Saturday, February 24, 2018

God, Guns, and Prophets (not Profits)

Time for an update. And I'm actually encouraged this time.

President Russell M. Nelson of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) is reported to have said that agency has allowed men to pass laws to allow guns to people who shouldn't have them.

Let me paste in here a recent FaceBook stream that brings up statements of the prophets. I'll take out he personal identifiers and links to friends who commented. In so doing, I also challenge the gun people out there to proof-text me wrong.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Let There be PEACE on Earth

And let it begin . . . in the International Peace Garden, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Why didn't I know this existed?

Yesterday, when I was looking for pics to go with another blog post, I found this wonderful place not far from downtown, at 900 West 1000 South on the Jordan River Parkway. When I arrived at the Family History Library before it opened yesterday morning, I took the opportunity to go wander the gardens.

It's still February, so there wasn't much going on with flowery aspects. I will return, hopefully many times. It's the kind of place I could wander as an old man and sit in peace.

I'll share my photo tour without commentary because I would be tempted to say too many things to detract such as I think the Swiss got a little carried away with their Matterhorn. I wanted to get in line for the ride, but didn't have my mouse ears. No, Peace, peace, peace, be still . . . .


Saturday, February 17, 2018

Renounce Guns, Proclaim PEACE


It's time to call an end to Mormons arming themselves to protect against an imaginary tyrannical government or even for "self-defense." 

Don't get me wrong. I get the anti-government sentiment. I've worked for the feds for 34 years and don't like them much. But heaven help us if we continue on the path we are on!

There is a sickness in American culture (and I mean the US, not our Canadian or Latin American friends). Actually, there is more than one sickness. One is racism and the original sin of slavery which we have not shed, not nearly as well as other American neighbors who were also under this curse. The other, related sickness is the obsessive love of gun culture.

The LDS Church is more and more a world church. Sure, still with dominant American culture, but that is fading more and more and will only accelerate. We are the only nation where the LDS Church is established, Zion in the Latter-days, where we violate the laws of Zion on a regular basis by arming ourselves.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Gun Love Kills

Just sent this message off to each of my Senators and Congressman:

Gun Love has gone too far in this country. There is no need to ban all guns (just assault weapons). There is blood on the hands of the NRA and all who resist any attempt to regulate weapons of quick and easy destruction of school children. My wife teaches at Mueller Park Jr. High in Bountiful where last year a student blasted a hole in the ceiling of a classroom which could have gone so much worse. We must stop the gun culture in this country that promotes guns as tools for problem solving. Guns are not the problem. The Love of guns and gun money is.

These are the Tweets and FB messages I sent off on yesterday's Valentines Day Massacre:

  1. Gun Love Kills
  2. Just one more. The infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929? Seven dead. 7. Not seventeen. 7.
  3. Hearts bleed in Florida and all over this country because people love guns more than other people.
  4. Guns don't have Rights, People do!
  5. The all have blood on their hands. Gun Love has gone too far. Gun Rights require Gun Responsibility. You stand condemned!

Saturday, February 10, 2018

A Glimpse of my 2nd-Great Grandmother Vaughn

They must have liked the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" in the Ogden Third Ward Relief Society. They appear to have sung it at least every other meeting.

My 2nd-Great Grandmother, "Sr. Isabella Baun was sustained into [their] society" on 1 August 1888, a year after her arrival from England. In those days, it wasn't automatic that LDS ladies would be members of the Relief Society. You had to join and apparently be "sustained" regardless of whether the secretary could spell your name.

The Ogden Third Ward had a meeting house on the Tabernacle square, but the Relief Society often met in the "vestry of the tabernacle." That was a grand building indeed!

Ogden Tabernacle, on the block where the Temple is today.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Getting Ready for the Big Parade!

With  little more spirit of levity than I felt on the eve of the last shutdown, I have some proposals for the uniform the gentleman in the White House may want to consider for his big military parade:


These above would be excellent choices for the whole crowd! Melania, Jared, Ivanka, and the other gentleman could all choose their own shade. We know Melania would look good in blue. Peach seams right for Jared. Ivanka and her dad would have to fight over pink and green.