Homemade Peppermint Patties

Peppermint Patty Recipe

Peppermint extract and vanilla bean paste flavor the refreshing center of this dark chocolate covered candy.

Yield: 30 patties
Active time: 30 minutes
Inactive time: 30-60 minutes

Ingredients:
6 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 Tablespoons butter

7 Tablespoons light corn syrup [1T shy of ½ cup]
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste [can probably substitute vanilla extract]
3 cups semi- sweet morsels

Preparation:
1. Combine confectioners’ sugar, butter, corn syrup, peppermint extract and vanilla bean paste in a large mixing bowl.

2. Beat until ingredients form a ball that pulls away from sides of bowl.

3. Scoop tablespoon sized portions of sugar mixture and hand press into flat patties. Place patties onto wax paper lined baking sheet.

4. Melt chocolate morsels in the microwave or in double boiler.

5. Remove bowl from microwave or double boiler and, using a fork, quickly dip patties into melted chocolate until coated.

6. After dipping, place each coated patty back in its place on the wax paper lined baking sheet and refrigerate for 30- 60 minutes, until desired firmness.

 

Happy Birthday Juliet!

Happy Birthday Juliet!  The big 4-0!  Here are a few pictures to take you down memory lane.  I hope you have a wonderful birthday today.

Relief Society Lesson -- Decisions for Eternity

Decisions for EternityElder Russell M. Nelson

Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

October 2013 General Conference

“Decisions Determine Destiny”– Thomas S. Monson

The wise use of your freedom to make your own decisions is crucial to your spiritual growth, now and for eternity. You are never too young to learn,never too old to change.

Created by God as a gift to you, [your body] is absolutely amazing!

The aging process is also a gift from God, as is death.

The eventual death of your mortal body is essential to God’s great plan of happiness.

From an eternal perspective, death is only premature for those who are not prepared to meet God.

Each time you look in the mirror, see your body as your temple.

Your body is the temple for your spirit. And how you use your body affects your spirit.

Your spirit is an eternal entity.

A pivotal spiritual attribute is that of self-mastery—the strength to place reason over appetite.

Fasting helps your spirit to develop dominance over your physical appetites.

Fasting also increases your access to heaven’s help, as it intensifies your prayers.

When we master our appetites within the bounds of God’s laws, we can enjoy longer life, greater love, and consummate joy.

Most temptations to stray from God’s plan of happiness come through the misuse of those essential, God-given appetites.

We can change our behavior. Our very desires can change.

True change—permanent change—can come only through the healing, cleansing, and enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Marriage between a man and a woman is fundamental to the Lord’s doctrine and crucial to God’s eternal plan.

Regardless of what civil legislation may be enacted, the doctrine of the Lord regarding marriage and morality cannot be changed. Remember: sin, even if legalized by man, is still sin in the eyes of God!

While we are to emulate our Savior’s kindness and compassion, while we are to value the rights and feelings of all of God’s children, we cannot change His doctrine. It is not ours to change. His doctrine is ours to study, understand, and uphold.

The Lord’s way is the only way for us to experience enduring happiness.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everybody!  Just a friendly reminder of the real meaning of Christmas.

Helaman chapter 14
1 And now it came to pass that ^aSamuel, the Lamanite, did prophesy a great many more things which cannot be written.
 2 And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for ^afive years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
 3 And behold, this will I give unto you for a ^asign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
 4 Therefore, there shall be one ^aday and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is ^bborn.
 5 And behold, there shall a new ^astar arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
 6 And behold this is not all, there shall be many ^asigns and wonders in heaven.
 7 And it shall come to pass that ye shall all be amazed, and wonder, insomuch that ye shall ^afall to the earth.
 8 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall ^abelieve on the Son of God, the same shall have everlasting life.
 9 And behold, thus hath the Lord commanded me, by his angel, that I should come and tell this thing unto you; yea, he hath commanded that I should prophesy these things unto you; yea, he hath said unto me: Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord.
 

