SiZ (Test)

Can Mormons Dance?

Can Mormons Dance?

We get this question a lot from some of our non- LDS readers, CAN MORMONS DANCE? If you are asking if we are allowed to dance, the answer...

Lions and Tigers and Bedlamites, Oh My!

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7vi0J0Ln0pIiI-eG66R0MMELboVbrmfbuHjTaWp0IAl9v_v80Bmk1jzyFSXlBFT7B3bRtpLTigdoN0N6IM0Xg05yDnEklWFzExDawU9TitT6fZ9URbMhu7z6DLFIrhImLlufZaU8o_4/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7vi0J0Ln0pIiI-eG66R0MMELboVbrmfbuHjTaWp0IAl9v_v80Bmk1jzyFSXlBFT7B3bRtpLTigdoN0N6IM0Xg05yDnEklWFzExDawU9TitT6fZ9URbMhu7z6DLFIrhImLlufZaU8o_4/s1600/1.jpg" /></a>First things first, we can’t say enough about how wonderful April 2011 <a href="http://lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng">General Conference</a> was this past weekend, we felt saved, sanctified and Holy Ghost filled! Now let’s get to <a href="http://lds.org/church/leader/jeffrey-r-holland?lang=eng&query=elder+holland">Elder Jeffrey R. Holland</a>! When Elder Holland made that hilarous remark about trying to hold <a href="http://lds.org/hf/fhe/welcome/0,16785,4210-1,00.html">Family Home Evening</a> inspite of the bedlam in a house reigned by little "bedlamlites," he had us rolling (urban translation, rolling: laughing extremely hard). The word Bedlamites is definitely getting added to the Mormon dictionary, right next to Nephites and Lamanites. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">Bedlamites will now be the beloved word used to reference rambunctious children; it will be the loving way Primary teachers refer to their unruly pupils. Sunbeams and Bedlamites will probably now be interchangeable. We can see the t-shirts that Desert Book will start selling; “My Bedlamite is cuter than your Bedlamite,” “Lions and Tigers and Bedlamites, Oh My!” “Todays’ Bedlamite’s are tomorrow’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_thousand_stripling_warriors">Stripling Warriors</a>.” </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, when we looked up bedlamite on Dictionary.com, (we were checking to see if the Church had copyrighted it yet, LDS folk get things done quick, fast and in a hurry) it said, and we quote “Bedlamite: an insane person; lunatic.” Yup, Elder Holland just politely called ya kids crazy!</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Is there anyone out there who knows the art of politely telling it like it is better than the <a href="http://www.mormon.org/">Mormons</a> do? If you aren’t <a href="http://www.lds.org/">LDS</a> and a young man was to tell you that you’re daughter has a sweet spirit, you would probably be so flattered. Well don’t be, cause that means that boy thinks her personality is nice and all, but he’s not really feelin' her in the looks department. I know you can’t believe it, but that is what that sugar-coated comment actually means.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ESPN writer, <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/rick-reilly-go-fish/post/_/id/869/rick-reilly-mailbag">Rick Reilly</a> recently wrote an <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/rick-reilly-go-fish/post/_/id/869/rick-reilly-mailbag">article</a> about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmer_Fredette">Jimmer Fredette</a> that some Mormons were upset about, this is what Rick had to say about the hate mail: “The best hate mail in America comes from <a href="http://www.byu.edu/">BYU</a> fans. Even when they're spitting 20-penny nails, they're still incurably nice. Alabama fans will write hoping you die a slow, painful death, staked to an anthill while your mom watches, but the worst a BYU fan will say to you is that you're not going to heaven.”</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">That’s how we roll. We LDS like to L-D-S (Let’em Down Sensitively). Rick Reilly, take a lesson from the Mormons next time you’re talking about Jimmer’s fans say something like, "I can’t believe all the Bedlam those BYU Bedlamites are causing", it may go over a little better. On the real, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk was excellent, you can catch it <a href="http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/04?lang=eng&vid=883477018001&cid=10">here</a>. And just in case some of you still don’t believe us about the phrase “sweet spirit,” here’s the lyrics to the song “Sweet Spirit” by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_Provo">Sons of Provo</a>.</div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gJp9e0bFHQU?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />God Bless,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Lions and Tigers and Bedlamites, Oh My!

