Who Is Scott Brown?

My VIP for this week is former Republican Senator Scott Brown, age 65) who recently entered the Senate race in New Hampshire. He is seeking to gain the seat currently held by retiring Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen who opted to not run for a fourth term. 

Brown won a special election in Massachusetts in which he replaced Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) who had died from brain cancer. He lost his 2012 reelection bid to Democrat Elizabeth Warren. Brown later moved to New Hampshire where he lost to Shaheen by three points in 2014.

Brown has a long history of serving New England and America. He served for 35 years in the Army and retired as a colonel in 2014. In the Army, he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps and the Massachusetts Army National Guard.

Brown served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1999 to 2004 and as a member of the Massachusetts State Senate from 2004 to 2010.

Brown also served as an ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa during the first administration of President Donald Turmp. More recently, he chaired a lobbying group and served as dean of New England Law School in Boston.

In his announcement video, Brown struck a sober tone about being worried about the direction that America is heading. He pointed out that his probable competition, Chris Pappas, supported then-President Joe Biden while he opened the border, increased inflation, and made simple life unaffordable. He also praised President Trump who “sealed the border, he stood up to China, and he restored our standing in the world.”

What Will Be the Reaction to Trump Bombing Iran?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the Democrat hypocrisy about the decision made by President Donald Trump to bomb the Iranian nuclear facilities. The Left has been complaining about Trump ordering the bombing without permission from Congress. However, the same people actually urged then-President Barack Obama to bomb Libya in 2011.

Obama ordered the bombs, and it turned out to be a disastrous decision.

Victor Davis Hanson admits that “the Left has no history of consistency, no logic, no morality on this. And privately, they understand they had no solution to force Iran to give up this bomb.” Therefore, Hanson believes that the Left will be “inert and quiet.” 

Hanson understands the common belief that “The MAGA Right’s going to defect” because of “America First.” He knows that the “MAGA agenda does not want to get into optional wars in the Middle East.” He then pointed out that “this is not a 1991 preliminary to an invasion, 2003 preliminary to invasion, 2011 preliminary to Gaddafi regime change.”

This was a designated, finite act. And now it’s over with and it’s up to Iran to do what it wants. It can either negotiate and become a peaceful presence with peaceful nuclear power or it can continue its terror. But it has no terrorist appendages to hurt us, really. And we’ll see.

But even Tucker Carlson, remember, quite logically said, when he had that fiery exchange with Sen. Ted Cruz, he said, “If I had known that Iran wanted to kill Donald Trump, I would order – I would want somebody to order to bomb Iran.” We now know that the terrorist that was planning to kill Trump is being tried in absentia. He’s in Iran. It’s not in doubt. And so, we bombed Iran.

And where would anybody go? I’m a MAGA supporter. If I was vehemently opposed to this one-off strike, I’d say, “Well, how about illegal immigration? It doesn’t exist anymore. Look at the border. Look at all of these things that Donald Trump has done, like, with the universities, with the tax relief.” So, there was so much of the MAGA agenda that his critics agree with, I don’t think they’re going to be very vehement.

How about abroad? The Europeans were going to be very disturbed. This was not multilateral. The U.N. wasn’t involved. And I can guarantee you they’re calling Donald Trump up right now and saying, “Thank God you did this because we were much closer to Iran than you were. And we were very worried about this crazy regime….”

How about the Arab world? The Arab world, before this attack, was very – it was angry at Israel. Remember they said, “The Zionists should not have had a preliminary, preemptive war. This was wrong. It’s disruptive.” And they had a point….

Privately, they were telling the Israelis or the United States, “If you’re going to get rid of the Iranian nuclear threat and neuter that regime, please, please do it. But do it completely. Do not leave this wounded animal in our backyard because we can’t handle it. So, either get rid of it or promise us that you will get rid of it.”

And now, the reaction to this destruction, especially at Fordow, is typical: Express public regret, instability, da, da, da, but private relief.

And then finally, what are China and Russia going to do? ….

