Monday, February 29, 2016

Human Decency

I'm really sick with the flu right now so this will be short and sweet.  I don't have the energy to waste my breath on fluff.

Those of you who know me know how I feel about profanity.  I absolutely despise it.  Profanity is the ultimate form of disrespect. Yes, I know I have blogged about this before but I feel the need to readdress the issue.

There is absolutely no reason that any civilized human being should ever use profanity.  Ever!  This isn't a matter of religion or even morals, it is far more basic than that -- it is a matter of human decency.

No human being deserves to be disrespected and degraded by being subjected to profanity. Especially deliberate constant profanity spewed out with the intent to hurt, degrade and otherwise disrespect someone. Especially when it's directed at those who you supposedly care about and love.  Treating any human being with such disrespect and cruelty is the lowest form of humanity.

Only the bottom of the barrel of humanity would treat their fellow man so cruelly.  Especially repeatedly.  And especially when asked not to.  In fact, most people when asked to watch their language are respectful and apologetic.  Only the scum of the earth would reply with, "I'll [expletive] say what I want..." when asked to watch their language.

Not even knuckle dragging Neanderthals would stoop so low. To paraphrase George Strait, "I wouldn't treat a cat the way you've treated me".

Anyone who uses profanity is just plain weak. Any man who spews profanity at women and children is completely emasculate.  People who use profanity are panseric wimps whom I have zero respect for. If I ever hear anyone using profanity my respect for them plummets.

I'm so sick and tired of all these lowlife scum of the earth losers using profanity as if it's normal everyday talk. It's not.  Any self-respecting human being with any decency whatsoever will tell you that.

It brings to mind this scripture:
Moroni 9: 11-15
"11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—
12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)
13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose delight is in so much abomination—
14 How can we expect that God will stay his hand in judgment against us?
15 Behold, my heart cries: Wo unto this people...."
I echo Moroni's sentiment -- how can once civil and delightsome people, in just a few years, lose all civility and delight in abominations?  Yet I see it happening before my very eyes.

Using profanity shows complete weakness, immaturity, selfish disregard and disrespect for others, lack of self-control, lack of language skills, lack of civility, and lack of basic human decency.

That's my two cents.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Master, the Tempest Is Raging

This has been a difficult week to say the least.  I could write a good country song about the adversity I have faced this week.  I'll spare you all the details.

One of my favorite hymns is, "Master, the Tempest Is Raging".  It is very comforting and calming to me. I listen to it when I need a pick me up. My favorite rendition was by a BYU Priesthood choir at the April 2015 priesthood session.

Hopefully this will have the same comforting effect on you as it does me.

Lyrics

  1. 1. Master, the tempest is raging!
    The billows are tossing high!
    The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness.
    No shelter or help is nigh.
    Carest thou not that we perish?
    How canst thou lie asleep
    When each moment so madly is threat'ning
    A grave in the angry deep?
  2. (Chorus)
    The winds and the waves shall obey thy will:
    Peace, be still.
    Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea
    Or demons or men or whatever it be,
    No waters can swallow the ship where lies
    The Master of ocean and earth and skies.
    They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
    Peace, be still; peace, be still.
    They all shall sweetly obey thy will:
    Peace, peace, be still.
  3. 2. Master, with anguish of spirit
    I bow in my grief today.
    The depths of my sad heart are troubled.
    Oh, waken and save, I pray!
    Torrents of sin and of anguish
    Sweep o'er my sinking soul,
    And I perish! I perish! dear Master.
    Oh, hasten and take control!
  4. 3. Master, the terror is over.
    The elements sweetly rest.
    Earth's sun in the calm lake is mirrored,
    And heaven's within my breast.
    Linger, O blessed Redeemer!
    Leave me alone no more,
    And with joy I shall make the blest harbor
    And rest on the blissful shore.
  5. Text: Mary Ann Baker, ca. 1831-1921.
    Music: H. R. Palmer, 1834-1907

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Samson's Eulogy

When I was a little girl I dreamed of owning a big white house on a hill with a big white fluffy dog.  Years later when I was in college I saw a lady walking a big white fluffy dog across campus. It was exactly the kind of dog I had dreamed of.  Against my natural instincts I went up to her and asked her what kind of dog it was and told her I had always dreamed of having a dog like that. She told me it was a Great Pyrenees and from that point on I knew the breed of dog I wanted some day.

