Our Laws And Society Are Becoming Corrupt

I am gravely concerned that the laws and government of our nation, that were founded on Judeo-Christian values and principles, are becoming so corrupt that it is undermining the stability of our society and country.

The highest court in the country recently ruled that the Stolen Valor Act (passed by Congress and then signed into law in 2005 by then President George W. Bush) is unconstitutional because it prohibits people from lying, which the Supreme Court misinterpreted as a fundamentally protected right under the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution's Bill of Rights. (http://lat.ms/NGaRWR)

Both the Biblical Ten Commandments and Book of Mormon teach that it is wrong to lie or bear false witness. Yet, we as a society, and especially many of our elected officials, seem to consider it a necessary means to achieving a desired objective, with liars seldom being held accountable for how they choose to exercise "freedom of speech".

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16

...for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor. Nevertheless, they durst not lie, if it were known, for fear of the law, for liars were punished... Alma 1:16-17

The overturning of the Stolen Valor Act is just one of many examples of government and societal corruption. Increasingly, rationalizing people convince themselves that it is permissible, and even expected by their circle of friends, to behave with contempt, incivility, hatred, and and even violence towards those who may not share their political, religious, cultural, ethnic, or racial views and backgrounds.  


Government employees used to be referred to as civil servants, but many have now become a protected class that taxpayers are locked in to supporting with salaries, bonuses, and pensions beyond that comparable in the private sector. King Benjamin taught by example that government leaders should serve and seek the welfare of the people, not themselves.


If the saying, "United We Stand. Divided We Fall" is true, we are headed for a big fall. The hate mongers and those who stir up contention are working over time to create riffs between different groups of Americans. In the not too distant future we will arrive at the tipping point where more people will choose evil (and will refuse to be ruled by the laws of the land, either due to selfishness or distrust of the government) than will choose good. We will then be ripe for destruction.

...and they saw that they had been a stiffnecked people, and that they had set at naught the commandments of God; And that they had altered and trampled under their feet the laws of Mosiah, or that which the Lord commanded him to give unto the people; and they saw that their laws had become corrupted, and that they had become a wicked people...

Helaman 4:21-22

For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.  Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction. Helaman 5:2-3

Whom say ye that I AM?

Since the 2012 Easter season last month (April), I am feeling moved upon by the Holy Ghost to use excerpts from the Holy Scriptures to create a tribute to, and bear testimony of, the Savior Jesus Christ, whom I love and worship. I am wanting to use God's own words to bear witness of the Word of God, the Savior of the world, the God of the whole earth. From studying both ancient and modern scripture, and from a personal testimony received through the Holy Ghost, it is clear to me that Jesus Christ is the mortal embodiment and condescension of Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; the promised Messiah.

Much of Christ's teachings about his own identity, mission, and the grace he lovingly extends to us are done using the phase "I am" (or in some cases "am I"), which occurrences are noted in this blog posting in bold font. I tried to select only a single example of Christ's statements that are documented by more than one of the New Testament Gospel writers. Even though I chose to include Book of Mormon quotes that are also recorded in the Old Testament, I chose to exclude the Second Nephi quotes of the prophet Isaiah, because they are so numerous. I also chose to include a few of Christ's key statements about his role and mission that do not include the "I am" declaration. In those cases, the key phrases are underlined. The references for all scriptures are hyperlinked to their source.

The scriptures teach us that before the world was made, in the Grand Council in Heaven of all God's spirit children, God the Father proposed a plan to enable his spirit children to become more like him. God foresaw that mankind would sin and fall and would therefore need a Savior to pay the demands of justice through an infinite atonement to reconcile God's children to him and make it possible for us to return to his presence cleansed and ransomed from the natural consequences of exercising our agency to disobey God's commandments. Jehovah, the first born spirit son of God the Father, in saying, "here am I, send me", volunteered to take upon him the role of Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of God the Father's children. (Abraham 3:27)

OLD TESTAMENT

"After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward." (Genesis 15:1)

"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect." (Genesis 17:1)

Referring to Isaac, the son of Abraham-
"And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake." (Genesis 25:24)

To Abraham's grandson Jacob, God said,
"I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac:" (Genesis 28:13)

When God appeared to the prophet Moses in a flame of fire, God introduced himself to Moses. Said He, "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." (Exodus 3:6) In verse 9, referring to the children of Israel, God said, "And I am come down to deliver them..."

When Moses asked God what is name is, "God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am." And then said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.  And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. (Exodus 3:14-15)

"And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God." (Exodus 29:46)

God continued to reveal himself unto his prophets throughout the time of the Old Testament.

