why havent the brethern come out against plastic surgery?

here are some thoughts about plastic surgery by Jeff Holland ...here is the link to his talk found in the Liahona,
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=0c996169b62fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

i am so tired of this becoming normalized...am i crazy to think that this is extreme and terribly unnecissary? but more and more common.? i think plastic surgery is wrong. in our faith, the body is a temple. tattoos, piercings, etc. are wrong and have been blatently spoken about by our prophets. mutilating our body, adding things to our body, putting our life on the operating table for cosmetic/vanity purposes is completely wrong. i feel like i am the only woman that feels this way. everyone has physical concerns and things that they want to change, but plastic surgery seems too extreme, dangerous, and completely against the "our bodies are a temple" DOCTRINE.

here is an interesting part Holland's address that concerns this issue...

"In this same vein may I address an even more sensitive subject. I plead with you young women to please be more accepting of yourselves, including your body shape and style, with a little less longing to look like someone else. We are all different. Some are tall, and some are short. Some are round, and some are thin. And almost everyone at some time or other wants to be something they are not! But as one adviser to teenage girls said: “You can’t live your life worrying that the world is staring at you. When you let people’s opinions make you self-conscious you give away your power. … The key to feeling [confident] is to always listen to your inner self—[the real you.]” 8 And in the kingdom of God, the real you is “more precious than rubies.” 9 Every young woman is a child of destiny and every adult woman a powerful force for good. I mention adult women because, sisters, you are our greatest examples and resource for these young women. And if you are obsessing over being a size 2, you won’t be very surprised when your daughter or the Mia Maid in your class does the same and makes herself physically ill trying to accomplish it. We should all be as fit as we can be—that’s good Word of Wisdom doctrine. That means eating right and exercising and helping our bodies function at their optimum strength. We could probably all do better in that regard. But I speak here of optimum health; there is no universal optimum size.
Frankly, the world has been brutal with you in this regard. You are bombarded in movies, television, fashion magazines, and advertisements with the message that looks are everything! The pitch is, “If your looks are good enough, your life will be glamorous and you will be happy and popular.” That kind of pressure is immense in the teenage years, to say nothing of later womanhood. In too many cases too much is being done to the human body to meet just such a fictional (to say nothing of superficial) standard. As one Hollywood actress is reported to have said recently: “We’ve become obsessed with beauty and the fountain of youth. … I’m really saddened by the way women mutilate [themselves] in search of that. I see women [including young women] … pulling this up and tucking that back. It’s like a slippery slope. [You can’t get off of it.] … It’s really insane … what society is doing to women.” 10
In terms of preoccupation with self and a fixation on the physical, this is more than social insanity; it is spiritually destructive, and it accounts for much of the unhappiness women, including young women, face in the modern world. And if adults are preoccupied with appearance—tucking and nipping and implanting and remodeling everything that can be remodeled—those pressures and anxieties will certainly seep through to children. At some point the problem becomes what the Book of Mormon called “vain imaginations.” 11 And in secular society both vanity and imagination run wild. One would truly need a great and spacious makeup kit to compete with beauty as portrayed in media all around us. Yet at the end of the day there would still be those “in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers” as Lehi saw, 12 because however much one tries in the world of glamour and fashion, it will never be glamorous enough."

gh4

me and michael saw this commercial on t.v. the other night, and it really bothered me. is anyone else disturbed by this? i get that they are trying to mimick the famouse tom scene in risky business, but the awkwardness and complete embarrassment is overpowering. what were these athletes thinking?

Mom in NYC

So Ron watched the kids for us and Mom and I went into NYC for a girl's night. My plan was to stop by the Wicked box office and put our names in the lottery. The internet and Ryan told me our names needed to be in by 5:00 for a 5:30 drawing. However, when we got there at about 4:50, the box office guy told Mom that the lottery was actually from 5:30 to 6:00. Mom was somewhat disgruntled about this and about the man's attitude and lack of customer service skills. We walked around Times Square until 5:30 then went back to the theatre to put our names in the drawing. There weren't that many people there--maybe because it was really cold tonight. I really think we had a decent chance of getting tickets. But when Mom found out she would have to wait a half hour for the drawing, she didn't want to have anything to do with it. She was already disgusted that the lottery was at a different time than they had advertised it. So we left and missed out on our chances of seeing Wicked for $25 a ticket. That's OK--whatever Mom wanted was fine with me. I just thought it was pretty funny.

From the theater we walked to Serependity for dinner. I thought it wouldn't be that far, but we ended up walking for 30 minutes. A major miscalculation on my part--Woops! By the time we got to the restaurant, Mom and I were exhausted. Of course she shows no signs of her recent intense cardio workout and looks perfectly beautiful and serene in this picture taken as she was eating her dessert:



We thought this picture in the women's restroom right next to the toilet was funny:

Does Grandma Boyer put her framed pictures of 19th century men in the bathroom as well? An interesting decorating idea.

We finished at the restaurant at 7:45--too late to catch a show--so we went to the Times Square Toys R Us (By the way, we took a taxi back to Times Square in lieu of walking this time). It sounds lame but it was really fun! Mom really liked the life-sized T-Rex that roared:

She liked Spider Man:

And she liked the full-size ferris wheel, especially the My Little Pony cart:

We had a great night! Thanks Ron for watching the kids! Thanks Mom for hanging out with me!

a few comments that some of you might not have known, but maybe you do...

1. Evan got his LIFE badge and now just needs to figure out an eagle project...if anyone might have ideas????

2. Evan's GPA is a 3.5 this quarter, right evan?

3. i overreacted today (big suprise) abt. the dentist, mom, sorry i called you and happy birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. i just wasnt sure what to do...so thanks and everything is just fine!

4. michael (my husband) was looking at some photos we took last week and saw this one of me and said that he thought i looked like jen and that he had never thought that before....what do you think about that? do we look alike?

Christmas is Coming.......Prepare!

The holidays are upon us. Riley and I took the liberty of drawing names for everyone this year so we can be thinking of what to get people. The names in red are the people you are buying presents for.