Luke chapter 2
 1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all ^athe world should be ^btaxed.
 2 (And this ^ataxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called ^aBethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 5 To be taxed with Mary his ^aespoused wife, being great with child.
 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 7 And she brought forth her ^afirstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the ^binn.
 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the

^aglory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you ^agood tidings of great ^bjoy, which shall be to all people.
 11 For unto you is ^aborn this day in the city of David a ^bSaviour, which is Christ the ^cLord.
 12 And this shall be a ^asign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, good will toward men.
 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 16 And they came with ^ahaste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 18 And all they that heard it ^awondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
 19 But Mary kept all these things, and ^apondered them in her heart.
 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 Here are the links to Helaman chapter 14 and Luke chapter 2. If you want to read them online.
 
http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/hel/14?lang=eng
 http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/2?lang=eng

Duck Dynasty

Yesterday I watched Duck Dynasty for the first time.  I only saw a couple of episodes, but those guys are hilarious!  It was funnier than any comedy Hollywood has produced.

Today I read on the Internet that the patriarch of the Robertson family in Duck Dynasty has been fired from the show for voicing his religious opinion that homosexuality is a sin.  He did not say anything bad about any individuals or say that people who claim to be homosexual, should receive any fewer civil rights than anyone else.  All he said was that homosexuality is a sin.

The Liberals went ballistic.  They demanded he be fired from the show.  They got their way.  Whatever happened to the constitutional amendment, which guarantees free speech?  Believe me, I am constantly offended by the liberal’s free speech, but I believe they should have that right.  Yet, if anybody does not agree with their agenda, they call it hatred and intolerance.

Can we all say double standard?

That’s my two cents.

Jesus Christ -- Gifts and Expectations by Ezra Taft Benson

My sister, Lisa, told me about a quote from this talk, which I really like.  So, I decided to look up and read the entire talk.  In doing so, I found many other great quotes, which I loved.  So I decided to copy and paste some of my favorites here.  You can read the entire talk at this link:

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=90

I love President Benson!  He is the prophet who signed my mission call!  These are some really awesome quotes!  Enjoy!

Top of FormBottom of For

December 10, 1974
BYU Devotional

Jesus Christ--Gifts
and Expectations

Ezra Taft Benson

Top of FormBottom of ForTop of FormBottom of FormTop of FoBottom of Fo

Ezra Taft Benson was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 10 December 1974.

Some men are willing to die for their faith but will not fully live for it.

The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master, Jesus Christ.

The constant and most recurring question in our minds, touching every thought and deed of our lives, should be “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6).

A good way to measure your standing with the Lord is to see how you feel about, and act upon, the inspired words of his earthly representative, the Prophet-President. The inspired words of the President are not to be trifled with.

Although his prophet is mortal, God will not let him lead his Church astray. God knows all things, the end from the beginning, and no man becomes President of the church of Jesus Christ by accident, nor remains there by chance, nor is called home by happenstance.

The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us.

No matter what happens to the world, the Church will grow in strength and will be intact when the Lord comes again.

God has assured us that the Church will never again be taken from the earth because of apostasy.

This means that certain individuals within the Church may go astray and even fall away. This may happen even to a person in the Church who is in a position of some influence and authority. It has happened in the past. It will happen in the future.

Sometimes in our attempts to mimic the world, contrary to the prophet’s counsel, we run after the world’s false educational, political, musical, and dress ideas. New worldly standards take over, a gradual breakdown occurs, and finally, after much suffering, a humble people are ready to be taught once again a higher law.

When individual actions of some Church members disturb you, here’s another principle to consider. This is the principle of stewardship. As the kingdom grows larger, more and more responsibilities have to be delegated and stewardships handed out. Men respond in different degrees of valiancy to their stewardships. God is very patient and long-suffering as he waits for some of us to rise to our responsibilities. He usually gives a man a long enough rope and a long enough time either to pull himself up to the presence of God or to drop off somewhere below. But while God is patient, no puny arm of man in his stewardship can long impede or pervert the work of the Lord. The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind ever so finely.