"For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy..." (Leviticus 11:44)

"Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:3)

"I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God." (Numbers 15:41)

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalms 46:10)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

"I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8)

"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)


"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me..." (Isaiah 46:9)

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." (Isaiah 48:12)

"Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.  And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me." (Isaiah 49:22-23)

"But I am the Lord thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The Lord of hosts is his name." (Isaiah 51:15)

"Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I." (Isaiah 52:6)

"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)
 
"And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed." (Joel 2:27)


"And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord."
(Ezekial 16:62)

Referring to the tribe of Levi, Jehovah said,
"And it shall be unto them for an inheritance: I am their inheritance: and ye shall give them no possession in Israel: I am their possession. (Ezekial 44:28)

NEW TESTAMENT


"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:1-4)

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21,23)

"And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased." (Luke 3:22)

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." (John 6:47-51)

"Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me." (John 7:28-29)

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.  Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.  Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.  And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me. It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me." (John 8:12-18)

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? And Jesus saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him. They understood not that he spake to them of the Father. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things." (John 8:23-28)

"Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.  Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?  Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:56-58)

"As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." (John 9:5)

"And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind." (John 9:39)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.  Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.  The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.  Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." (John 10:1-18)

"Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?" (John 10:36)

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." (Matthew 5:17)

"Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this" (Matthew 9:28)

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29)

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25-26)

"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:26)

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness." (John 12:46)

"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am." (John 13:13)

"Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he." (John 13:19)

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

(Matthew 16:15-16)

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him." (Matthew 17:5)

"In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2-3)

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.  Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake." (John 14:6-11)

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:1-8)

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)

"But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
(Mark 14:61-62)

"... and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20)

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelations 3:20)

BOOK OF MORMON

"But behold, thus saith the Lord God: When the day cometh that they shall believe in me, that I am Christ, then have I covenanted with their fathers that they shall be restored in the flesh, upon the earth, unto the lands of their inheritance." (2 Nephi 10:7)

"Then shall the Lord God say unto him: The learned shall not read them, for they have rejected them, and I am able to do mine own work; wherefore thou shalt read the words which I shall give unto thee. (2 Nephi 27:20)

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith. (2 Nephi 27:23)

"Wherefore murmur ye, because that ye shall receive more of my word? Know ye not that the testimony of two nations is a witness unto you that I am God, that I remember one nation like unto another? Wherefore, I speak the same words unto one nation like unto another. And when the two nations shall run together the testimony of the two nations shall run together also. And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever." (2 Nephi 29:8-9)

"And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever. (2 Nephi 29:14)

"And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people." (Mosiah 11:22)

"And it shall come to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord." (Mosiah 12:3)

"I am the Lord thy God, who hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." (Mosiah 12:34)

"And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed."  (Mosiah 26:26)

"Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people." (Helaman 10:6)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name." (3 Nephi 9:15)

"I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (3 Nephi 9:18)

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him." (3 Nephi 11:7)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.  And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Nephi 11:10-11)

"Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world." (3 Nephi 11:14)

"And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven." (3 Nephi 11:21)

"And after this manner shall ye baptize in my name; for behold, verily I say unto you, that the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one; and I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one." (3 Nephi 11:27)

"Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these twelve whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you, and to be your servants; and unto them I have given power that they may baptize you with water; and after that ye are baptized with water, behold, I will baptize you with fire and with the Holy Ghost; therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am. And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (3 Nephi 12:1-2)

"Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfil;" (3 Nephi 12:17)

"Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end." (3 Nephi 15:5)

"Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life." (3 Nephi 15:9)

"And I command you that ye shall write these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the Gentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their unbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a knowledge of me, their Redeemer." (3 Nephi 16:4)

"I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time." (3 Nephi 17:2)

"And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel." (3 Nephi 17:14)

"And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you." (3 Nephi 18:16)

"Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do. Behold ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed." (3 Nephi 18:24)

"Father, thou hast given them the Holy Ghost because they believe in me; and thou seest that they believe in me because thou hearest them, and they pray unto me; and they pray unto me because I am with them." (3 Nephi 19:22)

"For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it." (3 Nephi 20:19)

"Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people." (3 Nephi 20:23)

"And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name." (3 Nephi 20:31)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that my people shall know my name; yea, in that day they shall know that I am he that doth speak." (3 Nephi 20:39)

"For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (3 Nephi 24:6)

"And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." (3 Nephi 27:27)

"And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?" (3 Nephi 28:1)

"And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?" (3 Nephi 28:4)

"And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;" (3 Nephi 28:10)

"Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters." (Ether 3:14)

"And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh." (Ether 4:8)

"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." (Ether 4:12)

BOOK OF DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the same that came unto mine own, and mine own received me not. I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not." (D&C 6:21)

"Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen." (D&C 8:12)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I came unto mine own, and mine own received me not.  I am the light which shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

I am he who said—Other sheep have I which are not of this fold—unto my disciples, and many there were that understood me not." (D&C 10:57-59)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world. I am the same who came unto mine own and mine own received me not;" (D&C 11:28-29)

"Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my word." (D&C 14:2)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness;" (D&C 14:9)

