Active Citizenship

A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that "the only time and place the voice of citizens matters, or has an impact, is when you elect your leaders...we either hope those you voted for do the right thing or go be a politician yourself...we have no control over this country".

I believe that this kind of detached, defeatist attitude by citizens about not being able to exert any influence over our government or hold elected officials accountable, is one of the reasons our government is in the mess that its in.

I really like, and highly recommend, this 27 minute April 1, 2014 BYU Devotional by Professor Larry Walters about the crucial need for active citizens if the American experiment with a democratic republic form of government Of the People, By the People, and For the People is to remain successful.

View video of devotional on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ownP47EtfQ

Listen to audio of devotional.
http://www.byuradio.org/episode/6d32df77b6f14a71ad2033cdd29752bb/byu-devotional-larry-walters

Audio and Video links are also available here.
The text of this devotional will also eventually be available here.
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2173

March 28, 2014 La Habra 5.1 earthquake

Wow, has it REALLY been 3 months since I posted on my blog? Its not because I don't have anything to share, but usually because I just take the path of least resistance and post it on Facebook, where it gets difficult to find and retrieve after a week or so. I should post more on here and then link to it from FB.

At 9:09pm last night, just as I was returning home from home teaching and walking in the front door, Kim and I felt the house start to creak and wiggle. Kim said our flat screen TV was shaking. A few pictures on our walls were crooked, but we sustained no other damage. I immediately went to our laundry room and turned on my ham radio and announced myself as monitoring. I was soon joined by one or two dozen other hams from our stake reporting in.

The TV news stations quickly downgraded the quake from an initial magnitude 5.3 to a 5.1 shallow quake in La Habra, a distance of about 12 miles or so northwest of us in northwest Orange County. Quakes larger than magnitude 5 are considered to be moderate quakes. Although the much larger 6.5 Big Bear and 7.3 Landers quakes in 1992, 6.7 Northridge quake in 1994, and the 7.1 Hector Mine quake in 1999 quakes all felt stronger, this was the closest  earthquake of at least moderate size since the 5.9 magnitude Whittier Narrows quake way back in 1987.

USGS summary info

There have been no reports of deaths or serious injuries; however, I'm fairly sure there were people with bare feet who sustained injuries from walking on broken glass. There were reports of damaged buildings and destroyed property, such as masonry walls and broken main water pipes.There was a report that the garage door at one Fullerton fire station was jammed in the closed position and would not open. There was a rock slide in Carbon Canyon that resulted in an overturned car. Some apartments and homes suffered structural damage, such as detracked garage doors or collapsed chimneys. A few were so badly damaged that they had to be red tagged and the occupants evacuated.

Bob LaBarge who is in charge of LDS emergency communication for the LDS Orange County Emergency Response, reported that the lead ham net control for the Fullerton Stake was returning from business travel and their stake president was personally impacted by the quake and was therefore unable to coordinate their emergency response. This is a valuable lesson that disasters don't necessarily happen at a convenient time and place where all trained resources will be available to help implement an emergency response plan. Therefore its vital to have sufficient numbers of adequately trained people who can fill in when someone else is absent.

Here are some photos off the Internet of damage from this quake. Click on the thumbnail image to view the full size photo.

 

Mike Rowe WORKS Foundation

I REALLY like what Dirty Jobs TV show host Mike Rowe has to say about the excessive emphasis being placed on preparing everybody to go to college and the exce$$ive co$t of many higher education institutions. I remember reading the candid answer of a university president to the question as to why they continued to raise tuition rates at a much faster rate than the rate of inflation. His reply was very telling. "Because we can".

If you or someone you love is considering going into debt and getting a tax-payer funded student loan for tens of thousands of dollars that you may never be able to repay to buy a diploma for a job that doesn't exist, you REALLY owe it to yourself to listen to what Mike Rowe has to say on the subject of education, work, jobs, and success.


When I was in college (and YES, I do think a reasonably priced college education is a good idea for those who are so inclined and prepared) I often wondered where was the financial aid for people like me. As Mike Rowe points out- scholarships are available for students who are really smart, students who are really athletic, students who are really gifted in the arts, and students who are really poor. I wondered where is the financial aid for students like me whose parents are not rich enough to afford to pay their way through college, but who are also not poor? What of the students like me who are married with a child or two, who are working one or more jobs, are volunteering in the community, are trying really hard to work and study and keep all the important balls in the air?

