Today I read a Yale University newspaper article about the “Mormon” missionary program and the students from Yale who leave to go on a mission. It’s very fair and factual. The comments get a little interesting though. Any article about the church gets all sides.

On another note Twitter was abuzz with messages about General Conference this month. It was one of the most-discussed events during that Saturday and Sunday.  Some people complained as can be expected because I’m not sure if other faiths have taken to Twitter so outright.

I actually think we need our own “Twitter” to discuss the gospel. I’m wondering if anyone but other church members got anything out of it. And again, more bashing. Anyone who decides to go online takes the risk of people bashing them - and the church and its members are no different. That said, I wouldn’t be thrilled if all of my collegues suddenly started talking about their religion a lot.

Today the most “talked” about subject by a group on Twitter was LDS General Conference. I wish I felt well enough to participate. It’s a great way to stay engaged if you’re slightly ADD.

Here is what people are saying: (to participate, sign up for a free Twitter account and put #ldsconf after everything you write that has to do with General Conference).

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ldsconf

While it’s fun to talk about General Conference some people are mad that the church has taken over Twitter. You’ll see some criticism which is going to be more visible as we interact online more like this. I think we need an LDS-only Twitter feed too. I’ll work on that ;)  I love how this connects us and keeps us engaged in a larger community that we know is there but rarely experience in this way.

Paul B. Allen has set up an LDS General Conference Facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=75848627808

While there I found an LDS singles Facebook group.

These are great ways to share our insights and build friendship and strength! I wonder if other churches have caught on to this because it seems to be exploding right now.

Marcello is the hold out in the Utah singles scene. He’s handsome, charming and spiritual. He’s surrounded by many beautiful women. His house is great too - which you’ll learn if you go to this meeting. You should go just to be in company with great people. Also, if you ever get a chance to talk to Marcello’s dad from Greece on the phone, don’t miss it!!

Thursday, April 2

This Thursday night, April 2nd, at 9:00pm there will be an information session at the house of Marcello Surjopolos in Draper, UT regarding our upcoming Guatemala Humanitarian Expedition to the remote Polochic Valley of Guatemala. Rebecca Ellsworth, one of the heads of Singular Humanitarian, will be visiting from Washington D.C. to give this information session and answer any questions you may have.

We (Singular Humanitarian) will be engaging in a week long multi-faceted service project for the Q’eqchi’ people, who are living in extremely humble circumstances, and who are far removed from the more thriving economic centers of Guatemala. This peacful, beautiful valley has been served by CHOICE Humanitarian for over 20 years, and we have partnered with them to further their efforts in this region. We will be helping to build the area’s first secondary school, possibly a medical clinic, and multiple smaller projects likely to include: building water systems, installing wood-burning ovens, constructing eco-latrines, etc.

One of the ways we we be most helpful to this region will be through the instructional workshops we will be holding throughout the week, in areas such as:

(1) Rural Health Promoter Training (including providing medical care for locals in the process, by physicians/PAs/nurses, etc).
(2) Health/Sanitation/Nutrition classes

(3) Teacher Development
(4) Small Business Development / Possible Microfinance
(5) Responsible Agriculture Practices
(6) Construction

The group will consist principally of (but not exclusively) LDS Singles throughout the U.S. who are looking to become involved in more meaningful service and travel. There are many amazing people already committed to the trip, so come and join us! The expedition is planned from August 8-18th (5 or 7 business days off work—7 for those able to join us for 2 days in the amazing ruins of Tikal after the service project).

Log onto www.singularhumanitarian.org for more info (enter your e-mail address for updates and future trips), and join our Facebook Group “Singular Humanitarian”.

Meeting Info for Thurs, April 2nd, 9:00pm:

(Marcello Surjopolos’ house)
612 E. Normandy Loop Lane (11600 S.)
Draper, UT 84020

Conference Dance this Friday April 3, 2009

This is the time to meet other singles. Get on single’s web sites, arrange dates with visitors. I had a lot of fun during conference time when I was single. Be sure to join or plan get-togethers and meet some great people.

