Tuesdays with Muerte

tl;dr — I'm trying to figure out what President Hinckley meant when he said, "our safety lies in repentance." I think he is referring to safety from fear, from physical danger, from the burden of sin, and from the power of the destroyer through covenants. What do you think he means? Scripture Study Question of the Day: Why Does 'Safety Lie in Repentance'? In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, LDS President, Gordon B. Hinckley, gave a prophetic General Conference address entitled, The Times in Which We Live , in which he taught, "Great are the promises concerning this land of America. We are told unequivocally that it 'is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ' ( Ether 2:12 ). This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments of God." That's an uplifting prom...

Bill Cosby playing "Horsey" with Peter was one of my favorite moments of The Cosby Show.  The Knight can cover every space of the board consecutively without repeating a space. RIP Han Solo Husky knows you're making lunch w/o her. Tag your family member #Emmet Love this photography technique. Every graphic designer knows this project manager. Skillzzzz. Oh…*nice!* ~Loki Saving this one for April 1.  When I learn my friend's engaged…to a girl he met 17 days ago. I restrained myself from posting this on every political fb post this year … I'm so grateful for people who can engage in civil dialogue. Waiting for Season 4 like… Try out this dance. It's fun. Math. If washrooms had gifs instead of signs. "Live long and prosper." Fantastic Mr. Fox. Finally. "Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side...

What are all my options in Utah?  In Utah this year, we only have 25 eligible presidential candidates for whom we can legally vote: There will be  10 presidential candidates on the ballot . There are an additional  15 eligible names that can be written in . Links to all the 2016 candidates  and their positions on issues (including Evan McMullin ). Who can I write in? Between the #NeverHillary and the #NeverTrump folks, there's a lot of talk about write-in votes this year. Based on past experience, it is likely that most of the people threatening this course of action won't actually do it, and will either line up behind the major party candidate they find less odious, or will choose a third party candidate like conservative independent, Evan McMullin. But for those who really do attempt a write-in, though, what will happen? The answer to that varies by the state in which the voter resides: Seven (7) states do not allow write-ins at all—Arkansas, ...

Close your eyes, think of your mother, and you will likely recall her voice reciting familiar sayings. I am lucky to have a mom that loves her kids and takes her job as Mom very seriously. Here's a short list of some of her sayings that occasionally wander through my mind: "Are you full, Bryan?" My mom obviously favored me when it came to helping size while growing up. I was always running around and never seemed to gain weight. My mom's concern for my weight included perks like being served first more often than not, and also receiving the largest slices of dessert. "You look so good in green, and gold. Avoid white; it makes you look washed out." My mom helped me understand the importance of fashion.  In all likelihood, I'd have opted to wear sweatpants and t-shirts my whole adolescence had it not have been for her direction. "Take your school bag up to your room, please." And "when you see a cabinet open, close it."...

TL;DR — After some deep thinking, I've concluded that sarcasm is a waste of my time.  Read on if you'd like to know why. Cicero, in On the Orator , says that, “The most common kind of joke is that in which we expect one thing and another is said;…” I don't "get" sarcasm.  I've never really caught on to the art of it (to which my loved ones can attest). Even my attempts at light-hearted facetiousness (a form of  sarcasm ) have been met with confusion, resulting in awkward attempts at explanation and apologies.  To make things worse, my natural dryness regularly come off as sarcasm when it's not intending to be.  To avoid future awkwardness, I'd either need to hone my skill, or cut sarcasm out of my communication completely.  To help me decide what to do, I read 10 web articles after searching the most-applicable queries related to sarcasm .  (Note: I grouped the following like terms: satiric , facetious ,  sarcastic , and sardonic , which al...

Preface tl;dr —  I feel confident in my vote because: I know what my vote means to me. I know what I believe. I know the candidates, to the best of my ability. Which of the Two-Party Candidates is Right? Joseph Smith's First Vision  remixed with cc permission During this time of great excitement my mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep and often poignant, still I kept myself aloof from all these parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In process of time my mind became somewhat partial to the Republican  sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them; but so great were the confusion and strife among the major political parties , that it was impossible…to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong…In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinions, I often said to myself: What is to be done? Who of all these parties a...