But more importantly, Putin is saying, privately, “I’m tied down in Ukraine. I can’t do anything…..

As far as China goes, China’s got the opposite reaction, in one way, but it’s similar: “I don’t want to get involved….

Bottom line: All the critics here and abroad, they’re going to be loud, but I don’t think they’re going to have any consequence.

What Counsel for Parents Did the Lord Reveal to Joseph Smith?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 67-70 in a lesson titled “Worth … the Riches of the Whole Earth.” The lesson was introduced by the following paragraphs: 

From 1828 to 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith received many revelations from the Lord, including divine counsel for individuals, instructions on governing the Church, visions of the latter days, and many inspiring truths of eternity. But many of the Saints hadn’t read them. The revelations weren’t yet published, and the few available copies were handwritten on loose sheets that were circulated among members and carried around by missionaries.

Then, in November 1831, Joseph called a council of Church leaders to discuss publishing the revelations. After seeking the Lord’s will, these leaders made plans to publish the Book of Commandments—the precursor to today’s Doctrine and Covenants. Soon everyone would be able to read for themselves the word of God revealed through a living prophet, vivid evidence that “the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.” For these and many other reasons, Saints then and now consider these revelations to be “worth … the riches of the whole Earth” (Doctrine and Covenants 70), section heading).

This scripture block contained several principles, including (1) The Lord’s servants speak His will when moved upon by the Holy Ghost (Doctrine and Covenants 67:1-9; 68:3-6), (2) “Continue in patience” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:10-14, (3) I can help center my home on Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-31), (4) “True and faithful” friends help me follow Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 69:1), and (5) I am accountable for the revelations the Lord has given (Doctrine and Covenants 70:1-4). This essay will discuss principle #3 about centering our homes on Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s Counsel to Parents

The Lord’s words in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-31 refer specifically to parents, but the counsel is good for everyone who is willing to center their home on the doctrine of Jesus Christ. The applicable scripture verses are as follows:

25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

26 For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

27 And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands.

28 And they shall also teach their children to pray, and to walk uprightly before the Lord.

29 And the inhabitants of Zion shall also observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.

Principles to Be Taught in Homes

In the above verses, the Lord teaches several principles that should be taught in the home. Each of the principles can be part of the foundation of a Christ-centered home – part of your current home or your future home.

·         Repentance: Alma the Younger was blessed at a particularly critical time in his life when he remembered the words that his father had taught him about the Savior’s atoning mission (see Alma 36:17-20; see also 2 Nephi 25:26).

·         Faith in Christ: President Russell M. Nelson gave five suggestions for developing faith:

“First, study. Become an engaged learner. Immerse yourself in the scriptures to understand better Christ’s mission and ministry. Know the doctrine of Christ so that you understand its power for your life. Internalize the truth that the Atonement of Jesus Christ applies to you….”

“Second, choose to believe in Jesus Christ. If you have doubts about God the Father and His Beloved Son or the validity of the Restoration or the veracity of Joseph Smith’s divine calling as a prophet, choose to believe and stay faithful. Take your questions to the Lord and to other faithful sources. Study with the desire to believe rather than with the hope that you can find a flaw in the fabric of a prophet’s life or a discrepancy in the scriptures. Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters. Allow the Lord to lead you on your journey of spiritual discovery.”

“Third, act in faith. What would you do if you had more faith? Think about it. Write about it. Then receive more faith by doing something that requires more faith.

“Fourth, partake of sacred ordinances worthily. Ordinances unlock the power of God for your life.

“And fifth, ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, for help (Nelson, “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains”). 

·         Baptism: Alma taught the baptismal covenant to some of the Nephite people in his day and the importance of accepting it. This covenant is described in Mosiah 18:8-10, 13.

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.

