Did Adam and Eve Have the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 5 and Moses 6 in a lesson titled “Teach These Things Freely unto Your Children.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Most of Genesis 5 is a list of the generations between Adam and Eve and Noah. We read a lot of names, but we don’t learn much about them. Then we read this intriguing but unexplained line: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Surely there’s a story behind that verse! But without further explanation, the list of generations resumes.

Thankfully, Moses 6 reveals the details of Enoch’s story—and it’s quite a story. We learn of Enoch’s humility, his insecurities, the potential God saw in him, and the great work he performed as God’s prophet. We also get a clearer picture of the family of Adam and Eve as it progressed through the generations. We read of Satan’s “great dominion” but also of parents who taught children “the ways of God” (Moses 6:15, 21). Especially precious is what we learn about the doctrine these parents taught: faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost (see Moses 6:50-52). That doctrine, like the priesthood that accompanies it, “was in the beginning [and] shall be in the end of the world also” (Moses 6:7).

This scripture block and lesson teach the following principles: (1) Sin limits my ability to see, feel, and hear the things of God (Moses 6:26-36); (2) God calls me to do His work despite my weaknesses (Moses 6:26-47); (3) The gospel of Jesus Christ was taught from the beginning (Moses 6:48-68); (4) “Teach these things freely unto your children” (Moses 6:51-62). This essay will discuss principle #3 about the gospel of Jesus Christ being taught from the time of Adam.

Genesis 5 gives us a small bit of information about the early patriarchs. Moses 6 was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith and gives much more information, particularly about Enoch. Though question: Why do you think God wants us to learn about Enoch?

Enoch taught the plan of salvation, and he taught so well that he and the Holy Ghost caused the people to be righteous enough to be taken into heaven. We will look at the scripture block Moses 6:48-68 and share information about some of the verses that was taught by latter-day prophets and apostles:

48 And he said unto them: Because that Adam fell, , we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.

49 Behold Satan hath come among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual, , and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God.

50 But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent.

Moses 6:48-50. “By His Fall Came Death”

Because of Adam’s Fall, all mankind suffer physical death (the separation of the immortal spirit from the mortal body) and spiritual death (separation from the presence of God). Furthermore, because people yield to the temptations of Satan, they become “carnal, sensual, and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God” until they repent (Moses 6:49). The good news of the plan of salvation is that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all mankind will overcome physical death and can overcome spiritual death (see Romans 3:23; Mosiah 16:3-4; Alma 11:42-43; Helaman 14:14-18; Moses 6:52). 

51 And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh.

52 52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation  shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.

53 And our father Adam spake unto the Lord, and said: Why is it that men must repent and be baptized in water? And the Lord said unto Adam: Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden.

54 Hence came the saying abroad among the people, that the Son of God hath atoned for original guilt, wherein the sins of the parents cannot be answered upon the heads of the children, for they are whole from the foundation of the world.

Moses 6:53-54. What Does “Original Guilt” Mean?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “We are not haunted with an overhanging sense of ‘original sin’ about which we can do nothing. (Moses 6:54; Moroni 8:15-16.) By revelation, we know that the Lord told Adam: ‘Behold I have forgiven thee thy transgression in the Garden of Eden.’ (Moses 6:53.) Thus, we are accountable for our ‘own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression’ (Article of Faith 2.)” (Meek and Lowly [1987], 42–43). 

55 And the Lord spake unto Adam, saying: Inasmuch as thy children are conceived in sin, even so when they begin to grow up, sin conceiveth in their hearts, and they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good.

Moses 6:55. What Does “Thy Children Are Conceived in Sin” Mean?

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles indicated that the phrase “conceived in sin” means “born into a world of sin” (see A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 101). 

56 And it is given unto them to know good from evil; wherefore they are agents unto themselves, and I have given unto you another law and commandment.

Moses 6:56. Moral Agency: A Gift of God

God gave us the great gift of agency in the day He created us (see Moses 7:32). Moral agency enables us to choose between good and evil and to experience the consequences of our choices (see 2 Nephi:14-16, 25-29; D&C 101:78). 

57 Wherefore teach it unto your children, that all men, everywhere, must repent, or they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God, for no unclean thing can dwell there, or dwell in his presence; for, in the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name, and the name of his Only Begotten is the Son of Man, even Jesus Christ, a righteous Judge, who shall come in the meridian of time.

