Comments on: Of Missionaries, Squirrels, and the Bloggernacle

By: Allison in Atlanta

Allison in Atlanta — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 06:59:21 +0000

Sorry I am “late to the party” on this posting, but I have to add that I am also sensitive to attacks on my faith and the Church because it is what is dearest to me and the salvation of all I love is incredibly important. So although we have to remain calm and civil (tough!), it is avoiding being sucked into the contention that allows us to show our valiance appropriately and be more clear-headed in defending our faith and others.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:30:07 +0000

Ardis, you have a remarkable gift and have shared it once again in a wonderful way with this post. Thanks.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 13:03:50 +0000

Ardis, this reminded me that my dad served as Relief Society President for a while in one branch on his mission in Austria, because the few sisters in the branch could not be trusted not to come to blows (literally!) if left in a room alone.

By: Ben S

Ben S — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 00:21:25 +0000

Solidarité et fraternité parmi les missionaires francophones! Excellent post.

By: John Mansfield

John Mansfield — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 21:02:43 +0000

Years ago I was sitting at a dinner table with two men who had spent some time conducting research in Toulouse. As they shared their fondness for the city, one said something that I’ve wondered about since: “There is something about a capital city even long after it ceases to be a capital.” In a strange turn, that person a couple years later was sitting in the House of Lords, so I figure he likely knew what he was talking about. When I visited Philadelphia, I wondered if I was picking up on what he had described.

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Kurt, the good news is that the squirrel comes from a very large family, and he and his kin thrive virtually anywhere. Enlist a few of his siblings and put them to work!

By: Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:12:35 +0000

This is a wonderful post, Ardis. Thank you for sharing. I’m sorry there are those who feel a need to try and aim their cruelty at you – or anyone else for that matter.

As for the squirrel, I think I may need to have it shipped from France and put it to work in some overly contentious wards here in the states.

By: Gary Bergera

Gary Bergera — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 20:00:37 +0000

Hi Kevin @10 — No, I left in mid-1976. However, I started teaching at the MTC immediately afterwards. So I may have met Alan there. (In fact, Alan may have introduced himself to at MHA in Springfield.)

By: Ardis E. Parshall

Ardis E. Parshall — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:52:17 +0000

Thanks, Kevin and David.

Juli, if this draws a comment out of you, so much the better! With the full cooperation of nearly every commenter, we’ve made a nice little community here, haven’t we? Part of that has to do with promptly moderating the very occasional anti-Mormon (or anti-Ardis) comment, and the even rarer attacks by one commenter on another, but mostly it has to do with the goodwill of everybody who participates. I wish more lurkers spoke up once in a while.

By: Juli

Juli — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:15:36 +0000

Thanks for your eloquent honesty, Ardis! I’m a timid lurker, for the most part, but I appreciate you and the Keepa community so much that I had to jump in today. Let the haters hate — those that are with you are more than those that are against you. I know there are more timid lurkers out there who love what you do. I’ll venture to speak for all of them when I say THANK YOU for baring your claws when you must!