Sunday, January 27, 2013

#96: "The Staying Power of Star Wars".

A couple of years ago, I started Mormon Wookiee because I enjoyed the way that Star Wars and the gospel had certain parallels to one another (the battle between light and dark, the force in comparison to the Priesthood, the fact that both Obi-Wan and Brigham Young have sweet beards, etc.).
Beards: They grow on you.
Anyway, last week I read a great article in the Deseret News about Star Wars and the gospel that totally made me my day (and made me excited to have kids). Here are some highlights from "In the Whirled: The Staying Power of Star Wars" by Tiffany Lewis.

"We did something this year that has tilted the Lewis world on its axis. We introduced our children to Star Wars. Life will never be the same again.

"We used to have regular conversations at the dinner table. Now they all involve distant galaxies, strange ships and names that involve a lot of Fett and Sith and Darth. We used to come home from the library with heaps of classics. Now it’s all 'Clone Wars' and 'Anakin Rises Again.'

"What astonishes me most is the urgency of this story, the need for them to connect it all in their heads. My 9-year-old calls to me after I’ve put him to bed. 'Mom, Mom!' He is frantic. I run in and kneel by his bed. 'What is it?' 'Would you rather live on Cloud City or Alderaan?' he asks. I slow my breathing. 'Go to bed,' I tell him.

"I sat my kids down to dinner the other night, intent on having a real conversation, the kind that happened B.S.W. — Before Star Wars. 'We’re studying the prophet Lorenzo Snow in Relief Society,' I tell them. 'He lived on a farm, and because his dad was gone so often, he had to do all the work. Can you imagine?' Their interest is piqued. 'He lived during the time of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young,' I continue. They are listening. This is going to be a great discussion. We’re going to talk about hard work and conversion and the powerful choices you can make at a young age. There is a pause. My 7-year-old pipes up: 'So if Lorenzo Snow lived that long ago, I guess he wouldn’t have known George Lucas?' You see what I’m up against here."

I love it! I think I would have followed up with, "No, but as a farmer, he definitely would have known Luke Skywalker." Thanks for the great article, Tiffany!

Sunday, January 6, 2013

#93: Missionary Portrait.

I had some fun with a free drawing app called DrawCast tonight.

Elder Chewbacca, you are hereby called to serve in the Tatooine Mos Eisley Mission. Your companion will be a spice smuggler. May the force be with you.