1. Jen - Jon

2. Ron - Amy

3. Janelle - Jen

4. Michael - Riley

5. Mike - Michael H.

6. Ryan - Evan

7. Melanie - Janelle

8. Jon - Ryan

9. Amy - Mike

10. Riley - Melanie

11. Evan - Ron

Here is our 'murder' party. It was really fun! ours was in 1936. Michael was a lawyer/golfer, i was an "actress". Neither of us was the killer, but we were both shady characters. It was fun. I most enjoyed my mink...i did feel glamorous when i had it one. I bought it at value village and I was a little nervous that someone might have died in it. But I loved it anyway. The game was like 4 hours long...amy how long did yours go? we all kept getting up and getting food and stuff, so we didnt play just straight thru. But, it was fun!

this picture of me is funny b/c i am trying to be all fabulous in my dirty bathroom...

Here are some pictures of Amy's race in Fort Collins, CO. She did awesome, of course and it was great to see her. we also met Lopez Lamont, the American Flag Bearer at the Bejiing Olympics Opening Ceremony and survivor of the Rwandan genocide.

Murder Mystery Dinner

Riley and I hosted a murder myster dinner with our friends a couple of weeks ago. For those of you that aren't familiar with this kind of social gathering, it's rather fun. It's a game where you try and solve who the murderer is. We invited only a few guests and assign a character for them well in advance, so they can plan their costumes. Everyone that shows up to this party is a suspect in a murder. There is an entire story line that everyone follows and they all work together to solve the mystery.

Our story line was set in the 1920s in Chicago. The murder victim was a gangster named "Hal" Cappone. The suspects were a reporter, a district attorney, a golfer, a jazz singer, a society dame, a baseball player, the owner of a jazz club, and a business man. Riley was the business man and I was the owner of a jazz club. At the start of the game everyone is given a script and throughout the game dirty secrets are revealed about each individual and everyone looks guilty of the murder. For instance, I turned out to be running a brothel and smuggling illegal alcohol into my club. Riley turned out to be a corrupt business man who tried, on several occasions to "off" Hal Cappone. Anyway, I turned out to be the murderer in the end. It was a lot of fun dressing up and everyone that came got really into their characters.

I posted on my blog too...

Go to www.jenbahrens.blogspot.com

huffs halloween

here are some pictures of our halloween night....

http://huffblodgett.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-halloween-2008.html

Congratulations!!!

Amy, congratulations on landing an internship as a volunteer witness advocate!

Jon, congratulations on getting into the D.C. seminar!

I'm really happy for you both!

Samuel the Lamanite in California

Dad

Trick or Treat

I believe this with all my heart!!

Dad

Can We All At Least Agree on This?

A Call To Produce Proof of Differences On the Energy Issue

It is easy for you to say that the government-imposed foreign debt has no bearing on you because your generation has effectively passed the buck onto me and my children's generation. The idea that McCain's energy policy will save us of foreign indebtedness is fine. If you were an intellectually honest student of the issues, however, you'd have to accept that the other candidate's energy policy would do the same.

You say that McCain's energy plan will fix everything. Tell me specifically how McCain's energy plan differs from Obama's? Tell me without relying on brain-washing campaign rhetoric. Look at their proposals on each of the candidate's websites and point out specifically how they differ.

Both now advocate nuclear energy plants although they were both previously opposed to it. Both now advocate off-shore drilling although both previously opposed it. Both now advocate drilling in Alaska although both previously opposed it. Both advocate instituting a federal government effort to phase out reliance on foreign oil. Both support a government initiative of some form to develop new energy technologies. Both advocate government spending to realize their "plan."

You will find that the two candidates are not different on this issue. In debates, they are forced to act like they differ for the sake of debate and to appease their respective bases. In substance, however, their plans are fundamentally identical.

And yes. I'd like to be taxed for the wars we wage. This is the way it has always been. If we have spending requirements that exceed our defense budget, then the federal government needs to tax us or go home.

RBB

Obama is Wrong on Taxes

Make sure you know the facts and your vote can make a difference!


INTERESTING DATA RECEIVED ON TAXES This is something you should be aware
of so you don't get blind-sided.

This is really going to catch a lot of families off guard. It should make
you worry.

Proposed changes in taxes after 2008 General election:

CAPITAL GAINS TAX

MCCAIN

0% on home sales up to $500,000 per home (couples) McCain does not propose
any change in existing home sales income tax.

OBAMA

28% on profit from ALL home sales

How does this affect you?

If you sell your home and make a profit, you will pay 28% of your gain on
taxes. If you are heading toward retirement and would like to down-size your
home or move into a retirement community, 28% of the money you make from
your home will go to taxes. This proposal will adversely affect the elderly
who are counting on the income from their homes as part of their retire ment
income.

DIVIDEND TAX

MCCAIN 15% (no change)

OBAMA 39.6%

How will this affect you?

If you have any money invested in stock market, IRA, mutual funds, college
funds, life insurance, retirement accounts, or anything that pays or
reinvests dividends, you will now be paying nearly 40% of the money earned
in taxes if Obama become president.

The experts predict that 'higher tax rates on dividends and capital gains
would crash the stock market yet do absolutely nothing to cut the deficit.

INCOME TAX

MCCAIN (no changes)

Single making 30K - tax $4,500 Single making 50K - tax $12,500 Single making
75K - tax $18,750 Married making 60K- tax $9,000 Married making 75K - tax
$18,750 Married making 125K - tax $31,250

OBAMA

(reversion to pre-Bush tax cuts) Single making 30K - tax $8,400 Single
making 50K - tax $14,000 Single making 75K - tax $23,250 Married making 60K
- tax $16,800 Married making 75K - tax $21,000 Married making 125K - tax $38
750

Under Obama your taxes will more than double! How does this affect you? No
explanation needed. This is pretty straight forward.

INHERITANCE TAX

MCCAIN 0% (No change, Bush repealed this tax)

OBAMA Restore the inheritance tax

How does this affect you? Many families have lost businesses, farms and
ranches, and homes that have been in their families for generations because
they could not afford the inheritance tax. Those willing their assets to
loved ones will not only lose them to these taxes.

