Secret Combinations, Part 2

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns secret combinations and how they work to destroy individuals, communities, and nations. With all the intrigue in government circles today, I find myself thinking more and more about secret combinations; I decided to do some research on them and found enough information for several parts.  See Part 1.

Secret combinations are groups of people who use any means necessary to get power and gain and who support each other in their wickedness.  Secret combinations were started by Satan and have existed since Cain killed Abel.  If supported by the people, secret combinations can result in the destruction of entire nations.

                “And it came to pass that thus they did agree with Akish. And Akish did administer unto them the oaths which were given by them of old who also sought power, which had been handed down even from Cain, who was a murderer from the beginning.

                “And they were kept up by the power of the devil to administer these oaths unto the people, to keep them in darkness, to help such as sought power to gain power, and to murder, and to plunder, and to lie, and to commit all manner of wickedness and whoredoms….

                “And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combinations is most abominable and wicked above all, in the sight of God;

                “For the Lord worketh not in secret combinations, neither doth he will that man should shed blood, but in all things hath forbidden it, from the beginning of man” (Ether 8:15-19).

                Evil secret works can destroy entire societies.   Secret combinations have been a major cause of the total destruction of nations in the past and will be in the future.  The Jaredite and Nephite nations were destroyed because of secret combinations.

Kishkumen and Gadianton sought control of the Nephite government and set up secret combinations to do so.  Kishkumen murdered one chief judge named Pahoran and sought to kill his successor Helaman; however, Helaman’s servant learned of the plan and killed Kishkumen before he could kill Helaman.  Gadianton and his band of robbers escaped before they could be brought to justice.  Mormon recorded, “And more of this Gadianton shall be spoken hereafter….

                “And behold, in the end of this book ye shall see that this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi.

                “Behold I do not mean the end of the book of Helaman, but I mean the end of the book of Nephi [the end of the Book of Mormon], from which I have taken all the account which I have written” (Helaman 2:12-14).

                “And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people….

                “And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.

                “And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not” (Ether 8:20-22)

               

                The Lord must destroy the secret combinations and their secret works of darkness and murder in order to fulfill His promises to His righteous children.

                “Wherefore, for this cause, that my covenants may be fulfilled which I have made unto the children of men, that I will do unto them while they are in the flesh, I must needs destroy the secret works of darkness, and of murders, and of abominations.

                “Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Nephi 10:15-16).

                Secret combinations will be among the Gentiles of the latter days just as they were among the people of old.  “And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor….

                “And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever” (2 Nephi 26:20, 22).

“Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain – and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

                “Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of our awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be to it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

                “For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning”(Ether 8:23-25).

                “And even now, let him that goeth to the east teach them that shall be converted to flee to the west, and this in consequence of that which is coming on the earth, and of secret combinations” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:64).

Priorities

                Many years ago when I was a mother of young children I heard a poem that really impressed me, and I tried to remember the idea contained in the poem to help me keep my priorities straight.  I knew then and I know even better now that there is no time like the present to teach and enjoy little children.

I found a poem written by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton entitled “Babies Don’t Keep” at this site.  It has the same idea as the one I heard many years ago, but I do not know if it is actually the same poem. 

Now I have the opportunity to spend some quality time with my grandchildren.  My regular readers may notice over the next several weeks that I miss a day here and there of posting something new on my blog.  If that situation should happen, please understand that I am enjoying my grandchildren and will write again soon.  In the meantime, spend some time loving your own children or grandchildren because “babies don’t keep.”

Mother, O’ Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth.

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek- peekaboo.

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew,

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo.

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look!  Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to Sleep!

I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Seventeenth Amendment

                I believe the ratification of the Seventeenth Amendment was a huge mistake perpetrated on the United States by the Progressive movement.  This amendment was ratified on April 8, 1913, approximately 100 years ago in the beginning of the Progressive transformation of the United States. 

The Founders spent several months writing the Constitution; they organized a system of many checks and balances.  They wanted the people, states, and federal government to check and balance each other.  One of those checks and balances was the process of electing delegates to the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.  They planned for the Senate to represent the states, and the House to represent the people.  This is the reason why the following was written in the Constitution:  “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, for six Years; and each Senator shall have one Vote” (Article I, Section 3).

