Helping Hands

                    I attended an interesting lesson taught in a recent Relief Society meeting in our ward about being helping hands for the Lord.  The topic was visiting teaching, and the lesson came from Daughters in My Kingdom, Chapter 7:  "Pure Religion" - Watchcare and Ministering through Visiting Teaching, pp. 103-23.  As we discussed how we could become better visiting teachers and shared personal experiences that happened either as visiting teachers or while being visited, I thought about the National GOP Convention, particularly the last night when several different people shared their own stories of receiving compassionate service from Mitt and Ann Romney.  

The "talking heads" on television seemed to be shocked with the stories that were coming out about service performed by Mitt and Ann.  In comparison, I was not surprised at all with the stories even though I had never heard them previously.  You see, I know many, many other men and women who spend their lives serving and helping other people - not to be recorded by cameras and reporters but to be of service to their brothers and sisters.  I remember some of my thoughts and feelings while I listened to those experiences.  I wanted to know more about Mitt and Ann Romney, and I was pleased to hear that they were living our shared religion.  Without taking anything away from the Romney family for their good works, I recognized that some variation of each of those stories had played out in wards and stakes all over the world as visiting teachers, home teachers, bishops, and stake presidents go about doing good.

The leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have always counseled members to go about doing good.  The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, "[We are] to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to provide for the widow, to dry up the tear of the orphan, to comfort the afflicted, whether in this church, or in any other, or in no church at all, wherever [we find] them."  (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Joseph Smith [2007], 426.)

President Brigham Young counseled, "Let us have compassion upon each other, and let the strong tenderly nurse the weak into strength, and let those who can see guide the blind until they can see the way for themselves."  (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  Brigham Young [1997], 219.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, "Who, even in the wildest stretch of imagination, can fathom the uncountable acts of charity that have been performed, the food that has been put on barren tables, the faith that has been nurtured in desperate hours of illness, the wounds that have been bound up, the pains that have been ameliorated by loving hands and quiet and reassuring words, the comfort that has been extended in times of death and consequent loneliness?"  (See Ensign, Mar. 1992, 4.)

President Thomas S. Monson said, "We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness….  We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children.  He is dependent upon each of us."

Jesus Christ showed us the way that we should live our lives while He lived upon the earth.  He showed us how to minister and how to watch over and strengthen each other.  He ministered to individuals, one by one, and taught that we should leave the ninety and nine to save the one that was straying (Luke 15:3-7).  Christ was concerned with individuals in His teaching and healing.  While visiting the Americas after His resurrection, He spent time with each individual in a multitude of 2,500 people (Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 3 Nephi 11:13-17; 17:5-25).

We can follow the example of Jesus Christ and be obedient to counsel from prophets as we go about doing good and helping others.  We can be instruments in the hands of God as He seeks to bless all the people of the earth.

Mitt and the Mormon Church

                    The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the need to keep church and state separate.  The Founders of our nation and the Framers of our Constitution understood that only moral and religious people could truly be free, but they wanted very much to keep government away from the churches.

                    I recently listened to a few minutes of a radio talk program.  The woman being interviewed was a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was peddling a book she wrote about Mormons.  In her attempt to have her "fifteen minutes of fame," she apparently felt the need to verbally throw mud at the Church.  The words she said were basically the truth, but her insinuations were far wrong. 

                    The woman basically said that Mitt Romney and the leadership of the Church wanted to build up The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and turn the United States into a giant "Mormon Kingdom."  She said that Mitt Romney is not as interested in building up and strengthening the United States as he is in obtaining his "own planet."  She also said that Mitt would be obedient to whatever the First Presidency of the Church said rather than to the Constitution.  She could not be more wrong!

                    I experienced several different feelings as I listened to her with my first feeling being pity.  As the daughter of a former bishop and having made temple covenants, she is now a former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I have no idea what caused her to leave the Church and denigrate it, but I would guess that she first failed to live her covenants with God.  My feeling of pity is for all the blessings she has already lost as well as for future blessings that will not be hers.  Having heard what I heard, I would not like to be in her shoes when she meets God and makes her report to Him.

                    I experienced amusement at the information she had in her possession and yet her lack of understanding.  Her ideas and words were far out.  How could she reach her current position?  I experienced some negative feelings also.  She spoke of sacred experiences and items in a way that did not show reverence for them.  The feelings I experienced were probably similar to ones I would feel if I saw someone trampling on the flag of the United States of America or urinating on a picture of Jesus Christ or heard them calling my sweet and loving mother a whore.   

