LDS leader hits all your favorite topics, from Intelligent Design to women holding the priesthood

An interesting thing has been happening with Romney running for President. LDS leaders are being interviewed in the national media, and they’re not being asked your standard Sunday School questions. Reuters recently interviewed Elder Christofferson of the Seventy. Some excerpts…

On a member voting contrary to a church political stance:

"Even where the church has taken a firm or vigorous position on something…if a member as a government officer votes in a different way or contrary to the church’s position there’s no church censure…either way we say to be honest, be of high moral standards and govern yourself that way but vote according to your best judgment. If we were to try and dictate to members how to vote…we would contravene a very fundamental doctrine and the whole idea of pluralism and religious freedom that we value so much."

On whether or not Intelligent Design should be taught in schools:

"Not necessarily…We’re not pushing that schools teach Intelligent Design but rather that they teach honest science, and at church we teach what we know. Eventually they will come together."

On women someday holding the priesthood:

"I don’t know. I really don’t know. We do honestly believe in the reality of revelation…We think the Lord continues to reveal His will…God has always acted that way and there’s no way he wouldn’t continue. In that sense it would be conceivable…He wants to time things in a certain way that’s up to Him."

On polygamy:

"When someone’s spouse has died for example and they remarry, they could be married in a temple for a second time, sealed as we say. How that sorts out in the afterlife we’ll leave in the Savior’s hand… The default mode is monogamy. That was divinely established at the beginning of time with Adam and Eve and it continues unless God for his own purposes, for whatever reason, permits, or authorizes or directs in this case the practice of plural marriage, and there have been times when He has, if you look at Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…and this instance here in the early (LDS) church history… but unless God were to specifically reveal to the Prophet this must be done at this time, it’s not, it’s wrong without his direction."

And the quote of the week:

"I think it’s important to admit on the scientific side there are limits to what we know, and on the religious side there are limits to what we know."

That sums up how I feel about knowledge and faith. There is a lot we don’t know. Science will continue to have more discoveries that modify or change current theories, and religion will continue to have more revelations that modify or change current beliefs. May we all be open to further light and knowledge.

Glasses and Sneezes

The devil and I now have something in common. We’re both wearing Prada these days. Yesterday I finally got some glasses after 5+ years of squinting. I’m a little near sighted, so with these glasses a whole new world of movies, road signs, and whatever the teacher was writing on the board are now within my view. Fortunately I don’t need to wear them all the time, just when I want to see anything.

Also, the Top 5 things that make the baby cry
5-when he has to do tummy time for longer than two seconds
4-when he wants to be held
3-when he wants to get out of bed
2-when he’s hungry
1-when I sneeze

This morning it was really bad, as I sneezed just as he was getting hungry. I asked him why he doesn’t cry when anyone else sneezes but he just looked at me and didn’t answer. Here's a happy picture (obviously there have been no recent sneezes).

Yatta!

We had a successful trip to our new stomping grounds this week. Thanks to LG we get to board the plane early! We couldn't bring his diaper rash cream though because it was more than 3 oz. Right after we landed we got in the car and drove probably 5 minutes to the apartment we had looked at online. We loved it! It has a nice view of a little forest from the living room, dishwasher, washer/dryer, an open kitchen/living room, and a gas fireplace. So we signed the lease.

The next day I had a job interview for a position as a mentor for foster children. It sounds very similar to what I have been doing as a CASA, but less on the "friend" side, and more on the "mentor/teacher" side. Anyway, I got the job! This has been a good trip! I even went to the courthouse to get fingerprinted so they could start my background check. Also, I have some information on a possible second job already! This one would be at the hospital where I would walk around making sure delirious people don't pull their own plugs. It pays a lot more than the mentor job but it's arguably not as fun.

Little Bug Finds His Lungs

L has decided that he can make a lot more noise than previously known, and he likes to demonstrate that for us. Often during the day he goes from completely asleep to screaming an about a third of a second. It's usually because he's hungry. Yesterday he ate at a Guinness obesity record-shattering rate of about every 1 1/2 to two hours. I think he has a four chin goal. It's not all ear-shattering though--he's started smiling a little and making cute non-primal-screaming sounds.

N still gets up with him in the night, and then when he wakes up in the morning she rubs my back until I wake up to take care of him. Often I'll be dreaming or something and suddenly I'm getting a back rub. I think to myself, wow, this is nice, and then as I wake up I realize she's just trying to "gently" let me know that it's my turn. : ) She's a great partner and she has a lot more patience with L than I do. Often when he is fussy I find myself telling him to "cowboy up!" but he doesn't seem to pay much attention to that.