Because God has given men their agency, there will always be those who will misuse it. The gospel net draws in the good and the bad, the best and the worst—the worst because the devil, before the final cleansing, puts some of his followers within the kingdom in order to try and destroy it. We have some of them within the kingdom today, and in due course their number shall be known. Time has a way of taking care of all things, of elevating the good and bringing down the bad.

The Church is true. Keep its laws; attend its meetings; sustain its leaders; accept its callings; get its recommend; enjoy its blessings.

If we really did our homework and approached the Book of Mormon doctrinally, we could expose the errors and find the truths to combat many of the current false theories and philosophies of men, including socialism, humanism, organic evolution, and others.

I have noted within the Church the difference in discernment, in insight, in conviction, and in spirit between those who know and love the Book of Mormon and those who do not. That book is a great sifter.

The Lord said, “I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up” (D&C 101:80).

The elders of this Church have a prophetic mission yet to perform so far as the Constitution is concerned. In a discourse on July 19, 1840, Joseph Smith said, “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (M8d 155, Bx4, Joseph Smith, Church Historian’s Library).

Now, how are the elders going to prepare for that mission? How are they going to know what the Constitution is, so they will know when it is on the brink of ruin? In many of the law schools of today you will hear that the Constitution is whatever the Supreme Court says it is. Could it be that the Supreme Court, which President McKay said is leading this nation down the road to atheism, is the agency to tell us what this divine document is (David O. McKay, Church News, 22 June 1963; Jerreld Newquist, comp., Prophets, Principles, and National Survival, pp. 187–88)? Can we learn best how to preserve it by studying what it is at the hands of some of those who are seeking to destroy it?

But President McKay had a better approach when he encouraged us to support good and conscientious candidates who are truly dedicated to the Constitution in the tradition of our founding fathers. They are the ones the Lord referred to as wise men. It is to them, the Lord, and his prophets that we should go to determine what the Constitution is.

Thank God for the Constitution, which made it possible for the Lord to establish his church and base of operations here in the United States for these last days. And may God bless the elders of Israel so that when, as President John Taylor said, “the people shall have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of earth and proclaiming liberty” (Journal of Discourses, 21:8).

Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life to God will find he has eternal life.

Elder Bruce McConkie said, “Sacrifice pertains to mortality; in the eternal sense there is none. Sacrifice involves giving up the things of this world because of the promises of blessings to be gained in a better world.

But just as when one loses his life to God he really finds the abundant life; so also, when one sacrifices all to God, then God in return shares all that he has with him. Try as you may, you cannot put the Lord in your debt—for every time you try to do his will he simply pours out more blessings upon you. Sometimes the blessings may seem to you to be a little slow in coming; perhaps this tests your faith, but come they will and abundantly.

Do you know one reason why righteous mothers love their children so much? It’s because they sacrifice so much for them. We love what we sacrifice for, and we sacrifice for what we love.

A few years ago, we knew our Elder Brother and his and our Father in heaven well. We rejoiced at the upcoming opportunity for earthly life that could make it possible for us to have a fullness of joy as they had. We could hardly wait to demonstrate to our Father and our Brother, the Lord, how much we loved them and how we would be obedient to them in spite of the earthly opposition of the evil one. And now we’re here—our memories are veiled—and we’re showing God and ourselves what we can do. Nothing is going to startle us more when we pass through the veil to the other side than to realize how well we know our Father and how familiar his face is to us. And then, President Young said, we’re going to wonder why we were so stupid in the flesh.

God loves us, he’s watching us, he wants us to succeed, and we’ll know someday that he has not left one thing undone for the eternal welfare of each of us. If we only knew that there are heavenly hosts pulling for us—friends in heaven, whom we can’t remember now, who yearn for our victory. This is our day to show what we can do—what life and sacrifice we can daily, hourly, instantly bring to God. If we give our all, we will get his all from the greatest of all.

