George Washington's gift to our nation

I am so very grateful for the founding Fathers of our nation, especially for George Washington, who did what few other military leaders have ever done.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/washington-war-king-2264022-congress-speech#

One Year Anniversary

Some of you may remember that at this time last year I was recuperating from cancer surgery. http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2007/11/colon-cancer.html

Doctors like to celebrate yearly anniversaries of such events by ordering a slew of medical tests for their patients. I was no exception. For those of you who do NOT wish to read all the gory details, I have prepared an executive summary. Ready? Here it is. As far as I can remember, I feel fine for my age and test results do not prove otherwise. ;)

For those of you who fall into one of the following categories, you may read further at your own risk for more details than you probably want:

1- You are an aspiring doctor.

2- You are addicted to medical shows on TV.

3- You or someone you love has colon cancer.
4- You have spare time you don't know what to do with.

Long time readers of my blog may remember that when I was diagnosed with cancer in November 2007, I made the choice to be open about most information pertaining to my condition and treatment, in hopes that it would be helpful in assisting someone else with cancer or maybe help encourage others to get checked for cancer themselves and hopefully benefit from early detection.

Exactly one month before Christmas, I was subjected to PET and CAT scans. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this procedure, allow me to elaborate. You are injected with a radioactive dye and drink a radioactive milkshake (delivered in a serious looking sealed metal container) and then slid back and forth through a large, donut-shaped (torus) imaging device which revolves inside the donut and bombards you with positrons all while being instructed to hold still for extended periods of time while your bladder begs for relief from the large, radioactive milkshake you drank an hour ago. It sounds and feels like being put inside an atom smasher. Fortunately, I am not claustrophobic. See previous post for more info.
http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2008/11/im-getting-nuked-on-tuesday.html

Good news. The doctor said that no abnormalities were detected by the PET and CAT scans.

Three non-cancerous polyps were found and removed during my December 17th colonoscopy, one in the ascending colon and two in the descending colon.

I was invited to participate in a double blind research project to help determine the lowest dose of Erlotinib (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erlotinib) that is effective in shrinking small, pre-cancerous growths, known as "aberrant crypt foci" (ACFs) sometimes found on the inner lining of the colon. The following 2 page report describes the study related sigmoidoscopy performed immediately after my colonoscopy. Since 5 ACFs were discovered, I qualify for the study and decided to participate. The report also documents the ACFs for the one month follow-up sigmoidoscopy which will check for possible ACF shrinkage.

The most frequent side effects of Erlotinib are skin rashes and diarrhea. The following articles describe how to pronounce the word "aberrant" and information about ACFs.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/36/A0013600.html
http://www.inra.fr/reseau-nacre/sci-memb/corpet/acf.html

Articles about the effectiveness of colonoscopies in detecting what appears to be two different kinds of colon cancer (descending colon cancer [left side] & ascending colon cancer [right side]) and how to safely prepare for them.
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-he-colonoscopy22-2008dec22,0,7482776.story

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/medicine/la-hew-colondrugs22-2008dec22,0,985509.story

Wild weather in "sunny" Southern California

Family and friends who live in places where winter is spelled with a capital "W" and the TV weatherman doesn't interrupt scheduled programming with " Storm Watch 200x" breaking news stories every time the streets get wet from natural causes will have already experienced real winter weather this season. However, when the same kind of wild weather happens in normally sunny Southern California, it really is newsworthy. This past week's storms not only gave students in St. George Utah a once-in-a-decade snow day and more snow in Las Vegas than has been seen in nearly 30 years (shutting down the McCarran International Airport in the process), but also brought cold temperatures and snow to Southern California residents who make monthly in$tallment$ on overpriced real estate that is supposed to be immune to such weather.
http://www.thespectrum.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008812190344 http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hY3CyI2aVDaPaLMJu7CTUEeK5ECA

The accumulations of snow in the high desert community of Palmdale (one of the hotter So. Cal cities during the summer) looked more like northern Utah than Southern California. http://www.ocregister.com/photos/county-areas-rain-2258934-officials-orange/pid2259694

Even Orange County residents awoke to several inches of snow in the local foothills and several feet of snow in the local mountains. Those who are interested can view this slide show of beautiful photos of the effect of the recent storms in Orange County. http://www.ocregister.com/photos/highway-california-snow-2260116-freeway-chp/pid2260152

Our church youth group was scheduled to attend the first night of the 100th annual Newport Harbor Boat Parade on Wednesday night, but the activity and the event was cancelled due to miserable weather and a small craft advisory. We were fortunate to grab a last minute reservation cancellation for the following evening and a smaller than usual group of us (15 or so) were able to enjoy the boat parade aboard a 54' sailboat that motored right alongside the decorated boats in the parade. Here is a link to a news story and photos of similar Orance County harbor boat parades.
http://www.ocregister.com/photos/dec-parade-year-2243918-boat-harbor/pid2243922

Zachary and his traveling companions threaded the needle in between storms and safely made the trip down from BYU, spending the night at the home of a friend's grandmother in St. George when various sections of the I-15 freeway in Nevada and Southern California were closed due to snow and black ice. Wasn't somebody with an enormous personal carbon "footprint" saying something about problems with man made global warming? http://rawstory.com/news/2007/CNN_weatherman_applauds_global_warming_skepticism_1004.html http://businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081218205953.aspx
http://www.globalwarminghoaxblog.com/

The crumbling ethics of American Youth

The Josephson Institute's 2008 Report Card on the Ethics of American Youth is based on a survey of nearly 30,000 students in high schools across the U.S. The results paint a troubling picture of our future...
http://charactercounts.org/programs/reportcard/index.html

As bad as this report card is bad, the reality is probably even worse, as 1 in 4 respondents admitted lying more than once on the anonymous survey.
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=337502

Gee, I wonder whether these results have anything to do with the diminishing ethics of parents and other adult role models?

The Gift of Music

I was reminded again last night of how much my life has been blessed by the gift and miracle of music as I listened to some very talented women in our stake rehearsing for an upcoming performance of a musical play entitled "Parable of the Ten Virgins" (http://deseretbook.com/store/product/4982919) to be performed at our annual Community Christmas Celebration this coming weekend.

