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Emily Jensen updates “Today in the Bloggernacle” every weekday, containing the best of what we've seen from the world of LDS-oriented blog sites.
The extended “Bloggernacle Back Bench” is published Tuesdays.
Wednesday, Jan. 7:
MIA themes: "We stand for a sacred Sabbath and a weekly half holiday." Do you know what that is? It's the first yearly theme adopted by the MIA (Mutual Improvement Association) from 1914. Wow! For an ever-expanding list of themes from 1914 on, check out "MIA Slogans and Themes." It's a fascinating glimpse at YM/YW history. While some themes are very specific and political, others are more general. Oh and do you know this year's theme? Here's a hint.
Facial hair: Facial hair is one of those cyclical subjects in the Bloggernacle. But "Thou shalt not grow a beard" comes from The British Psychological Society's blog. They take a look at a new psychology study titled, "Men's grooming in the Latter-day Saints Church: A qualitative study of norm violation." Click on over to read opinions as well as find a link to the study itself!
Ward disunion: Huge ward, diverse backgrounds, age gaps -- what can you do to bring your ward closer? No really, this blogger really wants to know what to do. As "Ward Fellowshipping Chair" his calling is to "make sure that new people and visitors feel welcome, veterans feel included, and that everyone is sociable and likes each other." So if you have some ideas, click on over to help bridge the "Socioeconomic Divisions in Mormon Wards."
Good examples: Ever hear the phrase "the most important thing you can do to share the Gospel is to be a good example"? This post refutes that saying "Being a Good Example is Not Good Enough" and explains that one shouldn't separate the being a good example with openly proclaiming one's membership in the church. Read more of this good counsel on being an example and sharing one's faith.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Monday, Jan. 5
Champion Utes: College sports blogs are discussing the problems with the BCS rankings, and the Bloggernacle is weighing in with "the fiasco that is the Bowl Championship Series." Check it out or find out "What the Country is Saying about Utah's win." Or add your own answer to the question "True or False: The Utah Utes should be considered the #1 team in the nation."
More children: "Once you have three children, you can have more and not really even notice." No way, says this post that discusses this myth and instead explains, "You'll notice. Oh yes, you'll notice." The author, and subsequent commenters come to the conclusion that more children change families in unexpected ways. Plus, families are reinvented as children get older. Click on over to read more of this fascinating post that explores the family dynamics.
FHE lesson: Teach your family the importance of the "New Year" and how it can be a time of reflection and renewal. I love the suggestions of writing New Year's letters to loved ones and setting goals as a family and using a calendar to talk about coming events in the year. Click to find more great family home evening ideas for tonight!
Friday, Jan. 2
Charitable Mormons: A recent study pegs Mormons as giving the most to religious organizations and charities, more than 5 percent of their income. Cool! Click on over to "Mormons Give More, Says Christianity Today" to find out more and view a fascinating graph. Hat-tip to Mormon Inquiry!
Resolution rubbish: Many bloggers are taking the time to mark this holiday by resolving to be better. Yet, I got a kick out of this blogger's 10-item list of "New Years Resolutions Rubbish," which includes "Stop saying 'rubbish' all the time. (which is rubbish, really)."
Thursday, Jan. 1
Brand new: Happy 2009! It's A Brand New Year, and to celebrate, here is a brand new Web site aimed at Mormon youths. It includes widgets for downloading, spiritual resources, videos, photos, commitment cards and so much more! Send it to all your friends young and old and enjoy this incredibly savvy offering from lds.org.
Spiritual resolutions: So many resolutions go unfulfilled because of lack of planning. So I appreciated this month-by-month plan at studying and then implementing the Sermon on the Mount at "Spiritual Resolutions: My Practical Plan." Whether you use it for yourself or make a similar blueprint, it's likely to be an empowering exercise.
Teancum story: This is why I like the blogs, because they connect interesting Book of Mormon stories to holidays. So what do "Teancum, Amalickiah and the New Year" all have in common? Find out!
New hope: Read a very personal but insightful story that is perfect for New Year's at "A New Year of Hope and Gratitude." I love the concluding thoughts: "Just as Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to have a fresh start and to be reborn spiritually, The New Year gives us the chance to make fresh resolutions for positive changes which will improve our journey."
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Placing the Book of Mormon: Sometimes the simplest suggestions are the most brilliant. For those ward or stake mission leaders, why not ensure that you have "Library BoM placements (non-English)." If someone else has not taken the initiative, ask your local library if you can donate some hard-cover versions of the Book of Mormon, perhaps in Spanish or other languages. What a great idea!
