Smile Ranch

Just wanted to give a little shout out to the Smile Ranch.  I have taken Claire up to Utah twice for  work on her teeth.  Alan Jensen, who happens to be my daughter Emily's father-in-law has got to be one of the best orthodontists there is.  Our experience there has been wonderful.  It is amazing how interested he is in the well-being of his patients and even their friends and family. He really can't stand to have someone have an imperfect mouth if he feels there is something he can do about it.  To all of our Utah friends and family, you should really check out the Smile Ranch.  I can't believe how happy it makes Claire to know that her smile is being improved.  She is so beautiful

Glen Beck tells a story

Does it bug you that Glen Beck has been so negative about Mitt Romney?  He has (if you'll pardon the expression) called him anything but a white man.  He has constantly criticized his politics and called him a flip-flopper.  According to Beck, Romney has not been sufficiently conservative.

Well, Beck has done a flip-flop.  He has now praised Romney and compared him to George Washington.  I hold an admittedly biased point of view.  My dad once told me that the higher in church offices he had met men, the better they had been.  That has been my observation as well.  Bishops and Stake Presidents are often good and humble men.  I have felt that Mitt Romney was one of those good and humble men who is also extremely smart and hard-working.  Now it turns out that he has also been very generous.

Please watch the attached video:

Did I Mention I was Voting for Mitt?

Lest there be any question--I will be voting for Mitt Romney for President.  I encourage everyone to do the same.  Let me state a few of my reasons:

From a competency standpoint, I think the comparison is almost ridiculous.  In this time of economic uncertainty and depression a businessman with the turnaround experience of Governor Romney seems most practical.  His ability to bring faltering companies to life, his leadership in the Olympics, and his government experience leading the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have demonstrated an unusually high level of economic competence.  President Obama had no demonstrable experience in economics prior to his political life.  As president he has shown a remarkable failure to lead in economics except in the direction of state control of a greater share of the economy and the willingness to spend our money and our children's money on anything but the practical.  Even his so-called rescue of General Motors could be characterized as a payoff for the union while the long-term viability of GM as currently constituted remains in doubt.

The contrast between the two candidate's vision for the role of government is stark, and in the way I prefer, is highly favorable towards Governor Romney.  President Obama has made it clear that he feels government should take a bigger role in our lives.  We "didn't build that" he says, belittling the efforts taken by business owners and entrepreneurs to grow the economy.  In all my life I have never seen Uncle Sam or his cohorts put in a day's work on one of my jobs, but we pay an ever increasing burden of taxes, nevertheless.  Governor Romney's plan includes reducing the burden of government and sending the government medical plan back to the states and the people.

Respect for the constitution is a highly apparent difference between the two candidates.  President Obama has demonstrated by words and actions a very casual regard for the protections from the government our forefathers provided for us in the constitution.  He has also adopted an approach to the laws that is disrespectful of the voice of the people expressed through the legislature, e.g., direction to discontinue enforcing the DOMA and immigration laws.  Governor Romney showed extremely careful enforcement of laws in Massachusetts, even those with which he had disagreement, while working to have the laws changed.  President Obama simply bypasses those laws with which he disagrees.

The unveiling of the Democratic platform was an eye-opener for me.  Their support for abortion has gone from being "pro-choice" and wanting abortions to be safe, rare; and legal, to being pro-abortion.  “The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman’s right to make decisions regarding her pregnancy, including a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay,” the platform reads. “We oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.”  That includes parental consent for minors and abortion up to and including "partial-birth" abortion.  It is heinous.

Independence Day

Woke up early today and went surfing.  No, not California (I wish), the Internet.  Had such a wonderful weekend celebrating our nation's independence.  Colleen and I volunteered to work at the City of Mesa "Celebration of Freedom".  We manned a jump booth.  We met lots of kids and had a great time.  This is Jessica Allen taking a picture of her little girl.

The fireworks were outstanding.

Went to Facebook and saw David & Nancy French.  That led me to last year's 4th of July video.  If you don't realize it, I'm a big fan of the Frenches.  They are an outstanding example of latter-day saints (especially for Presbyterians).

I was feeling inspired.  When I ran across this video , I just had to share it.  Everyone has seen it, but it's a great reminder that we all have great potential.  We are all children of a Heavenly Father who loves us.  He let us come to this earth so we could become more like him.  The trials and tribulations are for our benefit, " all these things shall give thee^eexperience, and shall be for thy good".


Have a great Independence Day!

