I have had a bit of a change of heart since last Tuesday's landslide election, at least regarding my post entitled Prophetic Guidance for Our Uncertain Times. In fact, I feel rather sheepish that I would condescend to post something so incendiary without fully familiarizing myself with the totality of what it really means. That exact behavior is what I find irresponsible of others, and I try to avoid it as often as possible. So much for practicing what I preach.
There are a few glaring problems in what then Elder Ezra T. Benson said that I was all too eager to either ignore or forgive because of who he became. I was given understanding by an anonymous blogger that shared this link with me: http://thefaithfuldissident.blogspot.com/2008/10/ezra-taft-benson-vs-democratic.html.
If you have the time to read through that post I recommend doing so, if for no other reason than to keep your mind and intentions open and honest. Humility is already difficult to come by in our prideful society, but intellectual humility is almost nonexistent. The American way, or almost anyone else's way in this world for that matter, is being right and doing all within our power to assert that rightness. What dangerous and petty grounds we defend when we impose our ideas and ideals on others!
To sum this up, I still have my convictions that a conservative, limited-role government is the best way to maintain our hard-fought freedoms. I still have my reservations about what Pres. Obama will/won't do during the next 4 years. But I refuse to be a part of the bandwagon of president bashing that has destroyed our country's morale, divided our resolve, and tarnished the legacy of courage and service that George Bush has tried to build during his tenure—and which bashing is already being hurled at President Elect Obama, and he hasn't even done anything yet!
Do I fundamentally disagree with many leftist policies? YES. Will I do my part to make sure my voice is heard when I agree/disagree with certain legislation? YES. Will I support our president as he tries to lead this country as he feels is best? YES. If any of you doubt my reasons for doing so, I simply ask you to take a look at the 12th Article of Faith. Until the Lord reigns on earth, this is my duty.
Study: Sex on TV linked to teen pregnancies
I have to post this link because I am both smugly amused that popular news has condescended to post this story, as well as privately embarrassed that Kristen and I are both consumers of one of the sitcoms mentioned (Friends).
Kristen, I think it's time that we re-evaluate our TV viewing habits.
There are times when I forget just how true the Church is, and just how inspired our prophets are. I thank God for reminders like the one I just received, and which I quote below.
I came across this link on Facebook that one of my friends shared. I quote below from The Dimmick's blog, with a link to the original article.
"This talk was given by Ezra Taft Benson in 1977. Then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles then later becoming Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he warns us of socialism sneaking into our government. He warns about redistribution of wealth and socializing health care. He warns that “they pull down what is above and they never raise what is below.” “You are not here to be a parasite or a freeloader. The price you pay for something for nothing may be more than you can afford.” It is broken up into two parts."
Part 1 of 2
Part 2 of 2
"The full text of this speech can be found here."
http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6162 starting at the sub-title “Socialism–a Philosophy Incompatible with Man’s Liberty”.
Some things are true. Others are undeniable.
I have been blessed today in several instances to see, hear, feel, and participate in the wonder that is the pure love and spirit of children. From the beautiful primary program our ward put on today, to the powerful spirit of a special boy on Extreme Makeover, Home Edition, to the love and laughter of my own amazing children, I have been deeply touched. It is this wonder that prompted the Master to exclaim, "…whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God."
I found that when I'm around these wonderful children that I am my best self, and I want to be a better person for them. There is just something amazing about the promise that is in each of their eyes and the innocence and love they express in their being.
I would be a fool if I didn't thank my beautiful wife Kristen for her love and sacrifice to bring our two beautiful, wonderful kids into this world. She is my hope, and my guiding light through personal wildernesses. I love you. Thank you for giving me joy beyond words.
Lately I've been compelled to take a hard look at my priorities. That statement alone is a dead giveaway that they were/are out of whack. Yet another example of my continued hypocrisy and duplicitous lifestyle.
I have slowly been gathering my thoughts about where my priorities are and why, along with how well they match up with what I know in my heart to be right. Actually, comparing the two hasn't been the slow part. I know where I stand. It's coming to grips with just how much I need to change that is taking time. The adage that you can't teach an old dog new tricks is much more applicable than I expected it to be, and I'm not even in my 30s yet!
Although, I bet that if I could at least do what I was told then my wife would be a much happier person. I'm basically an obedience school drop out.
Anyway, the heart of what I'm getting at has actually been repeated to me several times today in various forms. I take that as being the Lord's way of saying, "I'd use a 2x4 if I could, so take the hint!" This frequent theme can be found first in Exodus 20, and then repeated throughout scripture and modern revelation. It is the first and great commandment God gave to Moses, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
The living Christ reiterated and magnified this commandment when he said,
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31)
As I've pondered over these verses and the various repetitions thereof today, I've recognized that one of the most prominent indicators of true love is devotion. This is definitely the case when considering what loving God entails, especially as the qualifiers of "all thy heart… soul… mind… and [] strength," are concerned.
True devotion requires the careful arranging of priorities so that the kind of time and service inherent in fulfilling the definition of devotion can be met.
The sad truth for me is that I can only say that I show true devotion to one person – yours truly. My priorities give me away in embarrassing fashion. And I'm not just saying this because I'm trying to appear humble or modest. Kristen would be able to confirm the antithesis of both qualities to be my most common traits.
I'm confident that none of the principles I've covered in this post are new to anyone. They just feel new to me because I'm seeing myself through a new perspective. I am in definite need of deciding now who it is that I'm going to be devoted to, and then making the needed adjustments.
Kristen, I'm beginning to understand now what you've been asking for for so long now. I only hope to be able to give you what you deserve in time. I know Heavenly Father is waiting for the same from me too.
Like many of you, I am profoundly aware of the precariousness of our country's economic situation. Things are not going well, and with more (and worse) financial failures upon us than during the Great Depression we are faced with great risk and constant uncertainty.
As I read through more of the news about our world economy, I was reminded of an article written by President Gordon B. Hinckley titled "The Times in Which We Live," published in the January issue of the 2002 Ensign. I remember reading his words heavily laden with the weight of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. I remember hearing them during different conference addresses.
Most specifically I remember these words:
"I do not know what the future holds. I do not wish to sound negative, but I wish to remind you of the warnings of scripture and the teachings of the prophets which we have had constantly before us.
"I cannot forget the great lesson of Pharaoh’s dream of the fat and lean kine and of the full and withered stalks of corn."
As I reflected back on these words and many others in that article, I recognized my own complacency and deep need for change. I had my testimony of the need for a living prophet strengthened. I felt the power of eternal truth.
"[I] thank thee, O God, for a prophet," for without whom I would be in the darkest abyss. I'm already in need of rescue from my own selfish chasm as it is, let alone be left without the light of the restored gospel.
Nobody panic! You are, in fact, still reading my blog that was previously found at www.onegreatwhole.blogspot.com. I've simply made some fancy-schmancy (not really) changes to it that now allow me to post my blog to the URL I initially intended. It's nice having a Blogspot URL and all, but I like keeping things as simple as possible.
So, now I've got a little more updating to do. As you can see, I've switched back to a basic template to better be able to publish content, and I've lost a few of the features I used to have. No worries, I'll be updating this soon with a new look and feel just as soon as I get the time chance (don't hold your breath).
Thanks for reading, stay tuned, and don't freak out if things decide to change yet again. j/k
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