Media and Mormonism

Isn't it funny how the two big conversation no-nos - religion and politics - are the hot subject of this presidential race? It is refreshing to see some writers who try to do it objectively. Read Richard and Linda Eyre's comments about some media coverage here.

The New York Times has been one example of responsible reporting on the church. Political reporter Jim Rutenberg wrote a piece called “Mormon’s First Families Rally Around Romney” that generally got its facts right. Earlier, a feature writer named Jodi Kantor did an article called “Romney’s Faith, Silent but Deep” and continues to write accurately about the church. Later this summer, another reporter, Sheryl Stromberg, is writing a piece on Romney as a father...

Health Care Crisis

Read about one of the problems the expansion of Medicaid will cause in the NY Times here. This is not saying that the expansion creates the underlying problem; just that thinking Obamacare will solve the crisis in healthcare is ludicrous. You can't just say, "lets add all these people and make it fair" if you can't take care of those people anyway. Having insurance without doctors doesn't help. This points out only one of many problems with the reform plan. We need to look at all levels. Education, which at this point is mostly focused on getting as much money from the student as possible. This makes it difficult to get doctors and advanced practice RNs in the system. We need to reform the whole system that is broken.

If a person, say an RN has been out of school, and WORKING in healthcare with lots of experience, but she hasn't the credentials to get into an advanced RN program because the education system is set up to deny credits that are too old, or were numbered differently when she went to school, this is a missed opportunity for a health care provider who could enter the system but refuses to do so when it requires so much more education (much of it redundant) that it isn't worth it to her (or him).

We need to reform the education for health care providers - giving credit for on-the-job experience and actual knowledge (think outside the good ol' boys box), the tort/legal system (where the lawyers drive up costs in frivolous law suits), the way care is given (again, think outside the box), and get rid of the ridiculous waste that insurance causes. And, Medicaid is 10 times worse than any insurance you have encountered when it comes to waste and red-tape. So, adding more to those rolls is asking for trouble and adding to the problem, not helping it.

So, that's my two cents worth today.

Another first - LDS on President's Faith Advisory Board

Read the article here. I guess we're a legitimate religion now, even in politics.

"Elder Steven E. Snow of the First Quorum of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been appointed to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, according to a press release issued Thursday by Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah."

According to the White House, the advisory council is charged with: indentifying best practices for delivering social services, improving the implementation of public policies related to faith-based groups, and recommending changes to polices, programs and practices to the president. (Sojourners God's Politics Blog)

And they say Fox News doesn't tell it like it is...

 Brent Bozell, President
Media Research Center

     The three television broadcast networks completely ignored tens of thousands of Americans who participated in more than 160 coordinated noontime rallies in support of religious freedom across the United States this past Friday, according to a new Media Research Center analysis. The networks didn’t commit a single second of coverage on either their morning or evening broadcasts to the widespread dissent against the anti-religious freedom Health and Human Services mandate.
     By comparison, CBS News dedicated four separate on-air segments between May 30 and June 1 to the supporters of a group of left-leaning Catholic nuns. CBS correspondent Wyatt Andrews boasted that, "hundreds of Catholics have rallied behind the sisters," and that "protests in support of the nuns have been held in almost 50 cities,” a fraction of the size and scope of the rallies held in opposition to the Obamacare mandate created to restrict religious liberty.
This disgraceful decision by the networks to deliberately ignore this national demonstration in support of religious freedom comes only weeks after these same networks deliberately and shamefully ignored the largest legal action ever taken against the government by the Catholic Church in the history of this Republic. CBS committed only 19 seconds of a single nightly newscast to those lawsuits while NBC and ABC gave the story ZERO coverage. This is a pointed and deliberate message from the liberal media directed at the millions of Americans who believe in our constitutionally protected freedom of religion.
     Let there be no mistake. These so-called 'news' networks only cover stories that are helpful to Barack Obama and will not broadcast anything that hurts his chances of re-election this November. The networks have shown their hand, and they are not on the side of freedom.

Truth about the Health Care Bills

Check this out in Snopes.  This scary analysis is correctly attributed; not just an internet hoax.  

by Michael Connelly,  retired attorney,constitutional law instructor

         To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.  


Read the rest of the story here.

        For those who might doubt the nature of this threat I suggest they consult the source. Here is a link to the Constitution: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html  and another to the Bill of Rights: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html

Religion under attack

“[The First Amendment] guarantees a freedom of religion, not a freedom from religion,”- Joe Lieberman
As a Jew in the public square, he understands the persecution and he stands up for his beliefs as well.

