Mormon Bloggers

Last week I blogged about apostolic counsel regarding beards. I must say, there were lots of hits to that post – it rose to one of my top ten posts in two days, and over the weekend it hit the top five. This one might not be so interesting. But I thought I’d note some other apostolic counsel that might have gone unnoticed. Elder Scott spoke about temple worship in 2009. His talk is here. In his talk, Elder Scott lists ten things we can do to improve our temple worship. Number six on his list: Remove your watch when you enter a house of the Lord. Now, I attend the temple pretty regularly. And lots of people I see haven’t removed their watches. I’ve not heard anyone repeat Elder Scott’s counsel in any meetings. But I try to remember to take off my watch when I’m in the temple. Why? Because that bit of counsel is really helpful to me. It helps to center me on the moment that I am in the temple. I’m less tempted to think into the future to the next three things... Read the rest of this entry »

I really enjoyed reading a blog at my blogging-friend Middle-Aged Mormon Man’s site the other day. The link is here. (Go ahead. It’s a quick read.) MMM deals with two subjects: dress and grooming. And he got me thinking because he explained at least one of the reasons why he does not have a beard. He posted this quotation from a talk by Elder Russell M. Nelson: To bear the priesthood means you have a personal responsibility to magnify your calling. Let each opportunity to serve help to develop your power in the priesthood. In your personal grooming, follow the example of the living prophets. Doing so gives silent expression that you truly comprehend the importance of “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.” Russell M. Nelson, October Conference, 2003. He listed some other reasons, but they don’t matter to me at all. I have from time to time reflected on why I have a beard. I’ve worn a beard off and on (several years on, several years off) since... Read the rest of this entry »

My wife reminds me from time to time that my job is not always to fix things. Sometimes it’s to listen. I thought of that reminder when I read “We come over, and sit” by Aaron R. at Mormon Matters yesterday. Sometimes when we visit our bishop, we do so seeking counsel, seeking The Answer to our question, and sometimes the bishop can deliver. After all, he has certain gifts and authority by virtue of his calling. Often a wise bishop will, however, just listen. It took some effort on my part to learn to listen when I was a bishop. Not that I could not listen when someone spoke. I even did well at reflective listening, that is repeating back what someone had said to me to confirm my understanding. But I was, initially at least, subject to my own distaste for silence. I felt a need to fill the gaps in a conversation, and sometimes I’d fill them with my own voice. My first time as bishop I served in South America, speaking Spanish (not my native language, and not... Read the rest of this entry »