In the fifth grade, at Lakeview Elementary School in Santa Fe Springs, California, I felt like I was outclassed. The school served a large population. Each of the elementary grades had three classes and they were separated by some measurement of ability. I came to Laveview when I was in the fourth grade. I wound up in Mrs. Nickerson’s class, which was for average students. The next fall, I was put in the above average class, taught by Mrs. DuPuis. (more…)

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If you are involved in a support group meeting, especially one based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, you will likely be familiar with the term, “crosstalk”. You’ll find a wide a varied definition of what it is, almost as varied as there are individuals who use the word. (more…)

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I’m unavoidably alone tonight on Monday. It being Family Home Evening, I figure that if I’m going to write, it should be something about family. That’s easy today given the three days I’ve just experienced. (more…)

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Warning: If you are triggered or otherwise bothered by frank discussions about childhood sexual abuse, pass this post by.

Nothing annoys me more than being told I can’t talk. Being talked over or any other form of suppressing my self-expression has the same negative effect on me. I recently cam to understand not only where this comes from but why it is still bothers me so much. (more…)

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Here are a few interesting posts from other Mormon blogs relevant to this site:

• What should I do? My husband is homosexual.
• What should I do? My husband is homosexual – part 2.
• Why is no one addressing the issue of women watching pornography?
• More Data On Anti-Depressant Use In Utah

Feel free to respond to any topics at these other sites or even here. Let me know if you run across anything relevant to anything that Mormons might struggle with.

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I was reading today in the Book of Mormon Nephi says:

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul (2 Nephi 4:28). (more…)

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We all remember the story of the three little pigs, don’t we? They were being stalked by the big, bad wolf and each little pig built himself a house to keep the wolf out. The first one built his house out of straw. The wolf blew it over with a breath. The second one built it out of sticks. It took the wolf a little more effort, but he blew it over too. The third little pig used bricks, and, of course, mortar. The wolf could not blow it down. He and his brothers were safe. (more…)

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I went to the Oregon Zoo on Wednesday and had a good time. The weather was only around 50 degrees fahrenheit, but for Oregon in February, that’s pleasant. There were intermittent showers but mostly sunny in the morning. I even got to see the otter and the sea lions doing tricks for the zoo keepers. Then, I went to watch the polar bears. I don’t often see them in the water, but one was out today. She was doing the backstroke across the viewing window, her head just a few inches from mine through the glass. Her tooth showed through her lips. (more…)

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Many years ago, before my sons served missions, the ward where we lived had a very dedicated corps of Young Men leaders. I was impressed by their sincerity and their desire to prepare young men, including my sons, to serve missions. Their devotion to their callings was making a favorable impact on many young men. (more…)

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An analysis of Psalms 32 regarding the value of confession and how it helps to overcome shame.

When we speak of confession, we tend to think of it in its narrowest sense, which is that of laying out our sins before church authorities or before God. I believe that the principle of confession speaks of a way of life rather than scattered acts of submission to ecclesiastical and divine authority. (more…)

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