Love your Children

With the millions of issues going on in the world today one might think 'How can I help safeguard my children?'

You might also wonder 'how can I prevent these things from happening to them?'

Bottom line is Love your Kids.

A wonder talk was given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson titled 'Brethren, We Have Work to Do' in the October 2012 Priesthood session.
He mentioned a lot about how our children and especially how boys are being treated in society and the consequences there of.  He opening comments are fitting to be copied.

"Brethren, much has been said and written in recent years about the challenges of men and boys. A sampling of book titles, for example, includes Why There Are No Good Men Left, The Demise of Guys, The End of Men, Why Boys Fail, and Manning Up. Interestingly, most of these seem to have been written by women. In any case, a common thread running through these analyses is that in many societies today men and boys get conflicting and demeaning signals about their roles and value in society."

 As we look at society we find that in almost all cases the best situation for a child is to have both parents present and if possible at least one at home so they have an anchor on which to hold.
Unfortunately, due to the cost of living and other circumstance we find way to many children coming home after school to an empty house.   But, this is not worse then giving your child a fully activated IPhone to take with them and use all day while your not around.   You really don't know what is happening do you?

In this world we live in today there are so many outside influences that can effect our children.  Sometimes we really don't know how much influence that idle chatter on the playground is really having.


Don't you want to be the primary influence in the life of your kid?

It's not easy but, there are things you can do that will help to make sure your an influence in the life of your child.  Especially, as they grow you don't want them getting their information at school if you can provide it in a more appropriate way at home.

Consider these things:

• Have dinner together as a family.
  "Our second key relationship is with our families. Since “no other success can compensate for failure” ¹²  here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study, and Sunday worship." Of Things That Matter Most Dieter F. Uchtdorf
  
• Actively participate in a religion. This will provide a moral and ethical basis for decision making. This also provides a support group various members of your family may decide to use.

• Hold a week family home evening   
  
  “We have a family home evening program once a week [Monday night] across the Church in which parents sit down with their children. They study the scriptures. They talk about family problems. They plan family activities and things of that kind. I don’t hesitate to say if every family in the world practiced that one thing, you’d see a very great difference in the solidarity of the families of the world” (interview, Boston Globe, 14 Aug. 2000). Family Home Evening By President Gordon B. Hinckley

• Don't overly criticize the choices of your child.  This may cause them to not confide in you down the road.  Keep the communication channels open, then you can find out what is going in their lives and intervene when appropriate.

• Be fair and do not show favoritism.   Give 'T-I-M-E'.  Involve your children in activities together.  And so them you care about each one.  This may have to be on a one-for-one basis.

• Be consistent. 
  Give 'T-I-M-E'.  Don't have a dual standard.  They will not trust you after a time.  This takes work so that mom and dad are on the same page.

As we strive to follow the above ideas we have a chance at protecting our children.   They will be emboldened and more confident.  You will also be the major influence in their lives.  They will feel comfortable coming to you and if not they will likely confide in a youth leader in your chosen religion.   Don't be scared by this.  It can be helpful in more ways then you can imagine.


Check this link for a variety of Free publications that relate to helping strengthen families and marriages.






Here is a list of some of some wonderful films you might want to view with your family on your weekly family night.



Or consider these family friendly games





Buaidh - NO - Bas

The Dirty Little Secret

I'd like to talk about what I call the dirty little secret.  It's now exactly what you might think.  I refers to how things are being handled with teachers here in California and their pensions.

What some people might not know is that it takes about Five(5) years to make tenure for most teachers.  It is also known that in many school districts they give out pink slips almost every year and turn around and hire back many if not most of those same teachers.   Why do these 2 facts really matter.   You only begin to get access to pensions when your tenured and you restart the clock every time your pink slipped.  So that means some teachers at the local school may be working in the district for 5 years but, do not have tenure.

It will known and complained about that the Pension fund for teachers and other public state workers is very underfunded.
So this 'Dirty Little Secret' is in directly helping the pension fund since you have a growing portion of teachers that have yet to qualify for access to the pension fund.  This odd gap that is being created will create what one could call a doughnut in regards to payouts.  You have the fatted stuff now and the lack there off in the future or the gaping hole in payouts.

Is this really a good thing.  Well some would say yes since it is helping the over all pension situation.  Others would say no since it really does not solve the problem of how much is being paid out it just messes with the number of people that will receive payouts. 



