This Brave Woman proclaimed Jesus Christ to be the God of her land ...

I join in her declaration in behalf of the USA. The nation of the United States was founded, established and organized directly so the people could be free to live their religion, most specifically their religion of Biblical origins, whether of Israel as of Judah or of Christ. Most settlers of this nation were of Biblical Christian persuasion. With all their human prejudices they still promoted some element of the Golden Rule and the Ten Commandments and the two Great Commandments, namely, Love God with all your heart, might, mind and soul and Love your Neighbor as you love yourself. These thirteen great Laws pervaded the thirteen colonies and have been the best guiding lights of these fifty states and within all "Western" societies. These thirteen Laws of God have grown this world to be at it's best.

As 'peaceful' as "Allah Akbar" has been around the world, it normally and most usually seen just after some event of great destruction and terror. With all the daily prayers that Allah demands of the people, it is the continued and repeated actions of killing, rape and pillage for which Islamic people are least highly revered, no matter however many peaceful Muslim people there are around the world.

Certainly there are 1.2 billion Muslim people around the world and many of them are of the highest caliber. I have known several. However, I am still at a loss to be able to identify any great achievement any Muslim has been known for other than being a good parent or friend, which are, of course, excellent achievements. But I know of no George Washingtons, Benjamin Franklins, Margaret Thatchers, Madam Curies or Harriet Tubmans. I've read of several great Muslim conquerors, mass murderers, pirates and the like, as I have read of some so-called "Christian" Hitlers who were actually apostates from Christianity who actually never gave Christianity a real attempt unlike the Muslim murderers who did all they did in the name of Allah.

While God did allow his son to be killed, he did that in order to save mankind from their sins, not set the example for all men to follow. No matter how benign the Koran may begin, it ends with very direct and very dangerous and lethal instructions for believers to follow in order to be considered true believers and righteous. In contrast, the God of the Old Testament seems quite a bit more harsh than the much more mellow and forgiving New Testament Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Highest. It is not that the Old Testament God mellowed with age but more like He was teaching His children how to protect themselves from the wicked idolitry that surrounded them while later on He was teaching them how to protect themselves as they struggled to change the world around them which has proven quite successful in the last 2100 years.

For this cause I join my German sister in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is the God of Germany and of the United States and, indeed, of the whole world. His Word will continue to change the hearts of all those who will open themselves to Him, causing them to rejoice and cause all those whose lives they touch to also rejoice.

I invite all to feast upon the Words of Christ that are found in the Holy Bible and also the Book of Mormon, the Second Testament of Jesus Christ which was brought forth to secure the testimony of the Apostles found in the New Testament. The sacred and Holy Spirit that is found by reading the doctrine and discourses found in these two volumes will bring enlightenment, peace, deep joy and rejoicing found in no other place. Like Luther, the Reformer, who declared he stood on his testimony of the Holy Scriptures, I, too, stand on my testimony of the truthfulness of these two Holy Books of the Word who is Jesus Christ, the very Word of God.

By HIs Word all things were and are created including the good men and women who create strong, peaceful families, communities and nations around the world.

I invite you to study these two books - the Holy Bible/the New Testament, and the Book of Mormon, the Second Testament of Jesus Christ. I invite you to "come unto" HIm, that you might be healed and made whole. There is no man or woman who has not experienced the deep wounds of this life, whether from the treachery of others or from our own selfishness (Self-Ish-Ness = SIN) and the consequences therefrom. We all suffer the pains of life, pains that He can and will heal for all who in truth come to Him and ask in sincerity seeking to change and return to God. "Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, seek and ye shall find."

The result is peace, joy and rejoicing now and forever. "Come unto me, all ye who labor and are heavy laden and I shall give you rest." This is His promise from before the foundations of this world. I have found He is true to His Word.

Holiness to the Lord, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the God in Whom we Trust, in whom I do and will trust forever.

My Religion - The Rules of the House

My granddaughter is getting a divorce. It is nasty. He moved his mother into their Texas apartment, to "help out", then he moved his girlfriend in just as he went out on patrol in the Middle East (I think). My G-daughter had nowhere else to live so she did the best she could, finally leaving her two daughters with him and his mother and his girlfriend. She left with a plastic bag full of clothes and I don't know how little cash and her new boyfriend and she drove to visit her mother and her new boyfriend's family in Utah.