First things first, we can’t say enough about how wonderful April 2011 General Conference was this past weekend, we felt saved, sanctified ...

We Meet Again As Sistas and a Few Brothas

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHAzpHz2D8UUTo5vh2jMox1BS1aATVoqiSFHtgbtqraZy91b00hY57KsMz3AXxK1GhCVSYjPoyzBGqZhOrhEo1EVsb632IMDiEDNjfs6dQxZdEJKwOQXzkT3vNQfjnZdeYuMPcy6aNMk/s1600/women+emp.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558932518315838178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPHAzpHz2D8UUTo5vh2jMox1BS1aATVoqiSFHtgbtqraZy91b00hY57KsMz3AXxK1GhCVSYjPoyzBGqZhOrhEo1EVsb632IMDiEDNjfs6dQxZdEJKwOQXzkT3vNQfjnZdeYuMPcy6aNMk/s320/women+emp.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 181px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 278px;" /></a><br />Guess whos back? Back again, Sistas back, tell yo friends!! <br /><div></div><div>We Meet Again As Sisters </div><div>pg. 311 </div><div>1. We meet again as sisters, On this the Sabbath day, To worship God together, To testify and pray. Now may the Holy Spirit, Descending like a dove, Enlarge our minds with knowledge, And fill our hearts with love.</div><div><br />2. We meet to plan our service, To neighbors now in need. May charity and kindness, Inspire our ev’ry deed. And as we use our talents, For good and noble ends, May God be our companion, And angels be our friends.<br /><br />3. We meet to sing together, The praises of our Lord, To seek our exaltation, According to his word. To ev’ry gospel blessing, The Lord has turned the key, That we, with heav’nly parents, May sing eternally.<br /><br />We have missed you all so much!!! </div><div></div><div>Do you have any questions for the Sista's? What topics would you like to see us address?</div>

We Meet Again As Sistas and a Few Brothas

Guess whos back? Back again, Sistas back, tell yo friends!! We Meet Again As Sisters pg. 311 1. We meet again as sisters, On this the Sabbat...

Is Carlton Banks a Mormon?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof2R49LiCnjeiO0sx6viW6I0Q3Efj5npGQL_X7iXrUIaSm1xt50O14hmckmsTpJ4cbs8efClMmGYYXimD5aJEomWhQpPlg4bsjo7qHQrEdbuJ4iXWLmMwp8bWXriMEZmnolzbcd31S24/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhof2R49LiCnjeiO0sx6viW6I0Q3Efj5npGQL_X7iXrUIaSm1xt50O14hmckmsTpJ4cbs8efClMmGYYXimD5aJEomWhQpPlg4bsjo7qHQrEdbuJ4iXWLmMwp8bWXriMEZmnolzbcd31S24/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a>He's best known as Carlton Banks from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, he worked with Michael Jackson, and although he isn't Mormon he can sing and dance like one! Check out this vintage Mormon commercial starring Alfonso Ribeiro<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LNaHUxi6H-U?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />Peace & Love,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Is Carlton Banks a Mormon?

He's best known as Carlton Banks from the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, he worked with Michael Jackson, and although he isn't Mormon he c...