Mike Rowe has started a foundation called mikeroweWORKS whose goal is to promote hard work and supporting the skilled trades in a variety of areas. Primarily, they award scholarships to young men and women who have illustrated both an interest and an aptitude around mastering a specific trade. Qualified candidates include those students who want to advance their education through an accredited trade school or apprenticeship program, exhibit high work ethic and need financial assistance.I wish more SWEAT equity financial assistance was available to students.

http://profoundlydisconnected.com/reasontv-interviews-mike-rowe-on-the-high-cost-of-college/

If what Mike has to say in the above video makes sense, check out his conversation with a CNN forum member who seemingly wants to blame all the world's problems on conservatives following Mike's appearance on the Piers Morgan show.

http://profoundlydisconnected.com/cnn-viewer-has-questions/

In addition, checkout Mike Rowe's Facebook page.

5 in 5

http://www.ibm.com/smarterplanet/us/en/ibm_predictions_for_future/ideas/index.html

I find these 5 predictions for how technology will positively affect our lives in 5 years (that will be 2019 since its ALMOST 2014...can you BELIEVE it?) to be very interesting and worthwhile listening to the brief videos about each.

I am especially impressed by the predictions of how computing will address the needs of the individual in the areas of education and wellness. I am hopeful that by 2019 individuals, families, educators, and local school decision makers will have learned the lessons of the failed education model of central government controlled, cookie cutter, one-size-fits-all, college-prep, no child left behind policies. It is predicted that advances in technology will help identify the teaching methods that work best for each student and then allow them to learn at their own rate the knowledge and skills that are needed to achieve personal development and career preparation goals that they and their families choose, not some central government bureaucrat. I like the idea of exposing each student to the basics of a variety of topics and then allow them and their parents, with optional input from career counselors, to choose additional optional learning modules that support their interests and goals. (select graphic to view enlarged version)

Another area of predicted advances is that of disease prevention and treament. It will be possible to analyze a person's genetic makeup and identify inherited predispositions to certain diseases or health conditions and then tailor individualized health treatments and lifestyle guidelines to minimize these problems. This includes individualized gene treatments to combat person-specific cancerous stem cells, not just the tumors they create.

I attended a fascinating presentation at work about a week ago by a Dr. Nezami who offers a new kind of cancer treatment called MTET (Molecular Targeted Epigenetic therapies). MTET replaces or supplements traditional chemotherapy that attempts to "treat" general classifications of cancer in a shotgun fashion with broad range of toxic chemicals. Since not all breast or skin cancers are alike, MTET treatments are tailored to the individual's specific needs by analyzing and targeting the specific cancers of THAT person. In a nutshell, Epigenetics is the study of how to change the behavior of genomes without modifying the underlying DNA. Rather than attempting to kill cancer cells (and healthy cells, also) by damaging their DNA or disrupting vital communication pathways using toxic chemicals, epigenetic therapy attempts to change the behavior of cancer cells by blocking chemical changes to DNA, including a process called methylation that turns genes on or off. The advertised results were so dramatic that they bordered on being too good to be true. This is a new alternative cancer treatment that is being offered as a covered option under our company's self-insured wellness program. There must be something to it since it is being actively communicated to employees by the HR Department of our fortune 250 company. This is definitely something I would thoroughly investigate before I would subject myself to chemotherapy.

http://www.allcancercare.com

The Yellow Backpack Guy

 While cycling to work today I caught up with another cyclist at a stop light. A 20-something young man briefly turned his head around and cordially said "hello". Then a few seconds later he turned back around again and proclaimed, "Hey, you're the yellow backpack guy"!  I smiled and replied, "Yes, I *am* the yellow backpack guy". (BTW, the windbreaker I put over my backpack is bright green, not yellow.) He enthusiastically told me how he had taken notice of me many times during the previous winter each time he would drive by me. He told me that he finally decided that if I could ride during cold winter days, so could he. I smiled and reminded him that the weather was not yet cold. The light changed and I quickly pulled away from the newbie cyclist feeling good about having unknowingly set an example that helped motivate someone to switch from riding to work in a car to commuting by bicycle.

On my ride home, I came upon another cyclist who was changing a flat tire. I stopped and asked whether he needed help. He said that his bottle of compressed air had malfunctioned and a small air pump was not working. Since I had a pump, I stopped to help him, which turned out to be a good idea since he soon disclosed that this was his first changing of a flat tire. It turned out that the reason his pump and compessed air wasn't inflating his replacement tube was because the spare tube had a visible hole in it. After he reinstalled another spare tube that I gave him and started to pump up the tube, the tip of the valve stem broke off inside the air pump. Not withstanding the broken valve stem, the tube still held air, so I helped him pump up the tire as much as possible and he installed the wheel back on his bike.  When he tried to pay me for the tube, I told him to pay it forward. As we were getting ready to leave, he asked me how far I was going. When I replied that my destination was near the confluence of the 55 and 22 freeways, he seemed shocked and said that was a long ways away. He was only was going as far as Jamboree Road.  I again felt good on the ride home for having been able to make a difference by helping somebody. 