Of course, since her mother is basically invalid and has been living with us for years, and since for many years my G-daughter was also living with us, including the time her soon to be X-spouse got married and lived with us before he re-entered the military and moved his growing family to Texas, now she and her new boyfriend almost expected to re-enter our house "for just a few weeks until they get their own apartment". Can you sense my angst over the situation? Yes, angst, irritation, anxiety, foreboding, disquietude, not at peace.

I am a Christian, at least I do try to be and not take His name in vain. I am taught that without Charity I am nothing, not worth the tinkling of a bell. Charity, I am taught, is not just love and compassion for another person. Charity, according to one prophet, is the love that motivates a person to go as far as give his life to heal and even save another person. Not just give a person a night in a bed and a meal. Give healing. Give life. How do I do that and keep my own peace.

I don't see Jesus inviting the blind, the beggers, the lepers, the lame and dying into his house to live. He healed them and left them, suggesting that they leave all and follow him. And do what? I don't know? Would they go out and find others to be healed by Him and follow him around the villages? What do I do? How do I heal and save my G-daughter and her 2 children (whom she has now taken from her adulterous former spouse, his mother and probably pregnant girlfriend)? What do I do?

In considering these things, I decided to write out the Rules of the Cam & Sharon Sevy Working Household. It took me several hours to consider, find true justification, write by hand, discuss with my Sweetheart, Sharon, and type out, perfect then print. I printed them out, 4 sets to a sheet, then cut out to distribute throughout the household so we all equally understand.

Throughout the process I pondered the rules and exactly what the source of the principles and practices is. What is the source? Where is the justification? Are the rules fully justifiable? Would any and every reasonable person agree with these rules or are they arbitrary to me, enforceable because "this is my house and what I say goes!"?

I'd like  your comments. Truly. This is because I believe these rules printed below are not just rules of the house. I believe they are my religion, as briefly put as possible (for me) and as understandable as I can write them. I will appreciate your honest comments.

Below are the Rules of my house, and my Religion. My God has many names so here I will give just two: Jesus and his Father, Eloheim. (In respect of my Muslim acquaintances, Jesus' Father's name might be Allah, but I don't know that for sure.)

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Rules of Cam & Sharon Sevy's Working Household

1. SPEAK CALMLY and RESPECTFULLY. You have the right to speak – We all have the right to be respected. Be Respectful.
2. LIVE COURTEOUSLY – PUT THE OTHER PERSON FIRST. FIRST SEEK TO UNDERSTAND – THEN SEEK TO BE UNDERSTOOD
3. LIVE BY THE GOLD AND SILVER RULES – GOLD – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you;
SILVER – Do not do unto others as you would have them not do unto you
4. NO ARGUING. HEAT MUST COOL – ANGER = DANGER – ANGER CAUSES SEPARATION – Therefore, if you are angry, go fix or clean something until you can return and find agreement using the first 3 Rules.
5. Work This is a working household, not a playhouse. Jobs and chores must be done quickly and well done.
WORK = Making things useful RESPECT = The Gold&Silver Rules LOVE = Yearning for and Serving to bless the other person.
We are a Calm, Peaceful, Respectful and Loving people who Work and Play with and for each other following God's example and teachings.


GOD is our Father, Teacher and our Counselor because He is our Creator, our Provider and our Redeemer who taught us and paid the price for us to ultimately return to our Eternal Home.

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There is my religion in 5 points and 12 lines. 

Of course, there are many more points of doctrine, ordinances, virtues, etc. that could be discussed. These, however, get us started on the path of working together toward prosperity and peace. Jesus did say, " I am come that they might have life , and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

Another verse I read today in a book of Doctrine reads "And if ye do this with a pure heart, in all faithfulness, ye shall be blessed; you shall be blessed in your flocks, and in your herds, and in your fields, and in your houses, and in your families." (D&C 136:11)

 I know there are those who vehemently declare that last verse is not true Scripture. I don't care what they declare. It has been quietly declared to me from a much higher source that those are the words of God. I believe them and trust them and will work upon them. I will ask others to also work based upon faith in those words. They ring true to my heart.