My dream came true on April 3, 2004 when we adopted Samson.  He was nine months old when we got him from the Port Angeles Humane Society.  Dad and Lisa made the two or three-hour drive from Puyallup to go get him.

They told us he was born July 4, 2003.  And every Fourth of July as we celebrated our nation's birth, we also celebrated Samson's.

I loved Samson from the minute I saw him.  And he loved me.  He would go with me to the bioswale at BSS and was very protective.  One day someone started coming towards us and he started barking and going after them and they turned and went the other direction.  :-)

Samson was much like me -- very independent, strong-willed and had a mind of his own.  We would often go down to the "dog tree" at the top of the hill on our driveway.  Early on he would lay there in the grass overlooking the valley with me.  If he thought I stayed too long he would get up and start walking back to the house.  When I called him back he would stop and look back at me and then keep going.  :-)

Later on when Abinadi was here he would still follow me down to the tree, sniff around a little bit and head back to the house.  At that point in his life he couldn't hear so I didn't call him back but he would still stop turn his head back and look at me.  And then continue on his way.  He would do that two or three times until he got to the house.  Then he would stand at attention overlooking the valley watching over me.  He did that two days before he died.  We went to the dog tree and he went back to the house turning back and looking and then watching over me on his usual perch.

He was the best guard dog.  He always wanted outside to guard the place.  And at night when we slept, he positioned himself between our rooms in the hallway to watch over all of us.  In the mornings when he was let out he would make his rounds walking around the house several times and checking everything out.  He even taught Abinadi, a bloodhound, to be a guard dog.  :-)

Despite his fierce guard dog persona, he was also the most gentle giant and very good with kids.  Babies and toddlers could pet him, tug on his fur, even pat his eyes and he would just blink and take it all. But if he thought you were a monster or a threat of any kind -- make no mistake he would go after you.  Samson was not one to back down.  He was a fighter -- if need be.  Much like me.  :-)

He would fight for what he thought was his.  If he found food, what he considered his treasure, you would not want to try to take it from him.  One of the more memorable examples is the lemon pie incident at BSS.  There was also a hoagie incident at BSS, I believe, and the fried chicken incident with the contractors building our house.  But if you gave him food he was very gentle and would take it so easy.

One time when we were in my room Dad was looking out the window and asked me if I could see Samson.  I said all I could see was a white tail.  From then on he was affectionately called, "Whitetail".

Whenever we came home Samson was always overlooking the valley watching for us as we drove up the driveway.

Another funny incident is shortly after we moved into our new house, we were leaving in the van to go somewhere and Samson chased us all the way down to the county road -- about a half-mile -- and when we stopped he jumped into the front seat-- onto Lisa's lap I believe.:-)  Apparently not realizing that that was now home -- he did not want to be left behind.

Samson was one-of-a-kind.  Everybody loved him -- except monsters.  :-) Even after we left BSS, everybody that came in would inquire, "Where's Samson?"

Samson was the prettiest dog I've ever seen.  He was also humanlike in many ways.  He sounded like a human when he walked.  When he came into my room I would never know if it was him or someone else because the way he walked sounded the same as a human.  His eyes were humanlike.  He would always communicate with his eyes.  We always knew what he wanted just by looking in his eyes.

Even at the end when his body was failing his eyes were still communicating.  He was fighting with all his will.  But, he had lived a long wonderful life -- 96 in human years according to a dog age calculator I did a month or two ago -- and Heavenly Father was calling him home.

