Is Transgender Ideology Evil?

 Charlie Kirk was assassinated by a young man who hated him because he spoke against transgender ideology. Charlie was killed because he was a true disciple of Jesus Christ. With his assassination, Charlie joined a growing number of individuals who were killed for their Christian beliefs by other people connected in some way to transgender ideology.

According to Tyler O’Neil at The Daily Signal, “An increasing number of alleged murderers, mass shooters, and violent offenders have apparently tried to silence Christians or critics of transgender ideology.” They assume that their critics “represent a violent threat.” The assassination of Charlie Kirk “underscores this unnerving trend” and supports the FBI’s formal characterization of the threat of “transgender ideology violent extremism.” 

The Oversight Project and The Heritage Foundation formally called on the FBI [on September 18, 2025] to use its authority under 18 U.S. Code § 2331 to designate this threat, and I whole heartedly agree. The FBI declined to comment on the subject when approached [the next day].

That statute defines domestic terrorism as activities on U.S. soil that “involve acts dangerous to human life” that violate federal or state criminal laws that “appear to be intended” to intimidate or coerce civilians, influence government policy, or affect government conduct via mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping.

Current domestic violent extremism categories include: racially/ethnically motivated violent extremism; anti-government/anti-authority violent extremism; animal rights/environmental violent extremism.

The Oversight Project and Heritage recommend categorizing transgender ideology violent extremism as typically targeting “Christian and religious groups;” featuring “mental illness, self-harm, suicidal tendencies, and lack of respect for genetic human realities, amplified by online radicalization;” and boosted by “echo chambers that promote violence against critics.”

Most people who identify as transgender likely do not pose a threat to their fellow Americans, but a growing list of attackers either identified as transgender or appear to be motivated by transgender ideology.

O’Neil shared the following list of people killed or threatened by transgender-motivated violence.

·         Charlie Kirk, allegedly shot on September 10, 2025, by a young man who was living with a boyfriend who identifies as transgender.

·         Two children killed and 17 others injured at Annunciation Church in Minneapolis in August 2025 by a young man who identified as a young woman.

·         Three children and three adults were shot and killed on March 27, 2023, at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, by a young woman who identified as male.

·         Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was threatened by assassination in June 2022 by a man who identifies as a woman.

·         One person was killed and eight were injured on May 7, 2019, when a young woman who identifies as male and her friend started shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

·         Four people were shot and killed at a Rite Aid distribution center in Aberdeen, Maryland, by a perpetrator who identified as transgender.

·         People across state lines were threatened by a man who identifies as a woman and who threatened to rape girls in girls’ restrooms, carry out a mass shooting, and bomb churches.

O’Neil wrote, “Many of these offenders targeted Christians or threatened them because of their faith. The transgender movement encourages a victimization narrative that may play a role in radicalizing these people.”

The Human Rights Campaign, the premier transgender activist group, has described the deaths of people identifying as transgender as an “epidemic.” However, Brad Palumbo at Quillette crunched the numbers and concluded that the “Human Rights Campaign’s own data suggest trans Americans suffer a homicide risk that’s actually less than the U.S. average.” …

The FBI should designate Transgender Ideology Violent Extremism and try to prevent further attacks. The transgender movement also needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and start cooling down the doomsday rhetoric.

Most Christians who disagree with transgender identity do so not because they hate anyone, but because they follow the Bible and basic biology, which show that human beings are male and female and cannot change their sex merely by saying so.

Who Is Erika Kirk?

My VIP for this week is Erika Kirk, the widow of the late Charlie Kirk and the mother of his soon-to-be three children. She was unanimously elected as the new chair of the Turning Point USA and CEO of the conservative organization for youth outreach.

According to Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell at The Daily Signal, TPUSA made the following announcement about the new leader of the organization. 

“In prior discussions, Charlie expressed to multiple executives that this is what he wanted in the event of his death,” TPUSA said on the social media platform X.

“It was the honor of our lives to serve as board members at Charlie’s side,” the statement said. “Charlie prepared all of us for a moment like this one. He worked tirelessly to ensure Turning Point USA was built to survive even the greatest tests. And now, it’s our great pride to announce Erika Kirk as the new CEO and Chair of the Board for Turning Point USA.”

In her first comments after the death of her husband, Erika promised that his movement would continue. While listening to her remarks, I marveled at her strength, and I believe that she will bring that same strength to TPUSA.

Will You Join the Battle and Help Good to Overcome Evil?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns spiritual warfare. America is great because God is great and blesses nations who recognize that Jesus Christ is their God. Charlie Kirk was one American who centered his life around Jesus Christ, and he wished to be remembered for his courage and faith. He preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone who would listen. Charlie was killed on September 10, 2025, by a young 22-year-old man who had yielded to evil and darkness because Charlie was effective in drawing people to Jesus Christ.

Millions of Americans – from President Donald Trump and his circles to high school and college students – were touched by Charlie Kirk. He did not hate anyone but loved both friend and foe. Every honest person who met Charlie in person or through technology were touched by his love for Jesus Christ, love for them, and love for America.

Charlie was honored on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Once the stadium was full, people went to the arena across the street. When it was full, they watched from outside. Millions of Americans were impacted by Charlie’s life and death.

