Comic Con on a Budget

If you're like me with a budding career, a small family, and always bills to pay, you don't exactly have the money to buy great extravagant souvenirs at a convention. If you're like me, you might just feel lucky to get through the door. So if your budget is limited, but you still want to enjoy your next Con, here's what I learned about the experience at Fan Expo Dallas this year.

Merchandise

If you have a few bucks to spare, there are always great collectables and memorabilia. Be smart with it though. Cross-reference your purchases at the booths with prices you could expect with Ebay or Amazon. I remember finding a Digimon plush at FanX (and I love any Digimon merch), but Amazon had it for $10 cheaper. Pro tip: sometimes vendors will reduce their prices on the last day of the Con so they have less to transport out of the convention center afterwards. Bottom line: If you're going to buy merch at a Con, make it something you can't get cheaper elsewhere or something rare enough that the higher price is worth it.

Artist Alley

I have to pull myself away from Artist Alley sometimes because I love the artwork so much. I want to buy all of it but it'll be years before I have a man cave to display it all. That doesn't mean I can't enjoy it though. Until I have the space and money for that artwork, I've taken to following my favorite artists on social media so that I can keep tabs on their work. Let's me know if there's some art I want to buy and it feels my social media feed with something more joyful than whatever tragedy is happening today. Here are just a few of the artists I started following this weekend: Greg Horn, Dominic Glover, Brittany Ann, Judy Blu, and Brett Mitchell.

Celebrities

Meeting a celebrity is fun and exhilarating, but so very expensive. If you have some money to meet a celebrity, I would suggest seeing if they do photos at their autograph booths, instead of a professional photo--you get more time with them that way. You can also usually have multiple people in the photo op, so you can split the cost with a friend to make it more affordable--that's the only way I was able to meet David Tennant or Matt Smith. However if you're like me at Fan Expo Dallas this year and have zero dollar bills to spare for celebrities, your best bet for an interaction with them is asking a question at their panel. Sure, you're sharing the experience with hundreds of other people, but asking them a question gives you a moment of interaction with them for free. I still have my video of asking Jason David Frank about being a Power Ranger.

Panels

Speaking of panels, if you don't have any money for merchandise or artwork, you might enjoy spending your time at Q&A panels. Whether it's a celebrity panel or a fan panel, it can be a fun way to get to know others' perspectives with your fandom. Also, if you have been window shopping (which I often will spend hours doing), panels are also the perfect opportunity to rest your feet. Seriously, the only time I get more steps than a Con is at Disney Parks.

Cosplay

If you enjoy dressing up, cosplay can be another fun way to enjoy the convention. Budget can make this one hard, but I've written two blog posts about making it work on a budget (read part one here and part two here). If you're not comfortable dressing up but still enjoy the costumes, that's okay too. People-watching is one of my favorite activities at a Con. It's very affirming to have a stranger compliment your costume or to have someone ask for your picture. You can even turn this people-watching into a game. Last month I wrote about doing a Comic Con Bingo card. If you don't want something as strict as a bingo card, you can play your own game. For example, someone I met at Fan Expo Dallas was playing "Avengers Bingo". Basically he was trying to get a picture as many Avengers characters as possible (which worked out well because I was dressed as Captain America).

So take these tips into account when you're at your next Con and make the most of your time. It's a blast to be with friends old and new.

Friday Creature Feature - Bulbasaur

In case you missed it, this year is the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise. For those of us in North America, it’s more like the 23th anniversary, as the anime and the Gameboy games Red and Blue came to the Western Hemisphere in September 1998. So while we were a couple years behind Japan, it’s appropriate for us to celebrate Pokemon this year here too. So in honor of Pokemon’s anniversary, I wanted to spotlight the first Pokemon in the Pokedex: Bulbasaur.

