Come Listen to the Prophet's Words

I forgot to mention the best part of October: General Conference.

I truly love it. And if last week's Woman's Conference was and indication, this year's conference will be another amazing one (as if any conference isn't amazing).

Well, in preparation for this weekend, here are some of my favorite excerpts from years past.

Jeffrey R. Holland, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, October 2005

First of all, I want you to be proud you are a woman. I want you to feel the reality of what that means, to know who you truly are. You are literally a spirit daughter of heavenly parents with a divine nature and an eternal destiny. That surpassing truth should be fixed deep in your soul and be fundamental to every decision you make as you grow into mature womanhood. There could never be a greater authentication of your dignity, your worth, your privileges, and your promise. Your Father in Heaven knows your name and knows your circumstance. He hears your prayers. He knows your hopes and dreams, including your fears and frustrations. And He knows what you can become through faith in Him.

David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, April 2005

The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance.



Neil L Anderson, Quorum of the Seventy, April 2007

Then-Elder Gordon B. Hinckley spoke of meeting a young naval officer from Asia. The officer had not been a Christian, but during training in the United States, he had learned about the Church and was baptized. He was now preparing to return to his native land.


President Hinckley asked the officer: "Your people are not Christians. What will happen when you return home a Christian, and, more particularly, a Mormon Christian?"


The officer's face clouded, and he replied: "My family will be disappointed. . . . As for my future and my career, all opportunity may be foreclosed against me."


President Hinckley asked, "Are you willing to pay so great a price for the gospel?"


With his dark eyes moistened by tears, he answered with a question: "It's true, isn't it?"


President Hinckley responded, "Yes, it is true."


To which the officer replied, "Then what else matters?"



James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, October 2005

I recently recalled a historic meeting in Jerusalem about 17 years ago. It was regarding the lease for the land on which the Brigham Young University's Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies was later built. Before this lease could be signed, President Ezra Taft Benson and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, then president of Brigham Young University, agreed with the Israeli government on behalf of the Church and the university not to proselyte in Israel. You might wonder why we agreed not to proselyte. We were required to do so in order to get the building permit to build that magnificent building which stands in the historic city of Jerusalem. To our knowledge the Church and BYU have scrupulously and honorably kept that nonproselyting commitment. After the lease had been signed, one of our friends insightfully remarked, "Oh, we know that you are not going to proselyte, but what are you going to do about the light that is in their eyes?"

And we'll finish up with President Gordon B. Hinckley (Oct. 2004), who I dearly miss.

Now, my brothers and sisters, I express to you again my love. May heaven smile upon you. This work is true. Never doubt it. God our Eternal Father lives. Jesus is our Redeemer, our Lord, the Son of the living God. Joseph was a prophet, the Book of Mormon is of divine origin, and this is God's holy work in the earth. I leave you my witness, my love, my blessing as we separate to go to our homes. May God be with you till we meet again is my humble prayer, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

This Month is Such a Special One . . .

Happy Birthday to my big brother, Jason!!

Wish we were closer to celebrate with you.

We love you and miss you and hope

you have a fantastic day!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On a separate and completely depressing note:

Game 1: Cubs lose 2-7

Game 2: Cubs lose 3-10

Both games were in Chicago.

Now they play the next 2 in LA.

There is a lot of this in the Connolly House:

There is Only One October

October is a blessed month.

It means you survived September.

And its my birthday.

And its Halloween.

And this October we get visits from Chris's parents two weekends in a row.

We are SO excited about that one.

But people . . .

It's the Major League Baseball playoffs.

And the Cubs are in.

Go Cubbies!!

Its been 100 years exactly.
This year is our year.

I wish we were here . . .

So Chris could be doing this . . .

Instead of this . . .

And I could be doing this . . .

Instead of this . . .

A girl can dream.

However, we pray there will be none of this . . .

I'm so nervous for our boys.

I don't know if my heart can take it.

On a somewhat related note:
As if I needed another reason to dislike Mr. Obama. Nice hat.

