Why not the horse's mouth?

Has anyone else noticed how many people out there that claim to want to know what Mormons believe are content to get their information from anyone BUT Mormons?

Other than naivete, personal agenda, or a preference for gossip over truth, I can't think of any legitimate reasons for such a practice.

Not all is as it seems

I learned some interesting statistics the other day. I had never heard them before but they really weren't surprising to me. I don't think they should be surprising to anyone that believes in freedom.
I'm afraid I can't give the exact numbers, but I can pass along the idea, which is much more important.
First let's mention the statistics that the proponents of wealth redistribution like to use. Over the past 2 decades the number of Americans in the bottom 1/5th of income has increased, and so has the number in the top 1/5th. This suggests that the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. A common complaint.
But there is more to the statistics than immediately meets the eye. When digging a little deeper we learn that the individuals that made up the bottom 1/5th in the past are now spread across all five groups, with a substantial number of them now in the TOP 1/5th. Only around 15% of past poor still are poor. Those that now make up the bottom 1/5th are 'new poor', consisting mostly of younger Americans getting started and immigrants. So the oppressed apparently really weren't. Most of them prospered, each according to his/her talents and efforts.
Of course most of us never needed a study to demonstrate this truth, we see it all around us.

Anonymous comment

I received a comment today on my posting "The times they are a changin'" that I chose not to publish because it was submitted anonymously. I won't give stage or audience to writers unwilling to have the readers know their identity.
This unknown author believed I painted the poor of this country with too broad a brush. The posting is still there and you can decide that for yourselves. (I do sort of wish the comment could be seen, as it went on to make some logical leaps and accuse me of apparently wishing to simply rid our nation, by force, of all poor people.)
I would however like to give a limited response because, if the accusation were true, it would be a valid point.
The majority of 'poor' people in this country, I think we all know many, are hard-working people doing the best they can to support themselves. Many work multiple jobs and go about living their lives, minding their business, and probably wishing others would do the same. They are not out demanding anything. They can hold their heads high and I respect them.
My posting referred specifically to a different mindset. Those individuals at the Occupy Wall Street rallies do not represent the majority and have no such honor. (The 99% is a complete misnomer.) There is no honor, however cleverly described as "fairness", to demanding that the government take from others in order to have it for yourself. Take a look at the protesters, listen to what they demand, observe how they are behaving. THOSE individuals, if given their way, will eventually destroy the economic, AND THE MORAL fabric of this nation.
And I stand by that!

The times they are a changin'

I'm not THAT old, but it seems I remember a time when welfare was meant as a safety net for those that had fallen on hard times. Even the truly deserving and needful were hesitant to accept it. It was always considered a temporary last resort.
Now we have masses of people taking to the streets to publicly demand that they be supported by dollars forcibly taken from others. These are almost entirely people that are physically capable of working, when they're sober, but somehow feel it is more moral to legally steal from others for their support than to expect them to take a job that is beneath them. Yet they think the rich are the prima donnas.
Think of this shift in attitudes. Even if you don't believe our country is on the brink of bankruptcy now, how long do you think we can continue this trend before it is?

Top Ten things you WON'T see among the Wall Street protestors

10. Callused hands
9. Unique thoughts
8. Ronald Reagan T-shirt
7. Moral compass
6. Gratitude
5. Deodorant
4. Prayer circles
3. Natural leaders
2. Personal discipline
1. The American Dream

Ohio escape renews calls for exotic pet ban

This was the first headline I saw today regarding the story of the man that released all his exotic animals before killing himself.
Without debating the appropriateness of keeping exotic animals or not, what leaped out at me was the attitude that every unfortunate event that makes the news means we need more laws.
This is how freedoms get eroded. Some pinhead does something stupid, then activists and legislators begin yelling "Something has to be done". The next thing you know they write and pass new one-size-fits-all laws that are written so broadly as to prevent perfectly responsible people from doing perfectly responsible things. (This describes 99% of all gun laws.)
In the name of liberty leaders in this nation once tried to avoid violating the principle of 'prior restraint'. That principle demands that we punish bad apples rather than create laws that presume everyone is a bad apple.
Sadly we don't use that standard much anymore.

If only....

If the ne'er do wells would just put 1/10th as much effort into making themselves employable as they do complaining and making trouble they........ oh wait, they DO.

And there's the trouble, isn't it?

Didn't anyone learn from the goose that layed the golden egg?

