Why Should Disciples of Jesus Christ Have Good Cheer?

 My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 3 Nephi 1-7 in a lesson titled “Lift Up Your Head and Be of Good Cheer.” The introduction to this lesson reminded me of this quote from Charles Dickens in his A Tale of Two Cities: 

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.

A Tale of Two Cities is a story of London and Paris during the French Revolution described by the above quote. The scripture block for this week’s lesson also describes a challenging time. Do you see any connections between the Dickens quote and the introduction to this lesson? 

In some ways, it was an exciting time to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Prophecies were being fulfilled – great signs and miracles among the people indicated that the Savior would soon be born. On the other hand, it was also an anxious time for believers because, in spite of all the miracles, unbelievers insisted that “the time was past” for the Savior to be born (3 Nephi 1:5). These people caused “a great uproar throughout the land” (3 Nephi 1:7) and even set a date to kill all the believers if the sign prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite – a night without darkness – did not appear.

In these difficult circumstances, the prophet Nephi “cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people” (3 Nephi 1:11). The Lord’s response is inspiring to anyone who faces persecution or doubt and needs to know that light will overcome darkness: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer; … I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoke by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Nephi 1:13).

Today we live in another time of great darkness and great signs, great promises, and great miracles – the last days before the Savior Jesus Christ returns to earth. Just like the ancient Nephites, we can be comforted by following the counsel of Christ: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer…” (3 Nephi 1:13).

There are several principles in this week’s scripture block that I could discuss: “Becoming converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ requires patience and effort” (3 Nephi 1-7); “The Lord will fulfill all His words in His time” (3 Nephi 1:4-21; 5:1-3); “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ” (3 Nephi 1:4-15; 5:12-26; 6:10-15; 7:15-26); “When I exercise faith in Jesus Christ, I don’t need to fear” (3 Nephi 2:11-12; 3:1-26).

I feel prompted to discuss this principle: “Because of Jesus Christ, I can ‘be of good cheer’” (3 Nephi 1:1-23). Heavenly Father knows that each of our lives will include moments that are difficult, even frightening. However, His expectation for each of us is that we will experience joy. The Savior used the phrase “be of good cheer” on several occasions.

My first occasion was when a ship holding his disciples was “tossed with waves” and Jesus went to them “walking on the sea.” The disciples were “troubled” when they saw Him, thinking that he was a spirit. He called out to them, saying. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (Matthew 14:24-27).

My second occasion was when Jesus Christ was discussing His death and resurrection. When He finished, He said this: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

My third occasion took place in modern days when Joseph Smith and ten elders were traveling down the Missouri River in canoes. They experienced many dangers on the third day of their trip, and Joseph Smith received this revelation: “And now, verily I say unto you, and what I say unto one I say unto all, be of good cheer, little children; for I am in your midst, and I have not forsaken you” (Doctrine and Covenants 61:36).

My fourth occasion also took place in modern days when the Lord commanded Joseph Smith to establish a storehouse for the poor.

17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.

19 And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him. even an hundred fold, yea, more (Doctrine and Covenants 78:17-19).

My fifth occasion comes from this week’s scripture block about the good and the dreadful things that happened prior to the visit of the Resurrected Jesus Christ to the ancient inhabitants of America. Nephi the prophet cried mightily to the Lord because the non-believers said that the time had passed for the fulfillment of the prophecy, and all the believers would be killed.

12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets (3 Nephi 1:12-13).

My final quote comes from President Russell M. Nelson. This quote comes from a talk by President Nelson at the October 2016 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The title of the talk is “Joy and Spiritual Survival.” At the time, President Nelson was the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Today he is the Lord’s prophet living on earth today. 

My dear brothers and sisters, today I would like to discuss a principle that is key to our spiritual survival. It is a principle that will only become more important as the tragedies and travesties around us increase….

Just as the Savior offers peace that “passeth all understanding,” He also offers an intensity, depth, and breadth of joy that defy human logic or mortal comprehension. For example, it doesn’t seem possible to feel joy when your child suffers with an incurable illness or when you lose your job or when your spouse betrays you. Yet that is precisely the joy the Savior offers. His joy is constant, assuring us that our “afflictions shall be but a small moment” and be consecrated to our gain.