Council counsel: Blogs are infamously slack with vocabulary and spelling, yet this blogger hopes to educate about commonly misused LDS terms: "Counsel vs. Council." So what's the difference? "Notice that the Bishop or Church leader gives you COUNSEL, but you attend a COUNCIL meeting." Click on over to study more of this blog vocabulary lesson!
Fantasy football: Mormon style. I enjoyed the fun descriptions of Book of Mormon-themed fantasy football awards. So "What if Nephi Played in the NFL?" Well, since Nephi is one to get the job done, he "never lets you down. Week after week, Nephi just delivers. Nephi is an MVP." Check out more amusing characterizations!
Granny craft: Ever seen a "TP cozy"? Something about hiding toilet paper under yards of yarn struck me as funny: "So the next time you're visiting grandma's house and you need a new roll of toilet paper, just look for it under something that's been crocheted."
Tuesday, Dec. 30
People presents: The Mormon Third Eye delights in pointing out the obscure and the obvious, and I found this post-Christmas post enchanting. Did you also enjoy the gift of presence? "I See…People Presents" are the best presents of all!
Cold beauty: Without venturing out of doors at all, you can enjoy some beautiful "Winter" photos from Northern Utah. It might make you shiver, but doesn't the temple look gorgeous? And check out that humongous icicle! Brrr!
Monday, Dec. 29
Journals index: For those who own or hope to soon own the new "Joseph Smith Papers Project: Journals, Volume 1," the online index is now available. Check it out for all your reference needs.
Another YouTube: Over a week ago I mentioned that there were two official church YouTube channels. Now there is a new New Era Magazine YouTube channel with four videos featuring Mormonads. Fun! I'm excited to see what new videos are added. Thanks Mormon Magz for the link.
Lovely tract: Enjoy "The Loveliest Missionary Tract Ever Published" that includes beautiful paintings and calligraphy of the hymn "O, My Father." Even though these are only scanned images, they are still so moving.
Christmas engagement: Brighten your Monday morning with "Something Blue ... (A Christmas Engagement)" story that absolutely delighted me. Even though they are strangers, we can glimpse into this powerful moment of their lives and hope for the best in their new adventure!
Friday, Dec. 26:
Computer usage: Wow, this chart detailing "How Men and Women Use the Internet" is fascinating. While there are a lot of similarities, women seem to use the Internet for human connections, while men like the experience. Women look up health and religious information, while men download and research. Check it out!
Christmas history: The Christmas celebrations are winding down and hopefully your merry activities were delightful. But do you know your Christmas Day church history? Joseph Smith predicted civil war in 1832. And South America was dedicated for missionary work in 1925. Find out more at "Today in Church History – Dec 25."
Wednesday, Dec. 24:
Christmas Eve: Merry Christmas Eve! How do you do Christmas Eve? What traditions do you follow? Like many of you, we read the Nativity story. So enjoy these lovely photos of the Nativity at Temple Square and imagine that you can "Take a Walk Through Bethlehem."
Christmas wars: Wow, check out this thorough analysis (both funny and fascinating) on the current war on the word Christmas. Who are the players? What are the perceived meanings of the word? And the most important question: "Who's Winning the War on Christmas?"
Christmas cat: If you were a house cat and suddenly there was a pine tree in your house, you'd probably say something similar: "You're kidding me! A tree house in my house? AWESOME!" Enjoy these delightful pet photos.
Mormon PC: "I'm a PC, I'm a Mormon" takes a look at the current webcam campaign of the PC people to spread the word and wonders if a similar message could apply to Mormons. Intriguing!
Happy Birthday Joseph Smith! It's his 203rd birthday and thus this mini-history and testimony of the prophet is most timely. Take a moment to remember the man we praise at "Joseph Smith: A Modern Witness of Jesus Christ."
Multilingual maps: "LDS Maps is now live in 16 languages!" exclaims northtemple. They also handily provide a screen shot of a how it works. Learn more about the "Upgraded LDS Maps Site" here or go check it out!
Monday, Dec. 22
Monday fun: Or really, these "Interactive Hidden Pictures from the Friend" are fun anytime. There are five in all. When you find a hidden picture, click on it and watch it turn colors and zoom into place in the picture box with a satisfying beep. It's kind of addicting. Oh, I guess it's for kids. So if you have children, let them know, too. And if you don't, well, it's fun to play anyway.
Tithing stories: In honor of the tithing settlements that also accompany this season, here is a neat "Story About Tithing, the Thing You Pay in Faith." It's a good reminder about trusting in the Lord by faithfully paying tithing.