NEW TAXES BEING PROPOSED BY OBAMA

* New government taxes proposed on homes that are more than 2400 square feet


* New gasoline taxes (as if gas weren't high enough already)

* New taxes on natural resources consumption (heating gas, water,
electricity)

* New taxes on retirement accounts and last but not least....

* New taxe s to pay for socialized medicine so we can receive the same level
of medical care as other third-world countries!!!



Does this make you "feel good" ?? Inspired ?? Is this the change you
are/we are looking for ??

As Obama recently stated, "we need to spread around the wealth. . ." In other words, if you didn't earn it you should still get it. Under Obama's plan, 45 million people who pay no taxes in the USA will receive a check from the government anyway on the first of each year, which amounts to a subsidy, or, in other words, welfare. Remember, his new taxes on businesses above $250K is on the basis of gross receipts and not net income. Do we really want government bureaucrats determining how the wealth generated in America is distributed amongst the populace? How else will Obama fund his trillion dollars in new spending if not via huge tax increases?

Dad

Far left-wing, closet socialist?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/wall.bush-obama/index.html

Ryan

Canada

John McCain's Rage

Reasons why I would never vote for Obama.....ever!

1. Having graduated in Economics, I often find that the economy is an issue that I base a great portion of my vote on. I am a strong advocate of capitalism and the least amount of government interference as possible. Obviously the economy has been on the brink of recession for quite awhile now. GDP has been barely positive in the last few quarters growing at an alarmingly slow rate. Barack Hussein Obama is an advocate of raising the capital gains tax, amongst other taxes. He may raise the rate up to as high as 28%, but 25% is the most quoted figure for the tax hike (The current rate is 15%). (Obama has backpeddled a bit and said he may only raise it to 20%, but you have to believe he's just saying that to get elected and can't trust he won't stick with his 25% once elected). This will obviously have a huge, negative impact on the economy and especially on the growth of GDP. I will leave a link to an article discussing the issue at the end of this point. Quoting that article, "According to the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation, Mr. Obama's tax hike would knock off $2.5 trillion in capital formation over five years, or nearly 2% of gross domestic product.
   "If we are only growing around 2% over the next five years, then we will have virtually zero growth for the period," the president of the institute, Stephen Entin, said. "This will create a permanent hit of 5% or greater to GDP."' So, I strongly disagree with this raise in the capital gains tax and find it very harmful to our economy. http://www.nysun.com/business/obama-capital-gains-tax-hike-would-hit-new-york/81902/ I also am not happy with his stance of letting the Bush tax cuts expire and him wanting to raise taxes on corporations, which is basically export jobs.
2. Obama's stance on abortion, particularly partial-birth abortion, quite frankly scares me. Obama is pro-choice as everybody knows, so we won't delve into that. Obama strongly opposed a ban on partial-birth abbortion and also criticized the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the ban. Obama also voted in Illinois against a bill similar to the Born Alive Infants Protection Act. Basically had Obama had his way, it would have been legal for doctors to leave infants, accidentally born during botched abortions, alone without care until they die.
3. The president of the United States appoints Supreme Court justices. Obama being extremely liberal, if given the chance, would appoint justices with extreme left-leaning values, principles, and morals. Such justices may attack traditional values of conservatism.
4. Obama has flip-flopped on his Iraq stance. Initially, he wanted to pull all troops out immediately, once in office. This was very appealling to the liberal left and helped him win the Democratic nomination. Now, he wants a gradual withdrawal. Why? He knows that his extreme view of pulling the troops out immediately will not win him votes in the center with independants and more moderate conservatives. He also realized that he was dead wrong in his opposition to the "surge". Once again, I don't think we can trust that he'll stick with the gradual withdrawal once in office, in my opinion, it's more likely that he'll convert back to his original stance and pull troops out as fast as he can.
5. Michelle Obama on patriotism - "For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country …" Really? Only now? Obama is married to this unpatriotic woman.
6. Obama's stance on health care will take this nation to the brink of socialism. It's not quite socialized health care, but it's one poor decision/step away. Socialized (or universal) health care means longer lines/waits for doctor visits/appointments, lesser quality of health care (Intelligent young students will be less inclined to enter the medical field since pay will be lowered substantially), less or no specialization in medicine, and finally an increase in taxes and the national debt.
7. Obama has some very shady acquaintances, namely Bill Ayers and Reverend Jeremiah Wright. If you're not familiar with these characters google their names and read some of their quotes (I'm tired of typing and I'm getting lazy). Let's just say they are extremely anti-American and have had influence on the Great Barack Obama.

There are several others reasons I would never vote for Obama, but I'm tired and I'm going to call it a night. Besides this is a long post for my first ever in the famous "News From the Bitter Root" Blog!

Riley

A Loving Admonition to Ron and Ryan

Finally I get a chance to weigh in! I have been swamped with mid-term tests and had not time to give my tid bit. The issues on both sides have been exhausted so I will instead comment on some of the implications of what Ryan and Ron have said. Their comments have opened windows into their souls and I wish to point these observations out so that they can correct their course and build upon a rock. Ron and Ryan have frightingly pessimistic outlooks on what can be done on abortion. Although I feel I have succeeded, to some degree, in pursuading both of them about the importance of cultivating a culture of life in our society, they both have trouble lifting their eyes past the barren wasteland of legal thought and into a more hopeful horizon. Unfortunetely, both have their feet stuck in the muddy trenches of "legal analysis" that they cannot reach loftier goals. They may reply back to me: "well Jon, you have your head stuck in the clouds and are not tuned into reality on this issue." If thats the case I would much rather be in the clouds and have association with the saints of seagulls than be in the dirt with the decadence of society. Ron and Ryan have excepted that Roe V Wade has become the law of the land and that it is time to come to grips with that reality, however, I side with St. Thomas Aquinas when he said, "An unjust law is no law at all." Their is an obligation of every latter-day saint and anyone who hopes to enter the celestial kingdom to do all in their power to overturn unjust laws, especially laws that undermine our most basic rights and the great plan of happiness, namely "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." I pose this question to Ron and Ryan, "is the great plan of happiness worth fighting for?" As with a trumpet I proclaim YES! I leave it to you to decide what more you can do, I trust you can think of many things that are within your power which can be done to reverse this most disturbing trend toward death and misery in our society. Jesus did, Joseph Smith did, and Gordon B. Hinckley did. Before you throw your votes in the trash bucket labled: "Oprah and Barbara Streisand and Bill Maher, please vote here," I hope you will choose a better society of friends and cast your vote where it says: "All those interested in advancing God's plan, please vote here. " I close with an admonishing scripture that I hope you will heed, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."