Bulbasaur is the butt of many jokes, as Charmander and Squirtle are largely popular starter Pokemon--probably helps that the game in North America featured Charizard and Blastoise on the cover. But to be honest, Bulbasaur was always my go-to as a kid. He was the obvious choice to take on Brock and Misty with ease when playing Blue. Evolving into Ivysaur at level 16 and Venusaur at level 32, he was also the easiest to get to his highest form.

Based on video game Pokedex entries, Bulbasaur seems to be able to photosynthesize their own energy, able to go days at a time without eating solid food. As they do this, their bulbs are supposed to grow (presumably transforming into the flowers that Ivysaur and Venusaur have). Additionally, in the anime, Ash’s Pokedex claims their strongest attack is Solar Beam. Granted, that was before Frenzy Plant was a thing. 

In the video games, Bulbasaur can be obtained as your starter Pokemon in Red/Blue and Fire Red/Leaf Green or from a kind-hearted girl in Cerulean City in Yellow. These would be the last times you could receive a Bulbasaur without cheats or trades until Professor Oak gives you the opportunity to take one in Heart Gold/Soul Silver after defeating Red. Similarly, in X/Y Professor Sycamore gives you one of the Kanto starters in Lumiose City along with its Mega Stone. In Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, they can also appear in rare spawns in Viridian Forest (as well as given as a gift in Cerulean City again).

Along with other Kanto starters, Bulbasaur also got a spot on Ash’s original Pokemon team in the Indigo League. Found in a hidden forest Pokemon village, Bulbasaur was initially distrustful of Ash and all trainers. However, after Ash saved the village from Team Rocket, Bulbasaur was willing to be caught by Ash. He ended up staying with Ash through the rest of the Indigo League (refusing to evolve into an Ivysaur along the way), throughout the voyage through the Orange Islands, and well into the journey into the Johto Region. He only left Ash’s side when Professor Oak needed him back at the lab to act as peacemaker.

While Ash’s Bulbasaur was helping Professor Oak, Ash’s new friend May also got the opportunity to catch a Bulbasaur in the Hoenn Region. After May helped Bulbasaur save the Forbidden Forest, she went with her and became part of her contest team. Still a bit aloof at times, May’s Bulbasaur helped her through her contests and the Grand Festival before going to the Kanto Region. She’d end up staying with Professor Oak while May traveled through Kanto and Johto, eventually evolving into a Venusaur before Ash saw her again in the Sinnoh Region.

While any individual of any species (even Pokemon species) is going to have its own personality, both of our main Bulbasaurs had strong wills and tons of confidence. Even when seemingly outmatched by Team Rocket, both of them were brave and resilient, never wanting to give up taking care of their trainers or their fellow Pokemon. So you may not love Bulbasaur the way he deserves, but that’s okay. Bulbasaur doesn’t need your love to be confident. Oh to be confident like Bulbasaur.

So if you love Bulbasaur, share this post and show our frog/plant friend some love!

Is "Let it Go" a Good Song?

I'm going to say it. "Let it Go" really isn't a good song. That is, it isn't all good. There is some bad.

Hold on, before you freak out and get upset, I want you to read what I'm saying closely. I'm probably not saying what you think I'm saying.

I know, I know, it's a super popular ballad. Plenty of people like it. I mean, I love it -- or most of it, anyway. I love the tune and I'm an evergreen fan of Idina Menzel. I mean, those pipes, wow.

But let's be honest, not everything in that song is good. Take these few lines, for instance:

"No right, no wrong, no rules for me. I'm free."

Right and wrong are real. They are absolutes. Doing wrong actually enslaves us, rather than frees us. Those lines of the song are clearly teaching wrong principles - at least taken at face value.

Plenty of the lyrics are good, especially considering the context of the song and what had happened immediately prior. It is good to be honest about what one is feeling. It isn't good to hide from others and keep everything in. It is good to care more about making the right choice, even if it puts you out in the cold, so to speak, rejected by others. As for most of the parts of the song that aren't so great, the movie itself shows by the end that Elsa doesn't really believe that all she was singing was right and good. She doesn't really want to abandon friends and family. She wants to be open about things she was keeping secret and still be loved.