Its amazing to me that God could create and use something so seemingly simple as the energy of small, vibrating objects transmitted through the air to bring such beauty, joy, and enjoyment to his children, which in turn can serve as a vehicle for his Spirit to communicate to all who have ears to hear and a receptive heart, without regard to language, culture, gender, or age.

These eleven women (10 performers and a narrator) have each been blessed with beautiful individual voices, which they have developed into exceptional talents that are wonderful to hear. However, when they merge their individual talents to sing a beautiful, multi-part arrangement which was composed by another talented musician (Emily Freeman) that none of them may have ever met and are coached and led by yet another talented individual who also selflessly shares her many talents, the resulting event is just about as close to experiencing heaven on earth as I'm able to tolerate.

I'm so very grateful that I have been blessed throughout my life to associate with so many people who have the gift of music and who are willing to develop and share those talents with others for the betterment of mankind. I truly believe that the positive power of music can breach any barrier, whether it be language, culture, politics, religion, social or economic classes, geography, gender, or age to help unify the diverse peoples of the world.

The following article entitled "The Peace of Music" written by internationally acclaimed LDS pianist, composer and entertainer Marvin Goldstein (http://www.marvingoldstein.com/) discusses the potential power of music to help us all follow Christ's admonition to "be one".

http://mormonmedia.com/store/pages.php?pageid=4

Hayden and Landon make an early debut

Jayson and Celeste Hess are the proud parents of twin boys delivered by Caesarian delivery on Saturday, November 29th, 2008 at 4:30pm.


Hayden Wray Hess: 4 lbs. 6 oz. and 18"



Landon Marshall Hess: 3 lbs. 13 oz. and 17"

It is estimated that both will remain in intensive care for approximately 2 weeks due to being born 7 weeks premature. Both boys and their Mom are reportedly doing well under the circumstances.

More photos and videos of the twins are available on Jayson's blog.
http://jaysonandceleste.blogspot.com/2008/11/untitled-by-samanthanicole-on-flickr.html

Thanksgiving 2008

We awoke on Thursday morning to the unusual sound of thunder and throughout the day received badly needed additional precipitation. Because the Hodges had spent the night with friends and Zach slept in, Kim and I enjoyed a quiet morning while we (mostly Kim) prepared our Thanksgiving meal.

This year's sentiments of thankfulness have been muted somewhat by financial problems and terrorism. The world-wide financial crisis of the past few months has created conditions in which many more people than usual are struggling to make ends meet, and even for some Americans to have enough to eat. Multiple, coordinated terrorist attacks that killed in excess of one hundred people in Mumbai, India have also cast a pale over the Thanksgiving spirit this year.

We are truly grateful to have Zach visiting us this week. He scheduled his Eagle Scout Board of Review while he is in town and has now officially earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Please take the opportunity to congratulate him on this notable achievement.

Jayson's wife Celeste has been hospitalized due to complications of pregnancy with twins, who aren't due for almost two months. We're all concerned and praying for the health of Celeste and the twins.

As a tribute and small token of thanks to our military service personnel, I'm including the following photo (entitled "Generations of Valor") that is making the rounds on the email circuit.

Doctor Dunn, you've done it again!

My brother-in-law, BYU professor Doctor Mike Dunn, is being recognized in numerous articles in both newspapers and professional journals for a process his team has designed to fortify tortilla flour with vitamins and minerals missing from the diets of many third world peoples.

http://byunews.byu.edu/archive08-NOV-tortillas.aspx

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705265548,00.html

I'm getting "nuked" on Tuesday

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_scan

Mormon Helping hands- Deja vu

Here's another example of them dang Mormons stickin their noses into other people's business a-gin. Oh, wait. These members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in their bright yellow "helping hands" t-shirts are helping their neighbors and outright strangers prepare for potential mudslides in areas devastated by recent wild fires.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stowell-city-going-2238004-yorba-linda

Hey! Didn't they do this same thing earlier this year when there were threats of mudslides following last year's wildfires?! Mmmmmm. They sure got a knack for rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to help other folks.

http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2008/01/mormon-helping-hands.html

The future of our country hangs in the balance

I agree with, and recommend the reading of, this open letter to Congress by a member of the Motley Fool financial website:
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2008/11/19/an-open-letter-to-congress.aspx?source=ihpdspmra0000001

On a lighter note, this Utah-based film to be released on public television next year seems to have an interesting story to tell and moral to teach.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705264929,00.html

Sorry to have dropped out off the map this past week. I've battling a stubborn respiratory flu.

Orange County wildfires

The major file in Southern California continues to be the Sylmar fire, but this morning a fire started in Corona near the Green River exit on the 91 freeway near the Riverside County line and due to warm temperatures, low humidity, and strong Santa Ana winds, quickly spread to Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills, where dozens of homes and a large apartment complex have burned so far. The sky is very dark to our north. This fire is about 8 miles to our northeast. A smaller fire is also burning in Brea. Thousands, if not tens of thousands, have and are being evacuated in northeastern Orange County. Here is a link to online newspaper coverage of the fire:
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/mph-fire-orange-2229875-county-beach
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ocfire16-2008nov16,0,339111.story
http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/?Brush-Fire-Destroys-Homes-in-Corona-Yorb=1&blockID=135884&feedID=1198
LIVE TV NEWS FEEDS
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/livenow?id=6508493
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/live/?aid=31997849&vid=30518544

Here is a video of what the sky looks like from our cul-de-sac.


The Orange Stake of the LDS Church is conducting emergency communication drills this weekend. Good timing!

Post-election Prop 8 news

(Keep checking back and looking for recent news items added to the bottom of this story)

I stayed home from work sick today with a respiratory bug, that has me coughing, feeling yucky, and speaking an octave lower than usual. Never the less, when I heard about a noontime news conference to be held at the nearby Santa Ana Double Tree Hotel to discuss the hate, harassment, vandalism, violence, blacklisting, and domestic terrorism committed against supporters of traditional family values, I decided to attend.