How, then, can we claim that joy? We can start by “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” “in every thought.” We can give thanks for Him in our prayers and by keeping covenants we’ve made with Him and our Heavenly Father. As our Savior becomes more and more real to us and as we plead for His joy to be given to us, our joy will increase.

Joy is power, and focusing on joy brings God’s power into our lives. As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.”  Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy!

And what was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us; the joy of paying for the sins of all who would repent; the joy of making it possible for you and me to return home – clean and worthy – to live with our Heavenly Parents and families.

We can “be of great cheer” by expressing gratitude for the blessings that we have, keeping the covenants that we make with God, and by focusing on the joy that can be ours.

 

 

What Is the Truth About Abortions and Abortion Pills?

Families, communities, states, and nations are stronger when they know the true dangers of abortion and abortion pills. According to Elizabeth (Troutman) Mitchell, an example of how misinformation (lies) can be harmful is found in an article published Wednesday in a ProPublica article. The article was written to condemn state abortion laws, but it also shows that abortion pills are dangerous. 

A ProPublica article published Wednesday claims a Georgia woman died after taking an abortion pill because the state abortion ban prevented her from getting necessary treatment. But a pro-life OB-GYN says 41-year-old Candi Miller’s story says more about the danger of abortion pills than about the abortion law.

“This story illustrates very clearly the horrendous experience that women go through when they take these abortion drugs. But [also], the real dangers there re when women take them, especially when they take them without medical supervision,” Dr. Christina Francis, a board-certified OB-GYN, told The Daily Signal. “And this completely contradicts the abortion industry’s narrative that, one, that these drugs are as safe as Tylenol; and two, that self-managed abortions are perfectly safe.” …

Abortion in Georgia is banned after around six weeks of pregnancy with an exception if the life of the mother is at risk. Every state abortion ban in the United States includes a life-of-the-mother exception. [Emphasis added.]

Miller had lupus, diabetes, and hypertension, so doctors said another baby could kill her. After accidentally getting pregnant at age 41, she ordered abortion pills online, but they failed to expel all of the unborn baby’s tissue, leading to an infection that ultimately killed her, ProPublica reported.

Miller’s family said she didn’t go to the doctor “due to the current legislation on pregnancies and abortions.” But according to Francis, who serves as CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Georgia law would not have prevented Miller from getting the necessary dilation and curettage, or D&C, procedure to remove the tissue.

If Miller had a severe form of any of those conditions, then she still would have qualified legally under Georgia’s law for ending her pregnancy under the state’s medical exception, Francis said.

“It sounds like she just did not receive good counsel, and somebody just told her automatically that she wouldn’t qualify – which, again, is not the case,” Francis said. [Emphasis added.]

By spreading misinformation about abortion laws, ProPublica endangers women, Francis said. A woman in Georgia hemorrhaging from a spontaneous miscarriage could read Surana’s article and unnecessarily drive hours to another state out of fear she couldn’t get the necessary care in her state.

Surana’s article is a real world example of how lies about abortion bans can hurt women, according to Francis.

Even though ProPublica stands by its reporting, it also brought attention to the deaths of two women – Amber Thurman and Candi Miller – and how they could have been prevented. ProPublica’s article published on Tuesday discussed the death of Thurman, “who died after a Georgia hospital failed to treat an infection caused by an abortion pill complication in time to save her life.” According to Francis, “Thurman’s death is an obvious case of medical malpractice that has nothing to do with the state’s abortion ban.”

The OB-GYN said women and physicians both need accurate information about abortion.

“Women deserve to have accurate information to know there is not a single state law in this country that will prosecute a woman if she has gone for an abortion,” Francis said, “and there’s not a single state law in the country that would prevent a physician from intervening immediately if a woman is facing a potentially life-threatening complication of her pregnancy.”

“The laws do not require that the woman be critically ill or actively dying before a physician can intervene,” the OB-GYN said.

I do not condone abortion on demand, but I do recognize that abortion may be necessary to save a woman’s life or in cases of rape or incest. Nevertheless, truth sets people free. I know that truth about abortions and abortion pills can bring freedom to women and possibly save their lives. I know that families, communities, states, and nations are stronger when pregnant women are supported in the ways that they need.

What Is Really Happening in Springfield, Ohio?