                    I would like to discuss several points mentioned by this woman.  The first point I would like to emphasize is that anyone desiring to know more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should go to the web site of the Church http://www.lds.org/?lang=eng and get the real facts about what this Church teaches.  Talk with active members or the missionaries, not someone who has "an axe to grind" about the Church.

                    The second point I would like to emphasize is that the instruction taking place in LDS temples is not secret; it is sacred.  I do not know the real figures, but I will make the following assumptions.  With more than fourteen million members of the Church, let's assume that fifty percent of the members are adults.  I think that somewhere around fifty percent of the adults have been to a temple to make sacred covenants.  If my assumptions are any where close, this means that approximately 3.5 million people know what happens in the temples.  How can anything known by 3.5 million people remain secret?  Add to the 3.5 million, all the people who were listening to the radio show and now know what happens in LDS temples; then add all the people who have listened to other misguided former members or read their writings.  It is far too many people to be considered "secret."  Millions of people such as myself have been to LDS temples and made sacred covenants there.  We remember the covenants we make and consider them reverently.  The greatest secret about the temples is that there are no secrets!  The instruction that takes place in the temples begins at the Creation of the earth and everything on it.  It discusses the Fall of Adam and Eve and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  The Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement of Christ are the three great pillars of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the temple experience aids in living this gospel and keeping the commandments of God.

                    The third point I would like to make is that the woman was telling the truth when she said that the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more power and authority than the President of the United States of America.  Their power and authority comes from the priesthood bestowed upon them.  The priesthood is the power to act in the name of God. 

Twelve-year-old young men hold the priesthood and carry more power and authority than the President of the United States.  As a worthy priesthood holder, Mitt Romney has this same authority whose power comes through righteous living.  "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen.  And why are they not chosen?

                    "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson -

                    "That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the power of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness" (Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-36).

                    We believe that God holds this priesthood power and used it to create the heavens and the earth and everything that is on the earth.  We believe that prophets and apostles from the time of Adam have held this same power and authority.  Enoch was one of these prophets:  "And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him" (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:13).

                    The fourth point I desire to emphasize is that the woman was speaking falsely when she said that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is trying to take over the United States government.  She came to this conclusion due to the fact that temple-going members of the Church pledge their lives and their fortunes to building up the Church and preparing the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  We believe that we have the truth.  We believe that this Church is truly the Church of Jesus Christ.  We believe that we have the responsibility to help all mankind prepare for the return of Christ to earth.

                    In order for the world to be prepared for the return of Christ, America must remain free.  Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints understand the importance of this nation remaining free in order for this preparation to take place.               We believe that God preserved and prepared America for founding of America and for the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We believe that many of the great men - such as Columbus, George Washington, the Framers of the Constitution - were raised up by the Lord and put in their place for the founding of this great nation. 

                    We believe that God inspired the Framers and gave them the basic principles that should be in the Constitution:  "According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

                    "That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.

                    "Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

                    "And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (Doctrine and Covenants 101:77-80).

                    We believe that we have a duty to defend and protect the Constitution of the United States.  The Lord told Joseph Smith, "And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.

                    "Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land" (Doctrine and Covenants 98:5-6).

                    Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law" (Pearl of Great Price, The Articles of Faith 1:12).  Members of the Church,

particularly those who study the scriptures and attend the temple, may be some of the strongest and most patriotic citizens of the United States.  No one needs to worry about having a President who is also a Mormon.  Being a member of the Church simply reinforces in most of us the importance of being good citizens of our nation.

                    I believe that the American people will be pleasantly surprised with President Romney.  If he remains worthy to attend the temple, we can expect him to lead this nation in the same way he led congregations in the Church.  We can expect that he will be prayerful and attentive to inspiration from God.  We can expect that he desires to please God more than he desires to please us; therefore, we can expect him to be honest with us.  We can expect that he will safeguard the Constitution by remembering his oath to protect and uphold it.  We can expect that he will emphasize good and conservative principles such as working for our daily needs instead of expecting others to provide for us, living within our means, and standing up to evil.

                    Our nation cannot survive unless we worship the God of this land who is Jesus Christ.  It is important that we keep government out of our churches, but we must be moral and religious people and elect moral and religious leaders.                     

