Snow White is Doomed to Flop—And the Reason Will Shock You! (Yes, It’s Clickbait)

When Walt Disney released Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, it became a groundbreaking achievement in animation and storytelling. At the heart of the film is Snow White herself, a character whose defining trait is her kindness. Throughout the movie, this quality not only shapes her journey but also influences those around her—both friend and foe.

From the very beginning, Snow White’s kindness protects her. When the Evil Queen orders the Huntsman to take her into the woods and kill her, he cannot bring himself to do it. Despite his loyalty to the Queen, he is moved by Snow White’s innocence and gentle nature, choosing instead to let her escape. This moment highlights how her goodness touches even those given cruel tasks.

After fleeing into the forest, Snow White stumbles upon the home of the seven dwarfs. Rather than taking their hospitality for granted, she offers to stay and help them by cooking and cleaning. The dwarfs, initially hesitant about letting her stay, are won over by her warmth and willingness to contribute. This exchange reinforces the idea that kindness fosters trust and friendship, even among those who are vastly different from us.

However, Snow White’s kindness also makes her a target. The Queen despises her not just for her beauty but because Snow White’s inner goodness makes her the fairest of them all. This envy drives the Queen to drastic actions, proving that in a world of selfish ambition, true beauty is found in a kind and gentle heart. Snow White’s purity remains unshaken despite the dangers she faces, making her one of Disney’s most beloved characters.

In contrast, the live-action adaptation, as seen in the trailer, seems to take a different approach to Snow White’s character. While it is stated that she is kind, her actions suggest otherwise. Instead of relying on her kindness to shape her destiny, she is portrayed as a warrior leading an army to reclaim the kingdom. This shift in characterization moves away from the original message that kindness, not force, is the key to changing the world. While strength and courage are admirable qualities, the essence of Snow White’s character has always been that her goodness transforms those around her.

Art by Vivian Hsia

The lesson we can take from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is that kindness should be at the core of how we interact with others. In today’s world, it is easy to let differences divide us—be it political views, cultural backgrounds, or personal beliefs. However, Snow White’s story reminds us that kindness transcends those barriers. Whether it was the Huntsman sparing her life, the dwarfs welcoming her into their home, or even how she lovingly cared for animals, Snow White demonstrated that being good to others can create harmony even in a world filled with challenges.

President Russell M. Nelson, in his talk Peacemakers Needed, spoke about the necessity of being kind and fostering peace in an increasingly divided world. He reminded us that “contention drives away the Spirit—every time” and that we must strive to be peacemakers rather than participants in conflict. Snow White embodied this principle, choosing kindness over retaliation even when faced with hatred from the Queen. Similarly, we can strive to be peacemakers in our own lives, treating others with kindness regardless of their beliefs, actions, or backgrounds.

Ultimately, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs teaches us that kindness is not a weakness—it is a powerful force that can shape lives, soften hearts, and bring people together. As we go about our daily lives, we should remember Snow White’s example and choose to be kind, even when the world around us seems harsh. Just as she won the hearts of the Huntsman and the dwarfs, we too can inspire change through simple acts of goodness. As President Nelson urged, let us be the peacemakers the world so desperately needs.

Farmer vs. Cowman

Growing up, I recall watching the film version of “Oklahoma” a number of times. I have thought recently about a song from this musical titled, “The Farmer and the Cowman should be Friends.” The application to our day is apparent to me in that it is a song about people from different walks of life learning to get along. Be it different political parties, teams we root for, religions, or ideas about which Star Trek captain is best, there are a lot of opinions to go around. But, to quote the aforementioned song, “that’s no reason why [we] can’t be friends.” 

When I lived in Utah, there was often a letter shared in sacrament meeting around the time that elections were being held that I will paraphrase here: there is good to be found in all political parties. 

I am a sports fan and while I am bummed when the team I root for loses, I can also appreciate the talent of players on the opposing team. 

