"The first thing that you need to understand, the first observation that I need to pass on to you is if you think all of this outrage and all of these protests are spontaneous and specific to the elements of this executive order, you need to stop thinking that, because that is not what any of this is about.
"What all of this is about is the preordained, prearranged Democrat Party strategy of unseating Donald Trump and opposing him. It’s nothing more than total resistance to everything. It doesn’t matter what it is. There is going to be total resistance to everything. He’s gonna name his Supreme Court pick tomorrow night. Total resistance. The protests at the airports bought and paid for by George Soros, prearranged. People have been sitting and waiting for the moment to be cued to action." -- Rush Limbaugh, January 30, 2017
"Folks, I’m telling you it’s microscopic of what’s really happening to these people. The bottom line is, the Democrat Party is imploding. The Democrat Party is being rejected. The Democrat Party is losing. Since 2010 they have lost over a thousand seats. You’ve heard me say this. Donald Trump is the president. He is not slowing down. He is not backing down. He is not being deterred. He’s marching forward.
"They can’t stop him. The only thing they can do is protest and raise h... and try to make it look like they represent a majority of Americans, but they do not, and the Democrats know it. They show up at the Supreme Court last night to protest everything Trump is doing and the public address microphone doesn’t work and they’re reduced to singing This Land is Your Land, which nobody can hear anyway.
"I’ll guarantee you, by the way, that when that thing ended last night, some heads rolled, because this made the Democrats look like laughingstocks last night, which they were." -- Rush Limbaugh, January 31, 2017
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Finding Joy on the Sabbath
“You might well be wondering what you could do to live and worship on this Sabbath day to demonstrate your gratitude and to strengthen yourself and others for trials that lie ahead.
“You could begin today with a private and family prayer of thanks for all God has done for you. You could pray to know what the Lord would have you do to serve Him and others. …
“I can promise you your prayers will be answered, and as you act on the answers you will receive, you will find joy in the Sabbath, and your heart will overflow with thankfulness.”
-- President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, “Gratitude on the Sabbath Day,” Ensign, Nov. 2016, 102.
Friday, January 27, 2017
The Wheat and the Tares
I love parables. It's an ingenious way to teach. Obviously that's why Christ often times taught using parables. Depending on your level of faith and understanding, you come away with different conclusions about the story.
One of my favorite parables, and probably one of the more well-known parables, is the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Here it is straight out of the good book.
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43:
I find it interesting that not only are tares weeds which resemble the crop but they are also toxic. Just like in the parable it's very difficult to distinguish the good from the bad in the Lord's church. And many of the bad even though they look the same as righteous members, are toxic.
It brings to mind the Women's March that just took place and members of the Church who participated. How can anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus Christ proudly participate in something so vile, obscene, vulgar and profane? Everything the Women's March stood for is not only incompatible with but directly opposed to the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tares.
I could go on with endless examples of tares within the Church but suffice it to say, there are plenty.
Not only do the tares mimic the wheat, but growing side-by-side they steal nutrients from the wheat and because the roots are intermingled if you rip out the tares, you will also kill the wheat. If you're not careful the tares will challenge your faith and weaken your testimony. Which will eventually kill you spiritually.
We've all heard that phrase "be in the world but not of the world". The wheat and the tares must coexist until harvest. The righteous and wicked are all in the world-- and in the Church -- simultaneously. But the righteous wheat must not be of the world lest the wicked tares choke them out or poison them.
In Doctrine and Covenants Section 86 the Lord clarifies the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 86:
I could delve into all the beautiful symbolism in this parable but it would take much too long. I'll let you come to your own conclusions. It's a very beautifully written parable.
If you think the harvest isn't close, think again. I love this quote from our fourth prophet of this dispensation.
One of my favorite parables, and probably one of the more well-known parables, is the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Here it is straight out of the good book.
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43:
24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.
40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.Interestingly, wheat and tares look almost identical while they are growing. It isn't until they reach maturity that you can easily distinguish between them. At maturity wheat bows its head while tares don't. The photos below help illustrate the parable.
“Traditionally, tares have been identified with the darnel weed, a species of bearded rye-grass which closely resembles wheat in the early growth period and which is found in modern Palestine. This weed has a bitter taste; if eaten in any appreciable amount, either separately or when mixed with bread, it causes dizziness and often acts as a violent emetic.” (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:296.)" --Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual
I find it interesting that not only are tares weeds which resemble the crop but they are also toxic. Just like in the parable it's very difficult to distinguish the good from the bad in the Lord's church. And many of the bad even though they look the same as righteous members, are toxic.
It brings to mind the Women's March that just took place and members of the Church who participated. How can anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus Christ proudly participate in something so vile, obscene, vulgar and profane? Everything the Women's March stood for is not only incompatible with but directly opposed to the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Tares.
