Sistas in Zion Radio: Girls Serving Missions + Musician Kaeli Jensen + Book Giveaway!

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/08/05/melissa-dymock-on-girls-lds-missions-singer-kaeli-jensen" target="_blank">here</a> or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478-3671.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyupIbZVSZpu6iGYSrjzqt_O7smY1GNUgrzD1Tg6cd0RQR3hw3XbnrfjdnWgjL3LmxD4UC-4S5pfrzikQVfcA__Q3OoXvImx5s7yJ37_vDbh0NK_3kPLvTAmINHfHzZ5glXWV0CGN1J24/s1600/Sisters_COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyupIbZVSZpu6iGYSrjzqt_O7smY1GNUgrzD1Tg6cd0RQR3hw3XbnrfjdnWgjL3LmxD4UC-4S5pfrzikQVfcA__Q3OoXvImx5s7yJ37_vDbh0NK_3kPLvTAmINHfHzZ5glXWV0CGN1J24/s320/Sisters_COVER.jpg" width="207" /></a>When professional rugby player William Hopoate and musician David Archuleta put their careers on hold to serve LDS missions, they made headlines. Jabarai Parker, number one high school player in the U.S. is only 17 and his future choice of serving an LDS mission or NBA is already the buzz of the sports world.<br /><br />We hear of LDS boys and their missions, but all over the world LDS young women are faced with the same choice as well. Today Sistas in Zion will be talking to Melissa Dymock, author of <a href="http://www.covenant-lds.com/SistersAModernGirlsGuidetoServingaMissionSoftcoverMelissaDymock" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">Sisters: A Modern Girl's Guide to Serving a Mission</a>, about her book and Mormon girls serving missions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj5dPUPih89gcnY8NFqpTaTwXljAnr7MbQi11tye1PiStvNC1WOc7DpFhxlvuRCrNWEcyiytDF1uHTsFiIcfRiqEIqwrN7A00Pr9lP-_bgRG4cS0TkuYiyONEpaZ-yQcdrffPms5ZPQw/s1600/MelissaDymock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj5dPUPih89gcnY8NFqpTaTwXljAnr7MbQi11tye1PiStvNC1WOc7DpFhxlvuRCrNWEcyiytDF1uHTsFiIcfRiqEIqwrN7A00Pr9lP-_bgRG4cS0TkuYiyONEpaZ-yQcdrffPms5ZPQw/s320/MelissaDymock.jpg" width="125" /></a><b>Melissa Dymock</b> graduated from Utah State University, majoring in print journalism. She served a mission in West Texas, where she learned how to stay upright on a bike in a windstorm while wearing a skirt. She has been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and in the Utah Statesman. You can follow her adventures on her <a href="http://www.utah-adventure.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW9dqP0Ggnprpn7JchoBRd34lkCh1aAcuCgHAnLslVsvl1XQ3SMe20O3Ey_6yKxVkbbfGTfWitFy5-nxej8itvrQUuB1aMhu8dwKNgbBQ2Avq8oOmlk8HGTlMeuQQKdXSs8I2zeB3cx8/s1600/Kaeli+Press+Kit+Photo+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW9dqP0Ggnprpn7JchoBRd34lkCh1aAcuCgHAnLslVsvl1XQ3SMe20O3Ey_6yKxVkbbfGTfWitFy5-nxej8itvrQUuB1aMhu8dwKNgbBQ2Avq8oOmlk8HGTlMeuQQKdXSs8I2zeB3cx8/s320/Kaeli+Press+Kit+Photo+3.jpg" width="213" /></a>The Sistas will also be chatting with Kaeli Jensen, a singer with a desire to use her time and talents to help others.<br /><br /><b>Kaeli Jensen</b>: Dancing and music have been part of her life for as long as she can remember. Her mother tells how she was trying to sing opera when she was three. Kaeli began music lessons at age 6 and it became obvious that singing would be Kaeli’s future. Kaeli loves musical theater and has aspirations to be on Broadway someday. Learn more about Kaeli on her <a href="http://kaelijensen.com/">website</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">BOOK GIVEAWAY</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Be sure to call into SIZ Radio because the 5th caller will receive a free copy of Melissa Dymock's book, <i>Sisters: A Modern Girl's Guide  to Serving a Mission</i>! (646) 478-3671</b><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Book can only be shipped to an address within the US or Canada)</span></div>

Sistas in Zion Radio: Girls Serving Missions + Musician Kaeli Jensen + Book Giveaway!

