Mormon Culture

Is not this the epitome of Mormon Culture!!!



I guess it just goes to show that as Latter-day Saints we can ALWAYS find a creative way to teach a gospel principle - with food, even better!

If you too want to make this go HERE

Proposition 8

I came across an article today from lds.org that does such a wonderful job explaining why our support of time and means to this proposition is so important! It is a long article, but well worth the read as it answers so many questions that I have personally had in how to approach this subject.

Please take the time to read this and educate yourself as to why this issue is important to YOU and to your children and children's children!

The Divine Institution of Marriage

Here are some quotes from the article that really stood out to me:

Tolerance, Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom

Those who favor homosexual marriage contend that “tolerance” demands that they be given the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. But this appeal for “tolerance” advocates a very different meaning and outcome than that word has meant throughout most of American history and a different meaning than is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Savior taught a much higher concept, that of love. “Love thy neighbor,” He admonished.[13] Jesus loved the sinner even while decrying the sin, as evidenced in the case of the woman taken in adultery: treating her kindly, but exhorting her to “sin no more.”[14] Tolerance as a gospel principle means love and forgiveness of one another, not “tolerating” transgression.

In today’s secular world, the idea of tolerance has come to mean something entirely different. Instead of love, it has come to mean condone – acceptance of wrongful behavior as the price of friendship. Jesus taught that we love and care for one another without condoning transgression. But today’s politically palatable definition insists that unless one accepts the sin he does not tolerate the sinner.

As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained,

Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination.[15]

The Church does not condone abusive treatment of others and encourages its members to treat all people with respect. However, speaking out against practices with which the Church disagrees on moral grounds – including same-sex marriage – does not constitute abuse or the frequently misused term “hate speech.” We can express genuine love and friendship for the homosexual family member or friend without accepting the practice of homosexuality or any re-definition of marriage.

Legalizing same-sex marriage will affect a wide spectrum of government activities and policies. Once a state government declares that same-sex unions are a civil right, those governments almost certainly will enforce a wide variety of other policies intended to ensure that there is no discrimination against same-sex couples. This may well place “church and state on a collision course.”[16]

The prospect of same-sex marriage has already spawned legal collisions with the rights of free speech and of action based on religious beliefs. For example, advocates and government officials in certain states already are challenging the long-held right of religious adoption agencies to follow their religious beliefs and only place children in homes with both a mother and a father. As a result, Catholic Charities in Boston has stopped offering adoption services.

Other advocates of same-sex marriage are suggesting that tax exemptions and benefits be withdrawn from any religious organization that does not embrace same-sex unions.[17] Public accommodation laws are already being used as leverage in an attempt to force religious organizations to allow marriage celebrations or receptions in religious facilities that are otherwise open to the public. Accrediting organizations in some instances are asserting pressure on religious schools and universities to provide married housing for same-sex couples. Student religious organizations are being told by some universities that they may lose their campus recognition and benefits if they exclude same-sex couples from club membership.[18]

Many of these examples have already become the legal reality in several nations of the European Union, and the European Parliament has recommended that laws guaranteeing and protecting the rights of same-sex couples be made uniform across the EU.[19] Thus, if same-sex marriage becomes a recognized civil right, there will be substantial conflicts with religious freedom. And in some important areas, religious freedom may be diminished.

OLYMPICS

I LOVE THE OLYMPICS!

So many inspirational stories and events!

I wanted to share what I feel is the greatest story of the Olympics this year so far.

The USA Mens 4x100m swim relay team has been badgered by the FRANCE team at all previous competitions. Then France had to go and say that they would "smash" the USA in the race. It was the fuel for the fire as the last leg of the race Jason Lezak (who even the announcers were trashing) came from behind to win by .08 of a second. AMAZING! They beat the last World Record by 5 seconds with a finish time of 3:08.24.

SEE HERE!

Great things are accomplished with team work and relentless desire!

ENJOY!!!

notice the announcers...what chumps!

Picture Tag

PICTURE BLOG TAG

The rules are you have to take ten pictures of the following things. And you have to do it right away. No straightening, cleaning or wiping your child's nose. Then you tag five others.

I knew it...you all were curious as to how my house looks at mid-night (and you all should know I am a night owl).
So, don't hold your breath any longer...here it is.


1. The fridge
Any one want to come over for dinner???


2. The closet


3. A self portrait

Just Kidding...though someone once did tell me I look like her, go figure! Hard to find a somewhat modest picture.

Not too bad for 12am

4.Your favorite room
Where I should have been.

5. The kitchen sink
Did I already tell you all that I don't like doing dishes???

6. The laundry room

7. The toilet.
Definitly a story to go with this...Eliza was playing with a kool-aid packet in the bathroom. Imagine what that stuff does to our insides!!!

8.What are your kids doing right now?
Ahhhh....peace and quiet. This is why I am up at mid-night.

9. Your dream vacation

Oaxaca, Mexico...I would settle for Yucatan as well.

10. Your favorite shoes
I wasn't much of a sandels person coming from the Northwest...but these are pretty much all I wear these days.


Okay, drumroll..... I TAG Shauna Danielson, Sarah Mugleston, Mary Kelly, Heather Kimball & Karey Boonsripisal

HAVE FUN & YOU HAVE TO DO IT!