HAPPY OCTOBER.

Getting Political . . .

. . . in the most superficial of ways. I get too fired up when I'm serious about politics and then I get hot and then when I cool down I'm cold, and I get cranky when I'm cold. And if I'm hungry? Forget about it.

The truth is, I like politics a lot. Hold up . . . I like government a lot. I like issues and substance and good people trying to make an honest improvement in the world a lot. Politics seems so be totally separate from all of that these days. The other day in the Daily Beacon (UT's student newspaper) someone wrote about how this election has been going on for over 2 YEARS already and how its always the same things said over and over and how everyone is bored and ready for this election already. That's how I feel. The next month is only going to bring more mud-slinging. Issues just aren't as important these days.

In that spirit, let's review each candidate while taking into consideration everything EXCEPT their political beliefs. Seems like that's what a lot of other people are doing. ("Like wow, so many movie stars wear Obama shirts. I have to have one!") Just so you know, I'm about 95% Republican (dang sociology major stole 5% of my soul) and I'm not watching for bias.

Democrats

Hitting lead-off for the Dems is Barack "Obama is My Homeboy" Obama. ("Oh, my gosh, Obama is so cute and he would be the first black president which is super awesome. And he even talks like a white person!"). The thing that drives me insane about Barack Obama is that he is such a pop culture movement. Fergie at the DNC convention, Oprah as a HUGE supporter, Matt Lauer worshipping him subtly (or not so subtly) in every news report, hip Obama t-shirts, shoes, panties . . . and exchanging emails with Scarlett Johannsson ("how cool is that!"). And all the lemmings who love how hip it is to love Obama. (Now if you know what you're talking about, and know what Obama really believes other than his spoutings of "change", and you are Pro-Obama, than that is wonderful. I'm glad you care about politics--no sarcasm). Anyway, I'm almost certain the Dems are going to win in November. People hate Bush that much and Obama is My Homeboy is too appealing. And there's a huge chance he'll get a Democratic House and Congress too---Matt, remember how you said Canada was too socialist? Wait 'til Obama is My Homeboy takes the reigns. Oh no! I'm getting too serious. Anyway, if it comes down to people looking at Obama is My Homeboy and looking and McMaverick McCain and saying "who should I vote for?", then Obama will win that straight up. Who could resist that smile?

Super-Obama's old and experienced sidekick is Joe Biden. Honestly the only time I ever see Joe Biden is when he is saying something mean about Sarah Palin. He seems like he's there to give the ticket some sort of merit and to be the attack dog. Actually, that's probably exactly why he is there. Really, I don't know anything else about him. That's all I have to say about that. ("Oh wow, does he really know Obama!? I'm so jealous!").
Republicans

Did you know John McCain was a POW? I had never heard that before! (please detect my sarcasm). I'm not belittling that one, trust me. McMaverick McCain has served this country his whole life and so did his father and now his sons are too. I think that's great. In fact, in a time of war a man who has spent a great deal of time in uniform would probably be a healthy little qualification. ("But he isn't email-pals with any movie stars!") And a HUGE bonus: his wife is so cute and SUPER stylish. My greatest fears about McCain: a war that never finds an end and the fact that he's kind of old. They say a 2-term presidency ages you 20 years (have you seen Bush lately? He looks horrible). That would take McMaverick to the ripe old age of 92. Hmmmm.
The Republican runner-up (she was runner-up for Miss Alaska too, poor girl) is Gov. Sarah Palin. I'm not gonna lie; I heart Sarah Palin. She's my BFF. She's cute and down to earth and smart and successful. She's got a beautiful husband and beautiful kids and comes from a beautiful state. She's funny and personable, like the kind of woman you'd want to meet for lunch at Applebees. But I'm not so sure she is ready to be a heartbeat away from the BiG Chair. Especially when that heartbeat is 72 years old. If I could have my way, I'd take 8 years off of John McCain's life and add it to Sarah Palin's.
Actually, if I REALLY had my way, I'd be able to vote for a Romney-McCain ticket. That would be nice. Talk about beauty and brains.

