Prayer in the White House?? Never!

New York Time's correspondent Jody Kantor, appeared on MSNBC to discuss Mitt Romney's religious faith and its effect upon him and his possible presidency.


"'What we were really looking at is the biographical influence of faith on Mitt Romney's life,"  Kantor explained.
"We're talking about much more subtle matters of world view, of morality, of values,"  Kantor told MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts.  "And so some of the things that we see he learned from the church is a real emphasis on persistence and resilience, a real emphasis on rules and another interesting thing I learned is that prayer plays a huge role in the way he sort of approaches the world and makes decisions.  He prays quite a lot, quite seriously and he has prayed on both political and business decisions.'" 




No!!  Not that!!!  The man ..... PRAYS???


But then .... so did this man.

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go."  Abraham Lincoln

And this man.

"It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."  George Washington

Kantor continues.


"'One of the most interesting things is the belief in American exceptionalism.  Every political candidate goes out on the trail and unfurls his or her patriotism, right?  But Mitt Romney's is a little bit different because Mormons actually believe that God had a plan for the United States.  That the country is sort of divinely inspired, that the Consititution is divinely inspired, that our country is marked by God to play a unique role in history,' a surprised-sounding Kantor shared."
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2012/05/21/nyt_reporter_goes_to_romneys_church_seeks_dirt_from_worshipers.html


Heaven forbid we have a president who believes in the divine origin and destiny of this great country, and that he implores God often, for guidance and wisdom .......

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson kneeling to pray over the Declaration of Independence. 

........  Heaven help us, if we don't.

Sobriety AKA Freedom

I have had very little, if any, exposure to drunkenness.  In fact, I can't really remember any at all.  Oh I'm sure I've seen tipsy-ness, but from my naive viewpoint, I typically just interpret it as uninhibited-ness and someone usually lets me in on the fact later that yes, that person was drunk.

"He was? ...... Ohhhhh."

I don't even know if I or any of my family, might be genetically predisposed to alcoholism and the inevitable grief involved.  I will never know whether or not I am one who can "hold their liquor".  Nor do I care.  I DO know that I will never be guilty of harming anyone by drunken driving.  I WISH I could be as confident of never being a victim of someone else's DUI.

This protected booze-free bubble in which I have happily resided as long as I can remember, is compliments of my religion.  To which I say Thank You.

Thank you Dear Religion, and thank you to He Who Authored It.  Thank you for keeping that potentially destructive, addictive liquid out of my little world.  Thank you for all the drunk-free parties, holidays, and wedding receptions.  Thank you for teaching me how to have fun, as well as how to deal with life's problems, while sober.  Thank you for all the money saved by not buying it.  Thank you for the protection as well as the wise choices afforded by an alert, rational-thinking brain.  Thank you that I will never be a burden upon my society, because of the slavery of substance addiction.

And thank you for teaching me that my mind, as a part of my body, is a gift from God.  A gift that is to be used as He intended it to be used.

Am I free to drink?  Yes.  I am free to make my own choices.  But with each poor choice, a bit of that freedom is lost ...  little by little ... until it's gone.  So because of the constraints that APPEAR to be part of my religion, I and millions like me, have been kept free.

Free to be sober.  Free to be happy.

Ministry of Venom

I do apologetics.  This involves reasoned arguments/debates to justify something, usually and in my case ... religion.  It's done in online forums.  I have been in forums hosted and/or dominated by LDS, atheists, and Christians.  I do this partially because I am a "Mother Bear" when it comes to my beloved church, and I try my best to correct the c--p.  Also I do it because I learn so much about other religions, including how they think.  I hope some of this increased understanding has gone both ways.  My personal rule is to be respectful of others at all times.

Those of you who know me, know that I am not the confrontational and argumentative type .... at least I don't think I am and no one has ever said otherwise ....  I've always gotten along with just about everyone I've known.