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I admire the way that Muslims, Jews, Buddists, Protestants, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Catholics, and many others worship.

As for which Star Trek captain is best, I think I like them all in their own way. (Perhaps a bit too diplomatic, but I take that as my prerogative in authoring this post)

  My point in writing these thoughts down is to encourage more dialogue and less dismissal. I know there are things I do not agree with others on but that does not mean I have to be disagreeable. I know how much I have been helped and continue to be helped by others. I know that I will continue to need help along my life’s journey. 

I think Joseph Smith summed it up nicely in the following quote from 1843:

“The Saints can testify whether I am willing to lay down my life for my brethren. If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a ‘Mormon.’ I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any other denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves.”

I sure do hope this is helpful on some level. I saw an applicable lesson in this song from my childhood and wanted to both share the song and the message I thought could be found in it.

Undertale: The Choice Between Violence and Charity

I have not played this game, but I have watched a let's play of it and I find the concept wonderful. Undertale, an indie game, is a thought-provoking piece of interactive storytelling. One of the core themes of Undertale is the choice players face between two paths: to use violence against the monsters they encounter or to show mercy and kindness, sparing their enemies and offering them charity. This central choice shapes not only the outcome of the game but also the moral journey of the player. By watching Undertale I could not help but to draw parallels to the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Gospel.

Violence vs. Mercy in Undertale

In Undertale, the player is tasked with navigating a world populated by monsters, many of whom are hostile, while others are peaceful. The game offers two primary ways to interact with these creatures: combat or mercy. The combat path involves attacking enemies, leading to their defeat and the progression of the story through violence. The mercy path, on the other hand, encourages the player to spare their opponents, engaging in dialogue, showing kindness, and ultimately choosing not to take a life.

The game makes this choice particularly impactful. Every encounter is a moral decision—while some monsters may beg for mercy, others might initially seem threatening, creating moments where players must decide whether to fight or to show compassion. As the player progresses, the consequences of their choices become clear: if the player chooses violence, the world becomes darker, and the monsters are driven to desperation. However, if the player chooses mercy, the world remains brighter, and characters react with kindness, eventually leading to a more hopeful ending.

Loving Your Neighbor: The Gospel Message

The theme of mercy in Undertale mirrors a fundamental teaching of Jesus Christ: to love thy neighbor as thyself. In the Gospel of Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus declares that the greatest commandments are to love God and love others. When asked who our "neighbor" is, Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan, emphasizing that loving our neighbors means showing kindness and compassion, regardless of differences or hostility. The Samaritans were regarded as an enemy to the jews, yet in this parable the Samaritan showed compassion.  

In the same way, Undertale asks the player to confront the question of how we treat those who might be seen as enemies or outsiders. Throughout the game, there are moments when the player could easily choose violence, perhaps out of fear, self-defense, or simply because it's the more immediate solution. However, the game presents an alternative—mercy, a choice to act in love rather than in aggression. Choosing mercy is not always easy, and it often involves patience, understanding, and a willingness to listen, much like the love Christ taught.

In Undertale, characters like Toriel, Papyrus, and even the antagonist Flowey show how mercy can transform relationships and the world itself. When we choose mercy, we build connections rather than destroying them. Similarly, the Gospel teaches that forgiveness and charity are transformative, not only for the person who is shown mercy but also for the person who offers it.

The Impact of Choice

From: ZTLLFV

What makes Undertale so unique is the way it acknowledges that we all have the capacity for both violence and mercy. The game does not moralize the decision—it presents both paths and leaves it up to the player to decide how to proceed. However, it is clear that the path of mercy, while often more difficult, brings greater healing and restoration. Choosing charity over violence requires a shift in mindset: from seeing others as obstacles to be overcome to seeing them as people to be loved.

In a similar way, the Gospel invites us to look beyond the surface and to see others through the lens of God’s love. Christ’s command to "love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44) challenges us to break cycles of violence and hatred. By loving others, even when they are unkind or hostile, we follow the example set by Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of mercy and love.

