My Life

I am very grateful to parents who nurtured me well as a child--parents who let me have my own interests and follow them, parents who fed my curiosities and encouraged me along those paths that I chose.  My mother is probably the most supportive mother in the entire world.  She taught me how to crochet, even when my brother kept saying that was gay.  She supported me when I decided that I didn't want to walk at my high school graduation, when I told my school counselor that she shouldn't tell me I want to major in engineering instead of math, and many many other times in my life.  I have never felt any pressure from my parents to be anything other than who I am. I am truly grateful for parents that have done this for me.  For parents who raised me the way I am and not the way they wanted me to be.  So often I have seen parents that break their children.  So often I have seen parents dictate to their children what they should or shouldn't be.  So ...

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.  Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. - Matthew 6:2 (also 3 Nephi 13:2 ) The LDS church is very vocal about its charity around the world--helping out those in need, cleaning up after disasters, etc.  To be sure, these are commendable acts, and I am glad that the church does these things.  But it brags about it all the time.  Wherever they have these disasters, they have everyone helping wear the bright yellow Mormon Helping Hands T-shirt, so that everyone will know how wonderful Mormons are.  And they make sure to get lots of media coverage to let everyone know anytime they donate food or aid of any sort.  They have their reward. But, now let us examine just how helpful the church really is.  It certainly puts on a good front of being helpful and caring about people.  ...

I think there was a show on television a while back called something like "America's dumbest criminals". I believe I saw an episode or two and was amazed at the stupid things that people do.  So, I just wanted to take some time to share my own personal experiences with the matter. I'm growing quite nicely into the stereotype of absent-minded professor.  Twice this year I have lost my wallet.  The first time, I left it on the top of my car at a gas station and drove off.  I figured someone would turn it in to the gas station manager so I could come back and pick it up.  Well, I was wrong.  They took my wallet and started making charges on my cards.  The second time happened just a couple days ago.  I was missing my wallet when I went in to school yesterday, but I thought perhaps it was just in some crevice of my couch or something like that, so I figured I'd look for it later. The irony that I wanted to point out brings us back to the point of ...

I find it interesting when people cite the fact that science keeps changing as a reason to disbelieve it and to believe instead in the "eternal" doctrines taught by some church or other.  Let's examine why science keeps changing.  Here's the scientific method. Develop a hypothesis (this means "have a belief"). Design an experiment to test the hypothesis. Conduct the experiment. Determine whether the hypothesis is believable based on the results of the experiment. This is why science keeps changing--because people notice flaws in it and correct them.  People once thought the solar system was geocentric, but now know that it's heliocentric.  How did this happen?  By using the scientific method.  Scientists are willing to admit that they're wrong.  They're willing to give up a bad idea when they see evidence that it makes no sense.  Contrast this with the religious method (simplified version). Have a belief. Look for evidence to support...

I do feel that in almost every way, leaving the church has been a benefit to me.  There are the obvious drawbacks--I lose a great deal of my Mormon friends and all of the fun mormon activities that I used to participate in, there is a possibility of wedges forming between me and my mormon family, etc.  But, I think for the most part, it has been good for me and I want to take this opportunity to describe those benefits. When I was a Mormon, I was very judgmental.  As much as I heard lessons in Sunday school about not judging people, as much as I told myself that I shouldn't judge and wasn't a judgmental person, I really truly was.  I didn't even realize just how judgmental I was while I was mormon.  The realization didn't come until after I left the church and looked back (I've heard that hindsight is always 20/20).  I would see someone with a tattoo (my trainer on my mission had a tattoo on each arm) and I would think they were dirty for having defiled t...

As I was fixing myself a bowl of ramen today, I thought of how Karen always had an aversion to ramen--unless I made it.  (The funniest things can trigger the most obscure memories, can't they.)  When we were first married, I remember talking about how much I loved ramen and that I could eat it all the time (and it's so cheap too), and she said that she thought it was gross and preferred her own cooking.  (I prefer home cooking too, but ramen is so convenient and cheap.)  Anyway, one time I made some ramen for myself and Karen wanted to take a bite, so she did--and ended up finishing the bowl for me.  Then a few days later, she made a bowl for herself, took one bite, and didn't want the rest (she's anything but a picky eater, so it was a complete shock that she didn't finish it).  When asked about the difference, she said that she liked the way I made ramen better. I would notice that over the three years we were married, it seemed as though the food on my...

I don't watch TV, so sometimes I'm a bit behind on my current events.  I just heard about Jerry Sandusky, formerly assistant coach at Penn State.  As I understand it, the man was found guilty of sexually abusing 8 boys over a period of 15 years.  Apparently, since it has been discovered that the head coach (Joe Paterno) knew about this but did not report anything to the authorities, he has also been fired.  I find this whole story to be rather tragic. Should the head coach have been fired?  I really don't know.  But, what I do know is that knowing about someone who abuses someone else and not doing anything about it is a dishonorable thing to do.  Sexual abuse is a serious thing, and I think that all too often we take it lightly in our society.  If he had it in his power to stop Sandusky from ruining more boys' lives, he should have done it.  Not snitching on your friend when you find out they smoke pot and not reporting someone who you kno...