2013 National POW/MIA Recognition Day

On this National POW/MIA Recognition Day, September 20, 2013, let all Americans remember and be thankful for all those who have and currently serve honorably in our Armed Forces, with a special place in our hearts for those who forfeited their health, their freedom, or their lives that we might have ours.

The United States currently has one known Prisoner of War,  SGT Bowe R. Bergdahl, who has been a POW in Afghanistan for more than 50 months. Please remember him in your prayers that he might return home alive to his family and friends.
http://supportbowe.org/


Here is a video containing a summary of some of the news coverage for the Vietnam POW 40th Reunion held this past May. Even though Richard Nixon was a controversial president, he worked diligently to end the Vietnam War and bring the POWs home. This video refers to his role in honoring the POWs upon their return and the role his Presidential Library played in their 40th reunion.


40th POW Reunion Youtube video link

Our Identity and Our Destiny

The hyperlink below is to a Brigham Young University devotional address given by Elder Tad Callister, a member of the Presidency of the Seventy, in August 2012. He expertly teaches from the scriptures the unique and marvelous principles proclaimed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that everyone is a literal spirit child of God physically created in his literal image and likeness with the potential, through the power and grace of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and obedience to His Gospel, to return to the glorious presence of God and eventually progress to become like Him.

I lovingly and sincerely invite everyone to invest approximately 30 minutes to watch this devotional address and listen for the whispering voice of the Spirit of God confirming to your soul the truthfulness of these teachings about the true nature of God and our potential as His offspring.

Click here to view video:

Our Identify and Our Destiny

Click here to read devotional talk:
http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2060

Bucket List Item #7: Fire A Machine Gun. Check.

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4rUpZdNkBA

(I don't know why this URL hyperlink displays a "Video has been removed by user" error message when clicking on it from within this blog entry, so just copy and paste it into another browser window and it should work. Let me know if it doesn't.)




I was the high bidder at a charity fund raising auction to fire 100 rounds using a SWAT .223 caliber tactical rifle that switches between semi-automatic and full automatic modes with the flip of a lever. It was FUN! This was my first (and probably only) experience firing an automatic firearm. Shooting a machine gun has now been checked off my bucket list.

My first visual impression of the rifle is that it was smaller than I anticipated, even with a telescoping adjustable butt stock that we fully extended for my large frame. I'm sure this is because of the need to be able to use the rifle in close quarters, like turning around in hallways. When I handled the rifle for the first time, I was surprised by how heavy it was, even with some aluminum and carbon parts.  No wonder we often see SWAT officers with detachable straps over their neck to help support the weight of their compact, but solid rifle.

What surprised me most about this weapon is its super fast rate of fire. I was anticipating that full automatic mode might fire about 5 rounds per second, about as fast as the trigger could be manually pulled in semi-automatic mode. WRONG! I estimate that the 30 round magazine could be emptied in 2-3 seconds, which equates to a rate of fire in the range of 600-900 rounds per minute, which is a meaningless value since no reasonably portable magazine could hold that much ammunition. I think the shortest burst I was able to shoot without running out of ammo was 3 rounds.

Another very noticeable part of the experience was the noise and concussive force of each fired round. Even with good ear protection, the noise immediately gets your attention. I believe that an auto-leveling feature on iPhone camera microphone greatly minimized the noise recorded on the video. When standing to the side (not the side where the empty shells were ejecting) to film, each round fired created an air blast that felt like someone gently shoving you in the chest. Therefore the sustained bursts felt like a drummer rapidly hitting my chest with padded timpani mallets. Its obvious to me that anyone being shot at with this weapon at close range, even if the bullets were to somehow miss, would be stunned by the noise and the repeated shock waves.

 
When in semi-automatic mode, I was able to recover from the recoil and get the targeting dot back on the target and fire again within 2-3 seconds. Full auto mode is more difficult. It was a challenge to brace myself to withstand the ongoing recoil and keep the red dot aiming scope pointing at the center of the target located 30-40 feet away. During the relatively longer bursts (1-2 seconds), in addition to the considerable recoil, I could sense the rifle rotating slightly in reaction to each bullet rotating in the opposite direction as they traveled through the spiraled rifling inside the barrel.

I concur with the oft repeated statement that using a fully automatic rifle to attempt to hit a single target in a public area, especially if the target were moving, would be inadvisable. Its just too hard to control where all the bullets go.  In special situations where there is no concern for overspray or rounds passing through walls, or in combat situations where the objective is to quickly hit as many enemy combatants as possible, then I see value in using full automatic mode.But you better have a lot of extra ammo clips.