Proverbs or Proverb?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2cGpfaQbG2xI3tGxTS3Pzz6CBs0ZxWO0SO-Rr44gH4JK0z7RZhDVS3S2PtGupO0xIKJUm3dy7O0bQtwpP7twKAZn6wP5mniQxynadltAig5NFuP_DOxW293uMWHcR5MfiNiQGDym-M/s1600/2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467881006888481026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7l2cGpfaQbG2xI3tGxTS3Pzz6CBs0ZxWO0SO-Rr44gH4JK0z7RZhDVS3S2PtGupO0xIKJUm3dy7O0bQtwpP7twKAZn6wP5mniQxynadltAig5NFuP_DOxW293uMWHcR5MfiNiQGDym-M/s320/2.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" /></a>I come from one of those families where scripture is used to scare you straight. I used to wonder how parents ever expected kids to like reading the scriptures if they were always associated with punishment. I mean, no wonder my siblings and I didn't want to wake up for early morning scripture study. Go stand in the corner, Go sit in the corner, Go kneel in the corner, Go to your room (ok, so I was a bit of a trouble maker, but that's not the point) and take your scriptures with you.<br /><br />*Side note: I don't know how I ended up loving to read, but it's one of my favorite things to do, even though I had to do it when I was in trouble at home. Even at school I had to read the dictionary for punishment...hmmm well I guess that explains my excellent vocabulary.<br /><br />Anyway, there was one verse in the Bible that I couldn't stand when I was younger. I had never read it, but I had heard it quoted by numerous parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, teachers, and random old ladies watching me make mischief. It's one of the scariest scriptures known to children-kind, yes, that's the one. If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times: "the Bible says; spare the rod, spoil the child."<br /><br />To me it seemed like every adult I knew, had this scripture memorized. I naturally assumed that while we children were being told to memorize the Articles of Faith in Primary, grown-ups we're being told to memorize "Spare the rod, spoil the child," in adult Sunday school. Even my school Principal had a big paddle nailed above his door. The Principal loved mallard ducks, he had wooden ducks on his desk and one Christmas my mother found fabric with mallards on it and she made him hand towels out of it. Well, even that giant wooden paddle above his door had a mallard duck in flight on it. I never wanted to be sent to his office, because I figured that a paddle with a duck on it meant he liked paddling kids just as much as he liked ducks, and if that were the case...well, you get the picture.<br /><br />After hearing this scripture for the thousandth time, I decided to do a little research. The first thing I did was search high and low for the scripture, and after searching every Bible nook and cranny, I couldn't find it anywhere! I did however find this:<br /><br /><em>Proverbs 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 19:18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.<br /></em><br /><em>Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back. </em><br /><br /><em>Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. </em><br /><br />Yikes! I had a million questions. Who was this Mr. Proverbs? What had I ever done to him? Why doesn't he like children and what could I do about getting his advice removed from the Holy Bible? It took some time, but I finally I found out that the book of Proverbs was actually written by King Solomon. Well you must know how I felt about dear old King Solomon. Turns out that King Solomon was well known for his wisdom, and while I had to admit that with 700 wives and 300 concubines he probably did know a thing or two about raising children, I still wasn't happy about his scary scripture verses. Then another thing happened, I learned the definition of the word proverb (probably while I was in a corner at school reading the dictionary). A proverb is a short, popular, wise or profound saying. So get this, around the year 1662 a man by the name of Samuel Butler had a poem published that had some lines in it that went a little something like this:<br /><br /><em>Love is a Boy, by Poets styl'd,</em><br /><em>Then Spare the Rod, and spill the Child.</em><br /><br />Also written as:<br /><br /><em>Love is a Boy, by Poets styl'd,</em><br /><em>Then Spare the Rod, and spoil the Child.</em><br /><br />Apparently spill in this context means spoil. Well, well, well, didn’t I feel smug and what did you think I did with my new found knowledge the next time some grown-up said “Spare the rod and spoil the child” to me…. that’s right brothas and sistas…. I did absolutely nothing! Why, you ask? Well, do I look crazy to you? I just sat in the corner with my Bible thinking, ain’t that a shame, grown folks don’t even know the difference between a proverb and the book of Proverbs…. um, um, um…so sad, think they quotin Bible, but they quotin Butler!<br /><br />Hallelujah Holla Back,<br />Sista Laurel<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myfreecopyright.com/registered_mcn/BT8QW_3GY41_YKT8E" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected"><img alt="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" border="0" height="38" src="http://storage.myfreecopyright.com/mfc_protected.png" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" width="145" /></a>

Proverbs or Proverb?

I come from one of those families where scripture is used to scare you straight. I used to wonder how parents ever expected kids to like rea...

I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto?