Rabbi Prager

I have quoted Dennis Prager before on family values, etc. in this audio clip at Article 6 blog he really demonstrates his commitment to religious tolerance and freedom as well as a defense of values as held by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints as compared with theological beliefs, showing how important values are to political office and how irrelevant religious beliefs are. He also plainly demonstrates the bigotry of anti-religious commentary to politics. As Dennis often says, he is most interested in clarity. This exchange was very clear in its meaning. Dennis obviously hates bigotry. Me too.

Strength in Youth

Our young people can carry with them a great spirit. We have several non-members who attend our mutual activities and even Sunday classes. The other day we reorganized the Young Women's class presidencies and I made a comment to one of the visitors that I could see her presiding in one of these classes and that I hoped one day she could, but that she would have to be a member of the organization in order to preside. Tonight the missionaries stopped by to tell me that this young lady wanted to be baptized because she wanted to someday serve in a presidency. Being one of the Lord's followers isn't easy but it is good. I am pleased by her attitude and that His Spirit could be felt through something I said. I know he loves his children.

Mitt vs Newt

A Poygamist who doesn't polyg vs a mongamist who doesn't monag

If you follow the Republican primaries you might be familiar with the difficulty that Governor Romney has in gaining supporters in Iowa. Apparently Iowa is overrun by those with a common religious persuasion determined that Mormons are "not Christians", a "cult", untruthful, "unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God", and every other unbecoming attribute. I can't say that Mormons are without fault, in fact, we sometimes bring criticism upon our selves because we see ourselves as follows: We are "honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and .. doing good to all men; indeed, we may say -- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things." On the other hand we see non-Mormons this way: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof". The political question becomes "Is it possible to support one in a political office for whom one has such fundamental religious disagreements?" Latter Day Saints have been in the minority for so long in most places that we have had to accept political leaders from a variety of religious traditions. Non-Mormons have less experience in accepting a Mormon political leader.
The first Mormon Senator elected from Utah was Senator Smoot back in 1903. He was challenged by the Senate. "We’ve come a long way since 1903, when the Utah Legislature elected Reed Smoot to be the first Mormon to be seated in the Senate. But when Smoot arrived in Washington in early 1904 with every expectation that he would be sworn in, he instead spent the next four years on the sidelines while a Senate committee investigated the charges against him, prompted by a nationally organized campaign by church leaders who passionately opposed the seating of any Mormon, however deserving, in Congress." For the whole article click here.http://www.rollcall.com/news/bonker_religious_intolerance_a_political_problem_for_romney_but_a_bigger-211131-1.html. "On the last day of the Senate deliberations, Sen. Fred Dubois (R-Idaho), who led the attacks against Smoot, charged that the Mormon doctrine commanded the “Saints to take unto themselves a multiplicity of wives, limited in number only be the measures of their desires.”
That prompted Sen. Boies Penrose (R-Pa.) to respond by making the point that Smoot had always been faithfully married to the same woman; then, as he deliberately cast his eye around the Senate chamber, he commented that he was well familiar with the behavior of some of his colleagues known for philandering, concluding with this rhetorical line: “I would rather have seated beside me in this chamber a polygamist who doesn’t polyg than a monogamist who doesn’t monag!”

All is Well in Zion

Look at the big picture.

The Democrats and the President keep pushing the country into more and more spending. It is incredibly confusing why they would continue on such an apparently destructive path. where is the money going to come from? All they really want is to stay in power, damn the consequences. Krauthammer's article is instructive.. What huge liars these people are. They talk about these minuscule efforts to even slow down the GROWTH in the most massive increase in spending ever seen as if pablum was being stolen from the mouths of babies. Are the people so stupid as to believe their lies? I am afraid so many people see themselves as being on the receiving end that they are willing accomplices to the theft.

Oh well, football season is starting. We can go back to ignoring the politicians. They can get on with leading us "carefully down to hell".

Modern Culture

I am such a nerd. I listened to the Tony awards the other night and watched the ersatz missionary sing about faith. I didn't get the humor. One has to be completely faith-less and heartless to actually enjoy blaspheming one's religious beliefs. I hope that I have not held to ridicule someone's personal beliefs no matter if I might feel they are ridiculous. A person without religious beliefs could easily belittle any faith. I hope that those with faith in God and in His Christ will stand together in defending our right to believe even if we do not hold each other's particular beliefs. It is great to read the thoughts of a great thinker like John Mark Reynolds and see his integrity in standing up for the Golden Rule.

"When Broadway revels in impiety and offending Mormons, this disturbs me. It does not disturb me in exactly the same way as if a play mocked my own beliefs, but it breaks the Golden Rule. If I give blasphemy against Mormonism an easy personal pass, then I am not doing to another faithful man what I would have him to do to me."

Thanks Dr. Reynolds. I appreciate your great heart and brilliant mind even while being confused by your belief in a trinitarian God.

