The Herald Sun

While I was serving in Durham, N.C. we had a photographer from the Herald Sun follow us around for several months observing different aspects of our work (morning study, knocking doors, eating with members, weekly planning, etc.).

His name is Mark Dolejs. He recorded an interview and made a little movie that was posted on the website for the Herald Sun. Mark told me to speak slowly because if I spoke too fast it would be difficult for viewers to understand me. So I spoke way too slow and sound like I am mentally slow.

It was a good experience to have him follow us around. He said his favorite moment with us was when we went to Duke University and looked at a copy of the original Book of Mormon. He said he had fun watching how excited we were looking up our favorite scriptures in the nearly 200 year-old book.

Misfits Island

Correct me if I am wrong, but I heard that Australia was populated a long time ago with criminals from England and other places. The punishment for the criminals was being exiled to Australia.

I think there should be another island for misfits like my mom and me (and others who have the label of misfits). My mom and I will be co-presidents. The only rule would be that anything goes unless it harms others. Taxes will be low, I promise.

The reason I have decided to move to Misfits Island is because I am "The Heathen" in my apartment. In the beginning of the semester we had an apartment council to create "The Constitution" in our apartment which includes rules about dishes, conflicts, and when we have prayers in the morning and scripture study at night. I told my roommates that I wasn't going to wake up for prayers in the morning and if I happened to be there for scripture study, that's great, but if not, not to wait for me.

We had another follow-up apartment council to discuss how well we were doing at living "The Constitution" and bring up other issues (does any other 20-something year-old roommates have apartment councils, or are we the only weird and crazy ones?). At the end of our apartment council one of my roommates brought to our attention that we would" feel the spirit more if we didn't use sarcasm." Instead of saying something sarcastic, he encouraged us to think of something sincere to say.

I, being the most sarcastic in the apartment, was thrilled for this new amendment to the constitution. It made me feel warm and fuzzy inside to know that I was the reason that my roommate couldn't feel the spirit in our apartment because of my sarcastic sense of humor and personality.

You know that saying, "If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all?" For me the saying goes, "If you don't have anything that isn't sarcastic to say, don't say anything at all. So I have been pretty quiet recently in my apartment. All my thoughts are sarcastic.

Even though some of my roommates are stuffed-shirts with Peter Priesthood personalities, they have good intentions. I know if I ever need anything they would be there to help me (in a very sincere, non-sarcastic way).

So if you are a "misfit" and want to join my mom and me on Misfits Island, we are taking applications. Just mail you application to:

Misfits Island Co.
Attn: Hell Raisers
666 Slippery Paths
Inferno, HL 12345