Samson had outlived his life expectancy by several years and we were blessed to have him for such a long time in our home.  I cherish every day he was with us.  I know he will be there to greet me on the other side.  I'm looking forward to that day.

Samson was a good, good, good boy.  Samson was the best dog in the history of mankind.

God be with you till we meet again my beloved friend!  I love you Samson!

Samson in his prime -- May 2007
  




Samson teaching Abinadi how to be a guard dog.

Overlooking the valley -- where he spent most of his life.

Samson yesterday -- still smiling despite his failing body
Me with my beloved friend and companion of nearly 13 years.

Samson was my favorite dog we've ever had.

Fittingly, Samson's final resting place is by the dog tree where we spent many wonderful days together.

Rest in peace my dear, beloved white tailed friend, until we meet again.

Monday, February 22, 2016

RIP Samson

RIP Samson

The Best Dog in the History of Mankind

July 4, 2003 - February 22, 2016

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Wisdom

I love listening to the scriptures in the mornings.  Depending on my night, sometimes I have two or three hours to listen before people come to get me ready.  It always makes my day go a little better to get that spiritual nourishment.

It's interesting how different things seem to stand out more at certain times in your life.  Lately I have noticed how much apostasy and degeneracy occurred in The Book of Mormon and how accurately it relates to our day.  It's no coincidence that The Book of Mormon authors chose to relate so many stories and warnings about apostasy.  Apostasy is rampant in our day, the very elect are dropping like flies.  I've seen it firsthand.  Many people I know or know of -- who were once very active in the Church with seemingly strong testimonies -- have gone completely apostate.

It's very sad but it also shows the deceptive, cunning ability of The Father of Lies. One thing I've learned is -- wisdom has nothing to do with age or secular education.  In fact those are often the people who fall hardest because they think they know more. Which brings to mind the Scripture I listened to yesterday that stood out to me:

"O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!

"Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good, and say that it is of no worth! For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish.

"But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts." -- 2 Nephi 28:15-17

Anytime there are three wos in a row, you better pay attention.  The Lord means business.  There is no mincing of words in that scripture.  It's a very powerful warning to apostates and anyone who chooses not to follow the Lord's commandments.  Especially to those who preach against Him and His Gospel.

There are those who choose not to believe the scriptures precisely because of these prophetic warnings.  It's just more convenient that way.  They can sin and rationalize their guilt away.  But nonetheless that doesn't change the law.

The law of gravity applies to all regardless of whether they believe it or not.  We all know what would happen if someone who doesn't believe in the law of gravity were to challenge that law by jumping off a building.  The same applies to the laws of God.  They apply to everyone, not just believers.

 I stated that wisdom has nothing to do with age or secular knowledge. I know plenty of old people and learned people who are very stupid.  No, wisdom comes from hearkening to the Lord and obeying His commandments.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." -- Psalms 111:10

President Marion G. Romney back in 1983 said that the word fear in this instance means profound reverence.  Therefore, profound reverence for the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

President Marion G. Romney went on to say, "In soundly judging—which is a function of wisdom—the inspiration of the Lord can and often does compensate for unknown facts—that is, for lack of knowledge. For example, if a stranger at the crossroads, not knowing which way to turn, can receive inspiration from God, his decision will be as wise as if he had known all the facts. Why? Because God “knoweth all things.” Inspiration from him is an expression of total wisdom."

"The conclusion of the whole matter is: Wisdom is in short supply in the world today because men do not know God, not even all those who preach of him. Until mankind comes to a knowledge of God, we will continue in our distraction, regardless of how much other knowledge we acquire.

"The Lord, knowing all things, foresaw our present state, and long ago, speaking about us through his prophet, Isaiah, declared, “The wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isa. 29:14; see also 2 Ne. 27:26.) Confirming the fact, He has said in our day that the wisdom of men has perished and their understanding has come to naught. And he has specified the reason for their loss of wisdom, their forsaking of him:

“They have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;

“They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world.” (D&C 1:15–16.)

