I got asked a great question the other day about being a mormon in Utah and I wanted to share a few of my thoughts about the topic.  I am originally from Arizona and have lived in Utah for the last 4 years, and I am about to move back to Arizona here in the next couple of months.

Its not because I hate Utah, its mostly because I hate Utah weather.  I also am very far away from all of my family.  Those are the main two reasons I am leaving Utah.

The question really got me thinking about what kind of a mormon I have been in Utah and what kind of mormon I was in Arizona before I moved here.  I feel that the last 6 1/2 years I have not been a good member simply because most of the time during church I spend in the hallway or driving around trying to calm down screaming kids.  My youngest is 7 months, so I still have a ways until nursery.  This one is the last, and once I can start attending and paying attention to all my meetings I will feel like a better member.

I also attended the temple more when living in Arizona.   It is funny I got 4 temples probably at the most 20 minutes away (from where I live) and I can’t attend more then 4 times in 4 years.  I also contribute it to the fact that we had baby sitters (family) in Arizona and nobody here.  No excuse I know.

Over all I think living in Utah its easier to be a member, and you don’t work as hard to be righteous.  Everyone on your block is a member etc.  Because I was not around it as much in Arizona and growing up I think I worked harder to be a better person.  I know it does not make sense, but thats how I feel about being a mormon in Utah.

SO, maybe moving back to Arizona will kick my butt in gear again and help me be a better member again.

This last weekend I had a chance to attend church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There were many thing that impressed me about the town itself that I will go into in a minute, but the most impressing thing to me was the fact that sacrament, Sunday school, and Priesthood classed were just as I expected and had come to expect in my own home ward. The people loved the gospel and were excited about their testimonies. Andy, without fail there was at least on know-it-all in each class. You know the person who always raises their hand and comments on every little aspect of the lesson. This drives me crazy. Overall, my experience in the ward was excellent and there are many amazing souls and testimonies in Tuscaloosa. The missionaries also expressed that things are going really well in this area of the church.

One of the things that really impressed me was the BBQ. I had a chance to enjoy some Dream Land ribs and let me tell you that they were really excellent, sticky, messy, and worth another trip. You just can’t find BBQ like that in the SLC area…slow smoked using hickory wood for hours and hours. My mouth is watering now just thinking about it.

Right now I’m sitting at my desk typing this post watching the sun rise in Zion.  The best part is…it’s almost 50 degrees outside right now and highs are going to be close to 70 today, and it’s only March 13.  It is nice to enjoy the outside with weather as good as this in March.  I have no complaints, especially after all the snow we have received over the last few weeks.  Because the weather is so nice I have found my friends and I wanting to eat our lunch outside, drive with the windows down, and take strolls with our families.  I have to say that there must be some advantages to living in California, Nevada, or Arizona, and I think I have seen some of those advantages this week.  Like, doing summer activities in the late winter, or in Arizona’s case…doing summer all year round.

One of the best parts of this whole deal is that tulips are already starting to bud out of the ground and spring is on the verge of moving into full swing.  Season’s are great and I like the change, but I also like being able to wear shorts and no jacket or coat.  Let’s give it up for warmth.  Here comes spring!!!

I have been sick for the last month it seems. The week before last I had a cold and just about three days after getting over that one, I start to feel the tingle in my throat again and another cold has made its way straight through me. This one has been especially tough and has left me feeling terrible. Because I was feeling so bad and it hit me on a Saturday I decided on Sunday when I woke up for church that it just wasn’t going to happen. I guess you could say I called in sick on the sabbath. This has left me thinking about when it’s reasonable to call in sick to church.

One of the young men in my ward has “called in sick” many times over the last few months. I believe he is just really good at faking out his parents and this has led me to showing up at his house multiple times during lesson time. Boy, I’m glad no one showed up at my house on Sunday to teach me a lesson. Maybe I should be more considerate when someone doesn’t make it to church. Anyway, what are your thoughts???

I hope everyone is having a happy valentine’s day. I wanted to simply throw up this little post to say just that. Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you enjoy this day as we celebrate the love we have for those that are close to us. Make sure to let them know that you care and tell them you love them today.

For many years I have traveled via car through out Provo and Orem. My experience normally goes something like this. I get in my car, I buckle up, I put my car in drive, and then fight traffic and get cut off 10-12 times in about 5 miles. How can this really be “happy valley” if every time I get in my vehicle I go crazy?

Maybe it’s just me? Maybe I’m a road rage-aholic? Maybe it has something to do with my car? Or, maybe it just has something to do with happy valley. As I travel through other cities in Utah I don’t seem to encounter as many frustrating driving experiences. Just today on the way down 8th North I got cut off three times in about a one mile distance. I was not driving slow at all…maybe a little over the speed limit, yet I still can’t seem to leave any room between me and car in front of me or another driver slides right in there and slams on their brakes.

