I really hate to bring this up, because experience has shown that I invariably offend people with this topic. I will disclaim right up front that nothing I say here is intended to be a criticism of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its leaders, general or local. Some of you will think that is exactly what I intended. (more…)

I was recently interviewed by BYU’s Daily Universe article about Jonathan Langford’s No Going Back and my role in his research. Following are the responses I gave to the reporter by email. I just thought you might be interested in what I had to say. The article is “New novel explores personal struggle.” (more…)

I have often contemplated how my favorite chapter of Isaiah was never quoted or referred to in the Book of Mormon. It speaks of the last days and, according to the notes in the LDS edition, of the Restoration of the gospel. The famous quote we always use about the Salt Lake valley comes from the first verse, saying that “the desert…shall blossom as the rose.” I am speaking of the thirty-fifth chapter. There is so much about it that speaks to me that I named this web site after it. (more…)

Last Sunday, I gave a talk in Sacrament meeting. I tend not to speak from notes. when I have a talk written out, I tend to bow my head to read from the page rather than speaking to the congregation. That leads to droning rather than speaking and I feel my message gets lost. So, my method for preparing is to firt think through an outline, to think of scriptures that fit the outline, and to practice in my head the outline before I get to church. If I know the outline, I can easily fill in the rest.

My assignment was to speak on President Thomas S. Monson’s October 2007 address to the General Relief Society meeting entitled, “Three Goals to Guide You.” Following, as best as I can recall, is the talk I delivered. I will probably be writing things in that I intended to say as well as things I did say, and may be leaving out some things I did say. It may even be out of order. As I said, I’m doing it from memory. (more…)

I was sexually and physically abused as a child. It is something that has always been difficult to bear. It happened over a period of several years and only ended when the abuser moved away from the area where I lived. (more…)

On the back cover of Jonathan Langford’s novel, No Going Back, there is my name as an endorser. Despite the embarassing mixed metaphor I used, I have no regrets endorsing this book. I have read in places about fears that this book will damage the youth of the Church. If tha were true, I would be complicit. Thankfully, it is not true.

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Since my days in Seminary a very long time ago, I’ve been able to quote this scripture:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).

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I first saw heard the old song, “Don’t Fence Me In”, on The Muppet Show with the immortal Bob Hope. It’s a great song, a great video, and possibly even a great message. (more…)

On Friday, I went on a day trip with some good friends. We visited a site near Mount St. Helens called the Ape Caves. Back in my Scouting days, I took a lot of Scouts there. It is one of my favorite destinations. (more…)

Believe me, I really do understand how difficult it can be to be gay, Mormon, and married to a woman. In fact, I think men like me who stick it out are possibly even in a better position to speak to the difficulty. You can’t know how hard it can be to get to the finish line if you leave the race early. (more…)