So really, when I said "it isn't a good song", I was allowing the one bad piece to hide the rest of the good. Really, it isn't that the song is bad, but that songs (and media in general) teach both good and bad things. For example, one of my favorite musicals is South Pacific, but there's plenty in that musical that isn't good but that the songs of the musical seem to glorify.

Social media is a big example of the nature of media - there is good and bad mixed all around in it. I don't think it is right to reject social media as a whole, and all the good that it brings, just because there are bad things being said and taught.

I'm not saying that people should abandon their love of "Let it Go". I am saying it is vital to be fully awake and aware of all lessons - good and bad - in media. That is, seeking "out of the best books, words of wisdom, ... even by study and also by faith."

Disney Dungeons and Dragons 2: The Villains

It's time for the bad guys to have a turn. 

There's something about putting characters (and people) into defined categories. Whether it be Hogwarts houses, Pokemon types and teams, or in this case, Dungeons and Dragons classes. So here are a few classifications for our favorite Disney villains, should you ever want to roll one up in a game. Don't forget to check out the classes for Disney heroes as well.

Please note: Not all villains have classes, since some of them are scary through the sheer force of their will on others and not the power they wield. Looking at you Lady Tremaine. 

Artificer - Syndrome

I wanted to put Bowler Hat Guy from Meet the Robinsons here but I figured that might be too obscure for most people to get so we'll put the techno-crazed villain of the Incredibles here. He has no powers of his own but instead builds tech to mimic the power of Supers. His ultimate goal is to eliminate the need for Supers by making everyone exactly alike with his gadgets. If only he figured out how to make a tear-away cape...

Bard - Ernesto De La Cruz

The evil crooner from Coco, this character killed his partner and stole his brilliant songs, making him the most popular musician in the afterlife. He can charm anyone into doing what he wants, and keeps the entire world in his palm long after his death. Only a master bard could pull off the Performance check to accomplish that. 

Barbarian - Ratigan

There's no written rule that a barbarian has to be an idiot, just like there's no rule that says a bard has to be a sex maniac. Ratigan of The Great Mouse Detective drips with intelligence and charisma, mostly thanks to the brilliant voice work by the legendary Vincent Price. However during the climax of the film Ratigan shows his true rat-like colors as he fights Basil in Big Ben, his fury on full display. 

Cleric - Judge Frollo

A priest in the original novel, the villain of The Hunchback of Notre Dame follows a shadowy and twisted version of Christianity, one that allows him to wield power over anyone he deems unworthy of God's love. He legitimately thinks he is doing God's will by burning Esmeralda because he judges her to be a witch and all gypsies to be wicked. Whether he's wrong or not he's still devoted to his religion, and if he had more combat experience he would be a paladin instead. 

Druid - Maleficent

So this one's a slight stretch but hear me out: 

1: She's a fairy which are usually either sorcerers or druids. 

2: She makes thorns grow up all around Aurora to protect the curse, which is total Druid

3: She turns into a dragon, which has got to be some Wild Shape mastery. 

Tell me I'm wrong. 

Also it makes Sleeping Beauty even more fun. 

Fighter - Clayton

The villain from Tarzan wants to be a ranger. Everyone thinks he's a ranger. In reality, he's just a hunter who gets lucky. A ranger wouldn't need a half naked man to show him where a herd of 600 pound monsters were living. He is a fighter though because despite anything else he at least knows how to fight. 

Monk - Namaari

Probably the newest character on this list, Namaari is the antagonist from Raya and the Last Dragon, Princess of Fang, she is trained in a combination of martial arts and duel swords that she uses like Prince Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender. Less fire-bending but still quite effective and a joy to watch. 

Paladin - Gantu

Gantu is like the Javert of Lilo and Stitch. He goes after Stitch with such a fervor it could almost be called zealotry. Weather he's right or wrong is shady at best, but his goal is to protect the universe from Experiment 626 by any means necessary, even if it means kidnapping a child to do it. He's the perfect example that while paladins may undertake a holy mission, that doesn't mean they're always good. 