Ruth May Fox

I found this inspiring audio history of poet and 3rd General President of the LDS Young Women organization to be a worthwhile multitasking background activity. This amazing woman overcame many adversities, lived an amazing life to the age of 104, and left behind a legacy worthy of emulation. She reminds me of some of the women whose lives I am blessed to observe and inspire me.

http://broadcast2.lds.org/ldsradio/PoetsOfTheRestoration/2011-04-0040-ruth-may-fox-64k-eng.mp3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_May_Fox
http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Fox,_Ruth_May


The entire series of the Poets of The Restoration podcasts can be accessed here:
http://feeds.lds.org/PoetsOfTheRestoration

Hess Family 2013 "Newsletter"

Its been several years since we published a family newsletter (because I'm TOO busy!). So I figured I'd better get to work on a Reader's Digest version of our status- SHORT and sweet (mostly)- as we plunge into the new year that is 2013.

I'm in my 30th year with the same company I've been working for since college. I haven't yet been fired from my job supporting engineering software applications at Parker Hannifin, so I keep reporting for duty most mornings. Some mornings it is COLD (well, SoCal cold) biking to work at 6:30am in the dark. Parker implemented what they call an optional Alternative Work Schedule (AWS) that allows participants to work at least 9 hour days in exchange for getting every other Friday off work So, with more frequent 3-day weekends, why does my to-do list not get any shorter? Hmmm. Refinished kitchen table and chairs, refinished the outside of the front door, childproof latches installed on all cabinets, got a new roof, and a wee bit of Church service.

We all survived the ordeal of Kim serving as co-director for our stake's (church) multi-month production of "OOOOOOOKKK-la-homa" last spring. I played the role of the "I tell ya I git no respect" Federal Marshal Cord Elam. Kim also serves as the Stake Music Chairman, Ward and Stake Choir Director, Relief Society instructor, and several other callings. Kim also maintains a heavy workload of accomplished vocal students and has worked relentlessly to beautify our home. She also tends grandchildren 4 days/week.

Judd and his wife Michele are now the parents of FOUR children, with the addition of a set of twins in 2012. (see earlier blog posting here: (http://camswebpage.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-hess-clan-welcomes-ellington-and.html)  Judd continues to teach English at Godinez Fundamental High School.

Katie and Larry and their family moved from Garden Grove to Stanton this year as Larry landed a new job as a restaurant manager. They celebrated their daughter Kaliah's first birthday with a great party that will be remembered by all who attended. And Kaylee just celebrated her 10th birthday. Larry's daughter Amarah has moved in with Katie and Larry. Katie and Larry surprised us with a 2013 family photo calendar that included an ultrasound picture of our next grandchild for July! We were very surprised. If all goes well, this will be Katie's 3rd child and Larry's 4th and our 14th grandchild (15 counting our step-granddaughter Amarah). Larry is understandably hoping for a son, but most importantly a healthy and safe delivery for both baby and mother.

After completing his transitional, post-medical school year in Austin, Texas, Clayton and his family moved to Sacramento, where Clayton has begun his residency in Radiation Oncology at UC Davis Medical Center. Clayton and Katie have four wonderful children, Gredtel, Mayzie, Clark, and Betsy. Gredtel excels in her 1st grade class. We've liked having them closer so that we can take turns driving to visit each other.

Jayson, Celeste, Hayden, Landon, and Kendri are living in San Angelo, Texas where Jayson works for Lowes Home Improvement. Their kids are growing up quickly. We've got to get down to see them or have them come visit us. Hopefully this summer.



 Zachary returned in late July from his tour aboard Holland America' Eurodam ship after touring the Eastern Carri bean, crossing the Atlantic, touring the Western Mediterranean while visiting southern Europe and North Africa, then up to the British Isles, the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and north west Russia. It was great to have him home for a few months, especially over the holidays. He tried out for and was cast as one of the leads in Musical Theatre West's production of "42nd Street" tap dancing musical at the Carpenter Theatre in Long Beach, California. The show was sold out most nights and got rave reviews. The show was just as good as any musical in New York. It was so surreal to watch Zach perform so well on a big stage with stars flown in from New York City. It was a great experience. Soon after singing with our stake choir for our Community Christmas Program in early December, he had his tonsils removed, recovering just in time to solo during our ward's sacrament meeting Christmas Program that Kim directed. He recently moved back up to Los Angeles to rehearse the shows he and his co-performers will perform aboard the Nordam this Summer and Autumn in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Its a rough life, but somebody has got to do it.

As we begin a year of uncertainty, our thoughts and prayers are with each of you as we all strive to find joy in the journey of life as we seek to overcome the difficult, but needful "opposition in all things". We LOVE our family and friends.

