Dear Dave,

The Rev. Robert Jeffress of Dallas is taking some national heat for his comments last weekend about presidential candidate Mitt Romney and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, referring to the LDS Church as a "cult." One columnist even went so far as to compare the Christian influence of Rev. Jeffress with Elder Russell M. Nelson of the LDS Church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles — and found Rev. Jeffress to be lacking.

Oh, what do you do in the summertime when all the world is green? Do you fish in a stream or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? Yeah, me neither. At least not often enough.

Conference Talk:

During my thirty-three years, I have had a lot of time to think about charitable receiving due to surprisingly frequent circumstances requiring dependency that dot my life.

I must admit, before my trip to New Zealand over the holidays I had never heard of the Mormon Maori prophecies. I knew that there are many Polynesian church members. I was aware that the most popular religion in the island of Molokai (the spiritual center of Hawaii) is Mormonism, and that there are many Samoan and Tongan church members. As for the Maori, I knew that they were Pacific Islanders. I knew the men danced the haka and the women danced with poi balls. I knew that they once practiced cannibalism (practice makes perfect!) and were considered fierce by early European seafarers who visited the islands. I knew that one of their greetings (touching foreheads and sharing a breath) is similar to the Eskimos (rubbing noses). So I was not a complete noob. And yet, I had no idea that many Maori converted to Mormonism in the 1880s. In the early days, 90% of the membership in New Zealand were Maori. Even as recently as the mid-90s, 60% of church members in New Zealand were Maori. We attended church twice when we were there; in Hamilton I would estimate 60-70% of the ward were Maori. The Queenstown Branch had only six local members in attendance, two of whom were Maori.

Supplement from “No Toil nor Labor Fear” by Ronald O. Barney

Each December, we read or relate the account recorded in the second chapter of Luke about the birth of the Christ child. We sing of the Wise Men who, “with wondering awe,” saw and followed the star that signaled His birth, and of angels whose heavenly chorus proclaimed that singular, grand event. Our Christmas hymns remind us of—and help teach children—the story of the little town of Bethlehem where Jesus was born and tell how, since there was no room in the inn, He “laid down his sweet head” in a manger. We sing of shepherds who, while watching their flocks by night, heard the angelic proclamation of His birth. Throughout the year, Latter-day Saints sing of the Savior’s birth and the wondrous act He performed by coming to dwell among mortal men to teach, guide, lead, and show us the way. We are amazed that He gave His life in the atoning sacrifice so that we might have eternal life.

Here is a common dilemma in modern parenthood: a husband or wife leaves town on business, placing the full responsibility of caring for the children and managing household chores upon the spouse who remains at home.

The comparisons between being spiritually and physically fed are many. But perhaps one of my favorite things about conference weekend is that they can become one and the same. I love being able to be so spiritually edified while lounging in the comfort of my PJs and consuming delicious food.