Ranger - Gaston

McLeach from The Rescuers: Down Under was a close second to this spot but like Clayton he needed someone else's help to find his prey. Gaston from Beauty and the Beast though is an established hunter and tracker. He may be a completely detestable human being otherwise but when hunting Beast in the castle he's shown to have significant skills on his own. Gaston is the hero of the village because he keeps them safe from wild beasts, his only problem is that his own prejudice and vanity keeps him from seeing that he's become the real danger the village should fear. 

Rogue - Mother Gothel

In the course of Tangled Mother Gothel keeps a magic flower hidden, steals a child from a well guarded castle, stays on the lamb less than a day's travel from said castle for some 18 years, follows Rapunzel without her knowing, and stabs Eugene in the back with a critical hit. If she isn't a rogue I don't know what one is. 

Sorcerer - Jafar and Ursula

A two way tie between the villains of The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, these two are both inborn sorcerers that channel their power through their arcane focuses, that being a snake staff for Jafar and a conch shell necklace for Ursula. While in the film itself we don't get origins for either of their powers, since neither seem to have a patron required by a warlock, require a spellbook like a wizard, or have any religious affiliation like a cleric, it's safe to assume that they're both high powered sorcerers using their magic to devastate others. 

Wizard - Evil Queen

Snow White's Evil Queen needs a spellbook for every one of her horrid spells and potions. She rarely uses magic, indicating a limited number of uses, so we're going to go with full wizard on this one. 

Warlock - Dr. Facilier

The villain from The Princess and the Frog has multiple songs specifically attributing his powers to his "Friends on the Other Side", probably meaning the Loa of Voodoo tradition. He's made deals, or pacts, with the Loa to gain his power and if he doesn't keep up his end of the bargain his soul is theirs. It's a harsh relationship but nobody said that a warlock/patron pact was healthy. 

-JOE

The Schmigado's and Schmigadon't's of Mixed Orientation Relationships

Spoilers about minor plot points in Schmigadoon are contained below.

Schmigadoon is a creative new meta musical about … being in a musical. It’s funny, smart, has some earworm songs, and boasts an outstanding cast. But at its heart, this musical is about finding true love. Because it has some characters who are from the cynical modern world, and some from the idyllic musical world, Schmigadoon finds a really nice balance between being ironic, and being earnest. So its message of finding true love also falls squarely in the center of the irony-earnest Venn diagram. I would sum up its message as “Relationships are not perfect and never will be, but you can find happiness in the imperfection. And THAT is true love.” 

The relationship that intrigued me most in Schmigadoon was the marriage between Mayor Aloysius Menlove (cute name) and his wife Florence. I was intrigued partly because the characters are in an emotionally interesting situation, partly because there’s not much said about them in the musical, and partly because Alan Cumming is just such a captivating actor. The mayor is a closeted gay man, married to a straight woman. He comes out of the closet during the course of the six episodes, and expresses his attraction to another closeted character, Reverend Howard Layton, another closeted gay man who is in a similar situation with his straight wife Mildred (played by the indomitable Kristin Chenoweth).

These relationships between a gay spouse and a straight spouse are sometimes referred to as “mixed orientation relationships”. The two mixed orientation relationships in Schmigadoon are as unique as the individuals involved in them. The Reverend and his wife have a lopsided, emotionally abusive relationship. Yet the Mayor and his wife have a strong bond and a truly beautiful love for each other. The Mayor’s wife is proud of him for being authentic, and they both express their strong love for each other. (Just not, you know, bedroom love.)