"I am Alpha and Omega, Christ the Lord; yea, even I am he, the beginning and the end, the Redeemer of the world. I, having accomplished and finished the will of him whose I am, even the Father, concerning me—having done this that I might subdue all things unto myself—Retaining all power, even to the destroying of Satan and his works at the end of the world, and the last great day of judgment, which I shall pass upon the inhabitants thereof, judging every man according to his works and the deeds which he hath done. And surely every man must repent or suffer, for I, God, am endless." (D&C 19:1-4)

"I am Jesus Christ; I came by the will of the Father, and I do his will." (D&C 19:24)

"Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you." (D&C 33:9)

"And if you are faithful, behold, I am with you until I come—And verily, verily, I say unto you, I come quickly. I am your Lord and your Redeemer. Even so. Amen." (D&C 34:11-12)

"I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one." (D&C 35:2)

"Thus saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, the Great I Am, Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the same which looked upon the wide expanse of eternity, and all the seraphic hosts of heaven, before the world was made;  The same which knoweth all things, for all things are present before mine eyes; I am the same which spake, and the world was made, and all things came by me.  I am the same which have taken the Zion of Enoch into mine own bosom; and verily, I say, even as many as have believed in my name, for I am Christ, and in mine own name, by the virtue of the blood which I have spilt, have I pleaded before the Father for them." (D&C 38:1-4)

"But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;  But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day. (D&C 38:7-8)

"Verily I say unto you, ye are clean, but not all; and there is none else with whom I am well pleased;" (D&C 38:10)

"Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God." (D&C 45:52)

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen." (D&C 49:28)

"And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you. Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fall. And the day cometh that you shall hear my voice and see me, and know that I am." (D&C 50:43-45)

"Verily, I say unto you, I am Jesus Christ, who cometh quickly, in an hour you think not. Even so. Amen." (D&C 51:20)

"And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you;" (D&C 61:36)

"Behold, the kingdom is yours. And behold, and lo, I am with the faithful always. Even so. Amen." (D&C 62:9)

"I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth." (D&C 63:32)

"Behold, I am from above, and my power lieth beneath. I am over all, and in all, and through all, and search all things, and the day cometh that all things shall be subject unto me. Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, even Jesus Christ." (D&C 63:59-60)

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come." (D&C 68:6)

"Behold, I am Alpha and Omega, and I come quickly. Amen." (D&C 68:35)

"For I, the Lord, have put forth my hand to exert the powers of heaven; ye cannot see it now, yet a little while and ye shall see it, and know that I am, and that I will come and reign with my people. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Amen." (D&C 84:119-120)

"Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound." (D&C 88:50)

"Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am;  And that I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;  And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one— The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men." (D&C 93:1-4)

"Therefore, continue your journey and let your hearts rejoice; for behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end." (D&C 100:12)

"Therefore, be faithful; and behold, and lo, I am with you even unto the end. Even so. Amen." (D&C 105:41)

"And behold, and lo, I am with you to bless you and deliver you forever. Amen." (D&C 108:8)

"I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father." (D&C 110:4)

"For I am the Lord your God, and will save all those of your brethren who have been pure in heart, and have been slain in the land of Missouri, saith the Lord." (D&C 124:54)

"For I am about to restore many things to the earth, pertaining to the priesthood, saith the Lord of Hosts." (D&127:8)

"Behold, and lo, I am the Lord thy God, and will answer thee as touching this matter.  Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you... (D&C 132:2-3)

"I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord." (D&C 132:12)

"And again, I say, let not my servant Joseph put his property out of his hands, lest an enemy come and destroy him; for Satan seeketh to destroy; for I am the Lord thy God, and he is my servant; and behold, and lo, I am with him, as I was with Abraham, thy father, even unto his exaltation and glory." (D&C 132:57)

"And he shall say: I am he who spake in righteousness, mighty to save." (D&C 133:47)

PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

"As it was with Noah so shall it be with thee; but through thy ministry my name shall be known in the earth forever, for I am thy God." (Abraham 1:19)

"And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Moses, saying: Behold, I reveal unto you concerning this heaven, and this earth; write the words which I speak. I am the Beginning and the End, the Almighty God; by mine Only Begotten created these things; yea, in the beginning I created the heaven, and the earth upon which thou standest. And the earth was without form, and void; and I caused darkness to come up upon the face of the deep; and my Spirit moved upon the face of the water; for I am God. And the earth was without form, and void; and I caused darkness to come up upon the face of the deep; and my Spirit moved upon the face of the water; for I am God." (Moses 2:1-2)

MY TESTIMONY


During his mortal ministry in the Holy Lands, the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, even Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God the Father, established his authorized Church and delegated his authority to his apostles, with the promise that after his departure, he would continue to communicate with those called to lead his church by revelation and inspiration. After Christ's ascension into heaven, his Church endured for a period of time until his priesthood authority was lost from the earth due to the death of the apostles and the resulting falling away (apostasy) [2 Thessalonians 2:1-5].

