Is perfectionism something that we just one day reach after much aspiration. Perhaps a loud ‘boing’ sound permeates the air and we are deemed perfect. This would assume that it is a state that cannot be added upon and to me that just seems uninspired.

At our enrichment meeting last week, the teacher was discussing goals and what deters us from attaining our resolutions. I made the observation that I think our desire for perfectionism often sabotages our goals. Que relief society president, rapid eye movement and uncomfortable squirming, “did she just say perfectionism sabotages us?” you could hear her brain screaming. I went on to say, “I think the worldy view of perfection is a dream killer, I think it assumes that turmoil or mess is bad. That any sin or hiccup in the process, tarnishes the effort and undermines the result.” Perfectionism assumes that every step we take MUST be the right one. If it is not, maybe you can achieve your goal, but poo poo on you, it wasn’t a perfect journey.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts, doctrinal quotes, etc, on the topic of perfection. I have opinions…but no answers…

It’s water cooler talk at work on Friday. Did Oprah go too far? Or is James Frey a pathological liar who deserves the public flaming?

I admit I was interested but once it started I quickly realized I couldn’t watch the show. Seriously made me feel like I was watching a public execution. I can understand that Oprah was embarrased by his obvious misrepresentation of the actual facts. He lied. It’s obvious. But he is a person who is obviously not 100%, and showed up anyway…and I don’t think her approach created a desire to change or support forgiveness…I assumed she wanted to come off as a strong woman who would not allow her name to be associated with a lie, but to me she ended up looking like someone who was embarrased and had the means to publicly flog the culprit.

There was a baby blessing in our ward today. Dad carried a little white confection to the front and about 20 guys joined him in the circle.

When the blessing was completed he forgot the all important money shot. This is when the Dad hoists the new born as high as their delicate infant bodies will allow so we can all collectively say, “Awwww!”

I feel jipped! Has there been some memo from Salt Lake telling us we can no longer do this time honored tradition? Mary, did you have somthing to do with this?

I was helping the primary chorister get ready for the musical interludes of singing time, some 3 years ago. Her husband, who was and still is, a non-member had helped her put together the activity for this particular Sunday. She had an envelope filled with little slips of paper, each bearing the name of a primary song the children were practising. One of the slips of paper read, in her husbands scrawly printing: Follow the profit.

It made me smile and a little sad, but also very curious regarding this interpretation of the word Prophet. I thought of how the world views and worships at the hip of monetary gain. How “following the profit” is a daily pursuit of tens of millions around the world. Yet change 2 or 3 letters in that phrase and it means something completely different. Suddenly there is more value, not in dollars, but in spirit and character and humility.

The word profit implies benefit…but not necessarly the benefit of financial gain. Here lies the similarity between the word profit and prophet. It is the advantage of all of us, whether we know it or are oblivious to the fact, that we have a living prophet. Even the fellas screaming on wall street this very minute reap some small benefit because we have a living Prophet. They have and all of us have the potential to profit through the modern day directions of a Prophet of God.

Who knew we could follow the profit by truly following the Prophet.

So, I’ve started reading the Book of Mormon [again]. True to form, I’m late to the party and behind the congregation (or am I?) To switch it up a bit, I started in 3rd Nephi.

I am impressed by the timely call of our prophet. Even before the tragedies left in Katrina’s wake, we were given a call to search our scriptures. Amid the daily sadness in the world, we have the oppurtunity to find insight and personal revelation in another testament of Christ.

How cool is that?

“…and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.” Mosiah 4:10

Don’t you think the last part is the biblical version of Just Do It? There is some advertising agency out there that stumbled across this truth and found a way to market it and in some bizarre way, that sold running shoes.

Yet, this scripture isn’t trying to sell us a thing. Instead, it is trying to guide us and pull us out of our apathy by letting our belief be our motivator. Belief that we can repent and be forgiven. That humility is powerful and life changing.

And if you want to run on a lonely road while you ponder this truth…I’m sure Nike wouldn’t mind.

I am the mother to a child with a moderate hearing loss. I am also the wife of a man with profound hearing loss. I have been audience to their struggles in a world of sound. I have also been front seat for many victories.

I remember sitting in primary one of the first Sunday’s my daughter attended. The primary president began speaking very quietly. I knew even with hearing aids, my daughter would not hear what she was saying. She began talking about how when you feel the spirit you should become quiet in speech and action. My daughter was staring out the window, not hearing, not invited, not understanding. A distinct message was being sent to me and her. If you can’t hear…you can’t feel the spirit.

I talked to my husband about this later, asking him what his experience had been like in church. He talked about how much he missed. How often he sits through meetings unable to make out the mumblings of the brethren in priesthood, missing countless talks and lessons simply by sitting near a window, in front of two chatty friends, or a teacher that talked into the chalkboard. Even with hearing aids, these situations exist, as hearing aids make everything louder. And pulling out the main sound can often be an exhausting battle, especially when you add an organ into the fray.

To address this need in my daughters life, I brought her FM system to church. Which is a device that brings the wearer’s voice to my duaghters ears. I was shocked when someone refused to wear it. REFUSED. It is not invasive, it is worn simply as a necklace and then transmits directly to my daughters hearing aids, no one else. I left church angry and heartbroken and to this day I have not brought the FM system back to church.

I have a new admiration for members who have a hearing loss. For showing up, even when they know they may get very little out of the meetings.

Thanks for the warm welcome Kim. This seems like a safe passage into the bloggernacle and I’m grateful for the oppurtunity.

As Kim mentioned, I live in the Edmonton area. Just moved out of the best ward I have ever been a part of and now find myself in Sherwood Park and I’m very much, “the new girl” and my family is probably annoying countless fellow Sherwood Parkians by squatting in their pew. Many of my posts will probably wine about our weekly struggles of incorporating ourselves into this new environment. Well, until I get over it…

Seven years ago I married my best friend and we’ve settled into a comfy marriage, and I’ve decided I’ll scrapbook our wedding photos. Think we might actually make it now (Somewhere there is a 6+ foot tall blond rolling his eyes). We have a lot of fun together and tend to bond over renovations. My daughter is five and will be venturing into grade one in the fall. It’s gonna be a great summer with more pictures drawn for the fridge than I know what to do with.

Random things about me: Photography is one of my passions. I hope to set up a studio in my home and pursue this artform as a hobby with benefits. I spend an absurd amount of time at Totem Building Supplies lately as our new home requires “some work.” I work as design team member for an online scrapbooking community and it fills my needs creatively (for the most part).

Hope this didn’t all sound too smug and simple. If it does, not to worry, something always goes wrong.

I genuinely look forward to being part of Our Thoughts.