                The Seventeenth Amendment changed this Section of the Constitution to read:  “The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote….”  This amendment destroyed part of the federalist structure erected by our Founders to protect the sovereignty of the States.

                Did you notice the difference?  Article I, Section 3 gave power and authority to the Legislature of each State to elect representatives for their state in the federal government; the Seventeenth Amendment took this power and authority from the state and gave it to the people.  In other words, this amendment turned the election of Senators into a popularity contest.  In comparison, the Founders planned for the people to elect delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Senate was to represent the states, and the House was to represent the people.  By ratifying this amendment, the sovereignty of our states was lessened.

                The supporters of this amendment said that the election of Senators by the people would be more democratic than if they were elected by the state legislature; they also said that the amendment would cause less corruption and less influence by special influences.  They were certainly wrong!  This amendment caused even more corruption as well as “fundamentally transforming our federal government.” 

                Chris Carter wrote an interesting article entitled “Georgia state house seeks to repeal the Seventeenth Amendment.”  I found his article to be very informative and a good history lesson.  To begin his explanation of why the Seventeenth Amendment should be repealed, the author wrote:  “As the Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution, they understood that free and independent states, fresh from a long and costly war with England, would not approve of a charter that required them to totally surrender their sovereignty to a new federal government.  To balance the legitimate concerns of the states with the need to preserve the union and form a national government for mutual protection and prosperity, the Founders chose a federalist system of divided powers between the states and the proposed federal government.

                “They also passed a Bill of Rights, ensuring that any power not specifically granted to the federal government rested with the states or the people themselves.  The Founders clearly wanted a limited federal government which was balanced by the state governments.”

                The Founders sought to organize a government that could not be destroyed by man, and they wrote many checks and balances into the Constitution.  They planned for their new country – the United States of America – to have a government that was ruled by law and not the rule of man.  They organized a constitutional republic instead of a democracy because they understood the weaknesses of a democracy.  They understood that people could be convinced to vote for a tyrant who could destroy the freedoms of both individual and state.  I believe that their worst fears were evident in the re-election of Barack Obama!

                Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor explained, “The Constitution does not protect the sovereignty of the States for the benefit of the States or state governments as abstract political entities.  To the contrary, the Constitution divides authority between federal and state governments for the protection of individuals. State sovereignty is not just an end to itself.”

                The Constitution – as it was written – provided a system where power and authority of people, states, and federal government were checked and balanced under a Constitution that was the Supreme Law of the land, a Constitution that protected all of them.

                Former Senator Zell Miller (D-Georgia) understood how the process was supposed to work and saw the dangers caused by the Seventeenth Amendment:  “Direct elections of Senators allowed Washington’s special interests to call the shots, whether it is filling judicial vacancies, passing laws, or issuing regulations.”

                Chris Carter further explained, “Government has always attracted corruption, but political behavior can be managed by effective political structure.  Whether it’s 1789 or 1913, a government with few checks on its power is far more corruptible than one that is constrained, and that is the effect that direct elections of senators had on our government.

                “The Founders never intended to provide the federal government with this much power; if they had, there would have been no need for enumerated powers – or a Constitution – in the first place.  Instead, they anticipated that public officials wouldn’t preserve federalism for federalism’s sake; they would instead act in their own self-interest.  State sovereignty persisted not out of virtue, but because public officials would only retain their position if they served their states.”

                I believe that the Seventeenth Amendment was just one of the steps used by Progressives to destroy our Constitutional government.  I believe that there is more corruption in our Senate today than there would have been without this amendment.  I believe we must repeal the Seventeenth Amendment in order to return sovereignty to the states and to save our Constitution.

Jonathan Dayton

                Jonathan Dayton, future signer of the United States Constitution, was born on October 16, 1760, in Elizabethtown (now known as Elizabeth), New Jersey.  His father, Elias Dayton, was a merchant; he had been a militia officer in the French and Indian War and became prominent in local politics. 

