tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41676290714485156292012-02-16T10:45:26.486-08:00JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.comBlogger2711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-68479885947561159842012-02-14T13:17:00.000-08:002012-02-14T13:17:42.459-08:00

I meditated this morning.  It's been a while.  I went on a meditation retreat a few weeks ago, but other than that, it's been a while since I sat down and meditated.  I like to do it in the morning after I shower, but lately sleep has won out.  I fell asleep fairly early last night and was wide awake at 5:45.  So I meditated. One of the things that I like about meditation is that if you are

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-90188121205695362932012-01-18T15:38:00.000-08:002012-01-18T15:38:18.957-08:00

I've been really sparse with the blog updates lately.  I'm not really apologizing for it though, just acknowledging it.  It's partly due to me being super busy at work and partly due to a certain someone who has been a welcome distraction.  I'll blog more about that later.  For now, I'd like to draw your attention to a documentary that some friends of mine are working on called Shamed. 

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-47206048908867806352012-01-07T13:18:00.000-08:002012-01-07T13:18:57.944-08:00

The following is an excerpt from an essay by Joanna Macy entitled "Pass it On."  She tells of her experience in 1992 doing some despair and empowerment work with residents of the Russian city Novozybkov, which is one of the cities that was most contaminated by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. That afternoon the grief broke open. It happened unexpectedly, at the close of a guided

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-71899552751739873542011-12-07T10:42:00.000-08:002011-12-07T10:42:40.937-08:00

There are probably some people who read my blog who will probably tune out as soon as they see the name Hillary Clinton.  Come back!!  Also, there might be some who when they see the words "gay rights", will automatically assume this is about gay marriage and tune out because they are tired of that whole debate.  Come back!!  Hillary gave a speech on gay rights in Geneva to the United Nations

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-45136066872008019902011-12-01T15:03:00.000-08:002011-12-01T15:03:08.792-08:00

For about as long as I've had my blog, I've had my "shared items" box in the sidebar.  The box was populated by stuff I would read in Google Reader and then share.  Google updated Reader a few weeks ago and it appears as though it lost that functionality.  Boo.  Well, you guys, I still have things to share.  If anyone knows of a similar and simple way to share stuffs I find on the interwebs, feel

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-37340727809611094942011-11-22T15:55:00.000-08:002011-11-22T15:55:51.115-08:00

I am convinced that there must be grounds for doubt as well as belief, in order to render the choice more truly a choice, and therefore the more deliberate, and laden with personal vulnerability and investment.  The option to believe must appear on one's personal horizon like the fruit of paradise, perched precariously between sets of demands held in dynamic tension.  One is, it would seem,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-52173190184123627672011-11-15T17:00:00.000-08:002011-11-15T17:00:38.697-08:00

Last week, Kendall was sharing quotes from past LDS general authorities or other leaders on the topic of homosexuality on the Far Between Facebook page.  Some of them were older doozies like this one from Ernest Wilkinson, who was the president of BYU  for twenty years in the 50's and 60's and felt the need to address the topic of homosexuality during a devotional with the student body: If any

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-70308760142304167852011-11-07T15:52:00.000-08:002011-11-07T15:52:52.269-08:00

This past weekend I attended the "Circling the Wagons" conference in Salt Lake, sponsored by Mormon Stories.  It's gotten quite a bit of coverage in the local Utah media as well as some national media attention: Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Religion Dispatches, Towleroad, and Huffington Post.  John Dehlin posted the talk given by Kevin Kloosterman, a current bishop who flew in from Illinois

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-52990955460488083652011-11-01T10:03:00.000-07:002011-11-01T10:03:02.103-07:00

If you are in Salt Lake City this coming weekend (November 4-6), the Mormon Stories community is hosting a conference for LGBTQ and SGA Mormons.  Go here to register and get more details about what specifically will be happening each day.  There will be presentations by Carol Lynn Pearson, Bill Bradshaw and others.  Whether you are in the process of sorting through the reconciliation of your

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-78516961648675354722011-10-28T15:09:00.000-07:002011-10-28T15:09:27.045-07:00

WE WERE HERE (trailer) from David Weissman on Vimeo. Last weekend I saw the documentary We Were Here about the outbreak of the AIDS crisis in San Francisco.  It was a last minute decision to see it and it ended up being an excellent decision.  One, because the director and producer of the film ended up being there for a Q&A afterwards and two, because the film was really fantastic.  It kind

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-52337372050966951022011-10-17T15:31:00.000-07:002011-10-17T15:31:55.465-07:00

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-43980636183999472162011-10-14T13:01:00.000-07:002011-10-14T13:01:05.862-07:00

Tuesday was National Coming Out Day.  I haven't been one to make grand sweeping announcements about my sexuality, probably because my experience of coming to terms with my sexuality in the context of my spiritual identity has been a sacred one.  I knew early on, probably mostly subconsciously, that not everyone would appreciate my reasons for accepting and embracing my experience of attraction or

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-35289633074767211022011-10-04T15:20:00.000-07:002011-10-04T15:20:24.746-07:00

