Okay, last post about the mission, I promise. The last one made me think of another phenomenon of the mission: Spanglish (those who went to English-speaking missions, I’m sorry, you’ll probably feel left out of this thread). Whenever the gringos would get together we’d speak English to each other, but a different sort of English. You see, there are many words that communicate better and/or are easier to say in Spanish. Therefore we’d say sentences such as, “Dude, Elder Whalstrom totally got regañared (chewed out) by the prez yesterday.” or “The elders from Antigua and Chimaltenango have been juntarring (getting together) every p-day since July.” You continue this long after the mission. There are some words that I still think of in Spanish before I think of it in English (like “recuerdo” which means souvenier). I know there are others but can’t think of them now.

Did anyone else do this in any other mission, any language?

While we’re on the topic of mission rules I thought I’d take this opportunity to have an open thread on:

A) Dumb Mission Rules
B) Missionaries Who Did Dumb Things

I’ll start.
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Tim Jacob and I were in the same mission in Guatemala. When he was a greenie I was his first zone leader (though I barely remember the little tyke). He has recently discovered the Bloggernacle and is once again a greenie feeling his way around. He’s a baby sucking his thumb. He’s a cub in a nest of pythons. He’s a duckling without a… er, okay, I’m just trying to make myself feel superior since he told me that after I left the mission it got better. (In other words, don’t be too nice to him just because he’s new)

Oh, and as a disclaimer, I don’t necessarily agree with this post, his ideas, or his haircut. I’ve just been too lazy to write posts lately and hey, what better way to fill the void than taking advantage of newbies?
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After I read Geoff’s recent post I began writing a comment. Realizing it would unnecessarily derail the thread I decided to make the snark in my own forum. And because this is now a blog post rather than a comment I now have to make it like three paragraphs rather than one, just so it looks like I put a lot of time and thought into it. Sheesh, the lengths I go to prevent threadjacking…
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It seems to me that members of the church tend to pride themselves in saying that our church has the same doctrines and same organization that Christ’s church had when he established it.  Obviously the church organization is considerably different, and so are many of the doctrines.

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I’ve had a few inquiries lately as to why I named this blog Nine Moons. I’m surprised so few people know my reasoning considering the fact that I explained it in my very first blog entry back in July of 2004.

To quote myself:

A quick explanation of the name of my blog: nine moons is the amount of time Coriantumr spent with the people of Zarahemla. Considering the cultural differences but spiritual similarities, I can only imagine the discussions they had in those nine months. Mormon blogs fascinate me because I love to see the different cultural perspectives of members from all over the world discussing Gospel principles.

Now that I’ve been doing this for over a year I think I could have chosen a less obscure title… you know, like New Cool Thang or Splendid Sun. Alas, my brand has gripped me and I cannot struggle free of the the name. But hey, what can ya do?

I want to extend a big thanks to Silus Grok for his heartfelt posts here at Nine Moons. It’s been a great discussion. I hope we’ve all been able to take something away from his and each other’s comments. I’m pleased that the tone of those participating has been very respectful and open.

Please feel free to visit him on his own blog here.

I’d also like to extend a thanks to D Fletcher for his insights as well. They have been an important part of the conversation.

Thanks again, both Silus and D.

It’s a little like Mormons everywhere felt watching Julie on Real World, New Orleans.

Pride festivals are now held across the country each summer. Salt Lake has one, and Utah activist groups are now talking about bringing it to Utah County and Provo. It’s a veritable calvacade of clichés… and it’s not for me. “It’s just for fun”, I’m told… “I really need to relax”. But I resent that my orientation has been reduced to parody.
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Hey everyone… I have one last installment to post tonight (Thoughts on the Modern Gay), and then I’m returning the blog to it’s previously-scheduled programming.

Because a thank-you post might foreshorten comments on the last post, though, I want to take a moment now to say thank you to everyone for their participation… it’s been a wonferful trip! I’ve really enjoyed the discussion, and it’s helped me in many ways to re-think my approach. I hope to take all of this, and finish my essay soon. When I do, I’ll put it up on my site, so stay tuned.

: )

A’ight… back to work.

See y’all in the comments!

Hey everyone… I have one last installment to post tonight (Thoughts on the Modern Gay), and then I’m returning the blog to it’s previously-scheduled programming.

Because a thank-you post might foreshorten comments on the last post, though, I want to take a moment now to say thank you to everyone for their participation… it’s been a wonferful trip! I’ve really enjoyed the discussion, and it’s helped me in many ways to re-think my approach. I hope to take all of this, and finish my essay soon. When I do, I’ll put it up on my site, so stay tuned.

: )

A’ight… back to work.

See y’all in the comments!

My wife and I just got back from the National Bridal Market in Las Vegas.  Before we left and each day there we offered prayers to be "guided and directed" on our choices etc.  Were we?  That’s the questions that got me thinking about guidence from the Holy Ghost.

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These aren’t predictions, just musings.
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As a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the doctrinal perspective on homosexuality is of particular interest to me. To be frank, I need more study on the matter to have any concrete opinion… but I think my current thinking on various doctrinal questions may be of interest to you. Whatever your interest, I am certain that _your_ opinion on the matter is of interest to _me_.
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Hey everyone, I’ve heard from folks all over that our little series is getting some attention from a couple of sites out there… so I wanted to be sure to welcome everyone visiting.

Also, the next essay in the series (On Doctrine & the Plan) will be posted tonight.

Again, thank you everyone for your interest in this little experiment.

I can’t hope to do in a few thousand words what experts have failed to do in a few million… I can’t begin to define homosexuality in any real or concrete terms — words which can withstand the rigors of the scientific method.

But that’s not my goal… not here, at least.

What I’d like to do, this brisk Sunday evening, is to lightly tread a few well-trod paths describing the flora and fauna — and to venture a little way into the darkness to hazard a few thoughts of my own.

In the end, I hope that you’ll have a larger vocabulary… and perhaps a deeper understanding of width and breadth of the wood were walking in — of the pitch were playing on.
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