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478...

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SIZ Radio: From Polygamist to Mormon + From Haiti to America

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/07/29/from-polygamist-to-mormon-a-haitians-journey-to-america">here</a> or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478-3671.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPEQVDSrhd13oEIAZZgyrXWDGng4RWdIG6fQ1SxKr6elLqyOpITQwqk_kv38dytbE4QXH-3lQrCBRJNRXViO_bzMG8AT_1bHVrXSlmohpVtJsGvEwekJlQtKjb78kFVNTkgD6kgFdJeM/s1600/Vilate+Nielsen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPEQVDSrhd13oEIAZZgyrXWDGng4RWdIG6fQ1SxKr6elLqyOpITQwqk_kv38dytbE4QXH-3lQrCBRJNRXViO_bzMG8AT_1bHVrXSlmohpVtJsGvEwekJlQtKjb78kFVNTkgD6kgFdJeM/s1600/Vilate+Nielsen.jpg" /></a>Life is about finding joy in the journey and today on Sistas in Zion Radio our special guests will be sharing part of their journeys with us.<br /><br /><b>Vilate Nielsen</b> was raised in a polygamist family and joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as an adult. She'll be talking to us about her transition into mainstream culture, maintaining family relationships while changing faiths, dating in an un-arranged marriage society and the book she's written about her journey. To learn more about Vilate check out her blog <a href="http://acowintheocean.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">A Cow in the Ocean</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cFj_myLDo5VUYVsbMhWosSS-57u31U9GC_ShO7fJ7ZH-ROwcvjObQeLYGrJTcCg8uCazrQOLa8w9MQf_X7DXklQdcSc5nqf3EsjvsehGTPp63qI9GmhftTYB4CJQFK9SP6LQDAaDpjM/s1600/Phaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cFj_myLDo5VUYVsbMhWosSS-57u31U9GC_ShO7fJ7ZH-ROwcvjObQeLYGrJTcCg8uCazrQOLa8w9MQf_X7DXklQdcSc5nqf3EsjvsehGTPp63qI9GmhftTYB4CJQFK9SP6LQDAaDpjM/s320/Phaya.jpg" width="250" /></a><b>Phaya Buissereth</b> moved to America from Haiti as a youth. He'll chat with the Sistas about making his way in the USA, doing his part to help Haiti and his work as a musician. You can find Phaya's music on his <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Phayamusicpage" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.<br /><br />Tune in and join us as our guests share their stories. And don't forget to Hallelujah Holla Back by calling Sistas in Zion Radio at (646) 478-3671.

SIZ Radio: From Polygamist to Mormon + From Haiti to America

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478...