Ryan Visconti authored an article about the impact of Charlie Kirk on people across America. He stated that there is “a deeper and more spiritual reason” for our great mourning and grief. He shared ten reasons for the impact that Charlie’s life and death had on so many. 

1. You’re more connected to Charlie than you might think.

Many of us felt a deep, personal connection to Charlie. We listened to his voice or watched his videos for hours on end, and over time, you really do develop a personal connection whether you’ve met in real life or not.

Especially because Charlie was so likable, it’s easy to think of him as your brother, son, or close friend. That’s not weird or unearned. It’s natural.

But there’s also a supernatural reason you feel this loss. We feel connected to Charlie as a reflection of our spiritual unity….

The same Holy Spirit who dwelt in Charlie is in all who’ve received Jesus as Lord. For Christians, Charlie is our brother in Christ, and when he was wounded, we all felt the pain. Further, his murder grieves the Holy Spirit in us. Our collective grief is a sign of our shared faith and unbreakable bond as Christians. When one part suffers, we all suffer.

2. We’re in a spiritual war.

Charlie’s assassination wasn’t just a political act. It was a demonic attack.

The same evil spirit that killed the prophets, crucified Christ, and martyred Stephen has now manifested itself in our day against Charlie Kirk. And it’s jarring to realize you’re smack dab in the middle of a spiritual war….

3. We mourn with his family.

While we all feel the loss, our hearts break for his family – his brave wife, Erika, and his young children who will grow up knowing their father was great without the blessing of enjoying him personally. The sadness we feel for them is biblical compassion….

4. Murder desecrates image-bearers of God.

The video of Charlie’s death, widely shared online, made us witnesses to murder. This marks the human soul in a traumatic way….

5. It could have been you.

This was not a political assassination. Charlie wasn’t a politician running for office; he was a truth-teller combating lies.

Everything he believed and stood for was based on his faith in Jesus Christ. His entire worldview was shaped by the Bible. Make no mistake, Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr – perhaps the most significant in American history; he was slain on American soil, by an American, fighting to liberate Americans from the bondage of deception.

As fellow believers, we stand for the same truths he was murdered for….

Be encouraged: The martyrdom of Stephen gave rise to the ministry of the apostle Paul, and Charlie’s martyrdom will give rise to thousands of bold voices who will not shrink back from death.

6. We lament over lost potential.

Charlie was a uniquely gifted leader who was helping to change the political and cultural landscape of our nation. Many believed he might one day become president. His sudden death leaves us mourning over the lost potential of what he could have accomplished with so many more years of life ahead….

Charlie’s death requires all of us to step up and fill the void. There will never be another Charlie, but we can honor his legacy by picking up the torch and taking even more ground.

7. We can feel helpless.

In the face of such a tragedy, we feel helpless. We prayed for a miracle, but God did not heal Charlie or raise him from the dead.

It’s OK to be disappointed with the outcome, but we must never be disappointed in God. He is always good, even when our circumstances are not. Even when we feel helpless, we are not hopeless. We can make a difference by standing for truth, sharing the gospel, raising our families, and doing our civic duty. We will do our parts and trust God to do His.

8. The wicked are celebrating.

The evil, celebratory comments from Charlie’s critics reveal the wickedness in their hearts. These are people so blinded by sin that they call good “evil” and evil “good.” They are too hard-hearted to hear reason, and only God can change their hearts.

Remember what Jesus commanded in Luke 6:27-28, “Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” The fact that hell is throwing a party over Charlie’s death is a testament to the difference he was making. The demons also cheered when Jesus was crucified, but their celebration was temporary, while our victory is for eternity….

9. Earthly justice is incomplete.

The news that Charlie’s alleged murderer was caught provides  measure of satisfaction, but it won’t bring him back. Even the swiftest and most severe earthly justice will not provide perfect retribution for this crime. This is why we hold onto the hope of God’s final, complete justice….

We can thank God for a justice system that holds murderers accountable, but we find our ultimate peace in knowing that God will settle all accounts perfectly on the final day.

10. Life is short, but eternity is forever.

Charlie was only 31 years old – young, healthy, and strong. His life was cut short, a stark reminder that our days are numbered.

… This tragedy should be a call to action for all of us. Don’t waste your life on things that don’t matter. Don’t be a spectator.

Our lives on earth are short, but eternity is forever. While we mourn, we do not grieve like those who have no hope. We have the blessed assurance that for Charlie, and all believers, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

Charlie’s assassination was meant to silence him, but the enemy has made a grave miscalculation. His martyrdom has awakened a sleeping giant….

We will not be silenced, and the truth Charlie died for will not be buried. It will only get bolder, louder, and stronger!

How Should We Hold Up Our Leaders?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 106-108 and a lesson titled “The Order of the Son of God.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

At first glance, Doctrine and Covennts 107 seems to be only about organizing priesthood offices into a leadership structure for the Lord’s Church. By the time this revelation was published, Church membership was outgrowing the capacity of the few leaders it had in place. Outlining the roles and responsibilities of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, the Seventy, bishops, and quorum presidencies was definitely needed and helpful. But there’s so much more to the divine instruction in section 107 than just how Church leadership should be organized. Here, the Lord teaches us about His power and authority, “the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God” (verse 3). The purpose of the priesthood is to unlock “all the spiritual blessings of the church” so that all of God’s children can “have the heavens opened unto them” and “enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” (verses 18-19). In teaching us about His priesthood, the Savior is teaching us about Himself and how we can come unto Him.