So, I am determined that, if my G-daughter asks and my family agrees, she and her husband and her children may choose to abide by the Rules of our Working Household, enter in and abide. We will live the Laws of the Savior and expect Him to fulfill His Word which promises abundance, happiness, peace and joy. Those promises are good enough to motivate me.

What about you? Please leave your thoughts.

God Bless. 

Until next time.

 "Singin' Sam" Cam Sevy 

Is "Mormonism" a cult? Where is the Truth?

A young lady named Liz is convinced that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, normally known as "Mormons", is a cult, meaning it is not a true religion but is a perpetrator of false doctrine that harms the lives of those who follow that cult's teachings. She wrote:

 

"The Mormons and the Jehovah witnesses are both a cults that's why they have their own bible they have cut off... I'm not gonna get into this but take their bible and the King James Bible and you can see all the changes, they only took what they like to fit in there bible, go to their church and ask them about hell and what some believe that satan and Jesus were brothers , I did a study on 5 different relijoun don't take my word, you study, if you believe the bible was inspired by God why would you want one from an acult you have to believe the hole bible not just some of it which is what they have done."


Please let me respond.

Liz, you simply misunderstand "Mormonism".

Having studied for the past 54 years "Mormonism" and many other religions of the world, including many of the larger Christian sects, many of these from their own leaders or originator's writings, INCLUDING much anti-Mormon writings, I have discovered several things.

In order to guarantee that I could not be deceived I remained solid in my study of the King James Bible and other translations of the Holy Bible. I prayed daily to God and in the name of His son, Jesus Christ of the Bible, believing on His name. In doing so I relied on the promises of the Lord that in doing the above God would answer my prayers with wisdom and incontrovertible truth.

I still believe that in do the above -- being immersed in (reading/studying/pondering on) the Holy Scriptures and diligently, daily praying, asking for answers by the power of the Holy Ghost -- I am guaranteed that I CANNOT be deceived.

In my studies of the past 54 years I have found NO meaningful discrepancies between the written teachings of the Prophets and Apostles of the KJV of the Holy Bible and those of the Book of Mormon (another Testament of Jesus Christ) and the other written teachings of the prophets of the Restoration starting with the imperfect man, the Prophet of the Restoration, Joseph Smith, and his successors beginning with Brigham Young, also an imperfect man and Prophet of the Lord. Indeed, their writings have magnificently expanded my understanding of the teachings of the Holy Bible.

"By their works ye shall know them". Over all, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to prove that the leaders of this church are women and men, and even youthful leaders, who are guided by revelation from the Lord. By that leadership much good is done in the world, but that is not the proof that is necessary to convert men's souls to the Lord for their salvation. Only God can do that.

First, one must believe that there is a God. Then search by reading and studying the writings of the Prophets. Pray daily (at least!) to God for His mercy and guidance. Only He can provide the answers you seek, by the power of the Holy Ghost who will lead you to the true Christ who alone can bring us all back to God, the Father of us all. All the instructions of what to do daily after one has been converted to Christ are available to us in the writings of the Prophets, the Holy Scriptures. All we need to understand about who we are and where we came from before our birth, why we are here in mortality and what we must do while here in mortality (not referring to jobs or careers), and what we may expect after progressing forward from mortality (after death), all is written in the Scriptures available freely to all in almost every language on earth.

These are some of what I have learned in 54 years of study and prayer. God's plan is truly magnificent, wonderful, and joyful.

God bless you in your search for truth.

THE GLORY OF GOD

There are many definitions of The Glory of God.

Let me share with you a definition that I have found to be very inspiring because of what it implies about us, who we may become, what we may receive and what we may look forward to with rejoicing in our hearts.

This definition comes from the words of a Christian prophet who was also king over a large group of people. After explaining to them the Gospel of Jesus Christ, how redemption and forgiveness of sin is possible because of Christ's Grace through His atoning sacrifice when we repent (change from selfishness to anxiousness to keep Christ's commandments and love and serve others), king Benjamin explained how we may grow in God's GLORY in this way ...  notice the use of the transitory word "or", which leads us to the definition I so love:

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have^atasted of his love, and have received a ^bremission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own ^cnothingness, and his ^dgoodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of ^ehumility,^fcalling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing ^gsteadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the ^alove of God, and always ^bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the ^cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

This definition gives us five (5) points or virtues to which we may look for l light an nd understanding. These five virtues that constitute at least a very substantial part of God's character, that give God powerful honor, are:

1)  Goodness, 2)  Love, 3) Redemption [Mercy],  4) Truth,  5) Justice.

