Mel's Inktober 17 - Cute Black Cats

Wanted something a bit happier and a lot simpler this time. I've always been a pretty big cat person; I'd have dogs and cats if I could.

And I like the smell of pumpkin, though I never acquired a taste for it. It tastes okay but it's one of those foods I won't eat if I don't have to.

My First Layton Temple Trip

Today marked the day I got to go inside the Layton Temple for the very first time...since its dedication, that is. 

Mom wanted to go with me and Christine for our first time, and because I've had so much free time from work (hours have been unfortunately cut) and the temple will soon be closed for a few weeks for cleaning, today was as good a day as any. 

It got me out of the house, I could escape from the world for a couple of hours, I wouldn't have to worry about rushing anywhere else, and I could do a bit of service for someone on the other side of the veil. My patriarchal blessing did mention the importance of returning to the temple often, and now there's one practically next door to me.

It was a marvelous experience. Quiet and simple, nothing fancy, but wonderful. We got there in good time, everything went smoothly, we learned the story of Father Adam and Mother Eve (the full story) all over again, and I've no doubt my dad and other family members were right there with us. It was almost a disappointment to leave, so this just means we'll have to make arrangements for another trip as soon as possible, and then another. Of course, you can't go to the House of the Lord at just any old time, but you should be worthy enough (and willing enough) to be able to go on a whim. 

For those who might worry about not being worthy, let me assure you I've had the same problem for years and I learned there's a fine difference between worthiness and flawlessness. You don't have to be perfect, and for the record, I ask Heavenly Father to help me be "worthy enough" to set foot through those doors on that particular day.

I don't remember where I heard it exactly, but I remember one of the Twelve Apostles (I'm 99% sure it was Elder David A. Bednar) saying something about how we can know if we truly qualify for the Celestial Kingdom. He said if we qualify for the temple, then that means we qualify for the Celestial Kingdom, too. I personally like to think of the temple as a sort of "taste test" of heaven. I don't see how it would be much different, if at all.

I can tell this trip meant a lot to my mom and sister, too. We got sodas from McDonald's afterward, and maybe it was just me, but somehow that soda tasted a little extra good.

Layton Utah Temple Dedication

Today, I attended the dedication of the Layton Utah Temple with my family. We chose the morning session because I have a personal preference for mornings. That, and this summer has been pretty brutal already, so I like to do certain things before the weather gets too hot. I also thought I would have a mandatory meeting at work today, which meant there would be less stress about the time if we went to an earlier session. Even after the meeting was rescheduled for next week (with today being Father’s Day and all) I still told my family I’d rather do the 10:00 session anyway.

I thought we would be joining Christine and Joel at their ward. But instead, we went to our own ward, just across the street from our house. That was okay because it meant we could easily walk there and get there a little sooner. The doors would be locked at 9:30, so the sooner, the better. We were lucky that our ward supplied us with our own clean white handkerchiefs for the Hosanna shout, and of course, we had to make sure our temple recommends were up to date.

Electronic devices had to be shut off so we could sit still and maintain a reverent atmosphere. That was fine with me. I did insist on sitting a little closer in the chapel than we normally sit; I sat virtually in the middle of the chapel, in the center of the bench, so the big screen was straight in front of me.

There were a handful of nice talks and plenty of beautiful music. One of the songs the choir sang was “Beautiful Savior,” a personal favorite that always gives me a few goosebumps.

Among the talks, I remember the importance of genealogy, something that was mentioned a few times in my own patriarchal blessing. We received a beautiful virtual message from President Russell M. Nelson, who emphasized how special and sacred the temple is and has always been, all the way up to Adam and Eve when they built an altar and made sacrifices to the Lord. Through the temple, we can escape the outside world and be spiritually rejuvenated, and only through this place do we have access to all of God’s blessings.

We learned how easy it is for Satan to influence us; all it takes is the smallest crack. The matron of the Layton Temple talked about how her own parents became inactive because they’d postponed a temple trip with some friends, and it was many years before they were reconverted. She herself was the only active member for a time because a young friend invited her to Primary. When she was about to marry, her husband asked if she wanted a civil marriage first so her parents could be there. Luckily, she spotted that tiny crack right away and resolved not to make the same mistake. Even when she was finally able to be sealed to her parents in the temple several years later, she noted the “sadness and sorrow” in their faces because her brother and sister were not with them.