I love this article from the New York Times about pathological altruism.  It reminds me of when I was first called as the ward mission leader in my young single adult ward.  I wasn't too stoked about the calling because I've never been too stoked about missionary work.  If someone approaches me with questions about Mormonism, I'm happy to answer them, but I realize that sometimes it's just an

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-25000973135997243952011-09-14T15:05:00.000-07:002011-09-14T15:05:41.768-07:00

This past weekend I was telling a coworker friend about this documentary: I meant to email her the link to the above trailer, but I copied and pasted the wrong URL, and instead I sent her this: She was obviously confused and responded to my email with "How to shave your groin??"  I was embarrased for about two seconds and then I started laughing uncontrollably.  I called to explain to her

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-39492757115428396332011-09-12T14:37:00.000-07:002011-09-12T14:37:21.855-07:00

My friend Christina send me this article from The Atlantic and it got me thinking.  I have to admit, I've never fully felt on board with the whole "born this way"  as an argument for gay rights.  My reservations have mostly come about because I think stating it that way simplifies sexuality into something binary - either you're gay or you're straight - and I don't think that's the way it works. 

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-55664004679392652272011-09-06T13:10:00.000-07:002011-09-06T13:11:20.719-07:00

I'm friends with Eckhart Tolle on Facebook.  Well, maybe I just "liked" him.  Either way, he addresses me as friend in this post from today, so I'm saying we're friends.  Anyway, this is what he had to say today: Dear Friends, Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said: "Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you".  In other words: freedom consists in finding the point of power, which is always

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-65974108950988599402011-08-24T14:31:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:31:09.992-07:00

If you are gay and Mormon or pay much attention to the Mormon Bloggernacle, then you've probably heard that Mitch Mayne, an openly gay man living in San Francisco, was recently called to be executive secretary in his ward.  I'm guessing that it isn't the first time this has ever happened, but it's definitely generated more conversation online than other instances.  I think part of this is due to

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-62973882507961558962011-08-22T16:45:00.000-07:002011-08-22T17:02:43.520-07:00

A few months ago I posted about wanting to venture into the vulnerable world of dating.  Before that, I'd said I was open to it, but had never really made any conscientious effort to pursue it.  I signed up for OKCupid (ugh) and have been on a handful of dates since then.  It's been an interesting experiment.  I don't know that I've particularly enjoyed it.  I got really excited about the first

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-3564453448155974832011-08-14T09:35:00.000-07:002011-08-14T09:35:59.468-07:00

This is what I've been up to the past couple of weeks. Sunstoning:  Yes, that is a giant replica of the Angel Moroni made of balloons (not noodles).  We presented on Empathy First Initiative and Far Between. I also played cars. And hung out with my friend Ninny in her comfy caftan. After lounging in the caftan, we went to an amazing antique shop in Provo.  As you can see, it was mostly the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-44543449836604313342011-08-01T23:49:00.000-07:002011-08-01T23:49:42.434-07:00

If you haven't already, you should "like" Empathy First Initiative on Facebook.  There are lots of quotes, stories, videos, etc. posted that I believe can help promote a habit and a culture of empathy.  I believe one of the best ways to develop and practice this habit of empathy is to learn how to listen effectively to others and ourselves and the world around us.  This TED talk lists five simple

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-10521754949354029662011-07-27T12:16:00.000-07:002011-07-27T12:16:01.985-07:00

I saw this video for Kinfolk Magazine on frolic! and absolutely loved it. Kinfolk from VsTheBrain on Vimeo. I visited Kinfolk's website and read their manifesto, which I also loved: Kinfolk is a growing community of artists with a shared interest in small gatherings.  We recognize that there is something about a table shared by friends, not just a wedding or once-a-year holiday extravaganza,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-73124584891450359912011-07-25T12:14:00.000-07:002011-07-25T12:14:10.935-07:00

If I am ripped from my sleep in the middle of the night, I tend to immediately assume the worst.  There was the time that my doorbell rang at like 1:00 AM and I looked through my peep hole and saw a box on the doorstep.  I was afraid to open it because I was convinced it was a bomb and someone was trying to kill me.  It turned out to be a box full of presents and candy from someone at church

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-57068585734255350182011-07-11T10:09:00.000-07:002011-07-11T10:09:14.894-07:00

Last Friday, John G-W posted about an experience he had while visiting the North Visitor Center at Temple Square in SLC.  I ended up having a somewhat similar experience at church on Sunday.  I think I've mentioned here before that up until February, I had been attending a singles ward (congregation).  Most people there knew I was gay.  I didn't necessarily go around making sure everyone knew,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-89577174779790006162011-07-08T15:30:00.000-07:002011-07-08T16:34:20.480-07:00

Things are moving along with the documentary.  Peggy Fletcher Stack wrote a fantastic article for the Salt Lake Tribune on the project and this short promo for the film was also released. If you haven't already, go to the Far Between page on Facebook and "like" it so you can receive updates on the progress of the film. You can also listen to this interview with Kendall by John Dehlin at

