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!

I Know It's Just July, But...

I found this article about Christmas and how it is pretty absurd how in America we are so worried about being so politically correct! We want to please everyone, which is good in its own right, but the lengths to which we travel just to appease stupid people is, well, stupid. Multiculturalism = people are different. Have fun reading this one :)....
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1041014220071210?rpc=401&

Talk about gorgeous

Somewhere in China, they are enjoying scenery that should be illegal to behold.


Check this guy out: http://huangaric.blogspot.com/

Yo, Injuns...

I would just like to say that I miss seeing my cousin, Jensen Lewis, pitching the Cleveland Indians baseball on the big screen in my living room. He got sucked back down to triple-A and well, frankly, that sucks. BRING HIM BACK CHIEF WAHOO!

War - What it is good for

I found this quote by John Stuart Mill in the Daily Universe in response to all of the "pacifism displayed" by BYU students writing in to the newspaper:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

There will never be world peace. Our civilization has been fighting since the beginning of time; the concept of war is as old as Cain and Able. I do not believe that violence is the answer to our problems, but there are people in the world who seek to harm and destroy. How do we fight them and keep our dignity? While it may seem that we are "lowering ourselves" to their level, there are some who do not understand any language other than violence. War is even in scripture, where it is used for the building of God's Kingdom and the freedom of His children. Look at Captain Moroni and his Title of Liberty, Ammon and the king's servants, or Moses. Anything can be accomplished when our hearts are pure and our faith in the Supreme Creator is strong.

God does not want His children to fight each other, especially when some claim to do it in His name when they are really fighting for their own personal causes. Sometimes, we must not fight back. Sometimes, we must. I believe that the war in Iraq is out of hand, but I fully support the soldiers who have given their lives to the service of this country. We are the United States of America. We stand for freedom and strength and wish to help others find this as well. We are one nation of many people and cultures. We accept ways of life that a person would be killed for in other countries.

I am proud of what we are doing in that we are trying to reach out and help other nations. Even though we face so much here on our own land, if we do not try to spread democracy and freedom where we can, we have failed as a people. We fight many wars within our states and communities to maintain order, dignity, and peaceful freedom. But what are we if we do not fight for what we believe is right? George Washington did this as he led our armies against Britain. Joseph Smith did this as he led the saints out West. We will not sit down and we certainly will not lay down to have "talks" with nations that are only looking for ways to infiltrate and destroy what we have spent hundreds of years building. We celebrate the 4th of July - the birth of our country - for a reason.

War is ugly, destructive and painful, yes. But there are worse things. Are we not saving lives? Are we not using our resources for good? We could have watched Saddam Hussein as he tyrannically killed whoever he pleased as if he was Hitler reincarnated. We could watch as the next generation is plagued by same-sex marriages and abortion. No successful entity - person, business corporation, or country - has risen without challenges and conflict. No, not even God could create the world and send us to it without opposition. We must fight for what is right. Debate is essential and differing opinions and thoughts are important to the survival and furthering of humankind; these should be used in ways that make us grow and develop. We are blessed to be in America the Beautiful, where we can be our own free-agent, and should do everything we possibly can to make sure that it is preserved and protected. Our forefathers did not go through what they did so our generation could waste and squander.

While I mourn the losses we have had, these men died for a cause they felt was worthy. I respect their lives and will remember their deaths.

A Story I Overheard...

I was sitting under the stairs one day at work just taking a break, when I overheard two women talking about one of the women's son's Youth Conference experiences this summer here in Utah. Woman #1 (Marge) was telling about how her son, Ryder, and husband had put together a short skit about Joseph Smith's vision of the Father and Son. Here is how I remember her telling it:

Ryder and his father were both dressed in the clothing of the time-period (1800's); Ryder was young Joseph Smith, his father was an adult Joseph. They assembled all of the kids attending the conference in a clearing in the woods that was dark - this was done in late afternoon. In front of where the kids were sitting was a small stage-size clearing of grass. Ryder's dad stood to the front-left of this space and Ryder was kneeling in the middle of it. As Dad read through Joseph Smith's First Vision, as recorded in Joseph Smith - History in the Doctrine and Covenants, Ryder acted as 14-year-old Joseph did that day when he knelt to ask God which church was right. As Dad reached the part where Joseph was engulfed in the power of the devil, Ryder began to tremble - much to the concern of his mother watching behind all the kids. Then, when the Father and Son appear, a patch of sunlight made it through the trees above Ryder as he looked up into the sky and highlighted only him, like a spotlight. Finally, Ryder and his father stood together and read the end of Joseph Smith's account. A burst of light had begun to shine behind them, making them look like dark shadows so those listening could only concentrate on the men's voices. When they finished, they turned and walked away into the dark of the trees. It was completely silent for several long minutes as people cried and stared at where Ryder and his dad had been standing.