Hanukkah history: Did you know that yesterday was the first day of Hanukkah? And even though Mormons usually do not celebrate Hanukkah, I enjoyed learning more about it. So take a moment to read "The Story of Hanukkah" on this second day of Hanukkah.
Grandparent gift: After watching a spliced video of my grandparents and their family (including a fun-loving daughter who later became my mom) yesterday at a party, I had to agree that these family videos, lovingly edited to show the best moments, would be the "Perfect Grandparent Gift." So like the post says, "if you're looking for a cheap gift that's sentimental and meaningful and your family is sure to love, bust out the video camera and get recording!"
Friday, Dec. 19:
Church YouTube: If you didn't know, the church has two official Youtube channels: the first is through public affairs. And the second, Mormon Messages, is the newest. Check out the three uploaded videos, including a Christmas one. Thanks, Latter-day Commentary for pointing it out.
Christmas scriptures: "A Week of Christmas Scripture Reading" is exactly what I was looking for today. Complete with scripture references, song selections and picture suggestions, this post explains how to read the Christmas story each day up to Christmas and construct a day-by-day nativity. Perfect timing!
Splitting stakes: After studying the stakes with a large number of wards, LDS Church Growth estimates the "Stakes in the United States Likely to Split." And while this does not reflect authorized decisions, it's a fascinating exercise.
Wednesday, Jan. 7:
MIA themes: "We stand for a sacred Sabbath and a weekly half holiday." Do you know what that is? It's the first yearly theme adopted by the MIA (Mutual Improvement Association) from 1914. Wow! For an ever-expanding list of themes from 1914 on, check out "MIA Slogans and Themes." It's a fascinating glimpse at YM/YW history. While some themes are very specific and political, others are more general. Oh and do you know this year's theme? Here's a hint.
Facial hair: Facial hair is one of those cyclical subjects in the Bloggernacle. But "Thou shalt not grow a beard" comes from The British Psychological Society's blog. They take a look at a new psychology study titled, "Men's grooming in the Latter-day Saints Church: A qualitative study of norm violation." Click on over to read opinions as well as find a link to the study itself!
Ward disunion: Huge ward, diverse backgrounds, age gaps -- what can you do to bring your ward closer? No really, this blogger really wants to know what to do. As "Ward Fellowshipping Chair" his calling is to "make sure that new people and visitors feel welcome, veterans feel included, and that everyone is sociable and likes each other." So if you have some ideas, click on over to help bridge the "Socioeconomic Divisions in Mormon Wards."
Good examples: Ever hear the phrase "the most important thing you can do to share the Gospel is to be a good example"? This post refutes that saying "Being a Good Example is Not Good Enough" and explains that one shouldn't separate the being a good example with openly proclaiming one's membership in the church. Read more of this good counsel on being an example and sharing one's faith.
Tuesday, Jan. 6
Interview tips: "Channeling Terry Gross" provides a delightful vignette about learning to be a better interviewer before asking the readers to chime in what they want to hear in an interview. One of the commenters happens to be an online editor for a national religious radio show. Very cool!
Bleak beauty: Another series of gorgeously cold photographs that captures "Winter's Bleak Beauty." And enjoy the accompanying philosophical musings: "Sometimes in the bleakest and darkest days we can still find beauty if we look for it."
Monday, Jan. 5
Champion Utes: College sports blogs are discussing the problems with the BCS rankings, and the Bloggernacle is weighing in with "the fiasco that is the Bowl Championship Series." Check it out or find out "What the Country is Saying about Utah's win." Or add your own answer to the question "True or False: The Utah Utes should be considered the #1 team in the nation."
More children: "Once you have three children, you can have more and not really even notice." No way, says this post that discusses this myth and instead explains, "You'll notice. Oh yes, you'll notice." The author, and subsequent commenters come to the conclusion that more children change families in unexpected ways. Plus, families are reinvented as children get older. Click on over to read more of this fascinating post that explores the family dynamics.
FHE lesson: Teach your family the importance of the "New Year" and how it can be a time of reflection and renewal. I love the suggestions of writing New Year's letters to loved ones and setting goals as a family and using a calendar to talk about coming events in the year. Click to find more great family home evening ideas for tonight!
Friday, Jan. 2
Charitable Mormons: A recent study pegs Mormons as giving the most to religious organizations and charities, more than 5 percent of their income. Cool! Click on over to "Mormons Give More, Says Christianity Today" to find out more and view a fascinating graph. Hat-tip to Mormon Inquiry!