I testify that in modern times, Christ has personally returned to the earth and re-established his original Christian Church through modern apostles and prophets. If you are unaware of these important events, I would welcome the opportunity to share this joyous message with you. I will make myself available to answer as few or as many questions as you wish to ask, without any pressure from me to share more information than you want. I know these things to be true by person revelation from the Holy Spirit. I also invite you to find out how you can know the truth of these things for yourself, not relying on anyone else's word.

I hope that these scriptures have helped strength your faith and belief in Jesus Christ as they have for me, and also help you arrive at the answer to His question: "Whom say ye that I am?"

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Cameron Hess
16 May, 2012

The Miracle of Forgiveness

One of the choice blessings in my life for which I thank God is to be within the sphere of influence of recently released LDS Bishop Michael Dunn, who is the Director of the Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science Department at Brigham Young University. (Click here to see Dr. Dunn's profile) He is a great example and inspiration to me. I always look forward to feeling the love and presence of the Spirit of God in his home. I'm grateful that he married into our family.

Dr. Dunn was invited to speak at the BYU campus-wide devotional last Tuesday, January 31, 2012. He could have chosen to speak about the many ways he and other BYU faculty and students have blessed the lives of countless individuals in 3rd world countries by helping to reduce malnutrition and hunger. (checkout the following related news stories: article on nutrionally fortifying Atmit, article on Plumpy'Nut)


Not surprisingly, after prayerful consideration, Dr. Dunn elected not to speak about himself, but rather to address the topic of "The Miracle of Forgiveness" and the interrelationship between ourselves and our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Even though I expected his talk to be good, I was (and still am) amazed at the quality and power of the remarks he prepared and delivered under the influence of the Holy Ghost. This talk is of such high caliber that it reminds me of the better talks one might hear at LDS General Conference. Dr. Dunn does a masterful job of teaching from the scriptures and succinctly describing the purpose of life, the Plan of Salvation,  and the key role of Jesus Christ in each of our lives. He does a superb job of clearly explaining the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on these vital topics.

I invite and encourage all my extended family and friends, both Mormons and non-Mormons, to listen to this talk and prayerfully ponder its message and meaning for each of us.


You can listen to the talk in MP3 format via this link.

You can watch the talk via on-demand video via this link, but will need to create/use a free BYU-TV account.

Colonoscopy: the life you save may be your own

If you or a loved one are 50 or older and have not yet had a colonoscopy, talk to your doctor and get one before the end of the year while your insurance deductibles are met, or close there to.

If you are younger than 50, but have symptoms (http://bit.ly/cBZOl5) or a family history of colon cancer or polyps, talk to your doctor about getting one NO LATER THAN age 40. One of the following articles is about someone whose life was saved by a colonoscopy at age 37.

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned in the link above, (regardless of your age) talk to a doctor RIGHT AWAY. Don't wait! Early detection makes all the difference!

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700194975/How-to-save-a-life-Doug-Millers-cautionary-tale-shows-value-of-colonoscopies.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/2009/02/11/v-fullstory/427603/dave-barry-a-journey-into-my-colon.html

Burnett Family Patriarch Kenneth Burnett's Counsel to His Posterity

For years I have hoped that I would find time to create a Burnett family website on which descendants of Ken and Melba Burnett (my maternal grandparents) could share memories and family history related photos, videos, audio recordings, letters, personal histories, ancestral research, announcements of new births, etc. I haven't given up on this dream, but I have recently felt a renewed desire to share with my extended family relations (non-relatives are welcome to read this, also) a message that Grandpa Burnett shared with his posterity on the occasion of the funeral of his wife, Melba, held on June 20th, 1994.

He was 98 years old at the time. He was born in 1895 and died early in 2001 at the age of 105, having lived during part of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. When he was born, travel by horseback was common and electric lights were still uncommon. At the end of his life, space travel was common place and outages of our taken-for-granted electrical power grid were uncommon. He witnessed huge changes during his lifetime, not only changes in technology, but also in the growth of the Gospel and Church. In 1895 the membership of the church was approximately 230,000 compared with 11+ million at the end of the year 2,000. In 1895, there were only 4 operating temples, he having been born only two years after the dedication of the Salt Lake Temple in 1893, in which he and his wife would later serve as temple workers. At the time of his death in January 2001, there were 102 temples in operation. I wish to share with you his testimony and and counsel to his posterity to help achieve the objective he himself states as he commences his remarks: "I want my children and my grandchildren to hear my voice and the things that I say, I hope through the Spirit, and under the Spirit of the Lord it will sink into their hearts and they'll remember their father, their great grandfather, and some of the things he said and heard before his life is finished."

Eventually I hope to make available an audio recording of his comments for those who do not already have access to the same, as I think that his folksy delivery style and manner of speech makes this message all the more special and personal. These remarks have been transcribed from an audio recording of the funeral, with some time stamps included. Some non-standard spelling is used to emphasize pronunciation and accent.