And think about the teachers that are doing 4-8 years of teaching and have no retirement to show for it.  They have no district sponsored 401(k) and also no pension to speak of since they keep getting put back on the merry-go round each year.  Talk about a disaster in the making.

The payout will become excessive for the few that qualify and non-existent for those that can't get there at times for no fault of their own.  Reward the one that worked the system and don't bother with the newbies.

Do you think the unions are helping any?  Not really.  They currently can get union dues from all the teachers, and claim they are fighting for them, while due to some regulations deny them access to what they also claim is right of the union employee.  They also like to use the last in first out system.   Everything is based on seniority and not quality, test scores, or any other real valuable measure.   You keep the bad one in for longer then they should be and keep putting the young highly motivated teachers on the merry-go round.

Here in California they had a proposition to make it so corporations or unions could not automatically use monies that they have taken from your pay check for political purposes without your prior consent.  Prop. 32 when down 56% to 44%.  A slight majority in favor of leaving thing alone.  So we will continue to see teachers unions take the money given them and buy off candidates even if a good chunk of the teachers don't support  that candidate.  A bummer really since it could have leveled the playing field a bit, though the negative ads did their job and got people confused as all get out. 



How then do you try and help solve the whole pension issue and in the process help the younger or newer teachers that are not eligible for the  pensions yet.  You have to get around the merry-go round or 'dirty little trick'.   You have to offer some type of 401(k) or flat retirement plan.  People in private industry overwhelmingly are put into 401(k) plans.  So why not go that route with public employees?   Why do we have to have a pension for them?   The usual system is the employee decides to have X amount taken from the pay check.  The company matches up to a certain amount.  The employee has the money invested in a somewhat limited set of mutual funds or other financial instruments.  Hopefully, the money grows over time but, bottom line the company is not on the hook for pay outs years down the road.  It's more on the head of the employee and not the pension fund.  And since most public worker pension funds back fill with government money at times you wonder how soundly the money is being invested or whether they are taking in enough in the first place.

Now think about how this system could be beneficial over all.  You could even have a 100% match and come out ahead.  Instead of having to pay out a teacher that retires at say 55 with a set amount for the rest of forever.  If that person lives to 90 you'll have 35 years of payouts.  The 100% match would be progressive since it would be lower as the teacher starts out and then gets bigger as pay raises.  This is better then the fixed higher rate down the road that traditional pensions provide.  You do have to handle the health care portion of the equation.  This means that if you go with the 401(k) system you have to have the people paying into medicare and the like or compensate for it in some way.

Here are some simple numbers:
start pay 40k annual
end pay 75k annual
30 years work - so pension would be forking over ~70-80% of final pay i.e 55k.  Take that over another 35 years of payout.

Pay per pension over 35 years - $1,925,000
Average pay 30 years work - 57k if you did the 100% match - $1,710,000.

Seems like peanuts but, when you add this all up it can count for millions upon millions.



Most people go with the higher contribution by the participant of the pension.  But, are the people being stiffed by the 'dirty little secret' pay in as well?  If so they really are being stiffed on a massive scale.


So how do we save money in the long haul and also help out those being hit by the 'dirty little secret'?  Likely a investment system where the worker takes on more control and the decision making.

And hopefully the worker will make good choices, which you can not guarantee will occur with the current system and a bureaucrat handling things.



Buaidh - NO - Bas

Review of Election 2012: A California Perspective

Well you can say that on November 6th 2012 we had another historic election.   Our first US black president was reelected.  Our first major party Mormon candidate did not win the election.

One way or the other many things occurred in the election that beg to be analysed.

Due to the fact that we have an electoral college system only about 10 states were in play.  What that means is that only these 10 states were close enough in the polling that no one could predict which way the would go there.  Places like Utah are in general so conservative that it is a foregone conclusion that the Republican candidate will win there from now till well "Hell freezes over"; basically forever.