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Is Cinderella a Christian?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qzskrx58froA4k0Nd4h3ZPziUMi23NlJKgZ8QKEqcPOwlZXmIMBfyzvxxfh5Ze7TjChA93QjzzZMeXAAnVA8fGvZJi5iOvX40DQB3M-EFSZgcpdOOAsbH3rL-MkUTYoIXtj7_m9T-EY/s1600/cinerella2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qzskrx58froA4k0Nd4h3ZPziUMi23NlJKgZ8QKEqcPOwlZXmIMBfyzvxxfh5Ze7TjChA93QjzzZMeXAAnVA8fGvZJi5iOvX40DQB3M-EFSZgcpdOOAsbH3rL-MkUTYoIXtj7_m9T-EY/s1600/cinerella2.jpg" /></a></div>As a kid I asked <i>way</i> to many questions for Sista Sheen (nope, that's not her real name), the youth Sunday school teacher at Greater Victory Church of God & Christ. My Uncle (who adored me) was the pastor of the church, and thanks to my questioning ways, I usually ended up in his office or as the only child in adult Sunday school.<br /><br />I remember being very frustrated with Sista Sheen because she couldn't tell me whether or not Cinderella was a Christian. I don't know why it was so important to me at the time, but it was, and in my mind, the fact that Sista Sheen couldn't tell me Cinderella's religious preference meant that she wasn't at all as spiritual as she professed to be.<br /><br />My obsession with fictional characters didn't stop at Cinderella, nor did I have the good sense to stop trying to create conversations that would prove that my Sunday school leader was either kicked or had flunked out of divinity school. I was convinced it was the latter.<br /><br />One Sunday evening during youth group Sista Sheen asked, "Is Cinderella a Christian?" If it were possible, my head would have done the full on exorcist spin! Everyone looked right at me, and I nearly froze. This was my chance, my chance to make everybody see right through Sista Sheen.<br /><br /><b>Me:</b> Yes, Cinderella is a Christian.<br /><br /><b>Other Kids:</b> How do you know?<br /><br /><b>Me:</b> Because she was a servant and Jesus was a servant.<br /><br /><b>Other Kids:</b> That doesn't mean she was a Christian.<br /><br /><b>Me:</b> Yes it does. She served with a humble, but happy heart and sang uplifting songs.<br /><br /><b>Other Kids:</b> That's stupid and doesn't prove anything! Gargamel sings songs that are uplifting to him, but he's still evil to the Smurfs.<br /><br /><b>Me:</b> It's not stupid! Plus we believe that cleanliness is next to Godliness and she was very clean and is therefore a Christian!<br /><br />Sista Sheen having heard enough, brought it all to an end. "<span style="background-color: white;">Cinderella isn't a Christian and Gargamel isn't evil! They are both figments of a creators imagination, they are drawn pieces of art, they don't exist! They aren't real! I wanted to have this discussion so that Sista Beehive would stop these nonsense questions, but it seems that you are all CRAZY! You all need to focus</span><span style="background-color: white;"> more on the individuals in the Bible and how you can avoid becoming like the ones who are evil, and be more like those who followed Christ our Lord and Savior!"</span><br /><br />Years later, I feel that Sista Sheen missed an opportunity to engage her Sunday school class in a deeper conversation. Back then our young brains hadn't yet made a connection with the people in the Bible. We didn't see them as actual people, the weren't our everyday heroes, we didn't watch them on tv on Saturday mornings, and they sure didn't come as prizes in our favorite boxes of cereal.<br /><br />Now that I am a volunteer Sunday educator (ya'll know what I mean), I have much more appreciation for Sista Sheen. And because I had so many experiences as a youth where my questions went unanswered or my very active imagination was treated with disdain, I also have an appreciation for my students who are of a more inquisitive and creative nature.<br /><br />Go With God,<br />Sista Beehive

Is Cinderella a Christian?

As a kid I asked way to many questions for Sista Sheen (nope, that's not her real name), the youth Sunday school teacher at Greater Vic...