The Solution to Problems on All Sides

I do not doubt that there are secret combinations on the political left designed to advance communist principles and abhorrent moral practices. In a past-life, I spent some time studying some of these and publishing my research on them. I know they exist and should be taken seriously.

I wonder, however, why more Latter-day Saints are not as quick to recognize the evil agendas and secret combinations that are routinely identified with and supported by the right of the political spectrum. Two quick examples:

(1) The vast military industrial complex. See http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9341fd758096b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1. There can be no doubt that there are many interests that would love to see the United States in continual wars for their own gain. I find the influence these groups have concerning, especially in light of the large portion of the economy that is based on their trade. Aren't we specifically warned in the temple about who is behind the sale and purchase of the implements of war?

(2) Groups among the wealthy and powerful designed to obtain and keep riches. It was these groups that led to the downfall of Nephite society. See Ether 8:22; Helaman 6:17; Helaman 7:21.

Interestingly, as I listened to the modern prophets in general conference, I heard more references to unity, peace and materialism than I did to socialism, abortion and same-sex marriage (all of which I oppose).

Thus, I feel that evil is not limited to a single political party or ideology, and that Lucifer will attempt to use more than one avenue of attack in his effort to destroy the souls of men. Stated differently, I think that, although most members of political parties have only good motives, both political parties advance ideas contrary to the gospel that can be used in the service of nefarious ends. This does not surprise me; after all, both parties are the creations of men designed to obtain and maintain power over earthly kingdoms. I am just afraid of the incorrect principals that may be advanced by right wing political operatives as I am of those fostered by the left. It might just be, however, that it is the secret combinations that we know the least about, i.e. the ones that are really secret, that should cause the most concern.

I think this is one reason why the First Presidency has said that: "Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties" and that we should therefore "seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest." First Presidency Letter, September 22, 2008. To me the emphasis here is on the seeking of good, righteous men -- not the adherence to a particular platform or party line -- because both parties may be simultaneously advancing some good and some bad principles. A "wise, good, and honest" man or women will do the right thing regardless of his particular party platform, just as a wicked man will do the wrong thing in spite of his.

When our emphasis is on the personality and not the party or the platform, we may find ourselves inclined to support someone who is not lock-step with our beliefs, but whom we believe will do the right things despite that fact. I recognize, of course, that a measure of the wisdom, goodness and honesty of an individual may be taken from the things that he supports and the company he keeps. Thus, a person's positions on the issues are relevant to the inquiry.

It seems to me, however, that far too may people -- especially Latter-day Saints -- look at the party first and then the person. This can lead to a poor decision if one does not first acknowledge that both parties have problems. It would be interesting to see whether an anti-abortion democrat of the caliber of James E. Faust would be elected in Utah today, or whether his party affiliation would automatically preclude him from serious consideration in the eyes of most of the people.

RZA

The Single Most Compelling Argument for McCain

Obama (the most left leaning senator from credible sources, advocates 1Trillion in new spending)
+ Biden (the third most left leaning senator from credible sources, higher taxes)
+ Pelosi (certifiably loony tunes and the Speaker of the House)
+ Reid (a most undistinguished and unqualified Senate Majority Leader)

= Complete chaos and a formula for unestimable damage to our country the next four years.

On the other hand,

McCain (leans conservative, promotes fiscal restraint on spending, lower taxes, hawk on terror)
+ Palin (leans conservative, right on the culture issues)
+ Pelosi (the House will still be in control of the Democrats)
+ Reid (the Senate will still be in control of the Democrats--maybe even 60 for filibuster proof)

= A check and balance in our system, which our founding fathers envisioned when they created the three branches of government.

McCain must be elected as an offset!

I invite any to offer a more compelling argument for their candidate.

Dad

10 reasons why I might vote for McCain (in no particular order):

1. I like McCain’s slogan “Country First” much more than I like Obama’s old slogan “Yes We Can”. (Seriously, have the people who own Bob the BuilderTM sued for trademark infringement yet? Perhaps, none of the Obama supporters have young children and recognize the blatant rip-off.) Although I wonder about McCain’s personal honesty, morals and commitment to family values, I sense sincerity in his desire to serve his country.

2. I do not think that acting heroically as a prisoner of war qualifies one to be the Commander-in-Chief anymore than I think bravely standing-up to ones assailants while getting mugged in New York City qualifies one to be the police chief. Nevertheless, I think that military service in general is a plus for a president.

3. I think that experience counts – just like education and intellect. McCain clearly has more experience in passing large legislative initiatives. He has much more foreign policy experience. He has more military policy experience – not just as a field officer, but as the liaison to the Senate, where he had to have been involved in big picture strategic initiatives.

4. McCain was right about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Obama took large amounts of political contributions from both groups). McCain is right about earmarks and governmental spending. Despite the fact that I am not convinced that the super-rich in the country should not bear a higher tax burden, I believe that most Americans should pay less tax. I do not trust Obama when he says that he won’t raise taxes on working Americans.

5. I think that time has proved that the Iraq war was misguided. The justifications given for going to war turned out to be false. (I will not opine as to whether this was deliberate or not.) I think that we have witnessed the fulfillment of Book of Mormon teachings on the consequences of choosing to wage offensive wars rather than trusting the Lord and defending our homeland. See, e.g., 3 Ne. 3:20-21. I also think that the post-war reconstruction was terribly mishandled and rife with corruption and immoral behavior, much of it known by the current administration. Nevertheless, now that we are there, I believe that we need to be responsible in our withdrawal. I do not think that the quick exit proposed by Obama would be wise.