There are so few positive portrayals of mixed orientation relationships. In truth, many fail. Most are difficult. Schmigadoon is no different. This was a comedic parody series, but also a show with heart. Yet the portrayal of the Mayor and his wife may be one of the most positive portrayals of a gay man and his straight wife I’ve ever seen in a piece of entertainment. I’m thinking of Tobias & Lindsay Fünke from Arrested Development. Frank & Cathy Whitaker from Far From Heaven. Ennis & Alma Del Mar and Jack & Lureen Twist from Brokeback Mountain. Those relationships are either comedic or painful. Or both. There is pain inherent in the mixed orientation marriage of the Mayor of Schmigadoon, but there’s also a sweet love and understanding. We don’t find out what happens with the Mayor and his wife, or what happens with the Mayor and the Reverend other than that they share a simple kiss. And maybe that’s for the best, since we don’t always know what path our own journeys will take us on in life. But in the meantime, we can appreciate the pain and the joys that people in mixed orientation relationships feel. We can celebrate diversity in relationships. And we can just love without an agenda, as Schmigadoon encourages.

Even if it’s not, you know, bedroom love.

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! 

What Shang-Chi (kind of) taught me about the Gospel

Shang-Chi was never any of the big names in Marvel Universe that someone would recognize, in fact, some have discussed how he disappeared into obscurity for a while. With this new movie, he is anything but obscure. The movie was imaginative, beautiful, funny, and definitely an adventure into a new world the MCU hasn’t yet seen. New animals. New magic. New worlds. So much fun and so many points that were so silly that made me laugh! I'd hoped for some of that, but I hadn't expected all of it. The thing that I definitely wasn’t expecting was to feel the Spirit once again testify to me of truths I’ve learned time and time again.

I remember watching Kung Fu Panda 3 for the first time, with my kids at home. I remember the ending (no spoiler, that one’s been out a while… and if you haven’t seen it, which you likely haven’t, you’re in for a surprise) being beautiful, colorful, silly, and wonderful. I also remember turning to my wife and saying “I… have a testimony of this movie…” and trying to even understand what that meant for myself, mostly because it didn’t really make sense to me that I could have a testimony of a Jack Black movie teaching true principles..

KFP 3 Recap: Po discovers that his father is alive, and that his people used to know powerful magic. He goes on a journey and meets and entire Panda village! To protect them from a coming threat, he tries to teach kung fu to the entire village, forcing them to learn the same lessons he learned. It goes terribly. Later he realizes that he’s doing everything wrong. Instead of forcing a square peg into a round hole, he changes the hole to be square. He focuses on embracing each of their unique strengths, the skills they already have, and enhancing them. Once he helps them see that they already have a superpower, they all become unstoppable.

He then fights a spirit warrior, who’s surprised at Po’s abilities:

Kai: Who are you?

Po: I’ve been asking myself the same question. Am I the son of a panda? Or the son of a goose? A student or a teacher? Turns out, I’m all of them. … I am the dragon warrior.

Now, this may seem like a simple kid’s lesson, but the Spirit touched me there because I had already learned this lesson. When I put myself into a calling at church, a responsibility, and try to make the calling mine, magic happens. If I try to do the calling like the last person, or like someone else I saw do it, it’s just not the same. When I trust myself to do *my* best, to be my best, standing with God, miracles happen. I’ve seen it.

Am I a son? A father? A man? A mountain biker? A taco enthusiast? I'm actually the person who doesn't like to put labels on myself. If we view any single person as a single label (an addict or someone with anxiety or a billionaire), we ignore all of these other parts about that person. It's easy to do to strangers and celebrities, but we do that to those around us too. And to ourselves. - "I'm just a klutz." "I'm fat." "I'm a failure." For me, the parts of myself make up who I am, and when I've learned to accept the good and bad pieces (the dark and the light), I feel more confident in who I am an can stop hating pieces of myself I wish weren't there. Can I change those? Yes, but that should be from a place of wanting to grow, not to "fix" who I am.

As we learn from Dear Evan Hansen, "I'm me, and that's enough."

Back to the movie.

(minor spoilers, nothing big)

As Shang-Chi is training and being taught various martial arts, his mother teaches him about looking inward to know who he is and accepting the dark and the light. As most people do, he struggles with that concept at points.

