Answer to the quiz

Curt is right, Oliver Cowdry did author section 134, and apparently on the same day, also authored a proclamation on the family. They were presented to the church at a general conference that Joseph didn't attend. Joseph did not initially endorse either but after a time he embraced section 134, as has each president since. The proclimation on the other hand wasn't endorsed.

There you go, interesting stuff!

To Constitute or not to Constitute

Many of you know that last month in Elders Quorum the President was giving a lesson about the direction our economy and the country in general was heading (Down the tubes). As he began his lesson he started pacing back and forth in obvious excitement (Pause) then he turned to me and announced to the class that in a month I was going to follow up with a lesson about the religious freedoms that were included in the original constitution that were now being denied to us [My mouth hangs open] (He then Resumes pacing). Hmmm.

As you can imagine I have spent the last few weeks with a nagging thought in the back of my mind reminding me that soon I would have to stand to present a brief treatsie on the thoughts and intents of our founding fathers regarding religious freedom. Hmmm. Needless to say, I wasn't excited.

Finally yesterday morning arrived and I knew my time was up. I spent a few minutes brushing up and then I reported for duty. To be honest, I had no idea what I was going to say. I was relieved to see I only had twenty minutes to present.

As I stood there, trying to frame my opening remarks, I asked an ice breaker question: "List for me some of the constitutional religious rights that are being denied you and I". (Not a hand is raised or a response shouted out, somewhere in the background a cricket began chirping).

I think to myself: OK, lets try that again. "Can any of you think of examples in your lifetime, where the government has restricted our ablity to practice religion"?
(repeated lack of respons except this time someone coughs).

I take courage and respond: "The reason that none of you can think of an example is that there aren't any. If there were we would all be aware of them. This government was founded upon the rights of religious freedom, and those rights are protected by the constitution." Thus ended my treatsie.

I then spent the remainder of the lesson discussing the 134th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, and finished off with the idea that things in this world are unfolding as they should, that God is in control, and we should spend our time in doing our responsibilities and let God do his. Or as Neal A. Maxwell put it, "Isn't it interesting that we who wear wrist watches seek to counsel he who oversees cosmic clocks and calenders".

P.S. Trivia time: Who wrote the 134th section, and is it a revelation?

P.S.S. On a random side note, here is a shout out to Crunchy Chedder Jalapeno Cheetos. Buy em, Inhale em, Love em.

Out.

To be continued

I am officially up to my eye balls in stuff to do. Therefore, this blog is taking a back seat to the remodeling of our house. I will blog when I get a chance in a month or two.

Until then faithful readers, entertain yourselves as you must until I return! HA!

One of life's simple pleasures

Charlie Pride has a song I love entitled "Roll on Mississippi".

Walking along, whistling a song
Half foot and fancy free,
A big riverboat, passing us by, she's headed for New Orleans
There she goes, disappearing around the bend.
Roll on Mississippi; you make me feel like a child again.

A cool river breeze, like peppermint leaves,
The taste of it takes me back,
Chew'n on a straw, torn overalls, a cane pole and an old straw hat,
Muddy river, Just like a long lost friend.
Roll on Mississippi; you make me feel like a child again

Roll on Mississippi, big river roll.
You're the childhood dream that I grew up on.
Roll on Mississippi, carry me home.
Now I can see I've been away too long.
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on.

Now, when the world's spinning round, too fast for me,
And I need a place to dream.
So I come to your banks, I sit in your shade
Relive the memories
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
Roll on Mississippi; you make me feel like a child again

Roll on Mississippi, Big river roll
You're the childhood dream that I grew up on.
Roll on Mississippi, carry me home.
Now I can see I've been away too long.
Roll on, Mississippi, Roll on, Mississippi.

Flaming Gorge is my Mississippi river. I can't describe to anyone how it feels to pull up on the banks of this reservoir. To smell the sage and water, hear the steady slap of water on the shore, and see the surrounding red rocks and clear blue/green water. Out in Lucern marina is collection of industrial sized tires chained together as a buffer from the waves. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to walk out on them.

I feel myself change everytime I return. I physically feel the worries and stress of daily life fall off. I feel more grounded, more real, more whole. I love going there.

I hope everyone has such a place of their own. Somewhere to go where they can regress to a simpler time when things weren't so complicated and uncertain. A place that to them is sacred and a joy. Regardless of the lack of shade. {:-)

Thanks to the boys for taking me there last weekend!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks to Dad for introducing me to a place that has become part of my identity. And congrats to Clint for joining the 30# club!