My soul calms and thrills every time I review these five virtues which constitute at least a healthy portion of The Glory of God. I calm because I do believe and trust in His perfect  application of these virtues. I thrill with the anticipation of being able to grow these virtues within my own character and reap the natural benefits in my dealings with people.

We are commanded to love God and our neighbor, to give glory to God in all things. How do we puny, weak mortals give glory to a God who already is self-sufficiently filled with those virtues and that glory? Simply by filling out neighbor's, and even our enemy's lives, with goodness, love, mercy, justice and truth. 

After all did Jesus Christ say: (Matthew 25:40)

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have ^adone it unto one of the ^bleast of these my ^cbrethren, ye have done it unto me.

 To give glory to God in all things by constantly serving others, by putting virtues of God's glory into others' lives can be some of the greatest challenges we may face in our lives. We may face very painful situations in our social associations however doing good, generating love brings its own reward, eternal reward.

I testify to you that these things are true. We can rely upon these principles as we choose our actions and reactions to others. We can trust in the truth that God's character is based upon these eternal virtues and we, as His children and His divine, even royal subjects, will ALWAYS be treated by Him and His true servants both mortal and immortal according to these five elements of His character.

Goodness, love, mercy and redemption give us plenty to rejoice over. Trust in the perfect application by God's servants of justice accordion to a perfect understanding of truth gives us peace even in such a troubled society and world. Peace and rejoicing are perfecteve leaders to lives of happiness and joy.

What more could we wish for?

May God's Glory fill your life and may you rejoice with the many whose lives you fill with His eternal glory, and may you eternally rejoice in the redemption of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely, with love, 

Cameron.

THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS, who is called THE CHRIST.

In order to expedite using this for a family presentation, it might be good, before the presentation, 

to click the links at the carols to download the videos or karaoke carols

THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST 

with carols of worship & praise to be sung together.

(Edited mostly word-for-word from The Gospels of Matthew and Luke of the King James version of the Holy Bible)

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2        Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

18       When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27      To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

28     And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29      And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30     And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

31     And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

32     He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33     And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34     Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35     And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

O COME, O COME EMMANUEL and ransom captive Isræl.

   

Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

19     Then Joseph her espoused husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

20     But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21     And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

22     Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23     Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

24     Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

1      And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

4     And Joseph also went up To be taxed with Mary his wife, being great with child, into Judæa,(because he was of the lineage of David:) unto the city of David, called Bethlehem ...

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM

6     And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

7     And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Jesus, the Lord of Hosts was born and laid ... AWAY IN A MANGER

8     And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9     And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10     And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11     For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12     And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13     And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14     Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING, Glory to the New Born King

15     And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16     And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

SILENT NIGHT, Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright.

17     And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18     And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

THE FIRST  NOEL, The Angels did say, Was to certain poor shepherds in fields where they lay...

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

1     Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judæa in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2     Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

4     And when [Harod] had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5     And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judæa: for thus it is written by the prophet,

WITH WONDERING AWE, The Wise men saw the star in heaven springing...

9     When [the Wise Men] had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.

10     When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11     And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshiped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.

JOYTO THE WORLD The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay. 

Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray. 

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy! 

O tidings of comfort and JOY!

May the Joy of the Season infuse your home and your life, giving you peace and great happiness. 

MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a WONDERFUL 2013.

Cameron Sevy 

IN DEFENSE OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS

 Yesterday, Fri. 25Feb2011, I received the following notice:
       "President Barack Obama informed the nation that his administration will no longer defend the institution of natural marriage - or the law that protects it.

      DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) was passed in 1996 with significant bi-partisan majorities in both houses of Congress, and was signed into law by President Clinton. DOMA defines marriage in federal law as the union of one man and one woman.