"President Joseph Fielding Smith pointed out that “even in the Church the tares are to be found. It is the tares which are to be gathered up and burned from all over the world, but those in the Church will also be gathered out and find their place in the fire. [See D&C 112:23–26.] The Savior also bore witness of [this. When] speaking to the Nephites he said: ‘For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from my people, O house of Israel.’ (3 Nephi 21:20.)” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:354.)"-- Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual
Another example is Jan C. no, let's call her J. Chamberlain. ;-) The former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who resigned from the choir because the Choir had the audacity to accept an invitation to sing at a presidential inauguration.Which they had done before, regardless of party. Heaven forbid the choir, which represents the Church, does something patriotic and unifying. Yet she claims she was morally opposed to performing with the choir at the inauguration. Thank heavens she chose to quit instead of opting out of the lottery for those wanting to perform at the inauguration. Now I won't have to see her clown red hair in the choir anymore, which stuck out like a sore thumb. The last name says it all. Not to mention all the other Church members who were upset with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for doing something patriotic, unifying, and good. Tares.
I could go on with endless examples of tares within the Church but suffice it to say, there are plenty.
Not only do the tares mimic the wheat, but growing side-by-side they steal nutrients from the wheat and because the roots are intermingled if you rip out the tares, you will also kill the wheat. If you're not careful the tares will challenge your faith and weaken your testimony. Which will eventually kill you spiritually.
We've all heard that phrase "be in the world but not of the world". The wheat and the tares must coexist until harvest. The righteous and wicked are all in the world-- and in the Church -- simultaneously. But the righteous wheat must not be of the world lest the wicked tares choke them out or poison them.
In Doctrine and Covenants Section 86 the Lord clarifies the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 86:
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign—behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender—
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned. -- Doctrine and Covenants 86: 1-7I think most people, when they think of this parable, think of it as wheat being members of the Lord's church, or the righteous, and tares being everyone else in the world, or the wicked. But, it also applies beautifully to members of the Church. The wicked and righteous people within the Church. As was discussed prior. Thus another example of how parables can have different interpretations and applications.
I could delve into all the beautiful symbolism in this parable but it would take much too long. I'll let you come to your own conclusions. It's a very beautifully written parable.
"In 1894 President Woodruff stated: “God has held the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. But I want to tell you now, that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out. Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. Remember this, and reflect upon these matters. If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we’ll have protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety.” (Young Women’s Journal, Aug. 1894, pp. 512–13.)" --Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual
That statement by the prophet at the time, President Wilford Woodruff, was given over 120 years ago. Yes, the harvest is very close. The Second Coming is nigh at hand. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. Prepare now lest you be burned with the tares at the harvest. Yet if you are prepared and are doing your best to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and keep His commandments then you have no need to fear. The harvest will come. The tares will be gathered and burned while the wheat will be gathered into the Lord's barn. Will you be amongst the wheat or the tares at the harvest?
That's my two cents.
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Dissenters
As I was listening to the Book of Helaman the other day, I noticed how similar it was to our day in terms of the wickedness of the people and the dissenters who left The Church. And this was over 2000 years ago. The chapter heading says it was between 38 BC and 30 BC. It's no wonder The Book of Mormon was written for our day.
I tried to shorten it a bit but still make it understandable. Here is the passage from Helaman chapter 4.
Helaman 4: 1, 4, 8, 11-15
Notice the last line in verse 11. That's going to be my next blog post. :-) Stay tuned.
Also notice in verse 14 how the Church didn't give up on the dissenters. They continued to preach to them and call them to repentance. And verse 15 tops it off with the dissenters repenting and beginning to prosper again.
Those few verses pretty much sum up the pride cycle we see so many times in The Book of Mormon.
I love The Book of Mormon! It really was written for us in these last days to help us navigate through these trying times. It really is amazing how so much of The Book of Mormon parallels what's going on in our world today. If you haven't read The Book of Mormon, I highly suggest doing so. If you do so with a sincere heart and real intent, it will change your life for good.
That's my two cents.
I tried to shorten it a bit but still make it understandable. Here is the passage from Helaman chapter 4.
Helaman 4: 1, 4, 8, 11-15
1 And it came to pass in the fifty and fourth year there were many dissensions in the church, and there was also a contention among the people, insomuch that there was much bloodshed....
4 But it came to pass in the fifty and sixth year of the reign of the judges, there were dissenters who went up from the Nephites unto the Lamanites; and they succeeded with those others in stirring them up to anger against the Nephites; and they were all that year preparing for war....
8 And thus those dissenters of the Nephites, with the help of a numerous army of the Lamanites, had obtained all the possession of the Nephites which was in the land southward. And all this was done in the fifty and eighth and ninth years of the reign of the judges....
11 Now this great loss of the Nephites, and the great slaughter which was among them, would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.