*BEGIN QUOTE*
Brothers and Sisters, I guess this is an unusual thing in most funerals, when the husband of the deceased is given a chance to say a few words. I just hope that my Heavenly Father will bless me with his Spirit that I may say the things that's in my heart. I appreciate what has been said about my dear wife. I'm going to tell you just a little bit more about her that they didn't tell ya. They did mention that this is seventy-one years ago, almost to this very moment...(audio gap from 45:25 to 46:34)...time as her husband. Now this is gonna be hard for me to talk. I get very emotional. When you have lived with a dear companion for seventy-one years, you know who you're livin with. Now I want to tell you there's nobody sitting in this chapel today that has had a happier life than she and I. We've never bickered and we've never argued. And what I say today...I've asked this opportunity...I don't think I'll have another one. I will be ninety-nine years old if I live to the thirteenth of September. The Lord has blessed me with good health and I still have a keen and an understanding mind. And I want my children and my grandchildren to hear my voice and the things that I say, I hope through the Spirit, and under the Spirit of the Lord it will sink into their hearts and they'll remember their father, their great grandfather, and some of the things he said and ??heard?? before his life is finished and I appreciate them coming here. But I felt that this was an opportune time. For time only is measured unto man and all is as one day unto God.

Now there was...several things happened after my dear wife...and they said to me...my son just mentioned it briefly. I was serving as 1st Counselor in the Bishopric of the ?? in the Sugarhouse Stake and the Brian Ward was on 17th South and 11th East. I was in that bishopric when we built that building in the depths of the Depression. And the men were out of work, hundreds of them were out of work. And we constructed that without a single mechanical tool and only with pick and shovel. I worked hard. My dear wife and I worked hard. And after we completed the building, she said to me one day...and I can see her just as clearly in my mind's eye as if she set there now...she said, "Dad, you work too hard and I can see that its taking its toll on ya." She said, "I want you to have a rest and a change." She said, "I'm willin to take care of the six children, run your business...you go on a short-term mission." I said, "Mother, how could I go and leave you with all that responsibility?" She said, I'll handle it." So, I made up my mind. I'd do as she'd asked me. That dear woman, she stuck with me through thick and thin. I could never wish that I had a companion that would always give me any more encouragement, especially in times of...when I had discouragement. We all have discouragement. So, I filed my application. Now my family said, "Now don't you get into too much of this and take time". I think that this is the day, the hour and the time for me to tell my family, and you good friends who are sitting here today, that because of my dear wife and her willingness to assume such responsibility, I received my mission call to go to the Central States, which the headquarters was in Independence, Missourah....and they sent me, when I got there, to Chanute, Kansas. And Chanute, Kansas is in the eastern part of Kansas and that's a division point on the Santa Fe Railroad between Kansas City and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now I'm gonna relate briefly of something...because if my wife had not assumed this responsibility, giving me the privilege of going into that mission...I had several experiences, but one in particular I want to relate to you. My companion, when I arrived in the mission field I went with an Elder Clegg who lived in Provo and he was about my age. I was fifty years old at the time. We drove in his car and when we reached the Mission Home, knocked on the door, a man about six foot-six, two hundred and twenty-five or thirty pounds, a mop of black hair and piercing eyes opened the door. He looked down at me and said, "We'll, ya made it." That was my introduction. His name was Thomas C. Romney. He says, "Come in!" He opened the door- he said, " bring in your grips," he said, "I'm gonna put you up for the night and give you somethin to eat, but", he says, "I'm gonna send you out in the morning," He was a kind of a gruff individual and I didn't know whether I'd ever like that man and hafta labor under. But I learned to love him with all my heart. So we did, we went in; we had dinner that night...and he said, "I guess you wanna know where it is I'm gonna send ya". He said, "I'm gonna send ya in the mornin". Now he says, "Elder Burnett I'm gonna send you to Chanute, Kansas" and he says, "you're to go by way of Topeka", and he says, "And when you get over to Topeka", he says, "you'll meet an Elder over there that I'll have waiting for ya...he's 21 years old and he's so discouraged he wants to go home". And I looked at that big man and said, "President Romney, you know that I've never been in the mission field. I don't know how ya do this job." He said, "You're old enough to be his father." He says, "You take him under your arm", he says, "you'll get along all right". And he turned to the other Elder and said, "Elder Clegg", he says, "I'm gonna send you to Barbersville,Oklahoma." The next morning after breakfast we started. We drove to Topeka. When we got there, there was a young man sitting on his suitcase waiting for us. We put him in the back seat and started for Chanute. When we got down to Chanute, I bid Elder Clegg good luck and goodbye. And the President had arranged for us to stay in a home of the Branch President who had a three-story, lovely home with some big bedrooms. And the president of the mission told me, he says, "you'll be in a boarding house and our meals will be prepared for us but that you'll have to pay for them", which we did. I never once, after three and a half months with this Elder, I never once said to that young man about what the Mission President told me about him wanting to go home. We got up in the room and I said to him, the first thing I said,"Elder, I'm an old man, according to your schedule." I says, "I've never been out here in the mission field." I says, "I hope that you feel you can teach an old dog some new tricks". I says, "Why don't we go downtown and get a map of the city, of the streets, so that when we go out to knock on doors we'll know where we've been and we won't have to trek straight back on it?" I'm just leading up to it. So we did. The very first morning that we started out- most of those homes are two or three story, they're painted white and they're all made of wood. And the very first door that we went up to, I went up on the porch with him and I got on the porch and I stood there right by the edge of the steps and I said to him, "Now Elder you go over and take that door and I'll listen." He did. Knocked on the door and this sweet little ol' white-haired, white-haired grandmother came to the door. And he gave her the missionary introduction. Did a wonderful job in the sweet way he presented it. She never said one word to him. When he got through, she pushed that screen door open and she pointed this finger right straight at him. She says, "Young man, have you come all the way from Utah to tell an old lady like me that I've been worshipping wrong all my life?" Well, I thought, "Elder, you're on the spot." He said, "Now grandmother, you keep all you've got, but I have something to tell you you've never heard of yet in your life, if you'll give me a chance and listen." And he said, "and I'm not going to talk to you right now, but I have two little pamphlets in my pocket and I'm gonna leave em with you. You read em, and after you've had time to read em I'll come back and talk with you and if you have any questions to ask, we'll try to answer them for you." When we got down off of that porch and off to the side of that house, I literally, just literally took that young man's shoulders, and I said, "Elder," I says, "You've learned a lot since you've gone into this mission field." I said, "You really know Heavenly Father is proud of you."