Many people complain that the electoral system needs to be removed and that the popular vote needs to be put in place.  There are visible down falls to each of these systems.  Many complain that "safe" states are only used as piggy banks by the candidates.  While others mention that small states like New Hampshire get attention not normally given a small state due to the fact it is in play.  The reverse might occur if you have a popular vote scheme.
States like California, Texas, New Jersey, Florida, and New York could determine everything.   Places like Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan etc with larger populations would become the second tier places to court.  You would sure have a lot more movement around the nation.  But, you can guarantee that states with small populations like Rhode Island, Maine, the Dakotas, Montana etc would be left out all together.  Why spend time going after 1 million votes when you can run some ads in Los Angeles and cover 5 million people.  Simple economics, and critical mass.
It might be better to do an electoral college based on the the popular vote in each state.  Thus Wyoming with  3 electoral votes would have handed them out as follows - 2 for Romney, 1 for Obama.  Colorado with 9 would have been as follows - 5 for Obama and 4 for Romney.  Why?  Near ties and odd numbers gives the extra to the winner.  Wisconsin with 10 would have been 6 for Obama and 4 to Romney or something along those lines.
Something to thin about.

So what are my opinions on the election.  Several of the so called swing states - Ohio for example had a vote spread of around 100,000.  That is dang close in my opinion.  If you check out the map of Ohio you see that Mitt Romney won most of the less populated counties, and Obama got just a few counties though the ones with more population.   It vary well could have gone either way.  There are about a half dozen states that the spread of fairly small.  This means that had the turn out been lower likely you'd have gotten a Republican president.  Though it all depends on where things are lower in turn out.  Sadly, this is one of the worse things about our system.
You have multiple steps to getting a vote as a presidential candidate.  First the eligible person has to register, and then they have to actually bother to vote the day of the election or send in their vote via mail if applicable.  So most people that vote are fairly informed and are making an effort.  The lazy bum, uninterested person with little or no knowledge of the facts is not likely to even go out and vote let alone register to vote.  It's the semi-informed people that get swayed by advertising and propaganda that turn into the dangerous voter.  That can swing an election and do so sometimes based on emotions, lies, and other poppycock.

The election out here in California is a classic example of the semi-informed being lead astray by lies, and the like in ever kind of perceivable of propaganda.

I'm including a link to a few of the bad ones.

So if you watched each these ads you get both sides of the picture.  Somebody has to be lying since both sides can't be right in the end, right?  That is where things get a little choppy.  You end up with so many mixed messages and poppycock.  That forces you go go and read the real language of the proposition.  Then you open your eyes.  But, mister semi-informed will not really bother to go and read the actual language.  He'll start believing the ads if he is given enough of them.  Or become a little more confused and vote no since that usually leaves things with the status quo.

it's easy to see why people get confused.  It's also does not help that the actual propositions are written in such a way as to be confusing.  I actually did some digging on Prop 37 the genetic engineered food act.  Not to clear in the language that the NO or Yes guys were right.  In those cases it is better to leave it alone.
Who knows what the semi-informed voted.  Bottom line is that the proposition did not pass.



Beyond the typical proposition with all the associated lies and distortions we had two competing tax measures.  Both were to fix the budget cuts that have been laid on the schools over the last several years as California has struggled with the effects of the recession.  One planned on boosting the sales tax 1/4 ¢ and hit up those making more them $250,000 for more income tax.  The other main claim was that the money would go more directly to the schools (K-12) and it would hit everyone with an income tax increase.
Here are the final results

Proposition 30 - Increase Education Tax

Jerry Brown's Tax Increase.

100% reporting

Option	Votes	Pct.
✓ Yes	4,967,039	53.9%
No	4,251,558	46.1%

Proposition 38 - Increase Tax K-12

Molly Munger's State Income Tax Increase.

100% reporting

Option	Votes	Pct.
✘ No	6,509,127	72.3%
Yes	2,493,398	27.7%

Do you see how one went down in flames and the other passed by a small margin.  One might wonder why.  I think the analysis I heard on KFIAM640.com would sum it up best.
In essence it states - "We are willing to have someone else foot the bill but, when it comes to effecting us we say 'NO Thanks'."
People don't mind taking that guy seen as rich that lives in another city far away up north.  It's not their money so why not force that guy to pay his fair share.  The old fair share argument.

That 'Fair Share' argument has come up a lot during this election.
What is a fair share?  It likely will be different to the guy making minimum wage compared to the small business owner.




Could this visual example of "Fair Share" logic be where we are heading as a country.   We do have an exuberant number of people dependent on the government.  From Health Insurance, to social security to Food Stamps.  Likely that 47% statement by Romney is not that far from inaccurate.  However, not all those benefiting from the government vote for the party more associated with handouts.   It all depends on why your getting the benefit.

