Do Not let the Chain of Love end with You

People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

It is so true and those who do not show their love do not love. These are some bits of wisdom that I have learned over the years. I have an increased attitude of gratitude. It increases every time I hear stories of people like Kathy, Cole, and Canada who pay it forward. I have been taught principles like these all my life and that is the key, to be reminded all throughout life. The word “remember” is what I consider to be one of the most important words in the English language. I pray that we might always remember and never forget to be Christ-like to others. I realize it is often overwhelming to think of helping everyone, and discouragement seeps in when you think of how small your contributions are, especially if they are monetary. Although I do not wish to belittle the millionaires for their contributions I cannot help but think that those people will be in another pinch as soon as the financial reservoir is drained. My dad never gave me much material wise, but he taught me how to fish and I will use that for a lifetime. I think we need to realize that our time, talents, and energies, can be of great worth if we do not abuse them. If we devote them to investing in the futures of others like Canada did, according to circumstances that are in our control, I believe this world will be much better off. I was always taught to pray for peace of mind for the things I cannot change, for courage for the things I can, and for wisdom to know the difference. If nothing else, remember this, do not let the chain of love end with you.

Daniel Souza

Grateful

My eyes were open today while watching "The Secret Millionaire" today in class. It really put things into perspective. I thought about how much I take for granted, and how much I have to be grateful for. I admire the women in the show for her selflessness in helping others with all that she could give (her own social security.) She opened her home to all, and expected nothing in return. Think how wonderful our society would be if more people were like her. She was so trusting of everyone, and loved all.

On the other hand I think I often take my good health for granted at times. I feel for the young girl who struggled with cancer, and yet she wasn't complaining. I get sick with the flu, and I act as if I were to die.

I admire the millionaire for his generous contributions, and hope that I could have a heart as generous as his, and the women who opened her house to all. Selfishness destroys lives. My hope for myself and others is to think of others every once and a while, and count our blesses. Heavenly Father has given each of us so much to thankful for, sometimes we just need to step into another's shoes to see more clearly.

In closing I would like to share a quote that got me thinking from Pinterest (my favorite website,) "If we all threw our problems into a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." I hope be a little more optimistic, and be grateful for what I do have! 

Brooke Irvin

I'm a student, a Democrat, and I'm a Mormon

In the words of senator Harry Reid, “I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it.” I share the same sentiments as the senator, as my religious and political beliefs cannot be separated.

I believe in progressive taxation. I believe that universal healthcare should be extended to all citizens of this nation. I believe that illegal immigrants should be treated with compassion and kindness. I believe in diplomacy over military action. I believe in environmental protection. I believe in equal marriage for same-sex couples. Also, I believe in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This post is not about my specific stance on gay marriage, immigration, or tax law, but my overall sentiments as a Mormon Democrat.

I have faced a lot of opposition and shock from fellow ward members and friends upon learning that I am a Democrat.

“You mean… you’re not voting for Mitt Romney?!”

or,

“So, you voted for Obama?!” *look of disgust*

or my personal favorite,

“You’re a…. a….. D Word?”

Yes, I have actually been asked these questions… On more than one occasion. All I can do is smile, answer their questions, and enjoy the look of shock on their face.

On a more serious note, I have actually had my salvation and worthiness as a member of the church called into question due to my political affiliation. Some of my like-minded friends have even been told that their temple recommends should be revoked.

While the church is predominantly republican, I am not alone as 17% of Mormons are democrats (see: http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-infographic.aspx). In fact, even prominent Mormon leaders have been democrats: best example James E. Faust, 2^nd counselor in the First Presidency, politician, and self-proclaimed liberal.

While I could go on all day about how I believe the Democratic Party best represents the teachings of the gospel, I won’t go into specific detail. I’m not asking all the conservative Mormons to jump ship and join the Obama-train, but I would ask for a little respect, understanding, and open-mindedness.

All too often, there seems to be an assumption that all faithful members of the church hold conservative ideologies. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have heard an impromptu Mitt Romney rally given over the pulpit in sacrament meeting, offensive jokes about Obama told in Sunday school, or outright derogatory comments made about liberals.

There are faithful members of the church from every point on the political spectrum. We should appreciate the wide variety of opinions held by members and the subsequent opportunity to learn and grow. All I ask is that we respect member from every political affiliation, and don’t jump to hasty generalizations about the worthiness of those of differing political opinion.

I believe in equal marriage, progressive taxation, and universal healthcare, and at the end of the day I still believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.