Well now, just let me give you one more. I know you like hearing missionary stories. I know most of the Church members do. After a few days of tracting and knocking on doors, nobody invited us in. I can tell you every one of those stories and sayings that most of those women have when they don't want to invite you in. They're either in the middle of the wash or gotta go get a child from school; they got a doctor appointment or a dentist appointment. I know 'em all. Well, we'd tract and we went over street and street and street. We had met a woman previously, who was visiting another woman, that invited us into her home, and she said, "I live up at such and such a number on such and such a street." She said, "If you're over there sometime," she says, "Stop at my home." Now I know I'm taking a lot of time and I just hope that I just...all right, I don't want to infringe on your time. And she said, "If you've ever there sometime, you stop at my home." So, I said to this Elder, "You remember that Mrs that told us to come over to her home?" And he says, "Yes." And I said, "Why don't we go over after we get breakfast?" So he said it was a good idea and so we traveled and went over another block and another block and another block and we got onto Santa Fe Street. I had the number right on the ticket here that I'd written down. And when we got there I said to him, "Elder, I'll take the door this morning." Now I can just see us walking up that step, there was big sign of the thing. Well, I hammered on the door. And the door started to open and I looked over here and here was the name Mrs. Woodruff on the other door. It was a duplex. We didn't see that. We were going to see Mrs. Woodruff. The lady when she opened the door, I said, "Oh pardon me madam, we were going to see Mrs. Woodruff this morning and I didn't know this was a duplex. She was elderly, had white hair. She said, "Aren't you the two men that was on this street a few days ago?" I said, "Yes." She says,"You knocked at my door then, but I had company and I couldn't invite you in. I don't have company this morning, would you like to come in?" So we went in. Very meager, very small place, but oh the feeling that was there. Now why do I say feeling? Now then you that have been baptized in the Church and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, I'll tell you where that feeling comes. It comes in. It'll tell ya lots of things that these (pointing to his eyes) can't tell ya. They're two eyes; this is more of a sensation. I love it to this very day. She said, "Sit down on my couch," and she had a little couch sittin there. And we sat down. She goes over and gets her rocker. She comes right up in front of us. She says, "I understand that you have a message. I'd like to hear it." I introduced ourselves. I told her who I was- my name. I told her I was from Salt Lake City. I told her that I had left my six children and my wife and my business, I had come out there in the mission because I knew my message was true. And I started to tell her about the restoration of the Gospel and by what authority we had come there to give her that message. She never said a word for quite a spell. And I was getting this all out of me. And finally she said, "Reverend, I believe every word you've said. Go on." I went on. When I had about finished, I said to my companion, "Elder, do you have anything you'd like to talk to this sister about?" He said, "No, I don't have anything additional to say." And there was dead silence. I could feel the Spirit in that home, in that dear sister's home just as...it was just penetrating. I knew what kind of a sister she was. I knew she loved the Lord. And I knew when I told her about the restoration of the Gospel it just soaked in like you'd put water on a sponge. Oh, I'll tell ya. I'll tell ya that...don't think for one minute that our Heavenly Father doesn't love his children and know em individually. Why did he send us to that door? The other lady wasn't interested in the Gospel. All right, I'm goin on. And in that dead silence....I can almost feel it. When she said, "Reverend, I believe everything you have said to me today. Now, I may be out of order, but I'm going to ask ya...since I believe what you have said...would it be possible...and is it in order...I would like you two men to give me a blessing. Think of it! Not a member of the Church- a total stranger. But God loved that woman. I told her I would do it. I said to this other Elder, "Do you have your consecrated oil with ya?" And he got up and his hand was just like this (holding up shaking hand), the Spirit was so strong. He was trying to get that little vial of oil out of his watch pocket. I didn't know if he'd make it. And I said, "Now Sister, you sit right here in your rocker," and I said, "We'll go around to the back." Now I said, "This young man will anoint you with consecrated oil, then we'll together place our hands upon your head and seal that anointing." I told her the procedure; she'd never had it done. She didn't know. So, we went around and this Elder took and anointed her head...before he even started anointing her head...I'm getting ahead of my story...before he even anointing her head...she had on big, dark glasses. And I could see when we went in there that it looked like on the side of her face the skin had been grafted. She wasn't a pleasant, nor a beautiful woman to look at but she had a heart of gold. Then she took those two glasses and put them on her lap. She said, "Before you give me this blessing," she says, "I have a question to ask." She says, "Look at my face." She says, "When I was a young girl I was pushed in the bonfire." And she said, "I wondered why God at the time had spared my life...and today I see." Now she said, "I have lost the sight of this one eye. I have a little left in this one. Will you please ask my Heavenly Father to spare what sight I've got left in that other eye to see me through my mortal journey of life?" Can you imagine any more faith than that? So we went. I had blessed the sick many times. But I had never, never felt the Spirit so. It just seemed like it come down from above into my head and into my hands that I was almost lifted off the floor. When I got through, she was took her handkerchief and she was wiping her eyes and the tears and she said, "For forty years, the tear ducts in my eyes had never been able the water to pass." Do you think there was power in the Priesthood? Sure. Well, I'm not going to (say) anymore.