Cam-n-Kim 

P.S. Click on any of the photos to see a larger version.

The Hess clan welcomes Ellington and Keats

We welcome, and are grateful for, the safe arrival of Ellington Frost Francesca Hess and Keats Whitman Dean Hess who were born on October 17, 2012 to Michele Wilson Hess and Thomas Judd Hess. The fraternal twins weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces EACH! They join their big brother Sawyer George Eliot Hess and sister Cypress Jolie Tennyson Hess.

Multiple births seem to run on the Riggs side of the family, with Jayson and Celeste Hess having a set of twins. Kim's father Al Riggs was a twin. Kim's brother Robin and his wife Patricia have twin girls and Kim's maternal Aunt Janice also had twins. A set of triplets were miscarried on the Riggs side of the family, also.

Here is a (not so good) scanned photo of sleepy Ellington and dapper Keats. (click the thumbnail to view a larger image)

Here are photos of all four siblings. Sawyer is quite the handsome little guy with auburn hair like his Uncle Jayson and Cypress looks a great deal like her older cousin Gredtel did at that age, except that Cypress has flaming red hair like her paternal great grandmother Marjorie.

A Gut Wrenching Roller Coaster Ride

In the weeks leading up to the 2012 Presidential election last Tuesday, especially after the first debate in which President Obama performed so poorly, it seemed as if the momentum was swinging towards former Governor Mitt Romney and that he had a good chance of being elected the 45th President of the United States of America. Most LDS Church members and conservative Christians supported him for his economic management skills and his Christian values. However, on election day a larger number of supporters of President Obama's liberal policies voted for him, especially in the key swing states whose electoral college votes were somewhat undecided and the key to either candidate winning the election. Even though the electoral college results were lopsided, there was only a  2.7% difference between the two candidates. Many Romney supporters were devastated by the loss, not so much because their candidate didn't prevail, but rather out of concern for our country, the weakening of the Constitution, and erosion of Constitutional rights.



Dr. Ed Lauritsen, author of "Mormons Under the Microscope" (http://books.google.com/books/about/Mormons_Under_the_Microscope.html?id=A4HYraTaVbAC)
offers in this email note some possible explanations for why it might be for the best that Mitt Romney was not elected President of the United States.

By Dr. Ed Lauritsen.

My dear friend in Tucson’s late husband was his [Romney's] Mission President.  Knowing that she and many of his other friends would be feeling distressed last night, he penned the following.  She passed it on to me and; likewise, I pass it on to my friends....

It is Election Night 2012, and I'm sitting here at my computer listening to Governor Romney's concession speech, trying to come to grips with his defeat---our defeat. And into my mind comes three interesting thoughts. The first comes with a scripture:  

"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." (D&C 88:73).
    
If the Lord's "work" is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39), and if that process begins by hearing about the Church and seeing its members, then the sooner and the faster the greatest number of people can see and hear about the Latter-day Saints---especially about exemplary Saints like the Romneys---the more the work is hastened. And though the Church has 55,000+ missionaries who are quietly and patiently roaming the world knocking on doors, the Lord has brought the LDS Governor and his LDS family into the very homes of millions of people around the U.S. and the world via TV, radio, and Internet for more than a year now---people who might never have received or accepted the missionaries or LDS neighbors, let alone have learned about the LDS way of life. But now they have listened, watched, and learned, and many of them will likely be more curious and receptive to the missionaries in the future. And that also goes for many of the Evangelicals, Protestants, and Catholics who locked arms with the Latter-Day Saints (thanks to Glenn Beck) during this long presidential campaign. Bottom line: the Romneys lost a hard-fought political battle, but they---and the Church---won a decisive, long-awaited cultural and spiritual victory in opening the minds and hearts of millions.
    
Another post-election thought: "Be careful what you pray for."
    
Had Romney won, it is highly doubtful that he and his team would have been able to rescue the nation's wounded economy from the purposeful destruction that Obama has intentionally inflicted upon it, Obama having done so in order to "fundamentally transform" our free enterprise system into a Socialist state. Had Romney won, the only possible way to have saved the nation and its economy would have been to make deep cuts in the welfare and entitlement programs---cuts that would have been branded "murderous, discriminatory and racist" at every turn by the Liberal mainstream media. And the ever-increasing drumbeat of these accusations over the next four years would have given license to thousands---perhaps millions--- of malcontents to take to the streets in "civil unrest" (aka anarchy). As such, Romney's never-ending vilification would have soon painted him---and his fellow Mormons---as the enemies of America, with all the resulting antagonism, stress, and persecution of the Church, both at home and abroad. As is, over the next four years, right-wing zealots---not Christian Conservatives--- will likely become increasingly resistant, confrontational, and possibly violent in response to the creeping Socialism. Thus, "social unrest" may begin at the other end of the political spectrum, likely precipitating equally violent responses from the pro-Socialist masses.
    