      The president said yesterday that he has instructed his attorney general not to defend this law in court, where it is currently being challenged." http://www.capwiz.com/afanet/issues/alert/?alertid=30650501&type=CO

      The following is a letter I sent to my Congressman, Jason Chaffitz:

      I am distressed to hear that President Obama has made a decision that his administration will no longer defend the institution of natural marriage, and will allow the Defense of Marriage Act  (DOMA) to go undefended in court, where it is currently being challenged.
      DOMA was passed with significant bi-partisan majorities in both houses of Congress in 1996. President Bill Clinton signed it into law. It correctly defines marriage in federal law as the union of one man and one woman.
      The institution of man-woman marriage, the covenant of LOVE between man and woman, is the FOUNDATION upon which ALL SOCIETY is built. It MUST BE DEFENDED RIGOROUSLY AT ALL COST.  

      Without natural marriage children end up having no parents upon which they can rely.  Orphan children become uneducated, unskilled men and women who CANNOT build a thriving economy, knowing nothing but how to live from hand to mouth.  ALL FROM THE LOSS LOVING EDUCATED PARENTS.
      PLEASE URGE Speaker John Boehner to use all the resources at his disposal to VIGOROUSLY DEFEND the Defense Of Marriage Act. Our nation deserves no less.. Our nation needs that foundation.
      In addition, PLEASE CALL THE PRESIDENT and urge him to support DOMA and natural man/woman marriage by which he, himself, has had his own children. REMIND HIM THAT WITHOUT NATURAL MARRIAGE ALL SOCIETIES HAVE FALLEN APART.

      I haven't personally known very many "gay" people. Those I've known have been very nice people, good at their work, normally loving to their families and friendly to neighbors and strangers. I have no beef with "gay" people having the same human rights as any other people. All people deserve the rights defined by our Founding Documents here in the USA (may they be defended and preserved in perpetuity) and personal protection under just Laws. If "gay" people want to kiss and love other people of their own gender, please do it without a lot of PDA (Public Displays of Affection), just as "straight" couples should keep PDA to a minimum because so many people find it somewhat offensive. You've heard the call, "GET A ROOM!"
        Public Displays of Affection should just be kept at a minimum by all people in our society for the reason cited.
      Marriage, however, is different from mere attraction and "getting together". Marriage is a long term agreement, a sacred contract. It should be an Holy Covenant between two people to Love, Help and Support the other from the time of the Covenant onward until the stated end of the term, normally " Until death do us part." In some religious teachings the Covenant is for Time and all Eternity! Now that's a long term contract!
      Marriage STATES long term union. Marriage IS where two individuals become one new unit called a Family. Marriage IMPLIES building and growing together as one Family, not just two individuals living together.
      In our society a part of that building and growing together implies the increase in the number of people within the family unit by bringing children into the world. You know one of the natural outcome of making Love is conceiving children. This is how our society and nation grows and most of us want that growth. Here is where the major difficulty of the "gay" lifestyle emerges.
      How is it possible for two of the same gender to create a baby? It is impossible.
      Obviously, two "gay" people could obtain someone else's baby, whom they may want to adopt to raise. So now a potential orphan has two parents. Good?
     No. There is still a problem. How is it possible for two of the same gender to teach that child about how to live joyfully with another of the opposite gender to their own? Two women raising one girl, for example. Should the girl not turn out to be homosexual and want to have children with a man, how will the homosexual (HS) women teach the girl about living with a man? Men are so different from women by nature. How will the two HS women accurately teach the girl about husbands?
      Perhaps HS women should only adopt boys so they could teach about living with a wife?
      Should HS men only adopt girls for the same reason? I can just hear the hue and cry from society about the danger of that situation: one teenage girl in a house of HS men! "She's safe because they are only attracted to men," right? Whewee! I don't think so.
      No, this man's opinion is that each child has rights to receive her or his due from the parents, namely, love, food, shelter, protection, and education. It is also the considered opinion of this man that one of the Providential Rights of every child is to have a loving, supporting male Father and a loving, supporting female Mother. I believe the reasons to be obvious. If not, I'll briefly explain: 
      An important part of every child's education is how to properly communicate with, love, protect and support a member of the opposite sex in no matter what type of association and particularly in such close association as in marriage. How does one communicate with, work with and support a member of the opposite sex, who is naturally so very different from self, while raising a new generation, some of whom are of the opposite sex? You, dear reader, know the troubles YOU have in this matter. Be assured others have similar, perhaps greater troubles, because of the inherent differences between genders and the training, good or bad, received from parents (or no parents, perhaps?) while growing up. Life ain't easy. Now throw a man (or woman) into the mix! Right?
      It boggles my mind to think of two men, who love each other to the exclusion of living with and dealing with women in a marriage situation, trying to teach a girl  about womanly matters, or two women similarly trying to teach a girl about how appreciate and support a man as a husband. 
      Because of, in my opinion, this God-given Right of each child to have a loving, supporting male Father and a loving, supporting female Mother, adoption of a child by an HS couple should be disallowed by law, again, to protect the rights of the child. The LAW must protect the child's rights if the parents will not. This has nothing to do with the HS couple being good, kind, honest, loving or whatever. It has solely to do with inherent personal gender characteristics and the Providential RIGHTS of the child.