But now Brothers and Sisters, let me tell you, love one another. There is so much hate and envy and malice and trouble in the world today. We live in the great day of Satan. Love one another. Get down on your bended knees at night and thank your Heavenly Father for your life and then turn around and try to always keep his commandments and live his laws that you'll only be happy. You'll never get happiness if you do not live as our Heavenly Father has asked us to live. I hope my children, my grandchildren will remember the things I'm telling them here today. I may not be here another day, I don't know. I'm here on borrowed time; I realize that. But when I think...when I think...of the blessings of the Lord...and then when I think...when I say love one another...and when I think about the promise that was made to my dear wife, who lies therein that casket??, of the temple??, eternal life without sin or death. I know it with every part of my being. Now when it comes to loving one another, if you've had envy, if you've had words, if you've had problems, if you've had trouble with one another, think of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ nailed to the cross on Calvary and in turn the nail prints and the blood running out of his hands and his feet and the spear in his side...and he turned and he said to his Father, "Forgive them for they know not what they do." How can we have any forgiveness that compares with that forgiveness? I love my Savior. I love what he's done. I love for my life here upon the earth. I had the privilege of going into the mission field on two occasions and bringing this glorious Gospel to some of his children on the earth. Now I've said too much. I've said a lot to ya. But my dear children, please, I plead with you, please love one another. You'll never feel that Spirit I have felt at that time...I'd give all I possess on this earth if I could be in the feeling and possession of that true Spirit....if it ever touches you, you'll never forget it. I've been in the presence of it when it would just be so strong it would almost consume your flesh. Now the Lord bless you. I love ya. I've spoken on this program that didn't have my name on it. But I want you to know that that dear Sister that lies in that casket...I'll tell ya...I hope I'll be worthy to meet her. And when the day comes for judgment...don't prejudge people, leave it up to the Lord...and when it comes... the judgment day...and I have carried this thought in my mind from long time...and my Heavenly Father says to me, "Now Kenneth, what have you done for my cause on the Earth?" I hope I'll be comfortable and I hope I can tell him that I tried. I tried on those missions to bring that wonderful message to his children. Now may the Lord bless ya. I appreciate...I know my dear wife, if she could rise out of there she'd tell you the same thing, how she appreciates you coming here and thinking of us. Now may peace be with you in your homes. And again I say to you, love one another. True love, not puppy love. Not sexual love. True love! May that be the lot with all of you. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
*END QUOTE*

Robotic Colorectal Surgery

I found this article about robotic colorectal surgery to be of interest to myself and perhaps to others interested in cancer surgery or advances in medicine.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700150396/Surgical-robot-tackles-colorectal-surgery.html?pg=1

March 14th is an IMPORTANT day in our family

Thirty-eight years ago today, March 14, 1973, my father, along with several hundred other Vietnam Prisoners of War, were released by North Vietnam as part of a phased American withdrawal from that long and difficult conflict. More than five and a half years of my father's twenty year Air Force career of honorable service to his country was spent in captivity, much of it in horrible conditions of stiflingly hot summers, bone chilling winters, solitary confinement, repeated torture and violations of the Geneva Convention, poor diet and sanitation, inadequate medical care for the sick and injured (some severely), and very limited correspondence with his family.