"The Lord has also told us clearly many times where our wisdomless course will take us. And I assure you that that condition will be neither comfortable nor pleasant." -- President Marion G. Romney, Converting Knowledge into Wisdom, July 1983 Ensign

That last paragraph goes back to the original scripture that inspired this post (2 Nephi 28: 15-17).  It also backs up the posts I have done where I have concluded that sin makes you stupid.

I will reiterate that neither age nor knowledge conveys wisdom.  Wisdom is gained by receiving a knowledge of God and applying it through obedience to His commandments.

That's my two cents.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Elk Herd 2016

We are so blessed to live in a place where elk and wildlife frequent our property.

These pictures were taken a couple of days ago. The tree on the left behind the elk is my dog tree.  That's where I like to take my dogs.  :-)

The little tree in the foreground is in our front yard.




 Notice Samson's tail? :-)






Tuesday, February 16, 2016

James E. Faust -- Father, Come Home

The other day I was reading an unrelated article which quoted from this general conference talk given by James E. Faust in April 1993.  I was on my mission at that time.  :-)  Anyway, the quote in the article intrigued me so I decided to go read the entire talk.

As pertinent as this talk was 23 years ago -- it is even more so today. So I took the time to copy part of the talk to post on my blog.  Here are the excerpts from Elder Faust's talk that I thought were most important.

"In recent times, society has been plagued with a cancer from which few families have escaped. I speak of the disintegration of our homes. Immediate corrective treatment is urgent. In what I have to say, I do not wish to offend anyone. I affirm my profound belief that God’s greatest creation is womanhood. I also believe that there is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation. Single parents, most of whom are mothers, perform an especially heroic service.

"I hasten to acknowledge that there are too many husbands and fathers who are abusive to their wives and children and from whom the wives and children need protection. Yet modern sociological studies powerfully reaffirm the essential influence of a caring father in the life of a child—boy or girl. In the past twenty years, as homes and families have struggled to stay intact, sociological studies reveal this alarming fact: much of the crime and many of the behavioral disorders in the United States come from homes where the father has abandoned the children. In many societies the world over, child poverty, crime, drug abuse, and family decay can be traced to conditions where the father gives no male nurturing. Sociologically, it is now painfully apparent that fathers are not optional family baggage. We need to honor the position of the father as the primary provider for physical and spiritual support. I state this with no reluctance because the Lord has revealed that this obligation is placed upon husbands. “Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken.” (D&C 83:2) Further, “All children have claim upon their parents for their maintenance until they are of age.” (D&C 83:4) In addition, their spiritual welfare should be “brought to pass by the faith and covenant of their fathers.” (D&C 84:99) As regards little children, the Lord has promised that “great things may be required at the hands of their fathers.” (D&C 29:48)

"It is useless to debate which parent is most important. No one would doubt that a mother’s influence is paramount with newborns and in the first years of a child’s life. The father’s influence increases as the child grows older. However, each parent is necessary at various times in a child’s development. Both fathers and mothers do many intrinsically different things for their children. Both mothers and fathers are equipped to nurture children, but their approaches are different. Mothers seem to take a dominant role in preparing children to live within their families (present and future). Fathers seem best equipped to prepare children to function in the environment outside the family.

"One authority states: “Studies show that fathers have a special role to play in building a child’s self-respect. They are important, too, in ways we really don’t understand, in developing internal limits and controls in children.” He continues, “Research also shows that fathers are critical in establishment of gender in children. Interestingly, fatherly involvement produces stronger sexual identity and character in both boys and girls. It is well established that the masculinity of sons and the femininity of daughters are each greater when fathers are active in family life.” (Karl Zinsmeister, “Do Children Need Fathers?” Crisis, Oct. 1992.)