      Again, I have nothing against the HS people themselves. They are good people, I'm sure, loving and caring for each other as so many of them do declare. I do not have anything against their living with each other if they choose to. If they want to privately sexually please each other, it is none of my business. 
      Protection and defense of my society and my nation IS a part of my business, as it should be of everyone in every society. If HS people want to alter the legal definition of the term "Marriage" to include their union, I believe there will be some major troubles BECAUSE OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILDREN that would likely be abridged or even overridden completely. 
      This has nothing to do with how we worship God. It has everything to do with the rights of the children and the effect denial of those rights will have upon them and my great-grandchildren's society and the nation. It takes about two generations for today's decisions to be fully manifested in a society unless those decisions are forcibly backed up as in the Nazi regime preceding WWII in the 1930's and '40's. 
      Now, I haven't studied every society in the history of the world, but from what I have read I've noticed that, historically, it seems that homosexuality has been a large factor in the downfall of every HS-supporting nation because the children become instilled with "I am looking out for #1 - ME!" characteristics instead of the normal hetrosexual marriage mind-set of "I am looking out for #1 - MY FAMILY, namely my spouse and my children and my parents, my siblings, etc." 
      The latter mindset is considered a Providential characteristic  which supports and protects the Providential rights of all other people starting with one's immediate family. Check the old records, not the newly re-written histories, and you'll see the events that show that hetrosexual families build nations, homosexual unions do not and governments that change laws to promote HS unions fall. They don't fall specifically because of HS support but they still fall. This is what I have seen.

      Marriage is a sacred institution because of those reasons. Such a marriage can only be, in my considered opinion, between a man and a woman who are hopefully individually Providentially minded and who are individually committed to living up to his and her promises/covenants. 
       With this kind of marriage our nation will continue to strengthen. Without it, our nation will fall apart.

Repentance is Sweet!?!

We had a great sunday school lesson this last week in which I had an epiphany. I love those! I find discoveries in the Gospel more exciting than a good day of downhill skiing. Truthfully. Spiritual/Gospel epiphanies are much more fulfilling and longer lasting by far.

Well, we were discussing the principles surrounding the time when John baptized the Lord, one of which is repentance, which, of course, the Lord needed none of, we are told. 

(As a side note, I'm not so sure about that thought, that the Lord didn't need to repent, because I consider that He, being totally repentant at all times, submissive to His Father's will 100%, never faltered enough to take him out of the classification of being sinless. Did he ever make any errors of ignorance that may have hurt someone else, that he should repent of? Wasn't it sort of an error to have remained in Jerusalem without telling his parents, making them panic for his safety for two and a half terror-filled days? I would have considered that error of pain provoking thoughtlessness to be somewhat on the side of being at least a mistake, maybe even a transgression of some eternal nature. He, of course, being the one to pay the price of all sins and transgressions would pay for his own as well, but I would think he would have immediately repented from having hurt his parents in that thoughtless manner and resolved to never do anyhting like that again.)

Back to the point about repentance that was my epiphany:

Repentance is sweet, even joyful.

In my youth I got the idea that repentance is, by it's nature, painful. Period. If you have to repent, you are in for a lot of pain. School mates who attended other churches shared how they would be told to kneel on rice while praying for forgiveness and that sort of thing, to increase the pain of repentance in order to make the lesson stick, I suppose. Even in our own Sunday School, Mutual and Priesthood classes the idea of repentance was, to me at least, always attached with the idea that it required suffering or it was not repentance. This Sunday I learned I missed the real truth until now.