We learned the dual meaning of the word “Hosanna,” which serves as both a shout of joy and a cry for help. “When a child is happy, a parent is happy, and nothing penetrates a parent’s heart more than knowing their child is in danger.” We were told there is a time and a place to rejoice out loud. Inside the temple, we must maintain a quiet reverence, only speaking when necessary and never above a whisper. I like to think of the Spirit as a butterfly or a bird—if you’re too noisy, it’ll fly away, but if you stay calm, it will not only stay but come closer and closer.

Finally, we heard from Elder David A. Bednar, the one with the honor of dedicating the Layton Temple today. He said he didn’t have a preplanned talk despite months of pondering and prayer. Instead, he chose to speak from the heart, and I liked that little bit of spontaneity.

He started out by telling us about his childhood, being born in 1952 and growing up in the 60s. He talked about all the turmoil of the 60s (racism, riots, assassinations, threats of nuclear war) and how badly it scared him. He honestly believed this was it, that the world was coming to an end.

Then, when he was 12 years old, he attended the dedication of the Oakland Temple with his mother. David O. McKay was the President of the Church at that time; Elder Bednar mentioned he’d always had a special fondness for him, partly because they had the same name, and the man just seemed larger than life in every imaginable way. At that time, President McKay was 91 years old and had recently suffered a stroke, so he was brought to the Oakland Temple in a wheelchair and needed help to his seat. To everyone’s amazement, he was able to speak at the pulpit (despite bracing himself physically) and give the dedicatory prayer on his own. His son, who was a doctor and in attendance that day, mentioned afterward, “We are witnessing a miracle.”

Elder Bednar said he never forgot that day, and even at that tender, vulnerable age, he recognized the temple as a place where he could be completely safe. There’s something rather poetic about him dedicating a temple in a similar fashion sixty years later, and goodness knows how much of a mess our world is in today. The parallels are uncanny.

Another thing that stood out to me was Elder Bednar telling us that the Book of Mormon is not a history book; it educates us more of the future than the past. And as beautiful as our temples are with their amazing designs and everything, it’s more about the Savior than the actual building. When all is said and done, it’s all about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Sister Bednar got to speak a few words herself. Aside from bearing her personal testimony, she told us the importance of writing down what we learned today. (That’s what I’m doing right now.) She regrets not doing a better job of recording past events in her own life, like her baptism, even though she can still recall some bits and pieces, such as where she was baptized and getting into a small fight with her brother on the way home and realizing she’d have to repent already.

Then Elder Bednar gave the dedicatory prayer. It was a beautiful, well-spoken prayer and the feeling was so incredible, so calm and peaceful, like everything was right with the world at that time. I felt the presence of my dad and grandparents, among many others. Nothing can convince me that anything else would have kept them away. I half-expected to see Dad sitting right there next to us on the bench and I could almost feel his arms giving me a big hug.

After the Hosanna shout and the wave of the handkerchiefs, we sang “The Spirit of God,” which was the same hymn sung at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, the very first temple of them all. I never get tired of that hymn and it takes on an extra special meaning at events like this.

It was almost a disappointment to go home. You know you have to leave sooner or later, but you’re still reluctant. Which is a good thing, because it means you have the right mindset. And of course, the only thing to do is make arrangements to do this again another time, and then another. I look forward to attending the Layton Temple with my mom or sister or someone else on a more regular basis from now on. It’s all a matter of when I go, not if. 

Warming Up to Bluey

While I'm a natural skeptic when it comes to movies, books, and TV shows, sometimes I'm in for a very pleasant surprise. Such was the case with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, and now such is the case with the Australian cartoon, Bluey. 

I decided I'd give this cartoon a try since it seemed very family-friendly, incredibly cute, and the episodes are super-short, no longer than seven minutes. Besides, stories about family love are my favorites and serve as much more appealing bait for me.

I can't say I'm an official fan now. But I can tell you that I do like it, that it's a real breath of fresh air. Sometimes the potty humor is a bit much, but at least they don't take it too far. It is a show aimed at preschoolers after all, though you don't have to be a little kid or even a parent to enjoy it. 

My favorite character is most definitely Bandit. I love the way he talks, he's one of the good dads out there, and he absolutely steals the show. 

Bingo comes pretty close, though; she's just so darn cute!

