tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49560579892271038502024-03-07T17:07:07.363-06:00A Mormon EnigmaAn exploration of what it means to be Married, Mormon, . . . and GayAbelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-53140912431725755452015-04-02T17:15:00.001-05:002015-04-02T17:15:44.412-05:00A realizationThere was once a time when I would receive an email whenever a comment was awaiting approval. I don't use my wistfulmormon@gmail.com id much, but I do check it occasionally. I hadn't gotten any emails in a long while indicating comments; so, I just assumed that nobody was reading my blog.
Today, I happened to log onto blogger and, lo and behold, there were 6 comments awaiting Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-13644595119968941522014-09-17T10:15:00.000-05:002014-09-17T13:15:49.998-05:00Movie Review: The Falls & The Falls: A Testament of LoveI'm actually going to be talking about 2 movies together
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Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-28389987139170814092014-09-10T13:02:00.000-05:002014-09-10T13:02:42.696-05:00All American BoyI recently discovered Steve Grand - an openly gay country music singer.
Truthfully, my first glimpse of Steve Grand was in a Huffington Post article: Steve Grand Goes Nude For The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. I didn't know who he was; but, I enjoyed the eye candy picture of him standing, au naturel, next to lake superior. I'm not gonna lie - he is one good looking dude. But, I Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-17699100687230450182014-02-23T16:08:00.000-06:002014-02-23T16:08:56.588-06:00Hold to the rod - but do not hang upside downI have some ideas for blog posts brewing in my head - but something else came up that I wanted to blog about.
At church, I am the instructor for the "Teaching For Our Times" lesson in the high priests group. For those not in the know - this is where I teach a lesson assigned by either my stake president or bishop. Today is the 4th Sunday - which is when I teach; and, my assigned Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-19132777195447222572014-02-10T17:42:00.001-06:002014-02-10T17:43:09.446-06:00ResurrectionHello?!?
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Is this thing still on?
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Is there anybody out there who reads this?
I've been contemplating starting up this blog again - and was just wondering if there was anybody who would even notice?
In the meantime, I'm still alive - still married - and still gay!
I still attend church regularly - but don't enjoy it like I once did. But that would be a good topic for a blog Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-73955090815199957682012-03-26T18:24:00.000-05:002012-03-26T18:24:05.250-05:00The Dallas gayborhoodThe intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street near downtown Dallas is is the center of the Dallas gay community - also known as the Dallas gayborhood. It's really not that large of an area, just a few blocks really. And, to an unsuspecting person who just happened to be driving down the street - they might not even notice anything different than any other area with restaurants,Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-51641367600765855392012-03-23T16:26:00.000-05:002012-03-23T16:26:22.842-05:00Utah BoundI don't even know if anyone reads this blog anymore - especially since I haven't updated it in months. But, I thought I'd throw this out there.
I will be driving through Salt Lake City in a couple of weeks and thought it would be fun to get together with some of the people I've known for years but have never met in person.
I'm on my way to Rexburg to help my son and his family move allAbelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-37576095480259748522011-05-29T17:06:00.000-05:002011-05-29T17:06:48.374-05:00CharityI've been meaning to post this, especially since May is almost over ... I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on mothers day; My assigned topic was "Charity".
I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive about talking on mothers day as the usual talks include saintly pioneer ancestors, mothers, and grandmothers that are put on a pedestal so high that no woman could ever hope to match. My Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-16356300207736923382011-05-22T16:03:00.000-05:002011-05-22T16:03:10.277-05:00I'm still here ...The apocalypse came and went and I'm still here - so I guess I ought to write in my blog. The year is nearly half over, and I think this is only my 2nd post in 2011. A far cry from how I used to be with this blog.
I received a Scribit suggestion recently - which surprised me as I thought I remembered receiving an email that the Scribit gadget was going away. Anyway, an Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-26001230896460431572011-02-12T14:18:00.000-06:002011-02-12T14:18:31.347-06:00Thou shalt not be gayI attended the priesthood leadership session of our stake conference Saturday a week ago. Our stake president began his talk by relating a discussion he had with his teenage son about the one answer that can be given for any question in seminary - no matter what the topic, you can always give this answer. He then shared the following little ditty
Read your scriptures
Learn to pray
Go Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-74916661500273356512010-12-19T19:48:00.007-06:002010-12-20T13:03:28.274-06:00Four years and counting4 years ago (12/19/2006 at 7:48 PM CST) I posted my very first blog post.
Woop-De-Doo !!!
I've pretty much run out of things to say - so I'm wondering if it'll make it to 5 years ...Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-70755017214278443452010-12-08T10:40:00.000-06:002010-12-08T10:40:24.173-06:00Blind obedienceOur stake has initiated a program where, without going into the nitty-gritty details, we are to talk to every member in our ward to gather information about their their ancestors in their 5-generation pedigree. Basically, we're getting the number who've had their temple work done from each ward member. In a 5 generation pedigree chart, there are 30 direct line ancestors (not Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-7412773716073021132010-12-03T10:59:00.000-06:002010-12-03T10:59:28.955-06:00Reaping what you sow ... 2 years laterA lot has been written about recent changes to the LDS Church Handbook of Instructions prognosticating about the impact said changes have on gay Mormons. Organizations like HRC have claimed responsibility for the church instituting said changes because of their activism - which the church, of course, has denied.