The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns the national need to control the number of immigrants allowed to enter the United States. The number should be kept below the number that can be handled safely and for the betterment of Americans already in our communities.

The last sentence obviously does not apply to Springfield, Ohio. The Haitian refugees may not be eating pets, but they are certainly disrupting the lives of the American residents of the city. Robert Schmad and Megan Brock wrote the following in an article for the Daily Caller News Foundation, which was published in The Daily Signal. 

Reports of shoplifting and vehicle theft increased considerably in Springfield, Ohio, following the arrival of thousands of Haitian refugees, according to data obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation through a records request.

The town, which had a population of 58,622 in 2020, has taken in between 12,000 and 20,000 Haitian refugees over the past three years, marking a population increase of between 20.4% and 34.1%. From 2021 to 2023, Springfield also saw a 51.5% jump in motor vehicle theft reports and a 112.8% spike in reports of shoplifting, data provided by the Springfield Police Division shows.

Springfield residents previously told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the influx of Haitians has resulted in an uptick in car accidents, increased housing prices, and strained public service…. [City officials asked for federal help in July.]

Large numbers of Haitians began arriving in Springfield to meet the demand for labor after the city’s chamber of commerce successfully attracted new businesses to the city, according to The New York Times. While the migrants have attracted the ire of some residents, many are paying taxes to support the community….

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, has set aside $2.5 million to help Springfield deal with the migrant surge and announced last week that he would deploy the Ohio State Highway Patrol to assist with traffic enforcement in the municipality. The issue of poor driving among refugees became a flashpoint in the community after a Haitian national driving a minivan without a license swerved in front of a school bus in August 2023, killing an 11-year-old boy and injuring roughly a dozen other students.

One Springfield resident, a pastor, told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the town had accidents every day as a result of the influx of Haitians. A local towing employee confirmed that there had been an uptick in wrecks.

However, with all the problems in Springfield, Ohio, there are only two police reports of animal cruelty in 2021 with none afterwards. The reported murder and assault numbers remained “unchanged between 2021 and 2023.” The residents of Springfield, Ohio, are begging for help, and Trump’s comment about Haitians eating pets focused the national spotlight on the problems there. This attention may be helpful to them.

Why Do Foreign Nations Own Agricultural Land in the United States?

Are you aware that foreign nations, including adversaries such as North Korea, Iran, or China, own “more than 43 million acres of agricultural land” in the United States? According to an article posted by Amy Joi O’Donoghue in The Deseret News, this is the assertion of Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) who is co-sponsoring the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act (CIFUS). The purpose of this bill is “to add the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.” 

The U.S. Department of Agricultural says that 43.4 million acres of U.S. agricultural land is foreign owned, some near key military installations….

Sens. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Joe Manchin, I-W. Va., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., John Tester, D-Mont., Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, John Fetterman, D-Pa., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Todd Young, R-Ind., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., also co-sponsored the legislation.

The House passed companion legislation introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., last week, too.

Numerous states have grappled with the issue of foreign nations buying agricultural land. Kyla S. Kaplan authored an article outlining what happened in Arkansas less than a year ago. 

On October 17, 2023, Arkansas became the first state to enforce a state law banning certain foreign entities from owning agricultural land (doing so under Act 636, which blocks “prohibited foreign-party-controlled business” from owning public or private land directly or through affiliation).

Arkansas Attorney General, Tim Griffin ordered Syngenta Seeds LLC. To sell 160 acres (65 hectares) of farmland because the business is owned by Sinochem Holdings Corporation, a Chinese “state-owned enterprise.” Additionally, the company’s subsidiary was fined $280,000 in civil penalties because Syngenta failed to register as a foreign agricultural landowner under Arkansas Act 1046, Arkansas’ state analog to the federal Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA).

The enactment of state laws to restrict foreign ownership of agricultural land is on the rise – potentially due to concerns over national security. Currently, there are approximately twenty-five (25) states, like Arkansas, that, in at least some circumstances, forbid or limit nonresident aliens, foreign business entities, and/or foreign governments from acquiring or owning an interest in private agricultural land within their state. This year alone, twelve (12) states have either enacted or amended laws restricting foreign investments in state land.

