"Do you have children? If so do you take them along to your "worship" sessions? If they are below the age of 18 do ask them if they want to go?"

I saw this question in the comment section of a pretty negative article in an online UK newspaper about the LDS church. As is wont to happen after an online article about the LDS church, the commenters below are filled with a combination of people that say the church is bad, and then people that say the church is good. I do enough online browsing that I don't usually read any of it, because it's all the same.

This question hit me, however. One commentor had stated that one of the chief tenets of LDS doctrine is that man is free to choose, and this was given in response. On the surface, it brings up a good question. If one is brought up in a faith, is that "indoctrination"? I was raised in the LDS church - was I indoctrinated? Did I ever really have a choice? Was I free? I am going to raise my daughter and any future children in the LDS church. Am I, by doing so, limiting their freedom?

The answer is an unequivocal no! I am not limiting their freedom. The simple fact of the matter is that they are going to be "indoctrinated" by whatever influence comes their way. It's my responsibility as a parent to see that those influences are the ones that are going to make her happy.

I see a simple choice - Do I let the media "indoctrinate" Clara? Do I let her value system be dictated by pop magazines, by television shows, movies? No. That does not bring happiness.

So I sing primary songs to Clara as she falls asleep, we read the scriptures as a family daily, we have family home evening weekly, because I love her and want her to be happy more than anything, and this is the best way that I know of to ensure that she is that way and that she will be that way as she grows and matures.

Kudos to the LFUCG

Yesterday I had to make a stop downtown for various city & county government-related errands. As I was looking at the board someone stopped me. "Do you need to renew your car registration? It's right there, second door on the left." Oh, well thank you. A few minutes later I was back at that sign. A lady this time stopped me. "What are you looking for?" Oh, I need to get fingerprinted. "You need to go to the police station. It's outside, turn left, first building on your left." Oh, well thank you.

People were so nice! Not only did I recieve personal directions as to where I needed to go, but both visits went very smoothly and quickly.

Good job, Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government!

Basketball / 100th Post

A recent work trip found me on the road without my wife and daughter. Some of my coworkers found out that the hotel gave free visits to the local YMCA, so I went along with them to play some ball.

The gym was vintage YMCA. Four games on two courts. Running track on the second floor, surrounding the gym. The really big really sweaty guy. The wiry old guy who would shoot flatfooted 3 pointers from his chest, with it going in more than half the time. Your local big guy with a mohawk who lifts a lot and thinks he's a lot better than he is. Frankly, I was a little intimidated. I've played ball a few times in KY and not to much success. The last time I had played, I ended up with a huge elbow in my face that led to swelling and a black eye.

We wait for our turn and after ten minutes are so, we're on. Of course my team ends up being the smaller team.

So we start, and I get the ball on the first play. I decide to drive it past the guy guarding me. He recovers in time, but almost trips and says "dang, you're fast." Good start. The ball gets passed around a bit and I finally get it in the corner and decide to take a shot. BAM. It's in.

Next play, my guy gets the ball, and he tries to go past me. My arm flicks out, hits the ball away from him, and I go and pick it up, Jackson Emery style. I follow that up with another made shot from the corner. 2-2 with 4 points and a steal. Not a bad start! We followed some hot shooting and beat a team that had a ton of size on us by a couple. All in all, we ended up winning three games, than lost the next two due to going cold at the wrong time. I continued to make shots, play pretty good defense, and had a couple good drives as well. It went pretty much as well as it could have.