-- Melanie Nelson

The forgotten man

I came across this painting by McNaughton. The link to the painting is here: http://www.mcnaughtonart.com/artwork/view_zoom/?artpiece_id=379

This painting really made me think about poverty and the American government. The economy today that is really suffering is being blamed on Obama. In the painting, he is even stepping on the constitution which is a very unpatriotic thing to do, just like most of the things (in most people's opinion) that Obama is doing. Coming from another country, I do not know much about the American government, but I do hear that a lot of people are blaming the president for their problems. As is apparent in this painting.

I love the fact that the older presidents that were really liked are concentrating on the average man. I think this is something that a lot of people feel. The older presidents would care much more about the people than the current ones who only care about themselves. They are the true Americans, the ones who really made a difference and today, Americans are looking for someone like them to direct to country once again.

I really like all the messages that are found in this painting, and all the small bits of information that the artist provides. I think everyone should take a look at it and spend a few minutes learning from the painting.

Michelle Lupien

Alabama's Sweeping Immigration Bill & Self-Deportation

Learn everything you need to know about the toughest immigration law in the country and who is behind not only the law, but Romney's new policy of self-deportation.  Will it work?  You be the judge.

Crossing the plains and kicking up dirt, a new Mormon pioneer

Check out this interesting story on Joanna Brooks, an unorthodox Mormon, that was the cover story on CNN.com:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/05/crossing-the-plains-and-kicking-up-dirt-a-new-mormon-pioneer/?hpt=hp_c1

Tolerance

After our class discussion on race the other day I was reminded of Elder Oaks' recent talk on tolerance. He said, "Living together with mutual respect for one another’s differences is a challenge in today’s world.  However—and here I express a second absolute truth—this living with differences is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do." I think we, more than any other people, have a responsibility to be tolerant because we understand that we are children of God.

On that subject, I also discovered a movement to fight against social in-tolerance...

It began in Billings, Montana and encourages social acceptance of religion, race, or difference in general. This campaign calls for communities to ban together against hate crimes- no matter who they are against. The lyrics of the song "We are the World" truly have meaning. We as a race, the human race, are all alike. We share family values. People are intrinsically good. Believe that. Love them for what they are even if that means accepting that they think differently than you.

Stand up against any form of intolerance whether it be in school, in the store, or at church. Be willing to be someone's hero. Take the time to care enough to learn about them and why they are who they are.
Watch the videos that are posted on this website http://www.niot.org/videos and get inspired to act. As it is so beautifully said, silence is acceptance, so if you are against how someone is being treated-SPEAK UP.

 

I think this campaign is a major movement towards solving social issues. If we can speak up rather spiraling into silence with the majority, we will be serving others.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil only is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Tereasa


(Jessi Packard)

Discrimination in an Unmentioned Topic

Discrimination, prejudice, diversity, cultural differences – can you guess what I am talking about?

“Let’s see, he used those words, so… it has to be about race! Or gender! Or wait, maybe sexual preferences.”

Nope, keep trying.

“Is it Class? socioeconomic status? Religion? Disabilities?”

Any other ideas? No? Do you think that list covers them all? Is there nowhere else people are divided or discriminated against?

This post is about a culture that is the subject of prejudice and discrimination that millions in the USA participate in, but no one seems to realize that what they are doing is discrimination. This culture is homeschoolers.

“Homeschoolers? Is that a culture? Is that something discriminated against?”

Take a moment and think about this… Are you starting to understand what I mean? How many time have you heard – or said yourself – comments like, “that guy is so awkward, he must be a homeschooler,” or “homeschoolers are so weird,” or any one of the hundreds of such phrases that I have heard.

If you haven’t guessed already, I’ll go ahead and tell you: I’m a homeschooler. Have been since the fourth grade and up until coming to BYU. So, we’re different? Sure, I’d say we are, or at least can be. We have a different lifestyle, a different culture. But, a worse one? Really, what are the differences in the two cultures?

 Maybe a list will help:

1)      Public schoolers have to learn how to make friends – Homeschoolers have to learn how to keep the friends they have.

2)      Public schoolers learn with their peers – Homeschoolers learn with their parents/family.

3)      Public schoolers have to learn at the class’s pace – Homeschoolers learn at their own.

4)      Public schoolers interact with people their own age – Homeschoolers have to interact with people of all different ages.

5)      Public schoolers have to learn how to “fit in” with the group – Homeschoolers already fit into their group.

There are more things I could list, and of course these I do list don’t define everyone, but at least it is a start in forming a picture of what is going on.