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-47502437725710963622011-06-30T23:40:00.000-07:002011-06-30T23:40:17.300-07:00

I've learned that pushing myself to complete physical exhaustion can lead to transcendent experiences.  When I ran the St. George Marathon about a year after my mission, I remember inexplicably breaking down into tears after I finished.  For some reason, I remember being alone for a while after finishing and just soaking in whatever the emotions were.  It was like runner's high but times ten. I

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-54916386430788976542011-06-23T17:07:00.000-07:002011-06-23T17:07:34.558-07:00

What if our salvation is an all or nothing deal?  Not in a you-have-to-be-perfect-in-order-to-be-saved kind of way.  More like either we're all saved together or none of us is saved.  And not because we're all perfect, but because we learn how to love and accept everyone in all our necessary differences.  What if we can't be saved without those with whom we vehemently disagree?  What if the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-45655720314207089422011-06-20T19:42:00.000-07:002011-06-20T19:42:42.990-07:00

This past weekend I was in Utah running the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay from Logan to Park City (188 miles) with these lovely people.  We all initially met via blogging on the interwebs and we gathered in Utah from Tennessee, Wyoming and Oregon to spend two days running, sweating, stinking and not sleeping.  The weekend went spectacularly well, considering none of us had ever spent a considerable

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-3645903079204578902011-06-09T17:02:00.000-07:002011-06-09T17:02:24.340-07:00

I think a lot of the drama we experience in life comes not from the issues we face, but in how we face them. By that, I mean how we approach them, how we hold them, how we process them, the questions we ask about them.  With the issue of homosexuality, it seems to me that we aren't "holding" the issue in a way that leads to much productive conversation on the issue.  It seems like our back and

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-80043643689214243762011-06-07T14:07:00.000-07:002011-06-07T14:07:31.545-07:00

In the Mormon church, the first Sunday of the month is different from the others. Instead of having assigned speakers, we have what is called a fast and testimony meeting, which basically means it’s open mic Sunday. Anybody can get up and extemporaneously share their feelings for and their belief in the gospel, the church, their Savior, etc. Sometimes it also becomes an uncomfortable exercise in

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-22558437659714998102011-05-26T13:18:00.000-07:002011-05-26T13:18:57.681-07:00

A friend emailed me this quote by Eckhart Tolle: With any human relationship, the question is, "Is there space?"  Use that as a little mantra.  Is there space in this relationship?  Put bluntly, it's a space when thought becomes unimportant, and any judgment of your mind, even emotion, becomes unimportant when something deeper is there: awareness, stillness, alert, alive, stillness, as space.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-37981943535374506402011-05-23T12:22:00.001-07:002011-05-23T12:23:32.474-07:00

Sometimes I find the idea of living forever completely exhausting and depressing. I think this feeling started to surface when I started exploring and questioning what I really do and don’t believe, especially about what happens after this life. Think about it though, existing for-ev-er is a really long time, especially when I really have no idea what a next life would look like and really only

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-75517889167093524492011-05-17T13:06:00.000-07:002011-05-17T13:06:34.491-07:00

Sunday afternoon I sat down on my couch to watch some TV and noticed an envelope taped to my sliding glass door.  I retrieved it and found a hand written letter inside that said the following: Hello my name is Sherri and my mother lives in the unit directly across from you.  She informed me that in the recent past you had a roommate and may possibly be looking for another, since the previous

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-69673682291513686562011-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:002011-05-06T12:47:04.718-07:00

I wrote the following for a discussion group I belong to in an attempt to explain my relationship with God.  I thought I'd post it here as well. I’ve found that to make the gospel come alive for me, I’ve had to rewrite the narratives of what the voices in my head tell me about who I am, what the gospel is, who my Heavenly Father and Savior are and how they feel about me and what role I play in

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-89099814889987823842011-05-02T13:10:00.000-07:002011-05-02T13:10:23.149-07:00

In my last post, I said that I believe that if we are downloading the gospel, we are probably less than 1% to completion.  I think a lot of members of the church, however, believe that we've already downloaded most, if not all of it. One of the stumbling blocks of Mormonism is the belief of its members that it is the only true church on the face of the earth.  Like I said in my last post, I think

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-76144326278827964522011-04-25T12:59:00.000-07:002011-04-25T12:59:50.872-07:00

I think it's inevitable as a gay Mormon that at some point in coming to terms with your sexuality, you will also do a fair amount of wrestling with your religious identity.  Everyone approaches it differently, but so far, I've taken the approach of sifting through the culture and the religion (I don't think anybody can really say exactly where one ends and the other begins) and pulling out stuff

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-56740683264583152012011-04-15T09:54:00.000-07:002011-04-15T09:54:07.789-07:00

I just read John G-W’s post about surrendering and stretching and it got me thinking about some of my own experiences with those same themes. I’ve recently mixed up my exercise routine to include more yoga and I love it. I love that it’s a more contemplative and peaceful form of exercise than some of the other things I do. I also love that it’s more holistic in that it focuses on the development