The following principles are included in the lesson: (1) The Lord supports me when He calls me to serve (Doctrine and Covenants 106; 108), (2) The priesthood is “after the Order of the Son of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:1-4, 18-20), (3) The Lord’s servants are “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:22), (4) Prophets and Apostles testify of Jesus Christ (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23-24, 33-35, 38, 91-92), and

(5) The Lord accomplishes His work through councils (Doctrine and Covenants 107:27-31, 85-89). All the principles would be suitable for discussion, but I feel that I should discuss principle #3 about how servants of the Lord are “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the Church” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:22). I will start with the applicable verse of scripture.

22 Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the Presidency of the Church.

What is the meaning of the statement “uphold the Lord’s servants by your confidence? by your faith? by your prayer? We sustain – meaning to hold up -- our leaders formally when we raise our right hand to the square. We hold them up by supporting them in their calling, being obedient to their righteous counsel, and praying for them. Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the following about holding up our General, Stake, and Ward leaders.

How Does Natural Marriage Strengthen Families?

Individuals are stronger when they are part of healthy families, and stronger and healthy families strengthen their communities, states, and nations. Twenty-five years ago on September 23, 1995, a new document titled “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was introduced to the world.

This proclamation on the family begins with these words: 

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of his children.

The counsel contained in this proclamation has strengthened millions of families, inside and outside of the Church of Jesus Christ. The document ends with a warning and an urgent message:

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

Marriages and families have been falling apart for more than sixty years, according to social scientists as well as personal knowledge. In writing about this topic, this site declared, “Fatherless homes are a growing problem in the United States.” 

The site listed several reasons why children are growing up without the presence of their fathers in their homes. Those reasons included events, such as death, divorce, and separation. Other reasons include incarceration of or abandonment by fathers and marriages that never took place.

Single parents, specifically single mothers, accomplish much without the help of the other parents. The site shared these key statistics:

·         24.7 million children (33%) in the United States live in fatherless homes.

·         Children living in fatherless homes have increased by 25% since 1960.

·         45.6% of Black children lived with their mother only in 2021.

·         85% of children with absent fathers get involved in crime.

·         70% of children in fatherless homes have dropped out of high school.

·         Children living in fatherless homes are 4 times more apt to live in poverty.

·         Girls raised in fatherless homes are 8 times more apt to become a teenage mother.

·         85% of all children living without a father experience behavioral disorder.

·         Teenagers with positive and nurturing fathers are 80% less apt to go to prison.

·         20.2% of fathers are considered absent fathers according to 2019 data.

The Heritage Foundation released a new report last week “stressing that marriage must be the foundation of efforts to revive the black family.” 

The report, released during an event at Heritage Foundation headquarters in Washington, D.C., featured experts and community members who cast the family as a civil rights issue, described how culture shapes relationships, and emphasized the role institutions play in strengthening marriage in Black America.

Delano Squires, a research fellow at Heritage, authored the report and moderated the event. He said he has been thinking about this issue since he was 15, when he witnessed its impact on his own community.

Squires’ call to action: “Black leaders in religion, politics, media, entertainment, education, culture, and industry must be at the forefront of any effort to revive marriage and breathe new life into the black family.” …

Pastors P.M. Smith and Tommy E. Quick opened the event by emphasizing the church’s role in the solution. Their conversation was grounded in the belief that God created the family, and when His design is corrupted, the consequences are catastrophic. Both pastors have dedicated their lives and their ministries to the restoration of the family.

“Family is the basic building unit of every neighborhood and every nation. Family is the smallest unit of government,” said Smith.

Ian Rowe, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, discussed marriage and family success. He described “the success sequence,” a series of decisions that, if followed in order, lead to at least 97% of individuals avoiding poverty and lead to most entering the middle class. The success sequence includes earning at least a high school diploma, securing a job, then marrying and having children.

“These are the decisions within your control,” Rowe said. “You have the ability to execute within your life.”`

A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was that marriage is a cornerstone – not a capstone – of life. Panelists urged attendees to marry, raise children, and model healthy relationships within their communities….

Squires’ report arrives 60 years after the publication of the highly controversial Moynihan Report, which provided an early description of the deterioration of the black family.

Squires highlighted what he says are two indisputable truths: “The family is the foundational institution in every society” and “households built on the foundation of natural marriage – the union of one man and one woman – are the ideal environment for raising children.”

Twenty-five years ago, latter-day prophets and apostles saw the danger coming to families, and now other sources recognize that families are being destroyed to the detriment of children. The “success sequence” of high school diploma, full-time job, marriage, and then children works to keep families out of poverty and even move them to the middle class.

The family proclamation states that the family is “central” to God’s plan for our happiness. Squires called the family “the foundational institution in every society.” I call the family the “core unit” of society.” Whatever the term, we can see that strong families strengthen their communities, states, and nations.