·         Gift of the Holy Ghost: For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices gives two ways to invite the influence of the Holy Ghost into our homes: (1) “Repent. Turn to the Lord with the desire to improve. When you’ve done something wrong, honestly admit it before God and, as needed, to your bishop and anyone you may have harmed. Do your best to make things right.” (2) Rejoice in the gift to do better and be better. Even when it is not easy and takes longer than you’d like, never stop trying. Keep working and trusting in the Lord. The Savior will help you every step of the way.”

·         Prayer: The Savior taught about the power of prayer in the home. A children’s song titled “Love Is Spoken Here” (Children’s Songbook, 190-91) teaches about the influence that watching a mother and/or father in prayer can have on children. Other promised blessings can be found in 3 Nephi 18:15-21. 

1. (Girls) I see my mother kneeling with our family each day.

I hear the words she whispers as she bows her head to pray.

Her plea to the Father quiets all my fears,

And I am thankful love is spoken here.

2. (Boys) Mine is a home where ev’ry hour is blessed by the strength of priesthood pow’r,

With father and mother leading the way,

Teaching me how to trust and obey;

And the things they teach are crystal clear,

For love is spoken here.

3. (3^rd ending) I can often feel the Savior near

When love is spoken here.

·         Other principles can be found in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-31 and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” 

Do IVF Treatments Provide a Safe Way to Have Children

Children are blessings from God and make families stronger, and strong families strengthen communities, states, and nations. Most couples have children in a natural way, but many couples struggle with infertility. I recognize the heartache caused by infertility because I dealt with it personally until my doctor – through numerous tests – discovered that my ovaries were not working properly. He gave me a few pills to jump start my ovaries, and I now have six biological children born in the natural way.

Some would say that the pills were a blessing. However, they carried their own set of problems. One of those problems is that my first-born daughter miscarried her only pregnancy. I am grateful to have my daughter, but I am sorry that my ovary problem caused her infertility.

In-vitro fertilization is not the cure-all that most people think that it is for couples struggling with infertility. According to an article by the staff at Blaze TV, it rarely works and can cause issues for the mother and the child. 

Jennifer Lahl, founder of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, is one of the leading voices sounding the alarm.

“IVF is fraught with risk. It’s risky to the woman’s health; it’s risky to the health of the unborn child,” Lahl tells Blaze TV host Allie Beth Stuckey on “Relatable.” “You can just follow the CDC data, and for the last 10-plus years, overwhelmingly, all IVF cycles fail.”

Data is now coming out that IVF increases the chance of pregnancy-related complications, like preterm labor and birth defects.

“My grandson was born with a heart defect. And when his care was transferred to a big university hospital in California, two independent pediatric cardiologists there said, ‘Is he an IVF baby?’ He’s not, but in the medical literature, IVF babies have much higher rates of congenital heart defects at birth,” Lahl explains.

“Shouldn’t that be something that at least could make us pause and think? We know that pregnancy is risky; I know that, you know, any child that’s born healthy, praise God, because there’s a lot of things that can go wrong to make children born with all kinds of defects, but knowingly doing it, I think, is problematic,” she continues.

Stuckey has also done her research on the issues associated with IVF, and one of them is a higher prevalence of the child being diagnosed with autism.

“Specifically because there was a fertility problem on the father’s part. So that is because say a dad has basically immobile sperm. They’re just not fast enough, strong enough, to do what they have to do in the natural fertility reproduction process,” Stuckey says, noting that in IVF they “take the sperm and put it on the egg.”

“There is a reason that that sperm isn’t working. There’s an underlying issue there that will affect the baby that is born, because those sperm weren’t supposed to re-create, and when you force them to re-create, then the baby is going to inherit a lot of problems,” she adds.

“People like to say, ‘We’re playing God,’ and I always say, ‘Well, no, because God doesn’t play that way. We’re playing naughty people,’” Lahl agrees.

“There’s a natural order to how things are supposed to work and how our bodies are supposed to work, and even though the human body is incredibly resilient, our fertility is very fragile,” she adds.