12 And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
13 And because of this their great wickedness, and their boastings in their own strength, they were left in their own strength; therefore they did not prosper, but were afflicted and smitten, and driven before the Lamanites, until they had lost possession of almost all their lands.
14 But behold, Moronihah did preach many things unto the people because of their iniquity, and also Nephi and Lehi, who were the sons of Helaman, did preach many things unto the people, yea, and did prophesy many things unto them concerning their iniquities, and what should come unto them if they did not repent of their sins.
15 And it came to pass that they did repent, and inasmuch as they did repent they did begin to prosper.I love how The Book of Mormon explains things so boldly and is written so simply. Isn't it interesting how the Nephites who dissented-- or as we now say, apostatized-- from The Church couldn't leave it alone, just like today? The apostate Nephites started wreaking havoc with the Church by stirring up anger against the Nephites (members of the Church). It's not enough for them to just leave the Church. They can't leave it alone. Even over 2000 years ago the dissenters couldn't leave it alone. Although back then they took it to the point of bloodshed. Thankfully today it hasn't gotten to that point yet. At least not between dissenters and members of the Church.
Notice the last line in verse 11. That's going to be my next blog post. :-) Stay tuned.
Also notice in verse 14 how the Church didn't give up on the dissenters. They continued to preach to them and call them to repentance. And verse 15 tops it off with the dissenters repenting and beginning to prosper again.
Those few verses pretty much sum up the pride cycle we see so many times in The Book of Mormon.
I love The Book of Mormon! It really was written for us in these last days to help us navigate through these trying times. It really is amazing how so much of The Book of Mormon parallels what's going on in our world today. If you haven't read The Book of Mormon, I highly suggest doing so. If you do so with a sincere heart and real intent, it will change your life for good.
That's my two cents.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Bawl Baby Chicken Guts
Remember when I said that I sometimes feel like an alien living on Earth at this time? Well, a good example of that was the Women's March or whatever they called it. Granted I didn't watch any of it -- as you know, years ago I quit watching mainstream media news. But I did read about it on the Internet from several sources. Mostly conservative websites. It's hard to believe there are so many completely deranged and deluded women in this country who are completely out of touch with reality.
The left has really done a number on these people. If the "Women's March" was to be a protest against President Trump, it had the opposite effect. Trump most likely gained supporters because of the Women's March. All it did was prove how deranged, unhinged, deluded and angry the left liberal democrats are. Not to mention the crass vulgarity!
Vulgarity does nothing but show inability to communicate properly. Seriously, do these people even know what they were protesting? Obviously not. All they know how to do is crudely use vulgarity and profanity in extreme anger while pulling a temper tantrum because they lost. These weren't two-year-olds lying on the floor kicking and screaming because they didn't get their way. These are women way past the age of accountability acting like two-year-olds who didn't get their way. Except much worse. Did they even have a clue as to what they were trying to accomplish? Because obviously they accomplished nothing except embarrassing and disgracing themselves. Not to mention they did it by breaking the law by rioting -- destroying other people's property and harming others.
Why is the left completely obsessed with sex? Well the answer is obvious, it's because Satan rules the left liberal Democrats including all sub headings such as feminazis, to borrow a term from Rush Limbaugh. A supposed protest against President Trump turns into the most vulgar, sex obsessed, profane, angry public display in the history of mankind.
I get that the left liberal Democrats are obsessed with the secret audio tape of Donald Trump made 20 years ago, or whenever it was, when he used vulgarity. Yes, what Donald Trump said was wrong and inexcusable. But he did apologize. What about forgiveness? What I find interesting is how selective the left liberal Democrats are in their outrage. Where is the outrage over Donald Trump's adultery? Isn't that worse? Or better yet, for women who claim to be feminists that are all about defending women's rights -- where is the outrage over Bill Clinton's serial adultery including multiple affairs many of which occurred while he was a sitting president? Where is the outrage over Bill Clinton's rape accusation? What about Juanita Broderick and her rights? Or all of the other women Bill Clinton is accused of abusing or assaulting? What about their rights? Or where is the outrage over Hillary Clinton laughing about defending the rapist of a 12-year-old girl? What about her rights? Where is the outrage over all of the unborn baby girls who are killed every day through abortion? What about their rights? Yet they become completely unhinged over a comment made 20 years ago, which has been apologized for. Talk about hypocrisy. The left epitomizes hypocrisy.
How is using vulgarity to protest vulgarity effective? Isn't that just as bad or worse than what they're protesting? More hypocrisy.
Like I've said before, if the left liberal Democrats aren't angry, they're not happy. The left liberal Democrats -- including the feminazis and their ridiculous protests/riots -- are nothing but a bunch of bawl baby chicken guts pulling tantrums because they didn't get their way.
It's actually really sad.
That's my two cents.
