Freedom Comes not from the Barrel of a Gun

   Coming home, I thought up the phase, "A nation's freedom lies not in the presence of guns, but in the presence of peace." It had a nice sound to it, but I couldn't really say that I believed the sentiment it expressed.
   So, how else to complete the phrase, "A nation's freedom lies not in the presence of guns"? 
   Arriving home, I sat down at my computer, and about the first thing I read was a quote attributed to Mao Tse-tung, which began, "All political power comes from the barrel of a gun."
   And, I borrowed from that verbiage to rewrite my thought to, "Freedom comes not from the barrel of a gun," and then tacked on the ending, ". . . but from the heart of a patriot."
   Then, I adjusted my quote to, "Freedom comes not to the nation that seeks it with guns, but to the nation that seeks it by seeking truth," meaning that a people that questions what is going on, and seeks the truth in all political issues, is the nation best equipped to remain free.
   Then, I completed my original entry to say, "A nation's freedom lies not in the presence of guns, but in the presence of citizens vigilant against losing it."
   Also, "Freedom comes not from force, but from a mind that will not be forced."
   Or, "Freedom comes not from the barrel of a gun, but to the man who will not be controlled when facing the barrel of a gun."

When the Reason for Coming is Honorable, Let Them Come

   So, do we import workers for our high-tech jobs, or say that we do not want the imports to compete with the home-grown graduates of our colleges?
   It may be competition, but I do like allowing them to come to America to work. I would not have the legislation pay them to come -- and I don't think it does that. But, let them come. Let them come to America when the reason for their coming reflects well on them. Coming to get a job, coming to join family members, and coming because they want to live among Americans are all honorable reasons for coming to America. Let them come.

http://dailycaller.com/2013/04/05/immigration-bill-would-import-1-million-workers-per-year/#ixzz2QCkgDrRY
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865577821/Chamber-presidents-attorneys-general-urge-comprehensive-immigration-reform.html

 Thanks for Catching These People

  For catching some welfare fraudsters, for saving us $21 million in 2012, my thanks goes out to the Utah Attorney General's Office and the Social Security Administration.
   They went after fraudulent claimants and caught them, stuck a few of them of video, and released the videos to the public through this newscast. Oh, the identities of the fraudsters are protected by orbs placed in front of their faces, but the acts of fraud are the opposite, unveiled and unmasked.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=24730409&nid=148&title=videos-show-alleged-social-security-fraudsters

It is 'Height of Presumption' to Substitute Our Own Rules

    Families are a social issue, and I blog about social issues, and so I think to consider some of the talks from the past weekend's General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
    Today, I choose Elder L. Tom Perry's talk. Perry taught that the strength of families is declining "at an alarming rate," causing much damage to society. I pay note to that. Elder Perry might not have spelled out the ways that the deterioration of the family is taking place, but he does say the result is damaging our society. If a thing damages society, then perhaps society has reason to resist it. As a society, then, we have reason to support measures that make the family strong.
   Was Elder Perry speaking of one-parent families? Was he speaking of divorce? It would seem he probably was. What other matters of the family he was speaking of we might also wonder. Some would say there is no causation, that just because certain negative things are happening, it does not mean the condition of the family is the cause.  
   But, Elder Perry says, "I see cause and effect."
   I find that significant. If an apostle of the Lord sees cause and effect, I place much value in his judgement. "As we give up commitment and fidelity to our marriage partners, we removed the glue that holds our society together," Elder Perry says.
   The values the world has for marriage differ from those of God. Elder Perry taught that it is "the height of presumption" for man to substitute his own rules for the laws of God.

The Message the Same in this Day as in Days of Early Church

   Consider the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the Blacks. Consider the church just in light of a General Conference talk, given by Elder John B. Dickson of the First Quorum of Seventy.
   I have long thought of the story of Peter, of how he had a vision in which a sheet filled with certain animals, and beasts and fowls of the air was lowered to the earth. And, a voice came to Peter, telling him to eat the creatures.
   Now, there were certain creatures the gospel people did not eat at that time, and Peter replied, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."
   And the voice said to Peter, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."
   And while Peter thought on the vision, representatives from a man named Cornelius, who was of the Italian band, sought him at his door. This Cornelius was a devout man, and one that feared God, and he had been told by an angle to send his men to Peter.
   Now, this was a time in which the gospel was not among all men. The disciples of Jesus ministered but to the tribes of Israel. Nevertheless, through the vision Peter had seen of the creatures and beasts and fowl being lowered in a sheet, he knew he was to accept Cornellius and his men. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respector of persons," he said. "But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
   When doubt of my church has been expressed, due to the issue of the Blacks, I have thought of that story. I have thought of how one set of people was denied, due to their race, but then a revelation was received, extending everything to them. God has His reasons, but he loves all people.
   Elder Dickson, in his talk, spoke of this story from the Book of Acts. He then spoke of the prophecy in Daniel that the Lord's kingdom would roll forth to all the world. The people from the African nations are "an important part of the fulfillment of that prophecy," he said.
   Then, he spoke of his role as a general authority of the church, of being called to serve in western Africa. And, he could not have spoken more highly of the people. Even as Cornelius in the Bible was said to be a Godly and devout man, so he spoke of the people of Africa as being a believing and faithful people. They have no shame of Christ and the gospel. They have tremendous leadership capacity. They are committed in temple attendance. They understand the gospel. Unlike many of us in America, they are not concerned with cars, and homes and possessions, but are a humble people who just love the Lord. So spoke Elder Dickson of the people he worked with in western Africa.
   Those who would suppose the Blacks are a lesser people in any way, are wrong. Those in every nation who fear God, and are righteous, are accepted of God. It is the same in these days, with a revelation coming to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978, as it was in the early days, when Peter received his vision.

All Life is Valuable, Including Future Life

   The logic behind abortion does seem a little disjointed: You don't deserve to have life because you do not already have it. The fetus is not alive, is not a living thing, and therefore does not deserve to live. I do follow the logic of such an argument. To me, all life is valuable, whether the person is already alive or yet to be born. All life is valuable, including future life.

'Tis a Terrible, Terrible Thing, to Want to be an American

   Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz has returned from a trip to the Arizona-Mexico border, and says punishment of those crossing the border needs to be stiffer.
   Who should we be tougher on? Those who are bringing drugs in, or all of them? Are we upset with those coming in to America just to join their families, or who just want to work, or the ones who just want to be Americans? Yes, it is a terrible, terrible thing to want to be an American, and should be punished with imprisonment when not properly done.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56112796-90/agents-border-chaffetz-com.html.csp