There was a massive traffic jam due to lack of parking and anti-Prop8 protesters on several corners making as much commotion and getting as much camera time from the media as possible. I had to park blocks away and was late for the start of the press conference. After registering, I entered a large ballroom filled beyond capacity with people and media, with a large podium in front on which were standing about 2 dozen representatives from many communities, various organizations, and faith groups, including both Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and others, as well as representatives of the Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities. It was good to see a number of familiar faces in the room. On either side of the podium were large screens on which videos were shown of some of the harassment which some Prop8 supporters have been subjected to. About half a dozen of the representatives addressed the audience and the media. The speakers decried the ugly and illegal reactions of some of the anti-Prop8 protesters who are upset over the passage of Prop8, and also the lack of any statement from any government leader asking for restraint by the anti-Prop8 protesters or any adequate measures to protect the majority of citizens who exercised their right to vote and are being viciously slandered and attacked and vilified as hate mongers by those who are obviously extremely angry and who are themselves the ones being motivated by hatred. The speakers called upon everyone on all sides of this contentious issue to treat each other with respect and civility. Not withstanding that the news media was challenged to fairly and accurately report on the content of the press conference, if they hold true to form, they will show a very short non-representative video bite from the hour long news conference and then show plenty of video of the noisy, anti-Prop8 protesters.

Here are some links to news stories about this press conference.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/video?id=6506835
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/prop-vassos-leaders-2229235-gay-marriage

Here is a video I took during the Press Conference and a photo of the gauntlet of anti-Prop8 protesters that awaited us upon leaving the hotel.



The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) issued the following statement on Friday, November 14, 2008.
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/first-presidency-urges-respect-civility-in-public-discourse

Additional articles worth reading:
http://www.mantecabulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=54&ArticleID=60259
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81035
http://www.newswithviews.com/Usher/david182.htm
http://www.poligazette.com/2008/11/15/gays-entitlement-and-incivility/
http://www.ktla.com/landing_topstories/?California-Supreme-Court-Ponders-Challen=1&blockID=135216&feedID=1198
http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7804420&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

Employees of boycotted and besieged restaurant make donation (pay-off) to anti-Prop8 protesters in attempt to lift siege of restaurant where daughter of owner financially supported Prop8. When organized crime demands payoffs to allow a business to continue to operate it is called extortion. How is this any different?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-elcoyote15-2008nov15,0,6294928.story

Just so the Orange County Mormons don't feel left out, the anti-Prop8 demonstrators protested in front of the Newport Beach Temple (since they've already demonstrated at the Los Angeles, San Diego, Redlands, and Oakland temples) and adjacent Stake Center during Church services on Sunday, November 16th. What a nice way to end your church services- to have to run the gauntlet of these screaming people. If there is any doubt why they are doing this- let me clue you in. It is NOT to try to change the opinions of the people against whom they are demonstrating. Since almost all the TV/newspaper/radio outlets came out against Prop8, the demonstrators and news media have a nice little racket going. The demonstrators show up and make a bunch of noise and the news media has plenty of anti-Prop8 events to report on in order to keep the anti-Prop8 homosexual lifestyle agenda in the public's face in hopes that it will affect the outcome of the court challenges in their favor, but if not, to remind the public the price that must be paid if you disagree with the homosexual lifestyle agenda.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/church-beach-passage-2230532-clayton-fichter

The LDS Church issued another Prop8-related press release on November 21, 2008.
http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/measured-voices-provide-reason-support-amidst-proposition-8-reaction

Here's a link to an article about the legal challenges to Prop 8.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/prop-constitution-court-2235083-state-gay

Article about Prop 8, the LDS Church, and the First Amendment.
http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=YTU5MjZmMDIyMDU3NjRiMjBlNjcxYTlmOGQ2ODA5NjA

Article written by Jewish Rabbi entitled, "We are all Mormons".
http://www.lawatchdog.com/RabbiShifren-WeAreAllMormons112008.html

A hint of things to come?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-prop8-court25-2008nov25,0,1631563.story

I concur with the sentiments of the author of the following Letter to the Editor published in the Orange County Register on 11/8/08:
While Prop. 8's passage is encouraging, it isn't enough. People of faith who supported it must now address the high divorce rate among Christians, the appalling number of churchgoing men who use Internet porn and the ranks of single Christians who are sexually active (None of which can be blamed on gays). Only then can we say, with integrity, that we support traditional marriage.

DOMESTIC TERRORISM

It appears that at least some anti-Prop8 protesters are now using terrorist tactics to attack supporters of traditional marriage.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-mormon14-2008nov14,0,7206616.story
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705262822,00.html

Recent News Releases by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints regarding its support for traditional marriage and its response to inappropriate expressions of opposition to the same.
http://tinyurl.com/57zcwp
http://tinyurl.com/6afl4r
http://tinyurl.com/5q2m2a

more examples of intolerance from the "tolerance" crowd

LDS churches aren't the only ones being picketed by anti-Prop8 protesters.
http://tinyurl.com/6p6yhs

Prop 8 supporters are being blacklisted and forced out of their jobs and businesses who support traditional marriage are being boycotted.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-quick13-2008nov13,0,7115878.story
http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/11/10/daily40.html?jst=pn_pn_lk
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=6502661
http://www.antigayblacklist.com

These are the times that try men's souls.

Its times like this when Christians are sorely tested to NOT practice the eye-for-an-eye law of Moses, but rather to live the higher law taught by Christ of turning the other cheek, not returning railing for railing, doing good to your enemy and those who spitefully use or abuse us, to bear persecution with patience.