Why Is Honesty Necessary for Freedom?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns honesty in personal relationships, media, and politics. One important reason that honesty is necessary is that dishonesty usually ends in someone being hurt in some way. Another reason for honesty is that dishonesty shuts down open communication. A third reason honesty is critical is that other people do not know when they can trust you with the truth and when they cannot.

Seconds after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, his critics and enemies attempted to destroy his legacy. According to staff at Blaze TV, Kirk was previously labeled “racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic white supremacist.” After his death, the ghouls in our society “had to make up bald-faced lies about him, twisting his words to paint him as the nazi they believe all conservatives are.” 

The many circulating lies are an attempt to justify the murder of Charlie Kirk. Beck called their efforts “grotesque to the highest decree because the truth is: Charlie Kirk was above reproach.” Beck recently discussed “the five biggest lies” about Kirk on “The Glenn Beck Program.”

Lie #1: Charlie Kirk endorsed the enslavement of black people.

One of the lies currently making the rounds is that Charlie Kirk said, “Black people were better off in slavery.”

… On the contrary, Charlie made it clear that the enslavement of any man is evil.

What he did say, however, was that the black family was faring better before the passage of the Civil Rights Act, which ended the Jim Crow era. “And it was!” says Glenn, a history aficionado. In those days, divorce rates were lower, fathers were more present in the home, and the crime rate was lower in the black community. Statistics prove that following the Civil Rights Movement, divorce rates among black couples surged, as did crime rates.

Glenn’s theory is that the Civil Rights Movement was spearheaded by progressives who wanted to oppress the black community, but instead of denying rights, they targeted the family. According to his hypothesis, President Lyndon B. Johnson, who he reminds was “the biggest racist up until he died,” packaged his Great Society – Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and expanded welfare programs – as a means of tackling poverty and racial injustice in order to conceal his true intentions: enslave black people financially.

“The Great Society did more damage to the black family than anybody could have done outside of Margaret Sanger. I think that’s what [Charlie] meant,” says Glenn.

Lie #2: Charlie Kirk said black women are intellectually inferior.

Many progressive[s] are falsely claiming that Charlie Kirk said all black women are inferior intellectually. This is a distortion of a comment the Turning Point USA founder said on “The Charlie Kirk Show” in 2023 following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and UNC, in which the court declared that affirmative action violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14^th Amendment.

Kirk called out Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Ketanji Brown Jackson – all of whom had admitted that their success was only made possible by affirmative action.

“All of them basically confess, ‘Yeah, I was an affirmative action person, and I’m proud of it.’ This is how arrogant Joy Reid and Ketanji Brown Jackson and Michelle Obama and Sheila Jackson Lee are. They’re like, ‘Yeah, I took your slot.’ They do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken seriously, but they had to go steal a white person’s slot … to be taken somewhat seriously,” Kirk said….

To suggest that he called all black women dumb is “so incredibly dishonest,” says Glenn.

Lie #3: Charlie Kirk said gun deaths are worth protecting the Second Amendment

Another quote that’s making the rounds is Charlie’s comment following the Nashville school shooting. At a TPUSA event in Salt Lake City, he was asked about defending Second Amendment rights against gun control advocates.

In response, he said, “You will never live in a society when you have an armed citizenry and you won’t have a single gun death. That is nonsense. It’s drivel. But I am – I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That is a prudent deal. It is rational.”

He then gave the example of deaths related to car accidents. “We have determined as a society that it is worth it to have cars, even though 40,000 people die every single year in car accidents.” ….

Lie #4: Charlie Kirk used an Asian slur

Perhaps the most egregious lie circulating among leftists is that Charlie used the racial slur “c***k” to refer to an Asian woman. A deceptively edited video from a 2018 Politicon event shows Charlie using the word repeatedly.

Except the word he was actually saying was “Cenk.” Charlie was engaged in a heated exchange with socialist progressive Cenk Uygur, co-host of “The Young Turks.” The maliciously edited video aimed to paint him as a racist and give progressives justification for celebrating his death….

Lie #5: Charlie Kirk advocated for stoning gay people

Following Kirk’s death, renowned horror novelist Stephen King responded to a tweet from Fox News’ Jesse Watters calling Kirk a “patriot,” saying, “He advocated stoning gays to death. Just sayin’.”

However, he quickly deleted the post and issued an apology when the facts surfaced. Kirk never once advocated for killing anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. King’s lie originates from a 2024 episode of “The Charlie Kirk Show” when Kirk called out children’s YouTuber Ms. Rachel for citing “love thy neighbor” as justification for supporting Pride Month and LGBTQ+ inclusion as a Christian.

Kirk argued that true love means telling people the “truth” about sin rather than affirming it, accusing Ms. Rachel of cherry-picking scripture by ignoring the context of God’s laws on sexual morality. To illustrate his point, he pointed to Leviticus, which calls homosexuality an abomination punishable by death.

Kirk’s point was that God clearly sees homosexuality as sin – not that gay people should be killed.

The Blaze Staff concluded their article by paraphrasing a statement made by Stu Burguiere: “The truth … is that if there was any legitimate dirt on Charlie Kirk, progressives wouldn’t have to resort to these distortions.” He then described Charlie as:

Charlie was “a guy who worked hard to debate people, who tried to practice politics and civic life the right way, who tried to be a shining light for his faith, which was vitally important to him and his family,” he says, but “if that vision of Charlie Kirk was false, you wouldn’t need to go to these things. You could come up with 50 different things he said that were really offensive. Instead what you come up with are lies because that’s what you’re in the business of.”