I know a couple who are like family. They have seven beautiful children, all born because of the blessing of IVF. They all came with healthy bodies and minds with the youngest now being in their early 20s. I have not heard anything about the two sons who are married having problems having children, but they all seem to have come through the experience well.

It sounds to me from what is written above that many of said problems come from fathers with weak sperm, sperm that could not enter an egg naturally. In such cases, doctors should inform the potential parents of the chances of future problems. The medical profession should continue with the knowledge of what works and what does not work to help infertile couples to enjoy the blessings of parenthood. Children strengthen families, and strong families strengthen their communities, states, and nations.

Will Iran Attack the U.S.?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns defensive actions as well as offensive attacks. The United States, under the direction of President Donald Trump, acted offensively on Saturday to destroy the nuclear capabilities of Iran. Now the United States is on defense from any possible retaliation from Iran.

Trump made clear in his announcement about the attack that the United States wants peace, not war. They destroyed nuclear facilities without any attacks on the civilian population. Carlos Garcia and Rebeka Zeljko reported the following at The Blaze. 

“Our objective was the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror,” said the president.

 “Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular miliary success. Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have bene completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace. If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier.”

During the president’s address to the world, Trump was backed by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He also acknowledged Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the teamwork with Israel. “We worked as a team, like perhaps no team has ever worked before, and we’ve gone a long way to erasing this horrible threat to Israel.” Trump thanked the Israeli military for their “wonderful job” and the “great American patriots who flew those magnificent machines tonight and all of the United States military on an operation the likes of which the world has not seen in many, many decades. Hopefully we will no longer need their services in this capacity.”

President Trump thanked the “military for the extraordinary success.” “There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,” he said.” He then acknowledged that “there are many targets left” that are not as difficult to destroy. Trump closed his remarks by thanking God.

“And I want to just than everybody, and in particular God,” he concluded. “I want to just say we love you, God, and we love our great military – protect them. God bless the Middle East. God bless Israel, and God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you.”

 

What Will Iran Do Now?

In military action against Iran on Saturday, the United States destroyed much, if not all, of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo asked some interesting questions of Victoria Coates, vice president of The Heritage Foundation’s Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy. When Bartiromo asked for her reaction to the military action, Coates replied: 

What happened last night, in my estimation, isn’t about starting another forever war in the Middle East, it’s about ending the longest one. 50 years, this has bene going on with Iran. And last night, the president demonstrated that he’s not going to stand for this anymore after giving diplomacy every chance. He showed the Ayatollahs that he can reach out and touch them anytime.

We have these extraordinary stealth bombers, $2 billion, a plane that got in and out of there before they even knew what was happening. And he’s made it clear this isn’t about regime change, this isn’t about some kind of social engineering experiment, this is about ending a war and getting to the negotiating table to create peace.

Bartiromo then wanted to know about the kind of reaction that Coates expected from Iran and received the following answer:

The Iranians have very few cards, and the one that really stands out for me is this threat to close the Strait of Hormuz where all the oil tankers go in and out. We had a week earlier in June when the United States did not import a single barrel of oil from Saudi Arabia.

That’s only happened once in the last half century. That’s because of the shale revolution and President [Donald] Trump’s policies during the first term. So it’s not a kill switch in the hands of the Ayatollahs anymore. This is a card that President Trump can play.

Bartiromo replied, “Yeah. This is a message, obviously, to the Iranians who, as you say, President Trump gave a lot of time to come to the negotiating table, but it’s a message to others as well. Is it not? Coates answered this way:

Absolutely. If I’m [Chinese] President Xi [Jingping] or [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin, I am saying, holy cow, this morning. We didn’t know they could do that. And we had over a hundred planes involved.

And all of this comes from the president though, Maria. Imagine trying to do an exercise like this under President [Joe] Biden, it simply wouldn’t have happened. It didn’t happen. We had messes like Afghanistan. You talk about America’s back, that’s what happened last night.

Bartiromo’s final question was about “issues from operatives operating in the United States right now, Iranian sleeper cells:

That’s the greatest concern, Maria. They are here, they are active, and that’s what we need the FBI director, Kash Patel, to be keeping after for all of our safety.