After taking a jungle survival training course before being deployed to Southeast Asia, and having been briefed on what the US military knew about North Vietnamese mistreatment of POWs, my father had decided that he'd rather die than be captured alive. So when his plane was hit during a mission over North Vietnam near the Chinese border and caught fire, he changed his mind and made what I think was a wise decision to try to stay alive and ejected. Many times during his long imprisonment he survived by just focusing on staying alive one day at a time. For several years he was classified as MIA (Missing in Action) and the military did not know whether he was alive or dead. He was persistent and tenacious and outlasted his captors. Eventually he was allowed to write to his family to confirm our faith and belief that he was alive.

My father was 37 years old when he was shot down over North Vietnam. Not withstanding the difficulty of his ordeal, and the lingering physical and emotional scars, he has now lived more years since his release than he did before he was captured. I'm grateful that he chose to fight each day to overcome very difficult challenges to live another day and eventually return home to the land of the free and the home of the brave. His example has taught me to never give up and to remember that EVERYDAY IS A GOOD DAY when you have a working doorknob on your side of the door.

As a tribute to my father, several years ago I compiled a blog posting of many of the articles available on the Internet that have been written about him and tributes he has received.
http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2008/10/belated-national-powmia-recognition-day.html

Thirty-three years ago today, March 14, 1973, Kim Riggs took a VERY BIG CHANCE on a naive, but committed young return missionary when she agreed to be sealed to him for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. Our lives have had many ups and downs since then. We still love each other very much and look forward to sharing the rest of this life and eternity together as we grow from our experiences and better learn how to serve and to love.

Three years ago today, March 14, 2008, Jayson and Celeste were sealed in the Newport Beach Temple for time and all eternity. They got off to a fast start in the family department with twin boys who are two and a daughter who recently celebrated her first birthday. They now live in San Angelo, Texas.

I was also reminded that March 14th is also the birthday of my Dad's wife's (Michelle) mother, Dyan Clark.

How's THAT for an important day for one extended family?!


On another subject...this is a newspaper article about Primary children from two families in our stake holding fund raising events to raise money to donate to the Red Cross for Japan earthquake relief.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/earthquake-292141-children-lundell.html

So much for Constitutional Separation of Powers

Apparently its time for a Civics lesson.

According to Wikipedia-

"The oath of office of the President of the United States is an oath or affirmation required by the United States Constitution before the President begins the execution of the office. The wording is specified in Article Two, Section One, Clause Eight:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

One of the bedrock principles enshrined in the Constitution are the checks and balances on the three branches of government known as "Separation of Powers". The Constitution specifies the duties, responsibilities, and limits of each branch of government. In a nutshell: the Legislative Branch of Government, ie Congress (Senate and House of Representatives) are responsible for enacting laws. The Constitution states that the Judicial Branch of the Federal Government (the Courts) are responsible for interpreting the meaning and applicability of laws passed by the Legislature. Its worth noting that the Constitution does not explicitly grant the Judicial Branch the powers of legislative review (deciding whether laws passed by Congress are "Constitutional"), but the Courts have assumed this "right" through precedent and custom.
The Executive Branch of the Federal Government, led by the President, is responsible for, among other duties, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and to faithfully execute and enforce the laws passed by Congress. The Executive Branch is not granted judicial powers to interpret or review laws passed by the Legislative Branch and signed into law by a President or when Congress has overridden a presidential veto.

Please refer to Wikipedia's explanation of the Separation of Powers in US government:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_powers

This past week, President Obama and the Department of Justice (both part of the Executive Branch) took it upon themselves to label as "unconstitutional" the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which was passed by both houses of Congress by wide margins and signed into law by then President Clinton in 1996, and determined that they would no longer enforce or defend the law, as required by the Constitution.

This action by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government is CLEARLY unconstitutional. The constitutional course of action to have any law rescinded lies with the branch of government that is empowered by the Constitution to enact (and revoke) laws. For the Executive Branch to publicly refuse to enforce laws passed by Congress is a blatant violation of President Obama's oath of office.

Even though the content of the law should not be a factor in the Executive Branch enforcing and executing that law, the basics of the DOMA ensured that no state would be forced to recognize same-gender marriages approved by another state and reaffirmed that the Federal Government's definition of marriage remained a legal union between a man and a woman.

Its my opinion that when branches of the Federal Government refuse to perform their sworn duty and instead take it upon themselves to usurp the powers assigned to another branch of government, our Constitution is being ignored, subverted and weakened, to the current and future detriment of the integrity of our constitutional republic.

It is my hope that the Judicial and Legislative branches of government will act to check this unauthorized breach of constitutional powers by the Obama Administration. But the ultimate check on both the Executive and the Legislative branches of the federal government is retained by WE THE PEOPLE. We can vote our elected representatives out of office if they fail to "faithfully execute" their office or break their oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

If WE THE PEOPLE fail to recognize our dependence on Him and fail to hold our elected representatives accountable to our divinely inspired Constitution, our great country is doomed.
May God bless the United States of America.