6. Joe “Stand up, Chuck” Biden. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRV5Y1JCGRI.

7. I think that divided government is a good thing. My read of history suggests widespread corruption and unbridled excess during the periods when both houses of Congress and the presidency have been controlled by the same power. (Unfortunately, it was no different this recent go around.) It is not likely that Republicans will win control of Congress. Thus, I think that a Republican in the White House would be a positive development.

8. I think the Saturday Night Live skits will be more humorous if McCain is president and Palin is vice president. The media is too in love with Obama to seriously lampoon him.

9. I think McCain will not expand government as much as Obama. Admittedly, McCain has a bad track record on this. He was responsible for one of the single largest abridgments of free speech rights in the nation’s history with the campaign finance bill. He is for massive government regulation with respect to the environment. He also agreed with the near-socialist takeover by the government of one of the largest insurers in the world, AIG. Nevertheless, he is probably the lesser of two evils.

10. Obama reminds me of Eddie Haskell from “Leave it to Beaver”.

RZA

so, is anyone ready for halloween??

i am. i love halloween, it is one of my most favorite holidays. reese is going to be a mummy, audrey will be cleopatra and sadie will be a black cat.

and yes, i am dressing up this year....i will be the bride of frankenstein and hopefully michael will be frankenstein.

Spreading Untrue Rumors

Today I received an e-mail from Mom that was forwarded to her by Kathy.  At the end of the e-mail, Kathy indicates that Mom should forward the message to those leaning towards voting for Obama--"Ron and Melanie, whoever."  

Jon, don't spread rumors that are untrue.  Melanie has yet to lean one way or the other. But now we will probably never know of any of Melanie's political beliefs because she is afraid that if she voices something that runs contrary to what the majority of our family believes she might be subject to an intervention.

I was the one indicating leanings towards Obama this election and should, therefore, be the target of "correction."  I agree in part and disagree in part with Jason's writings.  The principle of independence and its gospel parallel, free agency, are best espoused by the ideals of conservatism.  Indeed, I am conservative.  I agree that Hollywood and the university-level education industry (in general, though not entirely) are at work to sway the country to amorality and a culture of entitlement to Federal Government Band-aids.  I agree that federal government growth has occurred over a long period of time, namely from FDR till GWB.

I disagree that a vote for Obama is a vote for the extreme left.  Over the last eight years, GWB has protected our security interests by waging a war which I support although I am only able to support it by placing a "support the troops" ribbon on my car.  The only real manner in which an American can support the war is to join the military.  I have not been asked to pay a war tax.  Instead, my children and grandchildren have been asked to pay for it in the form of a promissory note with the Chinese Government as the benefactor.  Obama will do the fiscally responsible thing and tax us to pay our debts.  Obama will do the fiscally responsible thing and tax us for the massive Wallstreet bailout.  I'll take four years of Obama if it means extinguishing debts by paying as we go.  

The First Presidency has made it clear that you should objectively weigh options.  You probably have not.  You have all probably dismissed Obama just as quickly as the left dismisses Palin.

Finally, I believe that a McCain loss will be the best thing for the conservative cause.  Bush Jr. and McCain have been a step in the wrong direction.  Let me reiterate--Bush has been right on the national security and certain social issues, but wrong on spending in almost every instance.  Palin is a step in the right direction and, though she is just as unqualified as Obama, I believe she represents the direction the Right wants to go.  Further, if Romney runs in 2012 the conservative cause will be officially back on track.  I have not decided to vote for Obama yet but I have weighed it and for the next four years I am unconvinced that Obama is the lesser of two evils.

Ryan

Another Traditional Cultural Value at Risk in this Election

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1815820715/bctid1822459319

Dad

Here's why the candidates' stances on abortion will not determine my vote in this election. . .

I am vigorously opposed to abortion. I think it is a grave (yet, forgivable) sin in all but very rare circumstances, involving rape, incest and the life of the mother. I think the doctrine of the church is completely clear on this. I also think that Church doctrine, when understood, does not allow for one to be "personally against" abortion, while maintaining that it should be legal in order to protect "freedom of choice".

That all said, I will not base my vote solely on the abortion issue for at least two reasons.

First, I'm not convinced McCain is as committed to the issue as some may think. I recognize that he has a track record of anti-abortion votes. I also acknowledge that he has made the standard claim -- made by all Republicans seeking the nomination -- that he will appoint another "Scalia". I have read press articles, however, that lead me to believe that he does not like to discuss the issue, and does not want to make it a centerpiece of his campaign. That makes me think that it is not a super-important issue to him.

This impression is under-girded by McCain's history of not advocating for conservative judicial nominees who were on the record as believing that Roe v. Wade was bad law. I'm speaking of his involvement with the infamous "Gang of 14" -- a group of Republican and Democratic senators that banded together to prevent the filibuster of Bush's nominees in the senate, as well as the procedural mechanism threatened by the Republican leadership (a/k/a the "nuclear option"), which would have allowed them to avoid such filibusters and appoint the nominees. As a result of the actions of the Gang of 14, several qualified anti-abortion nominees were not confirmed. If McCain was a true believer, why did he do this?

Second, I believe that at this point in time -- over 30 years after Roe v. Wade was decided -- the president has little control over the abortion jurisprudence of the country. For at least the last 16 years, I have heard how each election is "the most important ever" because it could effect abortion rights. Nevertheless, there have not been any landmark changes in abortion jurisprudence since at least 1988. (I recognize that there have been cases dealing with it since then). All of the cases decided for the last 20 years, have applied the Roe v. Wade framework.

Moreover, there is no guarantee that a certain appointee to the Supreme Court will even vote to over turn Roe v. Wade, if given the chance. Look at Reagan (O'Connor and Kennedy) and Bush I (Souter), both of whom appointed justices who voted to uphold the Roe v. Wade framework. It goes to show that, despite the promises of the politicians, getting the Court to overturn a landmark decision that has been in place for 30-plus years is a difficult proposition, and will be come more difficult as the years pass. (It is much more likely that the conservatives on the Court will leave the decision intact, and try instead to narrow its impact over time. Some commentators have suggested that this is Chief Justice John Robert's intent.)