                Jonathan attended and graduated from a local academy and was classmates with Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.  He attended the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton University) but left in 1775 to fight in the revolution; he received an honorary degree in 1776.

                While only 15 years old when the Revolutionary War begin in 1775, he served as an ensign under his father (Elias) in the Third New Jersey Regiment.  He was commissioned a lieutenant on January 1, 1777, and served as paymaster.  He saw action under General George Washington and fought in the battles of Brandywine Creek and Germantown.  He was with Washington at Valley Forge and assisted in pushing the British Army from New Jersey to New York City.  He and his uncle were captured in October 1780 by a loyalist and kept captive throughout the winter.  After their release, they again served under Elias in the New Jersey Brigade. 

                Jonathan was 19 years old on March 30, 1780, when he was promoted to the rank of captain.  He transferred to the Second New Jersey and took part in Battle of Yorktown.  According to the Revolutionary War Pension files, he served as Aid-de-Camp to General Sullivan while fighting the Indians from May 1 to November 30, 1779.

                After the War for Independence ended, Jonathan studied law and established a law practice; he then divided his time between land speculation, law, and politics.  At age 26 he was the youngest member of the New Jersey delegation to the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention.  He was also the youngest person to sign the United States Constitution.  He became a prominent Federalist legislator, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly (1786-1787, 1790) and served in the New Jersey Legislative Council (now the New Jersey Senate) in 1789.

                Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1789, Jonathan did not take his seat there until he was elected a second time in 1791.  He served as Speaker for the Fourth and Fifth Congress and supported the fiscal policies of Alexander Hamilton.  He assisted in organizing the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion, supported the Louisiana Purchase, and opposed the repeal of the Judiciary Act of 1801.  He later served in the U.S. Senate.

                Investing heavily in Ohio, Jonathan became wealthy.  He loaned money to Aaron Burr and thus became “involved by association” in Burr’s “conspiracy”.  Burr was accused but never convicted of the intent to conquer parts of what is now the western United States.  Jonathan was arrested in 1807 for treason in connection with Burr’s “conspiracy,” but he was never actually tried.  Jonathan was exonerated, but his political career came to an end because of the “conspiracy   

         

                Jonathan married Susan Williamson, and the couple became the parents of two daughters.  According to Susan’s Revolutionary War Pension Application W.6994, the marriage occurred on March 28, 1779.  A supporting letter was written by Aaron Ogden, a Captain in the New Jersey Brigade, stating that he “was present at the marriage of the said Jonathan Dayton and Susan his wife; which marriage ceremony was performed by the Reverent Mr. Hoyt, a Presbyterian Clergyman… in the fore part of spring of the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine (1779) while the New Jersey Brigade lay at Elizabethtown in the Borough of Elizabeth & state of new Jersey.”

                Jonathan died on October 9, 1824, in his hometown and was interred in an unmarked grave.  His grave is currently under St. John’s Episcopal Church in Elizabeth, which replaced the original church in 1860.  According to an obituary, Jonathan was visited shortly before his death by Lafayette:  “In New Jersey, Hon. JONATHAN DAYTON, formerly Speaker of the House of Representatives of Congress, and a Hero of the Revolution.  When the Nation’s Guest lately passed New Jersey, he passed the night with General Dayton, and such were the exertions of this aged and distinguished federalist, to honor the Guest, and gratify the wishes of his fellow citizens to see, that he sunk under them; and expired, without regret, a few days after (Columbian Centinel (Boston, MA), Oct 20, 1824, p. 2).”

                Jonathan’s legacy includes having Dayton, Ohio, named after him although he “never set foot in the area.” When the city was established in 1796, he was in a partnership that owned 250,000 acres in the Great Miami River Basin.  His legacy also includes the Jonathan Dayton High School in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey; the Dayton neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey; and Dayton Street in Madison, Wisconsin.

Judicial Power for All

                The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday comes from Article III, Section 2, Clause 1:  “The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity….”  This principle in the Constitution bestowed up the federal courts the power and authority to handle all cases whether pertaining to law or equity.