Happy Birthday to Me Through the Years!

Happy birthday to me!  I thought I would go through some of my past birthday photos to post here.  I just tried to find pictures of me with cakes.  Upon further inspection, one of the pictures was of the cake I made for Mother’s Day one year.  Oh well.  I guess I’ll leave it in.  J.

 

Viva Cesar Millan!

I have recently discovered The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan.  I know he has been on the air for several years, but we recently upgraded our TV programming.  So that we can receive certain college football games and as a result, we now get The Dog Whisperer.

Cesar is awesome!  Love him!  I like how he is straightforward and tells people how it is.  He doesn’t beat around the bush.  He kind of reminds me of me J.  But I’m not nearly as personable as he is, nor as talented with dogs.  He is amazing how he reads dogs and can tell what they’re going to do before they do it. He truly has a remarkable gift.

Cesar says dogs are predictable, humans aren’t.  When someone tells him their dog is not predictable, he politely disagrees.

He has so many great quotes – which I tried to find to put on this blog, but none of the really great quotes were online.  Cesar has said some very wise things.

I like how he tries to relate people’s personal experiences to their dogs.  He’s really good at that.

Some things I’ve learned from Cesar:

To be a good pack leader, you must be calm and assertive.

A good balanced dog is calm and submissive.

Dogs read humans energy and will mirror it.  If you’re anxious, they will become anxious.

Dogs will not follow an unstable pack leader.  If you are not calm and assertive the dog will assume pack leader position.

Dogs do not follow weak energy and will attack weak energy.  That’s nature.

A balanced dog will correct an unbalanced dog.  Usually through biting or touching with their mouth.

A balanced dog must have exercise, discipline, affection.  In that order.

Never give affection to a dog who is not calm and submissive.  Whatever state the dog is in – excited, anxious, aggressive, fearful, dominant, etc. will be exacerbated by giving affection in that state.  This creates an unbalanced dog.  No dog wants to be unbalanced – humans create unbalanced dogs by humanizing them  And by giving affection at the wrong time.

Do not humanize your dog!  Dogs are not humans.  They are animals first, then dogs, then breed, and lastly personality (individual, name)

Dogs don’t rationalize, like humans. They don’t understand when they are scared, for example, and you say, “It’s okay, you’re okay” and give affection – all they know is you are reinforcing their behavior (fear).  And their brain becomes more unstable and not balanced.

Dogs need rules, boundaries, and limitations to be balanced.

Claim your space.  Claim the door, claim the couch, claim your human, etc.  Do not let the dog come into your space, i.e. jump on your lap, without being invited.

When you first greet a dog – no touch, no talk, no eye contact! Let the dog smell you first.  When the dog walks away after smelling you, then you can greet the dog.

 In the dog world it is polite to smell first.  So when a dog smells you, they are being polite.  Dogs do not want to be greeted until they have had a chance to introduce themselves through smell. Especially don’t pat the dog on the top of his head until he smells you. That shows dominance over him.  If it is a fearful dog pet him under the chin first.

Dogs sense first smell, then sight, then hearing.  Nose, eyes, ears.

Cesar says dogs are like men, they can only do one thing at a time.  This is why walking is important in creating balance. If you walk the dog properly, they will only focus on following the pack leader.

Never let the dog walk in front of you.  Pack leader is always first.  Never leave the house with the dog, unless he is in a calm submissive state.  If you leave the house for a walk with an excited dog, he will never reach a calm submissive state during the walk.

Dogs live in the present.  Whatever bad things have happened to them in the past is behind them.  So don’t feel sorry for what has happened to them in the past.  That just portrays weak energy and will not only not help the dog, but will create unbalance. 

I’m sure there are more things I’ve forgotten but that’s a good start.  I think a lot of what Cesar says is applicable to humans as well.  Since humans are also pack animals.