But online there is a large spectrum of attitudes ranging from kindness to nastiness.  And in all honesty, the worst have been some Evangelical Christians.  One of their major apologetic forums has a section for cults, and it is there one must go to discuss "Mormonism".   Now I know that there are wonderful Christians and for them, I am grateful.  I applaud the morality and good that they bring to our society.  But there is a certain group who hang out in the Mormonism section of this forum, and not one of them has an ounce of heart.  Not a one.  The mob mentality is alive and well online.

I have appealed to them time and time again.  I have tried to show them that we are not what they've been told we are.  I have borne my testimony of Jesus Christ repeatedly.  But the bigotry is staggering.  Having been in LDS circles forever, I've only known kindness and compassion.  That is my world.  I've only seen respect for other religions and continuous counsel from our church leaders to reach out and be kind to others.  So the difference in spirit as one walks into this forum is like being slammed with a load of bricks.

I have been accused of lying, evasion, manipulation, and whining countless times.  I have seen good people degraded and vilified.  If they are clearly shown by logic and facts that they are wrong, then they disappear from the conversation.  If I express kindness, they fall silent, or accuse me of entrapment.  Everything I say there is taken in a cynical light and the worst is ALWAYS assumed.  If one LDS acts out of line, it is paraded across the board.  If the Church does anything good, there is nothing -- absolutely zero acknowledgement.  Or else it is twisted to look evil.

Why do I go there?  Hope springs eternal, I guess.  I keep thinking I can change one mind.  Plus, as I said, I have learned a lot.  But some of what I have learned, scares me.

At best, hopefully, this is a small group of crazy zealots and does not represent the bulk of good Evangelicals.  But I'm afraid their feeling towards us spills out into a larger portion of the Bible Belt.  And I'm afraid this misguided zealousness will affect the presidential election.  I truly feel that many of these people will NOT vote for a Mormon no matter what.  It would not matter if Abraham Lincoln resurrected as a Mormon and ran for president.  Not even then, would a Latter-day Saint get their vote.  On the other hand, I have voted for many non-LDS Christians ..... in fact just about everyone I have EVER voted for was such.  And I will continue to do so.  I look for common values, not common titles.

I naively held the logical hope that with the historic election of our first Black president, the false perception that America is racist would crumble.  Now I fear that the election of a Mormon could very possibly stir up even more divisiveness in the hearts of they who cling to the c--p.

So if Romney does win the election, not only would the liberal Left be critical of his every breath, but these bigoted zealots of whom I speak, would join the leftist ranks with the catcalls.  Every possible outcome of this election is exhausting to even think about.  We are damned if we lose, and we are damned if we win.

Let's hope I am wrong.

War on women??

Do you remember the Republican debate with Mitt Romney's baffled response to George Stephanopoulos' question about banning contraception?   

"Contraception?" he said in amazement, " It's working just fine.  Leave it alone!"  Until then, it had not been part of the conversation ... it wasn't an issue ..... but it quickly became one.

It is a part of the totally fabricated "war on women" ... an obviously baseless attempt by the Left to win female votes.  They want us to believe in a Republican plot to deny women's rights.

Since I AM a woman and have BEEN one my entire adult life, I can speak with a certain amount of experience.  I am NOT concerned if my health insurance now covers, or ever did cover contraception.  Anyone who can walk into a Walgreens, can get some.  And if the Left doesn't think we know that simple bit of logic, then I am offended at their assumption of our stupidity.  Trust me, women do the majority of the shopping in our society and we know on which aisle to find the birth control.

The "war on women" is a blatant yet perfect example of a smoke screen.  It is the Left's distraction from the real crisis of an over-sized, inefficient, bloated government that they are unwilling to rein in ... and the growing dangers of the national debt.  They are sounding alarms about running out of aspirin on the Titanic, while ignoring the iceberg.

