The Lord will protect His people

SO, Prop 8 passed! And yay, with the victory comes persecution. My uncle related the following story:

Melanie just talked to her sister in Palm Springs and her sister said that Saturday night the mayor of Palm Springs (who is gay) held an all night candlelight vigil with about 1000 people outside of the LDS chapel and then they began protesting outside the church when sacrament started today. As soon as the meeting began it started raining really hard right over the church and it lasted for 1.5 hours. This forced all of the protesters to leave so the church was able to have a peaceful meeting. Even more interesting is their 15 year old daughter was staying at a friends house two blocks from the church and they were running late to church. She said that is was barely sprinkling at her friends house and all of the rain was concentrated directly over the church. Interesting!

It might seem like just a church service or just a coincidence, but I beg to differ. Times are only going to get harder as we progress towards our Lord's second coming. The wicked will get fiercer and more bold, but so will the saints of God. We can no longer sit on the fence, for "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad" (Matt 12:30).

Eavesdropping

So I was listening in on this girl's conversation while I was eating lunch one day...I can't help it...and she was talking about politics and the world today blahblahblah. In the midst of her rantings about Obama, she said he isn't the brightest tool in the box.


Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it the sharpest tool in the shed and the brightest crayon in the box? Apparently, her dogs aren't quite afloat...Or is it all of her boats in a row? Or all her ducks barking?

(For the record, it is: her boat isn't quite afloat, she hasn't got all her dogs barking, and all her ducks in a row. Yes, I know that the ducks one doesn't mean the same things as the other 4, but this just furthers my point.)

Marriage

I'm not very political and I am not a religious tyrant and I also have friends who are gay but man does it bother me when people say that because I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and because I believe that same-sex marriage should not be legal I am in the wrong and I am discriminating. Aren't I being hated for my beliefs in heterosexual marriage just as those who believe same-sex marriage is okay are being hated? We are indeed all human but we were created in the HETEROSEXUAL image of God - that is my belief. The Bible says that part of the reason Sodom and Gomorrah were so wicked was because of the same-sex attraction and other things that stemmed from this. YES it will affect my future and HELL YES it will affect my children's future. Don't you dare try to sell me crap about it being one man's choice when you are inflicting this choice on everyone by making it law. We have stayed away from making too many laws about things like abortion and same-sex marriage because of the constitution this nation is supposed to be built on. No longer are we a God-fearing nation. No longer do we act on the good of the whole because of the stupid minorities who force their way onto the frontlines to do nothing but create disunity and conflict. The United States is a melting pot, yes, but it is turning into a melting pit because of how we are beginning to view life and what is truly meant for our lives. Tolerance is essential, but too much tolerance breeds this hatred we are seeing now because every person thinks he is more important that the whole. The individual is absolutely important in the eyes of God, but when it comes to choices we make - and yes, being gay is a CHOICE, you are not born that way just as I am not born craving vegetables - they are just that, choices, and they are subject to an individual, not an entire nation. I am sick of liberal idiots who waste my time fighting for what is morally wrong. Our society has taken many turns for the worse but mostly because of our selfish individuals and ignorant minorities. I don't force my lifestyle on you, so do not force yours on me.

Babester Continues...

This is the newest from home (Becca emailed me this story):

""
OK, So last night the power went out and Dad was coloring with Abby. She stopped for a second and Dad had the guts to ask her what she was doing and guess what she said with enthusiasm... I'M POOPING! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It was the funniest thing. She just said it like it was normal conversation and went back to coloring while Dad and I were dying laughing :)

""
Sometimes (now more than ever) I really wish I was home watching Babs grow up.

Bit of happiness...and advice.

Okay, I got this list from work at OIT - and I love it. So you must enjoy, too.

* Every one seems weird only until you get to know them.
* You have to prioritize your life. Which assignments are critical and which ones aren't?
* Studying is important, but you should never make yourself miserable because of it.
* The people you work with will become your family, embrace them.
* It's ok to look disheveled once in a while.
* A person could live off Ramen, but it's really no way to live.
* We were all freshmen once, take care of them.
* Never be afraid to ask, people are more willing to give than you think.
* Lazy activities are so much more enjoyable when there's something else you should be doing.
* Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.
* It's not what you do but who you are with.
* The students who work for OIT really are the best on campus.

Doers of the Word

So I have felt a little off lately...maybe it's the weather, maybe it's the end of summer, who knows. But I was reading in 3 Nephi 14 today and came across exactly what I needed to hear.

This is where the Lord has come to visit the Americas after his crucifixion in Jerusalem. He is giving instruction about the way to live our lives so that we are in accordance with the Father. He says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven."

I have forgotten to serve. No wonder I am feeling off-base and out of touch! I have not been a doer. I have left my foundation and gone wandering down the beach. I am the foolish man right now. I feel better already for I know that I must be a doer and not just a hearer. It is wonderful to go to church and read my scriptures and cry, "Lord, Lord" every night. But where is my heart? Am I seeking His will? Do I, like the repentant Lamanites, fear to sin?

Life's purpose is to test what we really believe, what we really care about. What message am I sending to my Brother - who shed his own blood for me - when I forget him? Would I forget if it was my earthly brother that died saving me? I don't think I would. Action is required if we are to be in the Way. If I want to follow Him and have Him near when I have hard times, I have to be near Him when times are good. I have to remember what makes me happy and brings the light out of darkness. The best way for me to do this is to serve, because then I am only thinking of someone else. President Thomas S. Monson said, "There is no road to the heart of God that does not lead through the heart of man."

Move onward and upward!

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

‘Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—

All is well!

All is well!