Marge said she looked around and most of the kids seemed entranced as tears streamed down their cheeks. One boy, in particular, who had been giving the adults a lot of trouble during this conference, was riveted on where young Joseph had been kneeling and was balling like the woman had never seen. Others began looking around at each other and a murmur started as people talked about what had just happened. This boy, though, could not look away from the same spot and stayed there for quite a long time afterwards.

Marge later asked her son why he was trembling so bad and he said that it came on suddenly and that he absolutely could not stop it. He was kneeling comfortably and had not meant to tremble like that because he didn't think anyone would see it from that distance.

The Beginning of a New Dawn

And so it goes...here comes the start of a new wave of life! In other words, a new form of living; a better way of seeing things; the beginning of a new dawn; we have reached new heights!!...oh, sorry. Anyway, I think I must relent to this whole blogspot thingy (I'm not too excited), since I read Glenn Beck's as often as I can - which is, like, every day. I LOVE IT!

p.s. To Glenn Beck: I loved your armorial, An Inconvenient Book. You are so smart. Oh, and I saw you at Provo's Stadium of Fire and am proud to be an American, too.

Ahem, I just want to say that a blog seems to be a good thing. Better than Facebook and ABSOLUTELY better than Myspace, I would say. However, I confidently swear to only fill these...uh...pages with my personal opinions - NOT to be taken seriously by any who oppose them. Especially those with power to harm; i.e. people with guns.

But what is the problem with Facebook or myspace, you ask? Well, considering I have a Facebook account and check it almost daily...there is nothing wrong with Facebook! Myspace, on the other hand, is unsafe, unclean, unprotected, and unreliable, no matter how you twist and bend to look at it.

I will point out that Facebook is the only way I have kept in touch with many many people, some I have not seen since grade school. Myspace is the only way creepers like child rapist Kevin Mac Donnell can keep up with the little girls - and boys? - of the times...and where they live and who their mother is.

On to bigger and better, and more serious, things. I cannot, in good conscience, fail to mention the most important thing in my life: the gospel of Jesus Christ. You may stop reading here if you think I am going to go on and on all crazy-like about how Jesus has saved me and that my faith is extraordinary and that I go to church every Sunday because I am perfect and who do sinners think they are for this is God's country and He does not accept homosexuals or any person who has not proclaimed His name (and then gone out and killed someone in a drunken stupor) or given at least $5 to the local minister.
Well, while our Lord and Savior deserves every complimentary word we have to give, and practically owns our sinning souls, I want to keep this humble and straightforward. My faith is what makes me who I am. I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cincinnati, Ohio. My father's parents were the first of their family to join the church; my mother, the first in her family. Simply, I believe that Jesus Christ suffered for my sins in Gethsemane and died for me on the cross. I have not had a vision or experienced anything blindingly amazing, but I have had the feelings in my heart that give me no doubt that He is mindful of me and will lead me if I follow. I do not believe that life ends here or that there is only one way of living. I do believe that God has given us free agency so we can choose which path to take. There are many in front of us and He will let us choose, no matter how hard He sees it will get for us. I love my Father with all of my heart. And, yes, I go to church every Sunday.

Mainly, the issue with the Fundamentalist LDS sect in Texas has brought on this little editorial. I respect other religions and have come to see the joy and wisdom in much of what is taught. I also see the courage it takes for those of persecuted faiths to stand alone and continue to fight for what they believe. The early saints of my own religion showed this courage when they were forced across the United States to finally settle here in Utah, losing a beloved prophet and many family members along the way. I can't imagine going through the physical, mental and spiritual challenges they faced. My own ancestors were part of the mob who killed Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this last dispensation. That said, though, I don't agree with the assumption most make when speaking of the FLDS and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - my faith. We are as different from each other as Catholics are different from Hindus. The LDS Mormons do not practice polygamy, though we did at one time. We believe that God reveals His work through revelation still today and believe in the moving forward of society and government, in line with God, mind you. While admonishing what Joseph Smith said about polygamy bringing exaltation, however, I know that Joseph Smith said this in the time period it was needed.
Bottom line, WE ARE NOT CONNECTED WITH THE FREAKING FLDS CHURCH! But I respect them because they are children of God, just like me. I respect them as persons but I don not respect their way of life - as in, I do not think it is right to force a girl into marriage (see saop box about free agency above) and I really don't agree with Warren Jeffs' way of living off of his people and hording them around him, secluded in a random camp that claims to be living the way of God. But I respect them. A representative said that they live by the Book of Mormon - and hence, they are connected with my faith? - but Jacob, a prophet in the Book of Mormon, denounces the plurality of wives (Jacob 2:24). But I respect them. As long as they recognize that they are NOT connected to my faith.

I am exempt from being politically correct.