The Sublime Roundabout

(WARNING - REALLY LONG POSTS) OK, so I finally read that article from Pres. Romney. Couple of things stand out to me (my comments in the quoted text I'll try to highlight by a >): 1. The website I retrieved it from is the following: http://www.latterdayconservative.com/marion-g-romney/is-socialism-the-united-order-marion-g-romney.html Which is somewhat suspect in that they definitely have an agenda. It also says:by Elder Marion G. Romney. General Conference. April 1966. Address on Socialism. >The title of the address is "Is Socialism the United Order?" Which would make it seem like it was a talk on socialism AND the United Order, in a comparison/contrasting way... If one were to only focus on the socialism addressed in the talk it would perhaps seem very different. But again, that's to be expected of this website and their agenda. President Romney also refers to "tonight" so it must have been at a priesthood session of conference, otherwise it would ha...

So I have been having this really interesting discussion with a distant friend. My last post in the series goes like this: 4. Pres. Romney states further that: That is the spirit of socialism: We're going to take. The spirit of the United Order is: We're going to give. > I have said elsewhere that I abhor the idea of compulsion. The motivation for the giving is what is interesting to me. If I give something freely as a gift to the bishop, does the bishop take it? Do all gifts have to be at Ayn Rand's "point of the gun?" Or can some gifts be motivated out of an honest and loving desire to better our society? I think of King Laman who offered Ammon 1/2 of his kingdom for his life, then all he possesed to Aaron to know the truth, then finally all of his sins to God to know Him. The true Christian, fully converted, then looks around to his brothers and sisters in a sincere desire to help them in every way - spiritually first and most importantly, but temporally als...

The other night a man had a dream. In his dream, he walked down a street where houses were just a little too close together and just a little too close to the street. Trees overarched the road and cast dappled shadows on the narrow road. People had porches that they sat on rocking chairs and called to their neighbors, while kids sat on the steps and enjoyed a popsicle. There were kids running around and yelling and playing kick the can or tag or hide-and-seek. Further down the road there was a couch being delivered by a large truck. Everyone in the family was out to welcome the new furniture. The old couch was being taken away for refurbishing and would be sent on to the next family who needed it. Grandma and Grandpa came out of their room to watch the fun, also, giving a kind of graceful benediction to the activity. It was really a great day. Then the scene changed, as things do in dreams. He was walking through a carefully manicured urban park. He passed through the lovely arboretum ...

The Stake President mentioned when I was called that I would have the opportunity to speak. When I heard what the topic would be, I was very excited to have this chance. Living prophets are one of the things that make our Church unique. I am grateful that our Heavenly Father has given us a living prophet. The first hymn in our hymnbook is called “The Morning Breaks.” It was written by Parley P. Pratt and goes, in part, like this: The morning breaks, the shadows flee; Lo, Zion’s standard is unfurled! The dawning of a brighter day, The dawning of a brighter day Majestic rises on the world. The clouds of error disappear Before the rays of truth divine; The glory bursting from afar, The glory bursting from afar Wide o’er the nations soon will shine. Jehovah speaks! Let earth give ear, And Gentile nations turn and live. His mighty arm is making bare, His mighty arm is making bare His cov’nant people to receive. Angels from heav’n and truth from earth Have met, and both have record borne; Th...