Conclusion: A Path to Redemption

n Undertale, players are given the chance to change the narrative—not just of the game, but of themselves. Each choice, whether violent or merciful, shapes the outcome of the world. Similarly, the choices we make in life, especially in how we treat others, shape our spiritual journey and our understanding of God’s love. Undertale subtly calls us to reflect on the power of our actions and the importance of mercy, reminding us of the transformative power of love.

Just as Jesus Christ calls us to "love thy neighbor as thyself" and to show mercy even to our enemies, Undertale offers a digital space where players can practice this radical kindness, making the game not just a story about monsters but also a reflection on human nature and the choice to act in love. Whether in a fictional world or in the real world, the call to show mercy is a path to redemption, one that brings healing not only to others but to ourselves as well.

In the end, Undertale may not only be a game about monsters—but about the very human journey of deciding whether we will respond with violence or choose charity. And in that choice, we can find the power of grace, redemption, and love, much like the message of the Gospel itself.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

Aside from Aslan, Edmund is one of the best characters written in the Narnia series. We all can relate to him. His is the prodigal son that left his family for Turkish delights but returned repentant. Like Edmund we all make mistake and when I saw Narnia for the first time and read the books, I felt like I related to Edmund the most. I like Edmund have made mistakes, I am learning repent daily, I am happier than I have been compared to when I was sinning. I don’t regret the mistakes I have done, but I wish I learned to repent sooner, and I pray that I can be strong enough to not fall into temptations, especially those I have repented of. One way that has been strengthening my resolve is by reading the scriptures.

I am trying to learn to love the scriptures more and as I have been reading the Book of Mormon, I recently came across a new person that I haven’t noticed before, Zeezrom (Alma 11- 15). Alma and Amulek are teaching the people in Ammonihah and Zeezrom bribes Amulek to deny his belief. Amulek refuses and testifies of Jesus resurrection and judgment which astonished Zeezrom, and he began to fear for his sins. As Alma expands what Amulek testifies to the public they (Alma and Amulek) were thrown into jail. During there imprisonment many faithful saints were murdered and after Alma and Amulek were freed they found Zeezrom sick due to his iniquities. Because of Zeezrom faith he was healed and was baptized by Alma.

Even though we may feel worthless because of the actions we have made we can repent and feel loved. God won’t leave us abandoned if we try to build our testimonies and become more converted. Like Edmund we can come back to our family. I love the poem by Myra Brooks Welch, “The Touch of the Master’s Hand". 

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand.

I hope that as your read this that you can feel the touch of the Master’s hand in your life. As I have repented, as I have obeyed, I have felt strengthened, loved, and charitable. I am not a perfect instrument, but I believe in Jesus Christ, and He will help me become perfected. He has paid for our sins let us embrace his commandments to the best of our abilities.

Adventure is Out--SQUIRREL!!!

If you’ve checked out some of my cosplay posts in the past, you may have noticed I’m a fan of Up’s lovable pup Dug. Fan is probably putting it lightly. So when Disney Plus announced that it was doing a series of shorts starring our favorite doggo, I got excited. This series is perfect for anyone who has a dog, had a dog, or loves watching dogs on Instagram.

Squirrel

The first short is just full of dog antics. Gotta wake Carl up, gotta get in his lap, gotta get in the way. He tries so hard to do the one thing Carl asked him to do… though he wrecks the flowerbed, gets stuck in the tree, and scares away the bird. Even when they end up in mischief, they’re good dogs and we’re lucky to have them. Like Dug says, “pretending to obey is hard.” I hear you, Dug. I hear you. But we can always do better tomorrow.

Puppies

This short could have been called “fatherhood in ten minutes”. The whole time Dug is playing defense with the visiting pups. Guard my stuff, get attacked, run away. Same way with my very active little girl: no climbing on the dishwasher, don’t pull my hair, etc. But you can never be too annoyed or stressed for too long. She flashes me that smile and she has me wrapped around her finger again. In the end, she needs guidance and love.