Don't forget to vote. Election Day is November 4th.

These are MY confessions - the manly version

Ok, I rarely post on this blog because Erin is an extremely creative person and her posts would put mine to shame. However, her last blog about 13 confessions that few people know about intrigued me and so I've decided to make a confession list of my own. And by the way I can't believe my wife was beguiling me into getting her water!!! I thought she was completely innocent! Now the games will begin....

1. I love to cook. No seriously, you can all stop laughing. My closest friends know that before I married Erin, I didn't know how to cook chicken. Wow, that is very embarrassing. My meals consisted of nachos and toast. Now I'm constantly looking up recipes, studying great chefs like my mom and Erin's dad, and trying new things. I'm not very accomplished yet but I make a mean corn chowder!

2. Again my closest friends know and have mocked me for some time now, but I can't burp. Yea, make fun of my manliness or whatever, but I can't do it. Oh my sisters can knock buildings down. Really, they will lay waste to anything with one belch, but I just can't do it. When I try (and I've tried, believe me) I just throw up! So I constantly make these strange sounds from my chest, known to my family as a "YAR" because that's what it sounds like. My dad can't either. Genetic perhaps?

3. I have two career choices I would have loved to do if it were possible/rational..... The starting third baseman for the Chicago Cubs or a demolition expert in the military.

4. I love fast food. Much like Erin is addicted to Chocolate, I absolutely go nuts over cheeseburgers. I love them, especially the huge ones. We never go to fast food restaurants, because I really enjoy it and because its slightly unhealthy. I let go once with cheeseburgers.... it was on our honeymoon. In six days, I consumed 7 cheeseburgers - something might be wrong with me.

5. I really love the west (not including California, new Mexico, or Nevada). The mountains, the air, the camping! Even though I've always lived in the Midwest, I want to settle in the mountains. Montana would be so nice, but Erin won't allow it.

6. I met Elder Russell M. Nelson on my mission and he made fun of me. I think. I'm really quite gullible.

7. I drink out of the milk jug.... especially when Erin is not watching.

8. I have no control over my emotions when watching "I am Legend". The part when he is forced to kill his dog and only friend, Samantha, because she is infected with the virus, makes me cry every time. I was actually crying in the movie theater the first time we saw it, I felt pitiful. Chick flicks are comical to me. Depressing movies I find very stupid. But "I am Legend"...... that will get the waterworks going. That's right, I love dogs.

9. When I was a kid, I was a fan of es cargo. Not the edible kind. My mom said I used to pick snails up off the sidewalk and just chew them up. Now I don't remember this, so its not for sure. Those of you that know my mom know she is very capable of deceit:).

10. Spiders really scare me. I don't have bad dreams about murders or kidnappings, but about huge, violent, terrifying spiders and sometimes velociraptors. I check the sheets at night to make sure they are not in there waiting for me. No I'm not ashamed!

11. I often wear a pair of snoopy pajama pants my mother gave me three Christmases ago. On them Charlie Brown says, "I don't have any girlfriends.... all I have is a dog."

12. I think of my best friends and ex roommates as brothers in every sense.

13. Still sleep with same brown blanket as I did when I was a kid. It is to this day unmatched in pure comfort, insulation, and security.

I don't think I'll tag anyone, because that's kinda wierd.

These are My Confessions

Have you ever heard that Usher song about confessions? Its horrible.

Anyway, I was tagged a while back, and since I cannot think of anything else to blog about this time around (I'm getting desperate, considering I've been blogging about Swedish hockey arenas and bad headlines that aren't really bad) I figured I'd go ahead and do it. So lets get on with it:

13 Confessions

1. I love watching random movies on TV at 2 in the morning. One time we watched "Cold Mountain" from 1 am to 4 am, then had to go to our friends' wedding in Salt Lake the next morning. It was bad.