58 Therefore I give unto you a commandment, to teach these things freely unto your children, saying:

59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory; [Enoch saw that Adam and Eve were baptized.]

Moses 6:59. Water, Blood, and Spirit

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:

“Two births are essential to salvation. Man cannot be saved without birth into mortality, nor can he return to his heavenly home without a birth into the realm of the Spirit. … The elements present in a mortal birth and in a spiritual birth are the same. They are water, blood, and spirit. Thus every mortal birth is a heaven-given reminder to prepare for the second birth. …

“In every mortal birth the child is immersed in water in the mother’s womb. At the appointed time the spirit enters the body, and blood always flows in the veins of the new person. Otherwise, without each of these, there is no life, no birth, no mortality.

“In every birth into the kingdom of heaven, the newborn babe in Christ is immersed in water, he receives the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and the blood of Christ cleanses him from all sin. Otherwise, without each of these, there is no Spirit-birth, no newness of life, no hope of eternal life. …

“… These elements were again present in [Christ’s] death. He sweat great drops of blood in Gethsemane as he took upon himself the sins of all men on conditions of repentance. This same agony and suffering recurred on the cross. It was then that he permitted his spirit to leave his body, and it was then that blood and water gushed from his riven side” (A New Witness, 288–89). 

60 For by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified, and by the blood ye are sanctified;

Moses 6:60. “By the Water”

“Baptism is not optional if one wishes the fullness of salvation. Jesus said a person must be born of water and of the Spirit (John 3:3-5). When he sent the twelve apostles forth to teach the gospel he told them that whosoever believed and was baptized would be saved; and whosoever did not believe would be damned (Mark 16:16). …

“Baptism in water has several purposes. It is for the remission of sins, for membership in the Church, and for entrance into the celestial kingdom; it is also the doorway to personal sanctification when followed by the reception of the Holy Ghost” (Bible Dictionary, “Baptism”; see also D&C 76:51-52). 

Moses 6:60. Justification

To be justified is to be made just, or free from guilt and sin. The Holy Ghost is the member of the Godhead whose power acts as a cleansing agent that removes guilt and sin from our lives (see 2 Nephi 31:17). President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) said: “Through the shedding of the blood of Christ, we are cleansed and sanctified; and we are justified, through the Spirit of God” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1955], 2:324–25). 

Moses 6:60. Sanctification

To be sanctified is to be holy and worthy of eternal life and immortal glory (see Moroni 10:32-33). Through His perfect Atonement, Jesus Christ shed His blood and made it possible for all who have faith and repent to be sanctified (see Mosiah 3:11, 18; Alma 34:10-16). Thus, we are ransomed and made holy by the blood of Christ. President Joseph Fielding Smith taught:

“The atonement by which men are redeemed, was made by one without blemish and without spot. He had to be one who had life in himself, and therefore all power over death. No mortal man could make the atonement. Moreover, the atonement had to be made by the shedding of blood, for blood is the vitalizing force of the mortal body. …

“The Scriptures are replete with passages teaching us that there could be no remission of sins without the shedding of the blood of Jesus Christ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1956, 127). 

61 Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment.

62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.

Moses 6:62. “This Is the Plan of Salvation”

President Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the plan of salvation “is also called the plan of happiness, … the plan of redemption, the plan of restoration, the plan of mercy, the plan of deliverance, and the everlasting gospel. Prophets have used these terms interchangeably.

“Regardless of designation, the enabling essence of the plan is the atonement of Jesus Christ” (“Constancy and Change,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 33). 

63 And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.

Moses 6:63. All Things Are Made to Bear Record of Christ

In the creation of the heavens and the earth, the Lord used physical symbols to teach us doctrines and principles of Jesus Christ and His gospel (see also 2 Nephi 11:4)). Understanding gospel symbols requires the uniting of an earthly or concrete dimension with a transcendent, spiritual dimension. The prophet Alma taught that “all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44). These things not only testify of the existence of a Supreme Being, but also that He is Jesus Christ, the Creator of all.

The Lord taught His disciples to look upon the contents of the scriptures and see things concerning Himself (see Luke 24:44-45). To search for and discover symbols of Christ in the scriptures is to open a wellspring of new thoughts and emotions relative to the Atonement of Jesus Christ. For example, the earthly ordinance of baptism by immersion is symbolic of the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ (see Romans 6:3-5; D&C 76:51-52). 