                   

                        

Mitt Romney for President

                    I sat through the GOP Alaska State Convention last month and was repulsed by the behavior of many of the supporters of Ron Paul.  If the behavior of those who want him elected as President of the United States says anything about the candidate, I absolutely do not want Ron Paul in that office.  I personally believe that he is too old to be elected to the most stressful job in the world. 

                    My respect and support for Mitt Romney continues to grow with the continuing coverage of his campaign.  I was very interested by an article written by J. R. Dunn entitled "Mitt Romney Will Do Just Fine, Thank-You."  I believe that you will find the article interesting.

                    Dunn wrote about the numerous ways that "Mitt has become something of a master campaigner."  A paragraph in said article states:   "A number of things have gone unmentioned about Romney -- by the media because they'll say nothing positive about him, by conservatives because they don't want to face up to it.  First, he does not miss a trick.  At the height of the Santorum's primary campaign, Romney managed to outdo him by the stratagem of sending one of his sons to campaign in the Marianas, picking up 9 delegates and added momentum.  This is something that would never have occurred to the conventional Republican political technician, most of whom have no idea where the Marianas are.  It's a swashbuckler's move, bold and imaginative in a way that we haven't seen much of in recent years.  The fact that Romney pulled it off without getting anything in the way of credit for it says more about the current political culture than it does about Mitt Romney.  (Under ordinary circumstances, Newt could be expected to admire such a move.  I have no doubt that Newt knows exactly where the Marianas are, and may be thinking about building a spaceport there.)"

                    The article brings a lot of different reasons why Mitt is a "master campaigner" and deserves to be read by everyone.  Obama must be a one-term President, and Ron Paul needs to bow out of the campaign and do it soon!  Mitt Romney for President of the United States!

Mormon Moment

                    A syndicated editorial by Dallas Morning News columnist William McKenzie entitled "Time to shatter Mormon myths"   was posted on April 23, 2012, and picked up by newspapers across the United States.

                    McKenzie began his editorial by reminding his readers that "few Americans outside of the evangelical world had any idea" what it meant when "Jimmy Carter started talking in 1976 about being `born again.'"  He also reminded us that "evangelical Protestantism then was a subcultures of Bible churches, small study groups and parachurch organizations" but are now a "thriving force within our society."

                    The columnist also reminded his readers that "John Kennedy brought Catholics into the mainstream" by speaking "little about his faith, but he demystified it by being the first Catholic to win the presidency.  No longer could whisper campaigns … stop a Catholic from breaking out of their own subculture of rituals, hierarchies and orders."

                    McKenzie continued his column, "You probably see where I am going with this.  Mormons have a teachable moment with Mitt Romney….  A candidate's religion should neither qualify nor disqualify him for office, but, by all indications, Mormonism remains misunderstood….  So here's the chance to break down the misperceptions, which will benefit our society….

                    "So far, Romney has chosen the Kennedy model.  He talks little about his beliefs.  Instead, by being so integrated into American life, he's showing Mormonism is not the cult some think it is."

                    McKenzie wrote another column the next day, April 24, 2012, entitled "Texas Faith:  TheMormon Moment."   Since Mitt Romney is now the presumptive GOP nominee, McKenzie believes there is a "Mormon moment."  "Mormon leaders, understandably, may be wearying of that cliché.  But it is true that church members have a teachable moment before them.

                    "Specifically, they have a chance to demystify elements of their faith, which polls show is still not very well understood by many of us.  In my book, this is best done … in a friend-to-friend, neighbor-to-neighbor, pew-to-pew way.  That approach allows for more candid conversations and helps build bridges."

                    McKenzie then asked the question of the week:  "What issue would you most like to discuss with a Mormon about their religious faith?"

                    I found both of these columns very interesting; I encourage you to read them with an open mind.  The second one has some good answers from both members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and non-members.  In my mind, the "Mormon Moment" is not a new thing for members of the Church as well as their religion has been much in the news for many years.  The only difference now is that people are more interested in learning about Mitt Romney and what kind of a President he would be. 

Why I Will Vote for Mitt Romney

                    My faithful readers know that Mitt Romney has not always been my choice for the Republican nominee for President of the United States.  I intentionally avoided the implied idea that I would vote for him simply because we belong to the same church.  My actual first choice was Governor Rick Perry for several reasons.  I like the fact that he has experience in successfully running a large, productive state - a state that is producing jobs in a nation that is losing them.  I like his casualness and friendliness; I suppose I fall for the "cowboy" type.  I was very disappointed when Governor Perry dropped out of the race.

