if seagulls did their version of a pioneer trek? What would they do? They probably wouldn't be pushing handcarts!

 

I've seen this before!

If it's July and it's after the Fourth, that means it's time to turn our hearts and our cartoons to honor our pioneer ancestry!

I know I've said this many times before, and I'll say it again: I hope a lot of these folks have a sense of humor!
 

Editor's note: The Oregon Trail game showed the hardships of traveling as a pioneer. The game often ended with the player dying of starvation or dysentery. 

Sketchbook: True to the faith

There are some who think that kids on the trek should experience everything. But sometimes it's a little challenging to come up with blizzards and mobs, so they settle for the little things.
 

Fireworks

From the Disney collection, if for no other reason than it has some pretty good fireworks that I made in Illustrator. 

If you're looking for something to add to your summer reading list, click on the link to the right. The book is available in paperback and Kindle!
 

The show

Elijah and the priests of Baal is one of the most awesome stories in the Old Testament. I love his trash talking, and when the time comes for his turn, he totally crushes it!*

For those who may argue that the real original fireworks show was Sodom and Gomorrah, I would point out that there wasn't anyone who actually watched that. Except for Lot's wife. And she wasn't a big fan. In fact, she was kind of salty about it.

*It may also be argued that this was the first example of a fireside. The jury is still out on that one.
 

Small voices

Sometimes Primary is the most spiritual when it's the loudest.