64 And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water.

65 And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man.

66 And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever;

67 And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity.

Moses 6:67. Adam held the Melchizedek Priesthood. 

68 Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons. Amen.

Moses 6:64-68. Adam, an Eternal Son of God

Enoch showed how Adam set the example for all of us by exercising his faith in Christ through baptism by water and the Spirit. Therefore, by his obedience, Adam became “one in [Christ], a son of God” (Moses 6:68). In like manner, all may become sons and daughters of God (see Mosiah 5:7; 27:24-27; D&C 25:1; 39:4). 

As we can see from these verses in Moses 6 and the words of latter-day prophets and apostles, Adam and Eve were taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. This means that God has been teaching His children how to find redemption from the beginning.

Thought questions: Why do you think God compared baptism to being “born again”? (verse 59). What can you do to continue to be “born again” throughout your life

How Should Parents Teach Daughters to Aspire to Marriage and Family?

Families, communities, states, and nations are stronger when young women are encouraged to consider marriage and family to be an important part of life. In her article published at the Deseret News, Amanda Freebairn discussed the value of parents “Teaching your daughters to aspire to marriage and family is a good thing.” She added that parents must be direct and open about these teachings; otherwise, other forces will convince them to go a different way. 

For years, popular stories in the media landscape have treated commitment, and in particular family life, as the thing a serious young woman must outgrow in order to become her best self. Girls hear the message early: Don’t build your life around love and family too soon or you’ll drown in drudgery.

Encouraging marriage and family, on the other hand, has been seen as cringe and religiously fundamentalist, at best – and, at worst, as dangerous and misogynistic. The true modern woman proves her strength by staying unencumbered: career first, autonomy above all, and relationships only pursued when they don’t make too many demands.

The messaging is relentless enough that women of faith can sometimes be swept away. And as our daughters get pulled in certain directions by the gravitational force of this pervasive message, I’ve come to believe that it’s urgent to be even more up front and honest with them about what matters most.

Women should, of course, be educated, financially capable, and free to pursue meaningful work. But starting a family of one’s own can also require as much planning, sacrifice and serious preparation as any professional considerations.

A culture that treats paid work as the highest measure of meaning will inevitably downplay distinct life-giving and life-sustaining capacities women embody – biological, emotional and relational. One can affirm women’s equality without pretending the sexes are the same and honor women’s ambitions without treating caregiving as a lesser form of contribution.

When we treat caregiving as secondary, we shouldn’t be surprised to see social life begin to fray. In the last 40 years, work that has been traditionally done by women (birthing, feeding, teaching and caring for the children, keeping the home, building communities, caring for the sick and elderly) has become increasingly outsourced or abandoned altogether.

At the same time, our society has become steadily more depressed, addicted, obese, and lonely than ever. High school girls are now more than 10 percentage points less likely than boys to say they want to get married some day. In one recent poll, Gen Z women ranked being married and having children 10^th and 11^th most important on a list of attributes that make a life successful (after five economic conditions and “emotional stability” but before “fame and influence”).

But the “you can have it all” era has been cracking for years. Anne-Marie Slaughter’s widely read Atlantic essay “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All” put words to what many professional women felt: It was always unreasonable to expect women to “manage to rise up the ladder as fast as men and also have a family and an active home life (and be thin and beautiful to boot).” …

This might be good news. Many women I know have grown tired of the power woman vision of success. It simply doesn’t work as well as many women have hoped….

Young parents today now have the opportunity to change the culture of ow we empower our daughters. Along with other positive messages we might share, let’s be willing to boldly teach them to aspire to marriage and family.

I’m not simply arguing that women should consider marriage and children the way they might consider a city to live in or a hobby to take up. I’m saying that parents should teach their daughters early and unapologetically that building a family is a very important good: a central way human beings give and receive love, learn responsibility, and create something that outlasts them.

Treating family as one lifestyle choice among many doesn’t just expand options; it tells girls that commitment is negotiable, that caregiving is second-rate, and that postponing love carries no cost.

The sociological data probably needs no repletion, but given these times, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the boost to social connection and stable childhood outcomes that comes from stable marriages – compared to the significant consequences for children that follow divorce.