And this foregoing scenario brings me to the third and final thought tonight, one which also was accompanied by the written word, this time in the form of a powerful metaphor by Hugh Nibley. I close with it:
    
“On the last night of a play, the whole cast and stage crew stay in the theater until the small, or not so small, hours of the morning striking the old set.  If there is to be a new opening soon, as the economy of the theater requires, it is important that the new set should be in place and ready for the opening night; all the while the old set was finishing its usefulness and then being taken down, the new set was rising in splendor to be ready for the drama that would immediately follow. So it is with this world. It is not our business to tear down the old set---the agencies that do that are already hard at work and very efficient---the set is coming down all around us with spectacular effect. Our business is to see to it that the new set is well on the way for what is to come---and that means a different kind of politics, beyond the scope of the tragedy that is now playing its closing night. We are preparing for the establishment of Zion.”
    
Nibley, Hugh. Nibley on the Timely and the Timeless: Classic Essays of Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center, 1978, p. 302

Latter-day Prophets and the United States Constitution

While reading a quote posted on a social media website by a friend who was trying to help others place the events of yesterday's election in proper perspective, I stumbled across the following website. I felt like I had found a gold nugget on the floor.

http://rsc.byu.edu/out-print/latter-day-prophets-and-united-states-constitution 

This website is sponsored by the Religious Studies Center of Brigham Young University. This webpage contains the entire contents of a book published more than 20 years ago that is entitled, "Latter-day Prophets and the United States Constitution". The book is a compilation of quotes by most past presidents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (whom Mormons revere as modern day prophets of God) regarding the divinely inspired Constitution of the United States of America.
 
The book was edited by Donald Q. Cannon, who is a professor emeritus of Church history and doctrine and a former associate dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Utah and a doctorate from Clark University

I invite all my relatives, LDS friends, and lovers of liberty and freedom of whatever religious denomination, to peruse these statements by latter-day prophets regarding the Constitution of the United States of America. Read what they said 150 years ago, or even a few decades ago. Then compare where we are today. Ponder how the "popular" politicians of today feel about the liberties enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Do they abide by the Constitution's mandated checks and balances, or do they treat them as impediments to their agenda? Do they honor their sworn oath to "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States"? Read what the prophets have said about the dangers of allowing these bedrock principles of the Constitution to be eroded.  

Some of my relatives and friends have an honest difference of opinion and consider such concerns to be "extreme". I'm OK with that. It's not me they are disagreeing with.

Those who have ears to hear, let them listen. 
Those who have eyes to see, let them read.

Preserving, Protecting, and Defending the Constitution of the United States

 I was asked to be the keynote speaker at our LDS Stake's Independence Day Flag Raising Ceremony this morning (July 4, 2012). Here is a copy of my written talk.


Preserving, Protecting, and Defending the Constitution of the United States

Good morning. Thank you for your patriotic devotion and sacrifice in attending this early morning flag raising ceremony. I feel the weighty responsibility of addressing all of you on this important anniversary. I have pondered much what I might share with you that will be of greatest worth. I ask for your forbearance and patience as I share a message that those we sustain as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators believe to be of vital importance. I pray that I might convey this message with the help of the spirit of Almighty God.

It is my hope and desire that each of us experience not only an enjoyable holiday commemorating our nation’s birthday, but also for us to gain an increased appreciation for the liberties that the Founding Fathers secured for themselves and their posterity, and for our own forefathers and fellow citizens who have served and sacrificed and in some cases fought and even died to safeguard those liberties, and last but not least, to recognize more clearly our own responsibility to act to preserve those liberties for ourselves and our posterity.

Would all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, or in public safety roles (such as police officer or fireman) please stand and be recognized for their service?

“The Declaration of Independence was a pronouncement adopted by the Continental Congress 236 years ago today on July 4, 1776, which announced to the world that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire”.

Several years following the signing of peace treaties ending the Revolutionary War, state delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 and collectively fashioned our Constitution, the supreme law of the United States of America.

 The Constitution of the United States defines a social contract founded upon the principle that the federal government is to be a representative republic of the people, by the people, and for the people, composed of three independent branches of government: a legislature that enacts the laws, an executive that enforces the laws, and a judiciary that interprets the laws. The Constitution enumerates the responsibilities and powers of each branch of the federal government, as well as the checks and balances intended to maintain equilibrium. No branch of this triad government is to improperly interfere with the functioning of the other branches or the individual member states, or encroach on the liberties of the citizens who elect their representatives and thereby consent to be governed by them, and which citizens those government officials are sworn to faithfully serve.