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzocNR4vd14P5U-k5hGQg4pW5lkTJkknK3vU7zLmuYNZyOgWLK9eQLqIalw2sdZP9eacHBf5aGqJFXB3nw5oqitm6gCgzjPNRgXb8ouN_fGFyX9qvcULg-uDBCtmuyOBwEOyrnawrWZSA/s1600/1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464899041263274146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzocNR4vd14P5U-k5hGQg4pW5lkTJkknK3vU7zLmuYNZyOgWLK9eQLqIalw2sdZP9eacHBf5aGqJFXB3nw5oqitm6gCgzjPNRgXb8ouN_fGFyX9qvcULg-uDBCtmuyOBwEOyrnawrWZSA/s320/1.jpg" style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> I was visiting with a few of my girls the other day, and one of our sistas who isn't LDS commented that she appreciated the VIP Heaven that we LDS folk have, you know the three Heavens, she said, because I just don’t think I want to be in the same Heaven as my Mother. (I've probably had that thought a few times myself.)<br /><br />While engaged in this conversation, another sista bore her testimony about the three degrees of glory.<br /><br />Renee Ebony Miller: <em>When I was a child, Tupac had a popular song out where he asked the question, “Does Heaven have a Ghetto?” That struck a cord with me in my childhood, so much so, that I asked my Mother the very same question. She explained that her belief was that, in Heaven the Lord would want us to be comfortable, and because paradise was different to every person, it was entirely possible that Heaven did have a Ghetto. My mother and I always thought that this was something we would have to wait until we got Heaven to find out. So, when at the age of 14, I started taking the missionary discussions and Sister Butterworth told me about the three degrees of glory, the Celestial, the Terrestrial, and the Telestial Kingdoms. I knew the church had to be true, because Heaven had a Ghetto. It was also interesting to know that the Lord would answer a childhood question of mine. Plus in VIP Heaven (Celestial) you can go visit people in the other degrees of Heaven, but they can't come visit you! For example, my family in South Central can't come visit me in Beverly Hills, but I can go visit them in South Central. Yes, Heaven got a Ghetto/Trailer Park.</em><br /><br />Of course our non-LDS sista was now even more curious so we broke it down for her.<br /><br />Telestial Kingdom: This is the place for those who don't know how to follow the rules. If you don't know how to abide by the law, you might end up in the Telestial Kingdom. In the Telestial Kingdom you are stationary. It’s not prison, but a similar concept. You can make collect calls to your friends and family in the higher Kingdoms, you can beg for a visit, and they’ll come if they want to. No passing contraband from the other Kingdoms to the people in the Telestial Kingdom. It’s nothing like the Penitentiary (not that I know what that’s like), It’s nicer, more like where Martha Stewart went. You don’t have to visit through the glass, no one is going to shank you, and you don’t have to worry about your celly snitching on you. While it’s not quite lock down, it’s not all roses though, because you don’t get to leave. No outside visits, no leaving your Kingdom.<br /><br />Terrestrial Kingdom: This is like a "middle class neighborhood". In this neighborhood, there are people who are good, kind, and who actually tried to live a decent life. They tried to do right, and still recognized that Christ was the Savior, yet didn't develop a personal relationship with God the Father. Now this place is much nicer than the Telestial Kingdom. You’re not rolling in a Lexus, but you do get a bus pass. There’s nothing wrong with public transportation, shoot, a bus pass is a privilege, cause that means you get to travel! You can visit all your friends in the Telestial Kingdom, however, that’s it though, cause your line doesn’t run up town.<br /><br />Celestial Kingdom: Now this is what Brigham Young was talking about! This is the place! This is an all access pass. This is the Kingdom that you inherit if you have lived up to all the covenants that have been required of you In this neighborhood, you really do get to leave your doors unlocked and everything is fine. If your address is 2438 North Celestial Boulevard, then you have arrived. The best part about living in this neighborhood is that the "Stationary" and "Bus Pass" friends and family can't just stop in and case your house. No one can try to make you feel bad because you have nicer things than they do They have to call and invite you to visit them... and you got the free agency to say we’re not available. Now what I hope is that we have caller I.D. in the Celestial Kingdom, for just in case we don't feel like answering the phone.<br /><br />But then we had to drop the BOMB…the Celestial Kingdom has a VVIP! So if you should be one of those who has earned a mansion in the Celestial Kingdom, don't be shocked if you look around one day and find there is an area that is sectioned off, with Porter Rockwell guarding all of "us" VVIP folk. Please don't think I can get you in, chances are I barley got in myself. However I will tell Jesus, Joseph Smith, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, my Mama and my Daddy that you said hello.<br /><br />Peace & Love,<br />Sista Beehive<br /><br /><a href="http://www.myfreecopyright.com/registered_mcn/BT8QW_3GY41_YKT8E" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected"><img alt="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" border="0" height="38" src="http://storage.myfreecopyright.com/mfc_protected.png" title="MyFreeCopyright.com Registered & Protected" width="145" /></a>

I Wonder if Heaven Got a Ghetto?

I was visiting with a few of my girls the other day, and one of our sistas who isn't LDS commented that she appreciated the VIP Heaven ...