But, are we turning ourselves in to a bunch of lazy bums.  Those that feel they are entitled no matter how hard they work.  That the successful must pay their ever growing  'Fair Share'.  We have to stem this tide of thinking.  We have to rise above and make this country great once again.  Get out of this entitlement feeling and go back to the get the job done sentiment of the farming days.
We also have to find more common ground and things we can build on.  Not the stuff we can not agree upon.

I like the way the leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints put it.

First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Congratulate President on Election Win

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Standing in Holy Places

What or where is the most holy place on earth?  [pause] NO one would argue against anywhere that Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ is currently at.  However, we know they are not present on earth very frequently.  There are few recorded instances in the scriptures; Mount Sinai, Sacred Grove to mention a few.  Beyond that most would say the Temples of the Church, then maybe meeting houses and other church dedicated buildings.   I ask of you today – Are the 19 inches of bench you are currently sitting on holy? 

Or more importantly are the 19 inches of sofa you will occupy later today holy?  I’ll tell you why as we consider how where we are currently standing can be a holy place.

The Bible Dictionary specifies:

Holiness. According to the O.T. things or places were holy that were set apart for a sacred purpose; the opposite of holy is therefore common or profane…. Similarly a holy person meant one who held a sacred office.  …  The word holy therefore came to refer to moral character.

“What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing; it also depends on what sort of person you are. -C. S. Lewis.”

http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/C.+S.+Lewis/4/index.html

Locations and places do not necessarily define who we are but, they can have an influence on what we will become.  Just because you are at a bar does not mean you’re an alcoholic.    Hanging around the Temple grounds all day does not therefore make us Celestial Kingdom material.  It sure can help in comparison to an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages or promotes something against the commandments.

“We unavoidably stand in so many unholy places and are subjected to so much that is vulgar, profane, and destructive of the Spirit of the Lord that I encourage our Saints all over the world, wherever possible, to strive to stand more often in holy places. Our most holy places are our sacred temples. Within them is a feeling of sacred comfort. We should seek to be worthy to take our families to the temple to be sealed together for eternity”

Standing in Holy Places James E. Faust

Second Counselor in the First Presidency

April 2005 http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/standing-in-holy-places

Also think of your home computer or Television.  At one moment you can be watching the Prophet at a session of General Conference.  A few clicks later you can be viewing images or video that do not invite the spirit.

“Standing in holy places is all about being in good company, whether you are alone or with others. It's being where the Holy Ghost is our companion—alone or in a crowd. When we determine within ourselves that we will control our thoughts and our actions and be the best we can possibly be, the best of life will come to us.”

Standing in holy places

Sister Sharon G. Larsen Second counselor, Young Women General Presidency

Published: Saturday, March 30, 2002

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/41554/Standing-in-holy-places.html

Further more, Sister Larsen mentions the following:

“It is possible the loneliest times are when we are surrounded by people, even friends, who are making wrong choices, and we have to stand alone. There are some places it would not be safe for you to go even to help someone in need. The Lord said to stand in holy places. There are places where the Spirit would never be. You know where those places are. Stay away from them. Do not encourage a curiosity that ought to be stopped. Pay attention to what you are feeling so you will know when you are feeling unsure or uneasy.”

Standing in holy places

Sister Sharon G. Larsen
Second counselor, Young Women General Presidency

Published: Saturday, March 30, 2002

http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/41554/Standing-in-holy-places.html

We agreed to come to this earth and gain a body.  We knew there would be challenges.  A plan was detailed for us that we readily accepted.  NO one said it would be easy.   Therefore, there will be times when we have to make choices.  Sometimes really hard choices.

Doctrine & Covenants 87:8

Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh ^bquickly, saith the Lord. Amen.

Bishop Stevenson Presiding Bishop relates the following story from the Priesthood Session of October 2012 Conference:

“Each of you will also have defining moments in your life requiring courage. A friend of mine, John, shared with me one of those moments in his life.

Some years ago, John was accepted at a prestigious Japanese university. He would be part of the international student program with many other top students from around the world. Some enrolled with a hope to deepen their understanding of the culture and language, others viewed it as a stepping-stone to an eventual profession and employment in Japan, but all had left home to study in a foreign country.

Soon after John’s arrival, word of a party to be held on the rooftop of a private residence spread among the foreign student population. That evening, John and two friends made their way to the advertised address.