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-16672244279198569512011-04-11T13:26:00.000-07:002011-04-11T13:26:38.745-07:00

This past weekend I went to NYC to see Angels in America and do some shooting for the documentary. We met up Friday night with some other gay Mormon guys who live in the city so they could show us a proper night on the town.  We met up at Vynl for food, where he had a large corner booth with a table top that was a tile mosaic of Liza Minelli's face.  I wanted to get a picture of it, but it was

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-4962857759517004682011-04-06T13:08:00.000-07:002011-04-06T13:10:17.497-07:00

The 13th article of faith of the LDS church says that "if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."  I've been spending a lot of time listening to podcasts and watching documentaries and have experienced some pretty great stuff.  So I thought I'd share.  Below are links to things I think you should check out as well as descriptions (that I

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-40885685630932736702011-03-28T11:08:00.000-07:002011-03-28T11:08:49.642-07:00

I have a question to toss out to all of you.  I think all of us at some point have been, and some might currently be in that stage of trying to root out the gay.  By root out the gay, I mean trying to eliminate it or change it into a heterosexual attraction.  This probably includes trying to reform or change or eliminate activities or behaviors or relationships that we think might be contributing

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-14249816258997914072011-03-21T03:14:00.000-07:002011-03-21T03:14:00.724-07:00

Now I am holding her hand and asking, "How are you, Sweetie?  You look a lot better than you did yesterday."  We smile and I leave my lipstick kiss on her cheek.  "My mark of distinction," she says, as always.  But this time when she says she just wants to go to sleep and not wake up, I say what I know, " Yes.  And what a glorious surprise will be there for you.  Are you afraid?" "Yes--you know,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-88773830681266435632011-03-18T06:17:00.000-07:002011-03-18T06:17:48.704-07:00

I did a guest post over at Hey Nonny today.  Check it, yo! Also check this out and have a great weekend.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-81057415304520685702011-03-14T15:13:00.000-07:002011-03-14T15:14:54.807-07:00

In the movie Inception, Cobb says, “I think positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time. We all yearn for reconciliation, for catharsis.” It seems that if I go with what life brings me, instead of trying to fight it, I fall into that catharsis almost effortlessly. This weekend I was in Utah and it turned out being a weekend of intense catharsis. The original purpose for the trip was my

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-53291771243407165302011-03-10T09:38:00.000-08:002011-03-10T09:38:51.465-08:00

My friend D'Arcy is a photographer extraordinaire.  This summer she will be traveling the country and offering a great deal on sessions.  (That sounds weird, is that what you call it in the photography biz?  A session?)  Either way, D'Arcy will do a great job at making you look fabulous.  She is also going to donate a large chunk of the proceeds to help finance her friend Jenny's fight with

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-59351142161092066752011-03-04T14:26:00.000-08:002011-03-08T07:10:19.696-08:00

A while back I did this post of Eckhart Tolle quotes.  The other day, David sent me a link to an Eckhart video on YouTube and I've been watching some of the other videos of Tolle that are available there.  I can't remember which video it was now, but in one of them he says something like a failed story is the flower of consciousness.  I think we too often get wrapped up in not failing or in doing

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-84105439064414124632011-02-28T11:58:00.000-08:002011-02-28T11:58:07.131-08:00

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. Try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language. Do not now look for the answers. They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them. It is a question of experiencing everything. At present you need to live the question. Perhaps you will gradually, without even

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-83367276893467467232011-02-25T10:14:00.000-08:002011-02-25T10:23:37.551-08:00

I am named after my great great grandfather, Jonathan Heaton.  When my parents were naming me, they went through the family tree to see if there were any names they liked, and they settled on Jonathan, which is much better than some of the other options.  My namesake (or am I his namesake?  Or does it go both ways?) is the one on the right below.  He looks a little fierce.  Please notice how

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-80369997056763662852011-02-22T15:18:00.000-08:002011-02-22T15:18:26.288-08:00

I am contributing to a documentary that intends to respectfully and thoughtfully explore the various paths of the gay Mormon. These could be paths inside the church or outside the church, in a same sex relationship or mixed orientation marriage or a chosen path of celibacy. The idea is to explore the tension and struggles and sacrifices and joys that are a part of each path. We are trying to find

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-41253169582763664942011-02-20T13:54:00.000-08:002011-02-20T13:54:32.152-08:00

This documentary premiered here in Portland on Friday night and I went and saw it.  It kind of bugs me when people go on and on about how good a movie is and tell me how I have to see it, so I'll try not to do that.  I will say though, that it was a film that caused a shift in how I perceive myself and my relationship to others in a pretty big way.  I would even venture so far as to say that I

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-20559283218737504912011-02-17T22:58:00.000-08:002011-02-17T22:58:03.807-08:00

And who doesn't like Armani?

