A friend of mine just posted the following video which I saw years ago. Following her post a few people mocked it and said President Benson didn't speak for God, wasn't a righteous man, used scare tactics to make people believe Communism was a threat to Americans, and that the Law of Consecration was the greatest form of Socialism according to the scriptures and latter-day prophets. These comments made me livid! I generally stay out of people's mindless discussions, but I just couldn't hold back on such an important topic. I love and respect Ezra Taft Benson and knew he had the light of Christ in him. I know what he said about this topic was true, and I couldn't stand by while people said disparaging things about this great man. This was my response to their unenlightened comments:
President Ezra Taft Benson was an amazing man, full of love and very inspired. He spoke the word of God. He toured Europe following WWII as the Secretary of Agriculture in U. S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet. He witnessed firsthand the ravages of war brought on by the works of evil men like Hitler and Stalin. He saw what happens when Socialism, Communism, and dictatorship reigns. He didn't use scare tactics but quoted proof of what he had seen through his own eyes, and from the accounts of people he had met. He vowed to spend his entire life trying to ensure that his predecessors wouldn’t have to live under any type of Socialism, Communism, or under the reign of any evil leader, because he had seen how they destroy lives and take away individual freedoms. These forms of government are totally opposite of the Law of Consecration. It is lived only by choice and is a plan where all who participate do so willingly, not by force, and offer all they have for the good of everyone. They can choose to participate or not, where as Socialism and Communism offer no choice. And all those who choose to live the Law of Consecration are required to contribute and earn their keep in order to receive, as opposed to Socialism and Communism where the masses are forced to give all they have to the government so others who aren’t willing to do anything for it can receive. The Law of Consecration is a law of equality for the good of everyone, not something forced on them so that only a few choice people can prosper, hold all the power, and dictate how the majority will live!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Kids are SO Honest
Sunday I taught a lesson at church on Moral Discipline. We may have morals, but the discussion was about whether or not we back them up by our actions. Do we have the courage to do what's moral when others aren't or do we give in to the pressure and leave our values behind when others do?
One girl had a funny story to share. It really was innocent enough, but it gave us all something to think about. She's a single divorced mom with a few kids. Her mother had told her about an activity at church for singles 31 and over, and had encouraged her to attend, probably hoping she would meet a great guy. She agreed to go. When she was leaving she told her kids she was going to a 31 and over singles activity. Her son who is seven said, "Mom, how old are you?" She told him she was 29. He said, "Mom, you know what? You lie a lot. You aren't really 31 and you are going anyway, and you also sneak candy into the movie theater even though there's a big sign on the door that says you can't."
It made us all laugh. The people at the activity wouldn't care if she wasn't really 31, they would just be glad she came. And many of us sneak candy into the theater because they don't sell what we want or it costs twice as much as it's worth. That's my justification, which I know isn't right either.
Her story reminded us all that it's a guarantee that our kids are always watching us and learning by our good or bad examples. The boy made a good point that we all need to think about. Do we do what we're supposed to do and set a good example of honesty and integrity for them? I will probably always feel guilty now if I take treats to the movie! Don't you just love how honest kids are? They put us right in our place!!!
One girl had a funny story to share. It really was innocent enough, but it gave us all something to think about. She's a single divorced mom with a few kids. Her mother had told her about an activity at church for singles 31 and over, and had encouraged her to attend, probably hoping she would meet a great guy. She agreed to go. When she was leaving she told her kids she was going to a 31 and over singles activity. Her son who is seven said, "Mom, how old are you?" She told him she was 29. He said, "Mom, you know what? You lie a lot. You aren't really 31 and you are going anyway, and you also sneak candy into the movie theater even though there's a big sign on the door that says you can't."
It made us all laugh. The people at the activity wouldn't care if she wasn't really 31, they would just be glad she came. And many of us sneak candy into the theater because they don't sell what we want or it costs twice as much as it's worth. That's my justification, which I know isn't right either.
Her story reminded us all that it's a guarantee that our kids are always watching us and learning by our good or bad examples. The boy made a good point that we all need to think about. Do we do what we're supposed to do and set a good example of honesty and integrity for them? I will probably always feel guilty now if I take treats to the movie! Don't you just love how honest kids are? They put us right in our place!!!
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