From the Donkey's Mouth

Representative John Dingell ((s)D-Mich) explains the real reason for "health care reform" here.

Prophetic Voices of Warning

I came across this on facebook. It's good.

On Glen Beck

I recently came across a post on a friend's facebook page dealing with Glen Beck and his recent statements concerning churches that teach "social justice." My friend stated that Glen Beck was "embarrassing [his] faith." For those who may not know Glen Beck is a Mormon (he converted as an adult). I don't like bogging down friends facebook pages with arguments, so I am venting here - both about the substance of the statement and the 30+ comments that followed the post.

First, I would like to point out that, while I do not agree with everything Glen Beck says, I am not embarrassed to say that he is a Mormon. I think he is right about a lot of things. My friend's post linked to an article by someone claiming to be a Mormon who wanted to be sure that everyone knew that Glen Beck didn't speak for her or the "Mormons she knows." Of course he doesn't. Glen Beck speaks for Glen Beck. He doesn't speak for me and I agree with him. He doesn't speak for all Mormons any more than Nancy Pelosi speaks for all Catholics, clearly. (As long as its apparently in vogue to distance oneself from others of his faith, I want to be clear that Harry Reid does not speak for me or most Mormons I know).

People attacking Glen Beck for his "social justice" comment, use, among other arguments, the fact that Christian churches - including the LDS Church - teach the importance of caring for the poor. Mr. Beck was not decrying these teachings. I've heard him embrace and encourage them. What Beck warns against are churches that teach that the government should force charity on the people and forcibly redistribute wealth has it deems proper.

The comments on my friends post included arguments over whether such "social justice" teaching was supported by Christian teaching - particularly that of the LDS Church. I happen to think that it is not and comparisons to the Law of Consecration, which was attempted by the early Church and which the Church believes will someday be lived by the Saints, are fallacious. However, I think that there can be reasonable disagreement on this subject.

What bothered me the most about the comments on my friend's post was the vitriol and arrogance exhibited by so-called Saints on the enlightened left. One poster in particular arrogantly denounced the arrogance of other posters and scolded someone for claiming to know what the "left" believes, while at the same time informing those of us on the right what we believe. This is one thing that bothers me about a lot of political discussion - the need for some people to immediately descend into "jerkdom" and hypocrisy. Examples: the same people who claim to be for free speech would silence people like Glen Beck (or Ann Coulter); the same people who call Glen Beck a hatemonger are the first to call him and others "idiots" or "crazy." I could go on, but it's late. I feel better, having vented. I just wish that people could stick to the arguments, and civilly, rather than immediately becoming abusive. A clear indication that your position is without merit is that you have no arguments but red herrings and ad hominem attacks.

Hypocrisy Defined

This is rich, given the recent position that the libs in Congress are going to push through health care reform with the same process they are decrying. Just sayin'.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I came across this video from Mormon Messages and thought it was fitting to share for Thanksgiving.





I know that I have so much to be thankful for. Sometimes, with all else that we have going on, we forget to count our blessings (at least, I do). But, I am grateful. I'm thankful for a loving Father in Heaven. I'm thankful for the experiences in my life that have helped me grow close to Him and to my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ and for His marvelous atonement. I'm thankful for the power of prayer. I'm thankful for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the peace it brings to my life. I'm thankful for a wonderful wife, who is the answer to so many past prayers. I'm thankful for an amazing son, who is the joy of our life. I'm thankful for loving parents, parents-in-law, siblings, siblings-in-law, and other family, who do so much for me and who make me happy. I'm thankful for grandparents and others, who have gone before, worked hard, and sacrificed so that I can have what I have. I'm thankful for good friends. I'm thankful for a job that pays the bills. I'm thankful for a good education. I'm thankful for this beautiful world in which we live and for all God's creations. I'm thankful that my list could go on and on....

What are you thankful for?

Happy Pioneer Day

Today, July 24, is a holiday in Utah, and is a date of celebrated remembrance for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world. July 24 is "Pioneer Day" and commemorates the date that the Mormon Pioneers reached the Salt Lake Valley (July 24, 1847). In Utah, it is celebrated much the same way as Independence Day - fireworks, parades, etc. In the rest of the world, it goes unnoticed and unobserved except for the occasional celebration held by local LDS congregations.

The Mormon exodus from, what was then, the United States to what is now Utah (and areas of surrounding states) plays an important role in the Mormon psyche and in our history. In the early days of the Church, persecution forced the early Saints to move from New York to Ohio to Missouri, and finally in Illinois. While in Illinois, the Church's first president and prophet, Joseph Smith, was martyred in June 1844. In the next few years, the Saints began their exodus west. The hardship of the trek solidified the faith of those who participated and created a legacy of faith that has been passed down to Saints of today. I have ancestors who were among those early pioneers, some who walked across the plains and pulled all of their possessions in handcarts. I'm so grateful for them, for their examples of faith and devotion, and for the faith that they passed to their children and grandchildren and which I will pass on to mine.

I am also mindful today of the modern-day pioneers I have met - those who sacrifice so much to join the Church today, who are the first members of the Church in their families. I met so many of these pioneers on my mission to Romania and I have met many here in Alabama. I'm so grateful for their faith and example.

This video put out by the Church is fitting and touching. May we all be grateful for the pioneers who have gone before and who continue to pave the way and devote their lives to advancing the Kingdom of God.




Happy Pioneer Day!

Father's Day

Since I posted for Mother's Day, I felt it only fitting that I should also do a Father's Day post. I came across this video on the Mormon Messages YouTube channel. It consists of an excerpt from an address by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As I listened to it, I was grateful for a father who set a good example of what a "true man" should be. As I embark on my path as a new father, I hope that I can develop those qualities that I admire in him and others, so that I can be a "true man" in the lives of my wife and children. Happy Father's Day!