Smell

It’s all about finding joy in the simple things. Dug loves smelling the flowers, the dirt, everything. And in doing so, he was able to save a house from burning down (despite Carl thinking he was just up to mischief). Just goes to show that even when dogs seem to get into mischief, they’re good dogs.

Flowers

I always feel bad for dog owners during the fireworks season--which encompasses all of July in Utah. I know the scene in the living room and his crazy dream was meant to be comedic and everything, but I just felt so bad for Dug. I just wanted to give him a big hug (which I’ve done before). I’m glad he got the noise cancelling headphones in the end.

Science

Dug might be the most wholesome creature, but even he could use a lesson or two in empathy and communication. Russell’s science experiment gave Dug the opportunity to learn from the neighborhood animals. Despite his naivety, Dug learned compassion for the squirrel and the bird. The world needs more of that: compassion. We could all do with being a bit more like dogs.

With the passing of Carl’s voice actor, Ed Asner, I doubt we’ll get more of these Dug shorts. But I’m glad he could grace us with some wholesome entertainment. There’s a lot to be learned from Mr. Frederickson, Russell, and especially Dug, so I’m sure we’ll return to Paradise Falls again soon.

Adventure is out there! 

Legends, Misfits, and (Small and Simple) Stranger Things

A few weeks ago I finished "Stranger Things" Season 3. Part way through the series, I got thinking about how odd the situation was. Not just because of the monster from the Upside-Down and Russian spies in rural Indiana, but because we're rooting for this small group of teenagers to beat all of it. I suppose it make sense though right? Don't we tend to root for the underdogs? The geeky best friend in a chick flick. The (alien) farm boy from Kansas. The skinny kid with asthma (and other things), who just wants to join the army. The outcast. The nobody. The misfit. The small and simple things.

To whatever extent, we relate to these characters. Despite appearances, everyone has insecurities, so we relate to the oddballs. We can't relate to the characters of perceived perfection. They're just too perfect. That's one of the reasons that "Legends of Tomorrow" is possibly my favorite of the Arrowverse TV shows. These are literally B-Team characters from the other shows joining together to be a superhero team. Rip Hunter even told them in Season 1 that taking them from the timeline would make little to no impact. Over the years, that dynamic has changed and characters have come and gone from the Waverider, but the point is still the same. These are lovable misfits. That's why the show is so endearing to me.

And why shouldn't it? Everybody has their day when they feel out of place or like a nobody. Those moments when you're humbled. I think that might be on purpose. To bring in gospel principles, humility is a trait that God desires us to have (see Mosiah 3:19). It's a defining characteristic of charity, the pure love of Christ (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). And furthermore God has a history of using those misfits or nobodies to change in the world! Look at King David the shepherd, Joseph Smith the farm boy, and even His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, the carpenter's son.

Alma taught his son that by "small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). The Lord told Joseph Smith that "the weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones" (D&C 1:19). So maybe it's not so bad to be nobody. It's okay to be a misfit.

Spoiler alert: those ridiculous teenage boys in Hawkins, Indiana did make a difference. And I'm sure they'll win during Season 4 well. Until then, I'm okay being a misfit. It's part of what makes a Legend.

Learning from the "Other"

There they are.

They may wave a rainbow flag.  They may wear heavy eyeliner, dark make-up, and black clothes.  Maybe they sit quietly to themselves, read books, and wear nose piercings.  Maybe they smoke or drink beer.  They may not be mormon or they may have not been to church in years.

Who are they?

Sometimes we may think of them as the other.  We may not see them as children of our heavenly father but some sort of other species all together.  We may love them but from afar.  Many times we are afraid of them, whoever "they" are.

