There’s been a lot of discussion lately in the Bloggernacle about feeling out of place at church, feeling you don’t measure up to the “ideal.” Some have suggested the church should stop emphasizing the ideal in its teachings as strongly as it has. I’ve struggled with this feeling all my life.

I love the gospel, and I love going to church. But what if, like me, you don’t have children yet? (more…)

DVD Review: The Legend of Johnny Lingo

It’s been two years since The Legend of Johnny Lingo came to theaters, and I never managed to see it until recently. It wasn’t that I was avoiding it; I actually liked the original 1969 movie a great deal and wondered how this movie would tie in. (more…)

I’ll start by admitting I’m extremely uncomfortable with conflict. I will go to great lengths to avoid it, and usually I will work hard to get any feuding parties known to me to make up with each other. I enjoy blogging and reading blogs because it’s relaxing and helps me feel like I’m part of a great community of Saints. But lately in the Bloggernacle, I’ve been so overwhelmed by just how nasty things have become that I can’t even bring myself to comment. (more…)

At baptism, we covenant to bear each other’s burdens, and in the temple we pledge to give our all to help build the kingdom of God. If we follow Christ’s example, there is never too much we can give or do for someone else. Believing all this, is there a way to set healthy limits on service? (more…)

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about weddings. I finished the wedding cake I made for a younger friend (and I feel much better about it now, thank you for the supportive words!). As I was making it I remembered the cake I made for my own wedding several years ago. It was ugly. (more…)

I’ll be living with my mother again for the first time since high school. No, I’m not leaving my husband to move back in with my mom. This time, she’ll be living under my roof. (more…)

At what point, if ever, do you admit to friends, families and aquaintances that you blog? (more…)

You asked, so I’ll answer!

“Dear Mari:

Have you heard about that billboard that some guys put up in Utah advertising dates with Lance Archibald? (here’s the link: http://www.datelance.com/) Well my friends and I were laughing about it, but every time I drive up to SLC, I think about it. Do you think it’s the height of tackiness to submit an application to that website? Do you think a relationship could ever work out that starts this way?

Sincerely,

I Don’t Want People To Think I’m A Freak” (more…)

I was visit teaching an older lady in our ward the other day and she asked me how I was getting on since my mother moved in with us. I told her everything was fine, and she looked sharply at me and said, “Trouble shared is trouble halved.” (more…)

I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but I’ve found the recent posts about fashion at Times and Seasons by Carrie Lundell to be the most useful, thought-provoking things I’ve read online in a long time. (more…)

Our church emphasizes physicality much more than most Christian religions. We believe, for instance, that our Heavenly Father has a body. We are taught that we came to earth to gain a body so that we can learn and become like Him. We believe that our bodies, like our spirits, are sacred, and that things we do with and to our bodies will likewise affect our spiritual growth. Believing this, is there a position we must take as faithful church members with regards to cosmetic surgery? (more…)

At Millennial Star, a discussion has started in the comments to the General Conference prediction post about whether or not eating disorders are sins. Some good points are being made, but I worry about putting all compulsions on equal ground. (more…)

Thanks to everyone who had advice for me when my mother moved in with us. So far, things have gone surprisingly well, with a few exceptions. It really helped that we took the time to discuss our expectations and lay a few ground rules. But it’s becoming clear to me that I didn’t anticipate some realities of living with a newly single (again!) relative. (more…)

A package arrived at my house Monday just after I got home from work. I was excited when the doorbell rang and I saw the UPS guy, because getting packages in the mail is one of my favorite things. But it wasn’t for me. (more…)

Is there a calling that, if it were extended to you, you would know was not inspired? (more…)

Like most of us here, I’ve been outed several times over by now, both in a mostly humorous thread at Nine Moons and in a more serious one at Times and Seasons. Let me just say here that when we started this project, there was a timetable we were following, and planned to out ourselves at the end, along with an explanation of what on earth we were trying to accomplish. Since that’s no longer an option, I’ll add my explanation/apology to Steve/Jenn’s now. (more…)

I had a very vivid dream the other night. I don’t know if it was revelation, but it comforted me a great deal. (more…)