Mother's Day

This will be our first Mother's Day without Mom. Hopefully it will be a wonderful time to reflect on her life and a chance to re-commit ourselves to being men and women she would be proud of and not just blubbering babies.

I read a sweet article about a mother in which the mom explained that seeing her pain was the only way the children could let her go. "On one particular difficult day, I confessed I hated to see her suffer. And her response has profoundly affected me ever since. She said, “Don’t… I don’t… it is what is going to make you able to give me up.”"

How true it is. Our mother taught us lessons up to the end, and how sweet is was to let her pass. Too bad we don't get the Mother's Day phone call. Even missionaries get that.

Freedom to chose

I just read about the Book of Mormon musical on Broadway. I probably won't see it, but from the reports I have read it is probably somewhat cynical towards my faith. As one reviewer wrote, it may be another sign that we are seen as more mainstream than ever, like Catholics, we can be ridiculed freely without fear of retribution. Hooray!

With all the freedom of choice in entertainment available these days, it is remarkable that movie production companies do not make DVD versions of their movies available with reduced nudity and profanity. The movies are edited with various levels for release on airplanes or future television release, but they are not available to the general public. Here is a fine article detailing the practice. It seems that the DVDs are often available in an "unrated" version (meaning more profanity, nudity, and violence than the theatrical version) but not in a cleaner version. Independent editing is vigorously challenged as an attack on artistic control. This article clearly points out the hypocrisy in this stance and moderately encourages the film industry to act in its own best interest in providing choice to all. Hooray again!!

Should we be Afraid of large magazines?

Or of state-sanctioned "freedom of choice"?

Mark Steyn makes a big deal about a "little thing like abortion" (The linked site should not be visited by any children)

From the Office of the District Attorney in Philadelphia:

Viable babies were born. Gosnell killed them by plunging scissors into their spinal cords. He taught his staff to do the same.

This is a remarkable moment in American life: A man is killing actual living, gurgling, bouncing babies on an industrial scale - and it barely makes the papers.

This so-called doctor was not only killing babies, but mutilating teenagers and forcing unwilling girls to submit to abortions against their will. Because it is sanctioned by the government.

I'm sorry about this crude posting, but it is a reminder that evil should not be ignored and must be fought.

Plan of Happiness

No matter what we go through, it is good to know that our Heavenly Father has our best interest in mind. All these things "give us experience" and are "for our good".

Donna's gone

Mom passed away last night. Her body was amazingly strong. She hadn't eaten for a long time and hadn't had any water for quite a while, but she stayed around. Her last really alert day was a week ago Friday. We were all called to her side because she was talking about dying. We all had a great and tender visit with her and she was really involved and funny though maybe a little confused. She seemed to not be sure if she was here or had already passed, but she was happy to be with her family. She gave us very specific instructions about the funeral and was especially concerned that we include everyone. I'm sure she's glad to be with the rest of her family now. We think of Jay and Linda. She told us that Aunt Carol would be excited. We talked about her Dad and Mom and her grandparents. Sunday she pulled herself back and made a heroic effort to talk with Bailey. The next day she hugged Jackson and called him by name even though she didn't seem to know Susan.

I'm not sure when her spirit left, maybe it was back and forth for a time, but she is gone now. I know that she continues to live in the spirit world and that we will see her again.

Ward Campout at Lomia

Young women have spent many summers at Camp Lomia. Our ward went there again for our annual ward campout. It was great fun and beautiful weather. Too bad for those who couldn't come. The food was good, the company was better. Colleen got to sleep in til 10:30. We had plenty of blankets (and needed them).

Good thing it wasn't a clam

Claire and I went out to Pier d'Orleans for dinner tonight. Adam would have gagged. We both had raw oysters as an appetizer.

By the way, the food there is great.

Girls are dumb

When I talk to young women, I like to tell them that "boys are dumb". And by that I mean that boys generally don't have the self-confidence to take the lead in a relationship. They are lead by their hormones. They will generally do anything a girl wants them to do, if the girl is smart enough to take control. I could give personal examples, but it's too embarrassing.

On the other hand, many girls are dumber. They have something that boys want more than anything in the world, and as long as they control it, i.e. keep it to themselves, boys will do anything for them. But girls fall for the "We don't need to be married" line. We're in love. I love you. I won't love you if you don't let me have it.

Girls need marriage. They need to be respected and taken care of. They don't need to be stuck with kids to take care of on their own. They don't need to be stuck without an education, with no one to help them take care of their kids but their mothers. They shouldn't have to accept any low-life boyfriend who might help them.