Following an elevator ride to the top floor of the building, John and his friends navigated the single narrow stairway leading to the rooftop and began mingling with the others. As the night wore on, the atmosphere changed. The noise, music volume, and alcohol amplified, as did John’s uneasiness. Then suddenly someone began organizing the students into a large circle with the intent of sharing marijuana cigarettes. John grimaced and quickly informed his two friends that it was time to leave. Almost in ridicule, one of them replied, “John, this is easy—we’ll just stand in the circle, and when it is our turn, we’ll just pass it along rather than smoke it. That way we won’t have to embarrass ourselves in front of everyone by leaving.” This sounded easy to John, but it did not sound right. He knew he had to announce his intention and act. In a moment he mustered his courage and told them that they could do as they wished, but he was leaving. One friend decided to stay and joined the circle; the other reluctantly followed John down the stairs to board the elevator. Much to their surprise, when the elevator doors opened, Japanese police officers poured out and hurried to ascend the stairs to the rooftop. John and his friend boarded the elevator and departed.

When the police appeared at the top of the stairs, the students quickly threw the illegal drugs off the roof so they wouldn’t be caught. After securing the stairway, however, the officers lined up everyone on the roof and asked each student to extend both hands. The officers then walked down the line, carefully smelling each student’s thumbs and index fingers. All who had held the marijuana, whether they had smoked it or not, were presumed guilty, and there were huge consequences. Almost without exception, the students who had remained on the rooftop were expelled from their respective universities, and those convicted of a crime were likely deported from Japan. Dreams of an education, years of preparation, and the possibility of future employment in Japan were dashed in a moment.

Now let me tell you what happened to these three friends. The friend who stayed on the roof was expelled from the university in Japan to which he had worked so hard to be accepted and was required to return home. The friend who left the party that night with John finished school in Japan and went on to earn degrees from two top-tier universities in the United States. His career took him back to Asia, where he has enjoyed immense professional success. He remains grateful to this day for John’s courageous example. As for John, the consequences in his life have been immeasurable. His time in Japan that year led him to a happy marriage and the subsequent birth of two sons. He has been a very successful businessman and recently became a professor at a Japanese university. Imagine how different his life would have been had he not had the courage to leave the party on that important evening in Japan.³”

Be Valiant in Courage, Strength, and Activity

By Bishop Gary E. Stevenson Presiding Bishop October 2012 General Conference

Doctrine & Covenants 115:5

Verily I say unto you all: ^aArise and shine forth, that thy ^blight may be a ^cstandard for the ^dnations;

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, ^achoose you ^bthis day whom ye will ^cserve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my ^dhouse, we will ^eserve the Lord.

“Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal journey without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him God-given guidance to assist in our safe return at the end of mortal life. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us, and I do not overlook the Holy Scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross.”

Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” Ensign, Nov. 2010,

Truly we do not have to be like unto Lewis Carroll’s Alice in the Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.   You may remember that at one point she was what some would say lost in the forest.  The Cheshire Cat was asked by Alice which path she should use as she lamented on the confusion of the signs and directions available.  The Cheshire Cat who gave some sage advice told her any path would do since she had not particular goal in mind.  The worm in the Movie Labyrinth also gave some great advice to Sarah as she began to navigate the maze in search of her baby brother.   However, since she did not listen long enough she wasted much more time getting to her final destination and goal.  We don’t have to be the wandering soul with no goal in mind.  We have that goal.  And we also are constantly given the directions we need as long as we will listen and head the advice and promptings of the spirit.

“Every time you make a choice, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And, taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a Heaven creature or into a hellish creature -- either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures and with itself. To be the one kind of creature is Heaven: that is, it is joy, and peace, and knowledge, and power. To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness. Each of us at each moment is progressing to the one state or the other.”
Christianity Quotes – CS Lewis

http://www.worldofquotes.com/author/C.+S.+Lewis/1/index.html

Technically speaking we can not be fence sitters or non-progressing.  We are either moving forward in our progression to eternal life or we are slipping back thus losing ground.  There is no such thing as autopilot when it comes to eternal progression.  Unfortunately, it is a constant battle, one we wage each day.

“But remember that the Savior himself was tormented, ridiculed, spat upon, and finally crucified because he would not waver in his conviction. Have you ever stopped to think what would have happened had he weakened and said, “Oh, what’s the use?” and abandoned his mission? Do we want to be quitters, or do we want to be valiant servants in spite of all the opposition and evil in the world? Let us have the courage to stand up and be counted as true, devoted followers of Christ.”