The article included a video with more of the conversation between Glenn and Stu. 

How Should Americans Remember Charlie Kirk’s Legacy?

Charlie Kirk’s funeral was held on Sunday, September 21, 2025, about ten days after his death. The site for the funeral was State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were all in attendance.

Any person may ask, what kind of young man became friends with leaders like Trump, Vance, and Rubio as well as being respected and admired by teenagers and young adults. The word that I would use to describe him – an opinion that comes from hearing him speak and watching him interact with other people – is genuine. He did not seem to care if you were important or not. He did not care about your race, color, age, or religion. He loved all God’s children, especially those who were high school and college students. He loved people, and people loved him!

Victor Davis Hanson, in an article published at The Daily Signal, sought “to put the passing of Charlie Kirk in perspective” and “to make sense of this terrible incident. He suggested that we “remember what Charlie Kirk did.” He was a political organizer and a media figure, but he did not try “to persuade people on the basis solely of politics” like traditional politicians do. 

Charlie Kirk addressed “root causes that make people vote in a particular way.” He told leaders in the Republican Party that there was an “existential crisis of young people” on and off college campuses – young people who cannot afford to buy a car or home or to have children. He recognized that there is an “alienation of the youth and its flirtation with [socialism] and its false answers to these real problems. But more importantly, it’s creating a social, cultural problem called ‘prolonged adolescence.’”

Charlie Kirk tried to understand the situation of young adults – young people who are marrying later, having fewer children, and doing so later in life. Instead of buying homes in their late 20s and early 30s, they are waiting longer to do so. Instead of going to school for four years and then getting married, buying a home, and starting a family, they are going to school for six or eight or more years and owing several hundred thousand dollars in student loans. So, Charlie Kirk sought to “address the cultural, the economic, the social maladies of this country that expressed themselves in politics. And he thought if he took care of that, then he would be successful elsewhere. And so, he was.”

Democrat Joe Biden carried the youth vote – those 19- to 40-year-olds. However, without Kirk’s help in 2024, Republican Donald Trump “got, nationwide, 6% to 8%, about 8% higher of that youth vote than he did in 2020.” Even more important, Trump “got up to 18% to 19%” in key swing states – like Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arizona, and Georgia – and flipped “a greater margin in 2024 than he did 2020.” Those additional votes gave Trump the Electoral College win – credited mostly to Charlie Kirk and his “efforts at addressing the real issues that young people were worried about – and showed the youth’s respect for Charlie Kirk.

Here are some interesting facts that Hanson shared about Charlie Kirk.

·         “He was the most successful political activist under 40 of either party, Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative.”

·         He was “a political organizer, a political activist, [who created] a business-like organization … a 501(c)(3) … nonprofit … with $100 million budget.”

·         “He was a writer … a podcaster” who “dropped out of college at 18” and lived “by his wits, not in the artificial bubble of academia or the la-la land of the campus, where there are no consequences to behavior.” He “had to earn a living … form an organization … [and] appeal to people.”

·         “… he learned to speak to people in a practical … to write with people in a pragmatic way … learned to organize and galvanize people in a practical way.

Hanson did not mention Charlie Kirk’s intelligence, but he seemed to me to be highly intelligent. He may not have been “educated” in the way that Democratic politicians thought that he should be, but he was deeply knowledgeable. I heard one of Kirk’s employees and friends say that Kirk was always reading books and talking with wise people to gain knowledge and wisdom.

According to Hanson, Charlie Kirk recognized that the “universities are training generation after generation after generation in this seriously dangerous leftist dogma” (Charlie’s words). How did such a young man see the situation so clearly? Charlie also said (quoted by Hanson): “And therefore, I’m going to the campus and trying to stop this indoctrination by offering a different pathway.”

Hanson stated that people could “remember Charles Kirk’s legacy” by registering to vote and getting as many other people registered to vote. He wrote that such actions could help President Donald Trump to keep the House and Senate conservative and “upset the historical law” about a president losing “badly in his first midterm.” However, Americans can register, “show the same energy and creativity that Charlie Kirk did,” and “pull off a historical upset … [and] force multiply the Trump agenda.”

Has Charlie Kirk’s Death Become a Turning Point?

Numerous people in America are claiming that something is changing in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Victor Davis Hanson wrote that the change is not like the movement brought about by the George Floyd death but an “enough is enough” movement. 

We’re witnessing large-scale demonstrations in Ireland, Great Britain. The government of France has fallen, and French President Emmanuel Macron will have to appoint a new prime minister. There is unrest in the Netherlands.

We used to think, during the Cold War, that Eastern Europe was supposedly backward, politically, under the Soviet sway, economically stagnant. But since the Cold War, and especially lately, the Eastern Europeans seem the most sensible of all Westerners. They believe in tradition. They believe in borders. They believe in legal-only immigration. They believe in fossil fuel development. And they have strong militaries because they’ve experienced Soviet aggression and German aggression in the past. And yet, they also are having a reinforcing moment.