Obama has been called a Muslim - so what?  That is not what it is about.  Now, Mitt Romney's detractors say he is a Mormon - so what?  Both he and Jon Huntsman could bring great talent to Washington, if they are allowed to do so.  How sad for America if it is decided, based on their religious beliefs, that neither of them could serve.  (BTW: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints UPHOLDS the laws of the land).  How pathetic that basic morality is not a desirable quality to so many voters, or that they might prefer leaders who are womanizers or religious snobs who perpetuate myths such as "Mormon's aren't Christians".  Hmmmmm - somehow this doesn't sound very "Christian."

Better not get me started on the "separation of church and state" issue.  The kids in school can sing Halloween songs about witches and goblins, but heaven forbid they should sing a Christmas song.  They can have a Halloween program but only a "Winter" celebration at school.  They can talk a bout ghosts, but not holy ones.  The irony is that Halloween began as a religious event.  I guess it depends on which religion your witch is...

My friend's children attend a Jewish school and they celebrate Jewish holidays - as they should.  Of course as a private institution (so far) hey can do this, regardless of the faith of the various students (all faiths can attend). It's educational as far as I'm concerned, for them to see these other cultures and yes, faith communities are cultures to be studied. 

In other news, the Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan (NYC) continues to defend the faith and is concerned about the destruction of traditional marriage.  He has also seen the immediate repercussions that the public assured him was the church's "Chicken Little" unfounded fear.  The Catholic church has suffered much damage as lawsuits began as soon as the ink dried. They have lost in the arena of social services, adoptions within the faith and even threats regarding their refusal to allow gay marriages to occur in their parishes.  What rights are being trampled here?  Read more here.

Something to think about...

“Poisonous language doesn’t advance our cause. It’s never softened a single heart or changed a single mind. The blessings of faith carry the responsibility of civil and respectful debate.” - Mitt Romney

Jeffress’ bigotry hurt Perry, not Romney

Worth reading...Columnist contrasts
One of the people quoted here (not LDS) observed, "In comparing the hate-filled language of Jeffress with the words and good deeds of the Mormons we met, " Obeidallah [a comic visiting Utah] writes, "it is clear to me who is best following the teachings of Jesus Christ and truly deserves to be called a Christian."
Always nice to see some common sense out there.

Jeffress’ bigotry hurt Perry, not Romney | jeffress, perry, cult - Guest Column - Kinston Free Press

"It might shock Mr. Jeffress to learn his mega-church had its roots in a cult. Jesus and his followers were considered a cult by the Jewish community. By definition, every major religion today was — at one time or another — considered a cult.
A rogue church that hides under the guise of a traditional religion, like the Westboro Baptist Church or Jeremiah Wright’s church, could be considered a cult because they are so far outside mainstream belief. However, a religion that has 6 million members is not a cult."

And..."Texas Congressman and GOP candidate Ron Paul came to Romney’s defense over Jeffress’ comments about Mormonism. Speaking to Fox News, Paul argued that Jeffress’ remark was “unnecessary.” Paul went one step further and argued that negative campaigning shouldn’t be the focus of the GOP race. “This whole idea that the most important thing between two candidates right now is the definition of cult, trying to make it sound negative for one person to get the edge over the other – and they are encouraged by others to keep this thing going,” Paul professed.  Paul also suggested that whether Mormonism is a “cult” or not isn’t the issue that voters care about in the GOP race. “I think liberty is the issue of the day. Our Constitution is the issue of the day. And too much government – that is the issue of the day. It’s not the definition of a cult.”

Read more here:

And Jonah Goldberg - I liked this statement in the article, "

"He [Jeffress] also plays into the worst stereotypes about the Republicans as a bigoted and theocratic party for evangelical Christians alone. And that's ironic too. Because anti-Mormon prejudice is not a particularly acute problem on the right."

Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich said on CBS's "Face the Nation" that Jeffress' remarks were "very unwise and very inappropriate." "None of us should sit in judgment on someone else's religion." The Christian Post

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough, a former Florida GOP congressman, responded strongly to Jeffress in a column for Politico.

“By assuming the Almighty’s role, Jeffress has embraced the proud tradition of Christian stalwarts like Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, and the PTL Club’s Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker,” writes Scarborough, the host of “Morning Joe.”

“Judge not that ye be not judged? Not on your life. Modern American politics as practiced by Jeffress and his ilk require that Jesus Christ be thrown under the bus with great regularity by the very same people who claim His name.”