What Are the Details of the Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?

The biggest news of the past week is an announcement by President Donald Trump that the United States had dropped bombs on three major nuclear sites in Iran. Tyler O’Neil at The Daily  Signal reported the President’s words as follows: 

U.S. Attacks Iran Nuclear Facilities

“We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan,” the president posted on Truth Social. “All planes are now outside of Iran air space.”

“A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow,” he added. “All planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors. There is not another military in the World that could have done this.”

NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump concluded.

Trump followed up this post with a note from Open Source Intel reporting that “Fordow is gone,” referring to a major Iranian nuclear development facility.

The president also announced that he will give an “Address to the Nation” at 10 p.m., regarding the “very successful military operation in Iran.”

He went on to say, “This is an HISTORIC MOMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ISRAEL, AND THE WORLD. IRAN MUST NOW AGREE TO END THIS WAR. THANK YOU!”

O’Neil continued his article by reminding his readers that “Iran has arguably been in a state of war against the United States since the 1979 revolution, and the regime has repeatedly condemned America as the “great Satan.” However, “the bombing represents a new step in America’s stance against the Islamic Republic.

Military Gives More Details

Olivia Pero, a journalism fellow for The Daily Signal, added more information about the American attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The following information comes from a press briefing held by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine at the Pentagon early Sunday morning. Here are Hegseth’s words: 

“It was an incredible and overwhelming success,” Hegseth said at the Pentagon. “Iran’s nuclear ambitions have been obliterated.”

At President Donald Trump’s directive, the U.S. Central Command executed Operation Midnight Hammer, a precision strike on “three nuclear facilities in Iran Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan” in the middle of last night. Hegseth said the mission was successful as the goal was “to destroy or severely degrade Iran’s nuclear program.”

Hegseth attributed the successful mission to “President Trump’s bold and visionary leadership and his commitment to peace through strength.”

“Many presidents have dreamed of delivering the final blow to Iran’s nuclear program and none could … until President Trump,” Hegseth said. “The operation President planned was bold, and it was brilliant, showing the world that American deterrence is back.”

Hegseth also noted that Trump has said the U.S. “does not seek war.”

“Let's be clear: We will act swiftly and decisively when our people, our partners, or our interests are threatened,” Hegseth said. “Iran should listen to the president of the United States and know that he means it. Every word.”

Hegseth described last night’s mission as “historic.”

“Without the world knowing at all,” the U.S. Air Force’s B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers traveled in and out of the nuclear sites, without a single shot fired at them. Last night’s strikes included “the longest B-2 Spirit Bomber mission since 2001” as well as the first time using a Massive Ordnance Penetrator, according to Hegseth. The MOP is a new “weapon system” made to destroy nuclear weapons situated in highly protected facilities, the Air Force states in its website. Twelve GPU-57 bunker-busters were used in the attack.

General Caine gave more explanations and details about the strikes. He began by stating that it “was a highly classified mission with very few people in Washington knowing the timing or nature of this plan.”

“At midnight Friday into Saturday morning, a large B-2 strike package comprised of bombers launched from the continental United States,” Cain explained. “As part of the plan to maintain tactical surprise, part of the package proceeded to the west and into the Pacific as a decoy.”

Caine said the strike package consisted of seven B-2 Spirit Bombers, each containing two crew members who “quietly” moved to the east “with minimal communications.”

“Throughout the 18-hour flight into the target area, the aircraft completed multiple in-flight refuelings,” Caine said. “Once over land, the B-2s linked up with escort and support aircraft in a complex, tightly timed maneuver requiring exact synchronization across multiple platforms in a narrow piece of airspace, all done with minimal communications.”

Just before the bombers entered Iran, a U.S. submarine launched over two dozen “Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan,” Caine detailed.

