I read most all of your blog a couple of days ago. I wanted to comment then, but it didn’t feel right. As I sat journalling this evening I felt it was time to write. I originally was going to comment on the various entries individually. But as this one is appropriately titled “Speak Up”, it all conveniently fits under one umbrella. I hope it simplifies your life just a bit this way.

I joined the Church four years ago. For the last eight years, or so, I’ve been working in IT. I’m a very critical, analytical thinker raised in very agnostic circumstances by very fine, morally strong parents with an air of sarcasm enclosing anything that smacked of organized religion. The fact that our Father opened my heart through this mix of skepticism and sarcasm is nothing less than a miracle for which I’m eternally grateful.

The work of your department played some part in that. When I was “investigating” one of the things that resonated with my own work was the care given to the human-computer interaction on your various websites. If you had produced a rough-cut, hobbyist-level site it would have left another hurdle for my testimony. I would’ve had to answer, “Why does the Lord allow his Church to be mediocre in the most important job I can think of, my own?”

I can safely say, there was no hurdle. The site was beautiful, easy to use, and accessible. It was obvious that your department strove to meet real people with useful software that begins to “disappear” as you use it.

Additionally, I sparked an interest in another IT friend of mine by bearing my new and sensitive testimony, including a mention of your websites. He spent the next night devouring everything about fundamental doctrine therein. He, too, has joined the Church with the website(s) as a part of the bridge.

Thank you.

I would especially like to thank whomever put together the Flash interactive music player. Very classy, useful. I was proud to share the simplified URI, lds.org/cm with my Ward choir. BTW, simplifying your URIs in all places would be a boon.

To this blog, I respect you very much for practicing what you preach and speaking up. When things are transparent (like when user-interfaces “disappear”) they are easier to trust.

So, finally, thank you, your staff, and your predecessor for a job well done. I’d like to finish with some brief comment on your blog posts.

1: World Class I.T. – In the world, not of the world. ‘Tis a world-wide church. For the Lord, you have no choice but to be world-class from the world’s eyes. But you should also know and share that it’s got to be above “world”-class. I would remind you of the Savior’s words, “be ye therefore perfect…”

2: Receive Revelation – One trouble (and boon) with much technology is that we learn by example. Revelation is critical if you’re going to meet goal #1 and transcend your worldly examples. We have no example of how the Lord would write code, but I have my own feelings on that one. Good article.

3: Know My Customer – In writing it’s “know your audience”. Very important. It’s the occupational version of, “Why are we here?” This is still only the worldly perspective, however. I would add to all believing people of faith, know your Judge/Maker/Savior. I know that the Lord expects much of me in my job. He’s an ever present audience. Plus, I’m an example to others. Every person working in IT everywhere is representing the Savior as they solve information-related problems. For you this “be an example” feeling has got to be huge. I really wanted you to hear my own success story above. Again, thanks.

4: Speak Up – It’s nice to see somebody in as big of shoes as yours say “Obviously I’m not as approachable as I think I am if people aren’t willing to always speak their minds. But it’s something we’re trying consciously to improve.” Thanks for keeping humble. Communication is hard. Unity is difficult. But oh so worth it when it happens.

Open Source – Open source has many promises beyond what you list. Like many terms, the problem with the term “open source” is that it agglomerates too many smaller concepts making it hard to form value statements on it. I could go on and on about the pros and the cons related to it, but will spare you. I would encourage you to break it down into smaller pieces and then judge. From my own view, and back to transparency being easier to trust, there is just some information that really should be open.

I do hope you read this. Feel free to share it. Thanks again.

Isn’t technology great? I’m teaching School in Point Hope Alaska with 5 other member teachers and another member couple making 8 members here in our group. We are just one of the twigs off the Barrow Alaska Branch. On Sunday, we join with the Barrow Branch for Sacrament service using the telephone conference call system and then most of the time have our own Sunday School and Relief Society / Priesthood meeting.

It’s nice being able to receive materials and information on the Internet for lessons and information as some times the mail delivery system is slow up here and we don’t always them get things on time.

One question….. are the pictures for the lessons available for download? If so, I haven’t been able to find them.

Thanks

On the Mac topic, I applaud the recent advances! A few questions:

1. Do you factor in the cost of Windows security maintenance in your cost estimates?

2. If MLS is written in Java, does that mean it could be easily ported to the Mac if cost or security landscape made it attractive?

3. Has the church considered moving MLS to the web for units that could utilize it there? e.g. allow elders quorum presidents to modify hometeaching routes from home, and synchronize with the clerk’s office computer when the synchronization is done.

4. Regarding PAF, rather than porting PAF to the Mac, has the church considered licensing or buying Reunion from the folks at Leister Productions? (top-notch Mac genealogy app, no connection to me)

I very much enjoy your blog, thanks for sharing with us.

I whole-heartedly agree with Sorrel Jakins!!! It seems to be even harder for the sisters to ask questions without the “I am not ’sustaining’ you” or “respecting the priesthood” response.