MormonSpeak: The Boy Behind the Moon
Not bad traits, by any means. In fact, they're all pretty good characteristics to have. But lumped together in the personality of one tall, handsome, fun-loving 14-year-old, they can be ... well, scary.
Like the mid-winter night he and some of his buddies arrived at the church early so they could play a little basketball before Mutual. The 12th Ward Relief Society was already using the cultural hall to make quilts for babies in the local hospital's newborn intensive care unit, with fully loaded quilting frames occupying most of the basketball court. As you might expect, the sisters weren't especially pleased to be invaded by basketball-bouncing boys.
"What are you doing?" the homemaking leader asked when Travis peeked into the hall.
Travis smiled. "We were gonna play some ball," he said.
"Well, not here," the good sister replied, maybe just a little tersely. "We're not moving."
"But you could do that anywhere," Travis argued. "We'll even help you move your stuff."
"No!"
"Then when are you going to be finished?" Travis asked. "We'll come back then."
"It'll be too late," the sister said. "Now, get out of here before I call your parents!"
Travis led a hasty retreat into the hallway, where the boys gathered to reassess their options. At least, I'm assuming that's what they did. To tell you the truth, the story gets a little fuzzy at this point. All I know for sure is that the boys wanted to play basketball, the sisters weren't about to let them, and for some reason that I still don't completely understand, Travis decided that the time was right for a lunar eclipse.
That's right he mooned the Relief Society. Right there in front of the baby blankets.
As you might expect, the incident created considerable controversy in the neighborhood. Some of the women in attendance wanted Travis' head or other suitable body parts served ceremoniously on a platter. Others who heard about it recommended legal action or, at the very least, excommunication. Even some who chuckled at the situation agreed that Travis was a troubled young man whose future prospects appeared dim. It was a difficult time for him and for those who continued to believe in the boy behind the moon.
Thankfully, those closest to Travis were willing to allow him to put the incident behind him so to speak. His parents, bishop and Young Men leaders never lost faith in him. And it turned out that the very traits that made him a handful you know, that creativity, intelligence, determination and propensity for free and focused thought helped him graduate near the top of his high school class and saw him through a successful (and, I might add, moon-less) mission. The last time I talked to him he was an accomplished medical student working as a teaching assistant in a class called are you ready for this? "gross anatomy."
Recent comments
I am reading this to my Teacher's Quorum on Sunday, then following up...
Porter Rockwell | Aug. 31, 2007 at 10:55 a.m.
Twin you do make valid points with scheduling, time to move but try...
Scott | Aug. 30, 2007 at 10:01 p.m.
The story isn't about the RS sisters who didn't want to move, or how...
Roni | Aug. 30, 2007 at 9:32 p.m.
- 'Mates: Millsap deserves big payday 5:22 p.m.
- Millsap offer: $10.3M up front 4:59 p.m.
- Questions about osteoarthritis 4:43 p.m.
- Logan canal breaks; people missing 3:58 p.m.
- Man's body found 3:47 p.m.
- 'Love advocates' plan 'kiss-in' 3:46 p.m.
- Many-splendored container garden 3:29 p.m.
- California's $26B deficit 3:25 p.m.
- Eat your squash and blossoms 3:21 p.m.
- Searchers shovel seeking giant worm 3:18 p.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- Logan canal breaks; people missing
- LDS seminary principal arrested
290 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
183 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
143 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
83 - Letters: Single-payer system best
76 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
See ya later Paul. Have fun in Portland making way too much money.
wow! i cant believe this! he was a great man and no one expected this. he...
Just another example of the skewed world of professional sports...true...
wow!! he lied to so many!!!!!!
I forgot what I was going to say. Let's go ride bikes!
I have had it up to here......next time I am voting for Prop Hate!
Everyone here blames the victim over the teacher in these cases...regardless...
"friend says..." dang typos.
LDS institutions will not crack down more on this issue...they tend to...
In economic bad times if your neighbor is out of a job, it's a recession. If...