Many of the anti-Prop8 protesters are way out of control. For starters, the protests are illegal because they never filed for a permit, blog traffic, and damage property, and devolve into violence. Property at the Los Angeles Temple has been vandalized, as has private property. People with different opinions have been attacked and beaten. Even though members of the LDS church account for only about 2% of the population of California, and even though much larger groups (Blacks, Hispanics, Catholics, Evangelical Christians, etc) supported the passage of Prop 8, for some reason its the LDS Church that is being vilified and slandered. I heard on the radio today that a big protest is planned at the Newport Beach Temple on Sunday. The good news is that our temples are closed on Sunday. The bad news is that the members attempting to use the meeting house next door will likely encounter more out-of-control protesters who will swear and scream at them, pound on their cars, scare their children, block the roads and cause big traffic jams, try to pick fights, hurl insults, and in general set an example completely opposite of the tolerance they demand from others. A spokesperson for the protesters claimed that if the Mormon Church had not funneled millions of out-of-state sollars into the ProProp8 effort and sent thousands of missionaries door-to-door, Prop8 would not have passed. Of course these assertions are completely false, but they are broadcast without an opposing point of view to provide a balanced perspective. The Church did not give any money to the ProtectMarriage coalition, but individual members were invited to donate. Full time missionaries did NOT participate in Prop 8 grass roots efforts, but individual members were encourged to join with other coalition members in contacting people in their community.

The following URL is a link to an excellent article in the most recent edition of Meridian magazine about the anti-Prop8 protesters and the right way to respond to them.

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081110hate.html

pet peeve: less then modest dress

Ok, I know that I am skating on thin ice with this post and may regret giving voice to my thoughts, but I've just got to get this off my chest, so to speak. (no pun originally intended, but its just too good to edit it out)

This post is not directed to any one person, but rather to the fairer sex in general. Why is it that some women in a professional work environment or even at church choose to wear dresses or blouses that are low cut enough to display cleavage? What is up with that!? I'm not talking about high school girls, but grown, often married women who should know better. What are they trying to accomplish? Don't they realize how uncomfortable it is for men who have to interact with them? Do they really want to attract the kind of men who are NOT uncomfortable with this style of dress? Hasn't anyone (ie. their mothers or HUSBANDS) told them its inappropriate?!

And what is even worse, is that even though you are 100% successful in keeping eye contact 100% of the time and ignoring the obvious, they act uncomfortable while talking to you and keep pulling up the neckline of their dress or blouse as if they don't trust you to not look at what they shouldn't be revealing in the first place!! Ladies, please find and patronize stores that sell modest clothing or go with the layered look and wear a modest top underneath your low cut outer clothing...especially at church. PLEASE!

21st Century Progress?! Daily Aggravation!!!

For several months now, those of us who are "blessed" to live in the 714 are code are now required to dial "1", plus the "714" area code, plus the full 7 digit phone number (a total of 11 digits) just to dial phone numbers WITHIN OUR OWN AREA CODE! This is a hassle every time you pick up the phone to dial a number. :(

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/area-code-numbers-2124879-call-dial

Prop 8 facts

This excellent collection of facts about Proposition 8 and the results of it not passing was created by an acquaintance for a Public Policy Master Class. Please take the time to read this 2 page webpage and view each of the hyperlinked webpages. Please pass this URL on to others.

http://www.prop8facts.org/

Attempts to deny First Amendent rights of Freedom of Speech are alive and well in the 21st Century

Opponents of Proposition 8 like to talk a lot about "tolerance". Apparently many opponents of Prop 8 feel that tolerance is a one directional principle when it comes to respectfully sharing differing opinions. The two "Yes on Prop 8" yard signs on our street were stolen today in broad daylight. One was in our yard. Its been happening all over town...a lot. The newspapers have written multiple articles about these thefts and First Amendment violations. The signs stolen from our street have already been replaced.

The remainder of this blog entry is copied from an email forwarded to me by a friend of the family writing about their experience with freedom of speech.

##############

In response to having lawn signs stolen on a regular basis in our area, we decided to display our position on Prop 8 with a large banner.




This afternoon a couple of women pulled up in front of our home and started painting on the windows of their car. I guess they disagreed with us.

As they were painting these messages, my husband came out and asked them if they would like to have a conversation. The "conversation" consisted of them calling us bigots, promoters of hate & prejudice, parents who didn't protect their children and un-Christian (this last comment causing my 11 year old son to cry because he IS a Christian and is so very proud of it!) My husband and children tried to engage in conversation to share our concerns and point of view and were met with increased intensity and anger. Their entire message was that we were closed-minded, motivated by hate and prejudice. In the end, we left them to their project...knowing that sharing and trying to understand one another's point of view was NOT something they were interested in.

Here's what we were left with in front of our home. By the way...we live across the street from a kindergarten playground...what a nice thing the kids will be able to see at recess and as they walk to and from home.

(Click on thumbnails to view full size images.)

Now for the good news...since this happened this afternoon we've had all kinds of people drive by taking pictures, talking with us and expressing support. In fact, a wonderful family from our school stopped by to tell us how sorry they were. They are voting No on 8 and long ago we decided that we would be that balancing force for each other in the universe. I was impressed by the way they went out of their way to make sure all was well with us and to let us know that they supported us even though we disagree on this issue. THIS is the American way... I wish this whole election process would be designed to promote these types of feelings among neighbors instead of the hate and intolerance that seems to be becoming such a prevalent part of our daily lives.

Well, that's what's happening at our house this weekend. Hope all is well with you and...don't forget to VOTE!!!

More information about California Proposition 8: THE battle for the future of American society.

