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).