Personally, I think people are reading too much into recent changes. The CHI is Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-76257727472507482752010-11-28T11:23:00.000-06:002010-11-28T11:23:52.400-06:00Reader suggestion for blog topic: food or photography. or distant friends in boise idaho :)[not so] anonymous reader suggestion: food or photography. or distant friends in boise idaho :)
I love food. I love to cook food. I love to eat food (and I have the physique to prove it). But, I have another blog where I discuss food and recipes. I'll give you a hint, it's linked in the left sidebar.
I love photography; but, I have to admit I haven't been doing Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-70704009594856867362010-11-17T13:57:00.000-06:002010-11-17T13:57:45.745-06:00Pity partyPearls Before Swine
I have my own problems with job (lack thereof), bills, etc. (no car problems, thankfully). I know there are others far worse off than I am - but somehow that doesn't make me feel any better about my own problems.
Why can't I just be thankful for what I have? Am I being selfish? Am I wallowing in self pity? How do I get out of this rut?Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-6208853861056784872010-11-09T10:52:00.000-06:002010-11-09T10:52:08.987-06:00It gets better ???
First off, I have to say that I really love the It Gets Better campaign. The thing I like most about "It Gets Better" is the positive focus. The gay community plays the victim so much that it's refreshing to see a positive perspective of being gay.
I love watching the videos. It seems everybody who is anybody - and even a few nobodies and anybody wannbes - has made an "It GetsAbelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-72308548447169326452010-11-06T10:48:00.001-05:002010-11-06T12:56:24.326-05:00Reader questionsAnonymous reader question (part 1): Where did you serve your mission?
I was called to serve in the Missouri Independence mission. About 6 months into my mission they formed the Missouri Saint Louis mission of which I became a part of and where I served the remainder of my mission. The Saint Louis mission covered approximately the eastern half of Missouri and the southern half of Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-87828997730630436342010-10-22T08:31:00.000-05:002010-10-22T08:31:42.731-05:00Reader question (part 2): If youre gay, why did you marry her?This is part 2 of an anonymous question that was asked in my sidebar
How did you meet your wife? If you're gay, why did you marry her?
If I'm gay, why did I marry a girl?
I spent my adolescent years in the late 60's and 70's - which was a very different era. I was raised to believe that homosexuals were perverts who hung out in mens restrooms waiting to molest boys. So, while I knew Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-24637414245539180672010-10-21T09:15:00.000-05:002010-10-21T09:15:23.788-05:00Reader Question (part 1): How did you meet your wife?This is part 1 of an anonymous question that was asked in my sidebar
How did you meet your wife? If you're gay, why did you marry her?
How did I meet my wife?
It's kinda a funny story ...
We met in college - at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, California. I was not yet a member of the church, she had just joined that summer.
While waiting in line to register for classes (this was in the Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-67986005517303762092010-10-13T09:17:00.000-05:002010-10-13T09:17:12.254-05:00Reader question: How did you come to choose such dark and oppressive colors for the MoHo directory?A reader posed the following question in my sidebar
How did you come to choose such dark and oppressive colors for the MoHo directory? Answer: Actually - I didn't. A fellow MoHo volunteered their time and talents to redo the MoHo Directory. Although, personally, I really like it. It looks much more professional and polished than anything I could come up with on my own.Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-28234734994439457372010-10-05T14:08:00.000-05:002010-10-05T14:08:50.356-05:00Why would God do this?Elder Boyd K Packers, now infamous, conference talk last sunday, included the following passage:
Some suppose that they were pre-set and cannot overcome what they feel are inborn tendencies toward the impure and unnatural. Not so! Why would our Heavenly Father do that to anyone? Remember, He is our Father. There are a number of things about this statement that bother me
Why would our Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-77768933644004270782010-10-04T19:00:00.000-05:002010-10-04T19:00:36.290-05:00Now that I've had time to gather my thoughts ...Boyd K. Packer spoke in the sunday morning session of general conference - and before the morning session was even over my facebook newsfeed lit up. It hasn't even been 36 hours since his talk and already much has been written. His talk has caused a lot of emotion and anguish. Not only for those of us who deal with this "problem" of homosexuality - but also for the families and Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-62484134410814335972010-10-03T14:20:00.000-05:002010-10-03T14:20:46.632-05:00What I got out of general conferenceOn Saturday, I just sort of pretended it wasn't conference weekend and went about my own business. So, the first session of conference I watched was Sunday morning. This is what I got out of it
President Henry B. Eyring
We must trust in the Lord - and in his duly called servants. And, if we lack trust in said servants then it's our own darn fault because we don't have enough Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-42033828476274582222010-10-01T16:20:00.000-05:002010-10-01T16:20:23.475-05:00The Lost SonThe recent losses of some young family members has brought to mind the lyrics of a song I've been working off and on for the past couple of years. I'm not finished, but I felt moved to share this work in progress.
The Lost Son by Abelard
Oh please ne'er forget me though earth now lie o'er meI was once young and handsome and my spirit ran freeBut wretched confusion overcame my delusionAnd a Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4956057989227103850.post-73625243712660789042010-09-27T17:18:00.000-05:002010-09-27T17:18:10.577-05:00A Man of GodI taught the priesthood lesson yesterday at church. I was given a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf titled Continue in Patience as the basis for my lesson. It's an easy topic to address - nothing controversial or uncomfortable for a struggling with ssa - gay - homo-queer - mormon dude like me.
I tried to offer a different spin on the topic. I related the story of Abelard Enigmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13166049686152203530noreply@blogger.com6