I live in Salt Lake City where I work in retail. It is a family business although I am not a member of the family. Neither are two of our other employees, Miguel and Jesus. We have a bit of a bond over being the only employees here who don't share a bloodline, but last week, I found something new for us to bond over. 

There is something inherently contradictory in Mormon culture that I need help grasping.

I am currently sitting at my desk listening to the most recent installment of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast interview with President Obama.

I often have discussions with people in my personal and my professional life regarding the role of the arts in LDS culture today. For the most part it centers around lamentation and criticism of germanic Jesus surrounded by multi racial children. Needless to say, I don't have a very high opinion of art is the Church. Similarly it has long been a staple of the Democratic party to push for arts funding in schools. I worry about the future of the arts in the LDS church. Luckily, just this week I came across a blog called Thoughts on Mormon Art which discussed many of those same concerns. An artist friend referred me to this blog and the unique perspective on patronage of religious art in the Church today.  President Kimball said, "We are proud of the artistic heritage that the Church has brought to us from its earliest beginnings, but the full story of Mormonism has never yet been written nor painted nor sculpted nor spoken. It remains for inspired hearts and talented fingers yet to reveal themselves." Lets begin to cultivate that story. 

Last month, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf delivered a talk during priesthood session titled "On Being Genuine." Explaining the almost comical concept of the Potemkin Village and how many people personally erect false facades to hide their much more realistically mediocre circumstances. 

Dear Fellow Democrats, Let me start out by claiming my naivety.

A couple of months ago I listened to the audiobook for A Fighting Chance by Senator Elizabeth Warren. I highly recommend it.

In my limited experience, home teaching is a lot like voting.