(maybe some bigger spoilers, but this is like saying Iron Man is/was a billionaire drunken genius… it’s more so defining who he is..)

Shang-Chi is the son of a leader of the criminal underworld, who trains him to take his place. Ultimately, Shang-Chi doesn’t want to be evil and fights to help people.

I read another article talking about how Shang-Chi eventually became one of the most hated characters in the Marvel Universe. Once he defeats his father and takes over, he tries to do good with his father’s organization. The criminal underworld no longer trusts him, but the good guys don’t trust the organization either. Shang-Chi just has to stand alone, trying to do what’s right, when nobody will really accept him. He’s confident who he is, though. I feel like this reminds me of the world in which we now live, where sneezing seems to offend someone and it feels like we sometimes have to walk on eggshells. I really wish we all had more empathy to learn and understand from each other, and to allow others to make decisions differently than myself. We need more of that.

Was the movie also fun? Yes. There were lots of great moments to laugh. Did you know they actually cast Awkafina before anyone else? And she did a great job of keeping things lively and still explored parts of herself we hadn’t really seen before.

Was it full of action? Oh yeah. Some of it was pretty fast moving, like a Disney Kung-Fu movie, but some of it was also graceful and beautiful and reminiscent of Korra learning to airbend.

Have I ever seen a movie with Michelle Yeoh that I didn’t enjoy? Not yet.

Also, Simu Liu. Despite the recent controversies on Kim’s Convenience and the writing/directing there, that show has been such a fun thing to watch. This guy has been a great character for years on it and I’m excited to see him grow into new and bigger things. He definitely did a great job, and we had one of the most unique origin stories we’ve seen in years.

- Garrett

Living by Revelation in a Time of Fluxx

(Guest Post by Matt)

I’m really into board games; I love playing them and teaching others how to play. The games I like to play are built around mechanics: worker placement, hand-management, set collecting, deck-building, cooperative, legacy, even solo. The way to win these games involves using the mechanics to advance the game as well as earn points. If you ever get confused or have a question about the mechanics, you consult the rulebook to get an answer to your question.  

There’s a fun hand-management game I like to play called Fluxx. The rules for this game are a little tricky. You see, there’s a base set of rules that are in play no matter what - rules like always draw a card at the beginning of your turn, and play a card or discard a card during your turn. Then there’s the rules that you don’t know about. At some point you might have to trade your cards with another player, draw extra cards, play all the cards in your hand on your turn, or discard your hand and draw a completely new one. 

Article of Faith 9 states: “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”

This statement about revelation is a lot like the card game Fluxx. From the base rules that exist when you start the game to the rules that come into play when they are revealed as you play the game, revelation acts similarly, giving us a spiritual foundation to begin our journey in life, and then, as we are given further knowledge from our Heavenly Father through the prophet, shaping the way we live our life until we pass from this existence. 

Revelation is not something new for the Lord’s church. One of the unique things about our church is that we believe that God still speaks to and guides his children through a prophet, and that the words of the prophet are the words of God: ‘whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.’

The way the rules are set up in Fluxx, as new rules come into play, they are meant to be followed, giving everyone the same chance to participate in the game and, to the best of their abilities, win the game. The difference between Fluxx and real life: everyone can win in real life, and the reward is ‘The immortality and eternal life of man.’

Thankfully for us, the words of God revealed by His servants the prophets are not as random as the rules for Fluxx. God’s revelations pertain to our salvation, and the things we can do to draw closer to our Savior and feel the Spirit. The Lord desires that each of us use our testimonies of the truth of the Gospel and its teachings to benefit the lives of those around us. In this way we show our willingness to follow the Lord, and serve Him: ‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’

In addition to the revelations given to prophets for the church as a whole, we are able to receive revelation for ourselves and for our families. Lorenzo Snow said “This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint … that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.” It’s a little bit like we are all playing our own version of Fluxx, and we have access to a rulebook that is designed specifically for us, to help win the game. 

