AprilandJake.com

Totally awesome.

I have 2 queens, actually. I'm married to one. The other's a littler cutie.

I just finished a fantastic podcast of Research on Religion where Allison Pond, previously a full-time missionary in Russia in the 90s recounts her experiences as explains the missionary experience to a friend of another faith. It is awesome! And missionary work is awesome! As it turns out, Allison still is one, and she does a good job.

I just finished, after a Internet-disabled intermission, the 3 episodes of Fires of Faith, a series on ByuTV the miraculous history of the creation of the English Bible, culminating in the King James version. The presentation was so well done. I was left with an impression of the stunning breadth of history and effort and sacrifice that was given to provide me the opportunity to have the Bible and to read it, hear it, and grow from the contained teachings and my own experience with it.

The words of the Bible are true accounts, and I am very grateful to those that gave very literally their lives to write it, translate, and provide it.

"I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held... And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season..." Revelation 6:9,11

Christmas is how we should feel all the time!

As was announced last night at the First Presidency Christmas devotional, a absolutely fantastic collection of Bible Videos depicting the life and mission of Jesus Christ are now starting to be available on lds.org.

In a recent email from the media division of the missionary department to members who have created profiles on mormon.org, there were some good, interesting stats that were shared:

Current Internet and social media campaigns have generated:
- Millions of first-time visitors to mormon.org
- Tens of millions of page views on the site
- Helped to cause over one million chats the past 12 months on mormon.org

During the first month of the current television markets, media initiatives have produced:
- New visitors to mormon.org are up 170%
- Page views are up 240%
- Chats are up 25%
- Over 50 news stories have been done about the campaign in the media markets

Again, we were invited to setup our profiles (which thankfully has gotten easier) and to share them with others as a part of our ministry.

Church in the digital age -- awesome and very different from the recent past -- thankfully only in delivery and method and not in doctrine or principles. :)

This is some great counsel from Elder Nelson in a candid recounting of his experience and interpretation of the scriptures. Great stuff -- hopefully more like this to come from other Apostles.

Often!

(Advice from grandparents to BYU students)

Trent's grandma was obviously the coolest.

This video is absolutely captivating. This man helps me remember the great gift of the Book of Mormon. And awesome animations mixed in. Very fun.

This is so awesome. I saw a bit of footage from the woman at the well scene the other day, and I am super excited to see these !

So applicable to me! Oh... wait. I'm off to play with Mackenzie...

I know the called prophets of the Lord speak the truth. When President Monson recently mentioned that the values of the Church have obviously diverged from the values of the world, I don't think he meant it in terms of moral issues only.

I love this man! And I'm diggin the hat!