What is this moment? We’re seeing it in the United States with thousands of people commemorating the death of Charlie Kirk….

This is not violent. It’s just a collective shrug. And what is the shrug, basically? It’s saying we’re tolerant of people with alternate lifestyles. But whether we like it or not, the nuclear two-parent family, for 2,500 years, has ensured the survival of Western civilization. It gives us two to three to four children, and we can reproduce the species.

We’re tolerant of Islam and Buddhism, Hinduism. We have a multiracial, multicultural population. But whether we like it or not, the foundations of the United States are Judeo-Christian, as they are of Western civilization in general. We have no apologies for that….

We also are tired of what I call boutique anti-Americanism…. And we’re tired of it. It doesn’t mean we’re gonna outlaw free speech or try to use the same tactics as the critics of America do. But what we’re saying is, we’re a unique place. We’re better than the alternative. We don’t have to be perfect to be good. So, you can say all you want, but we’re gonna not just ignore you, we’re gonna do our best to make sure your voices have [no] influence.

And that’s why people are taking to the street in Europe. They’re saying an open border and illegal immigration brings in millions of people from the Middle East. They have no proven desire that they wish to readily assimilate, integrate into a culture and a civilization that they feel is antithetical to that of their home….

But we see the same thing in the United States….

So, we’re saying open borders do not work. We’re saying that if you dismantle natural gas, energy, if you dismantle oil, if you dismantle nuclear power, and you choose to subsidize inefficient and unreliable solar and wind, then you’re going to be a pre-civilizational society. Germany was the juggernaut of Europe, and now it’s a pathetic weakling, economically. Why? Because its energy costs are four times what they used to be. And it’s not a competitive country….

The political assassination of Charlie Kirk is the first such action since the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. I believe that the shot that killed Kirk awoke millions of people who had previously refused to consider the evil taking place in America. The New York Post called the movement of moderate Democrats and Independents into the Republican Party a “Charlie Kirk effect.” The new Republicans “told The Post they were horrified by [Kirk’s] assassination.” They considered Kirk to be “kind and reasonable,” and they were “disgusted by the ghoulish celebration of his killing by many lefties.” 

Who Is Kash Patel?

My VIP for this week is Kash Patel, the current FBI Director who was grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. Patel was described as “testy” during his testimony, which he was when being grilled by Democrat Senators. In his article published at The Daily Signal, Fred Lucas found five key moments in the Patel hearing. 

1. Charlie Kirk Assassination

Potentially, more than 20 people were aware that the suspect in the Sept. 10 killing of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had talked about doing so, Patel told the committee….

2. ‘Central Question’ on Jeffrey Epstein

The FBI director also fielded questions from several senators about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose death in federal prison was ruled a suicide. Patel said during the hearing that Epstein was never an informant for the FBI….

3. ‘Operation Arctic Frost’

Grassley announced at the top of the hearing that he and Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., chairman of the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released additional information Tuesday on the FBI’s “Operation Arctic Frost.” During the Biden administration, the Arctic Frost probe targeted 92 Republican-leaning groups and individuals, including the Kirk-founded Turning Point USA, for investigations, according to FBI whistleblowers who informed the senators about it earlier this year….

4. Adam Schiff ‘Political Buffoon’

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., engaged in a fiery confrontation with Patel when he asked about the Epstein case and interrupted Patel’s attempts to answer questions. Patel reminded the panel that it was Schiff who propagated the debunked theory that Trump had conspired with the Russian government to win the 2016 election….

“You have disgraced this institution and are an utter coward,” Patel said….

Patel responded, “I’m not surprised you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show so you can go raise money for your charade. You are a political buffoon at best.”

5. ‘You’re Not Going to Be Around Long’

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Patel that Trump would likely fire him….

“You can tell me my time is over,” Patel said. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Who Are the Four Horsemen of Western Civilization?

 There is not a lot of happy talk in America and the world as I write this essay. Conservatives are reeling from the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and Americans are commemorating 9/11. Mix in the murder of a young Ukraine refugee as well as other bad news, and we are buried in somber news, such as a situation that Victor Davis Hanson calls “Four Horsemen of the Western Civilization Apocalypse.” 

Davis explained that Europe is in trouble – turmoil is the word used by Hanson. The news tells us that France’s government fell, but Hanson explained that this meant that “the prime minister was just relieved.” Alternative governments are governing “most of Eastern Europe and Italy and the Netherlands.” Plus, there is “political unrest in Ireland and Britain.” America has its own problems with a political assassination and other violence.

Hanson described all these problems as the “Four Horsemen of the Western Civilizational Apocalypse.” He wrote that Europe, the United States, and other Western countries “are facing from four self-inflicted wounds.”

            First Horseman: Green Madness

The first is what I would call green madness. That is, an elite in all of these Western countries felt that they were at the end of history, they were gonna create heaven on Earth, and they started to dismantle nuclear power, oil-generated power, coal power, and in substitution, subsidized very inefficient and unreliable solar and wind. They stopped producing oil and natural gas.

And the result of this is that their electricity and fuel costs skyrocketed, making them uncompetitive and destroying the viability of the middle classes that are now in revolt….