                “Article III, Section 2, delineates the scope of the federal judicial power by listing nine kinds of `Cases’ and `Controversies’ to which the `judicial Power’ of the United States may extend.  By far the most important is the category encompassing `all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority.’  This is often referred to as the `federal question’ jurisdiction, and, although that is something of a misnomer, it is a convenient label.

                “From the beginning, the Framers intended the scope of the jurisdiction to be broad....

                “There was little discussion of this provision at the Convention.  In the course of a single day, the Convention deleted the reference to `the general Legislature’ and extended the judicial power to cases arising under the Constitution and treaties in addition to the cases arising under federal laws.  When the Committee of Style reported to the Convention in September, the provision read substantially as it does today….

                “Finally, it should be made clear that federal jurisdiction extends to cases, not issues.  When a federal court has jurisdiction over a case that arises under federal law, the jurisdiction extends to the whole case, and the court will often have power to consider other issues in the case whether state or federal.”  (See Arthur Hellman in The Heritage Guide to the Constitution, pp. 241-243.)

Special Witnesses of the Atonement of Christ

                Like the prophets of old, prophets and apostles today are living witnesses of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.  They are called “special witnesses” of Jesus Christ, and they invite all to partake of His Atonement.  The Holy Ghost bears witness when living prophets and apostles testify of Christ, and we can receive many blessings by heeding their counsel.

                We can learn much from the scriptures about how prophets are witnesses for Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  In ancient America, a prophet named Jacob taught an unbeliever named Sherem about the importance of studying and believing the scriptures.  “And I said unto him:  Believest thou the scriptures?  And he said, Yea.

                “And I said unto him:  Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ.  Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.

                “And this is not all – it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost” (Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Jacob 7:10-12).

                Abinadi, another prophet in the Book of Mormon, testified that other prophets were witnesses of Christ:  “For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people?  Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began – have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?

                “Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?

                “Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted? (Mosiah 13:33-35).

                Abinadi continued his teachings about prophets:  “Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord – I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the kingdom of God.

                “For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions.  And now, are they not his seed?” (Mosiah 15:11-12).

                Scriptures written in our day also testify that prophets and apostles are special witnesses of Christ:  “And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12).

                The Lord told Joseph Smith the duties of the apostles:  “The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world – thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:23).

                We also have the testimony of Jesus Christ given by Oliver Cowdery and the Prophet Joseph Smith:  “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him:  That he lives!

                “For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father –

                “That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24).

                The word “apostle” means “one sent forth.”  The Savior gave this name to the twelve men that He chose and ordained to help in His ministry.  He sent them forth to represent Him after He ascended into heaven.  “The calling of an apostle is to be a special witness of the name of Jesus Christ in all the world, particularly of his divinity and of his bodily resurrection from the dead.”

                Twelve “apostles” “constitute an administrative council in the work of the ministry.  When a vacancy occurred with the death of Judas Iscariot, Matthias was divinely appointed to that special office as a member of the council (Acts 1:15-26).  Today twelve men with this same divine calling and ordination constitute the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints….

                “Jesus is referred to as an apostle in Heb. 3:1-2, a designation meaning that he is the personal and select representative of the Father” (Bible Dictionary, p. 612).

                Fourteen years ago fifteen apostles published their joint testimony of Jesus Christ.  It is entitled “The Living Christ – The Testimony of the Apostles [of] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” 

                “As we commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ two millennia ago, we offer our testimony of the reality of His matchless life and the infinite virtue of His great atoning sacrifice.  None other has had so profound an influence upon all who have lived and will yet live upon the earth.

                “He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New.  Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth.  `All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made’ (John 1:3).  Though sinless, He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness.  He `went about doing good’ (Acts 10:38), yet was despised for it.  His gospel was a message of peace and goodwill.  He entreated all to follow His example.  He walked the roads of Palestine, healing the sick, causing the blind to see, and raising the dead.  He taught the truths of eternity, the reality of our premortal existence, the purpose of our life on earth, and the potential for the sons and daughters of God in the life to come….

                “We solemnly testify that His life, which is central to all human history, neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary.  He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world….