The left has really done a number on these people. If the "Women's March" was to be a protest against President Trump, it had the opposite effect. Trump most likely gained supporters because of the Women's March. All it did was prove how deranged, unhinged, deluded and angry the left liberal democrats are. Not to mention the crass vulgarity!
Vulgarity does nothing but show inability to communicate properly. Seriously, do these people even know what they were protesting? Obviously not. All they know how to do is crudely use vulgarity and profanity in extreme anger while pulling a temper tantrum because they lost. These weren't two-year-olds lying on the floor kicking and screaming because they didn't get their way. These are women way past the age of accountability acting like two-year-olds who didn't get their way. Except much worse. Did they even have a clue as to what they were trying to accomplish? Because obviously they accomplished nothing except embarrassing and disgracing themselves. Not to mention they did it by breaking the law by rioting -- destroying other people's property and harming others.
Why is the left completely obsessed with sex? Well the answer is obvious, it's because Satan rules the left liberal Democrats including all sub headings such as feminazis, to borrow a term from Rush Limbaugh. A supposed protest against President Trump turns into the most vulgar, sex obsessed, profane, angry public display in the history of mankind.
I get that the left liberal Democrats are obsessed with the secret audio tape of Donald Trump made 20 years ago, or whenever it was, when he used vulgarity. Yes, what Donald Trump said was wrong and inexcusable. But he did apologize. What about forgiveness? What I find interesting is how selective the left liberal Democrats are in their outrage. Where is the outrage over Donald Trump's adultery? Isn't that worse? Or better yet, for women who claim to be feminists that are all about defending women's rights -- where is the outrage over Bill Clinton's serial adultery including multiple affairs many of which occurred while he was a sitting president? Where is the outrage over Bill Clinton's rape accusation? What about Juanita Broderick and her rights? Or all of the other women Bill Clinton is accused of abusing or assaulting? What about their rights? Or where is the outrage over Hillary Clinton laughing about defending the rapist of a 12-year-old girl? What about her rights? Where is the outrage over all of the unborn baby girls who are killed every day through abortion? What about their rights? Yet they become completely unhinged over a comment made 20 years ago, which has been apologized for. Talk about hypocrisy. The left epitomizes hypocrisy.
How is using vulgarity to protest vulgarity effective? Isn't that just as bad or worse than what they're protesting? More hypocrisy.
Like I've said before, if the left liberal Democrats aren't angry, they're not happy. The left liberal Democrats -- including the feminazis and their ridiculous protests/riots -- are nothing but a bunch of bawl baby chicken guts pulling tantrums because they didn't get their way.
It's actually really sad.
That's my two cents.
Friday, January 20, 2017
President Trump
Today is a beautiful, bright day for America as Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States of America. I watched the inauguration on television this morning. It was magnificent! President Trump gave an amazing inaugural address. Basically reiterating his campaign promises. He really came down hard on the Washington establishment and basically all the politicians that were surrounding him. :-) It was awesome!
He mentioned God several times and it was refreshing to hear God being brought back into our country. Here are a few outstanding excerpts from his address:
THE PRESIDENT: Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people.Those are just a few of my favorite excerpts from President Trump's inaugural address this morning. Isn't it a refreshing change from the doom and gloom we've heard for the last eight years from the Obama administration and leftists?
CROWD: (cheers and applause)
THE PRESIDENT: For too long a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
...
THE PRESIDENT: At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
CROWD: (applause)
THE PRESIDENT: The Bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
CROWD: (applause)
THE PRESIDENT: There should be no fear. We are protected, and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement —
CROWD: (applause)
THE PRESIDENT: — and most importantly, we will be protected by God.
...
THE PRESIDENT: Do not allow anyone to tell you that it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America. We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the earth of the miseries of disease and to harness the energies, industries, and technologies of tomorrow. A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions. It’s time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget, that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots.
CROWD: (cheers and applause)
THE PRESIDENT: We all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American flag.
CROWD: (cheers and applause)
THE PRESIDENT: And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same Almighty Creator.
...
THE PRESIDENT: Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again — and, yes, together we will make America great again!
CROWD: (wild cheers and applause)
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America.
I loved how President Trump reclaimed our nation and really sent the left liberal establishment packing. It was beautiful to watch.
Contrast his speech with that of Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) -- yes part of the liberal establishment. His speech was given right before the swearing-in of Vice President Pence. Here are a couple quotes:
SCHUMER: We live in a challenging and tumultuous time, a quickly evolving, ever more interconnected world, a rapidly changing economy that benefits too few while leaving too many behind. A fractured media, a politics frequently consumed by rancor.
...
SCHUMER: Whatever our race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity — whether we are immigrant or native born, whether we live with disabilities or do not, in wealth or in poverty — we are all exceptional in our commonly held yet fierce devotion to our country —Notice how negative and divisive his comments are? And by the way that last line is a lie. The left liberals have no devotion to our country. They hate America. They are the ones violently protesting because they didn't get their way. And why does he have to bring up sexual orientation and gender identity? Instead of focusing on us being Americans the left always focuses on dividing us into groups. Yet they think we are the hateful, divisive, bigoted group when that's all they ever focus on.