Proposition 8 in its entirety:
"Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

For Proposition 8:
Proposition 8 in plain English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI-GjWY-WlA

Failure to pass Proposition 8 will have REAL and SOCIETY ALTERING consequences that will affect children, families, parental rights, and freedom of speech.
http://www.protectmarriage.com/video/view/6

Vote YES on Prop 8 to protect your free speech and religious rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-jc4ujp9Ok

Is Prop 8 REALLY about hate and intolerance?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4nqtDrJI7A

Very few people support Prop 8, right?!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIvS7redS8M

Didn't we already vote on this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsHqrHoxTiM

Even if Prop 8 passes, won't activist judges, who insist on overstepping their intended job function to interpret laws, just invalidate this proposition just like they did with Proposition 22?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4tTRvmgZKM

Don't homosexual couples deserve equal right to the "pursuit of happiness" mentioned in the Declaration of Independence?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP2ERL6Xykk

Will Proposition 8 remove existing rights and benefits afforded homosexual domestic partnerships under California law?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IGPxqHScjk


Against Proposition 8:
Teachers union donates $1 million to oppose Proposition 8
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-teachers17-2008oct17,0,6308701.story

California, the most gay-friendly state in the union, is now at the point where gay 'rights' trump constitutionally guaranteed religious rights.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/10/california----t.html

YES on California Proposition 8

I couldn't have said it any better myself, so I won't even try. Please follow this link to read my son Clayton's excellent explanation as to why it is so important that the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a women not be altered.

http://claytonandkatiemay.blogspot.com/2008/10/are-you-from-california-vote-yes-on.html

I would also like to echo Clayton's statements about the CRITICAL importance of treating everyone with kindness and civility and the love for all that Christ demonstrated and expects of his followers, irrespective of whether those with feelings of same gender attraction chose to feed and cultivate such feelings by living in same gender relationships. Never the less, contrary to the prevailing opinions of political correctness run amuck these days, "tolerance" does not imply condoning immoral behavior (by either so-called "straight" or "gay" persons) that weakens the traditional family as the fundamental unit of society.

Additional links related to preservation of the traditional family:

http://www.protectmarriage.com/
http://www.preservingmarriage.org/
http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/church-readies-members-on-proposition-8

A belated National POW/MIA Recognition Day tribute to my father, Lt. Col. Jay C. Hess, USAF (retired)

The third Friday in September each year is designated as a National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day. This blog entry is a belated POW/MIA Recognition Day tribute to my father, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Criddle Hess, United States Air Force (retired).

Another purpose for this entry is to assist the next generation, his grandchildren and beyond, to be more aware of his sacrifice, and that of hundreds of other patriots like him, who served their country under the most trying of circumstances, not to mention the tens of thousands who gave "the last full measure of devotion" to their country. Since the Internet is the communication medium of choice of the rising generation, I have researched and hypertext indexed the World Wide Web references I could find about their progenitor. This is probably not a complete list of everything existing on the Internet, but is rather what I could find after expending reasonable effort. I tried to list the references in chronological order. Naturally, this does not include any reference materials that are not on the Internet, and therefore this is only a small subset of one aspect of his life. But it is possible that this information could one day be included in a more complete life history.

My father will likely be embarrassed by the attention which I hope this entry generates among his extended family. Not withstanding his service to his country and his fellow citizens, he would not want to be the object of hero worship. For, as with all of us, he too has weaknesses. Rather, he would want all who read this entry to gain an increased measure of appreciation and gratitude for the blessings of living in this country, for which such a high price has been paid by so many who have gone before...and for all of us to get involved and make our country a better place to live...to become "Born Again Americans"!

I have included a few photos taken at his homecoming in March of 1973, as well as some newspaper and article scans that relate to Internet references. Click on thumbnails for full sized photos.

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HEARINGS BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AND SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
APRIL 29, MAY 1, 6, 1970
Jay Criddle Hess of Bountiful, Utah is listed on page 126 as being among the 335 names that were officially confirmed by Hanoi to be prisoners held in North Vietnam as of April 30, 1970.
http://tinyurl.com/3zz8gq

Jay Hess listing on aircraft ejection history tracking website
http://tinyurl.com/4agkpe
http://tinyurl.com/52e2v3

Lt Col Jay C. Hess on NAM POW (Vietnam Prisoner of Ward) list.
http://www.nampows.org/nampowslist.html

The Vietnam-Era Prisoner-of-War/Missing-in-Action Database
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/pow/h.html

Jay Criddle Hess bio page on POW network website.
Includes story about Christmas 1967 in a Vietnam POW camp.
http://www.pownetwork.org/bios/h/h047.htm

Captain Jay Criddle Hess included in combat casualties on F-105 website.
http://tinyurl.com/4a2dza

Website selling replica MIA/POW wrist bracelets. Site lists information engraved on each bracelet, including “Maj JAY C. HESS”.
http://tinyurl.com/52c6yv

NBC News Broadcast from March 29, 1973 reporting release of last group of Vietnam POWs and some of the mistreatment POWs endured. Jay Hess is not specifically mentioned in this video, but knows the former POWs in the video.
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/51366120/#51366120

“Mormon Prisoner of War Tells of Experiences During 7-Year Captivity,” Ensign, Apr. 1973, 66–67; Former fellow POW Captain Larry J. Chesley complements Major J. Criddle Hess as “one of the greatest men I have ever met”.
http://tinyurl.com/3f9j29

June 1973 Ensign article
“Eternal Values Sustained Prisoner of War,” Ensign, June 1973, 70–71
http://tinyurl.com/4b723u



July 1973 Ensign article:
Harold B. Lee, “Follow the Leadership of the Church,” Ensign, Jul 1973, 95
Major Jay Hess and other LDS former POWs are recognized by then LDS Church President Lee during April 1973 General Conference.
http://tinyurl.com/mcjql2

Appreciating the Important Things
LDS Church FHE manual quotes Jay Hess' first letter to family.
http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/fhe/building_family.html

Hymns Provided Greatest Lessons
Partial preview of premium database account article by Jay Hess regarding value of hymns in difficult situations.
http://search.ldslibrary.com/article/view/2885540

Blessed by the Hymns

http://gospelink.com/library/contents/701

Book entitled “From the Shadow of Death” published in 1973 relates stories of 8 LDS POWs
http://tinyurl.com/4tvj6x



Excerpt of Newspaper Archive article from December 25, 1973 edition of El Paso Herald-Post relating former POW and retired Air Force Lt Col Jay Hess (and other former POWs) spending first Christmas home with multi-millionaire Ross Perot.
http://tinyurl.com/4ro8l5

The Day I Flew the F-16
September 18, 1997

http://www.avweb.com/news/airman/184430-1.html?type=pf


Jay Hess is featured speaker at gathering of LDS veterans
June 14, 1992
http://bit.ly/10xHI9a