My faith as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gives me additional language for this. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” called the family “central” to our life’s purpose, and we are taught that unlike our worldly careers or possessions, we can find joy with our families in the eternities.

None of this means marriage alone is a guaranteed path to happiness or success…. Having frank conversations about love and marriage can play a preventive role – providing parents opportunities to teach girls what healthy love looks like, how to recognize warning signs, and how to walk away when they must.

Of course, marriage and family shouldn’t be the only aspiration young girls are permitted to have. Many women can balance fulfilling family and professional lives….

Madeleine Albright once said, “Women can have it all, just not at the same time.” This is not an insult to women’s ambition, it is a testament to our freedom – freedom to take one season of life at a time and decide where, in that moment, our own gifts are best used.

Like the author, I believe that parents should encourage their daughters to gain an education and/or training to allow her to support themselves and any children. I believe that parents should model a healthy and happy marriage to show their daughters the importance of marriage and family. Parents should also say and do things to help their daughters to develop confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Why Do Agitators Protest Deportation of the Worst of the Worst Aliens?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns agitators who organize against federal officers. The so-called protests in Minesota have resulted in the deaths of two insurrectionists. Problems grow larger because individuals and organizations are striving to destroy the U.S. government. I often call such group “secret combinations” – a term used in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ to describe the people who destroyed a national government.

One such organization that is working with the insurrectionists in Minnesota is Communidades Organizando el Poder y la Accion Latina, or COPAL Education Fund, according to Tyler O’Neil in his article published at The Daily Signal. 

COPAL describes itself as a group that works “to improve the quality of life of Latine families.” It also hosts a hotline for people to call when spotting Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at work. The group also set up the Immigrant Defense Network, which trains “legal observers” to watch and report ICE.

The New York Times described COPAL as being “on the front lines of anti-ICE operations.” Francisco Segovia, COPAL’s executive director, described the confrontations with ICE as like “being, maybe, in the middle of a civil war.”

Protests of immigration enforcement have continued in the Twin Cities region following recent fatal shootings by federal agents of protesters. Anti-ICE agitators also invaded a church in St. Paul to stage a protest on Jan. 18….

COPAL coordinates anti-ICE actions, and it has received funding from various sources, including your tax dollars [$1 million].

A “handbook for constitutional observers,” co-branded with the Immigrant Defense Network and COPAL, instructs trainees on how to observe and document ICE agents at work.

The handbook specifically states, “Do NOT obstruct an arrest under ANY circumstances,” and instructs observers, “Don’t run or resist” if stopped by law enforcement.

After the Department of Homeland Security surged immigration agents to the Twin Cities in December, various agitators have opposed ICE agents by disrupting their work with whistles, using their cars and bodies to prevent the arrest of illegal aliens, and more.

Segovia, COPAL’s executive director, told The New York Times that the group does not “urge” trainees to blow whistles when ICE agents are present, but also acknowledged that “we provide whistles.”

“We provide copies of those books, and that’s part of the training,” he said of the observer handbook. “The whistle is part of that.”

“For instance, if you, as a citizen, observe the presence of ICE in your neighborhood, you can call the help line and say: I have witnessed this. That information comes to us. We assess the facts, and then we activate constitutional observers,” he said.

There is certainly nothing wrong with watching ICE arrest an illegal alien. However, whenever anyone tries to stop ICE or any other local, state, or national law officer in performing their duty, that person is committing a crime and should pay the price for doing so.

I do not recommend death, but there is a consequence to every action. If the actions are good and lawful, then good consequences usually follow. When the actions are breaking a constitutional law, then adverse consequences will follow – arrest, public humiliation, and even death if an officer of the law feels that agitators are threatening their life or the lives of fellow officers.

Many of the organizations seeking to overthrow the U.S. government are run by socialists or communists. Foreign money is paying for some of the agitators in Minnesota. An American billionaire who lives in China – Communist – has been named as a possible source of the money as well as George Soros who has sworn to destroy our government. Today I heard of an organization located in Canada that gave money to the protesters.

It is difficult to know what is true and what is not true. However, any honest person will agree that having terrorists infiltrate our nation is a terrible thing. ICE has sworn to deport the “worst of the worst.” Why is anyone trying to stop their deportation?

Will Homan Solve the Minnesota Problem?