Friday, April 3

HUGE CONFERENCE DANCE PARTY!!!
Friday, April 3 - 9:00 pm
Studio 600 - 26 E 600 S
3 dance floors, karaoke lounge, non-alcoholic drinks, pool tables, etc.
$15 or $10 if you text ‘mid singles’ to 83361 and show it at the door
YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 25 YEARS OLD TO ENTER!!!
(The dance for college students is taking place at South Towne Expo Center this year)
This will be huge!!!  Don’t miss it!!!
Questions - call Jason Steadman at (801) 712-8337

Kurt Bestor, Peter Breinholt, and Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, along with other talented artists are going to perform for this benefit concert. Tickets at www.livingforeden.com

Monday, April 6

“Living for Eden”

A Benefit Concert for Paul Cardall

Monday, April 6, 2009

7:30pm - 10:00pm

Cottonwood High School

5715 S. 1300 E.

We just wanted to let you know that the group Colors will be reuniting and joining us at this concert on April 6th. Some of you may or may not be familiar with them but for those of you that are, you know that this is a great addition!

It’s a wonderful thing to have good friends. Internationally acclaimed musician Paul Cardall has been blessed with great friends over the years, including other artists who are coming together to help their friend through a difficult time.

Kurt Bestor, Peter Breinholt, and Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, along with other talented artists have scheduled a benefit concert for Cardall on Monday, April 6 at Cottonwood High School. The “Living for Eden Concert,” so named in honor of Cardall’s 3-year-old daughter, will get underway at 7:30 p.m. A silent auction will precede the concert beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Cardall, who was born 35 years ago with a severe congenital heart defect, has been on the waiting list for a heart transplant since last August. He has been limited in his ability to support his family and to meet escalating medical expenses during his prolonged illness. Seeing their friend’s condition, Cardall’s colleagues have decided to do what they do best – make music and use their talents to benefit Paul, his wife Lynnette and their daughter Eden.

It’s time for another Huntington Beach midsingles conference! It will be April 24-26, 2009

Huntington Beach midsingles conference for ages 27 plus. Last year well over 1000 people attended from all over California, Utah, Arizona and more. Events include a lot of beach time, surfing lessons, bike riding, and lots of fun people. Registration is ongoing at

www.hbsinglesconference.com .

Until April 1 it is only $65, after March 15 it increases to $80. Women spots fill up first and fast. Last year they cut off registering more women about a week or two before the conference.

I’ve been following Prop 8 and the deep chasm it’s caused in society. It’s pitting people against each other and makes me glad I don’t live in California (where I was born). What is totally alarming to me is the hatred and backlash there is against the church. It stings to see a picture of our prophet with the word “bigot” underneath it.

People are protesting at our temples and spray painting our churches with graffiti. I’ve heard of nothing against other Christians who sided with us on the definition of marriage.

Today’s lesson was about Joseph Smith and I’m reminded of how his life was one of continual trial (not to mention Emma Smith!). We’re not used to being persecuted and hated openly, and it’s not to that level, but it troubles me to see what is happening.

We disagree, we do not hate. It’s not a question of having rights as a couple - relationships of family and love are and should be recognized in society (as the church says in employment, death, medical rights/issues). It’s a moral issue and we take a firm stand on that aspect.

I wanted to be at the Salt Lake temple this weekend in some ways. In others I want to avoid the clashes! In other ways I wanted to support our church.

When gay and lesbian couples legally married we did not stand in the way.  We didn’t harass those getting married or try to ruin their happiness at the occasion. This is being threatened right now to heterosexual (and I believe only LDS) marriages. There are open threats and there is open hatred (see this article for a first-hand account).

What has been your experience with this issue?

It’s a big weekend for singles as many come for conference and stay to socialize with other singles in Utah. I’m not sure what you do if you’re over 45 - but there are dances for almost all ages this Friday, October 3, 2008:

Conference Dance XXIX
South Towne Expo Center. 9pm-2am. Three dance floors- Top 40 Hip Hop, Country, Latin. 9450 South State Street Sandy. Text “UVU” or “BYU” to 83361 for $5 off.

