The quiet kid

Frankly, this looks a lot like my Primary class!
 

Break on through to the other side

There's something about crossing that threshold that changes everything!
 

Small voices

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

What's in a number?

 

Above average

We have an average Primary class, too. And that's how statistics can get you!
 

Sketchbook: The natives are restless

Some of the kids we sit near in church get a little restless toward the end of the meeting. That's part of the inspiration behind this one. The other part was the deacon's bench back in the day. There was a time when the Aaronic Priesthood holders stayed at their sacrament positions throughout the entire meeting. One day someone figured they could increase reverence exponentially if they sent the deacons back to sit with their families once the sacrament was over. Good call!

 

I hear thy cry

It was so nice to hear kids crying at church last week. It's been a long time!
 

In the foyer

We have five boys. I'm surprised that my house is still standing.
 

It's that icon in the lower left

For me it's kind of the opposite. I have to stop myself from telling people to be reverent during staff meetings!

Sounds of silence

Some folks started the Phase I of returning to church this past Sunday. I imagine there was a lot less whispering than usual!

Teach them correct principles

When I was ward clerk a few years ago, one of my tasks was to count attendance at sacrament meeting. As I went up and down the aisles, I was surprised to see (1) how many people were on their phones, and (2) what they were doing with their phones! Not all of them were on LDS Tools — or even LDS Laughs!

Maybe we should follow the spirit of Pres. Nelson's social media fast and extend that to at least a couple of hours on Sunday. Texting and diving don't mix, as we all know. It doesn't mix with worship either!

One more little rant before we go. I won't say which temple in Utah County it was, but while we were waiting for a session to start someone's phone went off in the chapel. Perhaps we need a "temple mode" as well!

Advanced notice

Wouldn't it be great if kids came with gauges or dashboards to let you know right before they get too tired, hungry, bored or restless?

Reading the signs

There's one in every Primary.

Sketchbook: Lift up your voice and scream

Some hymns were just meant to be sung at the top of your lungs!

Sketchbook: Shh!

It was probably more my parents saying that rather than the chapel doors!

It's a tough job

Remember the days when the deacons stayed on their bench for the entire meeting?

Monday Sketchbook: The forbidden topic

Guaranteed way to get a class to be silent, even the rowdiest deacons quorum: talk about the law of chastity!

Maybe that's why it's a topic missing from much of the dialog of the day -- nobody wants to talk about it!

Subject matter expert

I understand that sometimes speakers are selected because they need to learn something, and other times they are chosen because they are expert on the subject. And sometimes there are people who are asked not to speak at all!

As I was drawing this, I kept thinking that Arie Van de Graaff (aka, the Mormon Cartoonist) had drawn something similar. This gag isn't a blatant ripoff; rather, it's a variation on a theme.

Monday Sketchbook: Out of the mouth

We were traveling a few weeks ago and visited another ward. There was a very enthusiastic little girl sitting a few rows ahead of us. This is one of my favorite things that she said.

There's a very good chance that this will evolve past the sketchbook and make a later appearance as a full cartoon. We'll see!

Softly now we think of thee

I think every Primary has at least one of these kids. We have three. All in the same class.