"Parents in any marital situation have a duty to set aside personal differences and encourage each other’s righteous influence in the lives of their children.
...
"Holding the priesthood means following the example of Christ and seeking to emulate his example of fatherhood. It means constant concern and caring for one’s own flesh and blood. The man who holds the priesthood is to honor it by eternally cherishing, with absolute fidelity, his wife and the mother of his children. He is to extend lifelong care and concern for his children, and their children. The plea of David for his rebel son is one of the most moving in all of the scriptures, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Sam. 18:33)
...
"I hope what I say will not be disturbing. In my opinion, any promise between a man and a woman incident to a marriage ceremony rises to the dignity of a covenant. The family relationship of father, mother, and child is the oldest and most enduring institution in the world. It has survived vast differences of geography and culture. This is because marriage between man and woman is a natural state and is ordained of God. It is a moral imperative. Those marriages performed in our temples, meant to be eternal relationships, then, become the most sacred covenants we can make. The sealing power given by God through Elijah is thus invoked, and God becomes a party to the promises.

"What, then, might be “just cause” for breaking the covenants of marriage? Over a lifetime of dealing with human problems, I have struggled to understand what might be considered “just cause” for breaking of covenants. I confess I do not claim the wisdom or authority to definitively state what is “just cause.” Only the parties to the marriage can determine this. They must bear the responsibility for the train of consequences which inevitably follow if these covenants are not honored. In my opinion, “just cause” should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship which is destructive of a person’s dignity as a human being.

"At the same time, I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply “mental distress,” nor “personality differences,” nor having “grown apart,” nor having “fallen out of love.” This is especially so where there are children.

"Confusion and disorder are all too common in society, but they must not be permitted to destroy our homes."

-- James E. Faust, April 1993 General Conference, Father, Come Home Emphasis added

Elder Faust makes some powerful points in his talk.  As he said, the disintegration of the family is a cancer plaguing our society.  Even more now than it was 23 years ago.  And he also mentioned that it is something few families escape. Thankfully, I have not been directly affected by divorce.  But, I have seen the devastating effects of divorce on close family members.

Two years after this talk was given The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles issued the family proclamation.  It succinctly defines family and our specific roles.  It also warns those who violate covenants and family responsibilities.

From The Family: A Proclamation To the World (1995):
"HUSBAND AND WIFE have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."
"WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
Those are strong words from modern-day prophets to those who deliberately disregard their responsibilities as parents and spouses. The calamities spoken of are very much evident today.

People can rationalize away the catastrophic effects of divorce.  "Everybody gets divorced" "The kids are fine." "The divorce is not the reason why my kid is having trouble."  And whatever other lies you want to tell yourself. The truth is, divorce is the single most devastating catastrophic event that could happen to a child.  And just because a lot of people selfishly choose to abandon their families doesn't make it any less calamitous.

Back in 1993 Elder Faust focused on fathers abandoning their families.  Which I think is still the majority but more and more mothers are also choosing to abandon their families.  Either way, I have zero respect for anyone who chooses to abandon their families.  It is the epitome of selfishness.

By the way, regardless of who retains custody of the children, any time you break up the nuclear family by walking out on your spouse -- you are abandoning your family. The children will still suffer tremendous consequences of your choice.

Cry me a river all you want spewing your ridiculous rationalizations -- "we never got along" "we're not compatible" "we are not in love" etc. -- those are just lame excuses.  When you choose to marry and choose to have kids, you also choose the responsibility that comes with it. It is a very serious responsibility with severe consequences.

Unfortunately there are far too many selfish pansies who abandon their families thereby destroying their children's lives.  The destruction of the nuclear family is the downfall of society. Every family that has been destroyed by divorce creates a devastating environment for children who need both a father and a mother in the home in order to develop their full potential and thrive. Many of those children end up as statistics contributing to the ills of society.

So if you think your selfish choice to abandon your family has no repercussions-- think again. The repercussions are catastrophic to many people but especially to your children.

That's my two cents.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Tattoos

Tattoos are ugly.  Why anyone would want to make themselves look uglier than they already are is beyond me.