For They Loved the Praise of Men More Than the Praise of God

President N. Eldon Tanner First Counselor in the First Presidency Ensign November 1975

Elder Whiting in the most recent conference talks of a time when he inspected a mostly finished temple in Hawaii and the imperfections that were found.  He was also surprised at the fixes actually being made to these seemingly insignificant parts of the temple.

“Why would walls with a little grit and a window with a little asymmetry require additional work and even replacement when few human hands or eyes would ever know? Why was a contractor held to such high standards?

As I exited the temple deep in thought, I found my answer as I looked up at the refinished exterior and saw these words: “Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.”

The temples of this Church are precisely as proclaimed. These sacred buildings are built for our use, and within their walls sacred and saving ordinances are performed. But there should be no doubt as to whose house it really is. By requiring exacting standards of construction down to the smallest of details, we not only show our love and respect for the Lord Jesus Christ, but we also hold out to all observers that we honor and worship Him whose house it is.”

Temple Standard by Elder Scott D. Whiting of the Seventy  October 2012 General Conference

It is clear we are always refining ourselves.  We need to hold ourselves to a higher standard.  The Lord knows we can do it, we know we can do it.  The helps are there.  We can succeed.

Let me summarize briefly a few of the helps the Lord has provided for our use that will help us to stand in Holy Places.

• Holy Ghost and his promptings
• Scriptures and other church literature like the Ensign
• Prayer
• Sunday Meetings and the Sacrament
• Temple Attendance
• Church Music

With this plethora of helps it is obvious the Lord wants us to succeed.  We simple need to reach out and take it.  He’s stand at the door with no handle on his side.  We have to take the initiative and open the door so he can come more fully into our lives.

In Conclusion I’d like to quote from our dear Prophet Thomas S Monson.

“If any of you has stumbled in your journey, I want you to understand without any question whatsoever that there is a way back. The process is called repentance. Our Savior gave His life to provide you and me that blessed gift. Despite the fact that the repentance path is not easy, the promises are real. We have been told: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”⁶ “And I will remember [them] no more.”⁷ What a statement. What a blessing. What a promise.”

Dare to Stand Alone Thomas S. Monson  President of the Church General Conference October 2011

{End}

Buaidh - NO - Bas

San Diego, CA NF Walk 2012

San Diego, CA NF Walk

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Join us for the San Diego NF Walk to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation.

This is a great opportunity for children, family and friends to connect at a community event and draw support from each other while raising awareness and funds for neurofibromatosis (NF) research. NF is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. There is no cure nor are there effective treatments for NF.

Step up and support this important cause today:

Register
Support a participant
Donate

For more information about the San Diego NF Walk contact Kelly Mills at kmills@ctf.org or at 310-216-9570. For website support contact Chrissie Connors, at cconnors@ctf.org or at 212-344-6633 x8544.

Thank you for supporting the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s mission to end NF! To learn more about CTF visit www.ctf.org.

We Reward You for Fundraising!

Fundraise $100 and you will receive a Children's Tumor Foundation pedometer.	Each walker who personally raises $500 or more will get an official Children's Tumor Foundation tote bag.

 

Facts & Statistics

·	NF has been classified into three distinct types; NF1, NF2 and schwannomatosis. They are caused by different genes, located on different chromosomes.
·	NF1 is the most common neurological disorder caused by a single gene; occuring in one in every 3,000 children born.
·	NF2 is a rarer type, occurring in 1:25,000 people worldwide.
·	While today there is no consensus, studies indicate that schwannomatosis occurs in 1:40,000 people, similar to NF2.
·	The Neurofibromatoses are genetically-determined disorders which affect more than 2 million people worldwide; this makes NF more prevalent than cystic fibrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Huntington's Disease combined.
·	All forms of NF are autosomal dominant genetic disorders which can be inherited from a parent who has NF or may be the result of a new or "spontaneous mutation" (change) in the sperm or egg cell.
·	Each child of an affected parent has a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and developing NF. The type of NF inherited by the child is always the same as that of the affected parent, although the severity of the manifestations may differ from person to person within a family.
·	NF is worldwide in distribution, affects both sexes equally and has no particular racial, geographic or ethnic distribution. Therefore, NF can appear in any family.
·	Although most cases of NF1 are mild to moderate, NF1 can lead to disfigurement; blindness; skeletal abnormalities; dermal, brain, and spinal tumors; loss of limbs; malignancies; and learning disabilities.
·	NF1 also has a connection to developmental problems, especially learning disabilities, which are five times more common in the NF1 population than in the general population.
·	The distinguishing feature of NF2 is tumors that grow on the eighth cranial nerve in both ears, commonly causing deafness and severe balance problems.
·	NF2 brings on increased risk of other types of nervous system tumors as well.
·	NF2 can also cause severe vision problems, including cataracts, retinal abnormalities and orbital tumors.
·	Accordingly, NF research may benefit an additional 100 million Americans (i.e. 65 million with cancer and 35 million with learning disabilities).
·	NF is not the "Elephant Man's Disease," although it was at one time believed to be. Scientists now believe that John Merrick, the so-called "Elephant Man," had Proteus Syndrome, an entirely different disorder.
·	NF research began eighteen years ago by the Children's Tumor Foundation, and has been enormously productive ever since.

