Simple Utah Mormon Politics

Three issues have conspired to cast Brigham Young in an almost monstrous mythical light. (1) The fact that he was the leader of a growing religious empire rubbed people the wrong way. (2) To a sex-crazed world, polygamy is seen as all about crazy sex. (3) LDS Church members, reacting against the slanders of the world, place the leaders upon pedestals of purity when they are not so pure. Because of this, the real Brigham Young is much different than we think.

On July 4th, 2011, I still think that the United States of America is the greatest nation on earth. But not because we are a superpower. America is not great because America is warlike. We are great in spite of that dismal fact. In order to survive, the United States as a political entity will have to learn from its citizens and from its churches how to be peaceful.

Is it possible that the political and military leadership in Pakistan didn't know that Osama Bin Laden was living under their noses? No. This is one of the growing list of reasons why average Americans and Pakistanis should get to know each other instead of believing the mutually reinforcing lies told by their governments.

One of the most difficult things to say is "I don't know". But it's often the right thing to say, even for prophets. For reasons only known to him, God hasn't yet revealed everything about this earth, our existence, and eternity. But some day he will.

I'm glad that Elizabeth Smart's kidnapper, rapist, and abuser, Brian David Mitchell, is going to prison for a long time. But to hear other people say that he deserves the same sort of abuse when he gets to federal prison is very disturbing.

1st Corinthians chapter 13 in the New Testament has this to say: Charity never a faileth : but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. Here's what I think that means.

The scriptures teach that when Christ comes again to the earth, that he will be wearing red apparel. Why red ? They also teach that at Christ's coming, many of the dead will become resurrected. Will this only include members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Not by a long shot, no matter what some Mormon might tell you.