Twenty-five years ago this coming October General Conference, then Prophet and Church President Ezra Taft Benson, gave a landmark talk on our divinely inspired Constitution and the rising threats to the liberty our Constitution it is intended to assure.

In just the past few years, several of our living Apostles, including Elder Oaks and Elder Cook, have felt inspired to again teach concerning the importance of the US Constitution, preventing the erosion of religious liberties, and the importance of member involvement in public discussions. Since time does not permit me to share any of these superb talks in their entirety, I strongly encourage you to access these talks on the lds.org website in the near future and carefully read them during your gospel study time.

 In speaking about our divinely inspired Constitution, President Benson quoted scriptures from the Book of Doctrine and Covenants wherein the Lord said that the US Constitution “belongs to all mankind” (D&C 98:5; italics added) “and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles” (D&C 101:77; italics added).

“I established the Constitution of this land,” said the Lord, “by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose” (D&C 101:80).

Continuing to quote President Benson, “Our Father in Heaven planned the coming forth of the Founding Fathers and their form of government as the necessary great prologue leading to the restoration of the gospel. Recall what our Savior Jesus Christ said nearly two thousand years ago when He visited this promised land: “For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth” (3 Ne. 21:4). America, the land of liberty, was to be the Lord’s latter-day base of operations for His restored church.

Referring to the foundational principles enumerated in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, President Benson reminds us that the 134th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants declares, “We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate (inviolate means to protect something sacred) as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life” (D&C 134:2). Life, liberty, property—mankind’s three great rights.

At the conclusion of the Declaration of Independence, the signatories wrote, “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.” This Declaration was a promise that would demand terrible sacrifice on the part of its signers. Five of the signers were captured as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary War; another had two sons captured. Nine died from wounds or from the hardships of the war. The Lord said He “redeemed the land by the shedding of blood” (D&C 101:80).

President Benson went on to share some of the many challenges the Founding Fathers faced, as well as several quotes in which they recognized and admitted that it was only by repeated divine guidance and intervention that such a group of diverse interests were able to compose what is probably the most amazing governance document ever written by the hand of man.

The dedicatory prayer for the Kirtland Temple, as dictated by the Lord and found in the Doctrine and Covenants, contains this statement: “May those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely, the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever” (D&C 109:54).

Twenty-five years ago, President Benson gave the following assessment of the then health of the United States Constitution. “Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (19 July 1840, as recorded by Martha Jane Knowlton Coray; ms. in Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City).

For centuries our forefathers suffered and sacrificed that we might be the recipients of the blessings of freedom. If they were willing to sacrifice so much to establish us as a free people, should we not be willing to do the same to maintain that freedom for ourselves and for future generations?

Only in this foreordained land, under its God-inspired Constitution and the resulting environment of freedom, was it possible to have established the restored church. It is our responsibility to see that this freedom is perpetuated so that the Church may more easily flourish in the future.

The Lord said, “Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land” (D&C 98:6).

How then can we best befriend the Constitution in this critical hour and secure the blessings of liberty and ensure the protection and guidance of our Father in Heaven? I have taken the liberty of composing a list of five suggestions derived from both President Benson’s talk as well as a talk Elder Oaks gave in 2010 entitled, “Fundamentals of our Constitutions”.

FIRST and foremost, we must be righteous.

John Adams said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  (The Works of John Adams, ed. C. F. Adams, Boston: Little, Brown Co., 1851, 4:31). If the Constitution is to have continuance, this American nation, and especially the Latter-day Saints, must be virtuous.

The Book of Mormon warns us relative to our living in this free land: “Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever” (2 Ne. 1:7).

“And now,” warned Moroni, “we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity” (Ether 2:9).

Two great American Christian civilizations—the Jaredites and the Nephites—were swept off this land because they ceased to “serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12). Our choices will help determine what becomes of our civilization.

SECOND, we must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers.

President Benson encouraged members of the Church to read, ponder, abide by, teach, and become prepared to defend the US Constitution and its principles. Its my personal observation that the teaching of the principles of the Constitution is especially needed among the rising generation, as many schools have de-emphasized this subject matter in recent decades. President Benson suggested that reading some or all of the Federalist Papers, which were written to explain the Constitution and encourage its ratification, would help us better understand the operation of the Federal Government as intended by the Founding Fathers.

Elder Oaks said, “All citizens should be familiar with the Constitution’s great fundamentals: the principle of popular sovereignty  (which means that the people are the source of government power), the structure of federalism that divides powers between the state and the federal government, the individual guarantees in the Bill of Rights, and the principle of separation of powers among the various branches of government. We should take alarm at and consider how to oppose any action that would infringe these fundamentals. (emphasis added)

THIRD, all citizens should give law-abiding support to their national, state, and local governments and become involved in civic affairs to ensure that we are properly represented.