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-38944823319080518902011-02-15T14:13:00.000-08:002011-02-15T16:59:31.022-08:00

I wish I could say I came up with the title of this post myself, but it was MNJ. We were having an email discussion and he dropped that phrase and I loved it. I'm not really sure where this post is going to go. I just thought I'd take some of the things we were mulling over in our email exchange and think out loud and bring the conversation to the readers of my blog and see what you all think.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-77892732677607802282011-02-11T06:50:00.000-08:002011-02-11T06:50:20.512-08:00

It comes out on my mother's birthday and on the eve of David's.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-12775225858816009092011-02-09T12:18:00.000-08:002011-02-09T12:18:16.800-08:00

Thanks to John G-W for posting a link to this interview from Mormon Expressions on his blog.  I think it's well worth a listen.  The subject of the interview is Steven Fehr, who was featured in this article from the Salt Lake Tribune, and he talks about his experience being openly gay and in a committed relationship and also active in the LDS church.  Be careful though.  There are parts that

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-32122608272780236702011-02-06T20:44:00.000-08:002011-02-06T20:49:03.204-08:00

Hey dudes.  As you might have noticed, I got an extreme blog make over.  My sister's sister-in-law Dani (not sure what that makes Dani to me?  Sister-in-law-in-law?  Dani and I also went to high school together but she was a grade or two ahead of me and therefore much cooler, so she's really more than just a sister-in-law-in-law.  With a parenthetical statement this long, I should probably just

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-73630424077718800312011-02-01T09:35:00.000-08:002011-02-05T19:03:49.696-08:00

Below is the talk I gave in church Sunday on the role of the Holy Ghost. If the idea of the Holy Ghost is unfamiliar to you or if you have something else that you feel guides you towards truth, feel free to substitute that idea as you read to make it more accessible to you. Almost 8 years ago, in the first general conference after I moved to the beautiful city of Portland, Joseph Wirthlin said

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-73766555241607338012011-01-29T19:02:00.000-08:002011-02-05T19:04:16.444-08:00

My friend Ellie had this video on her blog, and I loved it too much not to share.Growing is Forever from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-90495612548392899342011-01-22T14:24:00.001-08:002011-02-05T19:13:14.046-08:00

Did anyone else see the posts on Facebook at the beginning of the year where someone would promise to send something homemade to the first five people to comment, but you had to post the same thing and send something homemade to the first five people to comment on your post? A homemade "pay it forward" if you will. Well, Mandi did that, but hers was the best because she said you didn't have to

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-49578638744014358522011-01-19T10:09:00.000-08:002011-01-19T10:20:35.810-08:00

On my way to work this morning, I listened to the Fabreeze do an interview with the makers of a documentary called Lead With Love. The following description of the documentary is on its website:Lead With Love is a 35-minute documentary created to provide comfort, information, and guidance for parents who have recently learned that their son or daughter is lesbian, gay, or bisexual. The film

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-25831985973829400682011-01-14T10:29:00.000-08:002011-01-14T17:26:19.110-08:00

I think we can't go around measuring our goodness by what we don't do - by what we deny ourselves, what we resist and who we exclude. I think we've got to measure goodness by what we embrace, what we create and who we include. -Pere Henri in Chocolat Not that there aren't things that we are better off not engaging in or engaging in moderation, but I think there's something to be said for defining

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-56815572635214755082011-01-13T22:34:00.001-08:002011-01-13T22:34:24.075-08:00

Friday night I am going to see the premiere of a show called Portlandia that is going to be on IFC. It stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein and it's about Portland, where the dream of the 90's is still alive:Also, where we put birds on things:And where we read everything and talk about it in coffee shops:One more thing. I was looking at Google Analytics and it told me that someone found my

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-66717997954156794312011-01-11T09:41:00.000-08:002011-01-11T11:36:17.313-08:00

Watch this TED talk. It's fantastic. There are a whole bunch of ideas in this 20 minutes to delve into and dissect and explore. There's one (maybe two) in particular though, that I want to explore in this post. The first is that in order to feel loved by and connected to other people, we have to allow ourselves to be seen. Althought I probably wouldn't have articulated it in this way when I

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-45563330634775891222011-01-07T08:51:00.000-08:002011-01-07T12:06:26.757-08:00

I have a messenger bag. It's pretty simple and nondescript. Just your run of the mill, canvas messenger bag. There's a guy at work who thinks it's the greatest thing ever. Several months back, he told me in the elevator that he liked my bag and asked where I got it. Whenever he sees me with the bag now, he comments on how much he likes it and how he's looked everywhere and can't find

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-85801530342239968792011-01-03T12:03:00.000-08:002011-01-03T12:24:58.473-08:00

I have to admit, if I saw people walking around with a "free hugs" sign, my first instinct would probably be to steer clear. Who knows though. Maybe the secret to world peace is free hugs.We are all connected, after all....Also, check this out.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-90162652757883415782010-12-31T14:09:00.000-08:002010-12-31T14:20:52.692-08:00

I am working today and I went over to the mall during lunch. The building I work in is connected to a mall by a skybridge, so I'm frequently over there during lunch eating or reading at Barnes & Noble. Today I read through some of John Stewart's new book and afterwards I had to use the bathroom before returning to work. Those bathrooms are not my favorite to use; they are pretty gross. I