 Pero concluded her article by quoting Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation. He supported Trump’s decision for the U.S. military to strike in Iran. However, he is not interested in this attack culminating “in another regime-change quagmire,” … “nation building or a broader conflict.” Nevertheless, the world is “closer to peace” once “Iran’s self-defeating dreams of nuclear military power have been decimated.”

Rubio Wants Direct Talks with Iran

In another article published at The Daily Signal, Pero reported on comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday morning. 

“If they attack us, then I think we have capabilities they haven’t even seen yet. It would be a terrible mistake on their part,” Rubio told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures.”

Rubio said Iran can have civil nuclear programs like other countries around the world, but it will continue to have problems, both with the U.S. and “many other countries in the world,” if it wants “some secret program” that “looks a lot like you’re trying to build a bomb.”

While the U.S. is no longer part of The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – also known as the Iran nuclear deal – Germany, France, and Britain are, Rubio said, and Iran is in complete violation of the existing sanctions.

“I think the Europeans, particularly the Germans, the French, and the Brits have made it very clear that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” Rubio said.

Those three countries must decide by no later than this October whether to reinstate the sanctions on Iran, he said. “We encourage them to continue to press them on that front because that’s another set of pressure.”

When it comes to other countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, Rubio said the U.S. works “very cooperatively with them.”

“The only reason we have U.S. bases in the region … is because they are afraid that Iran will attack them, and they want us there to help defend them,” Rubio said. “These countries fully recognize the threat that Iran poses.”

Additionally, Iran needs to start talking directly to the U.S. Said Rubio, “We always have to have a middleman – they want to pass messages and notes like we’re in third grade – we’re not doing that anymore.”

 

Who Is Steve Deace?

My VIP for this week is BlazeTV host Steve Deace of the “Steve Deace Show” because he had the nerve and backbone strong enough to stand up to the Pride movement. According to the staff at The Blaze, Deace “was jokingly asked to write a children’s book mocking the Pride movement.” He had not previously considered such a task, but “a light bulb flashed in his mind” once he was asked to write a book that “gives parents the tools to stop the left from infiltrating schools – and their children’s minds.” 

“I actually went home that night and kind of wrote out a loose outline and then worked on it for the next few months from there, and what you have now is the finished product, ‘Richie Meets the Rainbow,’” Deace tells Blaze TV host Stu Burguiere on “Stu Does America.”

The book centers on a young boy named Richie, who goes to school to find “the rainbow-fisted teacher with the blue hair and the nose ring who was there to indoctrinate them.”

“Except Richie has a secret weapon,” Deace explains. “He’s got a dad. And so he goes home, and instead of saying, ‘Shut up, son, I’m watching the game,’ Dad say, ‘You know what, I can pause the game, son.’”

That’s when Richie’s dad shows him the Bible and walks him through the true story of the rainbow.

“He wants his son to know that, quote, ‘unrepentant savages’ have co-opted this with the intent of brainwashing him and future generations, and he’s going to so something that also is not very prevalent in today’s culture. His dad’s going to get active and going to be a constant force at the school board meeting to make sure … that the voiceless have a voice in him, and set the example,” Deace says.

“That’s how Richie is saved from the demonic school system,” he continues.

While it’s written as a children’s book, it’s actually meant for adults to truly understand what is going on within the school system and leftist indoctrination – and how to stand up and stop it.

“If you’re not a communist, they treat you like you’re a fascist, racist, misogynist, xenophobic, homophobic bigot anyway, so you might as well earn their scorn,” he adds.

Unsurprisingly, Deace had difficulty getting the book published. He eventually had to publish the book on his own. In addition, he could not find an illustrator to draw the book for him but eventually found one in Hungary.

Deace added that we have this problem in our nation partly because there are not many people who are anxious to tell this story

 

What Was Decision in US v. Skrmetti?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns “one of the most-anticipated decisions” of the 2024-25 Supreme Court term. The case is United States v. Skrmetti, “a Tennessee law prohibiting so-called gender-affirming medical interventions for minors.” The Supreme Court ruled that the law “does not violate the 14^th Amendment’s equal protection clause.” Thomas Jipping explained the court’s decision as follows.