The 134th section of the Doctrine and Covenants declares:
               “We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them. . . .
               “We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside” (D&C 134:1, 5).

Elder Oaks taught that sustaining and upholding the government includes fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of citizenship. We frequently hear of rights and entitlements, but infrequently discuss the obligations of citizenship, which sometimes includes compulsory duties like military service. It also includes numerous voluntary actions citizens must shoulder themselves if we are to preserve the principle of limited government through citizen self-reliance. For example, since U.S. citizens value the right of trial by jury, they must be willing to serve on juries, even those involving unsavory subject matter.


FOURTH, we must make our influence felt by our vote, our writings, our teaching, and our advice.

We must become accurately informed and then let others know how we feel.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “It is our duty to concentrate all our influence to make popular that which is sound and good, and unpopular that which is unsound. ‘Tis right, politically, for a man who has influence to use it. … From henceforth I will maintain all the influence I can get” (History of the Church, 5:286).

The Lord said that “he holds men accountable for their acts in relation” to governments “both in making laws and administering them” (D&C 134:1). We must follow the Lord’s counsel when he says: “Honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil” (D&C 98:10).

Note the qualities that the Lord demands of those who are to represent us. They must be good, wise, and honest.

 Elder Oaks expressed his alarm at the steady decline of voter turnout in many parts of the United States. Voting is a fundamental right and responsibility that must not be taken for granted. Political participation can be inconvenient. It requires sacrifices of time and resources, but it is essential to our democratic society. Without substantial voter turnout, the people abrogate the great fundamental of popular sovereignty.

Elder Oaks counseled that while participating in political discourse and sharing our opinions, it is critical that we maintain civility. We currently have an excess of ugliness and contentiousness in our communications on many political issues. We have all been exposed to it, and some of us have occasionally been part of it. We all bear some responsibility for the current political polarization and the stalemates that have resulted from it. We ought to tone it down. Meaningful debate and discussion about policies, programs, and procedures is essential to a democratic society. But contentiousness for the sake of division is bad for democracy. It is bad for law observance. It is bad for neighborly relations. And it is particularly destructive as an example for the rising generation, who, if not taught better, will perpetuate and magnify its ugliness and divisiveness for generations to come.

LAST, but not least, we must promote patriotism.

Elder Oaks said that his favorite prescription for patriotism is that of Adlai Stevenson, the Illinois governor who was twice the Democratic candidate for President:

       “What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? . . . A patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”

I am personally grateful for the example of my father, who I consider to be a patriot and a role model in his love of country and devotion to duty above self. He was an Air Force pilot during the Vietnam War. He could have made choices that would have decreased his chances of being deployed to Southeast Asia, but in a letter to his father explaining his decision to not exercise those options said that he considered it his obligation and duty to serve his country in its hour of need and to defend the principles of freedom. Before he could complete the 100 missions required to return home, he was shot down over North Vietnam near the Chinese border. His plane was seen enveloped in a fireball and no parachute was detected. Because of violations of the Geneva Convention, it was unknown by the outside world for several years whether he was alive or dead. He sustained a gunshot wound to the neck during his capture. Along with many other Prisoners of War, his captors subjected him to cruel and inhumane treatment, including months of solitary confinement and unimaginable torture. My father was one of the fortunate ones who returned home after six years to a homeland and country for which his appreciation had grown immensely.  He has spoken hundreds of times to many different audiences about the importance of freedom, liberty, and recognizing and appreciating the blessings that the God of heaven has poured out upon this nation and its people.

 I wish to conclude my remarks by sharing President Benson’s closing comments from twenty-five years ago. “I have faith that the Constitution will be saved as prophesied by Joseph Smith. It will be saved by the righteous citizens of this nation who love and cherish freedom. It will be saved by enlightened members of this Church—among others—men and women who understand and abide the principles of the Constitution. I reverence the Constitution of the United States as a sacred document. To me its words are akin to the revelations of God, for God has placed His stamp of approval upon it.

I testify that the God of heaven sent some of His choicest spirits to lay the foundation of this government, and He has now sent other choice spirits to help preserve it.

We, the blessed beneficiaries of the Constitution, face difficult days in America, “a land which is choice above all other lands” (Ether 2:10).

May God give us the faith and the courage exhibited by those patriots who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

May we be equally as valiant and as free, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

These are hyperlinks to the two talks referenced in my remarks:
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1987/10/our-divine-constitution
http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/fundamentals-of-our-constitutions-elder-dallin-h-oaks

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