 

Buaidh - NO - Bas

Speaking at Church

We knew something was up when we came home and found a message from one of the local leadership in our church unit on our answering machine.
We also know that he is in-charge of assigning speakers so we suspected he was calling us about that.

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint we have a lay ministry.  That means all the jobs etc are on a volunteer, unpaid basis.  I currently serve with the cub scouts and get no monetary compensation for all the time I spend at meetings, planning things, etc.

This also carries over into the realm of our Sunday meetings.
Our meetings are divided into three 1 hour blocks.  First you have sacrament meeting (where the sacrament is presented, and people speak), Sunday school in the middle, and the last is for the gender specific meetings (Relief society or Priesthood).

Sacrament meetings fall into one of two categories or types.  Each month on the first Sunday is what is called Fast Sunday and we have our testimony meeting.  After business, and the sacrament people member, non-member, visiting or not have the chance to come to the front and give their "two-cents" about the church.  Generally, this works out well and people talk of spiritually uplifting things that have happened in their lives.  Many reaffirm their support of the church and the principles we espouse.

The other Sundays you will find a handful of people that will speak.  Generally, the first speaker is a youth (12-18 years of age).   They generally only speak for 5-10 minutes on some assigned topic.  In a unit with few youth like mine you will get a lot of testimonies by the missionaries or other less youthful people in this first slot.  This can be in jest or simply a special chance to hear from faithful more mature members. Then come the adult speakers.


With the adult speakers you have one that is the senior speaker and the other the more junior.  They like to get new couples that have moved in to speak so the wife is the first and the husband second.  The first gives a shorter talk but, that is not always the case.  As with couples they more then likely will coordinate so as to not run to long.  There have been times when the meeting runs long or short depending on the style, and people giving the talk.    Some nervous people will speak faster then normal and give their 15 minute talk in 10 minutes.  The Presiding authority then has to find a way to fill the time or if it is not to much, excuse everyone to head to class early after the song and prayer.

In almost all cases there is a intermediate hymn or other musical number between the adult speakers.  This breaks the meeting up a bit and can be a good to let people stretch and wiggle a bit.  This is also the perfect time to take a child out for a bathroom or water break.

 There is also one special Sunday that comes about once a month, though may be moved around as needed.  This is when a member of the high council (stake level calling) comes and speaks.  These people many times like to get a recently returned missionary to be their speaking companion.  It's nice to hear of their mission and you get them while they still have the fire and missionary zeal.  These high council speakers may hit several units on a given Sunday and present in essence the same talk more then once.  In our stake we have 10 unit spread out over 4 buildings.  It is not uncommon to have a high councilor speak at all the units in a given building in a month that they are assigned to speak.

So when you add all this up the bishopric councilor that is in-charge of lining up speakers only has to get some for about 24 weeks of the year.  That is because you also have to take out 2 weeks for General Conference, and two weeks for Stake Conferences.


So our time has come once again to speak in our unit.  Some people talk about how they escape from speaking for years.   In larger units you may very well find this to be the case.  The same might be true in a unit that has a lot of move-ins and move-outs.  With high turn over there are plenty of new people to chose.
Though for special Sundays like Mothers or Fathers day you will get some well seasoned member of the ward to speak.

The wonderful part about this system is that it gives an opportunity for the general membership to present about a wide variety of gospel topics.  This helps to strengthen their testimonies and general gospel knowledge.  For together we help one another learn.

