Scott Whitaker

Ancient America Speaks

Archeological evidence from pre-Columbian South America is compared to artifacts from the Mediterranean region as well as passages from the Book of Mormon

Are You the One?: Choosing a Mate

Marilyn and Doug are in love, thinking about the possibility of marriage, and are encouraged by the words and the example of married friends Michael and Shirley who after several years seem to still be honeymooners. However, their attitudes and expectations reflect their upbringing. He finds her folks on the bohemian side, and she finds his parents to be "Victorian." Marilyn's divorced roommate Esther (who is attending a class on marriage), advises finding common interests, but Doug finds Marilyn's modern dancing dull, and she feels the same way about his fishing. Perhaps more importantly, Marilyn wants a career as well as children and Doug thinks raising a family is a full-time occupation for a wife.

How Do I Love Thee?

Jan and Penny are college roommates who disagree about what is appropriate dating behavior. Penny feels that Jan is a prude for not getting into the swing of the changing attitudes of the "second half of the 20th Century." Responding to the topic of petting, Jan says, "Why you make it sound as harmless as an extracurricular activity." One day Keith introduces himself to Jan in the library by helping her find a poem for their English literature class, and then asking her out to discuss it later. They hit it off immediately, and start enjoying sporting events, dancing, and studying together. Soon Jan is wearing Keith's frat pin. However, Keith's roommate Stan tells him that "Love has gotta include sex" and Penny is telling Jan the same thing. When Keith tips in this other direction one evening, Jan is hurt and will not go down this new path. Happiness lies along only one of the paths, and either Jan or Penny will soon find that their actions have brought regretful sorrow.

Measure of a Man

Mike Miller is a high school student. His mother is wondering more and more about whether he has yet at that stage of acting on feelings associated with puberty, such as having kissed a girl. She is somewhat worried however when Mike says that he is going to hang out this evening with Hal and Blaine, who she has only heard by reputation are a bit on the wild side. While she doesn't forbid Mike from hanging out with them, she still can't help but be worried. On the flip side, Mike, a proverbial good boy, may buckle under peer pressure to do things that he may not want to do, such as drag racing, drinking and hanging out with "wild" girls. What Mike does not know is that some of his friends and friends of friends who he will hang out with this evening will have exactly those same feelings as him, they too who may succumb to peer pressure.

Measure of a Man

Mike Miller is a high school student. His mother is wondering more and more about whether he has yet at that stage of acting on feelings associated with puberty, such as having kissed a girl. She is somewhat worried however when Mike says that he is going to hang out this evening with Hal and Blaine, who she has only heard by reputation are a bit on the wild side. While she doesn't forbid Mike from hanging out with them, she still can't help but be worried. On the flip side, Mike, a proverbial good boy, may buckle under peer pressure to do things that he may not want to do, such as drag racing, drinking and hanging out with "wild" girls. What Mike does not know is that some of his friends and friends of friends who he will hang out with this evening will have exactly those same feelings as him, they too who may succumb to peer pressure.