Anyway, it feels good to have a president who loves his country and wants to make it great again! I thought it was quite apropos that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang, "America the Beautiful" in between the swearing-in of Vice President Pence and President Trump. It certainly was a beautiful day for America.
God bless America and God bless President Trump!
That's my two cents.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Silver Anniversary
Happy silver anniversary to me! 25 years ago today on January 15, 1992 I embarked on my full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints as I entered the Missionary Training Center.
It's hard to believe it's been 25 years already. I remember it like it was yesterday. The best decision I've ever made in my entire life was to serve as a full-time missionary. It certainly wasn't the easiest 18 months of my life but nothing worthwhile is ever easy. I know it's cliché to say but I can say that it was the best 18 months of my life. Full of growth and learning both temporal and spiritual.
I feel extremely blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to serve a full-time mission for the Lord and His Church. Full-time missionary service really is a rare privilege and blessing that not many people qualify for. And even amongst those who do qualify, there are many who choose not to accept the opportunity. They have no idea what they're missing out on and passing up.
I would certainly encourage anyone of missionary age to do what is necessary to qualify to serve a full-time mission. You will never regret it. It may be a difficult road to take but it will certainly be worth it in the end.
Here is a stroll down memory lane :-):
Me with Grandma and Grandpa Sabin after my Missionary farewell on January 12, 1992, three days before I entered the Missionary Training Center.
Me with my missionary companions in our MTC classroom.
Where I spent the majority of my threes weeks at the Missionary Training Center.
Sister Paulson, Sister Parent, Sister Stone
standing in front of the Provo Temple during preparation day while at the MTC
Another picture of me with my missionary companions in our MTC classroom obviously by the date stamp this was January 20, 1992 -- five days into my mission! :-)
My MTC district
one of our teachers, Sister Pew, in front with a white name tag.
A tradition at the MTC -- me pointing to my mission on the world map
Me with another one of my teachers. Notice the commitment pattern poster in the back. :-)
Writing letters during P-day in the MTC laundry room.
At my desk and my MTC bedroom.
Personal study before class at the MTC
Another preparation day at the MTC writing letters in the laundry room.
It's hard to believe this was 25 years ago! My how time flies. It brings to mind a scripture I listened to this morning:
Alma 34:32-35
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.Life is too short and goes by way too quickly to procrastinate the day of our repentance. This life is the time for us to prepare to meet God. There is no time to waste. The Prophet Alma doesn't mince words -- if we lollygag and procrastinate the day of our repentance, we are doomed.
Anyway that Scripture came to mind because I was thinking about how fast time goes by and how our time here on earth is so short. Yet our whole eternity is determined by what we do here on Earth and how we spend our short time here. Do not squander your gift of mortality. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance. Do your best to follow God's commandments and live His gospel.
I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve a full-time mission. I'm thankful that I chose to take that opportunity. It has blessed my life immensely.
Happy Silver Anniversary to Me!!! :-)
Thursday, January 12, 2017
First Offense?
I'm sick of people getting off scot-free because it's their "first offense". Do you know what first offense means? It just means it's the first time they have been caught by law enforcement. It certainly isn't their first offense. In fact, most first offenders have committed said offense several if not many times before. They just haven't been caught.
Let me give you a personal example. Names have been changed to protect the innocent/guilty.
A middle-aged man named Clayne and his wife Megan live with Clayne's elderly parents, Robert and Alexandra. Clayne decided one night to get drunk and subsequently beat his wife, Megan. Robert and Alexandra were out of state at the time so Megan, fearing for her life, calls the police. Clayne is taken into police custody and charged with a "first offense". Being related to Clayne I am aware of several prior incidents of abuse/assault. Including Clayne getting drunk at his brother Watson's wedding. Clayne began causing a scene and their sister, Cressida, asked Clayne to quit misbehaving at their brother's wedding. After which Clayne punched his sister Cressida in the face. Obviously Clayne has a history of drunken assault.
Yet Clayne's elderly father, Robert, is quick to blame law enforcement and the victim, Megan. all the while defending his precious baby son, who can do no wrong. Classic case of enabling. Robert is quick to claim "first offense". Guess what? In the world I live in a first offense hurts the victim just as much as subsequent offenses. Why is it excusable?
Does a murderer get to play the "first offense" card? No. So why should a perpetrator of domestic abuse, animal cruelty, assault, robbery, evading police or any other crime get off scot-free because it is a "first offense"?
Especially in cases such as domestic abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty, assault, rape etc. where the victim is scared to or unable to press charges.