I'm guilty as anyone as judging others outside of our cultural comfort zone.  Even with my views that I feel challenge the mormon culture social norms, I'll still be afraid of others.  I'll be afraid of being hurt by their opinions and lose myself to inactivity.

I did something different this week.

I thought, "I know where I stand on things.  Would it really hurt to get someone else's perspective?  Am I really afraid of being corrupted?  Isn't to love someone to know them?"

So I read two articles this week.  One was a blog post by a gay gentlemen and the other was a blog post on a male feminist ally.  I was afraid of what I would read even with the confidence I had in my stand in my own opinions.  Funny enough, I actually learned something.  And you want to know what?  I did come to have a feeling of love for these authors just by stepping out of my comfort zone.

I didn't agree with everything I read but I found a lot of common ground with these authors.  The gay author, more or less, argued and warned against codependency in family relationships--especially in romantic ones.  I thought this was actually a great thing to talk about since it is rampant in our society.  The feminist ally talked about things that can be done to become an ally to women.  He talked about great stuff like not objectifying women.  I was afraid that we wouldn't agree on views of masculinity but I found that he had many of the same views that I did.

I learned from someone else's opinion.  I didn't really change my own opinions.  If anything, I actually felt like I was strengthened in them.  I saw how valuable a different perspective was and then I realized how valuable my opinion is.

When Joe and I started this blog 20 months ago, I didn't know what it was going to be about.  I knew I wanted to talk about the silly geeky thoughts I had during Sunday School.  I knew I wanted to talk about geek culture and mormons in geek culture.  As I've written posts for this blog I've come to see how passionate I am about Mormon culture as well.

The LDS culture is very xenophobic.  I don't think we even realize it.  We place such a huge emphasis on the family and we are all about protecting the family.  The thing about this is that fear is a huge part of it.  We are so afraid of anything outside of our bubble that it prevents us from doing missionary work and even living commandments.  Yes, we need resiliency to be faithful but we would be missing out on learning so much if we didn't step outside of that comfortable bubble we've come accustomed to.

This goes both ways too.  Many less active or inactive brothers and sisters still have a very strong relationship to the savior and testimony.  They may have been hurt before and left the church not so much because of the doctrine but because of the culture.  They may be afraid to come back to church because they don't want to be hurt again.  For many of these brothers and sisters, their emotional wounds can go very deep and be very traumatic.  They need our support and love even if they don't come back to church.

Think of the sons of Mosiah.  They went on a mission to the Lamanites.  The Lamanite people had a culture vastly different from the Nephites and had developed a new religion.  If they had always thought of the Lamanites as the "other" they would have never gone to their countries to preach the gospel.  The sons of Mosiah took a very dangerous risk but because they did, thousands came to the gospel.

There may be gays that support gay marriage.  There may be feminists that support safe sex to be taught in schools in addition to abstinence.  There may be a democrat in your ward.  (Gasp!)  But these children of God are not some other species.  They are your brothers and sisters.  Hear them out.  Listen to what they have to say.  Have lunch with them.  Invite them to a game night.  Get to know them and you will love them.

"But Stephen, what about our children?!" some of you may say.  Exactly!  What about our children.  Do we want to raise them to be bigots and make fun of anything different?  Do we want to raise them to be swayed with anything new and to be seduced by wicked traditions and lack resiliency in the outside world?  My cousins were raised in New York City.  They are some of the most loving and accepting individuals I know.  I've trusted them with knowledge about myself before telling the rest of my family.

My younger sister and brother didn't have many rules growing up.  In some ways it made me a little undisciplined but it also showed me that my parents truly trusted me.  They taught us correct principles and we governed ourselves.  It's a scary thought to expose our children to environments and peoples that seem strange to us.  To me, it is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children and I'm thankful for this gift given to me by my parents.

Let me conclude by saying that I'm thankful to have different people in my life.  I see these beautifully imperfect souls who remind me of my own humanity.  They humble me with much I don't know and have given me a gift to serve them with the knowledge I can share.

-Stephen