                    None of the four remaining candidates are the perfect one for me because none of them meet all of my qualifications.  I have listened carefully to their words, watched their body language, read the pros and cons about each one, watched each candidate's interactions with their families, and prayed about my choice.  I came to the conclusion that Mitt Romney is the only remaining candidate for the nomination that deserves my vote.  I will try to explain my line of thinking.

                    First of all, Mitt Romney is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes referred to as Mormons.  As I am also a member of this Church, I understand the expectations and requirements to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  I believe that most members of the Church are honest and dependable people who are good citizens of their nations.  The fact that Mitt Romney pays millions of dollars in tithing to the Church indicates to me that he is honest in his dealings with God; this means that he is most likely honest in his dealings with his fellowmen.  Mitt has also served as a bishop and as a stake president.  He would not need to be perfect to be called to these positions, but he would have to be a very good man to hold them.  Since I do not know Mitt personally, I am relying on my knowledge of the many good men I do know who have served in these positions.

                    Second, I like the way that Mitt Romney interacts with his wife and family.  I absolutely love the way he looks at Ann!  Any man who loves his wife this much is a good man!  It is very obvious that she is the light of his life, that she has a very positive effect on her husband, and that they have a happy marriage.  From all indications and reports, the Romney sons are all good, productive members of their communities who are doing their part to make the world a better place.  It is obvious that Romney's wife and sons support him.  Having Ann and their sons solidly behind Mitt would completely free him to concentrate on the business of running the United States.

Ann appears to be the perfect helpmate for Mitt.  She has the ability to soften his rough edges and bring out the best in him - and there appears to be a lot of good there to bring out.  This is one reason why the Romney campaign keeps Mitt and Ann together as much as possible.  Their oldest son, Tagg Romney, recently said in an interview, "… we don't want a situation where they're apart for three weeks.  You can tell when she's off the trail for too long - my dad has got some sharper edges.  He's a little less patient.  …She'll say, `Oh, don't sweat it, you don't need to worry about that,' and distract him. We always call her the dad stabilizer.  He needs to be with her."  A senior campaign official added, "It's something we weigh all the time.  He's just a better candidate when she's around."   Ann "exudes empathy and authenticity" and helps us to get a better idea of who Mitt really is.

                    Third, I was pleased to read an article written by Linda and Richard Eyre about Mitt Romney.  I do not know the Eyres personally but feel that I do.  I have read several of their books about families and used their Joy School pre-school program for my own children.  I believe that they are good people, and I trust their judgment.  When they say good things about Mitt Romney, I pay attention.  Their article about the wonderful "happy surprise" in store for the American people with Romney as President can be summed up with their "prediction".

                    "Here's a prediction:  As this long and tedious campaign wends its way through nomination and finally to the November election, Romney will continue to be viewed as the most competent and practical candidate, but he will also gradually be revealed to be the most moral, most family-committed and most values-driven candidate (and the most personally humble)….

                    "And despite all of the predictions that the general election campaign will be full of attacks and negative campaigning, it is likely to be between two family-prioritizing men who will each make the case that they are loyal to their own wives and children and that they care about the families of every American.  And that just might make for a November campaign that takes a higher road than most people think it will.  It might even become a campaign that we want our children to watch!"

                    Fourth, Mitt Romney is gaining more support from Tea Party activists and conservatives.  Romney is apparently more conservative than we have been led to believe.  The Romney win in Illinois seemed to push conservatives towards Romney as he now has more than twice as many delegates as his nearest competitor, Rick Santorum.

FreedomWorks (the organization that first "ignited the tea party as a national mass movement") is no longer opposing Romney.  FreedomWorks Vice President Russ Walker said, "We are dedicated to defeating Obama and electing a conservative Senate that will help Romney repeal Obamacare and address the nation's economic and spending challenges."  

Other Tea Party favorites are endorsing Romney.  Florida Senator Marco Rubio endorsed Romney on Fox News' "Hannity" show:  "It's evidently and increasingly clear that Mitt Romney's going to be the Republican nominee.  I am going to endorse Mitt Romney.  He offers such a stark contrast to the president's record."  He added that it was time for the Republican primary to end.  