President Nelson has given us guidance about seeking personal revelation, and how to receive it: “Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”

You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness born to your heart and mind about what is true.

Just as mentioned by President Nelson, revelation can be about anything that we are questioning. What better way to draw closer to our Savior and our Heavenly Father than by asking them for guidance when we are struggling or need help in gaining knowledge and making choices for ourselves? In the New Testament, in James, we are told: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”

Best Build-A-Bears You Have To Have Right Now

 Yeah I know this is a fluffy post for me but I'm busy this week so cut me some slack. 

In the last week I've had three people message me separately with Build-A-Bear's new Umbreon plushie. Maybe it's because I have a cat named Umbry. Maybe it's because they know how much I love Pokemon. Maybe it's because I have an extensive collection of stuffed animals for a mid 30's something male with no children. Either way, I wanted to show off some of my favorites currently available and squee over some cute squishies. 

BTW this is NOT a paid advertisment for Build-A-Bear Workshop, but if they want us to make it sponsored hit us up. 

10: Vaporeon (Online Exclusive) 

Don't get me wrong, the Umbreon is adorable, but I gotta go with my home boy Vaporeon. He's always been my favorite of the Eeveeolutions and here he's the most adorable he's ever been. I personally don't care for his little outfit since to me it's just a hat on a hat situation, but it's cute if you want the bundle. As for me my Vaporeon will show up naked. 

9: Frodo Baggins-Online Exclusive 

Okay so you can technically just buy the Frodo outfit and put it on any bear so this is really more a reccomendation for the outfit. The bear itself is just a bear with "Lord of the Rings" stitched onto its foot. Oh stop my pounding heart. But the outfit- adorable little green vest AND fuzzy Hobbit feet?! It's a must have. Buy it with the bear. Buy a different bear. Put it on Vaporeon. Who cares, just get it. 

8: Jawa 

Speaking as a person who happily owns a two foot diameter Grogu because he saw it at Costco and had to have it, I feel the Baby Yoda thing is getting a bit oversaturated. The Child at Build-A-Bear is cute, but this Jawa is everything I'd want in a stuffed Jawa that I never knew I wanted. And put a wizard hat on him and you easily get Vivi from Final Fantasy 9

7: Tom Nook

So if I buy a Tom Nook stuffie will he take some of my debt off? Just curious. 

6: Alice in Wonderland 

Celebrating the 70th anniversary of the release of the movie, we got an entire set at Build-A-Bear. I couldn't decide to go with the card suits on Alice's dress, or the Queen of Hearts looking so regal, or that cute Mad Hatter... So I'll just put them all on. 

5: Stitch

Had to throw in Stitch. They built him so well he almost looks like he's going to destroy a city. I'd help. 

4: Snoopy, Online Exclusive. 

Do you know how many people these days don't know who Snoopy is? People talk about required reading in schools and argue over weather to read To Kill A Mockingbird meanwhile Peanuts goes unread. Ridiculous! Anyway look at his little scarf! 

3: Ursula Online Exclusive

The diva of the sea is ready to cast her spell on... I don't know it's a bear with fantastic makeup, what else can I say? The tentcles are removable so you could technically turn any stuffie into an Ursula creature and build your Lovecraftian nightmare you've always wanted, so that's also a big plus. 

2: Tazmanian Devil Online Exclusive

Remember in the 90's when Taz was a big thing? He even had his own show briefly which made no sense since he was the only one without verbal skills and his sister (I think) had a pony tail... Anyway thanks to Space Jam: A New Legacy and his connection to the Rick and Morty cameo now I want one. I really am just one step above Taz. 

1: Eeyore Online Exclusive 

The older I get the more I realize that Eeyore wasn't depressed he was just tired and wanted to be left alone. That's just plain relatable. This Eeyore would make the perfect companion for just sitting around, having a streaming binge, and decompressing from work. Plus he looks incredibly soft. 

-JOE