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Shadow of a Pioneer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHZxD4M8QbX0w44jYBL6ori6QWzltyNGzelMUr9m_GvK9oG7myx9QQM6Q_H8-PJ5Nbk-NmXx6crs_GmqBCqZ6w_O0ZBakvB1l-2O2N8V4-SHsqL6h_4aznXFea1Mq_l2f280Z9mwU-M/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIHZxD4M8QbX0w44jYBL6ori6QWzltyNGzelMUr9m_GvK9oG7myx9QQM6Q_H8-PJ5Nbk-NmXx6crs_GmqBCqZ6w_O0ZBakvB1l-2O2N8V4-SHsqL6h_4aznXFea1Mq_l2f280Z9mwU-M/s320/1.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self Portrait of the Pioneer Me</td></tr></tbody></table>When I was told that a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_(Latter_Day_Saints)" target="_blank">stake</a> counselor wanted to meet with me, I had a nagging suspicion it wasn't going to be good. Why? Well, because stake presidency members never call you in just to offer you a piece of cake or a coupon for a tithing deduction. It's usually for a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_calling#Latter-day_Saints" target="_blank">calling</a>, and not a regular calling like a ward library worker or Sacrament meeting greeter. If it was one of those kind of callings I'd just meet with the <a href="http://www.lds.org/study/topics/bishop?lang=eng" target="_blank">bishop</a> or his counselors. No, when a stake counselor calls you in it's something crazy like girl's camp director or you're being called to put together the stake <a href="http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0c0105481ae6b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1" target="_blank">roadshow</a>. I thought, <i>Well Lord, you know me and my personality, so it can't be anything too off the wall.</i><br /><br />When the word "trek" came out of the counselors mouth I knew God was playing a joke on me. Let me just open my eyes and I'll see that I'm in my bed under the covers. Nope, I'm at church with a stake counselor who is smiling at me like he just handed me Willie Wonka's golden ticket. "Any questions," he asked. Ya'll I don't know why or what is wrong with me, but honest to goodness, it was the first thing that came to my head. "The clothes," I stammered. He explained that I would wear "pioneer clothes." I was paralyzed for a moment and then I said, "When you wear "pioneer clothes" you look like a pioneer, but if I wear "pioneer clothes" I'll look like a runaway slave."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>For those who may not know, a handcart trek is a shortened reenactment of the 1300 mile trek taken by Mormon pioneers to get to Utah's Salt Lake Valley. <span style="background-color: white;">I don't even know how the word "yes" came out of my mouth, but it did. Once you're going on a trek it seems like everybody you meet has been on one and they begin to give you tips (which I was very grateful for as I had no idea what I was doing) and share with you how deeply spiritual the experience was for them. That's where it got a little scary for me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7i4BVlzCkB17hyaILMmJmPoeofOP_-ZW0-C9FS72plYkKMr9ufU3CVTlxT-MUmCVDo4BloG0Sz2_2x9UIw4l9kXO7M4owAjG9HxP9ZDmz6K8m2f4OHFgMmcMVN6AEwg4Wxgm611yQ_A/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7i4BVlzCkB17hyaILMmJmPoeofOP_-ZW0-C9FS72plYkKMr9ufU3CVTlxT-MUmCVDo4BloG0Sz2_2x9UIw4l9kXO7M4owAjG9HxP9ZDmz6K8m2f4OHFgMmcMVN6AEwg4Wxgm611yQ_A/s320/5.jpg" width="320" /></a>Sometimes I feel like something is wrong with me. I'll be sitting in church and someone is sharing the story of a pioneer ancestor, of their trials, their strength, their faith and the narrator is weeping and the tissue box is being passed around. Then when the tissue box gets to me I just pull one out because for some reason I feel bad not taking one and while everyone is dabbing their eyes, I'm making a Kleenex brand paper airplane. It's not like I never cry, cause I do. Certain music has a profound effect on me, it can stir my soul to tears and I'm not immune from the occasional testimony tear-up.<br /><br />When I was younger I thought that it was jealousy. There is such an emphasis on genealogy in the <a href="http://lds.org/" target="_blank">LDS</a> faith and it felt like everyone around me knew who they were, where they come from and had this great legacy to share. I was always lucky if I could get the first row of branches filled out on my family tree church projects. To this day my family acts like genealogy is a Mormon synonym for nosy. Over the years I've realized why we share the stories of pioneers and the lessons that they teach us. I learned the stories of black pioneers, that looked like me, that made the journey and endured to the end. </span><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DKNDHe0Z1Zch519HeN4AXsubzUh50LRQJQM_79wcKvQRPTXtwV20hE6Z03KbYaM_t8BpwQu29pYVzGtpa_lBaVR8XleSwGLhXNuI0xCsqpln7CSIuNQ5whX33hHxpj3KJQ_zK4b7rC8/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DKNDHe0Z1Zch519HeN4AXsubzUh50LRQJQM_79wcKvQRPTXtwV20hE6Z03KbYaM_t8BpwQu29pYVzGtpa_lBaVR8XleSwGLhXNuI0xCsqpln7CSIuNQ5whX33hHxpj3KJQ_zK4b7rC8/s320/4.jpg" width="109" /></a></span>I really wasn't worried about the physical aspects of trek; pulling the wagon, walking in the dust, no electronics, no showers, all that I was fine with. It was this pressure that no one in particular had placed on me, but some how existed; that this experience was supposed to have a deep meaning and be a sort of spiritual awakening. I mean people were brought to tears when they shared their trek experiences and if that wasn't enough then the movie </span><i><a href="http://deseretbook.com/17-Miracles-T-C-Christensen/i/5063066?s_kwcid=TC|20236|17%20miracles||S|p|8390000532&gclid=CJaq6fmrtbECFQZ5hwodK1AAvA" target="_blank">17 Miracles</a></i><span style="background-color: white;"> came out. Now people were talking about treks like they were Mormon walks to Mecca.