The New and Improved Prophet

Even as a believing Mormon, I thought it was silly the way certain figures have come to be represented over the years, from the Americanization of Jesus to the modernization of Joseph Smith. Compare:

Big nose, slightly bug-eyed, looking like the 19th century military and spiritual leader he saw himself as.

More prophet and less theocrat. Looks like a man burdened by God.

Hey, the all-American boy. Handsome, strong, clothes and features completely removed from reality. Those marketers sure can do their job.

BoM musical

Just bought the soundtrack to Trey Parker and Matt Stone's Book of Mormon musical off Amazon for $2. So far it's put a big smile on my face. If I had the cash, I'd fly out to NY  to see it. But I'm sure it'll come to LA sooner or later.

Called to Serve ... Again

Every so often I dream that I have been called on a mission again. Almost always I ask myself, "Why? I've already done this. I don't want to do it again. I don't even believe in this stuff." Even so, I almost always go along.

But this time it was with a lot of guys from my high school. And that's always the best part of these dreams. The fraternity of it.

This one ended with me giving a fiery lecture on evolution from the pulpit. Not that I'm an expert in biology (or anything, for that matter), but I've been reading Dawkins lately - The Greatest Show on Earth.