Tennessee is among more than 20 states that prohibit such medical interventions for minors. Its law, called SB1, allows doctors to prescribe drugs such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones or to perform certain surgeries only to treat specific medical conditions. These include congenital defects, disease, or physical injury. It prohibits their use in cases of “gender dysphoria, gender identity disorder, [and] gender incongruence.”

Three minors who wanted to identify with the opposite sex and their parents challenged SB1, arguing that it violated the 14th Amendment’s requirement that states provide the “equal protection of the laws.” …

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, which includes Tennessee, didn’t buy it and neither did the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the 6-3 opinion, refusing to find a “sex-based classification” in a statute that, to state the obvious, does not classify based on sex. SB1 applies to all minors, regardless of sex. The only distinctions it makes are age (it applies to minors, not adults) and the medical use of the particular surgeries and drugs. Neither of these has anything to do with sex.

Every Supreme Court decision has two parts: the judgment, which is typically a yes/no answer to a specific legal question, and the opinion, which explains the reasons for the judgment. The judgment decides the case before the court and the opinion can impact other cases. Here, Roberts’ opinion addressed some important issues that will no doubt be raised in other cases.

He emphasized, for example, that our understanding of gender is constantly changing and that the advisability and efficacy of medical interventions in cases of gender dysphoria or incongruence is being hotly debated. In fact, Roberts pointed out, several European countries that jumped on the “gender-affirming” care bandwagon have reversed course, “rais[ing] significant concerns regarding the potential harms associated with using puberty blockers and hormones to treat transgender minors.”

In addition, the court refused to extend its controversial decision in Bostock v. Clayton County from the statutory to the constitutional context….

Unless a law discriminates on the basis of things such as race, religion, or sex, courts are not going to second-guess legislative judgments about policy issues. This decision means that gender-related laws like SB1 are in the broad category of matters, such as regulating the practice of medicine generally, that the people and their elected representatives must handle. SB1, Roberts wrote, “clearly meets this standard.” …

Challenges to similar laws in other states raise the same equal protection clause issue and whether parents have a right, under the due process clause of the same 14th Amendment, to obtain medical interventions for their minor children. This decision should settle the first issue, but the second will likely find its way to the Supreme Court as litigation elsewhere continues.

In recent polls, many Americans say that the Supreme Court decides cases based more on politics than law. The court can fuel that perception when it makes up rights that are not in the Constitution’s text or tries to reach a result that is politically, but not judicially, correct. This is not one of those cases. The court applied basic equal protection clause analysis and came to the obvious, and objectively correct, conclusion. As Roberts concluded, the equal protection clause does not resolve “fierce scientific and policy debates” like those today that relate to gender. That’s our job as citizens.

Why Does the Lord Require “the Heart and a Willing Mind”?

 My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 64-66 in a lesson titled “The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

In the miserable heat of August 1831, several elders were traveling back to Kirtland from the land of Zion in Missouri. The travelers were hot and weary, and tensions soon turned into quarrels. It may have seemed like building Zion, a city of love, unity, and peace, was going to take a long time.

Fortunately, building Zion—in Missouri in 1831 or in our hearts, families, and wards today—doesn’t require us to be perfect. Instead, “of you it is required to forgive,” the Lord said (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10). He requires “the heart and a willing mind” (verse 34). And He requires patience and diligence, for Zion is built on the foundation of “small things,” accomplished by those who do not become “weary in well-doing” (verse 33).

This lesson contains several principles, including (1) “Forgive one another” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:1-11), (2) The Lord asks for my “heart and a willing mind” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:31-34), (3) Zion shall be “an ensign unto the people” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:41-43, (4) The kingdom of God on earth prepares the world for the Savior’s return (Doctrine and Covenants 65), and (5) The Lord knows the thoughts of my heart (Doctrine and Covenants 66). This discussion will consider principle #2 about the “heart and a willing mind.” The applicable scripture block teaches the following:

31 And behold, I, the Lord, declare unto you, and my words are sure and shall not fail, that they shall obtain it.

32 But all things must come to pass in their time.

33 Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

34 Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.