<br /><br />I panicked, I thought, <i>Lord, you're sending me up in the wilderness with all these church people and now everyone is going to know I have a stone-cold heart, cause I won't even really care when the doll that is supposed to represent my baby, succumbs to typhoid fever! </i>In the months leading to up to trek I began a quest to find my inner-pioneer. I read my scriptures, I googled, I prayed and even asked if I could swap the pioneer I had been assigned, for <a href="http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/archivenews/jane.html" target="_blank">Jane Manning James</a>, a black pioneer woman whose story I know well and is dear to my heart. I just knew that if I walked for Jane I would find the meaning in my trek experience.<br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM9gXWaXlvny9gvyVasz6du0fx-316RiK6AW5CO-_8ToxSMAUb0b6oyTkFO9Mbw5aJhDlUKKIf0scWoTHHBkldPoPTQ8AF-oI-DIEn2WmZ0kDqiXrwWfYM6UH1OKHgn4wTVa7H2_JYVA/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeM9gXWaXlvny9gvyVasz6du0fx-316RiK6AW5CO-_8ToxSMAUb0b6oyTkFO9Mbw5aJhDlUKKIf0scWoTHHBkldPoPTQ8AF-oI-DIEn2WmZ0kDqiXrwWfYM6UH1OKHgn4wTVa7H2_JYVA/s320/2.jpg" width="214" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"> When the day arrived I transformed from modern-day woman to...well, you see the picture. We got to the wilderness, lost cell coverage, pitched tents, it was hot, pushed carts, sang as we walked and walked and walked and walked. I didn't feel different. I just felt like me. We forged a river and I felt cold. The men went off to war and the women pulled the carts by ourselves up a steep hill, and I just pushed along thinking; <i>Is this the part where I cry? </i> The trail of trials...nothing and ya'll already know what happened when my baby got kidnapped...nothing.<br /><br />I didn't need to cry, maybe God could make me struggle at least a little. I didn't break a nail, twist my ankle, get dehydrated, I don't even remember getting a mosquito bite. I had fun. I had a good time, like I have a good time camping with the fam. At the journey's end a testimony meeting was held, I listened as person after person shared beautiful testimonies and it seemed apparent in their countenances the effect the trek had on them.<br /><br />When I got home and people eagerly asked how it was and all I could describe my experience as was <i>fun</i>, I felt like a spot at trek had been wasted on me. I mean, what kind of pioneer would I have made. While the woman in the wagon in front of me poured her soul into her journal telling of struggling to feed her children and watching her sons go to war, you would open my Journal and read; today was <i>fun. </i><br /><br />There's a song in the LDS Children's Songbook <span style="background-color: white;">called "Every Star is Different." I don't remember ever singing it when I was in primary, it's not one I hear sung very often and I think I just came across it when looking through the songbook once, but I like it. I told ya music has a way with me. The words are:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywQSsIA8O7iaKuMzlcsCTt3mBVmPZ7ozSiqfgUsVuzl8UQJ1rGxIguaT4n66Ms4zULlkTgJwoTQc36VTwWJSIeuUBqlp9wj0mUkaYTPIPXn3bR0_LjVxvklah1fflz6DFx3_AwWI57pQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywQSsIA8O7iaKuMzlcsCTt3mBVmPZ7ozSiqfgUsVuzl8UQJ1rGxIguaT4n66Ms4zULlkTgJwoTQc36VTwWJSIeuUBqlp9wj0mUkaYTPIPXn3bR0_LjVxvklah1fflz6DFx3_AwWI57pQ/s320/3.jpg" width="228" /></a></span></span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Every star is different</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">And so is every child.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some are bright and happy</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Some are meek and mild.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Every one is needed</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">For just what he can do</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">You’re the only person</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Who ever can be you!</span></span></blockquote><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;">Trek happened a while ago and I've never written about it because, well, as you can see there really isn't anything to write. In fact this was supposed to be yesterday's post, but I didn't feel like it was worthy of being put up on the actual Pioneer Day holiday, so I waited. I wish that I had something more to give you all, I wish I would have just shared a real pioneer's story. </span></span><span style="background-color: white;">If you're looking for a deeper meaning or a moral, I got nothing, except...I guess I'm just different, and I gotta be ok with that. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Oh yeah, and no one asked me to pick cotton!</span><br /><div></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div><div>God Made Me This Way,</div><div>Sista Laurel</div>