So then, what do these differences cause? Obviously the difference causes homeschoolers to be socially awkward and inferior – right? Might as well go up to a black person and say “hey, your culture makes you poor, lazy, and dumb!” or approach a woman and say “hey, your gender makes you flighty, emotional, and weak!” Please don’t be that ignorant…

Take myself, for example. Am I socially awkward? Sometimes, yeah, but obviously not so bad that people are afraid to bash homeschoolers in front of me (I usually just silently listen, and let them continue on in their ignorance). But in exchange for my possible weaknesses in socializing with peers, I instead have become much more proficient in socializing with adults. In fact, I can usually hold a conversation with someone twice my age far better than my public schooled peers. Can I make friends as easily? Probably not, but the friendships I do make are rich and full, and are likely to last for a lifetime. Aside from these two things, my homeschooling also taught me how to self-motivate (I had to set my own time for finishing assignments long before college), I had the opportunity to spend more time with and become even closer to my family, and I learned more in my studies than almost any public schooler I meet.

Now I don’t say these things for the sake of tooting my own horn, or to say that homeschoolers are better, but I think it is important to understand that a different culture doesn’t mean a bad one. I chose to be homeschooled, and while I missed out on many aspects of a public school life, I also gained in many other areas. So, yeah, I might not fit precisely into your culture, but don’t diss mine – because I wouldn’t change it for the world.

-John Richardson

Mormonism

http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-infographic.aspx
Here is the link for my post if you are interested in taking a look!

The statics of this forum may come as a surprise to many members of the church. Even as I went through and looked at the different subject matter, I was shocked to find that some information about Mormons were statistically lower than expected. As I grew up in the church, there were fundamental principles, such as going to church or prayer, that were put into my head that I followed and thought that many followed as well. To my surprise, this forum has proven me wrong and that there are many who identify themselves as Mormon but do not follow those simple principles as strongly I thought everyone did. 

As members of the church, we do feel much discrimination against in many aspects of our faith. We currently have a candidate for the republican presidential nomination who identifies himself as a Mormon. Unfortunately, many do not fully understand what Mormon’s really believe and look on websites that are incorrect on the doctrines in which we believe. These issues have been brought up to this candidate and he has handled these issues well but many are still unsatisfied with his answers. As citizens of the United States of America, we have amendments that protect our rights. It still fascinates me how many citizens are still discriminated against, whether it is for their religion, race, or sexual orientation.

As I read this forum and looked at the graphs, I began to understand why maybe the statistics were as I thought would have been. This survey was only asked to people who identified themselves as Mormons, therefore, they may not live the lifestyle of a Mormon but just identify themselves as such. I also observed that the candidates who were asked the questions were eighteen years of age or older. Some of the statistics would not necessarily be applicable to those of younger age than to those of an older generation.

Growing up in a community where my close neighbors were not members is a blessing given to me. I have been able to share the gospel with those around me. Even if it is not the first discussion, the presence I share of happiness and caring has been able to bless those not of my faith. I think by understanding that many are inactive or struggling to come to an understanding of the gospel or even those not of our faith will benefit us and give us opportunities to share our testimony or even give a helping hand to these individuals in need.  

Merrili Taylor Gardner 

Praying to stop being Gay

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/22/my-faith-how-i-learned-to-stop-praying-away-the-gay/

This was a very interesting article (copied on top) to me. It was written by a gay African-American and how he grew up praying every day for God to change him, or "...stop having crushes on boys..." As I read through this it caused me to put myself in his shoes. How difficult it must have been for him to not tell his parents, pretend to be something he didn't feel comfortable with, begging God for help but without feeling any answers coming. He must have felt alone; many times in his article he talks about how depressed he was because around the age of five years old he felt like he was going to Hell and that he was a sinner. I have had many friends in my life who are homosexual and none of them have ever presented themselves in a way to make me hate them or dislike them. In fact, I would even argue that they were more compassionate and likable than many heterosexuals. Of course, I understand that is a very small sample size to make such a comparison, but I feel it is substantial enough for me to think twice before I judge and categorize every living gay person. I think this article was well written and worth the read.

My Battle, Our War

I believe pornography is a social issue. It will pervade our society or be absent according to our individual responses. I believe that each member of a community has the privilege and the right to surround themselves with that which is beautiful and compelling. That privilege starts in the privacy of our homes and extends to the public displays in our neighborhood and from there to society in general.

I have always tried to protect my home from pornography. I cut inappropriate pictures from the newspaper so my family could read it with safety and expurgated our sons’ high school art books so they could avoid as much nudity as possible. I taught my children to turn away from the TV when improper commercials came on and to “look for pennies” on the ground at school when skirts were too high or cleavage too low. Now my protecting also includes keeping our home internet connection a safe portal to the world.