Second Horseman: Borders

A second horseman of this apocalypse are borders.

Remember, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “Yes we can. We can let in a million people from the Middle East.”

But in Britain, in France, in the Netherlands, in Italy, in Greece, and in Germany, the influx of millions of people from the Middle East – poor, often without language facility, coming illegally without legal sanction, without skills, without capital, and with ideas and values that are antithetical to the Western enlightenment – are not assimilating. They’re not acculturating. They’re not integrating at a sufficient pace to avoid social turmoil. The host has not been able or is unwilling to acculturate them into European values.

The result is the populations of these countries are almost 15% to 16% Islamic refugees that are not part of the body politic. And there is social tension, it’s unsustainable as far as the entitlement cost to these host countries, and it doesn’t bode well….

Third Horseman: Demographic Suicide

There’s another problem, maybe even graver, and that’s – I would call it demographic suicide.

The fertility rate is only 1.4 in Europe, and it’s not much better here in the United States, 1.6. We have adopted a lifestyle that suggests that there’s nothing unique or it should not be privileged, that two-parent households with two to three children. That was the basis of Western civilization, and it was necessary for a 2.1 fertility rate to reproduce the culture.

But when you’re down to 1.4 or 1.6, the population is shrinking and ossifying and aging, and there’s not enough young people to support the older people in their retirement.

So, a pension crisis is looming in all these countries, and the result of it is they must, for sufficient labor needs, open their borders and bring in people – often with contrary values to their own – who don’t, as I said earlier, do not assimilate. But if these countries in the West do not reproduce themselves, then history suggests they’re doomed.

Fourth Horseman: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion

There’s a final one, and that is diversity, equity, inclusion. This is the idea that particular peoples, who identify tribally, should be given exemption or preferences from the body politic.

In other words, in the United States, if you claim you’re not white – and that’s a very problematic matter. That’s why I said “claim,” because of the rise of inner marriage and multiracialism. But nevertheless, it’s a very archaic idea that you identify by your superficial appearance rather than the content of your character.

But when you start to provide exemptions from people, or give them preferences and admissions and hiring and retention and tenure, or you suggest that people of a particular superficial appearance shall be given exemptions from law, the consequences of crime, or the consequences of failing to meet expectations of schools, then you’ve created – whether you like it or not – the beginnings of tribalism. And tribalism is inconsistent with the Western Enlightenment, as we see in Europe and as we see in the United States. [Bolded headings added.]

According to Hanson, these conditions “can be corrected” – “These Four Horsemen of the Western Apocalypse can be driven out” because “they were self-inflicted in suicidal fashion.”

Hanson stated how we can “drive out” the four “horsemen” that are destroying Western civilization. He suggested that we establish “a commonsense policy about energy,” “secure our borders and have legal-only immigration.” In addition, we should “encourage two-parent families, nuclear families, to have two children or three children.” Last, we should “start to assess people” as individuals – “not by their superficial appearance.”

How Should We Account for Our Stewardships?

My Come Follow Me studies this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 102-105 in a lesson titled “After Much Tribulation … Cometh the Blessing.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The Saints in Kirtland were heartbroken to hear that their brothers and sisters in Jackson County, Missouri, were being driven from their homes. It must have been encouraging, then, when the Lord declared that “the redemption of Zion” would “come by power” (Doctrine and Covenants 103:15). With that promise in their hearts, over 200 men and about 25 women and children enlisted in what they called the Camp of Israel, later known as Zion’s Camp. Its mission was to march to Missouri and redeem Zion.

To the members of the camp, redeeming Zion meant restoring the Saints to their land. But just before they arrived in Jackson County, the Lord told Joseph Smith to disband Zion’s Camp. Some members of the camp were confused and upset; it seemed the expedition had failed and the Lord’s promises were not fulfilled. Others, however, saw it differently. While the exiled Saints did not get their lands and homes back, the experience did bring a degree of “redemption” to Zion, and it did “come by power.” Faithful members of Zion’s Camp, many of whom later became leaders of the Church, testified that the experience deepened their faith in God’s power, in Joseph Smith’s divine call, and in Zion—not just Zion the place but Zion the people of God. Rather than questioning the value of this seemingly unsuccessful task, they learned that the real task is to follow the Savior, even when we don’t understand everything. This is how Zion, ultimately, will be redeemed.

This scripture block includes the following principles: (1) What is the purpose of membership councils? (Doctrine and Covenants 102:12-23), (2) Zion can be built only on principles of righteousness (Doctrine and Covenants 103:1-12, 36; 105:1-19), (3) Blessings come after trials of faith (Doctrine and Covenants 103:12-13, 36; 105:1-6, 9-19), and (4) The Lord has made me a “steward over earthly blessings” (Doctrine and Covenants 104:11-18, 78-83).

This essay will discuss the last listed principle about being stewards over earthly blessings. First, we will look at the scripture block, Doctrine and Covenants 104:11-18, 78-83.

11 It is wisdom in me; therefore, a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall organize yourselves and appoint every man his stewardship.

12 That every man may give an account unto me of the stewardship which is appointed unto him.

13 For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures.

14 I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.

15 And it is my purpose to provide for my saints, for all things are mine.

16 But it must needs be done in mine own way; and behold this is the way that I, the Lord, have decreed to provide for my saints, that the poor shall be exalted, in that the rich are made low.

