Learning about Mormons easier

Wednesday, February 25 2009  | 1 comments  | tags: , , ,

I got an email from Laurel today pointing me to a site that I think she’s involved with.  I had a moment to check it out and thought it was cool.  I can’t help think it is inspired by the Common Craft “Plain English” series of videos which are oft used to explain things in the technical community.  I think this is a great way to simplify some of the frequently asked questions about the Church, the people and things of practice (meetings, youth involvement, etc.).  Here’s an example of a 3 minute explanation of what to expect at a typical Mormon Sunday service: Great idea guys...

ABC Talks Temples with Elder Ballard and Cook

Monday, January 19 2009  | 0 comments  | tags: , , ,

I just came across this video where ABC news did an interview with Elder Ballard and Elder Cook and talked about Temples, misunderstandings of belief, etc. It was an interesting piece, but even interesting is that despite the interview they (ABC) did, where the Apostles mentioned that the FLDS groups are not a part of our belief, the news agency still included the Texas compound situation in the same sentences.  I suppose titilating headlines/intros still prevail over truth. As a convert though it is great to see more open discussions about the faith.  We should not hide from our beliefs...

A humble reminder

Saturday, January 10 2009  | 0 comments  | tags:

A month ago I wrote about three words that simply made my day .  Today, after 2 pretty long days with my kids while the wife was out with friends, I had lost a lot of patience.  My daughter fell asleep in our bedroom as she does sometimes, and I was preparing to bring her into her room.  I usually go into her room first and get it all ready so that I can quietly just pick her up from ours and put her in her bed. Tonight as I did this routine, I pulled the sheets back and discovered something poking out beneath her pillow.  This is what I pulled out: This was unsolicited. ...

‘I love you dad’

Tuesday, December 09 2008  | 1 comments  | tags: , , ,

Last Saturday, despite being the day of our annual holiday Festivus party, it started as a pretty rough day.  People disagreeing, arguments ensue, etc.  Hey, these things happen.  Hopefully we all have it within us to try to temper our emotions (some of us better than others—and I’m NOT speaking of myself).  That Saturday wasn’t one of those moments.  Before our party, my kids were going to be picked up to stay at Grandma’s for the night so that we could party ‘til the wee hours of the morning (yeah right). As my stress level was at the highest and my emotions boiling over...

Bishop: Transformation of a Man

Tuesday, October 14 2008  | 0 comments  | tags: , ,

I recently (tonight) had the opportunity to talk with our (rather) new Bishop of our Ward.  A while back we had a 5-way split, creating 2 new Stakes and various new Wards.  As a result a lot of Bishoprics were dissolved and new ones created.  Ours was one such Ward.  There was a lot of speculation and typical gossip on who would be the next Bishop.  Bets were placed (not really) and hallway snickering occurred.  The day came.  Our Bishopric was called and they were all people my age!  Whoa.  Humbling.  Our Bishop had been in the previous Bishopric...

LDS and Technology

Monday, October 06 2008  | 6 comments  | tags: ,

In about 2001 I was called to be the Ward “website specialist” – I assume from my geeky nature it was a good calling to have.  It actually got me pretty inspired to provide some real value online for the local members.  Although my ideas of 8% online tithing and Relief Society gossip columns didn’t pan out, it was fun to put together a web site for the ward for calendar items and a leadership directory.  Within months, however, I was asked to take it down (as were others across the country) by request of the office of the First Presidency.  The letter (in my recollection) stated...

Why are we so fat with the Word of Wisdom?

Monday, September 01 2008  | 6 comments  | tags: , , ,

I begin writing this after a healthy sampling of a McDonald’s chicken sandwich slurped down with some Hi-C orange drink.  I’m fat.  I’m actually the heaviest (and perhaps unhealthiest) I’ve ever been.  In college I ate Taco Bell 3 square meals a day.  Seriously, I did…I mean c’mon 49 cent tacos?  Hello…that’s better than Ramen.  But I also worked out at least 3 times a week with weights and rode a bike everywhere out of necessity.  So the byproduct of my crap eating never showed.  I was always around 165lbs and felt great.  Now I’m…well, let’s just say...

Middle names and Brother/Sister

Thursday, August 21 2008  | 1 comments  | tags: , ,

I have to be honest, I don’t like being called “Brother Heuer.” Why? Because that’s not who I am as an identity. I’m Tim. (For the record I don’t like being called Mr. Heuer either.) I know that generations grew up differently and have a whole ‘respect your elders’ mantra to them, but it just seems as a society we’ve progressed beyond that. People call my children by their first name, so why shouldn’t my children call them by their first name? Anyhow, on to the brother/sister thing. I know other religions practice this similarly as well...

Church in Politics and Fighting for Family

Thursday, August 14 2008  | 1 comments  | tags: , , , ,

Since becoming a member one of the things I get confused about from time to time is the authoritative direction given by the First Presidency. I have often felt that there has been times where they don’t want to get their fingers dirty, and then there are issues where they get deeply involved in controversy and politics. I remember one such moment in my research in becoming a member around the salamander letters (later admitted by Hinckley I believe as a moment of the Church’s history they could have done better in public politics/opinion). I’ve been a member now through almost...

Is 8am Sacrament meeting really inspired?

Monday, August 11 2008  | 1 comments  | tags: , , ,

For the past 4 years, my neighbors and I have enjoyed a 2.5 hour block.  That’s right suckers…2.5 hours.  Why?  Did you ever see Gremlins where the little Gizmo dude got water on him and a zillion fur balls grew?  Something like that.  The area where I live has grown in the past 10 years from 1 branch to 5 stakes , all within the same basic defined boundaries as the original branch.  Crazy huh.  Crazier is that it’s a real active area.  Because of this growth each building (we were in short supply) was cramming 4-6 wards in it each Sunday.  To accommodate...