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?

Liberty

 I know I’ve run this before, but it bears repeating. 

For good measure

Every time I read those chapters in Alma, I have flashbacks of elementary school math class!
 

Found 'em!

It's been a LONG time since I've done anything with Zarahemla Times. But as I've been pondering this first week's contents of our Come, Follow Me study, I keep thinking back to some of my old cartoons.

In 1 Nephi 5:22, it says that it's "...wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them (the scriptures) with us as we journeyed in the wilderness..." I don't know how it is in your family, but not too many years ago we were like these guys. Searching the scriptures meant trying to find them. Now we're able to carry a whole church library on our phones in our pockets. We carry them with us. 

It seems significant to me that as Nephi is writing to our day that he would include that emphasis. Maybe it is important for us to carry them with us. Always.
 

Gettin' schooled

I always liked this one from Zarahemla Times that refers to learning about Isaiah. Anybody else up for taking this class?
 

And now, a gardening tip

Yep, you've got to keep that garden clean!

On a side note, this is the first new Zarahemla Times that I've drawn in a long time!

Gone to seed

We were just reading in Alma as a family, and for some reason this old Zarahemla Times cartoon came to mind. 

A little heavy reading

Light the World: Share a scripture

I'm reminded of an experience I had as a missionary with an investigator, Choi Yeong-nan. She was discouraged, sad, and felt empty and alone. We prayed to know what we could do to bring her comfort and peace. As we prayed, a scripture reference came to my mind. It was crystal clear. It was also one that I wasn't familiar with. I marked it in my Korean scriptures and we went to our appointment.

As we spoke with her, I shared the verse with her, handing her my book to read. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke the words, and she said, "This is exactly what I needed to hear."

When we got home, I opened up my English scriptures to the same verse. The verse spoke of how the Lord knows us as individuals, therefore "let not your heart be troubled." It was a powerful testimony to her; it was a powerful testimony to me.

Share a scripture today with someone that you love. It can make a world of difference! 

The Countdown: The others

These were a little more difficult to determine this year, as both Zarahemla Times and Good Heavens were on hiatus for a good portion of the year. I'm working on a compilation of Kerry Jo's mission blog, and I found a few story holes that needed to be filled.

With that in mind, here are the tops from those three comics!

Sis. Kerry Jo's Mission Blog:
One thing I really like about Sis. Kerry Jo is that she doesn't seem to have too many filters. She says what many of us are thinking — for example, the recovering from conference strip below. Look for more from her this coming year!

Good Heavens:
Good Heavens is where I get to inject a little political and social commentary, and occasionally refer to the news of the day. It got to be just a little too much to keep up with this year, so the strip is taking a bit of a time out. We'll see what happens in 2019.

Zarahemla Times:
Like Good Heavens, Zarahemla Times has been on a bit of a break for the past several months. I plan on coming back to it next year, although it may only be monthly at first.

Here are a couple of favorites from 2018. The scripture marking one was featured in the New Era!

How does your garden grow?

Jacob has lots of good ideas about gardening!

The squash is the thing

Just in case you were wondering how I feel about squash...

Scripture highlights

It must have been a real challenge to highlight your scriptures back in Nephite time. And I can just imagine trying to play scripture chase in seminary!

It's all in the timing!

We went back and forth for years — early morning, late night — until we settled into a pattern that works for us.

What works for you?

Are the stars out tonight

I thought this might be appropriate with the Super Blue Blood Eclipse Moon (did I miss anything?)!

2017 Countdown: The Others

As you may know, I have three other cartoon blogs that I run, although they've been a little less active this year due to a variety of reasons. I'm hopeful that will pick up in the coming year.

Sis. Kerry Jo's Mission Blog
Sis. Kerry Jo has been home for a while now, but she's been catching up on stories that she couldn't, or didn't have time to tell. Here are three of the more popular strips from Kerry Jo:

...and ripped from the headlines:

Zarahemla Times

Many of Zarahemla Times' storylines from this year also reflected today's headlines. 

Good Heavens

I like Good Heavens because it marches to its own drummer; I can do things in it that I can't do in my other strips. 

And this one was actually one of the top cartoons overall. It ran in the summer after the hurricanes and other disasters, followed by the news that Tom Petty had died. It was a lot for us to collectively handle!

Forgive men their trespasses

Forgiveness is something that many of us struggle with. It's difficult to let go of anger, pain and sorrow caused by someone else. Yet we seek forgiveness all the time.

Healing comes when we forgive, and when we are forgiven. Bring peace to your life. Forgive someone their trespasses, and forgive yourself.

An amazing day

Normally today's posting would be something from the sketchbook. But today is a special day -- the birthday of the person described in the third panel.

Tomorrow we return to our regular programming. Thank you.

Thanks in all things

The number may vary by family, but the thought is the same.

Sept. 11