Representative Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, endorsed Romney on "Fox and Friends", saying that Romney is the "best person to beat the president" and warning that it was time for the primary contest to end.  He said, "I am convinced that Mitt Romney has the skills, the tenacity, the principles, the courage and the integrity to do what it takes to get America back on track."

Senator Jim DeMint did not give an outright endorsement of Romney but said that he was "excited" about possibility of Romney being the Republican nominee.  As DeMint is known as a conservative "kingmaker", his comments carry a lot of weight.  He said, "I can tell conservatives from my perspective is that, I'm not only comfortable with Romney, I'm excited about the possibility of him possibly being our nominee."  

Fifth, my most important reason for voting for Mitt Romney is prayer.  I have studied the issues and pondered all the information I have at my disposal.  I then took my decision to the Lord.  I feel strongly that Mitt Romney is the best man running for President of the United States and will gladly vote for him.  I encourage you to study the issues, pray about the situation, and hopefully come to the same conclusion as I did.

GOP Candidates

                    The ideal Republican presidential candidate would be a person with all the strengths of Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum and none of their weaknesses.  It would be wonderful to have a President with the knowledge of government like Gingrich, experience in foreign affairs like Huntsman, desire for small government like Ron Paul, executive experience and success like Perry, business experience like Romney, and conservative values like Santorum.  Alas, we have not found such a person; however, any one of the men listed above would make a better President than the one we have currently in the Oval Office!

                    I was very disappointed this week to read that Texas Governor Rick Perry was quitting the Republican presidential race.  I kept hoping that Republicans would give him a second chance because I think he is the best candidate.  I like Governor Perry because he is (and has been for a long time) a conservative - unlike Mitt Romney.  He has been married to Anita for 29 years and has apparently been faithful to her - unlike Gingrich.  He has been a well-liked and successful governor of Texas for a dozen plus years; therefore, he has leadership experience - unlike Santorum.  He is sane - and Ron Paul's sanity is questionable. Governor Perry has been thoroughly vetted; therefore, we would know what we were getting.  I also believe that Governor Perry, simply by being in the race, did a lot to keep the other candidates more honest.  Besides, Governor Perry is a very likeable person!

                    I believe strongly that Mitt Romney is a good man with great leadership ability and strong love for the United States.  It doesn't matter to me that he is rich and made his money as a venture capitalist because venture capitalism is muchbetter than crony capitalism.   I do not think that the media will find anything bad in his closet because they would have found it by now.  I believe he would run the nation as a business and stop our slide into the bondage of debt.  I watched part of the GOP debate in Tampa, Florida, and liked what I saw there.  I am leaning more towards Romney.  Please don't be fooled by the media talking about Romney's 15 percent tax rate because 87 percent of Americans pay less than 15 percent - 47 or 49 percent pay no taxes at all!  A man that gives 15% of his income to charity has to be a good man!

                    I like Rick Santorum.  I believe that he has good, solid conservative ideas and a good record of conservatism.  My big worry about Santorum is his lack of executive experience.  It is one thing to be one Senator among one hundred members of the Senate; it is quite a different thing to be the person sitting in the Oval Office.  We have a President now who came to the Executive Office from the Senate, and he doesn't know how to lead!  Because Rick is basically a good man and a conservative, he would be a better President than Obama!

                    I agree with a few of the ideas that Ron Paul shares.  I like his support of the Constitution and his ideas about small government.  I do not like his ideas about foreign relationships.  I basically think he is a "loose cannon."  I think that he is too old to elect as our President and that he does not have the mental ability to be the leader of the Free World.

                    I admire Newt Gingrich in the way he handles the media, for his debating skills, and for his knowledge of how government runs.  I have a real problem with his lack of morality; the man has cheated on two different wives and is a serial adulterer.  He has too much moral baggage for a party of principles and values.  Obviously, I am not the only person who thinks Newt's morals should be considered.   Check out this article or this one or this one.  A man whom I know very well and whose opinion I admire very much considers Gingrich to be "evil."  I found some articles that enlarge on the same idea - here and here.  