As a woman, I am concerned about the future of this country.  I am worried that the day will come when we can no longer sustain a debt that grows over three billion a day!  We cannot even pay the interest, unless spending is cut.   All debts come due and unless our government does what must be done, we are headed towards total financial collapse.

THAT is not only a war on women, it is a war on America and most especially ... it is a war on our children.

Color

June 8, 1978.  I was home with our two year old when Husband called me from work with the big news that he'd heard on the radio.

The "long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood".  For the first time since our church was founded in 1830, there would be no restriction due to skin color.   I don't remember my specific reaction, other than I was excited.  I called my friend Beth, to verify.  Yes, she said, it's true!

I grew up a member of my church.  My parents were members.  Their parents were members ...... and on and on.  All I've ever known is being "Mormon".  So the fact that in our church, black men (the term "African American" had yet to be coined) could not be ordained to receive what we believe is the authority to act in God's name, was strangely normal to me.

The priesthood is a power that comes from God, to do his work here on the earth just as was done in the Bible.  It is the authority to baptize, preside, give blessings, heal the sick, and conduct ordinances, among other things.  Without it, men cannot  be married eternally in the temple nor receive the ordinances therein.  Women have never been ordained in the priesthood; however, we are not denied anything by our lack of it.  We receive all the ordinances and blessings.  I have never felt short-changed for not having the priesthood myself.

But what about black men?  Why were they denied this for so long?  Answer: ... the forget-everything-else-you-may-have-heard answer .....  We don't know.  That's it.  We don't.  Some have theories.  But they are just ... theories.  In the Old Testament, the priesthood was only given to certain groups, much more limited groups than in our lifetime.  Black men it seems, are simply among the last to receive it.

When I was in college (pre-1978), I dated the one black man on our mostly LDS campus.  He was handsome, charismatic, and fervently LDS.  He had been converted a few years prior, and his conviction as to the truth of our beliefs, was powerful.  He believed.  He believed in a religion that, because of his skin color, set him apart from other men.  How can that be?

It didn't matter to him.  He knew it was true and he trusted God.  And he knew God loved him.  It was as simple as that.

After graduation, I never saw him again, but on that June day in 1978, I thought of him.  I was thrilled for him because I could imagine his joy.

So something with which I grew up and seemed so normal, now 34 years later, looks strange.  My beloved religion, the religion of my forbearers, discriminated against black people!  How did I tolerate that?  How can I tolerate it now?

Because of faith.  I know it's true.  I know it has been the greatest blessing in my life.  I know that anyone who embraces it will also be blessed, regardless of their skin.  And whatever God's reasons were, I trust him.

One thing to note:  Although black men were restricted from receiving the priesthood, black people were not restricted from joining and gathering with others of our faith, to worship.  We never segregated our worship services.  We never had black or white congregations.   I was never taught as a child, by my parents nor by my church, to feel differently, one way or another, towards another race.  Everyone is a child of God and deserves to be treated with respect. 

Yet look at the history of traditional, mainstream Christianity in America.  There you WILL find segregation.  In our society, the colors did not mix until the 60s began to open our eyes to the bigotry of segregation.  And sometimes God waits, prepares, and takes his time until WE are ready ..... and in 1978, not only were WE ready .... the world in general was ready too.

It's real

I, and others like me, have been called Stepford wives.  For those of you who aren't into 70's movies, these are artificial women who do all-things-domestic "perfectly".  Perfect house, perfect grooming, perfect cooking, perfect wife.  On the surface, they appear ..... perfect.  But, as the story goes, it's all an illusion and underneath is an enslaved feminist in major denial and, deep down, seething with resentment.  At the same time, ironically, they are highly judgmental of fellow SWs who dare to break from the mold.

Members of my faith sometimes appear to be Stepford-ish.  For example, can anyone BE more perfect than Ann Romney?  The worst the media can dig up about the family was that they once strapped their dog carrier on the roof of their car.  (Every dog I've ever known would have begged for such a ride!)

