Book of Mormon lesson 18, Mosiah 12-17 on Abinadi’s preaching. I compare him with Moses, and explain why the priests of Noah would quote Isaiah.
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2012/04/book-of-mormon-lesson-18-god-himself.html
Read there / Comment here
This is an updated copy from one of the most popular Straight and Narrow Blog posts written at my personal blog. It has more views and heated responses than any other. Considering topics here converge on its subject, I thought it would be good to reprint.
The news at one time brought up the idea that, despite the large number of Mormons that support the current war conflicts, the members and LDS Church itself are skipping out on serving in the military. The implication is that Mormon are cowards, or worse. With so many of the recent commentaries on war and the military, they often start with Vietnam and ignore all other wars. To be fair, like most subjects the history of Mormons and the military is a complicated subject that can’t be examined in a sound bite. There are religious and cultural reasons for the diverse approach to military involvement.
Much of the attention on Mormonism these days comes from the media, hyped by Mitt Romney’s entrance into the presidential race. The focus on military matters had short attention with Mitt Romney portrayed as a Vietnam draft dodger. This would be a simple political attack if it weren’t for the way Mormons were used to create this image. He, like so many Mormons before and after him, passed on the draft for religious reasons. A mission to France kept him out of the draft and later he drew a high number at his return. Others have picked up on this and pointed to the whole idea of missions replacing military services as a way to get out of harms way.
It didn’t end with him, but has continued unabashedly by attacking his mission serving sons who some believe at least one of them should have gone to Iraq. Despite the rather badly worded way he explained it by saying his children are supporting the war by participating in his presidential run, Romney has expanded military support to include serving in a non-combat capacity at home or abroad. Many, including some conservatives, have rejected this idea believing that if you support a war then you or your children should join the military. For Mormons, that kind of a call to duty has never been clear. Continue reading
This story in the Daily Beast is eerily similar to one posted on M* just a few months ago.
The title: “Democrats have bigger anti-Mormon problem in election than GOP has.”
The key graph:
Despite the media’s obsession with the alleged anti-Mormonism of evangelical Christians, the party with the larger anti-Mormon problem is the Democrats. According to Gallup, while only 18 percent of Republicans said they would oppose a Mormon candidate, among Democrats the figure was 27 percent. As if on cue, Montana’s Democratic governor, Brian Schweitzer, last week volunteered that women would not back Romney because his father was “born on a polygamy commune in Mexico.”
To key points from your not-so-humble correspondent: 1)I and others at M* have roundly condemned, in the strongest language possible, Republican anti-Mormonism. 2)I actually think the Obama campaign has been relatively restrained in playing the anti-Mormonism card so far. I expected far worse and have been pleasantly surprised. I hope that continues. 3)There are valid reasons to oppose Romney related to his religion (many people I know just don’t trust and like people with his conservative lifestyle, and the criticize his lack of passion). I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is disliking him because of his religion, and using it as a wedge issue, which is what the Lawrence O’Donnells and the Bill Mahers of the world do.
What does “living a lie” mean? It is when we believe something that is not true and which controls our thoughts, feelings, and other beliefs. For example, when I was pregnant with our first child, I would sit in church and notice that a boy was wearing white socks with a suit, and I thought, “My son would never do that,” or a little child with a dirty face, and I thought, “My children will have clean faces in church”. I was preparing myself to live a lie because in reality, children will wear mismatching socks and have dirty faces.
Do I love my children more when they are neat and clean? Do I love them less when they are messy and dirty? These are also lies that some parents may be living. Thoughts like these are myths which damage our joy and our relationships. Of course a parent wouldn’t hinge their love for a child upon appearance.
In fact, people often ask me how to raise confident children. Allowing a child to make messes and wear funny mismatched clothing from time to time is one way they determine they are good at making choices. All people need a safe way to learn decision making and cause and effect. Simple clothing choices at young ages, and creative projects, which often make messes, are great cause and effect learning moments and should be embraced by parents.
More Lies And Facts
Social culture often pressures dads to behave certain ways toward their sons. They may teach their sons that crying is for sissies or men don’t do house work. These are lies. Continue reading
President Obama is now the $5 Trillion Man. $5 Trillion in deficit spending in just over 3 years. It took our nation from George Washington through Bill Clinton to hit our first $5 Trillion in debt. It took George W Bush 8 years to add just under $5 Trillion to our deficit. Pres Obama is the clear record holder. And if re-elected, his proposed budgets would have him deficit spending as much (or more) than all previous presidents combined.
So, just what can one buy with $5 Trillion?
What other things can $5 Trillion buy?