Politics has no place in religion, Scarborough argues. “When disciples asked Jesus for the secret to eternal salvation, He didn’t mention Roman tax policy or trite temporal politics. Instead, St. Matthew tells us that Jesus declared that heaven would be filled by those believers who clothed the poor, fed the hungry, gave water to the thirsty and brought hope to the hopeless.”

Republicans should disavow Jeffress, Scarborough insists. “I wonder how much longer candidates like Perry will allow modern-day Pharisees like Jeffress to do harm to the Republican Party,” he writes. “Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, and Perry all exercised their right to remain silent in the face of Jeffress’ outrageous statement. What courage. But what’s new?” Newsmax

Oklahoma Daily says, "

"In fact, under the theological and scholarly definition, cults are merely offshoots of a major religion considered different enough to be in its own category. From some perspectives, evangelical Christianity could be viewed as this kind of cult. But Jeffress clearly meant the more popular definition of cult: that of a harmful, manipulative small group based around “crazy” religious beliefs that presents a real danger to its adherents. I certainly wouldn’t claim his beliefs fall under this category, but it's equally hard to see how Romney’s do.
I am not amused by the incorrect personal attack on Romney. As a person of faith, I find Jeffress’ remarks offensive. I grew up in an area with a large LDS population, and though I am not a member of the Mormon church, many of my close friends are.
I have a tough time connecting the large, diverse group of Mormons I know with Branch Davidians or Jim Jones’ Kool-Aid-drinking followers. No Mormon I know blindly follows his or her church — at least, no more than any evangelical I know. Just like most Protestant and Catholic churches, the Mormon church has many members who believe what they are told and just as many who decide their beliefs for themselves."

"Mitt Romney should send Texas pastor Robert Jeffress a gift. It could be a fruit basket, or an e-card, or a bottle of nonalcoholic scotch. Really, whatever Romney thinks is appropriate. If the Great Mormon Debate of 2011 had to happen—and it did—the candidate couldn’t ask for a better instigator..." (www.slate.com)

The Washington Post (On Faith) Summary statement: "Does this add up to a man evangelicals can support? Absolutely - so long as they put aside Robert Jeffress’s bad theology and resist the urge towards religious tribalism. After all, where does such thinking lead? If religious tests dominate the evangelical world, candidates will have an incentive to wear the trappings of faith - even if their heart lies elsewhere.
Article 6 of the Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office. This Article may only bind the government, but it also establishes a worthy principle for its citizens. When deciding how to cast your vote, judge the man - not his church."

This post could go on and on like the song that never ends...

Open mouth; insert foot

"It is better to keep quiet and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt..."

How embarrassing for Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas...and some others closer to home too who speak before they think.
Continuing the stupidity...

Bryan Fischer, the spokesman for the American Family Association and who the [New York] Times said "is known for his strident remarks on homosexuality, gay rights, Muslims and Mormons."
Fischer claims that First Amendment protections of religious freedom do not apply to "non-Christian religions," a category in which he includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, asserting that it is "very clear that the Founding Fathers did not intend to preserve automatically religious liberty for non-Christian faiths."

WHAT!??

Latter-day Saints worship Christ, as the church's full name denotes.
So the Times found it noteworthy that Romney, a Latter-day Saint, has been asked to speak right before Fischer, someone who doesn't think he is entitled to religious freedom. And an organization called People for the American Way think Romney and others should say something about it.  The organization is calling on Republican presidential candidates to "denounce Bryan Fischer's long history of unmitigated bigotry."  (Read more here)

The fact is that it is so stupid, it really doesn't even warrant a response.

The church states simply that if you want to know how our religion is based upon Christ, check us out at mormon.org.  And if you prefer to read more, I would recommend Robert L. Millet's books, Alive in Christ,  Modern Mormonism - Myths and Realities, the books he has co-authored with his Evangelical friends,  Bridging the Divide: The Continuing Conversation Between a Mormon and an Evangelical , (co-authored with Rev. Gregory C. V. Johnson and Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate   (co-authored with Gerald McDermott) or any of his other 60 books.  
Who do you think knows more about the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - its scholars and members or its detractors?

Romney - too conscientious?

Newsweek's new cover story on former Massachusetts's Gov. Mitt Romney says the GOP presidential hopeful has one problem: he's too "conscientious."

"In fact," the article's author, Andrew Romano, writes, "it is the only trait of (Romney's) that qualifies as clinically 'prominent.'" 

There's more so read the DesNews article here and the Newsweek cover story here....