2. I can't take a shower under 20 minutes. Actually, 20 minutes is pushing it.

3. My most rebellious teenage act was when I didn't speak to my parents for a week. Then I realized they were right.

4. I have stolen from a store a grand total of once in my life. It was a chocolate chip. I was standing next to one of those big bulk bins in the grocery store (I was probably 8 or 9) and saw a bin full of chocolate chips. I'm a sucker for chocolate, so I reached in when my mother wasn't looking and popped one chip in my mouth. It tasted so horrible. Disgusting. I knew instantly what had happened: God had cursed the chocolate chip so it would taste bad because stealing was wrong. I felt horrible. As I walked away I glanced up and saw the sign above the bin: "Sugar-free Chocolate Chips." So that's why it tasted horrible; talk about a guilty conscious. Nevertheless, the lesson stuck and I never stole again.

5. I'm a sucker for chocolate (see #4). We no longer keep it in the house because I have absolutely no self control.

6. I miss being a student. A lot.

7. I don't have a biggest fear. I'm afraid or nervous about a lot of little things, but I don't really have one thing that terrifies me more than anything else.

8. There are certain people that I dislike for absolutely no valid reason. I try to fight it and push it back and ignore it, but I can't help but not like them. (No worries, I can assure you that it isn't you.) Most of the time it happens with total strangers/random not-so-famous people. A few examples are Rick Fox and Kim Clijsters.

9. Sometimes I say things like "I'm thirsty" in front of Chris because I know he'll get up to get me some water. Then when he does I'll say "Oh, no I didn't mean for you to have to get up. I'll get up in a second." But he gets up anyway because he is good to me. And I know he'll get up anyway. Isn't that evil?

10. I love celebrity gossip: People magazine, E! News, etc. Its a horrible waste of time.

11. I blog stalk. (But, honestly, who doesn't?)

12. Sometimes I don't call home because it makes me too homesick. Its easier to pretend home doesn't exist.

13. I truly adore Dr. Pepper.

I tag: Dore, Lindsay, Caroline

Tennessee Traditions

So my new job is at the UT Undergraduate Admissions office. One thing the office does is put on campus tours for incoming freshmen, so the powers that be decided I should go on one of the tours. It was actually quite fun and interesting, and I learned a lot about some of UT's traditions. Its funny to think about, because each university does have its own way of doing things and its own lingo. I had gotten so used to BYU's ways that I didn't realize how different if would be elsewhere. So here are some of my favorite traditions, some of which were mentioned on the tour.

The Checkerboard Endzones
Anyone who has seen UT football highlights (sadly, you may not have seen too many this year) has noticed the distinct orange and white checker endzones. Well, there is actually a story behind them. The most distinct building on campus is the math building. It sits atop "The Hill" and is very recognizable. You can see in this picture that at the top of this building there is architectural detail that makes checkers out of white stone and red brick.