The first time I fought public pornography was when a beauty shop next to my local bank put up over-sized signs that caused me embarrassment. I was a young mother and wasn’t brave in those days. I telephoned from home after my errands were done, knowing there was no caller I.D., and I would be completely anonymous in my request that the signs be removed. To my surprise, they were gone when I happened that way again and I felt somewhat gratified.

Recently I have felt I must do more. So when a family grocery store in my area displayed a six-foot cardboard model which made my husband blush, I asked to see the store manager. I inquired if she knew what was at the front of her store. She did not and when she returned, she was blushing. Apparently a vendor had put up the display without permission and for hours customers had been getting the wrong impression about the moral values of those who ran the establishment. The sign was removed and wasn’t replaced. Sometime later, I found bottles of root beer with nudity on the cardboard label in that same store. That visit with the manager produced the same results: the product was removed from the shelves.

So over time, and with some renewed conviction, I have learned I can make a difference in the visual context of society. It is mostly in my home, my neighborhood, and my community that I have tried to keep things clean and safe. But then, if every conscientious adult took the initiative to clean their home, neighborhood, and the areas where they run errands of visual filth, I don’t believe there would be any more dirt of that kind to clean up.

Some time ago I visited a recently opened “super store” near my home. On the main aisle was a display of calendars, complete with a “swimsuit edition.” I picked up the calendar that offended me, covered it with two more “friendly” calendars, and walked to the front of the store. (You never know what someone might think seeing you with a bikini calendar heading towards the registers.) I visited with the assistant manager because the manager wasn’t there. I spoke of a family-friendly store, how much I wanted to be safe when I shopped, and how much it would mean to me if this particular calendar wasn’t stocked. She concurred kindly and later told me that this item had been pulled and wouldn’t appear again. It was hard to speak out against pornography, and yet it was simple. Twenty minutes of my time and a whole lot of my courage bought an aisle at the store which will be safer for all future shoppers.

In speaking out against pornography in my community I haven’t always been treated kindly. I have been laughed at and sometimes even wondered if it will really make a difference in the long run. In one clothing store I couldn’t easily shop because of the distracting, over-sized, and inappropriate banners. The manager rudely declared she wasn’t in charge of the advertising in her store and that nothing I did could make a difference. It felt like defeat, and maybe for a moment it was, but even if I stood alone, I had stood for making society a visually safe.

This I know: I have tried; I have stood up; I have declared my values and held up a standard. I continue to believe that any kind of pornography does not belong in our lives. We must nurture the good, the clean, and the moral. We must clear our lives of evil and stand up against it when others seem to embrace this vice. We must do this one day, one experience, and one brave moment at a time. Together we can keep the world safe for our families, our neighbors, and anyone else who wants to grow up in a world of moral purity by speaking out against pornography.

In this way, social institutions will have a firmer foundation of morality. This, in my opinion, is a good first step towards a healthier and safer society.

~Marie Calder Ricks

Landlord Defends "White Only" sign

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/12/us/us-whites-only-pool/index.html?hpt=us_c2

When does learning about history cross the boundaries into inappropriate? In one way or another, most people (if not all) are haunted by their past. This is no exception to countries and cultures. Perhaps one of the most arguably darkest stain upon the cultural robes of America arise from African American intolerance, or racism. While politicians and legislative bodies across the country have attempted to wash out the malignant memory with amendments and laws, many people unfortunately continue to secretly harbor their intolerance--even to this day. Learning about history includes learning about both the roses and the thorns, the good days and the bad. But--coming back to my original question--to what extent do we allow historical details and facts play apart in our life? Many schools and educational institutions provide censorship requirements when teaching children about the holocaust, slavery, riots and rebellions, crimes, etc. Occasionally, we may be required to censor how people display historical artifacts regarding some of these historical incidents.

In Ohio, a landlord recently posted a sign that read "Public Swimming Pool: White Only" outside of her swimming pool. She claimed that this sign was a historical artifact and that her intention for posting it was not racial by any means. Earlier, she and one of her tenants had an argument concerning his biracial daughter. The landlord would not allow the tenant's daughter to enter the pool because she would "cloud the pool because of chemicals she used in her hair."After this argument the tenant claimed the sign was posted outside of the pool.

After reading this article and watching the video I am not convinced of her "historical artifact" rebuttal to the state's insistence for the sign's removal. How could anyone who has seen that sign assume that it was posted because of a historical significance? I imagine anyone who saw that sign would assume it was out of pure racial intolerance. However, on the other hand, asking the landlord to remove that sign might be considered unconstitutional based on free speech, if the landlord actually allowed African Americans into her pool and she did not enforce the sign's message (although it might not be the best advertising for prospective tenants).

--Collin Cannavo