The reason for Romney's low score, according to Immelman: today's electorate rejects candidates who are considered "conscientious" or in other words "proper, diligent, detail-oriented and super-rational."

Wow!  What have we fallen to?  What really matters to us as Americans?  Apparently a good, strategic campaign - that's about it.

No apologies for morality & virtue

"In this day of gathering storm, as the moral deterioration of political power spreads it's growing infection, it is essential that every spiritual force be mobilized to defend and preserve the religious base upon which this nation was founded. For it is that base which has been the motivating impulse to our moral and national growth.
"History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline.  There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster." - General Douglas MacArthur

Listen to his voice here.   In light of accusations that he was a warmonger he firmly stated, "NOTHING could be further from the truth... but once war is forced upon us there is no other alternative but to employ every available means to bring it to a swift end.  War's very objective is victory; not prolonged indecision."

"We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln

The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but the God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people.  Trust in Him at all times, ye people, pour out your hearts before him; God is a refuge for us." - Abigail Adams

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." -  Ben Franklin - April 17, 1787

5 day work week

I have never worked a five-day week since I started my career as a registered nurse in 1983 until now.  Flexible scheduling, sometimes out of necessity is one of the perks of being a nurse. Read about the advantages of the four day work week here.  Of course hours can also be one of the drawbacks if you want to work the "standard" weekday.

Now in their all-knowing wisdom, after state employees (myself included) have been working 4 tens for the past 3 years, the legislature in a knee-jerk response, sans research bowed to a few constituents who "complained about services not available on Fridays" - wah, wah, wah, wah, wah !  They cite that the savings in moving to 4 tens was not as great as Governor Huntsman (who implemented it) had expected.  Are you kidding???  The savings were not great enough for the legislature to show some tough love?  There was still considerable savings - the last I read around $800,000 per year.  That's nothing to throw a stick at in these tough economic times.  AND it's going to cost MORE to switch back at least that $800,000 that was saved with the 4 tens.  Of course we have this kind of money to float here, right?  And now, besides losing the savings, we have to ADD the cost (unfunded mandate).

This post is not about me having to work 5 days/week.  It's about the micromanagement and short-sightedness of the state legislature.  It's about lack of flexibility and even leadership.  It's about job satisfaction that makes for more productive employees.  It's about being better when we are valued and therefore getting outside the government "box".

Way to go Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab -you're a real thinker - as are the other 20 legislatures who can't do math.  And, who don't value state employees. 

Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake, said legislators needed to consider employees in the debate, since many of them had to make major changes when the state shifted them to 10-hour days. "We have to make sure there is stability," Davis said. "I have not heard an outcry about the four-day workweek ... but I've heard they like the extended hours for service."  This is the irony - people like being able to access state services during their own non-working times such as 7-8 AM and 5-6 PM.  What about their votes?

Besides the hard dollar amounts, there are many savings in the 4 day week that are harder to measure such as time saved with motorists traveling off-peak hours, employee satisfaction (when we haven't receives as much as a COLA or any other raise in over 4 years).   Other countries who value time with their families already incorporate such non-traditional scheduling.  Some countries actually recognize the value of a nap mid-day!  Science has even backed that one, but you won't see that here in this "highly developed" country.

So, people, quit your whining!  You say you don't want more taxes, you know there isn't enough money in state coffers to pay the bills, but rather than adjusting your schedules a little more, you convince the legislature it is some kind of ridiculous hardship - even though the longer hours meant access to services before or after work for most people.

We're in a serious recession/almost depression people!  We're also in a war.  Wars cost money, welfare services cost money, etc. etc.  In such times past, people made necessary adjustments.  They tightened their virtual belts and stopped wearing nylons.  They also learned to live without a lot of other luxuries - like cars.  But in the age of entitlement Americans can't go to the DMV before or after work on Monday through Thursday.  "But I wanna go on Friday...boo, hoo!"  Never mind that many of the services are offered online and you don't have to wait in line at all.  Mechanic shops can register your car for you at the time of inspection if you don't have a computer or don't want to do it yourself.

We complain about pollution, but getting thousands of vehicles off the road one day per week is "not worth it"?  Employee satisfaction is not worth it?  The four day week has been shown to have many advantages to society, to employees and to taxpayers.  Such short-sighted thinking as has been recently shown by the Utah State Legislature further evidences that in many ways we insist on lagging behind.  We had the chance to be a leader here, as the first state to adopt this policy.  But, not so quick...we can't have that now, can we?  For those legislators worried about the complainers' votes, maybe it's time to think about the employees who also vote.  In a time when incumbents are not popular, this seems like a pretty dumb move.  I'll tell you now, I won't vote for any of the micro-managers on the hill.