                    In addition to his lack of morals, I believe strongly that Gingrich is a Republican progressive.  Any man who considers Franklin D. Roosevelt to be the best President in the last hundred years cannot be considered to be a conservative.  Every conservative I have listened to claims that Ronald Reagan was the best President; Gingrich claims FDR was the best one. Gingrich apparently does not understand that a person can be a great leader and not be good for the people.  Examples include Hitler and Lenin, both with great leadership skills.  Being a good leader does not necessary mean that FDS was a good President of the United States.  FDR accomplished many things during his three+ terms as President of the United States, but that does not mean that he was good for the United States!  I understand that Gingrich also admires Woodrow Wilson, Teddy Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson - all liberals/progressives.  Gingrich is a Republican, but he is also a liberal/progressive, big-government person who is masquerading as a conservative.  I believe that our nation would be better off with Gingrich than Obama but not a whole lot better.  Please do not fall for his smooth language and debating skills!

                    Now that Governor Perry is out of the presidential race, this is the way I rate the GOP candidates:  Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul.  I have to admit that I'm still looking for that ideal candidate!

Presidential Candidates

The highly anticipated debate between GOP presidential candidates will be held August 7, 2011. I plan to watch the debate because I want to see the choices available. I recommend that you watch it also and listen carefully for what principles are important to each candidate. In order to be well-educated at election time, we must start doing some real listening and understanding!

As we search for a candidate that we can support, it is important that we educate ourselves about the principles of each candidate. Noah Webster, one of our Founders, counseled, "In selecting men [and women] for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate - look to his character…" (Letters to a Young Gentleman Commencing His Education, 1789).

I was once asked by some family members about who I would want to be the Republican candidate for President. Would I vote for Mitt Romney because he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint (sometimes known as Mormons) or would I vote for Sarah Palin because she is an Alaskan? I answered that I didn't know if I would vote for either of them. I won't vote for anyone simply because they belong to the same Church as I do, and I won't vote for Palin simply because she comes from Alaska. Here are some of my thoughts about possible candidates.

Mitt Romney looks "presidential" and has previous experiences to prove he has the ability to lead. I believe that he bases his life on good, moral principles and that he has the good of our nation at heart. I believe strongly that he could improve the economical situation. My main objection to Romney is that he seems to be more liberal than I prefer in a Republican candidate. He seems to be wishy-washy about where he stands. I am afraid that he would be another John McCain and lose the election. The fact that Democrats and the Republican Establishment like him scares me!

Sarah Palin is definitely conservative enough. She shows great courage as she stands on her principles. I voted for her for Governor of Alaska, and I have positive feelings about her service. Knowing the pressures and constant court challenges against her, I think that she made the right decision to resign as governor. By resigning, she allowed Alaska to move forward in its business. Having said all that, I hope that she does not "throw her hat into the ring." I think that she has enough fame and influence as a well-known private citizen and hope that she decides to protect her family from further "mud slinging." For me personally, I would rather have a man as President of the United States - even though I recognize that women are just as capable of doing so.

I don't like Jon Huntsman, another member of my Church, at all - and I don't know why. He doesn't seem to me to be presidential. He doesn't look the part and hasn't impressed me yet.

Herman Cain is the only Black GOP candidate in the race. I once wondered if the failure of our first Black president would keep people from voting for any other Black candidate. I don't think so. I have listened several times when Cain was interviewed. I like him. He seems to have strong moral principles and has shown good leadership skills in the business world. I would vote for him if he became the GOP candidate, but I don't expect him to be selected.

Michelle Bachman is definitely conservative, but I can't see her as President. I believe that she should stay in the House of Representatives doing what she has been doing so well.

Texas Governor Rick Perry is at the top of my list at this time. I can see him leading our nation. He seems to be conservative enough to satisfy me and seems to be unafraid of blunt statements. We need a candidate who is not afraid to be blunt. He definitely has leadership ability. People are moving to Texas because the jobs are in Texas! I'm anxious to watch how he does in the debate. His political star is rising because he offers a complete alternative to Obama.

Barack Obama needs to be denied a second term in order to preserve our American life. Anyone who wants to maintain our democratic republican government must understand that Obama is trying to destroy it. All Americans must be honest when determining whether or not Obama has made life easier and better in the United States. I have seen the following statement or a similar one in several different places. "If you voted for Barack Obama to prove that you are not racist, vote for someone else in 2012 to prove that you are not stupid." When I first read the statement, I laughed. As I processed the statement, I thought of friends and family members who voted for Obama and realized that I would not consider any of them as being stupid. They are all have good educations and are intelligent people; they simply think differently than I do because they have had different life experiences. To them and anyone else who voted for Obama last time, I ask the following questions: Are you better off than you were four years ago? Is the United States better off than it was four years ago? Will Obama make things better for you or our nation if he gets re-elected?