The Lord tells His disciples avoid becoming “weary in well-doing,” which is often difficult. Sometimes the “well-doing” that we are trying to accomplish takes longer than we think that it should take. It is easy to forget that we are working with human beings – individuals who have their own sense of timing for how they want to live their lives.

It is easy to become over-zealous and then discouraged in trying to help someone – a spouse, child, or friend who chooses to move slower than desired in their spiritual growth. The Lord teaches us how to be more patient in helping other people when He said that great things can be brought about by doing small things. We should remember that laying a firm foundation takes time and effort.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom of the Seventy the following possible meaning for the phrase “heart and a willing mind”:

The heart is symbolic of love and commitment. We make sacrifices and bear burdens for those we love that we would not endure for any other reason. If love does not exist, our commitment wanes….

Having “a willing mind” connotes giving our best effort and finest thinking and seeking God’s wisdom. It suggests that our most devoted lifetime study should be of things that are eternal in nature. It means that there must be an inextricable relationship between hearing the word of God and obeying it (“The Heart and a Willing Mind,” Ensign, June 2011, 31-32).

One thing that we should remember is that the Lord knows our thoughts and the desires of our heart. He knows how we feel about being obedient and how willing we are to keep His commandments and live the covenants that we have made with Him.

What Are Trump Accounts?

Parents who teach their children about money – how it is earned, saved, and invested – and how compound interest can work for their benefit. By doing so, parents can strengthen their family, community, state, and nation. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” contains an innovative policy can be helpful to some parents, as explained Carrie Sheffield. 

President Donald Trump announced an innovative policy within his “Big Beautiful Bill,” a measure that would create $1,000 savings accounts, known as “Trump Accounts,” for each U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Jan. 1, 2029, although the accounts may be renewed for future babies.

Cash for these Trump Accounts would be deposited into a private custodial investment account and grow tax-free until the child reaches adulthood. Parents, churches, charities, and employers can also contribute up to a combined $5,000 annually. At age 18, the young adult can access half the funds for collage or skills training, to start a business, or toward a home down payment.

David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs, visited the White House, alongside other business leaders, to praise the accounts. “This initiative gets at the core of binding those future generations to the benefits and the potential of America’s great companies and markets. Early childhood investments have far-reaching benefits,” Soloman said. “Our economy’s future vitality is dependent on young people understanding the power of investing for the long term.”

Solomon’s right. Trump Account are an intriguing idea for many reasons, including helping children begin saving immediately. It encourages financial literacy since people will be able to watch as the value of their accounts grows through the power of compounded interest.

The proposal requires that Trump Account money must be invested in a low-cost, diversified U.S. stock index fund or equivalent (for example, the S&P 500). [Estimated amount in account after 20 years is an average of $8,300, or $50,000 by age 18 with just an additional amount of deposits of $750.] …

… Trump accounts would democratize investing through their universality. Every U.S.-born child with parents who both have Social Security numbers with work authorization would qualify for Trump Accounts.

Children of all income levels and ZIP codes qualify, an improvement from the current only 2 out of 3 Americans owning stock and retirement accounts…. Stock-owning households are generally higher earners with more education. Just 38% of Hispanics, 52% of black Americans, and 28% of those earning below $50,000 own stock.

True to his campaign promises, Turmp Accounts would shatter barriers between “elites” and the working class….

Trump Accounts hold great promise to instill economic literacy for children from all backgrounds. If signed into law, parents, teachers and other caring adults have a golden opportunity to empower children for a lifetime.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” has numerous positive policies. Trump Accounts is one way that the rising generation can get a head start on financial life. Wise parents will support Congress in passing the bill and in helping their children to gain financial education. In doing so, they will strengthen not only their family but also their community, state, and nation.