In rehabilitating dogs and training people Cesar has done much good, not only for dogs, but also for the humans.  It is really the humans who must change if they want to change their dog’s behavior. An unstable dog is really a reflection of an unstable human. So, in reality, I think Cesar is more of a human psychologist as he practices dog psychology.

Cesar is remarkable man, and I would like to think that we would be good friends.  If he doesn’t receive the gospel in this life, I want to be one of the missionaries to teach him in the next life!

That’s my two cents.

Relief Society Lesson -- Be Ye Converted

Be Ye Converted

Bonnie L. Oscarson

Young Women General President

October 2013 General Conference

Conversion to gospel principles comes through righteously living the principles of the gospel and being true to our covenants with the Lord.

We live in perilous times, and the decisions which you are called upon to make on a daily, or even hourly, basis have eternal consequences.

It is possible to have a testimony of the gospel without living it. Being truly converted means we are acting upon what we believe …

Conversion is a process, not an event. It takes time, effort, and work.

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”--John 7:17

“I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”—Ether 12:6

In our world where instant gratification is the expectation, we are often guilty of expecting the reward without having to work for it.

I believe Moroni is telling us that we must do the work first and exercise faith by living the gospel, and then we will receive the witness that it is true.

True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments, day after day, month after month.

Desire to share the gospel with others and the confidence to testify boldly are natural results of true conversion.

“When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” – Luke 22:32

A person who has experienced true conversion draws upon the power of the Atonement and receives salvation for his or her own soul, then reaches out to exert a powerful influence upon all those who know him or her.

Living the gospel and standing in holy places is not always easy or comfortable, but I testify that it is worth it!

Chicken Canning

We planned on canning chicken on Friday. Mom and Dad left early to go get the chicken which was on sale for $1.39 per pound at cash and carry. It comes in 40 pound boxes for $55.60 per box. Boneless skinless chicken breasts. So they bought two boxes and came home where Lisa and Derrinda were going to do all the work in cutting them up and putting them in jars.

Unfortunately, they were frozen solid. Usually we get them from Zaycon where they are fresh, not frozen. We didn’t know they would be frozen when we planned it. So needless to say they had to thaw first and could not be processed on Friday.

So, Mom ended up doing all 80 pounds of chicken on Saturday. Great job Mom! We yielded 59 pints and the scraps were fried up for the dogs so they have yummy treats and nothing was wasted.

Just a reminder in case anyone wants to can chicken. Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes --place in pint canning jars leaving 1 inch of head space. Top with lids. Pressure cook at 11 pounds for 75 minutes for pints or 90 minutes for quarts.

The chicken is very moist and tender and great for making easy casseroles, chicken salad sandwiches, topping pizza, etc.

Pressure Canned Meatloaf

I have been wanting to try canning meatloaf for a while now. So I finally talked mom into it and we bought two 10 pound chubs of ground beef that was on sale at cash and carry for $19.90 each. We basically just used our own recipe – kind of made it up as we went along. We did get a couple of ideas from others recipes. Which was probably a bad idea.

We were only going to do one batch in the pressure cooker. But we ended up doing two full batches with enough left over for dinner. 16 pints per batch for a total of 32 pints.

We tried one pint for dinner the other night. Mom and Dad both didn’t like it. I thought it was good except a little salty perhaps.

Anyway I’m going to include the recipe we used and a few pictures. I did read that maybe the onions don’t taste well after being pressure cooked. So if you try it, you might want to omit the onions and cut the salt in half from what we used. Also we don’t usually put sage in our meat loaf but thought we would try it. So I would probably omit that also.

Anyway it was a fun experiment. All of the bottles sealed well. Here is the recipe and pictures:

Pressure Canned Meat Loaf

 

Ingredients:

10 pounds ground beef (80/20)

9 eggs

3 cups ketchup

½ loaf French bread crumbed in food processor

¼ cup worcestershire sauce

¼ cup salt

2 tablespoons powdered smoke

2 tablespoons sage

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion salt

1 tablespoon pepper

2 onions diced (red)

1½ cups brown sugar

 

Directions:

Mix together well. Put in wide mouth pint jars, removing air bubbles, leaving 1 inch head space. Pressure can at 11 pounds pressure for 75 minutes. Yields approximately 16 pints.