I sure hope something changes so I can continue believing in happy valley.

I was recently asked to write an article for a local magazine in Utah Valley. I thought it might be fun to post it in here as well. If you can tell me what magazine the article was featured in I’ll give you a 10% off coupon for your next purchase at MyLDSDirect.com. All you have to do is enter your guess on our Contact Us page. I have placed my article below for your reading pleasure. Have fun!

Recently, a friend asked me what it takes to build and market a website. The challenge with this is that websites are multifaceted; they include a variety of components. The requirements of each website may vary greatly according to the intended use.

For example, an artist may only need a simple website containing a few pages detailing the style he or she uses and featuring samples of their work. On the other hand, a hair stylist may need a complex website involving product sales, appointment scheduling, multimedia hair dressing guides, and other interactive tools. These features would require a significantly more advanced platform and would likely require custom programming to satisfy the purpose of the site as well as the needs of the business.

Regardless of the complexity, websites have become virtual business cards and without them, businesses are falling behind the curve. For most businesses, creating a website is often as important as maintaining a professional approach with customers or placing an ad in the local paper. A website creates a look and feel for the business.

My friend is an architect and was seeking to create exposure for his business through online marketing. He realized that a website would be instrumental to the future success of his business.

In order to help my friend understand more about creating an online presence, I listed some of the eight most important characteristics of a simple ecommerce website. These features are important for any business owner as they prepare to enter into the webosphere. These key principles are as follows:

• Homepage—all websites should have a solid homepage describing what the purpose of the website is (this can be done visually) and directing your visitor to the pages you want them to visit. The homepage should entice viewers to surf the other pages of your site.
• About Us Page—this is an important page to build perceived value and explain what your business has to offer. Fraud is a significant concern for online shoppers and a well-constructed “About Us” page can help overcome this concern. The goal is to build trust and establish a relationship with the customer.
• Contact Us Page—include, at a minimum, two forms of contact so that your visitors have multiple ways to reach you. I recommend a phone number and email address.
• Policies Page—clearly outline your policies on this page so visitors understand what they are agreeing to when doing business with you. Include, if applicable, policies defining shipping and handling, returns and cancellations, and privacy.
• Catalog Page—for a retail business, a well-organized product catalog helps your visitor find the products and services they are looking for quickly and easily. This creates efficiency and increases your perceived value.
• Quote Page—for a service business, pricing and quotes are elements your visitor wants access to immediately. This will help the customer decide if they want to contact you.
• Online Checkout—when visitors search you out online they are often looking to purchase online as well. Provide a method of online payment even if it is only the address where they could send a check.
• Reporting Tools—every website should include tools that enable you to analyze your traffic. These tools allow you to see how many visitors are visiting your site, where they are coming from, what they are viewing on your site, how long they are staying, and other useful data.

These eight primary characteristics will allow businesses to recruit visitors, satisfy their immediate needs, and create a new stream of revenue via an online marketplace. In addition, you will be better able to serve your current customers as well as giving them additional ways to interact with your business.

Keep in mind that, although there are various bells and whistles available to create a more interactive experience for your customers, focusing on the overall objective of your website is important. Do not allow these upgrades to take away from your ecommerce goals.

As for my friend, we will see what the future holds for him as he begins his journey into the online marketplace. I hope he is already engulfed in the first draft of his website!

Joseph Smith rings are one of the most memorable and beloved LDS themed products we offer on our site. The ring it self comes in silver, yellow gold, and white gold for both male and female.

One thing that many people actually don’t know is that the Joseph Smith ring is an exact replica of the actually ring Joseph wore during the King Follett Discourse to illustrate the eternal nature of man. He was also wearing this ring the day of his martyrdom, June 27th 1844. The oblong circle on the wide face signifies eternity as the circle never ends. On the underside of the face, Joseph Smith’s signature is engraven into the metal.

Because of the meaning of the ring (that of eternity), many couples find Joseph Smith rings to be a wonderful wedding rings and often comment on how special they are to them as they remind them of their special day in the temple of God.

Joseph Smith Ring

Hello and welcome to My LDS Direct.com. We have recently launched this blog in an attempt to communicate with you, our customer, about what is happening in the Latter-day Saint world. While we hope you enjoy the entirety of our site, we also hope you find time to visit this blog often to read our thoughts, insights, and testimony’s. We also hope you will share yours through commenting on our blog entries!

Thank you for visiting and we hope to see you back soon.

MyLDSDirect.com