I'm all for rehabilitating people and helping them get their lives back in order. But I'm also a fan of people having to pay the consequences of their actions and choices. Enabling bad behavior never helps the perpetrator. And in fact does more harm than good.
I'm really getting fed up with people -- and especially my relatives -- who constantly defend those in the wrong just because they share DNA. Wrong is wrong. It doesn't matter who the perpetrator is. Yes, even baby sons and baby nephews make bad choices and some even break the law. It's not the law's fault that your relative makes bad choices. Put the blame where it belongs. A first offense is still an offense.
People need to start taking responsibility for their actions and pay the consequences for their choices. People also need to stop defending, making excuses for, and flat out denying other people's bad choices and actions just because they are related.
Wrong is wrong. What's so hard to understand about that?
That's my two cents.
Let me give you a personal example. Names have been changed to protect the innocent/guilty.
A middle-aged man named Clayne and his wife Megan live with Clayne's elderly parents, Robert and Alexandra. Clayne decided one night to get drunk and subsequently beat his wife, Megan. Robert and Alexandra were out of state at the time so Megan, fearing for her life, calls the police. Clayne is taken into police custody and charged with a "first offense". Being related to Clayne I am aware of several prior incidents of abuse/assault. Including Clayne getting drunk at his brother Watson's wedding. Clayne began causing a scene and their sister, Cressida, asked Clayne to quit misbehaving at their brother's wedding. After which Clayne punched his sister Cressida in the face. Obviously Clayne has a history of drunken assault.
Yet Clayne's elderly father, Robert, is quick to blame law enforcement and the victim, Megan. all the while defending his precious baby son, who can do no wrong. Classic case of enabling. Robert is quick to claim "first offense". Guess what? In the world I live in a first offense hurts the victim just as much as subsequent offenses. Why is it excusable?
Does a murderer get to play the "first offense" card? No. So why should a perpetrator of domestic abuse, animal cruelty, assault, robbery, evading police or any other crime get off scot-free because it is a "first offense"?
Especially in cases such as domestic abuse, child abuse, animal cruelty, assault, rape etc. where the victim is scared to or unable to press charges.
I'm all for rehabilitating people and helping them get their lives back in order. But I'm also a fan of people having to pay the consequences of their actions and choices. Enabling bad behavior never helps the perpetrator. And in fact does more harm than good.
I'm really getting fed up with people -- and especially my relatives -- who constantly defend those in the wrong just because they share DNA. Wrong is wrong. It doesn't matter who the perpetrator is. Yes, even baby sons and baby nephews make bad choices and some even break the law. It's not the law's fault that your relative makes bad choices. Put the blame where it belongs. A first offense is still an offense.
People need to start taking responsibility for their actions and pay the consequences for their choices. People also need to stop defending, making excuses for, and flat out denying other people's bad choices and actions just because they are related.
Wrong is wrong. What's so hard to understand about that?
That's my two cents.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Carnal Security
With some of the recent news events lately I was thinking about all of the people who are lulled into carnal security. The thing about these people is they think they are right. When they couldn't be more wrong.
Rush Limbaugh was talking about all of these liberal, leftist, democrats living in Lala land who think they live in reality but have no idea what reality is. And I'm not just talking about the Hollywood elite who mistakenly think that people care about what they have to say. They spend their lives pretending to be other people. Most of them are narcissists who have no self esteem and have to pretend to be someone else so people will like them. Why would anyone care what they think? Yet in their minds everyone loves and admires them and hangs on their every word. That's obviously not true or Hillary Clinton would be President-elect.
All liberal leftists live in Lala land. Their reality is that they are always right and they are the good guys. They think that everyone who doesn't agree with them is a bad guy. When in reality the opposite is true. Those who don't agree with them are the ones living in reality. If people have to continually tell others how good they are, and fish for praise, they are trying to convince themselves. To them lala land is reality. They have been lulled into carnal security.
The thing is these people claim that all is well yet they are always angry. Even when they win they are angry. Look at marriage. They get their way with same-sex marriage and are still angry and have to find something else good to fight against and be angry about. Look at Meryl Streep who wins a lifetime achievement award and all she can do is spew anger instead of thanks. They can never be happy.
Those people are sad enough but then we have members of the Church who have been taught truth yet allow Satan to lull them away into carnal security. Those people are pathetic.
I won't name names but there are many members of the Church who are deranged liberal leftists living in Lala land. In fact, a statistic I read said that 25% of members of the Church voted for Hillary Clinton. These are people who sing the praises of Planned Parenthood -- which is nothing but a baby killing organization. And they think they are morally superior?! Sick twisted and deranged is what they are. Supporting and voting for someone who is a known murderer, liar, thief, rapist defender, baby killing defender, basically anything that goes against God's laws defender, is unconscionable to me. Yet 25% of my fellow Saints fall into that category. And I'm not talking about apostates or inactives -- who don't claim to follow God's laws any longer, they long ago were lulled into carnal security-- no, these are active churchgoing members who claim to have testimonies and who claim to follow God's laws. These are they who have been lulled away into carnal security.