The way the Legislature changed the law, despite surveys that showed the workers and the public liked the four-day-a-week schedule, doesn't sit well. (SLTrib).  And, this was an emergency how?  (Read here)

In addition to taking away the progressive and COST SAVING four day work week, these micromanagers have also decreed that flexible hours in general are out.  The entire Health Department MUST work 5 eights, even if there is no reason to do so.  Even those who had flexibility of hours prior to the 4 tens/week adoption, have now lost that option.  I know an advanced practice RN working for the state who has spent over 35 years saving lives in rural areas, educating people, working with poor people and minorities and basically being a professional.  Now she needs to be clocked in like all the other employees the legislature does not view as professionals.  I am disgusted by this attitude and believe they are taking advantage of the situation - poor economy and lots of available people for hire.  They have totally disregarded the time, effort and money it takes for a professional to be proficient in his or her job.  We can't be trusted like other professionals who are salaried and who get their work done regardless of how many hours each week it takes to do it. (hmmmm, like Legislators?)

The legislature has taken a clear stand - they don't value their employees, consider everyone expendable and love the idea of the revolving door.  I hope we will also show them the door on election day. 
Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, who was one of the proponents of requiring offices to open five days a week, believes there's lots of room for managers to be creative. (read here) Get real!!! Tell that to Dr. Patton of the Utah Dept. of Health.  Creativity has never been something the government does well.  This latest move punctuates that point.  Their assurance that flexibility is part of the plan is hogwash!  People who had flexibility before the 4 day week no longer have it in many cases.  Mine is a case in point.  This office had no nurse until I came here 3 months ago.  The needs were covered by other nurses of the department in other state locations since my job is done by phone and computer; not in person, hands-on.  Now, it is suddenly essential that I sit at my desk for 8 hours a day, five days a week with a mandatory lunch break, no flexibility and a decrease in other "soft" benefits.

I don't pretend that some state employees welcome the return to traditional scheduling, but the surveys show they are a very slim minority.

Not sure who the Trib was quoting here but you can read the article.  "Not everyone will have to change. As much as a quarter of the state workforce was on some sort of flexible schedule before Huntsman's announcement in 2008. The Governor's Office estimates about that same percentage will still have flexibility after the return of the five-day workweek." (Read here - again)  Hmmmmm, I wonder where that memo was lost...  Yes, I had flexibility before but not any more - we have to keep the legislators and their whiny neighbors happy.

Unfortunately, in the end they will get what they want - clock-watchers, entry-level (read: cheap) labor, greater inefficiencies than we already see, fewer experienced professionals who have common sense, good judgment and who take their work seriously.  This is a reflection on our society.

Gov. Gary Herbert issued this statement after the Legislature voted to restore the five-day workweek:“There is no debate over whether the state should support expanded services. I have agreed that we should provide services throughout the week to taxpayers, so I made sure certain services like the Driver License Division and DMV were accessible on Fridays. More services than ever are also available 24/7 online. 

“The only issue here was that the Legislature failed to pay for it; there was no funding for this bill. But there is a $790,000 price tag for turning on the lights and opening the doors an additional day. Regardless of the override, they are still going to have to pay for the expanded Friday services.”

Let the circus begin...

Ah, the joy of politics.   I've tried to avoid the subject so far but it's pretty hard considering how it is thrown at us continually.

Campaign Leak:  President Obama's plan, with the economy continuing to go down the toilet is to "Kill the [Romney]Beast."  This is his fiercest opponent at this point. And he's planning on doing it by bashing his religion..... really!?

Today, Politico reports that the Obama re-election campaign has reviewed all of the available data, war-gamed various campaign stratagems and decided that the only way the president can win re-election is by destroying his Republican opponent.  Read more here and here. 

Perception after the election, should Romney win is likely to be a lot like JFK after fears that the Pope would be running the country if a Catholic were elected.  We get over it.  Irrational fears give way to actions.  Sometimes you just have to show your stuff - actions speak louder than words. Read more here. Another interesting link:  5 Myths about Mormons

One take on the recent, expected downgrading of our credit score here. 

Don't get me wrong - I respect the office of President of the United States and I don't bash the elected leader. But, in this country we do get to disagree.  I believe those who have dropped me as a friend or relative because of this or other political or religious views are misguided at best.  But, they have their freedom and will as well.

