2014-05-15T15:40:15-07:00

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”36 (Teachings of the Prophets) When I was in my late twenties, someone said to me, “You’re too smart to be a Mormon.” Clearly, I’m not. But the picture of Mormonism this person had in... Read more

2014-05-13T08:21:59-07:00

This is yet another guest post by my brother, Dell Blair. His writing is too good for me not to share. I remember the day of his great tricycle adventure. I remember the devastated look on my young mother’s face. I remember some men talking about “dragging the canal.” But Dell remembers it from his unique perspective, and tells about it magnificently. Dell Blair: Mother’s day May 10, 2014 at 6:11pm Mom extended her index finger for me to hold... Read more

2014-05-11T11:46:47-07:00

These are among the final words written by my great grandmother, Alsina Elizabeth Brimhall Holbrook: Dearest Children, Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and more— Be true to your faith, live the Gospel and remember the Lord never requires anything of you that He does not prepare a means whereby you can accomplish it. The art of glorious living here and throughout all eternity is within your reach. . . Your needs will be of great concern to us. If we have power... Read more

2014-05-08T09:09:58-07:00

I don’t understand how these little miracles happen. I have had some jaw-dropping right time/right place miracles, but more often the little ones—which I might miss if I weren’t committed to noticing them. A couple of months ago, I met a lovely redheaded woman—age 27—in the local gym’s hot tub. Her smile was magnificent. I thanked her for being a redhead, something I say to most redheads because there are too few of us and we need to appreciate one... Read more

2014-05-04T14:54:28-07:00

Luke 10 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to thehost, and said unto him, Take... Read more

2014-05-02T17:00:57-07:00

This is a guest post by my brother, Dell Blair. Beneath the haze of an induced coma a glimmer of awareness illuminates a single ray of reality penetrating the heavily medicated fog and compelling my eyelids to part. Through a filter of lashes and desiccated tears an image emerges more dreamlike than real with impressionistic strokes smeared and rippling across the panorama. There are shadows. There are lights. There is a woman with dark hair standing in the threshold of... Read more

2014-04-04T09:49:05-07:00

April 1, 1949: My dad is taking a shorthand class at BYU. His sister, Carolyn, appears at the class door asking him to come out. He hesitates because he’s not yet finished with the assignment. She beckons more urgently. When he steps into the hall, she says, “Bobby, Daddy has died.” They go to Santa Barbara, their hometown. My grandmother has been put on tranquilizers. Grandpa had died of a heart attack. Dad takes care of funeral details and late... Read more

2014-03-29T07:34:56-07:00

My brother, sixteen years my junior, is one of the funniest people I know. It’s dry wit, and reminds me of my youngest son’s humor. Actually my youngest son is Ben’s doppelganger. Take a look at the photo on the side and compare with this one: Ben was once driving through Island Park, which was full of wild flowers, with an uncle of ours, who said, “I’ll give you a quarter for every flower you can name.” Ben was on... Read more

2014-03-12T14:09:29-07:00

Several people have asked that I publish this poem, which I wrote as part of I am Jane. The poem is set up by Jane asking Elijah about all the talk she has been hearing of curses, Cain, Ham, etc. She says, “I’ve never felt cursed by God, only loved so deep, seemed my bones might melt.” Elijah replies, “I feel, Sister Jane, that ours is… Not a curse but a gift t’us, The best path we could seek A... Read more

2014-03-11T07:27:41-07:00

Note: I give my creative writing students an exercise in telling “untold” scripture stories, such as Leah’s or Bathsheba’s, imagining what their version of the story might have been. It is an imaginative experiment. This is my own exercise imagining Sarah. He thought I was sleeping, but I had awakened hours before. I knew his mind. He thought he could predict me. He considered my gasp a sign of naivete, at the time when the stranger said I would bear... Read more

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