Circling Geese

On the 7th of March 270 passengers and a dozen crewmembers boarded a Boeing 777 in Kuala Lampur and were never seen again. As I type this, I realize it sounds just like something Rod Serling would have said at the beginning of an episode of The Twilight Zone. For weeks we’ve watched as talking heads discussed the latest hypotheses: mechanical failure, pilot suicide, terrorist plot, onboard fire, hijacking, and even alien abduction. After all this time, there’s no chance the jet could still be emitting signals to make its location known. Though more than a dozen countries have searched for several weeks, we’re no closer to finding the truth than we were a month ago. I feel so sorry for the families who still don’t know what happened to their loved ones; families who may never know. I love a good mystery, but this one is just heartbreaking.

Emerald City

It’s been 75 years since The Wizard of Oz made its film debut. In honor of its three-quarters-of-a-century anniversary, here are some of my favorite facts about this beloved musical: Each munchkin was paid $50 a week, while Toto’s weekly pay was $125. The “horse of a different color” horses owe their bright hues to Jell-O mix. The Emerald City scene had to be shot in a hurry, before the horses licked themselves clean. L. Frank Baum, who wrote the book that became this movie, got the title from his filing cabinets which were labelled “A-N” and “O-Z.” There were several injuries on the set of Wizard of Oz: Margaret Hamilton and her stunt double were badly burned in separate accidents. Buddy Ebsen had a severe allergic reaction to his tin man makeup and had to be replaced by Jack Haley. One of the marching Winkies stepped on Toto’s foot and broke it.

Record Player

During April Conference last year, Henry B. Eyring said, “At this Easter season we are reminded of why we love [Jesus Christ] and of the promise He makes to His faithful disciples to become His beloved friends. The Savior made that promise and told us how, in our service to Him, He comes to us. One example is in a revelation to Oliver Cowdery as he served the Lord with the Prophet Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Mormon: “Behold, thou art Oliver, and I have spoken unto thee because of thy desires; therefore treasure up these words in thy heart. Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love.” The Book of Mormon was translated from April 7 to June 30 1829. I’ve been working at rereading it between April 7 and June 30 this year. I'm a bit behind at the moment, but not for long.

Palm Frond

My Shepherd will supply my need: Jehovah is His Name;

In pastures fresh He makes me feed, beside the living stream.

He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake His ways,

And leads me for His mercy's sake in paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death, Thy presence is my stay;

A word of Thy supporting breath drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes, doth still my table spread;

My cup with blessings overflows, thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days;

O may Thy house be my abode, and all my work be praise!

There would I find a settled rest, while others go and come;

No more a stranger, nor a guest, but like a child at home. 

- Isaac Watts 1674-1748

Evening Star

It’s true, to some extent: Mormons don’t celebrate the Easter season in exactly the same way that most Christian churches do. We don’t wear ashes on our brows on the day after Mardi Gras (nor do we engage in the kind of revelry that usually precedes Ash Wednesday). We don’t give up sweets or other luxuries during Lent. Most of us have heard of Palm Sunday and Good Friday, but I’d be willing to bet if you asked the average Mormon about Maundy Thursday, he’d just look confused. But that doesn’t mean that we’re not Christians. If you’d like to know what Easter means to us; if you’d like to know how we really feel about Christ and the Atonement, and if you’ve got about three minutes to find out, visit easter.mormon.org. 

Crow's Nest

April 4th I posted a list of my favorite road trip snacks. Lest you think all I do on long drives is eat, here’s a list of great audio books to make the miles seem shorter:

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, read by Hope Davis

Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, read by Alfred Molina

How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, read by David Tennant

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, read by Stephen Fry

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L Konigsburg, read by Jill Clayburgh

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, read by Bill Homewood

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, read by Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave, Patrick Stewart, et al.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, read by Tom Parker

And for really, really long road trips, The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, read by Jim Dale