In light of this history, I feel that, while both sides use the abortion issue as a means to rally the base and fundraise, it is likely that neither candidate really believes that he will be able to do anything about the state of the law. I hope that I might be wrong about this, but I'm not sure enough about it to base my vote for the presidency entirely on it. I think there are a number of other issues that deserve attention.

RZA

Melanie I am sorry to hear about your layoff experience. Of course we will keep you and
Ryan in our prayers. I know the Lord will bless you.

I, for one apparently, love Sarah Palin. She is fiesty and sharp enough to be President. I am
voting for her! Obama is very articulate but lacks any real knowledge of the world. I don't
like his dismissive attitude about Rev. Wright and Ares. They both have proven to be radical
individuals who one has tried to destroy a government facility and kill Americans and the other has expressed hate for white americans. It makes me feel like Obama is hiding his
true self. In other words "say anything to get elected". Biden is a jerk and a liar. Also blatantly
lies indicating he thinks that the means justify the end result. I have great respect for McCain
and what he suffered in Vietnam. You know that he has a great love for this country. I like
the fact that he has made legislation choices that many say were wrong. That shows guts!
I would imagine that after returning to the U.S. after what he experienced in Vietnam probably was a difficult adjustment and I wouldn't blame him if he had a hard time returning to normalcy. As far as taxes and important decisions in the White House, any president has
great ideas but relies a number of advisors to put the ideas on paper and then get it to the
legislators.

Sara Palin has the ability to look forward and has proven that she can get things done.
She and McCain are my picks this time!

mom

See Jon, I might not be the only crazy liberal in this family

My political views right now: still undecided, but I think Tina Fey does a great job of imitating Sarah Palin.

I was just going to let you all know that I got laid off this week. I feel like I'm back at square one and I'm headed for months of discouraging unemployment. I did not really like my job but sometimes the safety of having a job is better then not having one. It wouldn't really have been that bad but my boss handled everything very poorly and insulted me on many levels. Please remember Ryan and me in your prayers.

thanks.

Reasons why RBB is leaning towards Obama

1. Mitt Romney – Meg Whitman 2012

2. Convention Music—There was no rap music at Obama's convention. At the Dem convention, I heard Stevie Wonder and a good house band. The Republican convention used a Van Halen song as the theme, which was good as well. I’m sorry to break this to you RMB, but there is nothing wholesome about the country music industry.

3. Education—I don't get why Right-wingers hold Obama's education against him. Obama was an underprivileged kid, with no connections to military commanders or country club elitists. Obama excelled at Columbia and Harvard Law School. Whatever role affirmative action may have played in Obama's gaining entry to Columbia and Harvard Law School is irrelevant as his record indicates excellence. In contrast, McCain was lazy, insubordinate, and a problem kid at the Naval Academy. McCain has been spoon-fed every position he has held. I want someone in the Oval Office who reads, thinks, and can analyze. Leadership is not merely decisive action, but should be well-informed decisive action that produces the best result. The latter requires more brain power than McCain is capable.

4. The next few years are going to be an era centered around the drafting of new regulations and laws regarding the destructive, haphazard, and under-regulated mortgage industry. We need a president who can understand the legal principles contained in the regulations as the president is responsible for signing them in. This task is over McCain's head and perfect for someone who excelled in a legal career.

5. Character Issue—McCain has remarked that his years as a POW changed him. But when he returned, McCain took advantage of his fame, cheating on his wife with multiple women only to settle down when he found "the right one," who also happened to be an heiress to a large beer fortune and who was addicted to pain killers. What do the Brethren think of McCain's twenty years of infidelity or Cindy McCain's willingness to sleep with a married man and dependence on illegally prescribed drugs? Obama has been forthright about his experimentation with drugs as a teenager. I guess this is the difference between McCain and Obama: McCain has a forty-year history of poor character whereas Obama has a brief history of drug abuse in his teenage years and no evidence of infidelity. The Right shouldn't make arguments against Obama's character when McCain has proven to be just as immoral as Bill Clinton.

6. McCain’s VP selection was shortsighted. I like Palin and she would be a fine VP, but Meg Whitman would have been a better strategic selection. McCain chose Palin to electrify the conservative base, which Palin did. However, the conservative base did not need to be electried so much as the middle-of-the-road people needed to be won over. The fence-sitters will be won over by whomever sounds better on the economy. The McCain-Palin ticket has failed in convincing the middle class that they are the best economic choice. Had Meg Whitman been on the ticket, the republican party would’ve not only had generated the excitement that comes with selecting a woman but would’ve also had an economic authority not to be matched by either Biden, Obama, or any other person the Democratice party could’ve produced. The economy is the big issue in this election and the McCain campaign missed its opportunity.

7. Taxes and Spending—I like the sound of Obama’s tax proposal. I have no problem with increasing marginal tax rates for the top 5%. Executive compensation is ridiculous and often undeserved. The idea of an obliging nobility that will pass its wealth down to the working class is foolish. The spirit of capitalism has proven to abound even when the wealthy are taxed at higher rates than the middle and lower classes. Capitalism isn't going anywhere. At the same time, however, I don’t believe anyone can take Obama’s (or any candidate’s) tax promises seriously because tax revenues are a question secondary to government spending. The government proposes a budget and will adjust taxes based on what the budget calls for. We need a President who will cut spending by not signing in bills that will necessitate higher revenues. Some of the things that Obama has proposed (federal healthcare, federal energy initiative) will increase spending. Obama has proposed cutting spending on our war effort. McCain has not made solid proposals on taxes and spending other than he has promised to cut spending, which I believe he will do. Still, I believe the most fiscally conservative thing our country can do right now is to tax its wealthiest members. More on this later.

8. I believe that we have won in Iraq and should now scale back spending, redeploy troops back to the US borders, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. I cite the fact that there is an economic surplus, peace relative to what conditions were once like, and elections in Iraq--all courtesy of the US Government. Why can we not say, “We’ve done our job.” McCain claims there is more to do in Iraq. I disagree. I believe our security interests have been served there. Obama needs to admit this but hasn’t. So I agree with Obama’s end result, which is to redeploy to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and back to the U.S. but I disagree with Obama’s analysis that we’ve failed in Iraq. I support more covert operations against small Taliban militias in the mountains of Afghanistan and cities of Pakistan.