And their meetings were ^aconducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the ^bpower of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.  Moroni 6:9




    Buaidh - NO -Bas

Flat Income Tax and Tithing

There has been much to do about the fact that Mitt Romney paid only 14% or so in tax last year compared to the 20-30% many Americans have paid.  Then you find out that it was not on typical income but, on capital gains or investment income that is taxed at about that rate anyways; far different then the typical income.

There are those that hem and haw about it being unfair and the like.  They may even say that the rich should be taxed more.  Well if your rich in the way Romney is it might not make any difference.  Jack up his income tax all you want he'd likely have paid more or less the same amount.  That is because most of his money is from investments and not from sweating in the fields, or book royalties or other income gains related to direct labor.  So when you talk about jacking up the income tax rate on the rich who are you really going to hit hardest?  Not likely the one that can find a way to make a load of deductions or the one that make his money off of buying stock or bonds or having some money in a CD.

Have you ever wondered why some CEOs and other Corporate executive are will or can take a salary of only $1?  It might be that the related stock options that  they will receive or get will compensate.  Also since it is taxed at such a different rate it does not hit them as bad as say 2 million in salary.

I was able to read a good article on the subject and why it would not be such a bad idea move toward a flat tax.   The issue now with some more well to do people and their taxes is that they don't pay the same rate across the board.  They can hire a good attorney or accountant and use this to their advantage.

The great article on the subject found here Peter Rush: Yes, Washington should adopt a flat income tax


So one might think - why go with any kind of flat tax at all?  Isn't our thousand pages of tax code not working very well.  As the article mentions very plainly - there are to many exemptions that have been built into the system over time.  Thus those that have the time and money to pay a professional can work the system to their advantage.  A average person is kind of up the creek, though not necessarily without a paddle.

So what is the advantage of a flat tax?

• Everyone pays the same percentage on their income. 
• Same tax rate for all income, regardless of origin.
• Removes exemptions and ways to work the system.

Now some might say that this would be an unjust burden on the poor.   Other would say that the rich would not pay enough.  You might sense that this is right.  But what is 2% on  $10,000 in income and 2% on income of $6,000,000?  The difference basically amounts to  $200 verses  $120,000.  You might see a small up tick in the amount coming from lower incomes especially if they are currently not paying anything.  You might think you will see less from the richer people.  Yep it would seem that way.

Anyway you look at it; it is still a guaranteed percentage.  Easily seen and you can predict in a general sense what you'll pay.
Also the only way to cheat the system would be to falsify the sources of income and not apply some fake or inappropriate exempt you really did not qualify for.  I know it would reduce the number of accountants needed and the IRS would likely be reduced some.  But, leaner and meaner is better right?



An alternate view on why a flat tax would not work can be found here - Ajay K. Mehrotra: No, Washington should not adopt a flat income tax

Now there is the other subject I'd like to bring up.  It is called tithing.  It is the religious way of funding church activities.  Some congregations or denominations simply pass a plate around at their meetings.  Other like mine, have you pay 10% and it is done via envelop so that the whole world doesn't have to know what you paid.  You reconcile with the local leader at the end of each year.  A good way to make sure none of the money is being lost or stolen.  However, you put it the money is then used to build buildings, maintain building and do any of the many other things that occur in the church.  Now what is different here then the flat tax folks is that it is voluntary and no one asks to see your pay stubs.  They take your word for it and assume your being honest.  If that could only be the case with our government taxes.





In the end it may all amount to how we spend the money and how efficient we are in do that.  Thousands if not millions of government money i.e., our tax dollars have been thrown at project that never give a return on investment.  Though it is understandable we need government to provide us with things such as roads, police and fire etc.   These could be considered a bad return on investment until, your home is saved as it catches fire, or when the drunk driver is removed from the road by police.  Under perfect circumstances you would not need them at all. 

Moses 7 

 18 And the Lord called his people ^aZion, because they were of ^bone heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

 19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.

 20 And it came to pass that Enoch talked with the Lord; and he said unto the Lord: Surely ^aZion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the ^bresidue of the people have I cursed.

 21 And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, ^aZion, in process of time, was ^btaken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever.

So all this is food for thought.   Maybe going the route of the Lord's economic plan is best in the end.  it is just one way or the other.

Buaidh - NO - Bas