Mid Singles Conference Dance Ages 30-45
Studio 600. 9pm-2am. 600 South 26 East SLC. Text “UVU” or “BYU” to 83361 for $5 off.

The Showdown Conference Dance
Liberty Land Fun Center. 9:30am-1am. Look for the light in the sky. 1320 North 300 West Lehi, Take Exit 282. Text “PARTY” to 83043 for more info and $1 off.

It’s time to update you on the status of the LDS singles blog crew.

Married Life
This summer we got married. What I mean is: Paul got married, I got married, and I believe that Melissa Ray got married too. It does happen (I know it often seems impossible!). So we’re no longer LDS singles, we’re LDS marrieds (I should start an LDS marrieds blog next).

I married a man who is not active LDS - it was a long journey to get there. I won’t say that is anyone else’s answer but it was where I was led.

Paul’s wife is expecting their first baby. Congratulations!

New LDS dating web site LDSFriends.com
We lauched a new version of LDSFriends.com - an LDS community and LDS dating web site. LDSFriends is free and has been around since 1996.

Looking for Writers for Utah Singles Blog
I’m still writing on this blog but I’m looking for new writers to contribute. If you’re an LDS single, and are interested in helping out, please email me at grocerybike at gmail.com and tell me a bit about yourself and how often you can contribute. Topics can be about your dating experiences, tips, insights, and gospel themes.

I’m looking for regular contributors - who want to learn how to blog or you can email me your posts and I’ll update the site. I’m also interested in guest posts from dating experts or others who want exposure to the LDS singles community.

Last night as I was leaving a family party, I was stopped by a relative who put his arm around my back and proceeded to warn me. He said that in 2-3 weeks there will be a worldwide flu that starts in China. He said we will all need at least 3 months of food storage to survive, because the flu is passed by contact. If you go to the store or pump gas, you’ll contract it. So you can’t leave your home. Then priesthood leaders will lead us to safe places that they’ve been amassing.
All who are left behind will face civil war, then WW3 will break out.  He told me I would probably think he’s crazy, and he’s right, I do. Then last night I drempt of snakes - cropping up from the ground all over. I wish I could say I was making all of this up, but I’m not. I didn’t stick around to ask who told him this - I prefer to get news like that from the prophet. Do you think he’d know about it and not tell us?
However, food storage has been a somewhat growing theme lately. It’s one that troubles me. The stats say that most of us don’t have food storage as we’ve been commanded to for years. Whenever I hear information about it, the advice is constantly changing and it all seems a bit doom/gloom. I think I’ve seen more food and water wasted in the name of food storage. I also wonder if there’s a better way to amass and store it. I have so many questions.

If you rotate your food storage and make sure it’s not out-of-date, you better buy it in intravals and have a well-laid-out plan. You must eat it frequently (except for grains, which can be stored for 20-30 years and still be useable - and that should be your basis). If you’re a single parent or single or even poor and live in small places, your home could get overwhelmed by food. Stashing food under the bed and everywhere possible makes me feel like there is no space - it’s crowded out.

Also, consider that most people move at least every 5 years. Try moving that food storage! I remember a move from Oregon - we had so much wheat that we almost needed a semi for just the wheat - which was for our family of 8.

I wish there was a communal solution - a storage place in the basement of the church which you could buy into. Or, set up space in neighborhoods or areas. Some sort of co-op that stays when you move (and you participate in one where you  live). Maybe you could buy shares and elect officers. I’m not sure. All I know is I don’t believe people don’t live this because they are disobedient or unfaithful. In fact, the families I’ve seen live it the best have large homes (basements and pantries) and tend to be more wealthy overall. I’m not saying that you have to be rich to have food storage, but that these are often families that are stable in other ways.

What do you think? What could we do better to encourage food storage? Do you think you’ll have to rely on your food storage in some major calamity in coming days? Why or why not?

How do we as faithful members of the church.