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-91450822144142307282010-12-29T08:58:00.000-08:002010-12-29T09:04:56.898-08:00

I posted this quote almost exactly a year ago and I thought it was something worth posting again as a New Year's resolution of sorts. Typically, New Year's resolutions involve not getting bigger, but I whole heartedly endorse this kind of bigness:By size I mean the stature of [your] soul, the range and depth of [your] love, [your] capacity for relationships. I mean the volume of life you can

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-75904360327809465062010-12-24T07:47:00.000-08:002010-12-24T07:52:12.402-08:00

O magnum mysterium,et admirabile sacramentum,ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,jacentem in praesepio!Beata Virgo, cujus viscerameruerunt portareDominum Christum.Alleluia.O great mystery,and wondrous sacrament,that animals should see the new-born Lord,lying in a manger!Blessed is the Virgin whose wombwas worthy to bearChrist the Lord.Alleluia!

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-50800708615442354792010-12-20T14:43:00.000-08:002010-12-20T14:51:41.975-08:00

This weekend I was checking Facebook and came across this:Some of you may not be familiar with the people in this picture. I’m only familiar with the four men on the right. Starting at the far right is Trevor Southey. All I really know about him is that he was in the PBS documentary, The Mormons, where he was interviewed in the section that explored Mormonism and homosexuality. He was also

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-53370790189441298922010-12-15T11:51:00.000-08:002010-12-15T11:56:23.448-08:00

My friend KPDubs, sent me this last night. He saw it on campus at BYU. It was behind a key-coded door to a small computer lab, but it was there.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-72819178684753325742010-12-13T08:24:00.000-08:002010-12-13T08:34:54.292-08:00

The meditation instructor speaks of ma,or emptiness--asks us to listento our breathing.I think of the pleural space,the vacuum our ribs and diaphragmpull upon when we take inbreath, that pulls back when we exhale.How we draw upon this emptiness,and it draws upon us. How an anatomistwould call it a potential space, meaningit does not exist--unless intruded upon.How if your pleural lining is

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-10769890021383833842010-12-11T10:48:00.000-08:002010-12-11T11:29:04.351-08:00

I just read this opinion piece that was in the Salt Lake Tribune by Bob Rees and Bill Bradshaw. I tried to find it in my reader feed so I could share it in my sidebar but I couldn't so I thought I'd just devote a post to it. The article discusses a study by a woman named Caitlin Ryan about the correlation between family acceptance or rejection of gay family members and the gay family members

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-45265800305351528462010-12-08T08:30:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:02:31.218-08:00

I skyped with my sister last week and she told me she had to give a talk in church on agency or freedom of choice. She didn't want to merely regurgitate the same old stuff and I immediately thought of a talk by Kathleen Flake that I've referred to before on my blarg. The link there to listen to the talk doesn't work anymore, so here's a new link. If you haven't listened to the talk, I think

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-69011244937831457862010-12-06T14:30:00.000-08:002010-12-06T15:17:05.038-08:00

Saturday I went to boot camp. Yes, KDubs, I go to boot camp. We did sprints at the beginning so I was already kind of winded right from the start. Right after the sprints, some guy who is a regular walked past me and put his hand on my shoulder and said, "It gets better." Maybe he looked at me and thought, surely this guy was bullied in gym class. Either way, it didn't get better. It got

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-29532581323446555082010-12-02T20:46:00.000-08:002010-12-02T21:23:47.978-08:00

About a month ago, MNJ had to come to Portland for work, so he arrived a day early and we spent the day shopping and eating delicious food. He and Mandi gave me this book for my birthday.Apparently, they think I need some butching up. I'd like to share with you some things I've learned. Chapter three of the book is on Love and Sex. There is a section in this chapter with the title "How to

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-80352179740669542292010-11-30T12:06:00.000-08:002010-11-30T13:13:22.753-08:00

Remember the Glee episode when Kurt visits the Dalton Academy and meets up with Blaine, who sings him Teenage Dream with all the other boys of the school? I liked that. After that show aired, my friend Ansley sent me this review of that episode. Tom and Lorenzo, the authors of the post, discuss that as fantastic as the "It Get's Better" project is, it only goes so far. Unfortunately, kids get

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-55965863921357574042010-11-23T10:57:00.000-08:002010-11-23T11:45:05.257-08:00

I first became aware of Holly Welker this past summer. A friend sent me a fantastic piece she wrote for The Huffington Post for Pioneer Day, in which she celebrates modern Mormon pioneers like Carol Lynn Pearson, Dustin Lance Black and others. When I went to the Salt Lake Sunstone Symposium in August, I saw that Holly was presenting a paper on the Twilight books. I read her bio that

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-78748217038070947082010-11-22T14:57:00.000-08:002010-11-22T15:00:16.048-08:00

This is an urgent warning to all moho bloggers. I feel the need to warn you about a predator amongst us. He will pretend to respect your boundaries and build up a certain level of trust. He will make you feel comfortable enough that you might even give him your phone number so you can phone talk. He’ll send you benign texts at first, but then one day, he’ll unexpectedly take his phone into