 

I haven't seen all the episodes yet, but I really enjoyed "Unicorse" and it's safe to say that one's my favorite.

 

I also enjoyed "The Pool," "Daddy Robot," "Butterflies," "Yoga Ball," "Duck Cake," "Camping," "Baby Race," "Sleepytime," "Curry Quest," and "Dad Baby" was surprisingly bold but amazingly done. 

"Onesies" also hit home for me because I don't have kids (or a spouse for that matter) and that line, "Because it's not meant to be," almost made me cry. 

If there are any more Bluey episodes in the foreseeable future, I'll be sure to keep my eyes peeled. But for now, I think we really could use more wholesome, educational, humorous, downright sweet shows like this. 

2023 Inktober 27 - Cat in Pumpkin

Simple cuteness, that's all I have to say. I wanted something fairly quick but also irresistibly cute. 

Temple Trip

Today, I enjoyed a very nice trip to the Bountiful Temple with my mom and my older sister.

 

(All images property of their respective owners.)

 

It's always so sweet and quiet, and I often have to turn my head a little to see if my dad, grandma, and grandpa are sitting right there beside us.

 

I know they're there. I don't see why they wouldn't be.

 

You gain a greater appreciation for Father Adam and Mother Eve here. I feel they're very badly misunderstood; they deserve to be venerated rather than vilified. I also found Satan's influence on the world rather frightening, even as I felt reassurance in the Savior at the same time.

 

 

Leaving is both a relief and a disappointment. You're glad to go home but you feel like the session ended way too soon. Guess that's a good thing because that means you have the right attitude.

 

As we were walking out the main doors, I saw some ominous storm clouds in the distance, and I couldn't help noting the spiritual symbolism. Outside the gospel, the world can be a dark, turbulent, and scary place. But where the temple was, it was bright, sunny, and calm. Just like how when the Savior calmed the raging sea, the sea was still raging on all other sides; He only created a sort of eye, like the eye of a hurricane.

 

And when I go home, I feel as refreshed as if I'd just come out of a nice, hot shower. I feel ready to return to the world and try again, so to speak.

 

So, it's all a matter of when I come back to the House of the Lord, not if. I really look forward to the dedication of the Layton Temple, because that one's practically down the street. With so many temples in our vicinity, we really should make a greater effort to go more often. Loads of people have worked and saved for several years just to be able to go once.

 

Of course, that doesn't mean we can go just any old time. We need to make sure our recommend is current, among other things. But it'd be worth our while to go every couple of months or so, at the very least. I always try to go when I have the day off from work, so I don't have to worry about watching the clock and there's nothing else to occupy my mind.

 

As the Primary song goes, I love to see the temple. But I love going inside even more.

 

Disney Musical May 31 - Family

MR. GRASSHOPPER:
Take a little time
Just look at where we are
We've come very, very far
Together
And if I might say so, 

MR. CENTIPEDE:
And if I might say so, too,

 BOTH:
We wouldn't have got anywhere
If it weren't for you, boy 

MRS. LADYBUG:
Love
Is the sweetest thing 

MR. EARTHWORM:
Love
Never comes just when you think it will 

MISS SPIDER:
Love
Is the way we feel for you 

MR. GRASSHOPPER:
We're family

 MR. GRASSHOPPER AND MR. CENTIPEDE:
We're family
We're family 

MRS. LADYBUG:
All of us 

MR. GRASSHOPPER:
And you! 

MR. CENTIPEDE:
Think of where we'd be
If we were on our own 

MR. EARTHWORM:
We'd be dead! 

MRS. LADYBUG:
You're what holds us all
Together

 JAMES:
I am?

 MR. CENTIPEDE:
And if I might say so, 

MR. GRASSHOPPER AND MRS. LADYBUG:
And if we might say so, too, 

MR. GRASSHOPPER:
We never could love anyone 

ALL:
As much as we love you! 

GLOWWORM:
Love... 

MR. CENTIPEDE AND MISS SPIDER:
Is the strangest thing 

GLOWWORM:
Love... 

MR. GRASSHOPPER AND MRS. LADYBUG:
Does exactly what it wants to do 

GLOWWORM:
Love... 

MR. CENTIPEDE:
Boy, you know it's true 

ALL:
We're family
We're family
We're family
Me, me, me, me
And you! 