Shadow of a Pioneer

Self Portrait of the Pioneer Me When I was told that a stake counselor wanted to meet with me, I had a nagging suspicion it wasn't goin...

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Sistas in Zion's The Mormon Bachelor Breakdown Week 2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFTFMi0hLrfsHAC2CCqXwi3GDI605tqSGkG-OACJEg82tOeRIF2-JDZcPgAH-juRoklLp8bGD6h5qlgKB0nBQp3evAJWuXU-kTU7y8kZR9934OtHBkUFFSmJtRmqmELxIcoWMFfZ4Mq4/s1600/The+Mormon+Bachelor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoFTFMi0hLrfsHAC2CCqXwi3GDI605tqSGkG-OACJEg82tOeRIF2-JDZcPgAH-juRoklLp8bGD6h5qlgKB0nBQp3evAJWuXU-kTU7y8kZR9934OtHBkUFFSmJtRmqmELxIcoWMFfZ4Mq4/s1600/The+Mormon+Bachelor.jpg" /></a></div>We're breaking down week two of <a href="http://themormonbachelor.com/" target="_blank">The Mormon Bachelor</a>.    Nobody asked our opinion, but we're gonna tell you what we think anyway. Here we go now!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJtaxDLyKh1YkvUp6k2Rh_F1v3AV9JlLhXsSgcqL6gBHlDR0_infIGB8oJvOZ-o2-hX2FYjf4o8kN1_NRXs41aPpKWh2egi_QFTPA0R54BNafwG0Gn-dXEcROj8wTWgE78GUuCU8B68U/s1600/cakesmash.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJtaxDLyKh1YkvUp6k2Rh_F1v3AV9JlLhXsSgcqL6gBHlDR0_infIGB8oJvOZ-o2-hX2FYjf4o8kN1_NRXs41aPpKWh2egi_QFTPA0R54BNafwG0Gn-dXEcROj8wTWgE78GUuCU8B68U/s200/cakesmash.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DATE 4: SMASHING</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.themormonbachelorette.com/2012/07/date-4-courtney-childress.html" target="_blank">Courtney Childress - Date 4:</a><br />What's better than a date that starts off with Chris doing the cabbage patch dance at the front door? Umm, nothing! Now Courtney, the Sistas are gonna help you read between the lines. Random dancing means that you have a fun -loving, easy-going guy, but expect the wedding video to end up on YouTube with a title like; Crazy Mormon Wedding First Dance. On the way to their paddle boarding date Chris talked about Courtney falling off the paddle board or maybe even throwing her off the paddle board. This could be Chris' <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/07/sistas-in-zions-mormon-bachelor.html" target="_blank">damsel in distress</a> fantasy manifesting itself again. Between the lines it says your guy doesn't mind seeing you get a little rough and tumble, but Courtney hope you don't mind a little frosting in your hair. Cause it also means that dude is probably the type that will smash the wedding cake in your face on the big day. <span style="background-color: white;">There was a little awkward moment where Chris was talking about about college dorms and Courtney's eyes started to glaze over, but don't worry ya'll, she came back to life. At the end of the date Courtney said that if Chris had tried to kiss her she would have taken the kiss cause she's not very sly at rejecting kisses. Courtney, you gotta learn how to turn your head, cause now that the whole world knows that you can't reject kisses, every boy in your singles ward is about to test it out.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1WHpbsBO884uOyl9gMkeyHUxzgnkLUOWEBqvgVvjaaciP1wj-Bj8pFq-tpGtEs5syYkGDwsQTO6rczm6QFQKlayMEvSFSn6HZ48cTw2FrNo4RL35O1x6MLpvmw3GTkYKQrAz7dU3rc4/s1600/fast-and-furious.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1WHpbsBO884uOyl9gMkeyHUxzgnkLUOWEBqvgVvjaaciP1wj-Bj8pFq-tpGtEs5syYkGDwsQTO6rczm6QFQKlayMEvSFSn6HZ48cTw2FrNo4RL35O1x6MLpvmw3GTkYKQrAz7dU3rc4/s200/fast-and-furious.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DATE 5: FAST & FURIOUS</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.themormonbachelorette.com/2012/07/date-5-sharla-klimt.html" target="_blank">Sharla Klimt - Date 5:</a> Three words: FAST AND FURIOUS. When the door opened, Chris was in a relationship and he didn't even know it. The hug was a long lingering one that went immediately to waist holding then right to hand holding. If a girl wears white jeans (which she looked fabulous in) on a first date, to go sit on the grass, she is bold. Sharla is not shy, she got her flirt on, and Chris was loving every minute of