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-34014986397149444772010-11-16T13:55:00.000-08:002010-11-16T14:40:04.733-08:00

I’m assuming that by now most of you have heard of the blog (Gay) Mormon Guy. The blog became fairly popular after its author posted a response to Packer's conference talk. I know there has been some speculation about whether or not GMG is who he says he is. Regardless of who he is or isn’t, I initially felt rubbed the wrong way by his blog because it seemed as though he was becoming an

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-60801902282243186682010-11-15T15:10:00.000-08:002010-11-15T15:11:54.042-08:00

This weekend I attended a Sunstone symposium in Seattle and part of that was a panel discussion of Mormon feminism. There were four fantastic ladies on the panel and they talked a little bit about their experiences “coming out” as Mormon feminists. Some of them spoke of the community they found through email lists before blogging came into its own and then blogging. Certainly that wasn’t the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-84771689808018685982010-11-04T11:54:00.000-07:002010-11-04T11:57:43.537-07:00

If you are in the Portland area, you are probably going to want to check out Little Winter this weekend. My friend Chelsea at frolic! is co-sponsoring the event . It’s a handmade market of local craftspeople and I think it’s going to be fantastic. Details are at the website. MNJ is going to be in town this weekend for work, so we are going to check it out.Also, I have a guest post up at The

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-46198819633277579832010-10-31T11:06:00.000-07:002010-10-31T11:40:53.580-07:00

A while back, I wrote a post with the title Choose Your Own Ending. I'm gonna paste a large chunk of it below that pertains to what I want to explore in this post:If you think about, the gay son born to a very strictly Mormon family sets up the perfect scenario for amazing transformation and opportunities for learning. They are a perfect foil for each other. In literature, a foil is a person who

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-56945836660516820692010-10-28T20:25:00.000-07:002010-10-28T20:29:31.570-07:00

If any of you are still looking for a costume, here are some ideas. The video is funny and also sad. Sad because some people probably don't realize it's satirical and will be nodding their heads in agreement as they listen and taking notes.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-77316878971529189342010-10-25T10:02:00.000-07:002010-10-25T10:18:51.886-07:00

Many of you have probably already seen this. Several moho bloggers were emailed this weekend by a guy named Brad Carmack about a book he's working on and wanting to get published. Below is his explanation of the book as well as a link to the manuscript. I haven't read through the whole thing yet, but it looks like he's trying to encourage more compassion and understanding on the issue of

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-39956329477039620712010-10-20T09:39:00.000-07:002010-10-20T09:51:14.652-07:00

Try and tell me that my nephew isn't adorable. He asked my sister to put in a yoga DVD and then he laid out a mat and did yoga for 20 minutes. He's three. Also, as I was uploading the picture, I noticed the amount of purple in it. Appropriate, don't you think? Personally, I'm wearing more of an eggplant colored shirt. Eggplant counts, right? If you are in Portland and looking for something

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-43327174232048810852010-10-19T16:51:00.000-07:002010-10-19T16:57:53.751-07:00

The unintegrated personality does not have the character strength to hold the tension, but tends to release one side of the tension in favor of the other side, which is favored due to safety, comfort, or familiarity.There is evil in this world and in the human heart. If we don't recognize this, we have a naive attitude that can get us into trouble. Jung thought the soul could benefit by coming

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-91541698262629488072010-10-14T08:54:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:01:40.482-07:00

The following is an excerpt from the book Fate and Destiny by Michael Meade:Each individual life is a specific question being asked of the world and the answer is not complete until the end of the road is reached.It's like the story of the old rabbi who lay upon his deathbed as the final hour drew near. His name was Zushya and he had lived a long enough life. He was a holy man who had studied

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-33812268145350902222010-10-12T11:07:00.000-07:002010-10-12T11:30:17.269-07:00

Yup. I just said that; however, I’m guessing that my reasons for thinking it was inspired are a little bit different than the reasons why many others thought it was inspired. For a while now, I’ve had this idea simmering in the back of my mind. I believe that God (or whoever/whatever you believe is in charge, assuming you believe something is in charge) uses all we are to carry out a divine plan,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-46806482173270929762010-10-08T12:06:00.000-07:002010-10-08T12:17:01.455-07:00

Some of you may have heard that there was a talk given by someone this past Sunday that has stirred up some spirited discussions. In all the response and discussion of the talk, one of the words that keeps coming up is choice. You can choose to change if only you have enough faith in God and the atonement. I think one of the most frustrating things for me is the way that the idea of choosing to

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-85213470812291672642010-10-05T12:45:00.000-07:002010-10-05T13:35:01.436-07:00

Before you know what kindness really isyou must lose things,feel the future dissolve in a momentlike salt in a weakened broth.What you held in your hand,what you counted and carefully saved,all this must go so you knowhow desolate the landscape can bebetween the regions of kindness.How you ride and ridethinking the bus will never stop,the passengers eating maize and chickenwill stare out the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-7232709340503397272010-10-03T12:22:00.000-07:002010-10-04T13:48:54.769-07:00

There are lots of things I'd like to say about Packer's talk. For now though, I'll just post this with the hope that he reads my blog and watches this and that it melts his cold, dark and fearful heart.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-26415802086545922242010-09-28T15:42:00.000-07:002010-09-28T16:51:48.900-07:00

Several months ago at work, I found $6 on the ground near my desk. I asked the people near me if it belonged to any of them. Someone said it belonged to a woman I will call Butterfly Kisses because that's a code name I used for her with a friend. I can get along alright with most people, but there are a few people on this earth, with whom I have a very difficult time talking to. At all.