MISS SPIDER:
Ashes to ashes
And dust to dust 

ALL:
Without you,
There'd be no us 

Love
Is the sweetest thing
Love
Does exactly what it wants to do
Love
Is the way we feel for you
We're family
We're family 

JAMES:
We're family
Me... 

ALL:
And you! 

And that, in the words of Porky Pig, is all, folks.

Hope you enjoyed this month's Disney version of Musical May. I know I did. It's always a big relief and a big disappointment when it's finally over.

Well, time to grab a few writing projects from the back burner!

Disney Musical May 28 - Build a Snowman

Elsa?
(Knocks)
Do you wanna build a snowman?
Come on, let's go and play!
I never see you anymore
Come out the door
It's like you've gone away!

 We used to be best buddies
And now we're not
I wish you would tell me why!
Do you wanna build a snowman?
It doesn't have to be a snowman!
(Go away, Anna!)
Okay, bye... 

(Knocks)
Do you wanna build a snowman?
Or ride our bike around the halls?
I think some company is overdue
I've started talking to
The pictures on the walls!
(Hang in there, Joan!) 

It gets a little lonely
All these empty rooms
Just watching the hours tick by...
(tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock)

 (Knocks)
Elsa?
Please, I know you're in there
People are asking where you've been
They say, "Have courage," and I'm trying to
I'm right out here for you
Just let me in

We only have each other
It's just you and me
What are we gonna do?
Do you want to build a snowman?

I wanted to do at least one song from Frozen and I know everybody's sick to death of "Let It Go." At least it doesn't make my ears bleed the way "Hakuna Matata" does now.

But I do have a soft spot for this particular song.

All excessive hype aside, I feel this movie is good if not fantastic. I like stories about familial love, and this is a nice story about sisterly love. I feel so bad for poor Anna; while I can't judge Elsa or their parents too harshly, Anna got the shortest end of the stick by far.

You will find bits and pieces of this story scattered throughout Reid's story. It's especially applicable to Romulus when he loses his parents and his sister.

It also applies well to Jonathan, because he and Caleb got along a lot better when they were younger. As Caleb grew up, he ran into a few bad influences inside and outside school, although he managed to avoid becoming a criminal like Malachi. Regardless, he became colder and more argumentative, and the door was shut especially hard in poor Jonathan's face.

But the biggest fault lies with Aunt Tamara.

Caleb liked Tamara, he could see how lonely she was, he started talking to her and hanging around her more often, and in spite of herself, she developed a soft spot for him, too. Unfortunately, her bad attitude rubbed off on him, and she never really got along with the rest of the family.

So, with her help, the gap between Caleb and the other Windwillows, Jonathan most of all, widened more and more until they were virtual strangers.

In spite of that, Caleb had the nerve to get jealous when Jonathan began to spend more time with Prince Reid and treat him like a brother.

Jonathan saw how rough Reid had it, he empathized perfectly with the boy about bad brothers (even though Tyrell was much worse than Caleb and Tamara put together) and being seen as an oddball, and he was also greatly inspired by the relationship between Reid and Beowulf.

Beowulf was every bit as much taken aback at Reid's kindness to him, yet he couldn't bring himself to knock it. Like an old guard dog who's almost forgotten just how good a scratch behind the ears feels. 

I also based Kaylee Drummond partly on Anna, and her sister Faith on Elsa. Obviously, Faith has no supernatural powers, but she has a long, thick braid, she's a very prim and proper woman, and while she's nice, she's not the most fun person to be around. She needs to loosen up just a little more. She needs to be thawed, if you will.

In contrast, Kaylee is a very warm, sweet, bubbly girl. She's shy, but her backbone is growing up with her, and all she really wants is to be loved for who she is, not for who other people want her to be. That's why she falls in love with Troy, because he's always liked her just as she is and he brought out the best in her. I can't think of a better motivation for romance than that.

So, yeah, Frozen has inspired me in a host of places and I like it just fine for myself...although I think the sequel is entirely unnecessary and I'm not at all surprised (or pleased) to hear about a Frozen 3 in the works.

If it's not hackneyed remakes we gotta worry about, it's one sequel after another. We live in an era of "Follow the Leader."

If Disney ever makes anything fresh and unique that's actually good and doesn't shove a politically correct message in my face, I'll eat my socks.