“Freedom Is for Those Willing to Defend It:
Stories of Men in War” is a collection of war storied written by Helene Ensign Maw and published in 2002. Pages 196-224 of the on-line preview contain most of chapter 11, Jay C. Hess’ story of his POW experiences. Several of the pages are omitted to entice the reader to purchase the book. THIS IS A MUST READ!
http://tinyurl.com/4vmmzo

F-89, F-102, and F-106 pilot Jay Hess mentioned as attending July 2002 Kinross, Michigan Air Force Base reunion. (Search for HESS)
http://tinyurl.com/3vhroj

Veteran Jay Hess pays tribute to peers during Memorial Day service.
Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 25, 2003
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20030525/ai_n11393971

Former Clearfield High School JROTC student blogs about an alphabetical list of things he was appreciative of for Thanksgiving 2004.
http://wandering-tao.blogspot.com/2004/11/giving-thanks.html

Utah State Air Force Association; April 20, 2005
Lt. Col. Jay Hess speaker report. (Search for HESS)
http://utahafa.org/PDFs/1st%20Qtr%20state%20newsletter%202005.pdf

Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 11, 2006
Article about Jay Hess speaking at upcoming meeting of Farmington American Legion Post 27.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_/ai_n16178733

Jay Hess honored at September 2006 National Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day.
http://veterans.utah.gov/news/docs/VetVoiceSpring07.pdf
October 2006 issue of Farmington News thanks Jay Hess for patriotic 9-11 flag memorial.
http://www.farmington.utah.gov/downloads/about/10_2006.pdf

POW flies flag in tribute to vets
November 8, 2006
Davis County Clipper article about former POW Jay Hess

http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/144457/article-POW-flies-flag-in-tribute-to-vets?

November 2006 Davis County Clipper newspaper article about Jay Hess entitled “POW becomes born-again American”.
http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/141715/article-POW-becomes-born-again-American?

November 14, 2006 Bountiful, Utah City Council minutes thank local American Legion Post for the wonderful Veteran’s Day celebration, which included remarks from Col. Jay Hess, POW for 6 years in Vietnam.
http://www.blogger.com/www.bountifulutah.gov/WorkArea/downloadasset.aspx?id=1470

WORDS FOR LIFE
11/5/2006 Times and Seasons website article about the lasting effect of Jay Hess speaking at a Youth Conference.
http://www.timesandseasons.org/?p=3557

"Vietnam vet had 'will to live' as prisoner"
Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 8, 2007
Article about comments made by Utah National Guard Major General Brian Tarbet during a luncheon for former Prisoners of War.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660209986/Vietnam-vet-had-will-to-live-as-prisoner.html?pg=all

Lieutenant Colonel Jay Hess listed among Veterans for McCain.
http://tinyurl.com/3pxwtw

Lt.Col. Jay Hess, USAF (Ret.) listed among
FORMER POWS SUPPORTING JOHN MCCAIN FOR PRESIDENT
http://blog.4president.org/2008/2007/11/former-pows-sup.html

JAY HESS FOR PRESIDENT?
At least one person believes that Lt. Col Jay Hess is among those more qualified to be President of the United States than John McCain. (presumably the list consists of former POWs expressing support for McCain)
http://tinyurl.com/3echwb

Retired Air Force Col. Jay Hess of Farmington referenced in January 2008 Provo Daily Herald article about The State of Utah House of Representatives voting 75-0 to appropriate $19.7 million for a veteran's nursing home in Weber County.
http://tinyurl.com/4zlvno

Jay Hess is listed twice as a charter sponsor of the Air Force Memorial Foundation.
http://www.airforcememorial.org/
http://www.airforcememorial.org/registry/index_results.asp?last_name=h&Nav=15

Ogden Standard-Examiner article;
National Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Forever Remembered
Ogden Standard-Examiner article
http://www.standard.net/m/message/143726
Utah State University Top of Utah article
http://www.usu.edu/ust/pdf/2008/september/itn09230850.pdf

LDS General Conference talk by President Thomas S. Monson
"Finding Joy in the Journey"
Sunday, October 5, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6e9h5g (Ensign article)
http://lds.org/conference/oct2008/pdf/GC_2008_11_28_MonsonTS_FindingJoyInTheJourney_04903_eng_.pdf
http://lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html (Sunday morning session)

"Advanatages of a Republic"
Davis County Clipper newspaper article about 11/12/08 Jay Hess speaking engagement.
http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/344340/article-Lt--Col--Hess-to-speak-to-UWF?

LDS Church News article
"Lessons still linger for former Vietnam POW"
January 10, 2009
http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/56422/Lessons-still-linger-for-former-Vietnam-POW.html

"Salute" to Lt. Col Jay Hess on Mormon Insights blog
May 23, 2009
http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com/2009/05/our-soldiers-need-far-more-than-tribute.html

2009 University of Utah Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony- 11 November 2009
Jay Hess was one of eleven military veteran honorees at one of the largest college campus Veterans Day events in the United States.
http://www.veteransday.utah.edu/http://www.veteransday.utah.edu./honorees/2009/Hess_J/hess_popup.html

VETERAN TRIBUTES
March 2010
Erich Anderson, an American patriot who appreciates and honors veterans for their service and sacrifice to their nation, has created a website whereon he posts individual tributes. As of the time of this posting, he has created nearly 1,000 individual tributes.
http://www.veterantributes.org/

One of these veteran tributes is for Lieutenant Colonel Jay C. Hess
http://www.veterantributes.org/TributeDetail.php?recordID=941


March 25, 2010 Fini Flight
http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2010/03/freedom-flight-195.html

A Message from Hanoi
June 17, 2011
http://johnawarnick.typepad.com/seedlings/2011/06/a-message-from-hanoi.html Vietnam War POW exhibit at the Hill Aerospace Museum
September 15, 2011 article in Hill Air Force Base Hilltop Times about a Vietnam War exhibit at the Hill Aerospace Museum that features, among others who served in that time period, my father's experiences as a Prisoner of War. There is even a replica of his prison cell. I've been inside it. I would not want to stay there long. I'm sure he didn't want to, either.
http://www.hilltoptimes.com/content/chance-revisit-our-nation%E2%80%99s-past