How anyone could think that defacing your body by injecting ink into your skin is cool or looks good is also beyond me.  It's disgusting.  It looks terrible.  And it makes you uglier.

Not to mention the damage it does to your skin.  Puncturing your skin with small needles at the rate of 50-3000 punctures per minute and injecting ink with each puncture obviously damages your skin.  It makes mush out of the epidermal-dermal junction and triggers the inflammatory response.  The amazing human body being very adept at healing itself begins the process right away. Immune cells called macrophages gobble up the ink in an effort to clean up the inflammatory mess that was voluntarily created by an obviously less than intelligent individual choosing to mar their own body.  The macrophages don't have a way of dissolving or getting rid of the ink -- so the ink eventually settles in the dermis where it is visible through the epidermal layer.  After 2 to 3 months the skin completely heals and the person has ink permanently in their skin for the rest of their life.  As people age the ink does tend to shift a bit therefore causing the tattoo to blur.

Sounds great right?  Sounds like something intelligent people would want to do.  But the actual process isn't the worst of it.  It's just extremely sad to me to see people with tattoos and how much uglier they make themselves under the guise of trying to be cool or fit in.  Seriously, how low does your self-esteem have to be to even consider getting a tattoo?

How sad that people get so confused and reach such a low point in their life.  I feel bad for people who think they have to sink so low to be accepted.  Seriously, if the people you're associating with are encouraging tattoos or even accepting of them -- you need to rethink your associations.  Aim higher.  Climb out of the bottom of barrel.

Deliberately vandalizing, marring, disfiguring, scarring or otherwise defacing your own body is just plain stupid.

That's my two cents.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Green Eyed Monster

I've been thinking about jealousy recently.  A couple of incidents where others have accused me and a relative of being jealous have brought this to the forefront of my mind.

Whenever anyone accuses someone else of being jealous they are just expressing their own insecurities and feelings of inadequacy.

In both of the incidents mentioned above the jealousy accusation is laughable.

First of all, jealousy is not in my vocabulary.  I don't have a jealous bone in my body.  Why would I? I'm extremely happy with who I am.  I have always had exceedingly high self-worth. And why shouldn't I?  I know who I am. I'm very happy with who I am and how I choose to live my life. I wouldn't want to trade places with anybody on this earth.  I know I'm the King. :-)

Would a brand-new top-of-the-line, high-performance Ferrari be jealous of a rusty old jalopy that's falling apart and ready for the junkyard?  Ridiculous!

Yet that's the same as someone accusing me of being jealous of someone else-- anyone else but especially "the so-called refuse of humanity".  Absurd!  So absurd in fact that it's laughable.

It's extremely sad that people allow themselves to get to such a low point in their life that they lose all sense of self-worth.  They become so insecure with themselves and feel so inadequate that they try to convince themselves otherwise.

I'm sorry to burst anyone's fragile plastic bubble they've created to shield themselves from the truth -- but wake up to reality people. I am not, never have been, nor ever will be jealous of anyone. I am a Ferrari not a jalopy.  Everybody knows that.

I'm actually happy when good fortune or blessings come to others.  I'm self-confident.  I don't need to resort to jealousy or envy.

Those pointing the finger of jealousy at me or anyone else are exposing their own insecurities and inadequacies.

As Pam Tillis once said, "jealousy is as bitter as a green spring berry".  Nobody in their right mind would want to chew on that.  Certainly not me.

That's my two cents.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Vaccinations

Parents who don't vaccinate their children are ignorant and selfish.  Not only do vaccinations protect your child but they also protect other children who are unable to receive vaccinations.

History has proven the efficacy of vaccinations. That is unarguable.  Although there are those who will ignorantly argue anything.

Vaccinations are not 100% effective.  Nor are they 100% safe.  But for the vast majority of people they are very effective and very safe.  The benefits far outweigh the risks which are extremely minimal.