Resolution rubbish: Many bloggers are taking the time to mark this holiday by resolving to be better. Yet, I got a kick out of this blogger's 10-item list of "New Years Resolutions Rubbish," which includes "Stop saying 'rubbish' all the time. (which is rubbish, really)."
Thursday, Jan. 1
Brand new: Happy 2009! It's A Brand New Year, and to celebrate, here is a brand new Web site aimed at Mormon youths. It includes widgets for downloading, spiritual resources, videos, photos, commitment cards and so much more! Send it to all your friends young and old and enjoy this incredibly savvy offering from lds.org.
Spiritual resolutions: So many resolutions go unfulfilled because of lack of planning. So I appreciated this month-by-month plan at studying and then implementing the Sermon on the Mount at "Spiritual Resolutions: My Practical Plan." Whether you use it for yourself or make a similar blueprint, it's likely to be an empowering exercise.
Teancum story: This is why I like the blogs, because they connect interesting Book of Mormon stories to holidays. So what do "Teancum, Amalickiah and the New Year" all have in common? Find out!
New hope: Read a very personal but insightful story that is perfect for New Year's at "A New Year of Hope and Gratitude." I love the concluding thoughts: "Just as Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to have a fresh start and to be reborn spiritually, The New Year gives us the chance to make fresh resolutions for positive changes which will improve our journey."
Wednesday, Dec. 31
Placing the Book of Mormon: Sometimes the simplest suggestions are the most brilliant. For those ward or stake mission leaders, why not ensure that you have "Library BoM placements (non-English)." If someone else has not taken the initiative, ask your local library if you can donate some hard-cover versions of the Book of Mormon, perhaps in Spanish or other languages. What a great idea!
Council counsel: Blogs are infamously slack with vocabulary and spelling, yet this blogger hopes to educate about commonly misused LDS terms: "Counsel vs. Council." So what's the difference? "Notice that the Bishop or Church leader gives you COUNSEL, but you attend a COUNCIL meeting." Click on over to study more of this blog vocabulary lesson!
Fantasy football: Mormon style. I enjoyed the fun descriptions of Book of Mormon-themed fantasy football awards. So "What if Nephi Played in the NFL?" Well, since Nephi is one to get the job done, he "never lets you down. Week after week, Nephi just delivers. Nephi is an MVP." Check out more amusing characterizations!
Granny craft: Ever seen a "TP cozy"? Something about hiding toilet paper under yards of yarn struck me as funny: "So the next time you're visiting grandma's house and you need a new roll of toilet paper, just look for it under something that's been crocheted."
Tuesday, Dec. 30
People presents: The Mormon Third Eye delights in pointing out the obscure and the obvious, and I found this post-Christmas post enchanting. Did you also enjoy the gift of presence? "I See…People Presents" are the best presents of all!
Cold beauty: Without venturing out of doors at all, you can enjoy some beautiful "Winter" photos from Northern Utah. It might make you shiver, but doesn't the temple look gorgeous? And check out that humongous icicle! Brrr!
Monday, Dec. 29
Journals index: For those who own or hope to soon own the new "Joseph Smith Papers Project: Journals, Volume 1," the online index is now available. Check it out for all your reference needs.
Another YouTube: Over a week ago I mentioned that there were two official church YouTube channels. Now there is a new New Era Magazine YouTube channel with four videos featuring Mormonads. Fun! I'm excited to see what new videos are added. Thanks Mormon Magz for the link.
Lovely tract: Enjoy "The Loveliest Missionary Tract Ever Published" that includes beautiful paintings and calligraphy of the hymn "O, My Father." Even though these are only scanned images, they are still so moving.
Christmas engagement: Brighten your Monday morning with "Something Blue ... (A Christmas Engagement)" story that absolutely delighted me. Even though they are strangers, we can glimpse into this powerful moment of their lives and hope for the best in their new adventure!
Friday, Dec. 26:
Computer usage: Wow, this chart detailing "How Men and Women Use the Internet" is fascinating. While there are a lot of similarities, women seem to use the Internet for human connections, while men like the experience. Women look up health and religious information, while men download and research. Check it out!
Christmas history: The Christmas celebrations are winding down and hopefully your merry activities were delightful. But do you know your Christmas Day church history? Joseph Smith predicted civil war in 1832. And South America was dedicated for missionary work in 1925. Find out more at "Today in Church History – Dec 25."