9 I want there to be a war tax. Bush signed the spending bill, proposed by Congress, which included borrowing billions from China in order to fund our war effort. The U.S. has sacrificed nothing in order to pay for our war. Bush should have vetoed the bill. I don’t know whether McCain or Obama voted on it, but I disagree with this fiscal policy. I support the “pay-as-you-go” system which the liberal Congress has attempted to implement in the face of executive politicians who claimed to be fiscal conservatives (i.e.: Bush). Bottom line, the most fiscally conservative thing for our country to do is to tax the rich as well as the middle class in order to pay for the money we've borrowed from foreign countries.

10. We need someone in the Whitehouse who gets the economy. I’m not saying Obama is better with it. I am saying it is above McCain’s head. The republican party should not have selected McCain. Romney was a superior choice. If McCain wins, there is little chance that Romney could run and win in 2012 because it would be the democrats turn, more than it is this election.

A Dose of Reality to East Coast Elitism

1. Both Obama and his running mate obtained substantial real estate assets from shady resources. Obama received a favorable valuation and lower than market loan for a residence in Chicago via the influence (and probably direct pay-outs) of an individual indicted for felony misdeeds; Biden somehow acquired hundreds of thousands of dollars of improvements to structures and real property for his personal residence on a senator's salary via cronyism, kickbacks, and "favors" from businesses and the investment banking firm where his son worked (I wonder who got his son that job?) for which he exerted influence on their behalf from his powerful Washington D.C. legislative position. Biden is the "pork" king of Delaware.

2. Obama fails to understand the requirements of leadership at a time when as a senator and leader of his party that leadership is needed as the country faces a financial crisis. Obama tests which way the wind is blowing before he acts, McCain instinctively knows where he is needed to help and lead. Obama is an analyzer who is easily confused and drowns in the facts, McCain has clarity of thinking and is decisive.

3. Obama supports partial birth abortion and, in fact, voted unbelievably while a legislator in Illinois against measures that would save a born baby's life that was born alive via a botched abortion. ("Thou shalt not kill. . . nor do anything like unto it." D&C 59:6) We have no record of Obama's chastity during the time he was a student at Columbia University and prior to his marriage because the record of his activities is murkey and he is not forthcoming about that time in his life. We do know through the admissions in his book that he often partook of illegal drugs as a young man though to this day he has not admitted the extent to which he partook of illegal drugs. McCain admitted publicly that he was primarily responsible for the single greatest moral failure of his life as being the failure of his marriage. Obama has never admitted he was wrong about anything or taken any personal responsibility for the many moral failures that are certainly part of his life's history. McCain is a true hero who suffered horribly in the service ofhis country.

4. Obama has a history of flip-flops, including most recently the various positions he took on the Russian invasion of Georgia, contradictory statements of the success of the surge in Iraq, senate votes to not fund our troops, his broken promise to subscribe to campaign finance reform during the pre-election period, etc. etc. Obama has misrepresented his relationship with a known "weatherman" terrorist and contrived excuses for his curious lack of knowledge about the preachings of his pastor, Reverend Wright, for twenty plus years as his faithful parishoner.

5. That is a matter of taste. If you like rap and soul music then I suppose the music at Obama's convention is for you. I prefer the wholesomness of country and classic, which was the fare at McCain's convention. I believe the music at McCain's convention tended to be more gospel acceptable and more in line with what the brethren would probably approve.

6. I believe it was a member of the first presidency who years ago stated something like a democrat (or maybe it was a liberal) is simply a member of the Church without a testimony. I think Bob Hope's clip has it about right in our day.

7. Obama voted a year and a half ago for a tax increase to Americans making as low as $42,000 a year. Obama does not count the roll back of the Bush tax cuts which he advocates as a tax increase, which it is. Also, it doesn't matter what a politician like Obama states on the campaign trail, it is what he most assuredly will do if elected. Can a serious person doubt with a straight face that Obama and the democrats will significantly raise taxes on everyone to fund their vision of government expansion?

8. Many of the problems in our country can trace themselves to the abuse of legal thinking that is pervasive. We have a lot of messed up lawyers in our country. Yep, that David Souter is a real legal intellect and Ruth Bader Ginsberg sure sees the Constitution from her former ACLU perch the same way I do. Runaway jury awards induced by trial lawyers have ruined whole industries--including the health industry. That trial lawyer, John Edwards, is the portrait of moral terpitude. Sarah Palin is more elegantly expressive, clearly understandable, and wise from her lifes' experiences than the stuttering Obama and windbag Biden will ever be. And McCain--he is a man of few words but decisive action, which is the definition of leadership.

9. Palin connects with main street America. She is a winner and instinctively optimistic. She believes in our country and makes no excuses for it. Her experience as an executive (Governor, Mayor, Oil Industry Regulator) exceeds Obama's slim background as an "Organizer" and State Legislator. The population of her State is not the issue--she has governed a huge area that provides a significant portion of our country's energy output. I wonder how many Delaware's would fit within the State of Alaska? Under her leadership her State has financed and constructed a $40B natural gas pipeline. She is obviously a great wife and mother and it is inappropriate to superficially make a judgment regarding her family situation. We do not know what makes it work for them, just as we don't know the requirements of many LDS women who are required to work outside the home due to their specific circumstance. It was obvious in tonight's debate that Palin was the genuine article and Biden a slimy, insincere politician who has only used words as a weapon for 36 yers. One report counted 16 misrepresentations in Biden's debate performance.

10. McCain doesn't remind me of the incarnation of Norman Bates (Tony Perkins) of the movie Psycho.

RMB

Ten reasons why I might vote for Obama (in no particular order):

1. Obama has not relied for economic support on those who inherited money obtained by means of the "evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days." See D&C 89:4. Nor does his running mate have an odd fascination with those who identify themselves as "Joe Six-pack".

2. Obama didn't suspend his campaign for a single day last week -- even when he had other things to worry about.

3. Obama is still married to his first wife. I've heard no stories of unfaithfulness to -- or poor treatment of -- his first wife. I cannot say the same thing for his opponent.

