Do they look the same? 

The tag says that they are.

Very Curious

I'm very curious as to the motives of the major news carriers this last week in regard to the history of the marital status of the first president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Joseph Smith. I wonder why it makes so much prominent news and is so widely published by the major carriers when it is something that happened over 170 years ago. I am curious why it would be so prominent and somewhat vilifying of someone who was a leader of a current American religious belief. I am curious why something of such small significance to the American people makes such a prominent news, especially with much more pressing things happening in the world today. It makes me wonder why and it makes me question their motives. It makes me wonder why the carriers CNN, headline news, CBS, MSN, and others, would carry it so prominently. I wonder what is the point? 

Is it because all of the major carriers are concerned about the souls of the readers? No, I am sure that the news media has absolutely no eternal interest in the people who read and listen to what they have to say. More likely it is driven by a political agenda that seeks to discredit The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or its members. On that note let's look at the facts. Although it was not widely talked about, the polygamist nature of Joseph Smith's marital status was never denied, and never really hidden. The fact that one of his wives was 14 years old was also a major thing. Readers were leaving comments about him being a pervert. In the nineteenth century getting married that early in life was not unheard of, in fact it was somewhat common. So I reject all of the pedophile remarks. My own mother was 16 when she was married, but I would beat the person who referred to my dad as a pedophile. Just because our current laws prohibit things such as this, it is not right to judge people 170 years ago by the norms of today. The fact that polygamy was not illegal then, and it was incorporated into the practices of the LDS church for a time, a fact that has never been denied by the mainstream LDS church. It was made illegal after the fact to give the political powers teeth in controlling or destroying the church in the United States. 

The Church decided to leave the United States, as a body, so that they could practice as their conscience dictated. About the time they decided to make Utah a state, the issue popped up again with a vengeance until the practice was abandoned by decree of the First Presidency of the LDS church. I reject that as a means of judgment against the church. I find it interesting that even though he was polygamous, and he was, that there is absolutely no evidence (DNA) that Joseph Smith had any progeny from any of his wives except Emma Smith, his first wife. I find it amusing that those who are ignorant of reasons that polygamy was practiced are so quick to judge. I believe that the mainstream media used this "news" as a political bullet to bring down the LDS church a notch or two. Could it be that it is due to Mitt Romney being a Mormon (a term that I do not care to be known as)? Could it be punishment because the LDS church has stood up for issues, and has funded them when they go against the teaching and practices of their doctrines and policies? Issues that other Christian churches agree on but are reluctant to ally themselves with the "Mormons". It makes me wonder if prejudice is politically accepted in the news media if it forwards the agenda of certain parties. They preach, teach, expound, and exhort; tolerance and diversity to the point that if you have a different opinion that you; hate people, are a bigot, and are the problem with America. Unless it suits their purposes. 

The vilification of Joseph Smith is nothing new, but it is not going to change the direction of the church. The pointing of fingers and snickering from the great and spacious building in NYC (musical) is not going to push the LDS people down, or make them quit. Joseph was counseled to endure to the end despite persecution and pain, and he did, until there were bullets. Since then he has been both revered and vilified, yet the LDS endure and continue. Joseph was warned that this would happen on September 21, 1823. "...God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people" (JST 1:33). 

Grow up Buttercup...

I want to apologize to my family and friends. I have had enough! I am tired of watching the self-destruction, and I am through with it. I have some very sharp comments, and they are directed at someone specific. I do not intend to explain my comments beyond what is said right now. The person whom this is aimed at knows who they are. I am not attempting to call this person to repentance, I am beyond that. You know what you need to do, and you need to do it.


This directed to a young man who is trying to show that he is grown up, and is doing self-destructive things to prove the he is in fact a “man” who can make his own decisions. What he does he does it openly, so that those who love him can painfully watch. If any pleas to stop doing this are directed at him he thumbs his nose at them, and delights in their pain. I’m telling you that this is NOT being a man, this is being a juvenile lowlife who may no longer have the potential to one day call himself a true man. Why would a man do what you do for the “respect” of “friends” at a cost which is most dear. The people who love you suffer greatly because of your behavior. They cry to the Lord in your behalf, and are wounded to the core for their trouble.

I’m sorry, but it is time to grow up. You need to take responsibility, and be accountable for yourself. You should not be self-destructive, and cause pain to those who wait to see if you will indeed grow up. Nevertheless, you have free will, God given agency to make your own choices. It is your life, your choice. However, in making your choices you will find that attached to them are accountability. You can make the choices to live the life you have chosen, but PLEASE, when it swings around to finally bite you, don’t blame anyone but yourself for your foolishness.