"A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship."
There is much dispute concerning the author of this aged quotation. But there can certainly be no disputing its accuracy.
Take as example the disgusting Occupy Wall Street demonstrations happening now. Take a close look at the individuals involved. With few exceptions they fall into two categories: 1)Those that have chosen lives of sloth, degradation, and rebellion, yet believe they are entitled to the wealth acquired by the accursed "rich". 2)Those that exploit them for personal gain.
The desire of the slothful to steal from the productive is as old as time. Doing so through the workings of democratic government may make it legal, but it doesn't make it any more moral.
But alas the slothful will always outnumber the productive, and professional politicians (another concept against which our founders warned us) more concerned with power than with sustainable governance, will always be willing to pander to this majority. Ironically it will be the producers that are labeled "greedy" in this scheme.
I defy anyone to intelligently explain how this scenario can survive long term.

A glimmer of hope.

I have no idea who the student behind this is. But I know they're going to be successful.
By success I don't just mean income, although that will likely be the case. I also mean that I suspect they will find good employment, will do well there and find satisfaction in doing their job well. I suppose they will be well liked by their co-workers because they work hard and are cheerful doing so, which will likely lead to recognition and upward mobility. Or perhaps, if they're more independent minded they will start their own business which will succeed because they put the same work ethic into it they did their education. I believe they will be satisfied living within their means, staying out of debt, and likely save for the future. This will of course mean having fewer 'toys', and being moderate in their leisure spending. These traits of sacrifice and resisting indulgence will probably help enable them to be a good spouse and have wonderful, happy relationships. They will most likely find happiness in what they have, rather than wallowing in covetousness. After passing these traits on they will probably be blessed with happy, good-natured children.
Many years down the road I see this person as a happy, hard working, generous, self sufficient, person. After a lifetime of sacrifice, hard work, moderate spending, and squirreling away their earnings, they will undoubtedly be reviled as "the rich" by pampered, self-indulgent, ill-tempered, slothful, short-sighted, seldom washed ingrates, that will demand the government strip them of their wealth to be used to prop up these same slovenly ne'er do wells, all in the name of fairness.
For examples of the latter, please refer to the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.

It's begun. Again.

Once again the Mormon bashing has begun. As predictable as it is, it's still always disappointing to see otherwise decent individuals, that claim to believe in the founding principles of this nation and profess to be a follower of the Master, engage in behaviors that are so counter to those principles and His teachings.
In an odd way I admire their fire. Spreading the good word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is important work. Unfortunately in their zeal they take a giant leap away from teaching truth, and instead single out one particular faith with which they disagree and are so extreme as to suggest the followers should be opposed in every aspect of life.
The irony is that in this case they are actually fighting against the very truth they should be seeking.
It's a sad thing to know that one day the words and actions that they use to condemn Mormons will ultimately serve to be their own condemnation.

History in the making

I love Elder Holland's style. He speaks boldly with unmistakable love. He finds a way to hit us right between the eyes with his message, without making us feel like we've been beaten up.
I've included his talk from the most recent priesthood session of General Conference. It best represents a theme I believe I noticed. As I listened to this talk, and then to Pres. Monson's talk in the same session, my thoughts turned to this often recited quote from the Wentworth Letter: The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.
These talks, considered in context with the new I am a Mormon campaign and other initiatives and uses of modern technologies, make me believe we are witnessing-no, strike that- that we are participating in the 'ramp up' to the literal fulfillment of this amazing prophesy.
What an incredible time in the history of the world to be living. Suit up!

Plan of Happiness

I've been randomly cruising through some of the profiles on Mormon.org. I very much enjoy reading other members' thoughts, stories and testimonies. An oft repeated comment is that members of the Church have found that they are happiest when they are faithfully living the gospel. This is true of course. I like to point out, especially to my children, the underlying doctrine to this truth.

There are actually multiple reasons, but one that seems to often get overlooked or not understood. The obvious answers are a)That when we are obedient we open ourselves up to receiving blessings. "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated— And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." D&C 130:20-21 and b) When we're living right we enjoy the company of the Holy Ghost, which by its nature is a blessing that naturally begets additional blessings.

There is an additional reason that keeping the commandments leads to happiness that is, in my estimation, less often considered. It is simply a result of natural law. There are always consequences that accompany choices. We come to understand this concept in other areas of life wherein the consequences are more immediate and easily identified. We learn to make better decisions and call it wisdom. I think much of the world might hear the word "commandments" and think of a God bent on controlling His subjects. Yet He grants us agency. The truth is that EVERY commandment of God has been given for OUR good. Our Heavenly Father is all knowing. And because He wishes us to be happy He gives us counsel designed to lead to our greatest possible happiness.

Most people don't hesitate to seek the advise of experts prior to making important decisions: doctors, lawyers, real estate agents, etc. Why is it so difficult to trust in Him whose wisdom knows no bounds, choosing instead to seek happiness outside the Plan of Happiness?