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-56144688594780943092010-09-26T21:18:00.000-07:002010-09-26T21:38:55.194-07:00

Tomorrow (Monday) is Carol Lynn Pearson's birthday. She posted on Facebook an experience she had last weekend in a meeting between Marlin Jensen, a general authority of the LDS church, and members of the church in the Oakland, CA area who had been hurt by the church's involvement in Prop 8. Read about her experience here.Happy Birthday Carol Lynn!Also, can we please start a petition to get

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-37753578665444408272010-09-24T11:43:00.000-07:002010-09-24T12:33:42.765-07:00

These will be internet links, not sausage links, although I could probably actually go for some sausage links right now. It's almost lunch time. Next Friday is my birthday and my coworkers are taking me to lunch and I have to decide where we're going. I am considering Tasty n Sons because just like its name suggests, it's quite tasty. They actually just do brunch from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm,

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-19026414143199592062010-09-22T11:48:00.000-07:002010-09-22T14:01:08.303-07:00

A few weeks ago I posted my first journal entry from my childhood journal. It was sweet and innocent, which is kind of how things went for me all through elementary school. I was comfortable and confident and I was really good at memorizing things and regurgitating them, so I did really well in school. My teachers usually really liked me and vice versa. I can tell you what each of my teachers

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-63740900475967403932010-09-16T22:41:00.000-07:002010-09-16T22:59:47.484-07:00

I CANNOT stop watching this video. You can't make me. There is so much to love about it. Watch this and it will instantly make your day better.Also, my friend Carlos, who is a tumblr, sent me a link to some really fantastic Wendy's training videos from the 90's. Here's one of them:Finally, my friend Krisanne recently started a new art blog called A Paper Moth. Here's her description of what

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-63627528513991123202010-09-13T09:34:00.000-07:002010-09-13T10:10:28.497-07:00

I've been tossing around in my head lately this thought that maybe the importance of gender isn't so that we can clearly define and separate into masculine and feminine roles, but so we can bring both together to acheive a balance of the masculine and the feminine within ourselves. I've been chewing on gender a lot lately and I'm not sure where I'm at. I think gender is important, but I don't

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-87091441894816059952010-09-09T12:39:00.000-07:002010-09-09T13:29:36.014-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if all this back and forth over Prop 8 is just a big fat red herring. We're getting distracted by the argument itself, instead of stopping to listen to what it is we are supposed to be learning. This isn't to say that I think we shouldn't be having the conversations, because I think we should. I just think we are missing a very crucial element that could help improve the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-57960143377499577262010-09-07T09:12:00.000-07:002010-09-07T10:27:46.622-07:00

My friend Lizzy recently posted something called Finding your Tribe, and I'm going to piggyback on it because I too love the idea of finding my tribe. I think one of the key parts of coming to terms with and becoming comfortable with my sexuality has been finding my tribe. You know when you find members of your tribe. Sometimes there is an almost instant ease and familiarity. Members of your

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-79672453889852503282010-09-01T21:11:00.000-07:002010-09-01T22:04:39.570-07:00

Look. If we are going to be friends, there are a few things that you are going to have to watch. You also have to like these things; otherwise, I'm not so sure it's going to work out between us. Take a look at these videos and let me know if you're willing to make this work...I realize you have all probably already seen this one, but it's definitely worth a second look because it has a lot of

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-24153758957466768162010-08-30T09:14:00.000-07:002010-08-30T10:28:25.509-07:00

I pulled out my old journal recently and did some perusing. I actually fairly consistently wrote in my journal growing up due to the fact that my mom wouldn't let us watch Punky Brewster on Sunday nights unless we wrote in our journals and read our scriptures. Remember when Henry has health issues and loses custody of Punky and she has to go back to Fenster Hall, but then she gets placed with a

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-87605532456613581922010-08-25T11:29:00.000-07:002010-08-25T11:31:21.853-07:00

This came in the mail yesterday...

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167629071448515629.post-57293765638555958052010-08-24T09:31:00.000-07:002010-08-24T10:03:43.605-07:00

About a month ago I did a post explaining why I don't like it when people try to say that asking homosexual members of the church to remain celibate isn't any different than asking single members of the church to remain celibate. My sister and I had an email conversation that helped me flesh out in more detail why they are not the same thing and also why I think it's important to understand the

JonJonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14158807819966424747noreply@blogger.com6