Well, back in the day, before more buildings were built and before Neyland Stadium was added onto for more seating, the football players could see the math building up on the hill when they were on the field. During practice, sprints, drills, whatever, the coaches would yell "Run to the checkerboard" meaning run in the direction of the building up on the hill. Well, the saying stuck and eventually they painted the endzones with the same checkerboard so the players would always "run to the checkerboard". Cute, huh?
Volunteer Nickname
Got this from the UT website: "Since the Revolutionary War, Tennesseans have been quick to volunteer for military duty. During the Mexican War, Gov. Aaron Brown issued a call requesting 2,800 volunteers for military service and 30,000 responded. A UT athletic team was dubbed the Volunteers for the first time in 1902 by the Atlanta Constitution following a Tennessee-Georgia Tech football game. The Knoxville Journal and Tribune did not use the name until 1905. By the fall of 1905 both the Journal and the Knoxville Sentinel were using the nickname. The name "Volunteers" is frequently shortened to "Vols" in describing Tennessee's athletic teams." So there you have it; Tennesseans volunteer a lot. My favorite thing about this nickname is how the use "Vol" in so many clever ways. The newly renovated business building is called 'Vol Street' (get it, like Wall Street) and they have 'Vol Night Parties' (get it, like All Night Party). They do that a lot, and it's so clever. Love that. Smokey the Mascot
In 1953 the campus Pep Club sponsored a contest to have a live mascot. Smokey, a blue-tick hound, was the last to be introduced at the half-time contest. When his name was called out, he barked. The students cheered and Smokey threw his head back and howled again and UT Knoxville had its new mascot. According to a lady I work with (in the thickest southern accent possible): "If you'd ever heard a blue-tick hound howl, you'd know why we picked him". The same family has been supplying UT with a line of blue-tick hounds since that time. Today’s mascot is Smokey IX. Smokey leads the Vols through the “T” prior to each home football game.
"Rocky Top"
This is the university song (and the state song, for that matter). "Rocky Top" was written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant in 1967. The song did not become popular until after 1972 when the Pride of the Southland Band used it for one of their drills. The football crowd loved the tune and its words; the more the band played it, the more people wanted it. It has now become one of UT's best-known traditions. UT's band (to be mentioned later) has been asked to play at a bunch of presidential inaugurations and all over the world. No matter where they are, they are always asked to play Rocky Top. I originally thought the song was horribly annoying, but its grown on me. [Listen here]. The lyrics, however, are hilariously Tennessee-esque.

Rocky Top
by Boudleax and Felice Bryant

Wish that I was on ol' Rocky Top

Down in the Tennessee hills

Aint' no smoggy smoke on Rocky Top

Ain't no telephone bills

Once I had a girl on Rocky Top

Half bear, other half cat

Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop

I still dream about that.

Rocky Top you'll always be

Home sweet home to me

Good ol' Rocky Top

Rocky Top Tennessee,

Rocky Top Tennessee

Once two strangers climbed ol' Rocky Top

Lookin' for a moonshine still

Strangers ain't come down from Rocky Top

Reckon they never will

Rocky Top you'll always be

Home sweet home to me

Good ol' Rocky Top

Rocky Top Tennessee,

Rocky Top Tennessee

Corn won't grow at all on Rocky Top

Dirt's too rocky by far

That's why all the folks on Rocky Top

Get their corn from a jar
Rocky Top you'll always be

Home sweet home to me

Good ol' Rocky Top

Rocky Top Tennessee,

Rocky Top Tennessee

I've had years of cramped-up city life

Trapped like a duck in a pen

All I know is it's a pity life

Can't be simple again

Rocky Top you'll always be

Home sweet home to me

Good ol' Rocky Top

Rocky Top Tennessee,

Rocky Top Tennessee

Pride of the Southland Band
The University of Tennessee band was organized immediately after the Civil War when the university reopened. Since then, enrollment in the band program has grown to more than 400 students. The “Pride of the Southland” has represented the state of Tennessee for the last 40 years at 10 consecutive U.S. Presidential Inaugurations, from Dwight D. Eisenhower to George W. Bush. The band also has made more than 40 bowl appearances. The band is a big deal and they do a pre-game show that I hear is a real site to behold. I'm looking forward to that one.

The Rock
Unearthed in the 1960s, the Rock probably soon thereafter became a “canvas” for student messages. For years the university sandblasted away the messages but eventually deferred to students’ artistic endeavors. The Daily Beacon has editorialized: “Originally a smaller rock, The Rock has grown in prestige and size while thousands of coats of paint have been thrown on its jagged face. Really, its function is as an open forum for students.” Its amazing because the rock is literally painted several times a day. I drive by it twice a day, and its never the same. It was crazy though, because my first week here I was thinking this place wasn't too different from BYU. I drove by the rock and it read: "Had Sex? Get Checked" and a phone number. Wow, I wish I would have gotten a picture of that one. Ha ha.

So its been fun to get to know UT and some of its traditions. It crazy how important knowing that kind of stuff and make you feel all the more at home.