I spent about an hour yesterday at the Sandy, UT Barnes and Noble. They were having a book signing for a new LDS humor book called Mormon Mishaps and Mischief. It is a collection of over 200 humorous anecdotes taken from various church meetings and activities.

I submitted two stories that were accepted. They can be found on pages 26 and 46 respectively. One recounts an “experiment” in a combined Priesthood/Relief Society that went horribly awry, and the other brings back a fond and funny memory of a Fathers’ and Sons’ Outing.

As a contributor I was allowed a free copy of the book. That was my primary reason for going to the book signing. Also, I had communicated several times via e-mail with Nichole Giles and Cindy Beck, who were the primary forces behind the book, but had never met them in person. They were every bit as charming in person as I found them via our e-mails. They invited me to sit with them and another contributor to the book, Sherry Taylor, for a while. I thought that we would just chit-chat for a bit, which we did, but then someone came to our stand that looked at the book. Cindy told her that I had a very funny story ion the book and asked if I’d read it. I turned to page 46 and shared my experience at the Fathers’ and Sons’ Outing. Much to my amusement, the prospective buyer laughed and decided to buy a copy. I was then asked to autograph the copy. That is the first time that anyone ever wanted my autograph for something other than a tax return, or a parking ticket, etc.

I had a great time there and I think that it rekindled the spark I needed to continue writing. The book is hilarious by the way, I’ve laughed at every story. There are stories about:

• The preschooler who was afraid of being eaten in “Sunbeans”
• Establishing Zion in Cougar Stadium
• The 14th Article of Faith
• Doing battle with the Laman Knights
And more.

The book has sold out at most of the bookstores and Amazon.com but you can still find a copy here

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

I haven't posted much in a while. I write a weekly newsletter for the hotel I work at, and that's about all the writing I have been able to keep up with. However, I will be substituting this Sunday for the 16-17 year old Sunday School class in my ward. For me personally, I can't imagine a better calling than teaching that age group. Any younger and it's difficult to keep them involved in a lesson. Much older and people by and large have already made up their opinions on most aspects of life. You can have great conversations teaching adult classes, but I feel like I'm really teaching/contributing when I can teach the 16-17 year old group. With any luck a new teacher won't be called for a while and I can continue to teach the class.

This week we will discuss The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The importance of this declaration can not be overstated. It is a very clear and concise guideline to finding joy and happiness in this life, and more importantly the life to come. After presenting it in a General Relief Society meeting, President Hinckley sent the proclamation to the leaders of many nations:

On 13 November, about two months after the proclamation was issued, President Hinckley met with William Jefferson Clinton, the president of the United States, at the White House in Washington, D.C. The prophet presented him with a copy of the proclamation, which led to a discussion on the family. “It is our feeling that if you’re going to fix the nation, you need to start by fixing families. That’s the place to begin.” The leaders discussed “the need for parents to be actively involved in their children’s lives.” After giving him bound copies of his and his wife’s family histories and describing the Church’s family home evening program, President Hinckley suggested that the nation’s leaders get his family together and “sit down with those books and have a family home evening.” Church News, 18 Nov. 1995, p. 1. Church History in the Fulness of Times, p. 632.