17 For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things, and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.

18 Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.

78 And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts.

79 And it is my will that you shall humble yourselves before me, and obtain this blessing by your diligence and humility and the prayer of faith.

80 And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance.

81 Therefore write speedily to New York and write according to that which shall be dictated by my Spirit; and I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, that it shall be taken away out of their minds to bring affliction upon you.

82 And inasmuch as ye are humble and faithful and call upon my name, behold, I will give you the victory. [Emphasis added.]

83 I give unto you a promise, that you shall be delivered this once out of your bondage. [Emphasis added.]

The Saints living in Missouri faced numerous trials in 1834, and the Church faced financial difficulties, including heavy debts and expenses. It was under these circumstances that the Lord gave counsel on how to solve the problem of the Church’s financial situation. This counsel can be applied to our individual financial decisions.

We are each steward over the circumstances of our lives. For example, my husband and I have a house on a small piece of land and a couple of vehicles. We both have college degrees representing knowledge and skills that can be applied for earning money. We have other assets. We are responsible for keeping our physical properties in good condition and to use it properly. We are responsible for keeping our training current and using our knowledge to bless our lives as well as the lives of our immediate family and other people in general. All our assets belong to the Lord, to whom we must account for how we use them. We must pay our debts and keep our property debt free

Can Early Child Development Strengthen the Economy?

Social scientists say that nature and nurture are both critical in the rearing of children. They recognize that genes have a certain amount of influence in the person that a child becomes. For example, a child who inherits athletic ability in their genes is more likely to become a good athlete than a child who did not. In the same way, a child who inherits musical ability will more than likely have greater musical success than those who do not.

Although genes are influential, nurture is also powerful. A child whose parents encourage participation in sports and help them to develop athletic skills can excel in sports even though it does not come naturally. The same is true with music. Whereas genes are inherited from parents without anything that parent or child can do about them, there are actions and environmental things that parents can do, such as reading to children from the time they are born and giving them lots of experiences, such as going to a park to play.

Middle class and wealthy parents usually have the time and money to invest in providing a healthy nurturing experience for their children. However, lower class parents as well as those living in poverty do not.

James J. Heckman, a Professor of Economics at The University of Chicago as well as a Nobel Laureate in Economics and an expert in the economics of human development, authored an interesting paper about early childhood development titled “The Heckman Equation – Invest in early childhood development: Reduce deficits, strengthen the economy.” 

The highest rate of return in early childhood development comes from investing as early as possible, from birth through age five, in disadvantaged families. Starting at age three or four is too little too late, as it fails to recognize that skills beget skills in a complementary and dynamic way. Efforts should focus on the first years for the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. The best investment is in quality early childhood development from birth to five for disadvantaged children and their families.

Heckman gave the following counsel about why it is important to invest in early childhood development for disadvantaged children and their families.

·         Those seeking to reduce deficits and strengthen the economy should make significant investments in early childhood education….

·         Early childhood development drives success in school and life….

·         Investing in early childhood education for at-risk children is an effective strategy for reducing social costs….

·         Investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy for promoting economic growth….

Heckman shared the following principles “to make efficient and effective public investments that reduce deficits and strengthen the economy.”

·         Investing in early childhood education is a cost-effective strategy – even during a budget crisis.

·         Prioritize investment in quality early childhood education for at-risk children.

·         Develop cognitive AND character skills early. Invest in the “whole child.”

·         Provide developmental resources to children AND their families.

·         Invest, develop and sustain to produce gain.

Heckman concluded his paper: “Early childhood education is an efficient and effective investment for economic and workforce development. The earlier the investment, the greater the return on investment.”

Star Parker authored an article about Heckman’s counsel on early childhood development. She then noted that the Trump administration is trying to solve the housing crisis in the United States.

According to Newsweek, one of the actions being taken is to target immigrant families being served by Section 8. “‘Illegal aliens’ – foreign-born individuals without legal authorization or permission to stay in the U.S. – would not receive rental help over American citizens.” 

Another action that the Trump administration would like to take – according to Newsweek -- is to place “a two-year limit on assistance for beneficiaries [of Section 8 housing – helps low-income families, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and veterans with housing in the private market], with the exception of the elderly and individuals with disabilities, to incentivize self-sufficiency among able-bodied recipients”

After sharing information about Section 8 housing, Parker shared the following information: 

A widely circulated recent video of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner captures Turner explaining to a reporter the rationale of the HUD introducing time limits to residence in government housing. He talks about a woman who is one of three generations in her family living in the same government housing project. Turner justifies a period of assistance from government but, he maintains, welfare should not be a lifestyle.

I agree that “welfare should not be a lifestyle.” No able-bodied adult should be on welfare for years. If they are capable of working and have no little children needing their care, then they should be working for their livelihood. Welfare should be a “hand up” and not a “hand out.” One way to decrease the likelihood of a future living on welfare is to “invest in early childhood development.”

Wise parents will ensure that their children receive adequate nurturing and education to allow them to grow into productive adults. A wise society will ensure that children from disadvantaged families will also receive adequate education. Such families will strengthen their communities, states, and nations.