4. In an effort to win the election, McCain has changed some of the positions he held, and embraced groups and ideas that he disavowed, when he ran against George W. Bush eight years ago. (I supported him -- and not GWB -- in the 2000 primary, for what its worth.) I think McCain was blatantly dishonest in his campaign against Mitt Romney. I think McCain has run a very negative campaign in the general election -- one based in part on evident half-truths and obvious misrepresentations -- despite his promise not to do so. Thus, I am not convinced that he is honorable or that I can trust him.

5. His convention had much better live music.

6. "Latter-day Saints as citizens are to seek out and then uphold leaders who will act with integrity and are wise, good, and honest. Principles compatible with the gospel may be found in various political parties". First Presidency Letter, September 22, 2008.

7. I make less than $250,000 a year and am, therefore, not sure I need to worry about a tax increase. In any event, I'm not convinced that it’s a bad idea for people who make large sums of money to have to give more back to society.

8. I like the idea of a president who can speak in complete sentences, use proper grammar and display a degree of eloquence in his oratory. I like the idea of a president trained in the law. I like the idea of a president who is a deep-thinker with a well-defined world view. These traits can be found in all of the great presidents like Lincoln, Adams and Jefferson.

9. I'm starting to believe that McCain demonstrated poor decision-making skills -- from both an election and administrative perspective -- by choosing a running mate whose main qualification is being the executive of a jurisdiction with a population the same size as that of Memphis and who seems incapable of providing cogent answers to questions when interviewed. I like the "idea" of Sarah Palin a lot more than I like the actual person I see in the interviews and debates. (On a side note, is anyone surprised by the number of otherwise conservative Mormons who seem to have no problem with the fact that Palin is seeking a very demanding job outside the home, notwithstanding the fact that she still has several young children?)

10. Obama doesn't remind me of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.

RZA

Greatest Movie Line Ever

This expresses my sentiments quite well. Dad

montana trip, longest post ever!

Our trip to Bozeman, MT....

A few comments

Dad is a frightening driver. He was emailing people from his blackberry in one and while swerving all over the mountainous road in the other. He could not keep the car on a steady course. But he did drive all the way there. We stopped in Deer Lodge on the way back and saw the old prison where grandpa evans worked and their old house and gravestone. It was a fun trip, even tho it was mostly driving! Amy did awesome in her race, she placed in the top 10 and beat her previous time. It was fun to hang out with her!

Thanks dad and amy!

Deer Lodge, MT...

Evans' old house...



Pics of Amy's race...

This is wear I began to have a problem. There was so much flesh at this event that I felt like it should be rated NC-17. Runners do not care how they will appear to others, ie: being almost nude. they do not care about making a spectator completely uncomfortable by performing their risque "stretches" right next to you...
Dad, completing enjoying Amy's race, and hobbling from spot to spot. Can we please think about suspenders?

Thoughts on Death Penalty

I thought I'd post my comment on the front page so that it doesn't go unnoticed. I was afraid that I am coming late to the discussion. I think dad's comment gets to the heart of the issue. People are often incapable of detaching themselves from their passions and prejudices.

When a particularly heinous crime is committed, it is natural to want to make someone pay. If someone is placed in front of a crowd by the police, then the crowd is more likely to give the police the benefit of the doubt rather than the defendant. This is supposed to be the other way around. So my stance is that in the event of admission of guilt or irrefutable empirical proof, then a death sentence is deserved. However, if a trial yields anything less then a death sentence is inappropriate.

In all cases, however, higher courts should review sentencing whenever a death sentence is issued. As penalty for losing the Civil War, when any state from the southern U.S. issues a death sentence, a northern state should review the decision. Just kidding. But that is where most of the problems with the death penalty have come up--southern juries finding a black man guilty based on nothing.

Basically, I think it is fine how it works now. Both the death sentence and life imprisonment probably deter some criminal behavior. Society knows that you can't kill people and expect to have a comfortable life afterwards.

Ryan

Death Penalty

In one of my Criminal Justice classes, we were discussing the death penalty. I know this is kind of a horrifying topic, but I'm honestly curious about what everybody thinks about it. Here are my views: I believe in using the death penalty for those that commit aggravated murder. When I say aggravated murder, I mean not only murder, but additional circumstances that make it worse then shooting someone. For example, when someone tortures another and then murders them, that's aggravated murder. The murdering of a child is definatly a reason that should get a person in the electric chair. I'm sorry if this topic makes anyone uncomfortable but I'm just curious.

I'm not sure how Christlike it is for me to decide who should live and who should die, but I have hard time letting a child rapist/murderer live.

Those against the use of the death penalty argue that it is a violation of our Eighth Amendment of cruel and unusual punishment. I must ask this about the children that are raped and brutally murdered, was that not cruel and unusual for those victims to endure that? Was it not cruel and unusual for those people that suffered the Oklahoma City bombing? I don't think it's cruel and unusual to use lethal injection or the firing squad. That's an easy death compared to what their victims went through. I guess I'm just a natrually vengeful person and I don't care if those terrorists and child murderers are put to death.

That's just what I think. What's your opinion?

Amy

We aren't very good at this blog thing

I definitely don't do my fair share of posting anything but really and truely, I'm not sure if you want me to. I'd probably just share with you the deal I got at Target or how I can't wait for the new season of TV to start because this last couple of weeks Ryan has had homework have kind of stunk. Or maybe I'll share my thoughts on how much I love Obama with Jon because you all know that I'm so dang liberal. So here are some questions I have for the fam.

Amy, how is your last cross country season going? Are you sad to be so close to finishing or are you ready to be done? What are your plans after school ends?

Jon, how's BYU? Are you still working? Has your ward improved? How's your best friend, Jon McCain?

Evan, how's the band? Have you had any gigs lately?

Janelle, how does it feel to have a child in kindergarten now?

Does anybody want to go on a cruise with us?

What are everybody's plans for Christmas?

Oh and by the way, I was totally kidding about the whole Obama thing. I can honestly say I haven't decided on who I'm going to vote for yet. I would, however, like to see Cindy McCain take it down a notch.