As I mentioned before, vaccinations protect your children from a variety of deadly diseases which should be reason enough to vaccinate your child.  But they also produce herd immunity whereby a population is protected from disease by the majority of the members of the population being immunized.  So those who are unable to receive vaccinations because of certain medical conditions or age are also protected because of herd immunity.

Anyone who falls for the anti-vaccination garbage in the media and especially on the Internet is an idiot.  You can't believe everything you read/hear -- especially in unscientific so-called "studies" cited on the Internet.  And you certainly can't believe the liberal propaganda infesting the media.

Case in point -- Recent actual scientific studies proving there is no correlation whatsoever between vaccinations and autism.  Disproving the anti-vaccination agenda that was widespread through the media citing the link between vaccinations and autism.

The truth is that vaccinations save lives and prevent disease.  You don't even need a scientific study to prove that.  Just look at history.

We live in a time of modern medicine where many deadly diseases are now preventable through vaccination.  Why in the world would you not take advantage of such marvels?

The only people who wouldn't are ignorant and selfish. And stupid.

That's my two cents.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

YW Lesson -- Why Do the Choices I Make Matter?






• “Everybody is doing it.”
• “Nobody will know.”
• “It is not really hurting anyone.”
• “It won’t hurt just this once.”
• “So what?”
• “You can repent later and still go on a mission and be married in the temple.”
• “Christ atoned for your sins; He will forgive you.”

2 Nephi 28:7-9
 7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

 8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

 9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

 “Many years ago I worked for a railroad. I was in charge of what is called head-end traffic. One morning I received a call from my counterpart in Newark, New Jersey. He said, “Train number such-and-such has arrived, but it has no baggage car. Somewhere, 300 passengers have lost their baggage, and they are mad.”

I went immediately to work to find out where it may have gone. I found it had been properly loaded and properly trained in Oakland, California. It had been moved to St. Louis. But some thoughtless switchman in the St. Louis yards moved a small piece of steel just three inches, a switch point, then pulled the lever to uncouple the car. We discovered that a baggage car that belonged in Newark, New Jersey, was in fact in New Orleans, Louisiana—1,500 miles from its destination. Just the three-inch movement of the switch in the St. Louis yard by a careless employee had started it on the wrong track, and the distance from its true destination increased dramatically.

That is the way it is with our lives. Instead of following a steady course, we are pulled by some mistaken idea in another direction. The movement away from our original destination may be ever so small, but, if continued, that very small movement becomes a great gap and we find ourselves far from where we intended to go.

It is the little things upon which life turns that make the big difference in our lives, my dear young friends.”

-- President Gordon B. Hinckley



 Let us not find ourselves as indecisive as is Alice in Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I follow?”

The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.”

Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and it does matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination.

-- President Thomas S. Monson



"Some feel they don’t have the power to choose—that their particular temptation is beyond their ability to resist. The Prophet Joseph Smith “observed that Satan was generally blamed for the evils which we did, but if he was the cause of all our wickedness, men could not be condemned. The devil could not compel mankind to do evil; all was voluntary."

"Many individuals blame their problems on others. Terms such as “road rage” suggest that those who manifest it have contracted some illness over which they have no control. Whatever happened to old-fashioned self-discipline?

"Moroni offered these soul-searching, sobering words: “Deny yourselves of all ungodliness; … then is his grace sufficient for you” (Moro. 10:32). These words suggest no shift of responsibility to someone else, no excuses, no magical way out, no blaming some biological, genetic, or addictive reason for wrong behavior. There is only the straightforward admonition to “deny [ourselves] of all ungodliness.”"

- Elder Harold C. Brown, Area Seventy Utah North Area, December 2001


Why do the choices we make matter?  Because our moral agency is key to our Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness.  We are here to prove to our Heavenly Father that we will follow His Son Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.  By making good choices we show Them we love Them and are willing to put forth the effort to attain the eternal reward of exaltation.  May we all strive to continually make good choices that we may receive the promised blessings of eternal happiness.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.


I printed the following in gray on color card stock and laminated to make bookmarks to hand out to the girls.