Enforcement also varies between state laws. While some state laws contain provisions that assign enforcement authority to the state’s attorney general or “a district attorney of the county where the foreign-owned land is located,” other states provide private enforcement or prescribe civil (monetary) penalties for noncompliance with its foreign ownership law. Arkansas will likely not be the last state to enforce such regulations – Based on recent trends, political tensions, and what is happening in Arkansas, it appears most enforcement concerns may come with a connection to Chinese ownership.

O’Donoghue’s article described how Utah is affected by foreign ownership of agricultural land. Utah “is in the top five in the country for the amount of land acreage at risk, due to the number of key military installations it hosts, including Hill Air Force Base, the Utah Test and Training Range and Dugway.” O’Donoghue also described what North Dakota is doing about the issue.

In 2023, according to the Kiowa County Press, the North Dakota state Legislature passed a pair of bills aimed at stopping the threat.

The media outlet reported that one law prohibits land ownership by nations or businesses in those countries deemed foreign adversaries under certain federal rules. The other law deals specifically with farmland, blocking foreign governments from acquiring it.

China’s agricultural investment outside its borders has grown more than tenfold in less than a decade, according to the reporting by the North Dakota outlet. For the law dealing with agriculture, there are exceptions, including Canadians who want to buy North Dakota farmland. The state’s agriculture commissioner cited some concerns about these restrictions, including the potential impact on agribusiness opportunities.

According to O’Donoghue, Utah is implementing similar restrictions. HB516, sponsored by Rep. Candice Pierucci (R-Herriman) and passed earlier this year, “prevents countries – North Korea, China, Iran and Russia – from buying land in Utah.” The law goes even further. “If those countries, or foreign controlled companies with a 51% ownership in land holdings, already own parcels, that land has to be relinquished within a year.”

Pierucci gave two reasons for why these laws are important: (1) “this is a major national security concern and (2) “China is purchasing land and in proximity to military installations.” The new law “requires coordination with the Utah Department of Public Safety to document those land holdings. The agency is compiling a database on land holdings in Utah and sets in motion a way to reverse that course.”

O’Donoghue gave several interesting statistics – given by the American Farm Bureau Federation – in her article that emphasizes the need for states to take legislative action:

·         A little over 20% of Maine’s privately held agricultural land is held by foreign investors, which makes up 9% of total foreign-held land.

·         Hawaii has the second-largest percentage of foreign-held U.S. agricultural land, which is 9.2% of the privately held agricultural land in the state.

·         The number of U.S. farm acres owned by foreign entities grew more than 8% in 2022, although it represents just a little more than 3% of farmland.

·         In Utah, less than 40,000 acres are under foreign ownership, but lawmakers want to stop the trend.

·         According to Smithfield’s website, it says it has 75 company owned farms, 28 contract farms and one feed mill in Utah.

I am grateful that numerous states are taking legislative action to protect their farmlands and companies from foreign ownership. Americans do not want to eat foods that are grown and produced by adversary countries. However, there is another important reason to stop foreign adversaries from purchasing farmlands around military installations: national security.

Why Are People Attempting to Assassinate Donald Trump?

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, former President Donald Trump survived a second assassination attempt in less than three months. This assassination attempt was thwarted by an alert Secret Service agent who saw the muzzle of a rifle poking through the chain link fence from a bushy area at the Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Despite the first attempt on his life, the Secret Service withholds better security from Trump because he is not the current president. Representative Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, demanded, “Secret Service must up their level of protection of him to their FULL capabilities – including expanding the perimeter.” Jarrett Stepman wrote of the assassination attempt as follows. 

While Trump was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida on Sunday, authorities say a man put the muzzle of a rifle through a chain link fence around the course Trump was on. According to Fox News, the man was between 300 and 500 yards from Trump.

When the man put the gun through the fence, the Secret Service opened fire.

According to the New York Post, the man had a GoPro on the fence which was likely intended to be used to video the shooting.

The man fled the scene and was later apprehended. The New York Post, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, said the alleged gunman is Ryan Routh.

“Routh, who has a lengthy criminal record from North Carolina, frequently posted about politics and exclusively donated to Democratic candidates and causes dating back to 2019. He also bashed Trump in an April 22 post o X in which he declared, ‘DEMOCRACY is on the ballot and we cannot lose,’” reported the Post. The Trump campaign put out a statement shortly after the shooting.

