“a redistribution of wealth through the federal tax system. That, by definition, is socialism!”

The chief weapon used by the federal government to achieve this “equality” is the system of transfer payments. This means that the federal governments collects from one income group and transfer payments to another by the tax system.
- Ezra Taft Benson 1977

Here’s the Youtube video of his talk along with the transcript. Enjoy

Sound familiar at [...]

Locus of Control

The psychological locus of control has always been a pet interest of mine. I’ve written a few papers about it and so forth and so on, including one I just whipped up for my Personality Theory class. Obviously being a paper for school it was written to adhere to a critera that hinders interesting ‘blog post’ quality [...]

Religion: 1 Utilitarianism: 0

One subject that I enjoy is philosophy. I enjoy it because it’s the secular/rational version of religion. I think the same thing about psychology. It’s the secular form of religion. Anyways, so I’m reading Convictions by John Kroger and in the opening chapter he talks about his days as a philosophy major at Yale. He [...]

My Ward is on the News

Video: LDS vs FLDS. My Home Ward!!
So I was talking with my parents after Church today. They said they were at church back home in Houston, when the local news station showed up! They wanted to do a story about the difference between the LDS and the FLDS, I guess they were there in EQ/RS [...]

I believe in both Creationism/ID and Evolution

They’re not mutually exclusive.

I caught the last minute of a Wolf Blitzer interview with Ben Stein on CNN’s “The Situation Room”. Mr. Stein has come out with a documentary called Expelled; he said it addresses the persecution of teachers and students that stand up for Intelligent Design in academic settings. He brought up a quote [...]

FLDS Polygamy and Family Law

I am going to law school because I’m interested in family law. Divorce, mediation, child custody/advocacy, and visitation rights. So the unprecedented events in San Angelo Texas are completely fascinating to me. Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard about it so I won’t bother going over background. Google it if you [...]

Monson’s words for me

Today was the last day of Student Development 198R: Law Lecture Series. This saddens me because it was my favorite. I learned a TON yet next to nothing was required of me. How can it get any better than that? Ironically it turns out to be the only class in which I had a perfect [...]

Quotes on the “Liberty” Arguement

“Few concepts have more potential to mislead us than the idea that choice, or agency, is an ultimate goal.”
“We are responsible to use our agency in a world of choices.”
“Interesting how one virtue, when given exaggerated or fanatical emphasis, can be used to batter down another, with freedom, a virtue, invoked to protect vice.”
“People who [...]

Is the LDS Church Political?

“The Church’s mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, not to elect politicians. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics…
The Church does not:

Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms…

The Church does:

Reserve the right as an [...]

Apostasy and Mercy Explained for Bored in Vernal

I have found a blog through a friend called Hieing to Kolob. It’s written by a very liberal feminist called Bored in Vernal whom I find a curious person and disagree with her on almost all points (I hope she links back to read this article- I’d love to get her feedback). Though personally concerned [...]

LDS Newsroom: Constitutional Ammendment defining Marriage

The LDS Newsroom has great interviews with and statements by the Prophets and Apostles on vital matters. I’ll be looking through it and doing write ups. Here Public Affairs interviews Elders Oaks on homo-marriage. I highly recommend looking over the site, but for now, here’s a few excerpts on this topic with more to come:

(P.s. [...]

Morality: Legislate or Keep to Yourself?

“Is it wrong for a person to gamble, smoke marijuana, or marry someone of the same sex? Says who? Who are we to tell other people what to do with their own lives? Does right and wrong exist? If so, who decides what is right and wrong and to whom it applies? The answer to [...]

Protecting the Sanctity of the Family

“Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.”
[...]

Why Gospel Principles should be used to approach any Policy

Here’s a great relevant article for those interested.
Because the Gospel is not just a collection of platitudes and “I luv Jeebus” warm fuzzies. It’s a set of eternal principles to be applied in all sorts of circumstances. I’ve heard the argument “Yeah, well, situations in which the Church has an Official Stance, I’ll go with [...]

Brainstorming

Sorry I haven’t blogged recently, I’ve been a bit busy and trying to think of topics to cover. There were a few ideas I thought of, but being a lazy person, when it came down to it, decided not to bother. Looking at other people’s blogs (see Links), it became apparent that people tend to [...]

I am the most Discriminated Person in America

Ok so this is a new revelation to me. I was sitting in my psychology of gender class talking about sexual discrimination. I thought about myself. When have I been discriminated against… being White, Male, Middle/Upper class… Mormon and BYU… At first glance I don’t face much opposition. But then… on further inspection, and reading [...]

Dynamic Doctrines and Policies of the Church

I devoutly read the thought provoking blogs of my friend Zillah, and today I read THIS POST in which she talks about the changes in the Church’s views on topics, most specifically birth control. Most other readers seem to be more or less a skeptical feminist Mormon. Since I am not, I see the concerns [...]

LDS perspective on Communism

Well, I’m sure you’ve already heard that Fidel Castro stepped down as Dictator of Cuba. What I find amusing is when I recall a while ago when he was hospitalized. In Little Havana (down in Florida), the Cuban-American exiles there were cheering in the streets that Fidel might finally die. Tuesday he finally stepped down [...]

Why Satan is a Liberal

I’ll explain: I am sitting here waiting for tonight’s debate between Obama and Clinton to replay at 10. Right now (9:30) they’re playing a special called Broken Government. Now, CNN is a liberal news station, so I knew it would be about how big business is bad and destroying America, blah blah. Well, I was [...]

Nephi pleads not guilty to Murder and Robbery

In doing background research for an upcoming blog on Latter Day Saints and the Death Penalty, I came across this in a forum and thought I’d pass it along. Food for thought: “In 1 Nephi we have an amazing confession by Nephi himself that he murdered a drunken helpless man (Laban) in order to [...]