Evolution: It's Natural that There are Three Types of Selection

I believe in evolution. We are constantly evolving. I'm sure you've heard of "natural selection".


But I think we have the opportunity to evolve in two additional ways.  I call those methods free selection and divine selection.

Homosexuality: A Condition or a Feeling?

In 1995, Dallin Oaks of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke on the subject of same-gender attraction.  He explained why he thinks it's important to refer to homosexuality as a "feeling" and not a "condition".

Federal Spending as a Percentage of GDP

Advocates of big government use Debt-to-Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratios to mask the bizarre fact that government spending is actually used to inflate the calculation of GDP.  A much better way to see the enormity of the problem of government debt is to note how much government spending has increased as a percentage of GDP.

Libyan Weapons, Turkey, Syria, and the Strange Death of Chris Stevens

Was the death of US Ambassador Chris Stevens in Benghazi related to the running of Libyan weapons stockpiles through Turkey to Syrian freedom fighters? Circumstantial evidence makes it a strong possibility. Here's what I've found so far.

The Problem with Egypt

Two years following the initial Arab Spring protests in Cairo's Tahrir Square, Egyptian progress toward reform and liberty is a bit stagnant.  But it's moving, albeit slowly, forward.

What Do Albert Einstein, Joseph Smith, and Lehi Have in Common?

I came across something from Albert Einstein the other day that sounds suspiciously similar to something attributed to the prophet Lehi in the Book of Mormon, as well as to something alleged to have been revealed to LDS prophet Joseph Smith as contained in the LDS Church's Doctrine and Covenants.  The quotes are presented below. Are all three talking about the same thing? Let me know what you think.,

What's Really Wrong With Greece?

What's wrong with the Greek economy? In a word, they're lazy. If the Greeks had been responsible, they would  not have had to practice the austerity measures that they're living through now. To claim that the Greek economy needs more stimulus is to misunderstand what caused the problem in the first place.

Do You Worry for Them? Why Don't You Love Them Instead?

"I worry for my children who aren't doing the right things," I often hear  Mormon parents say of their family members who are not making good choices. Such worry often turns into an inability to love our children as much as we once could.  We worry unduly because we misunderstand the scriptures. To be more specific, we worry, because we misunderstand the mercy of God. Rather than worry, which creates negative energy, why don't we, rather, love them and hope for them instead?

As Assad Regime Totters, Obama Can't Resist Embroiling the US

The UN envoy to Syria is asking Bashar al Assad to step down. A Russian deputy foreign minister said that Assad's control over Syria is weakening. So what does the Obama Administration do? It riles up the situation by sending US troops into the fray.

Seeing the Glass Half Full--and Filling It--With God's Help

If you see the glass as half empty, you are a pessimist.  If you see it as half full, you are an optimist.  If you learn to expect that God can help you fill your glass to overflowing, you are a synergist.

LDS Doctrine is Established by the Church and Not by Its Detractors

Anti-Mormon critics often set up as a straw man the claim that the LDS Church  teaches that prophets are infallible. It does not. Antagonists cite, for example, the talk "14 Fundamentals in Following the Prophet" as well as the song primary children are taught called "Follow the Prophet".  It is not fair to take such things out of the context of how LDS Doctrine is really established. Detractors from the Church do not make LDS doctrine. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does.

Notes on the Protests in Egypt

With the fall of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, many Americans bemoaned the imminent takeover of Egyptian public life by the Muslim Brotherhood.  Clearly the MB dominates the legislature, because they were more organized than other parties in the first ever free elections, but events that have unfolded in the past few days indicate that it will not be nearly so easy to dominate the rest of Egyptian life.  Freedom of speech and association are alive and fairly healthy in Egypt today.