It's Sunday and I'm not in church again. My children are running around and screaming happily, and my wife is out smoking. To top it off, this is fast and testimony Sunday, and I forgot to fast. Not that I have trouble fasting and praying. I pray all the time and sometimes even remember to fast on purpose. But part of the point of fasting is to create sympathy for people who don't have food. And I know first hand what it's like to go without. For several years I lived on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and whatever I could steal from work (in various fast food restaurants). This was all before I joined the LDS faith. So now instead of feeling guilty for stealing food I feel guilty that I have food and forget to fast. On the positive side, I've been diligently reading my Book of Mormon this week. I encourage everybody to read it through a least once if for no other reason than to become educated about what's in it. So lately I've been "practicing what I preach." I've read the Bible (cover to cover: twice) and prefer it to the Book of Mormon (which I've only completed once). But I always feel like I'm on solid ground telling people to open up either one since I've "been there and done that." If you've read both I compliment you; if you haven't I can not stress the importance of doing so enough. I've also read the entire Koran in English translation and have successfully encouraged 1 person (my wife) to do the same. But that's brings up a whole different worry. I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that makes me a Mormon. But I also believe Mohammed (peace to him) was a prophet, and I don't know what that makes me. So what're your favorite books, and do they affect how you spend your Sunday mornings?

-markezuma