it. On the car ride over Sharla realized that she and Chris are the same. She thought that he was younger than her and that she was going be 'cougarin' on him. Some Mormons don't know, but in the real world a 'cougar' has nothing to do with BYU, it's an older woman who dates younger men. Technically Sharla is too young to be a cougar, she would be considered a 'puma' until about age 35, then after that she's a 'panther' and  around age 40 is where you hit cougar status. The coupledom continued with hand holding, sitting real close, and dance-cuddling. Ya'll know that Mormon rule about dancing far enough away from your partner that you can fit a Book of Mormon between you? Well we doubt you could have even slipped a New Era magazine between these two. Unlike Courtney's date, when Chris talked about college Sharla's eyes lit up and she used it as an opportunity to scoot closer. The goodbye hug on the doorstep was longer, tighter, and closer than the hello hug. And Sharla is the first TMB lady to score a goodnight kiss on the cheek from bachelor Chris! All that move making definitely earned Sharla a second date, but the episode ended with Sharla seeming unsure if she wants a second date with Chris. We're calling creative editing, but who knows, maybe Sharla prefers younger men, or maybe she was a little disappointed with a kiss on the cheek, she did put a lot of energy into wooing him. Chris has said he's not a first date kisser, so a kiss on the cheek is a big deal girl!</span><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EjSV2OJXw-I1zdQgsEHbLmPSIq6H4Cd3yuFUEmH1w3GU5Pst1rUn_JZjEPu8iQPm7DS8zoqf6WK0ck13Ru2gJSiLmpNvcvDpWfcc188FfbBclww49LIJK0d082OLfJhyiNeuHTX8Qhg/s1600/bromance-logo2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EjSV2OJXw-I1zdQgsEHbLmPSIq6H4Cd3yuFUEmH1w3GU5Pst1rUn_JZjEPu8iQPm7DS8zoqf6WK0ck13Ru2gJSiLmpNvcvDpWfcc188FfbBclww49LIJK0d082OLfJhyiNeuHTX8Qhg/s1600/bromance-logo2.jpeg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DATE 6: BROMANCE</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.themormonbachelorette.com/2012/07/date-6-kent-tuttle.html" target="_blank">Kent Tuttle - Date 6:</a> Chris got stood up by date No. 6, TMB didn't tell us who she is and we hope it's not <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/07/sistas-in-zions-mormon-bachelor.html" target="_blank">Salina aka Lady Kanye</a> because we are excited to hear about her first time on a plane. When Chris got to the door his friend Kent surprised him as his date. Kent Tuttle's name should be familiar to everyone because he is who was supposed to be this season's bachelor, but then he accidentally fell in love with a girl who was not on the show. Well he's Chris' roommate and BFF. No lingering hugs for this date, but they did do this handshake thing that looked like a BYU approved version of patty-cake. Chris and Kent talked about what's going on with them and we find out that Chris has a little trouble keeping the TMB ladies straight. He sent a text message to the wrong girl and got caught. It's understandable though, Chris is juggling more women than the guy on <i>Sister Wives. </i>Kent talked some about his choice to leave TMB and pursue his relationship with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/CarlieStylez" target="_blank">Carlie</a>. Kent says he is on cloud 9 and absolutely made the right decision and describes them as a 'power couple.' Kent seems to be a man in love and since we're having fun watching Chris, we're happy with the way things turned out too. Chris talked about speaking frankly about the girls he is attracted to on the show and we commend him for his honesty. He expounded on the the <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/07/sistas-in-zions-mormon-bachelor.html" target="_blank">Jessica</a> issue and hopefully it is put to bed now. (At least until the reunion show, which the Sistas have nominated themselves to host.) It was a nice change seeing Chris just being one of the guys.<br /><br />Question: When dating is it cool for the lady to make the moves?<br /><br />God is Great,<br />Sista Beehive & Sista Laurel