Girls need to realize that once they let go of that one thing, it's hard to get it back. It's almost impossible to restore that relationship with that one guy because he has already found out what it can be had for. It doesn't take the supreme commitment of marriage along with all that goes with that. It can be had for something far less. You've heard about the man who offered the woman a million dollars to go to bed with him. After she accepted he changed the offer to $1.00. She protested saying, "What kind of woman do you think I am?" His answer, "I already know what kind of woman you are, we're just negotiating on the price."

Boys need marriage, too. Men are pretty much useless by themselves. It takes a good woman challenging them to be better to get them to do their best. That thing that women have, that men want, keeps driving men to be better, if their woman keeps it just for them.

In some ways, this man/woman thing is way more complicated than this, but in some ways not. If girls don't understand it while young they will give away that pearl of great price before they know what it is worth. They will lose the power they have to motivate boys to be better than they are. And boys, by taking it too cheaply, will never be motivated to be as good as they can be. They will give up missions and education and families.

Success

Mark & I drove over 1,200 miles through the heart of Mexico and did not see one killing or kidnapping. We did meet a lot of incredible people and see a beautiful part of the country.

I picked him up in St. David, AZ where he was working. It was raining cats & dogs. We drove through Tombstone. You know they have billboards there with actual photos of Wyatt Earp, who looks remarkably like Kurt Russell. Bisbee is really pretty with a lot of tall, old buildings. Douglas still has the Gadsen Hotel downtown. We ate at a quaint little place in Aqua Prieta served by a young man who graduated from North High in Phoenix. He said to give our regards to Sheriff Joe.

We followed some double trailer semis through the mountains in the dark through Janos where we turned South. We reached Nuevo Casas Grandes late at night and stayed in the luxurious Paquime Hotel. Next morning we drove out to Colonia Juarez, one of the mormon colonies. As we drove into town, there was a banner hung over the highway which announced, "Welcome Home Elder Ordaz". The scene might remind some people of driving up from South End into Afton, WY. Col. Juarez is a beautiful farming community nestled between hills. There are apple and peach orchards all around and a beautiful Temple on the hill. The architecture would remind you more of Northern Arizona than most of Mexico.

We attended the wedding of one of Elder Brimley's companion's converts, who married a local girl from Nvo. C G. Elder Martinez is a handsome and funny man with a really interesting church history. Mark says he is one of the best missionaries he knows. That night we drove on down to Chihuahua, Chihuahua via Lebaron, the "other" mormon colony. We spent quite a bit of time finding a motel for under $400 pesos a night, but finally found one that did not rent by the hour.

Sat. AM we drove to Saucillo where we met Nora and her family. They showed off the new pig pen they were working on and served us homemade salsa and candy coated cacahuates (peanuts). The countryside there reminded me of Central California. It was a lush agricultural area growing chiles, chiles, chiles, corn, and peanuts. We had a lot of fun with their family and saw the two houses that the dad is building by himself. We then headed back north through Delicias were we visited with several families from the Delicias branch. We just missed the famous Elder Hawkins, aka, John Sena. One of the girls, Hna. Valverde, admitted to us that when Elder Brimley left he had driven all the girls in the branch loco. He gave her the abarozo and told her to hold it over their heads that she was the only one to get a hug.

We drove back up through Chihuahua to Nvo. Casas Grande where we had a Mex Burger. It wasn't as good as he remembered it. Back in Col. Juarez we ran into John Whetton in whose house the missionaries had stayed. He invited us to spend the night (inside in the guest bedroom this time). We had a wonderful evening with John and his 4 boys. John told us that Little Johnny takes after him. John must have had a lot of energy. He also told us about his romance with Jen. That is quite a story.

Sunday morning we went to church at both of the Colonia Juarez wards. What a great tradition of service comes from there. We met a lot of wonderful people in both wards. A few of them even knew that Elder Brimley had gone home from his mission a few months ago, although some wondered why he had a grey-haired companion.

We finished off our trip with a terrific home-cooked meal in the home of Familia Ordaz who were kind enough to include us in their homecoming celebration for Elder Roberto Ordaz. Mark & I drove on home that night.

I cant' begin to tell all the people that we saw and visited with and all the places we saw, but we had a great trip. I've posted pictures on facebook.

Nothing to worry About Now

I just read the good news. The murder rate in Mexico is down. So me and Mark have nothing to worry about (just don't read the article too closely). We'll tell you all about it when we get back.

Me and Mark to Mexico

Mark & I are going to Mexico this weekend. He will be working in St. David, AZ, so I will pick him up there and head through Tombstone to Douglas & Agua Prieta. We will travel to Colonia Juarez, through Lebaron to Chihuahua, Chihuahua and down to Delicias & Saucillo. Then back to Colonia Juarez for peaches and church.