supersc

I was 1600 miles away from home, working in Chantilly, VA, 20 miles from the Pentagon. The government agency I was right next to and supporting, the National Reconnaissance Office, had planned an emergency exercise for the day of a plane crashing into their headquarters building compound. Needless to say, I shut down the R&D lab I was managing, and the week was eerie... no planes in the sky for days. My family, attending and teaching seminary out west was apprehensive of my status until my son and I had phone contact. That son went on to later become an Army Ranger (after a mission), deploying to Iraq, then A-Stan 3 times. My brother who lived in Northern Virginia was scheduled to attend a meeting at the Pentagon that morning, but it was cancelled. I left Dulles Airport on Friday on the first United flight to depart from there since 9-11. We all cheered raucously as we took off and there wasn't a dry eye on the passengers.

Timing may be geared to having the For The Strength of Youth monthly magazine prepped in time as it is a major source of lesson material to go along with the newly revised (this week, online) FSY pamphlet. You'd be hard-pressed to do 4 lessons each month on each of the 12 chapters of the new pamphlet, which is why the youth magazine will heavily supplement weekly lessons on that topic for that month.

I saw a SL Trib headliner that labeled Elder Gilbert's call as a "controversial pick." The article is behind a paywall, so I didn't bother seeking the details. It may be referring to the rule that new hires at the Church's higher education institutions must be temple worthy - as evidenced by a current temple recommend.

Has anyone heard new and current rumors on pilot tests of 1 hour services (vs, 2 hours) in the Church? I have heard rumors, with the focus being increased on worship in the temples, which are now clearly and highly focused on our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation/Redemption/Happiness