Thursday, Dec. 25
Child's Christmas: Go down memory lane to "A Child's Christmas." I loved the description of Grandpa's bailing wire Christmas tree as well as how this perfectly captures the seemingly never-ending wait for Christmas morning: "I can't sleep. I can't sleep. I feel myself shaking I am so excited. I can't sleep. I've got to -- the sooner you sleep, the sooner -- I just can't sleep. It's no use. I can't sleep. I wake up. It is early, and the house is still asleep. Ninja-quiet, I make my way downstairs…"
Christmas loss: Christmastime can be especially poignant for those missing loved ones. First in "Always a Daughter," this poster weeps for her father and counsels "When you see your parents throughout the holidays -- hug them no matter what the cost." And secondly, this poster who lost her father this year asks how can we better comfort those experiencing "Christmas Sadness."
Christmas fantasy: Technically it's "My Evil Fantasy on Christmas Morning" where he removes all the presents on Christmas morning for awhile and forces the children to think about Jesus. But, "I would NEVER really do such a thing. The better part of me realizes that such coercion would be an abuse of power…I replace my evil fantasy with an improved one that is closer to the truth. The better half of my brain imagines Jesus saying, 'Bring the children unto me,' as he hands each a wonderful present. In fact, he has." Lovely!
Mission Christmas: Spend a moment in enjoying a "Christmas in Ukraine" with these missionaries. The post is filled with sweet service to children, handmade gifts, ringing carols and Christmas spirit!
Wednesday, Dec. 24:
Christmas Eve: Merry Christmas Eve! How do you do Christmas Eve? What traditions do you follow? Like many of you, we read the Nativity story. So enjoy these lovely photos of the Nativity at Temple Square and imagine that you can "Take a Walk Through Bethlehem."
Christmas wars: Wow, check out this thorough analysis (both funny and fascinating) on the current war on the word Christmas. Who are the players? What are the perceived meanings of the word? And the most important question: "Who's Winning the War on Christmas?"
Christmas cat: If you were a house cat and suddenly there was a pine tree in your house, you'd probably say something similar: "You're kidding me! A tree house in my house? AWESOME!" Enjoy these delightful pet photos.
Mormon PC: "I'm a PC, I'm a Mormon" takes a look at the current webcam campaign of the PC people to spread the word and wonders if a similar message could apply to Mormons. Intriguing!
Happy Birthday Joseph Smith! It's his 203rd birthday and thus this mini-history and testimony of the prophet is most timely. Take a moment to remember the man we praise at "Joseph Smith: A Modern Witness of Jesus Christ."
Multilingual maps: "LDS Maps is now live in 16 languages!" exclaims northtemple. They also handily provide a screen shot of a how it works. Learn more about the "Upgraded LDS Maps Site" here or go check it out!
Monday, Dec. 22
Monday fun: Or really, these "Interactive Hidden Pictures from the Friend" are fun anytime. There are five in all. When you find a hidden picture, click on it and watch it turn colors and zoom into place in the picture box with a satisfying beep. It's kind of addicting. Oh, I guess it's for kids. So if you have children, let them know, too. And if you don't, well, it's fun to play anyway.
Tithing stories: In honor of the tithing settlements that also accompany this season, here is a neat "Story About Tithing, the Thing You Pay in Faith." It's a good reminder about trusting in the Lord by faithfully paying tithing.
Hanukkah history: Did you know that yesterday was the first day of Hanukkah? And even though Mormons usually do not celebrate Hanukkah, I enjoyed learning more about it. So take a moment to read "The Story of Hanukkah" on this second day of Hanukkah.
Grandparent gift: After watching a spliced video of my grandparents and their family (including a fun-loving daughter who later became my mom) yesterday at a party, I had to agree that these family videos, lovingly edited to show the best moments, would be the "Perfect Grandparent Gift." So like the post says, "if you're looking for a cheap gift that's sentimental and meaningful and your family is sure to love, bust out the video camera and get recording!"
Friday, Dec. 19:
Church YouTube: If you didn't know, the church has two official Youtube channels: the first is through public affairs. And the second, Mormon Messages, is the newest. Check out the three uploaded videos, including a Christmas one. Thanks, Latter-day Commentary for pointing it out.
Christmas scriptures: "A Week of Christmas Scripture Reading" is exactly what I was looking for today. Complete with scripture references, song selections and picture suggestions, this post explains how to read the Christmas story each day up to Christmas and construct a day-by-day nativity. Perfect timing!
Splitting stakes: After studying the stakes with a large number of wards, LDS Church Growth estimates the "Stakes in the United States Likely to Split." And while this does not reflect authorized decisions, it's a fascinating exercise.
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