Wrong Ward?

Today was the fourth time we attended our new ward here in Evanston, and today was the fourth time it rained on Sunday morning. I think the Lord is trying to tell us that we moved into the wrong ward. But we really didn't have another choice, because the nearest other ward is about a 20 minute drive from Northwestern campus, which makes for an inconvenient commute.

Other than the rain, I've been pretty happy with our new ward. About half the ward is established families, and the other half is graduate students at Northwestern. Our bishop is really kind and seems to be on the ball. He gave Hillary a great blessing while setting her apart for her new calling as a ward missionary. I love Elders Quorum here, mostly because I feel like I am among peers. Well, there are one or two guys who have more than two children or who are bald whom I would not consider my peers, but other than that I feel right at home. We have great gospel discussions and everyone's insights are very keen.

Everyone, that is, except for one man who wears sunglasses and a toupee to church every week. The first week I was there, Mr. Piece opted to provoke an argument about whether God personally answers all our prayers, or whether he has angels and other helpers who listen to and answer our prayers themselves, only taking to God the problems they can't solve themselves. It was a rather tense moment because nobody wanted to say, "Shut up, you're wrong," and nobody wanted to agree with him. Off-the-wall comments are Piece's speciality, but not all of them are blasphemous, and as our teacher rightly pointed out one week as Piece raised his hand during the introduction to the lesson, "That's what I like about you, brother Piece -- always breaking the ice."

I digress. What I meant to say is that graduate business and journalism students are intelligent people who have stirring gospel discussions during Elders Quorum, and I appreciate that. The EQ meetings here are the best I've ever attended.
--LOGAN