Deseret News article dated Friday, April 13, 2012 about a ceremony to honor former members of the United States military who served their fellow citizens as Prisoners of War. Lt. Col. Jay C. Hess (retired) was among those who were honored.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865554041/Former-POWs-honored-in-Utah-for-their-sacrifice-current-POW-in-their-thoughts.html

Veterans Day 2012
Davis County Clipper newspaper reports on November 7, 2012 visit of Jay Hess to Knowlton Elementary School in Farmington for Veterans Day.
http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/20885098/article-War-hero-shares-stories-with-kids

My War- POW Jay Hess
November 13, 2012
Adapted from the documentary Utah Vietnam War Stories, by KUED, Utah's public broadcasting station, www.kued.org/productions/vietnam-war-stories.
http://www.historynet.com/my-war-jay-hess.htm

December 19, 2012- CHRISTMAS IN THE ANNEX
A Hometown Christmas Concert with Utah Singer-Songwriter Cori Connors
This concert was performed at Farmington, Utah Arts Center
and later podcast by Steven Kapp Perry of FM 100 on "The Cricket and the Seagull" radio program. The 2nd song entitled "Christmas in the Annex" is a collaboration with Jay Hess about the first of five Christmases he spent in a Vietnam prison when his family didn't know whether he was alive or dead and he is reminiscing about what's going on back home during the holidays.

Davis County Clipper article
http://bit.ly/14ZHmNd

Cricket and Seagull Podcast
http://thecricketandseagull.com/a-hometown-christmas-with-cori-connors

CHRISTMAS IN THE ANNEX- Vietnam 1967
Lyrics written November 5, 2012 by Cori. Connors

I’m picturing you tonight
There in my long ago
And though it may not be wise
I’m letting the memories flow
Out through the bars on the door I find you
Seven thousand miles away
And counting the marks we’ve scratched on the wall
I believe it must be Christmas Day
Calling me
Calling me home
Now I hear the snowflakes fall
And I feel the sun go down
And all of the lights come on
There in our peaceful town
In from the cold where the fire is burning
Mother ties her apron strings
And ah, the aroma of Christmas pudding
Travels here on angel wings
Calling me
Calling me home

Here’s what you do when you’re shot from the sky
When you wish that they would but they won’t let you die
Well you turn off your heart
You turn off your mind
And you’re gone
They beat you and leave you alone with your pain
When all that you give them’s your rank and your name
Then you only breathe out
You only breathe in
Till you fall back home
So Dad, will you take my boys
Up by the scrub oak trees
Set the toboggan well
Then make it fly for me
And mom, will you cradle my girls with laughter
I wish they knew that I’m OK
And though this is not happy-ever-after
I believe we’ll be one day
When you’re finding me
Finally home.
I’m picturing you tonight
There in my long ago….

40th Anniversary POW release KSL TV Interview
KSL TV Interview of former POWs Col. Lee Ellis and Lt. Col. Jay Hess
January 25, 2013
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=23857689&nid=148


February 2013- POW Hanoi Homecoming video.
Video recommended by Jay Hess, but he is not in video.
http://www.arrowheadfilms.com/documentary/hanoi-homecoming-trailer

TV interview of former POW Major General John Borling
March 3, 2013 Fox News TV interview of former POW Major General John Borling USAF (retired) about his recollections and thoughts on the 40th anniversary of the release of POWs. Video recommended by Jay Hess, but he is not in video.
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2199796900001/


KUED TV Inteview

On March 12, 2013, University of Utah affiliated PBS station KUED TV Channel 7 aired the last of a 3-part special they did about the involvement of Utahns in the Vietnam War, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the ending of the US involvement in that war. The second hyperlink is to a transcript of their interview with Jay Hess. He sent me a DVD of the show.
http://bit.ly/17mbDoF

http://bit.ly/GR5T9q

Podcast Interview: Survival Tactics of a POW

Lyn Shelley interviews Col. Hess on December 5, 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR28LtzYzhy1-q-RfaA-Fp0qKXKTFeJvegTuZx7-pflkv0NyYVdsQMI2K4g&v=upKaYu1Eoa4&app=desktop#dialog

LDS Living Magazine "Its Conference Time Again" article by Jay Hess
The original article was published in October 2015 and this reprint on September 30, 2019
http://www.ldsliving.com/-It-s-Conference-Time-Again/s/80100
 

These things are important...

During the Sunday morning session of General Conference, President Monson (President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) quoted from the first letter my family received from my father after several years Missing in Action in the Vietnam War. He quoted this portion of my father's advice to his family: "These are important: temple marriage, mission, college. Press on. Set goals, write history, take pictures twice a year." This is inspired counsel, which I have tried to follow. I would like to add that even though he was only permitted to write six short lines on this form letter, rather than write a brief greeting such as "Dear Family", he took the precious space to write out each of our names: "Dear Marjorie, Cameron, Heather, Warren, Holly, Heidi". That has always impressed upon me that he loved and remembered each of us.

Portions of this letter were published in a Church News article for which our family was interviewed, and then again after my father's return in a June 1973 article. Here is a link to that article:

http://tinyurl.com/4b723u

This letter was also mentioned in a Church Family Home Evening manual lesson:

http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/fhe/building_family.html

EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it!!

These URL links point to articles which state better than I can what went wrong with our economy and why a financial bailout of excessive risk taking companies run by RICH financial campaign contributors is NOT a step in the right direction to fundamentally change the way our country tries to manage monetary policies.

A 1999 New York Times article explains how we got in this huge financial mess.
http://tinyurl.com/3fpk37

Many economists are uncertain whether the proposed $850 BILLION bailout will have the desired effect.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26994238/

Read the comments and opinions of ordinary citizens like you about what they think about the so called economic bailout plan.
http://tinyurl.com/3vqqq9

If you agree that the bailout plan is the wrong thing to do, contact your senators and congressional representative....even if they aren't paying attention to what the people they represent are saying.