You hurt those who love you just because in your heart you feel that they somehow owe you something, and seeing this will somehow make them pay. No, you are the one who will pay the price with this self-destruction. However, IF YOU YOURSELF WOULD BE DESTROYED, SEEK NOT TO DESTROY YOUR FAMILY. Those who love you. It would be better for you to just go quietly than to hurt them. It is not your parent’s fault that you are a loser. The fault does not fall on God by any means. The fault doesn’t even land on your lowlife friends. It rest squarely on your own shoulders, so don’t even go there with me because it is simply not true.

A man would not do harm to those who love him. No… on the contrary, a real man would take responsibility for himself, and not try to pass the buck. A real man would seek to do everything he could to overcome diversity, and come out on top. A real man would seek to bring his loved ones up as well. You have everything to work toward, and need to pull your inebriated head out and take a long look at yourself. You were meant for better things, but it is your choice whether or not to wallow with the pigs. To use unfounded, self pity to keep yourself down, and “justify” your actions. It is your responsibility to make these changes, and pull yourself up, or prove yourself a waste of skin.

We will mourn you when you finally pass away, but it will be a familiar feeling, and it will pass. They will hurt but only for a time when they realize that the pain you were intentionally causing has stopped. I suggest to them that they continue to pray from you, but separate themselves from the ability for you to cause them constant pain. You are going to do what you are going to do, and if you want better, it is up to you.

Breathe in, breathe out... Smile

Back to the old salt lick... er salt MINE

I have been working at the school for the past week doing tech stuff. I have 3 weeks to accomplish a task. I am working four, 10 hour days, and I have gotten to see the sun come up every morning. Although I love the fact that it does come up, I really HATE seeing the sun come up every morning...

It's Good To Be Back Home Again

I cannot tell you just how good it feels to be home with Patti. I have spent a little more than a week in Denver, Colorado, and then Ruidoso, New Mexico. I have been away from home all of this time, and it has been difficult being apart from my wife. I love her dearly, and it doesn't matter where I am, whenever I am with her I am home.

Tebowing

      On my last two posts I kind of railed hard on some people, and maybe I should not have. I have tried to make it a point in the last few years not to judge others, and try to give people the benefit of a doubt. Some things do however require discernment. Recently to a Bronco fan, I was sort of critical about the Denver Broncos Quarterback Tim Tebow. There is a new word out there “Tebowing” and it has been most of the time the subject of ridicule and comic relief. Tebow will go down on one knee and pray, visible to all including NFL cameramen. He has taken fire from comedians and colleagues alike, and people mock him openly. He continues to do this… Tebowing (Praying). My words about it were simple, but I was making a different point. I just quoted Matthew 6:5-6

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

      I was not mocking him or making light of his faith, I thought I was going by the idea of WWJD, but there is more than one principle going on here. Tebow is showing that he practices a set of principles that involves prayer. He was raised by parents who were devout missionaries, and worked with many people. He was trained up in the ways he should go, and lives it in ALL of the things that he does. He shows that he is not ashamed, and practices his faith openly. He prays at football games, but has stated that he does not believe that Jesus cares about sporting events, that there are Christians on both sides of the playing field, and he wouldn’t take sides. He simply prays, and what he prays for is between himself and God. Like it is supposed to be.

Tebow being mocked by someone who tackled him

      His example is Jesus Christ, when he was instructing people how to pray. Jesus told his disciples to pray in secret, and then prayed in front of them giving them an example on how they should pray. I don’t think I will be critical of Jesus Christ. Tim Tebow is setting an example. He knows he is seen by many including impressionable young people, he knows he is being made fun of and being mocked (or at least he ought to), and he does it anyway. He does not care what people say, and continues to practice his faith. What is wrong with someone who believes what they say? I think it speaks volumes about the character of that individual. I don’t think he is a hypocrite, but I think he is setting an example.

Blasphemy on Saturday Night Live

      Being made to look like an idiot is something that Tebow faces undauntedly. All Christians are being held up in that light now days. Bill Maher even made a movie called Religulous (mixing religion with ridiculous) just for the purpose of making fun of people who believe in God, and even mocking God himself. Maher is a self proclaimed atheist, and does not believe in a God. That is fine, but in his disbelief he is seeking to spread his ideas to other by mocking God. God however will not be mocked. Maher is using his celebrity status like Tebow, only to the other extreme. Like Tebow, God allows this mocking to continue, but in mocking God, Maher may be forfeiting any claim to blessings in this life and the hereafter, but that is for God to decide, I will not judge Bill either. 

Bill Maher mocks Tebow

Guys being idiots mocking Tebow

        We need look at Tim Tebow as an example to the young, as someone who follows his principles no matter what and sticks to his guns even when he is under fire. The people will point from their high places and laugh. They will mock him and others, and call them fools. Many may fall away from their faith being ashamed, some will not, but don't worry it will all be worked out in the end.

George Washington at Valley Forge

Joan of Arc



Feel like mocking now?