“There were gunshots in my vicinity, but before rumors start spiraling out of control, I wanted you to hear it first: I AM SAFE AND WELL,” his statement read. “Nothing will slow me down. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER! I will always love you for supporting me. Unity. Peace. Make America Great Again.”

There was a flood of reactions to the second assassination attempt on social media, including those saying a second assassination attempt showed the need for more answers about Trump’s security.

Among the many questions being asked are these: (1) how was an assassin allowed to get this close to Trump a second time? (2) why is the Secret Service under the leadership of Biden-Harris failing to protect Donald Trump?

It does not matter whether a person likes or dislikes Donald Trump. Every American should insist that he receives better Secret Service protection.

Who Is Donald J. Trump?

My VIP for this week is Donald J. Trump because he is who he pretends to be. No one has to wonder about who Donald Trump is or what he thinks! However, he is not a regular politician.

In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden his out in his basement – supposedly because of COVID-19 – and few Americans understood that he was in the beginning stages of dementia. The media and Democrats hid the real Joe Biden during the campaign and during his administration. The deceit continued until the June debate with Trump made it apparent to everyone that Biden has dementia.

After Biden bowed out – or was forced out – of the 2024 presidential election, Kamala Harris was installed as the candidate. Harris is continuing the practice of hiding from the people. She holds rallies where she can speak with a teleprompter, but she rarely speaks with reporters and has held only one sit down interview with anyone besides her running mate.

The big question is “Will Americans vote for the hiding candidate, or will they vote for the man that will be best for America?” Another good question is, “Do Americans hate Trump more than they love America?”

What Does Government by the People Mean?

The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday comes from the Preamble of the United States Constitution:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (Emphasis added.) 

“We the People” established the government of the United States, according to the Constitution. President Abraham Lincoln also spoke about the people on November 19, 1863, when he spoke at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle at Gettysburg was one of the decisive battles fought during the Civil War and took place July 1-3, 1863. President Lincoln said the following:  

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. (Emphasis added.) 

Government by the people makes a difference as shown in what is happening in the European Union. In his article published at The Daily Signal, Peter St. Onge wrote about the economic situation in Japan and the European Union. 

New numbers say the European Union has joined Japan in the “lost decades” brigade, with per-person gross domestic product in dollar terms nearly flat since 2008.

According to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, while disposable household income in the U.S. is $51,000, it’s just $39,000 in Germany, $34,000 in France, $29,000 in Italy, and $21,000 in Greece. For perspective, Mexico is about $16,000.

Why is Europe fading? Simple: Government took over. Government spending is nearly half of Europe’s GDP, which hogs physical resources – steel, workers, etc. – while predatory tax rates punish production and welfare tempts workers away. Nobody produces, everybody takes.

Add in mandates from environment to social policy that hike prices and slap straitjackets on companies, and the smart ones leave, the rest grimly soldier on, staying in business till their factories wear out, then it’s lights out.

In short, it doesn’t pay to produce in Europe. Atlas is shrugging.

What’s driving the takeover is a toxic combination of vote-buying welfare and crony handouts to corporations. I’ve mentioned in previous videos Europe’s stream of trillion-dollar “stimulus” bills that went to corporations, while welfare spending consumes 1 in 3 dollars in countries such as France and Italy. In the U.S., it’s still high, at 23%. In South Korea, for comparison, it’s 15%.

While the corporations feast on government handouts, the taxes that sustain Europe’s welfare state come from the small and medium businesses, who are getting wiped out. Today, the U.S. has 33 million small businesses. Europe, with one and a half times the population, has just 24 million. Half as much per capita.

The difference is even greater with new startups. Europe’s venture industry is six times smaller than the U.S., which has just two-thirds of Europe’s population.

Americans are currently in the midst of a presidential election that will determine the direction that the United States takes in the coming years. Do we want the government to become more powerful, or do we want the power of the government to rest with the people? Kamala Harris will steer America further down the road towards socialism and communism. If you like that idea, by all means vote for her. Donald Trump supports the Constitution – no matter what his enemies keep saying – and will help America to regain its footing for government by the people.

Each of us has a choice about the future America that we want to see. I will be voting for Donald Trump because I do not want my posterity to lose their freedoms.