An insurrection has been taking place in Minneapolis for several weeks. Mobs have been interfering with the efforts of federal officers to deport the “worst of the worst” of criminal illegal aliens. Two individuals have been killed because they chose to interfere with the deportation actions of federal officers.

As my essay from last night explains, the fake media, AKA mainstream media and lamestream media, are instigating more chaos by the wall-to-wall coverage of the mob actions in Minnesota.

President Donald Trump shook up his cabinet a bit and sent border czar, Tom Homan, to meet with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday. The meeting took place “one day after Walz accused federal immigration agents of carrying out an ‘assault on our state.’”

In her article published at The Daily Signal, Virginia Allen reported on the new developments in Minnesota. 

Despite his criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations, Walz spoke with Homan on Tuesday after Trump deployed the border czar to Minneapolis to take over the federal enforcement operation there.

“Governor Walz met with Tom Homan this morning and reiterated Minnesota’s priorities: impartial investigations into the Minneapolis shootings involving federal agents, a swift, significant reduction in the number of federal forces in Minnesota, and an end to the campaign of retribution against Minnesota,” Walz’s office said in a statement.

Walz and Homan have “agreed on the need for an ongoing dialogue and will continue working toward those goals,” Walz’s office added, noting that the governor found similar agreement with Trump during their call Monday.

“The Governor tasked the Minnesota Department of Public Safety as the primary liaison to Homan to ensure these goals are met,” the office added.

Minneapolis has become a flashpoint for the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations following the Immigration and Customs Enforcement-involved shooting in Minneapolis on Jan. 7 that killed 37-year-old Renee Good, and the Border Patrol-involved shooting Saturday that killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti.

Holman also met with Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Tuesday, and Frey said that the two had a “productive conversation.” Frey said that his “main ask” was for federal officers to leave Minneapolis as quickly as possible.

“I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers,” Frey continued.

The mayor says he “made it clear” to Homan “that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe. City leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Mr. Homan and his team.”

For his part, Homan also called the conversations “productive.”

“We all agree that we need to support our law enforcement officers and get criminals off the streets. While we don’t agree on everything, these meetings were a productive starting point and I look forward to more conversations with key stakeholders in the days ahead,” Homan said….

“President Turmp has been clear: he wants American cities to be safe and secure for law-abiding residents – and they will be,” Homan added. Trump says that Homan will answer directly to him.

Where Do You Get Your Information?

Americans are being fed information every single day. The type of information depends on where you get it from. Brent Buchanan, Founder and CEO of Cygnal, is “recognized as America’s most accurate private pollster for four consecutive election cycles, explained in an article published at The Daily Signal why he believes the information media shares about immigration “feels like propaganda.” 

Texas has accounted for 25% of all ICE arrests since enforcement ramped up. The state has processed thousands upon thousands of deportations. No riots. No mob violence against federal officers. No churches stormed during worship services. Minnesota represents less than 1% of ICE arrests. And Minneapolis is on fire. How do you explain that gap?

The answer has nothing to do with immigration policy and everything to do with where Americans get their information.

What the Polling Actually Shows

At Cygnal, we recently surveyed voters on whether the Trump administration’s deportation efforts have gone too far, are about right, or haven’t gone far enough.

The results: 50% said too far, 48% said about right or not far enough. That’s a statistical tie. A country split down the middle.

But if you only consumed legacy media coverage, you’d assume 80% of Americans are horrified by what’s happening. You’d think the deportation efforts represent some unprecedented crisis of conscience for the nation.

They don’t.

Nearly half the country supports the policy or wants it to go further. You just wouldn’t know that from watching the evening news.

The real divide isn’t about what Americans believe. It’s about where they get the information that shapes those beliefs.

Inside the Information Bubbles

The data gets interesting when you cross-reference policy views with media consumption patterns.

Among voters who believe deportation efforts have gone “too far,” 51% get their news primarily from national broadcast television: NBC, ABC, CBS. Compare that to 36% of all voters and just 14% of those who think enforcement hasn’t gone far enough.

The “too far” crowd also over-indexes on newspaper consumption compared to the general voter population. These are the legacy media institutions, the ones that dominated American information for decades.

On the flip side, voters who believe deportation efforts haven’t gone far enough slightly over-index on cable news (45% vs. 40% overall) and dramatically over-index on X, formerly Twitter (16% vs. 9% overall).