Religion attacked

Article VI, a constitutional provision that forbids a religious test for political office:  “…No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”  Read all about it - Washington Post article by Michael Otterson.

Making a difference in Utah

There are lots of good people.  Sometimes they seem to get plowed under by the bad ones but we get reminders every once in a while - good Samaritans sometimes unnoticed, rarely in the headlines.  Pamela Atkinson is one woman who advocates for children, the poor and the homeless in Utah.  A native of England, she grew up impoverished, but recognized education as her way out and overcame barriers and self-esteem issues to rise above to make a difference.  I am often exposed to members of my own faith who are generous humanitarians and good examples, but of course they are in all walks of life and Pam, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, works WITH the LDS church to help people.  She is a wonderful example of Christian service.  I'll put some links to articles below, realizing that newspaper articles don't last forever.  If you see this, check them out while they're there.

Last Friday I heard a few words by Pamela at the Global Health Conference at BYU.  In attendance were also leaders and experts from outside Utah (John Hopkins University) who seemed relieved that they could actually talk about Jesus Christ as an example in a public setting such as this.  These days it's uncommon - they don't dare!  I was moved by Pam's words, "Care about people; not just for them - there is a difference!"  She also admonished us to not let issues get in the way of relationships.  She is an excellent example of that.  She has served on both the state Board of Regents and the School Board and in many leadership positions in business and community - currently on the Deseret News Editorial Advisory Board. See introduction of members here.

Some of her comments on issues:

"I believe in teamwork, and I must be part of a dozen teams. I love how much I learn from other people. I try to keep my mind open all the time, and I love to be able to say, 'I never thought of it that way.' "

[She agreed to work on the anti-porn issue because] "I've known so many people whose lives were being ruined by what I call a scourge."

"To overcome divisiveness, I look for commonalities. I find many similarities between LDS values and my values. If one concentrates on commonalities, difficulties take care of themselves.""Sometimes, barriers in life are meant to be tackled and taken down."

Give $5 by text/phone to the Pamela Atkinson Homeless Trust Fund
Last Sunday, Blake Moore (a member of my ward and Stake Young Men Leader) said in his Sacrament Meeting talk, "I am a tool and I want to be a well-used tool."  He is.  So is Pamela.  I am impressed!   Of course that is not the goal of these or any of God's humble servants. Sometimes awesome really is the right word.

DesNews - Award for Pamela
DesNews - Pamela - kings and paupers
UT Historical Society - Unity in Utah

Food for thought

John Adams in a speech to the military in 1798 warned his fellow countrymen stating, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion . . . Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Ridiculous "no holiday" rules

To brighten the short, dark days at work, our program planned a cubie holiday decorating contest. Well, the day of the award, we received an email stating that the contest was canceled because there were people who complained saying that they "don't celebrate holidays." We had already watered it down by not allowing anything "Christmas" or with any religious significance. Our program used the theme, "Winter Wonderland" and we had snowflakes hanging from the ceiling and a snow scene with lights down the aisle/hallway. Snowmen??? And another program used a "gingerbread man" theme. This is objectional? Nobody was required to participate.

I have known people who don't celebrate holidays but somehow they still manage to live amongst us and just refrain from participation. I work for State government and they are so scared by the vocal minority of atheists that they are accepting this violation of our rights. The Constitution protects our rights to worship without interference or control by the government but now it seems the government is dictating "no religion" as the "state religion. It's just plain wrong. The ACLU is destroying our freedoms.

Mitt Romney for President?

People didn't think John F. Kennedy was electable because he was Catholic.
Aren't we ready for something different in politics - someone with moral values? And aren't we supposed to be past religious stereotypes and prejudice?If the rumor had been that Obama was Mormon rather than Muslim, would he have been elected?

Here's a surprise...

Mormons rate at bottom in approval of Obama's job performance

The headline of the article. Click to read.

Taxes!

Click the post title to read how upcoming expirations from the Bush administration will raise the taxes of average middle-American families. In addition, in 2014 we will start receiving W-2s for our benefits so our income tax will be raised for the health insurance paid by our employer (previously not included as our income). This is going to hit hard. Yet, we will continue to see the national debt fly out of control. We will soon be owned by China. What are they doing to us? Signs of the times....

And now it appears it is no longer, "We, the people..." but rather, "We, the judges." And of course that means, "we the lawyers." Scary!

And, speaking of the constitution... is it constitutional to require people to buy health insurance, whether they can afford it or not? The constitution does not even discuss marriage at all and yet, now we are supposed to grant that "constitutional right" to all.