Relief Society Lesson -- The Words We Speak

The Words We Speak

Rosemary M. Wixom

Primary General President

April 2013 General Conference

One of the greatest influences a person can have in this world is to influence a child.

Children’s beliefs and self-worth are shaped early in their lives.

Everyone within the sound of my voice has the power to increase a child’s confidence in himself or herself and to increase a child’s faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through the words they speak.

How we speak to our children and the words we use can encourage and uplift them and strengthen their faith to stay on the path back to Heavenly Father. They come to this earth ready to listen.

To speak to a child’s heart, we must know a child’s needs. If we pray to know those needs, the very words we say may have the power to reach into their hearts.

Our efforts are magnified when we seek the direction of the Holy Ghost.

Unfortunately, the distractions of this world prevent many children from hearing encouraging words that could shape their view of themselves.

The answer to our prayer of how to meet our children’s needs may

be to more often technologically disconnect.

Precious moments of opportunity to interact and converse with our children dissolve when

we are occupied with distractions.

We can also influence our children through the words we write to them.

 “We labor diligently to write, to persuade our children … to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God.”-- 2 Nephi 25:23

Home Grown Pumpkins!

The fruits of our labors! This year we planted corn and pumpkins. We got quite a good harvest of corn despite the rocky soil and not fertilizing like we should. We are now using the corn stalks for fall decorations around our front entryway.

The pumpkins didn’t fare quite as well as the corn. We started in containers and transplanted a little too late. Dad worked hard hand watering the pumpkins all summer because the sprinkler didn’t quite make it to that corner of the garden.

But there is something quite spectacular about growing things from seed. So even though our pumpkins are small and perhaps not the prettiest around, we are very proud of them!

 

Stupid People

It seems like the only time I feel like putting forth the effort to blog anymore is when I’m having a bad day – which is the case today.

So therefore, be forewarned before proceeding to read the remainder of this post.

I’ve said it before but I really can’t stand stupid people. I don’t understand how so many people can be so ridiculously stupid. It really baffles me.

I’m just going to gloss over the whole Obamacare government shutdown debt crisis blame the good people praise the bad people thing. It’s really not worth my breath.

But what I would like to mention is people who claim to be good active members of the church who publicly go against church doctrine via media outlets presenting themselves as angels while doing the devil’s work.

Example number one: women who think they should receive the priesthood.

I read several articles about a group of women who are members of the church and claim to be in good standing with the church yet they have a website promoting their agenda that women should be ordained to the priesthood. --Which I don’t even think their terminology is correct. Isn’t the priesthood conferred and then you are ordained to specific offices within the priesthood? But I digress.

First of all, any woman who wants to, or thinks she should, receive the priesthood does not understand the doctrine. The priesthood is a responsibility given to men to serve others. Do we as women really need more responsibility than we already have? Women have access to all blessings available through the priesthood. So it’s really a nonissue. As members of the church women have many responsibilities in leadership positions. In God’s divine plan men and women are given specifically different roles to fulfill. If you don’t understand those, just go read “The Family a Proclamation to the World” where it is spelled out quite well.

I just don’t understand how self-proclaimed faithful members of the church could hold a protest outside the conference center during priesthood session and stand in the standby waiting line to try to get into a meeting for the priesthood brethren just because they want to make a statement. It’s ridiculously stupid. It really just shows how ignorant and uninformed they are about the church and its doctrine.

Example number two: members of the church who want the doctrine that homosexuality is a sin to be changed.

I read an article today about an LDS family who a few years ago went door-to-door for proposition eight in California – which upheld the fact that marriage is only between a man and a woman. – Anyway apparently their son who is now a teenager is suffering from same-sex attraction and considers himself “gay”. Now these parents are speaking out against the church doctrine that homosexuality is a sin and are hopeful that the doctrine will change to accommodate their son. They have changed wards and are still active members for now, according to the article.