The “about right” middle? They’re slightly more likely to get news from cable and Facebook than the average voter. No real drastic differences outside the fact [that] they also don’t get as much of their news from legacy media.

What emerges is a clear pattern: liberals cluster heavily around broadcast television and print newspapers, while conservatives spread across cable, social media, and newer digital platforms.

These groups are consuming different facts, different story selections, different framings of what matters … and what doesn’t.

The Amplification Machine

As said at the beginning, Minnesota represents less than 1% of ICE enforcement activity, but it’s receiving wall-to-wall national coverage. Every confrontation, every protest, every dramatic standoff gets the full treatment – helicopter shots, breathless correspondents, the works.

Texas is processing 25 times the enforcement activity with minimal national attention. Why? Because compliance doesn’t generate clicks. Orderly deportations don’t drive ratings. A state that implements federal policy without mass unrest isn’t a story anyone wants to tell.

More importantly, it doesn’t make Trump look bad in their minds like Minneapolis does.

The editorial choice to focus on Minnesota is about feeding an existing narrative to an audience that wants that narrative confirmed, not informing the public….

The coverage doesn’t just reflect the violence. It incentivizes it.

The Death of Shared Reality

For most of American history, we argued about policy while agreeing on basic facts. Democrats and Republicans watched the same evening news, read the same wire service reports, saw the same footage. They disagreed about what to do, not about what was happening.

That’s over….

What’s Actually at Stake

The Minneapolis situation illustrates the real danger. You have a city tearing itself apart over enforcement activity that represents a statistical rounding error nationally. You have activists storming churches, attacking federal officers, setting fires. And the coverage of that chaos generates more chaos elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the state handling a quarter of all enforcement activity does so with minimal drama….

The question for us is straightforward: Are you going to let your media diet determine your reality? Or are you going to actively seek out primary data, diverse sources, and information that challenges your existing beliefs.

Democracy requires a shared factual foundation. When half the country thinks we’re in a humanitarian crisis and half thinks we’re finally enforcing laws that went ignored for decades – and both sides can cite “evidence” for their position – we have a collective epistemological breakdown.

The information bubble doesn’t just [distort] immigration. Everything is distorted. And the only people who can pop it are the ones willing to step outside their comfortable media habits and ask what they might be missing.

Who Is Harry Reid?

I never thought that I would ever write these words, but here they are. My VIP for this week is the late Harry Reid, the former Senate Majority Leader (2007-2015). I did not know him personally, but I did not like his liberal policies. In fact, I was often disappointed in him because of his liberal policies. He made it known that he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but his policies were often opposite of the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ – in my opinion. However, his liberal efforts, ideas and policies may have been a blessing in disguise.

Rebecca Downs, in an article published at The Daily Signal, stated that Reid’s decision to “nuke the filibuster on certain presidential nominees” may have led to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

Long before the Dobbs v. Jackson decision was handed down in 2022, Reid laid the groundwork through the changes he made to Senate rules. Reid opened Pandora’s box, and the pro-life movement took advantage of it.

Reid, who, like many other Democrats, became increasingly pro-choice over the course of his Senate career, supported nuking the filibuster on some presidential nominees in 2013.

Frustrated with impediments to confirming then President Barack Obama’s nominees, Reid convinced enough of his fellow Democrats to invoke the nuclear option so that breaking a filibuster to confirm Cabinet officials and certain judicial nominees could be done by a simple majority, rather than the 60 votes typically required to end debate before the final confirmation vote.

It was a narrow vote of 48-52 in the Senate on Nov. 21, 2013, that sealed the fate of Roe almost a decade later.

No Republicans voted to nuke the filibuster that November day. They were joined by three Democrats – Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.

Following the vote, then-Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., issued his memorable reply: “I say to my friends on the other side of the aisle, you will regret this, and you may regret it a lot sooner than you think.”

McConnell’s prophetic words came to fruition. Less than four years later, President Donald Trump was in office for his first term and looking to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

The Republican-controlled Senate blocked Obama from filling Scalia’s seat. Obama had nominated Merrick Garland – who would later become former President Joe Biden’s infamous attorney general – for the high court.

Neil Gorsuch was announced as the nominee on Jan. 31, 2017. On April 6, McConnell expanded Reid’s scrapping of the Senate filibuster to allow the nuclear option for Supreme Court nominees.