Sistas in Zion's The Mormon Bachelor Breakdown Week 2

We're breaking down week two of The Mormon Bachelor .    Nobody asked our opinion, but we're gonna tell you what we think anyway. He...

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Sistas in Zion Radio: "Women of Color" Headline + Mormon on "Virgin Diaries"

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sistasinzion/2012/07/22/utah-women-of-color-headline-mormon-virgin-diaries">here</a> or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478-3671.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptYOZuLh0lYrtFjEJu93u0q5tpzK92NMZoRMpgPZf1ncGqAC4TML88_d3ol1hIrVjcBcH8xdXRoNlDFC-CoBdqqRT0EflmPTmCDsKAQoZBnpE4k_3YU3nBFXXBiUOmclEI22dRQ1TzbU/s1600/jeanette+bennett.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjptYOZuLh0lYrtFjEJu93u0q5tpzK92NMZoRMpgPZf1ncGqAC4TML88_d3ol1hIrVjcBcH8xdXRoNlDFC-CoBdqqRT0EflmPTmCDsKAQoZBnpE4k_3YU3nBFXXBiUOmclEI22dRQ1TzbU/s320/jeanette+bennett.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><b>Jeanette Bennett</b>'s <i>Utah Valley Magazine</i> headline, "Women of Color" used to title a photo of what appears to be a group of all white women <a href="http://www.sistasinzion.com/2012/07/mormon-women-of-color.html">went viral</a> and started an important dialogue. She and the Sistas will be joining the conversation on SIZ Radio.<br /><br />Jeanette Bennett fell in love with journalism after "job shadowing" a newspaper reporter in Idaho Falls when she was in sixth grade. Her first job was as a camera operator at a local TV station, and she went on to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in journalism from BYU. Her career path includes being a writer for The New Era Magazine, a copy editor for the Deseret News and an instructor at BYU-Idaho. When she became a mother, she became an entrepreneur. She and her husband launched Bennett Communications, which now publishes nearly a dozen magazine titles including Utah Valley Magazine, BusinessQ Magazine and Utah Valley Bride. Together they oversee a small but tight staff of 12 from their Orem office. Jeanette is the mother of five and has spent many years serving in the Young Women organization of the LDS Church. She enjoys watching her kids play sports, and she has a love-hate relationship with running and with the stock market.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozTJUeLz4vWeJUZl_OQZ7cI9lP1OrW-ZuxrVuKnD-aNeY1H9k2MAwiB7bVDCOSYSz8mqqZfHFolaQJIw1tsTfJpKb5Q71MiFypxFEqVZwM8AKCRpLsep8PQmQyf5wLMJRmPBndsAiNdw/s1600/Scott+Skippy+Jessop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozTJUeLz4vWeJUZl_OQZ7cI9lP1OrW-ZuxrVuKnD-aNeY1H9k2MAwiB7bVDCOSYSz8mqqZfHFolaQJIw1tsTfJpKb5Q71MiFypxFEqVZwM8AKCRpLsep8PQmQyf5wLMJRmPBndsAiNdw/s1600/Scott+Skippy+Jessop.jpg" /></a></div><b>Scott "Skippy" Jessop </b>is the Mormon virgin who was featured on this weeks episode of TLC's <i>Virgin Diaries </i>and he'll be talking to the Sistas on SIZ Radio.<br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Skippy is a recent UVU graduate and current pizza maker. He got his start in radio at the age of 14 interviewing Fisher and Todd on KISN 97. He served an LDS mission to the Michigan Lansing Mission and got back into radio shortly after. In 2002 he was on the MTV show "FM NATION" which led to being a P.A. on the Matt Damon/Ben Affleck HBO reality show: Project Greenlight which filmed in Park City at the Sundance Film Festival. That's what kicked off his love for Sundance and he's gone every year since to meet celebs and get as many celeb photos as possible. At the suggestion of a friend he emailed Virgin Diaries, they loved him and the show aired July 18 2012. Fun fact: In the last 6 weeks he's lost 26 lbs! Learn more about Skippy at <a href="http://www.iamskippy.com/">www.iamskippy.com</a>.</span>

Sistas in Zion Radio: "Women of Color" Headline + Mormon on "Virgin Diaries"

Sistas in Zion Radio! Every Sunday 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) Listen here or on the radio box on the right! Call in at (646) 478...

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