About Joyce Anderson

Her family and friends call her the Queen of the United States...and Mom -- Joyce Anderson has been involved in LDS apologetics for over 20 years and with the Millennial Star since 2010. Since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic she has added homeschooler to her list things she does in addition to being the butcher, baker & candlestick maker. When not schooling the children, she reads, paints, declutters, teaches primary, and is happy to share a bowl of chips & salsa with anyone who stops by.

What Happened to the Declaration Signers?

Growing up I enjoyed listening to Paul Harvey on the radio. His stories were always interesting and his voice was, and still is comforting.

Here is Mr. Harvey teaching us what actually happened to the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Harvey points out that, “They were not poor men. They were not wild eyed pirates. These were men of means. They were rich men most of them, and had enjoyed much ease and luxury in their personal living. Not hungry men, certainly not terrorists, not irresponsible malcontents, not fanatical incendiaries, These men were prosperous men, wealthy land owners. They were substantially secure in their prosperity. They had everything to lose, but they considered liberty so much more important than security. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, and they fulfilled their pledge. They paid the price, and freedom was born.”

The trouble with claiming 1 in 5 Latter-day Saints is nonheterosexual

Millennial Star contriubutor Jacob Hess had an opinion piece published in the Deseret News yesterday.

From the article we read:

In 2014, a study appeared in the prestigious journal Science that made almost immediate waves in the national conversation with its conclusion that a mere 20-minute conversation with a gay canvasser telling a personal, heart-felt story led to persistent changes in attitudes — as confirmed by nine-month follow-ups.

When Jon Krosnick, a Stanford social psychologist, was contacted for comment, his response was, “Gee, that’s very surprising and doesn’t fit with a huge literature of evidence. It doesn’t sound plausible to me.”

Nonetheless, a feature piece ran in The New York Times the same week the study posted — the first of many similar commentaries. And the following spring, the radio program “This American Life” amplified these “groundbreaking” findings. Summarizing the cumulative effects of this single study, journalist Jesse Singal states, “It rerouted countless researchers’ agendas, inspired activists to change their approach to voter outreach, generated shifts in grant funding, and launched follow-up experiments.”

To read the rest of the article, please follow the link HERE.

That June Afternoon in Carthage

Today is the 177th anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. Four years ago I wrote about the martyrdom here on the blog, click HERE.

From Doctrine & Covenants 135:

Announcement of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum Smith the Patriarch, at Carthage, Illinois, June 27, ​1844. This document was included at the end of the 1844 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, which was nearly ready for publication when Joseph and Hyrum Smith were murdered.

1 To seal the testimony of this book and the Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet, and Hyrum Smith the Patriarch. They were shot in Carthage jail, on the 27th of June, 1844, about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob—painted black—of from 150 to 200 persons. Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming: I am a dead man! Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming: O Lord my God! They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.

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Father’s Day Thoughts

I feel like in the 21st Century version of “the battle of the sexes” it’s become a “zero-sum game”. In order for women and girls to “win”, men have to lose and be ground down to pulp — smashing patriarchy, if you will. I absolutely hate this mindset. I. Hate. It. Life is limitless and opportunities are infinite. Nothing has to be zero sum game — especially when our husbands, fathers, brothers, and sons are concerned.

My dad was far from a perfect father. But he’s my dad and I love him. He took care his parents, two siblings, his mother-in-law, and my mom in the final years of their lives — giving his time and talents to make sure they had what they needed. He loves teaching Primary and makes sure to send post cards to all of the kids in his class from New Mexico when he comes to visit us. These days Dad has taken upon himself the great task to transcribe all of his father’s letters from WW2 and his mission. Grandpa was a writer and there are many volumes to work through. When he comes to visit us he brings an activity for each day — crafts, books, puzzles — my kids know they’re going to have fun with Grandpa around!

I love my grandfathers and my father-in-law, who raised my husband to be a good and faithful man. I love my Uncles, they’re also examples of good, righteous men, who loved me like their own kids. I love my husband and the man he is, and the example he is for our sons and daughter. We are trying to raise our sons to be Godly men, in a godless world. It’s not easy!

In church today the speaker spoke of being a father, and the verb “fathering”. There is great need in the world for both of these things. Fathers and men are important. Fathering is important too. I want to support and help the men in my life to be the best they can be, to help them reach their potential, and to help them fill their divine rolls as fathers, mentors, providers, and priesthood holders — so they can in turn bless the lives of others.

Happy Father’s Day men! Your work, your efforts, your service is appreciated, and needed … press on!

Reaching Out and Connecting

Recently I had a conversation with someone from church. This person remarked that so many families in our ward were struggling with the pressures of life under Covid. I responded, yes, it’s been hard for our family too. This person was shocked. “Your family is having a hard time with all of this?” Um, yes we are?!?! Everyone is. “But you guys are so strong!” Maybe we’re strong, and maybe we’re not, but we’re just really good at putting our party face on and not spilling our beans all over social media (because let’s face it, your social feeds are already too dramatic and you don’t want my drama too). But yes, our family has had its problems over this Covid year, and I have often thought sometimes “the one” is hiding right there in the middle of the ninety-and-nine.

The other day I ran into an old friend in the grocery store, whom I had not seen since before Covid started. She reached out and grabbed me and just hugged me tight. Normally, I’m not a hugger. I don’t even like hugging family or close friends. But this was different. I realized in that embrace how much I have missed people — and this is a lot coming from me, as I’m usually fine to do things on my own. I miss people, in person. Of course I’m thankful for the technology that let me get my temple recommend renewed from the comfort of my living room and I’m thankful we have the vast Church media network that has allowed us to stay connected to our leadership. I’m even thankful for social media, as horrid as it can be sometimes, that lets us keep in contact with each other. But I miss seeing faces, hearing belly laughs, and reaching out to grab on to people.

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