Gorsuch was confirmed by a vote of 54-46, with no Democratic support….

Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett would be nominated and confirmed to the court by the retirement of former Justice Anthony Kennedy in 2018 and the death of late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020.

The justices nominated by Trump, and reviled and vilified by Democrats, would almost certainly not have gotten confirmed without the nuclear option.

The Dobbs case was heard on May 17, 2021, after numerous delays. This case “centered around Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban” and the official decision was to be handed down on June 24, 2022. However, “the draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito to overturn Roe was leaked on May 2, 2022. Radicals targeted conservative justices, and there was a threat to the life of Justice Kavanaugh. Nevertheless, the decision came down as determined, and Roe v. Wade was overturned -- thanks to Trump, the Justices, congressional Republicans, and Harry Reid.

What Can YOU Do to Teach Others about the U.S. Constitution?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the U.S. Constitution and the importance of teaching the rising generation what is in it. One organization in Florida strives to “boost youth knowledge of the U.S. Constitution.”

The U.S. Constitution Scholarship Foundation, a nonprofit educational and scholarship organization promoting understanding of the Constitution, was founded in 2016 to provide classes and offer scholarships and awards to students in Nassau County, Florida, in the city of Fernandina Beach.

Since the foundation began, the organization has dispensed almost $400,000 in scholarships and awards. Beyond just prize winners, some 400 students graduated from the University of US program over the last decade, said the foundation’s board member Kris Cortes.

“As we celebrate our nation’s 250^th anniversary this year, it is fitting to consider what are some things we can do as a country to increase the probability that our republic continues on for at least another 250 years,” Cortes told The Daily Signal.

“I would submit that increasing our citizenry’s knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution, our Founding Fathers, and our American heritage could certainly help.”

The group will be holding U.S. Constitutional Bowl on April 16. It’s similar to the old “College Bowl” format, where student teams in a quiz format hit a buzzer with their answer. The event is a competition with teams of four students from four county public high schools, and one team for homeschool students. The students answer questions about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Supreme Court.

The four first place team members in the Constitution Bowl each receive $2,000 scholarships, with second place and third place team members receiving $1,000 and $250 scholarships respectively….

The foundation was started to address concerns over constitutional literacy. An Annenberg Public Policy Center survey last year found almost one-third of adults could not identify three branches of government. A Pew Research Center survey in 2023 showed that only 44% of adults knew that U.S. senators serve six-year terms.

“There should be a more concentrated effort for these future adults,” Cortes said. She added, “Young people are cynical about trust in government. Participation in voting is much less among young people.” …

Cortes said she would like to see the template used elsewhere.

“We hope that programs like ours which strive to bring the Constitution to life, will inspire young people to become more engaged in public policy and participate in civic life as educated voters,” Cortes said.

The University of US is the flagship program of the foundation. Juniors and seniors who pass the final exam get a certificate of graduation, and will be eligible to compete for five scholarships in the essay competition.

Students from the four Nassau County public high schools, as well as homeschooled students, attended classes with the “university” that include “Amendments to the Constitution,” and the “Federalist Papers.” Teachers led the classes in full costume, portraying Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, authors of the Federalist Papers. Cortes recalled sitting in a University of US session that her daughter was participating.

“It was fabulous. So I started to volunteer and attending the adult speaker forums, which are wonderful,” she said. “I was then asked to join the board a couple of years ago.

“If we look at the history of republics that have survived over long periods of time, there are common aspects that lead to success,” she added. “And for America, I agree with something that Sam Adams once said: ‘If virtue and knowledge are diffused among the people, they will never be enslaved. This will be their great security.’”

What are YOU doing to celebrate America’s 250^th birthday anniversary? I am working on a project that will bless my family members. What can YOU do within your sphere of influence to share information about the U.S. Constitution?

Why Was the Fall of Adam and Eve Essential to God’s Plan?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 3-4 and Moses 4-5 in a lesson titled “The Fall of Adam and Eve.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

At first, the story of the Fall of Adam and Eve might seem like a tragedy. Adam and Eve were cast out of the beautiful Garden of Eden. They were sent into a world of pain, sorrow, and death (see Genesis 3:16-19). And they were separated from their Heavenly Father. But the truths restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the book of Moses give us a unique perspective on the Fall.