Give me a break. Doctrine doesn’t change. It doesn’t take an Einstein to figure that out. You can still love people who struggle with sin without embracing the sin. People who struggle with same-sex attraction can still be faithful active members of the church. The same way that single heterosexual members of the church can enjoy full fellowship in the church as long as they don’t break the Lord’s law of chastity.

You don’t change the Lord’s Laws/Commandments to suit your lifestyle. You change your lifestyle to suit the Lord’s Commandments.

This is not an isolated case. I have read in the media of several members of the church, some well known, who are, outspokenly,  in favor of same-sex marriage – in other words they are claiming that homosexuality is not sinful.

I understand that they have close family members who struggle with same-sex attraction but, that doesn’t mean that you should use your fame to express your errant umbrance with church doctrine through media outlets.

It’s really oxymoronic for members of the church to disagree with and want to change church doctrine yet call themselves faithful members.

Giving them the benefit of the doubt I will assume they are moronically ignorantly stupid. Otherwise they are apostate – which is far worse.

That’s my two cents.

Relief Society Lesson-We Believe in Being Chaste

We Believe in Being Chaste

Elder David A. Bednar

Of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles

April 2013 General Conference

Why is the law of chastity so important?

The eternal importance of chastity can only be understood within the overarching context of our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness for His children.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and … has a divine nature and destiny” -The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995

Our physical bodies make possible a breadth, a depth, and an intensity of experience that simply could not be obtained in our premortal existence.

The means by which mortal life is created is divinely appointed.

Marriage between a man and a woman is the authorized channel through which premortal spirits enter mortality.

Complete sexual abstinence before marriage and total fidelity within marriage protect the sanctity of this sacred channel.

The power of procreation is spiritually significant. Misuse of this power subverts the purposes of the Father’s plan and of our mortal existence.

 Our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son are creators and have entrusted each of us with a portion of Their creative power.

“The power to create mortal life is the most exalted power God has given his children. Its use was mandated in the first commandment, but another important commandment was given to forbid its misuse. The emphasis we place on the law of chastity is explained by our understanding of the purpose of our procreative powers in the accomplishment of God’s plan. …

“Outside the bonds of marriage, all uses of the procreative power are to one degree or another a sinful degrading and perversion of the most divine attribute of men and women”

– Elder Dallin H. Oaks, 1993

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a single, undeviating standard of sexual morality: intimate relations are proper only between a man and a woman in the marriage relationship prescribed in God’s plan.

The natural man or woman is unrepentant, is carnal and sensual, is indulgent and excessive, and is prideful and selfish.

The “man [or woman] of Christ” is spiritual and bridles all passions, is temperate and restrained, and is benevolent and selfless.

As sons and daughters of God, we have inherited divine capacities from Him. But we presently live in a fallen world. “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” – Matthew 26:41

We are here on the earth to develop godlike qualities and to bridle all of the passions of the flesh.

Because a physical body is so central to the Father’s plan of happiness and our spiritual development, Lucifer seeks to frustrate our progression by tempting us to use our bodies improperly.

Violating the law of chastity is a grievous sin and a misuse of our physical tabernacles. To those who know and understand the plan of salvation, defiling the body is an act of rebellion and a denial of our true identity as sons and daughters of God.

Living the law of chastity invites some of the greatest blessings men and women can receive in mortality: appropriate spiritual confidence in the presence of family, friends, Church associates, and, ultimately, the Savior.

Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body—a warning of danger and a protection from additional damage. From the Atonement of the Savior flows the soothing salve that can heal our spiritual wounds and remove guilt. However, this salve can only be applied through the principles of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and consistent obedience.

The Lord’s truth is not altered by fads, popularity, or public opinion polls. I promise that obedience to the law of chastity will increase our happiness in mortality and make possible our progress in eternity. Chastity and virtue are now, always have been, and always will be “most dear and precious above all things”.