Author Archives: rameumptom

About rameumptom

Gerald (Rameumptom) Smith is a student of the gospel. Joining the Church of Jesus Christ when he was 16, he served a mission in Santa Cruz Bolivia (1978=1980). He is married to Ramona, has 3 stepchildren and 7 grandchildren. Retired Air Force (Aim High!). He has been on the Internet since 1986 when only colleges and military were online. Gerald has defended the gospel since the 1980s, and was on the first Latter-Day Saint email lists, including the late Bill Hamblin's Morm-Ant. Gerald has worked with FairMormon, More Good Foundation, LDS.Net and other pro-LDS online groups. He has blogged on the scriptures for over a decade at his site: Joel's Monastery (joelsmonastery.blogspot.com). He has the following degrees: AAS Computer Management, BS Resource Mgmt, MA Teaching/History. Gerald was the leader for the Tuskegee Alabama group, prior to it becoming a branch. He opened the door for missionary work to African Americans in Montgomery Alabama in the 1980s. He's served in two bishoprics, stake clerk, high council, HP group leader and several other callings over the years. While on his mission, he served as a counselor in a branch Relief Society presidency.

The Maxwell Institute/FARMS controversy

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Let me begin this discussion with some background info. With my moniker, Rameumptom, I’m fairly well known on LDS blogs, etc. When I spoke at this year’s Kirtland Sunstone Symposium, Dan Vogel, ex-LDS scholar, came up to me and shook my hand, calling me Rameumptom, glad to finally have met me. I’ve been involved in apologetics for about 20 years, having studied such things for over 30 years.  In the past, I was an active member of the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, editing articles and working on several projects.  With my own blogging, the work I do for More Good Foundation, and blogging here, I don’t have the time to work for FAIR right now.  But I stay very involved in apologetics on and off-line. BTW, I am not, nor ever have been, an alumni of BYU or any other LDS related university.

Now the issue:

Recently, on an Anti-Mormon website, private emails were published regarding the firing of Daniel C Peterson as editor of what was once the FARMS Review of Books.  Dan was one of the originators of the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies (FARMS), which published scholarly research that supported the Church and defended against its critics and attackers.  FARMS has done many great projects over the years, including organizing and republishing all of Hugh Nibley’s great works. Continue reading →

Book of Mormon lesson 25

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Lesson 25 is now on my blog.  I discuss Alma 17-22, on the mission to the Lamanites by the sons of Mosiah.  I compare Ammon with Aaron’s attempts at missionary work.  I discuss the servants of Lamoni bringing the hands to the king and how it compares to an ancient Egyptian papyri.  I discuss the conversions of Lamoni and his father to the endowment.

http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2012/06/book-of-mormon-lesson-25-they-taught.html

Read there / Comment here.

 

President Obama bypasses Congress, again.

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I personally think we should pass a Dream Act for young illegals that came here with their parents.  That said, I think there is a right and wrong way of doing things in a Constitutional government.

Because of the dangers of monarchy and tyranny, our Founding Fathers set up a system of checks and balances. It forces federal government to move slowly and (hopefully) wisely on decisions made.

However, the presidential edict announced today to allow young illegals to gain work permits is a danger to our Constitution. Whether a good cause or not, establishing a rule that goes against the rule of law, without going through the Constitutional process, is a danger. Pres Obama decided months ago that he could not/would not work with a Republican House, and so has settled for making rules of his own, without Congressional legislation.  Instead of leading and compromising with Congress as did LBJ, Reagan and Clinton, he is forging a path around the Constitution.  And while he may be using it for good purposes now, it opens the door for such things to lead to tyranny later.

I real president would not do such an end run around the system, but would lead Congress through it. Even when he had Democrats leading both houses of Congress, he showed himself incapable of leading effectively, if at all.  Now, instead of learning how to lead and guide the discussion, he uses presidential edicts to not only ignore, but to go against laws established  by Congress.

I want to see Congress gets some cajones and pass some smart and workable immigration laws, both for allowing people in and keeping the undesirables out. This will hopefully include the Dream Act, or something similar.  If Pres Obama wishes to push Congress on this during an election year, fine.  I’ll support him in writing my Congressmen to pass some good legislation. However, to bypass Congress entirely is an outrage, and another brick removed from the wall of the Constitution.