Yes, the Garden of Eden was beautiful. But Adam and Eve needed more than beautiful surroundings. They needed — and we all need — an opportunity to grow. Leaving the Garden of Eden was the necessary first step toward returning to God and eventually becoming like Him. That meant facing opposition, making choices, making mistakes, learning to repent, and trusting the Savior, whose Atonement makes possible progression and “the joy of our redemption” (Moses 5:11). So when you read about the Fall of Adam and Eve, focus not on the seeming tragedy but on the possibilities — not on the paradise Adam and Eve lost but on the glory their choice allows us to receive.

This week’s scripture block teaches the following principles: (1) The Fall was a necessary part of God’s plan (Genesis 3; Moses 4); (2) Jesus Christ offers hope and redemption (Genesis 3:1-7; Moses 4:22-31; 5:4-15); (3) What does it mean that Adam was to “rule over” Eve? (Genesis 3:16; Moses 4:22); (4) I need agency and opposition to grow (Moses 4:1-4); (5) Satan seeks “to deceive and to blind” me (Moses 4:4-12; 5:13-33); (6) “I, the Lord God … clothed them” (Moses 4:13-16, 27); (7) God will accept my sacrifices if I offer them with a willing and obedient heart (Moses 5:4-9, 16-26).

This essay will discuss Principle #4 about agency, opposition, and growth. We will first look at the verses that teach this principle – Moses 4:1-4:

1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.

Heavenly Father presented His plan for the eternal happiness of His children. Jehovah (Jesus Christ on earth) said that He would follow the Father’s plan and give the glory to His Father. Satan rebelled against the Father’s plan and sought to destroy the agency of the Father’s children – agency or opportunity to choose is how we grow – and he wanted the Father’s glory.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “Our Heavenly Father’s goal in parenting is not to have His children do what is right; it is to have His children choose to do what is right and ultimately become like Him” (“Choose You This Day,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov 2018, 104). Question to ponder: Why do you think it is important in Heavenly Father’s plan that we choose to do what is right? 

There is a wonderful scripture in the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:25-27) that teaches the importance of having opposition and the freedom to make tough decisions.

25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

Question to ponder: Why do you think opposition is necessary for agency? Another question to ponder: How can you show your appreciation to Jesus Christ for making you “free to choose”?

Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke on the topic of “Opposition in All Things” at the April 2016 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Oaks taught: (“Opposition in All Things,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 114-17): 

The purpose of mortal life for the children of God is to provide the experiences needed “to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.” …

From the beginning, agency and opposition were central to the Father’s plan and to Satan’s rebellion against it. As the Lord revealed to Moses, in the council of heaven Satan “sought to destroy the agency of man” (Moses 4:3)….

All of us experience various kinds of opposition that test us. Some of these tests are temptations to sin. Some are mortal challenges apart from personal sin. Some are very great. Some are minor. Some are continuous, and some are mere episodes. None of us is exempt. Opposition permits us to grow toward what our Heavenly Father would have us become….

We are all acquainted with other kinds of mortal opposition not caused by our personal sins, including illness, disability, and death….

To illustrate the opposition of temptation, the Book of Mormon describes three methods the devil will use in the last days. First, he will “rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good” (2 Nephi 28:20). Second, he will “pacify, and lull [members] away into carnal security,” saying “Zion prospereth, all is well” (verse 21). Third, he will tell us “there is no hell; and … I am no devil, for there is none” (verse 22), and therefore there is no right and wrong. Because of this opposition, we are warned not to be “at ease in Zion!” (verse 24)….

God rarely infringes on the agency of any of His children by intervening against some for the relief of others. But He does ease the burdens of our afflictions and strengthen us to bear them, as He did for Alma’s people in the land of Helam (see Mosiah 24:13-15). He does not prevent all disasters, but He does answer our prayers to turn them aside, as He did with the uniquely powerful cyclone that threatened to prevent the dedication of the temple in Fiji; or He does blunt their effects, as He did with the terrorist bombing that took so many lives in the Brussels airport but only injured our four missionaries.

Through all mortal opposition, we have God’s assurance that He will “consecrate [our] afflictions for [our] gain” (2 Nephi 2:2). We have also been taught to understand our mortal experiences and His commandments in the context of His great plan of salvation, which tells us the purpose of life and gives us the assurance of a Savior, in whose name I testify of the truth of these things….