Here is the scripture I heard the other day which sparked this blog post:
2 Nephi 28:19-25
There are many people -- regardless of religious preference -- who say there is no devil and all is well. They subscribe to the eat drink and be merry philosophy. All the while Satan is laughing his neck off at them while he leads "them away carefully down to hell".
I think of a child with an imaginary friend or security blanket who thinks that they are protected and all is well. When in reality the protection from an imaginary friend or security blanket are only figments of their imagination. An imaginary friend or a security blanket will certainly not do anything to protect you from the boogieman or the monster under your bed.
Satan is a lot scarier than the boogieman or any monster. Yet so many people allow him to deceive them and lull them away into carnal security.
Do not be pacified by Satan's lies and deceptions. Don't let him lull you into carnal security. Breakaway from his everlasting chains that cheateth your souls. Leave Lala land and come back to reality where God rules and Satan is real. Because if you don't -- mark my word -- you will regret it. Reread the above scripture. It is very clear. And there are many more scriptures just like it. Life is too short to live in Lala land being deceived. Shake off the chains of hell and come back to reality. If you don't, reality will hit you really hard come judgment day. See verse 23 above.
That's my two cents.
Rush Limbaugh was talking about all of these liberal, leftist, democrats living in Lala land who think they live in reality but have no idea what reality is. And I'm not just talking about the Hollywood elite who mistakenly think that people care about what they have to say. They spend their lives pretending to be other people. Most of them are narcissists who have no self esteem and have to pretend to be someone else so people will like them. Why would anyone care what they think? Yet in their minds everyone loves and admires them and hangs on their every word. That's obviously not true or Hillary Clinton would be President-elect.
All liberal leftists live in Lala land. Their reality is that they are always right and they are the good guys. They think that everyone who doesn't agree with them is a bad guy. When in reality the opposite is true. Those who don't agree with them are the ones living in reality. If people have to continually tell others how good they are, and fish for praise, they are trying to convince themselves. To them lala land is reality. They have been lulled into carnal security.
The thing is these people claim that all is well yet they are always angry. Even when they win they are angry. Look at marriage. They get their way with same-sex marriage and are still angry and have to find something else good to fight against and be angry about. Look at Meryl Streep who wins a lifetime achievement award and all she can do is spew anger instead of thanks. They can never be happy.
Those people are sad enough but then we have members of the Church who have been taught truth yet allow Satan to lull them away into carnal security. Those people are pathetic.
I won't name names but there are many members of the Church who are deranged liberal leftists living in Lala land. In fact, a statistic I read said that 25% of members of the Church voted for Hillary Clinton. These are people who sing the praises of Planned Parenthood -- which is nothing but a baby killing organization. And they think they are morally superior?! Sick twisted and deranged is what they are. Supporting and voting for someone who is a known murderer, liar, thief, rapist defender, baby killing defender, basically anything that goes against God's laws defender, is unconscionable to me. Yet 25% of my fellow Saints fall into that category. And I'm not talking about apostates or inactives -- who don't claim to follow God's laws any longer, they long ago were lulled into carnal security-- no, these are active churchgoing members who claim to have testimonies and who claim to follow God's laws. These are they who have been lulled away into carnal security.
Here is the scripture I heard the other day which sparked this blog post:
2 Nephi 28:19-25
19 For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish;
20 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.
21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.
23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.
24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!Satan's been doing his job for millennia-- So he's obviously very experienced and good at what he does -- but it still surprises me at how weak people are and how easily they are deceived and fall.
There are many people -- regardless of religious preference -- who say there is no devil and all is well. They subscribe to the eat drink and be merry philosophy. All the while Satan is laughing his neck off at them while he leads "them away carefully down to hell".
I think of a child with an imaginary friend or security blanket who thinks that they are protected and all is well. When in reality the protection from an imaginary friend or security blanket are only figments of their imagination. An imaginary friend or a security blanket will certainly not do anything to protect you from the boogieman or the monster under your bed.
Satan is a lot scarier than the boogieman or any monster. Yet so many people allow him to deceive them and lull them away into carnal security.
Do not be pacified by Satan's lies and deceptions. Don't let him lull you into carnal security. Breakaway from his everlasting chains that cheateth your souls. Leave Lala land and come back to reality where God rules and Satan is real. Because if you don't -- mark my word -- you will regret it. Reread the above scripture. It is very clear. And there are many more scriptures just like it. Life is too short to live in Lala land being deceived. Shake off the chains of hell and come back to reality. If you don't, reality will hit you really hard come judgment day. See verse 23 above.
That's my two cents.