So why the SW label?  I think it boils down to what SOME perceive to be choice, or the lack thereof.   In other words, since THEY didn't make good choices, the good choices were never really available.  And anyone who APPEARS to have made good choices, cannot be real.

A few examples of good choices:

> Saving sex for marriage then remaining completely faithful for life.

> Avoiding addictive substances like tobacco, liquor, illegal drugs, etc.  Not to mention other forms of sabotage such as immoral movies, pornography, immodesty, foul language, and toxic people.

> Going to church and when you get there -- listening.

> Getting educated and then working so that no one else has to clean up your mess or pick up your tab.

Some think they did not have some or any of these choices.  But that's a lie.  Life may have obscured the options, but we are not ruled by the Taliban, nor are we wearing burkas.  In this society, we have choices.

And even if we make good choices, there are few guarantees.  Ann Romney didn't escape some life-threatening illnesses.  BUT there are odds.  And the odds are, with the right choices, that life will be better.  You will be happier.  Your children will be happier.  And the world will be a little better.

I didn't start out any smarter than anyone else, but FORTUNATELY my parents made good choices that placed me, right from the get-go, into a religion that taught me to avoid potholes.  The outside world says it's not possible ... it's not realistic ... we are only human and those potholes are part of life.

But not my life.

They say, for example, teenagers WILL have sex, so stop denying it and break out the birth control.  Yet many of us didn't.  We chose to wait.

STDs and unwed pregnancies were not part of my world.  Neither were single parenting, fatherless children, and the related dependence on public assistance.  Also foreign to my world is drunkenness and substance addictions.  Good choices ARE possible ....  I see it in my world all the time.  KIDS NEED TO KNOW THIS and it's our job as adults, to SHOW them ......

... that it's not an illusion.  Those good choices, with the better odds and happier life, can be theirs.

*********

Added note:  With that religion that saved me and countless others from the potholes, comes the knowledge that mistakes and poor choices of varying degrees can and do happen to all of us.  The Bible teaches us the solution.  It's called repentance.

What does your vote cost?

Seventy percent of all US senators have never done anything other than hold an elected office.  Also known as career politicians they, like everyone else, want to keep their jobs.   Keeping their jobs, requires votes.  And votes cost.  


We all, in a sense, sell our votes.  And the prices vary.  Some sell their votes for entitlement programs, which are simply benefits.  In other words, anything the government "gives" us.  But in reality, the government never gives anything.  It's all purchased with votes and enabled by spending.  


Since there can never be enough taxes to cover it all, money is borrowed to pay for those programs.  And the amount of our current national debt is incomprehensible.  If you don't mind losing some sleep, look here.  We are ALL on the fast road to total bankruptcy.  


Is it fixable?  Yes.  But look at what happens to someone who was brave enough to try.  


Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin, ran on a platform of cutting spending in a state, like many others, was buried in debt.  We're talking a $3.6 billion deficit.  After elected, he kept his promises.  He took on public unions which represent state government employees such as teachers, and started requiring them to pay for a portion of their benefits.  Like the rest of us do.   Gov. Walker eliminated that deficit and turned it into a $300 million surplus without raising taxes.  Yet instead of public appreciation, there is a major effort, led by union leaders, to recall him.   


The country is watching Wisconsin.  Will it support someone who courageously made the tough decisions, putting his job on the line --- or will it succumb to the pressures of union greed and the addiction to benefits ... and vote to return to deficits, debt, and higher taxes?  


The US Congress is also watching Wisconsin.  It too, has the power to do as Gov. Walker has done.  But that takes guts.  And it may cost them their jobs because they may lose those ever-precious votes.  Voters don't like losing their benefits.  They feel entitled to them.


But what does an ex-congressman do, who has never done anything else?  That question motivates them to do what it takes, or costs, to keep the only job they know.  And we pay the price .... or we will ..... sooner or later.