Capitalism or Marxism?

Yes the federal government and greedy, insufficiently regulated financial instiutions have created a huge mess of our credit market and financial systems, but is the best solution for current and future American tax payers to go further into debt to pay for the mistakes and excesses of the same institutions?! I say NO! And I'm not alone. There is no change without accountability. Shifting the responsibility for failing financial institutions onto the tax payers's shoulders is a dangerous, short term fix, that will lead our beloved and unique country closer to socialism and the central control associated with Marxism. Contact you senators and congressional representative and tell them to vote "no" on further bailouts.
Have them hold corrupt financial officers and complicit government sector employees responsible for their failed policies.

Limited government by the people, for the people, and of the people expressly created to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, has no business saddling its citizens with the debt incurred by poorly run businesses that have pursued greed at the expense of incurring excesive risk in the belief that they are too large to be allowed to fail.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/29/miron.bailout/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/09/29/bailout-marks-karl-marx-s-comeback.aspx

http://www.wsbt.com/news/election/2008/29902884.html

Here's what other people around here are saying:
http://totalbuzz.freedomblogging.com/2008/09/28/royce-still-uneasy-about-bailout-terms/

Zach's Eagle Scout Service Project

During July and August while he was rehearsing for the Music Man play and preparing to move to Provo to attend college, Zach worked hard to plan, obtain approval, supervise, and complete an ambitious Eagle Scout service project to remodel a recycling center at the Santa Ana Zoo. Thank you very much to all those volunteered time, money, and materials to help Zach's project be successful. Please take the opportunity to congratulate Zachary for a job well done, either in person(if you're near BYU), or text him at 714-478-1027, or e-mail him at hesszachary0@gmail.com. (that's a "zero", not an "oh" in his email address)

Here are some before, during, and after photos.
http://picasaweb.google.com/CameronHess/ZachSEagleScoutServiceProject#

For those of you who have an American Express Card

My brother served a 2 year mission in Guatemala and has continued to be active in organizations helping people in that part of the world. He made me aware of an American Express contest to promote and select humanitarian projects for funding. If you an American Express member, please consider voting for the following project:

I'd like to tell you about a project I saw on Members Project. It's called "Helping Poor Mayans to Help Themselves," and with your support it could get funding from American Express. American Express Cardmembers can vote for this project to receive potential funding by going to Helping Poor Mayans to Help Themselves

Members Project is an exciting initiative that brings people together to make a difference in the world. It's simple. People go online to share ideas for projects — and ultimately vote on which projects will share $2.5 million in funding from American Express.

In 2007, Members Project provided clean drinking water to children all across Africa. What will Members Project do this year? The decision is yours. Please get out the vote about this project.

Show Your Support
membersproject.com

Top 25 voting ends Sept. 29
Top 5 voting begins Sept. 30
Winning project announced Oct. 14

cancer related articles

For my part, I am feeling well and recently saw my oncologist again, who says everything appears normal. He is scheduling me for another colonoscopy, CT and PET scans, and the normal quarterly blood tests for my 1 year diagnosis anniversary in late November.

Here are some recent cancer related articles I want to make available to anyone who cares to read them:

A single silver bullet cure for all cancers is unlikely because different cancers are caused by changes to different genes. Focusing on pathways of genes shared by multiple patients may yield results.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26546943/

Does eating hot dogs significantly increase the risk of colon cancer? Probably not if eaten in moderation.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26410986/

60% of colorectal cancer patients older than 65 yrs old don't get proper post-op follow-up one study reports.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26592984/

In the future, nanoparticles might be used as a cancer treatment that targets only cancer cells and not healthy ones.
http://nano.cancer.gov/resource_center/nanotech_nanoparticles.asp

a WONDERFUL real world example of compassion and forgiveness

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700255622,00.html

All things must needs be a compound in one.

Tonight I listened to an excellent March 2004 BYU devotional talk by Elder Neal Maxwell of the Council of the Twelve Apostles, delivered just 4 months before he succumbed to a 9 year battle with Leukemia, and was one of the last of many masterful public discourses. He unfolds the patriarch Lehi's teachings on the interrelationship between agency, choices, submission of personal will to God, opposition, consequences, mercy, justice, joy, and misery. I highly recommend it to you.

The text of this speech can be read at:
http://speeches.byu.edu/htmlfiles/MaxwellW04.html

The speech can also be listened to on the Internet in MP3 format by going to http://www.byub.org/findatalk/ and searching on keywords "free choose maxwell".

Some thoughts on the R-word

If this article pricks your conscience a bit, then join with me in trying to be more aware and respectful of those with intellectual (or any other kind of) disabilities (and their care givers) by avoiding phrases that belittle others.

http://tinyurl.com/3tujm7

Zambia Scholarship Fund

Last night I had the treat of visiting with some dear friends that were our next door neighbors when Kim and I were newlyweds living in the University of Utah married student housing. Scott and Peggy Rogers are the kind of salt of the earth people that we all wish we had for neighbors. Because of her genuine compassion for others, Peggy took on the monumental effort of organizing a truly non-profit charity to help provide educational opportunities for children in Zambia, the poorest country in the world.(http://tinyurl.com/9mnr5) I read her book "Heart to Heart Worlds Apart" and it changed my life. I am a better, happier, more grateful person because of Peggy Rogers. If you would like to read this book and cannot afford to buy it from the website, please contact me and I will get you a copy at no cost. Be forewarned...it may change your life, also. :)

I realized that, even though I've had a link to this website on my blog, I have not talked about it on this blog. Shame on me! If you are not already doing so, I would invite you to seriously consider joining me in supporting this truly worthwhile organization that helps "the least of these", our brothers and sisters in the family of man. Giving a handout to a person on the freeway off ramp may be admirable, but helping to provide the highly sought after gift of education to a truly needy stranger in the poorest country on earth so they can become self sufficient and bless future generations, is even better. You can make a HUGE difference in someone's life for the cost of eating out one less time per month. The Savior said...

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or thirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Matthew 25:31-45


http://www.zambiasscholarshipfund.org