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
He Can't Say I Didn't Try
I've been on a Rick Trevino kick lately. I daresay that no one reading this blog knows who Rick Trevino is. Rick Trevino is a country singer from the 90s. I know all of the country singers from the 90s and had most of their albums. Of course I had Rick Trevino's albums. There was one song in particular of his that I really loved. It's a repeat worthy song. If you know me well enough, you know that I love to put one song on repeat and listen to it over and over again. I used to do that all the time while driving. Back in the day when I drove a lot. I also like to sing along to said repeat worthy songs-- Of course having memorized all the lyrics after listening to them on repeat so many times. :-)
Usually there's no rhyme or reason why I fall in love with a particular song. Although it usually has more to do with the music than the lyrics. I tend to gravitate towards ballads and slower songs with beautiful music. Often times I don't care for the lyrics or they don't really pertain to me. But sometimes it is the lyric I like more than the music.
Anyway that's a long explanation to reveal the Rick Trevino song I've been listening to nonstop for several days now. I think I've seen every live version on YouTube. :-) Some of them multiple times. But I tend to prefer just the audio version on my computer.
Songs for me usually bring back the memory of a time or place or event. A lot of the 90s country songs remind me of my days at Utah State University. A simpler time in my life. Back then who knew I would ever say that? :-) Rick Trevino certainly reminds me of singing karaoke in my apartment in Logan.
The Rick Trevino song I love is, "She Can't Say I Didn't Cry". I don't know why I thought about this song recently but it seems more pertinent to my life now than it was then.
As I've been thinking about how this song pertains to my life I changed a couple of the words in the lyrics. I changed it to: "He Can't Say I Didn't Try."
I was going to post a YouTube live version of the song for you here but I knew that's what you wanted me to do. :-)
That's my two cents.
Usually there's no rhyme or reason why I fall in love with a particular song. Although it usually has more to do with the music than the lyrics. I tend to gravitate towards ballads and slower songs with beautiful music. Often times I don't care for the lyrics or they don't really pertain to me. But sometimes it is the lyric I like more than the music.
Anyway that's a long explanation to reveal the Rick Trevino song I've been listening to nonstop for several days now. I think I've seen every live version on YouTube. :-) Some of them multiple times. But I tend to prefer just the audio version on my computer.
Songs for me usually bring back the memory of a time or place or event. A lot of the 90s country songs remind me of my days at Utah State University. A simpler time in my life. Back then who knew I would ever say that? :-) Rick Trevino certainly reminds me of singing karaoke in my apartment in Logan.
The Rick Trevino song I love is, "She Can't Say I Didn't Cry". I don't know why I thought about this song recently but it seems more pertinent to my life now than it was then.
As I've been thinking about how this song pertains to my life I changed a couple of the words in the lyrics. I changed it to: "He Can't Say I Didn't Try."
Chorus (with my edit):
He can't say I didn't try
He can't say he didn't know
How it tore me up inside
How it hurt to watch him go
There's a million things that he might sayActually cry works too.
That I cannot deny
But he can't look me in the eye
And say I didn't try
I was going to post a YouTube live version of the song for you here but I knew that's what you wanted me to do. :-)
That's my two cents.
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Faith Is a Choice
"My dear friends, your faith did not begin at birth, and it will not end at death. Faith is a choice. Strengthen your faith, and live to be deserving of the Savior’s approving words: “Great is thy faith.” As you do, I promise you that your faith, through the grace of Jesus Christ, will one day allow you to stand with those you love, clean and pure in the presence of God."
—Neil L. Andersen, "Faith is Not by Chance, but by Choice"
"Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is not something ethereal, floating loosely in the air. Faith does not fall upon us by chance or stay with us by birthright. ...Faith emits a spiritual light, and that light is discernible. Faith in Jesus Christ is a gift from heaven that comes as we choose to believe and as we seek it and hold on to it. Your faith is either growing stronger or becoming weaker. Faith is a principle of power, important not only in this life but also in our progression beyond the veil. By the grace of Christ, we will one day be saved through faith on His name. The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice."
"How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty, purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes. Why did the Savior say to Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not”? Because there is an adversary who delights in destroying our faith! Be relentless in protecting your faith." -- Elder Neil L. Andersen, October 2015I love these quotes by Elder Andersen because they clarify a misconception that a lot of people have. That is --a lot of people think that faith is something you either have or you don't-- by chance. But as Elder Andersen so eloquently stated, faith is not by chance, but by choice. Our level of faith is something that we developed before birth and continue to develop or lose here on earth in mortality-- depending on our choices. To develop and strengthen our faith requires daily effort, work.
You've heard the expression use it or lose it. That certainly applies to faith. We must choose to work on developing our faith daily through obedience, prayer, service, etc. because if we don't, we will gradually lose it.
Faith is most certainly a choice. We must constantly work on developing our faith. Faith is not something acquired by chance. Thanks for the quotes Elder Andersen.
That's my two cents.
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