When our son Lucas Henry Proctor was just a little baby he could project his voice across a stake center from the front row in the chapel to the stage in the cultural hall. It wasn’t really that fun, then, trying to teach him reverence. Little did we know that inside that little body was the voice of an angel! Lucas’s voice has often been compared with Josh Groban or Kenny Logins and he is...

Great Salt Lake Council statement on the proposed BSA resolution: We acknowledge and commend the BSA for seeking input from membership at all levels as well as public input on Scouting and its membership policy. We are appreciative of the opportunity to participate in the process and that our voice was heard.  Also, we believe that “Duty to God” and moral behavior must continue to...

Mitt Romney delivered a graduation speech recently to a largely Mormon audience at Southern Virginia University in which, among other things, he suggested that the school’s graduating seniors not unduly delay marriage and children. His countercultural remarks have drawn a firestorm of criticism, and have been pronounced deeply weird and the ravings of a “religious fanatic” by elements of...

Elizabeth Smart has been a hero ever since the day she walked away from her abusive captors and freed herself from abduction. She has been a wonderful role model to Mormon young women by getting an education, serving a mission, and getting married in the temple. She is a role model to people everywhere for overcoming the abuse she endured as a teen during her horrible ordeal. But today I love...

During the Sunday School lesson on the law of consecration and tithing, we studied Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s October 2010 conference talk entitled:  “Reflections on a Consecrated Life.”  One passage I read seemed particularly interesting in light of the belief in physical-only chance mutations as the driving force for all biological change.   “A consecrated life...

When it comes to resources for family home evening, Sunday School, scouting, primary, youth activities, or Relief Society, more and more Latter-day Saints are turning to Sugardoodle, an increasingly popular website for ideas and materials. One of their most popular products (and one offered for free, I might add), are downloadable pre-prepared packets meant to help maximize the General...

As the much publicized and debated December 21, 2012 date arrives, both scientists and Mayan descendants caution against worries of a giant catastrophe happening in a few days. "NASA scientists took time on Wednesday (Nov. 28) to soothe 2012 doomsday fears, warning against the dark side of Mayan apocalypse rumors — frightened children and suicidal teens who truly fear the world may come to an...

Back around 1985 or early 1986, when I was beginning to compose the lengthy essay that would ultimately become the core of my book Offenders for a Word: How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games to Attack the Latter-day Saints, I was watching one of the nightly network news programs.  The last few minutes of that broadcast were given over to a profile of the efforts of the Rev. Henry F. Fingerlin,...

First day of Forgotten Carols rehearsals and I’m a happy guy.  Reunited with great friends anticipating the best season ever and already having way too much fun.  As we reviewed the blocking of the show and looked for better ways to bring the story to life we found some really fun stuff that’s been buried in the script for several years but now seems to be surfacing....

Three days of chores and I’m feeling “chore’d out”.  Don’t get me wrong.  There’s a great feeling of satisfaction getting an oversized load of stuff hauled off to the dump, getting my dad’s car repaired, moving the fire-pit benches up out of the sure to come snow, putting new tires on Lynne’s car, getting folks to the dentist, the...

I did something wonderful today.  I gave my wife and my daughter and my granddaughter a gift.  I gave them a nap.  Put them in their napping spots, closed the doors, plumped their pillows took Bucky on an adventure which took all afternoon. I’m currently patting myself on the back…taking full (and I mean FULL) credit for my wonderfulness.  Not taking credit...

I was interviewed today.  Utah Valley Magazine has been around ten years and they asked if they could do an article on me for the November/December edition.  The writer was kind enough to come up to Scotshaven to do the interview and as I reflect on our time together I realize something about myself.  I talk to much. I don’t mean just a little bit over the top, to...