The real truth is, and truly is, that it is the pain of guilt from sin that hurts, whether one is repentant or not. Guilt hurts. That guilt is even the sting of death for without guilt death is sweet to the soul even though it may be physically painful getting up to it.

When a person feels the pain s/he can either 

1.     grit teeth and try to ignore it while continuing in the sinful, pain producing activities, or 

2.     s/he can cry, weep and moan and curse God for making the illicit activities "sin" and pain producing, or 

3.     s/he can cry and weep and moan until s/he sincerely looks to Chist and humbly, sincerely requests forgiveness and help.

Instantly, upon that sincere request, forgiveness, healing and joy sweep away the guilt and that pain is forever gone, assuming the sin is truly forsaken. Forgiveness is free for the asking, humble and sincere asking only. Gratis. No cost. No upbraiding. Just peace and hope and joy.

Has repentance taken place at this point? No, not all, not yet. What has taken place is confession to Christ and activation of His Atonement covering that person with mercy and hope and joy. The remainder of repentance is still required: "fruits meet for repentance", as labeled in the Scriptures. Those fruits are confessing to the hurt parties, restitution of that which was damaged, lost, destroyed, etc., and never repeating the sin but instead serving, blessing, loving others. Those actions, the actions of repentance are sweet, fulfilling, joyful, even exciting sometimes. 

To reiterate: the pain of guilt is what hurts. 

Repentance: giving up the sin and asking for forgiveness while in that pain and receiving joy in return is not painful. It is JOYFUL! Confessing our sin to others, even though it can dredge up the feelings of guilt, if done while feeling the joy of the Lord's loving forgiveness still is not all that painful, and again joy of returned friendship, strengthened bonds and increased love are sweet fruits of this repentance process. The labor of restitution yields increases of all the good living Gospel truths brings. Again, the fruits of repentance are are sweet. 

We can expect the Law of Return to always work; it is one of God's laws, it is a Law of Gods - "That which ye send out will return unto you again", "pressed down, shaken together and overflowing", as the scriptures say. God is a multiplier whose rate of return is hundreds and sometimes millions to one, in other words 1000's of percent return. Knowing all of this can make even hard physical labor of repentance pleasant with the expectation (hope) of sweet returns from the labor. 

What an epiphany! I love it. I am eager to repent, knowing this. And then, knowing that I can avoid a lot of the pain part by being as repentant as possible as much as possible, in other words, meek and teachable, eager to learn and improve, easy to entreat and instruct, life just gets better and better. When I sin in ignorance, humbly ask forgiveness RIGHT AWAY, get to the pleasant part fast. Christ is eager to forgive those who truly are eager to bring forth fruits worthy to be called repentance. The pain is gone fast and we can get to the good part right away: repentance which brings friends, love and joy. Ain't it great!

One thing I thought I'd share with you, Jon, regarding God's commandments. To obey "because they are commandments" used to irritate me, too, but for different reasons other than just wanting to obey in other than ignorance, in other words intelligently obeying. I used to chafe at being commanded. You know: Obey my command or you'll get another whiplash, slave! Not for me! But... this is God's commandment, we are talking about. He loves us, right? I was confused. "I guess I had just obey because they are His commandments and for my own good, mystery or not."

Then I read (again) D&C 82:8-9 and this time noticed the definition of a commandment: instructions on how to act (before him or while in communication with Him and in His service blessing others) so things will turn to our salvation ... even the bad things that Satan or Nature turn our way.

Commandments are instructions. He is teaching for our good, not just commanding. We can come up with  a hypotheses or a question and likely have already in the form of a prayer over a problem. The commandment instructs us or gives us the roadmap to the answer so we can recognize the answer when we arrive at it. In the traveling meanwhile, just follow the map, drive safely and enjoy the view. Take frequent rest stops, i.e. Church meetings, temple visits, scripture/prayer hours, etc.

I truly love the scriptures, feasting from the ideas banquet found therein. I love the restful Sabbath sabbatical taken weekly. I love the rest found in the temples and the reminder that the reason for this whole earthly experience is so we "may fulfill the measure of [our] creation and find joy" and rejoicing therein. What a purpose! What a Plan!

Life isn't easy. That's ok because, knowing what we know, life is GOOD!