                “We declare in words of solemnity that His priesthood and His Church have been restored upon the earth….

                “We testify that He will someday return to earth….  He will rule as King of Kings and reign as Lord of Lords, and every knee shall bend and every tongue shall speak in worship before Him.  Each of us will stand to be judged of Him according to our works and the desires of our hearts.

                “We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles – that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God.  He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father.  He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world.  His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.  God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

                This magnificent proclamation was signed by Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and James E. Faust of the First Presidency and by Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry, David B. Haight, Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson Dallin H. Oaks, M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin, Richard G. Scott, Robert D. Hales, Jeffrey R. Holland, and Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

                Apostles also testify individually of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  Elder Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, taught:  “Throughout your life there may be times when you have gone places you never should have gone and done things you never should have done.  If you will turn away from sin, you will be able one day to know the peace that comes from following the pathway of complete repentance.

                “No matter what our transgressions have been, no matter how much our actions may have hurt others, that guilt can all be wiped out.  To me, perhaps the most beautiful phrase in all scripture is when the Lord said, `Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.’

                “That is the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Atonement:  to take anyone who comes, anyone who will join, and put them through an experience so that at the end of their life, they can go through the veil having repented of their sins and having been washed clean through the blood of Christ” (“The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov.2012, p. 77).  

                Another apostle, Elder Richard G. Scott, also testified of the Savior and His Atonement:  “It is Easter morning, that holy day designated throughout all Christendom to commemorate the victory of Jesus Christ over death.  His Resurrection broke what to that point had been the unyielding chains of death.  He opened the path whereby each of Heavenly Father’s children born to earth would have the opportunity to rise from death to live again.

                “How our Father in Heaven must have rejoiced that sacred day when His totally obedient, completely worthy Son shattered the chains of death….

                “Easter is that sacred season when the heart of each devout Christian turns in humble gratitude to our beloved Savior.  It is a season that should bring peace and joy to all who love Him and show it by obeying His commandments.  Easter brings thoughts of Jesus, His life, His Atonement, His Resurrection, His love.  He has risen from the dead `with healing in his wings’ (Malachi 4:2; 3 Nephi 25:2).  Oh, how we all need that healing the Redeemer can provide.  Mine is a message of hope based on principles embodied in the teachings of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ….

                “The Savior loves each of us and will make it possible for our every need to be satisfied as we qualify by obedience for all of the blessings He wants us to have on this earth.  I love and adore Him.  As His authorized servant I solemnly testify with every capacity of my being that He lives, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen” (“He Lives!  All Glory to His Name!” Ensign, May 2010, pp. 75, 78).  

                Even though I am not a “special witness” for Jesus Christ, I too testify that He lives and will once again return to the earth “trailing clouds of glory.”  I also testify that prophets and apostles walk the earth today to testify of the Savior and to administer His gospel.

Battle of the Sexes

                Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we all recognize that men and women are equal but different.  Families are more likely to be successful when husbands and wives are equal partners in their homes; organizations are also more productive when men and women work together as equals with different gifts to bring to the table.

                I believe that this “battle” began with the beginning of the feminist movement.  I was never part of this movement nor did I take part in the “battle of the sexes.”  I was a youth or young adult during the days when women were burning their bras publicly to show they were liberated.  I never felt “enslaved” and could never understand why I needed to be “liberated.”  I believe that my attitude was formed by my parents.

                I grew up in a household with a mother and a father who loved each other and their children.  We were always a close family, and my siblings and I are still very close.  As one of the younger children, I looked to my older siblings as examples to follow, and I was never disappointed.  One of the greatest examples they set was their dedication to their marriages.  Five of my older siblings have celebrated fifty years or more with their spouse; the rest of us are on track to follow their example.  I joined my older brother and his wife last fall as they celebrated sixty years together.  I was and still am surrounded by people who are dedicated to marriage, and I join them in seeking to strengthen my own marriage as well as the marriages of other people. 

                Suzanne Venker wrote an interesting article entitled “To be happy, we must admit women and men aren’t `equal’.”   She is the author of How to Choose a Husband and Make Peace with Marriage.  The premise of her book is that “if women want to be successful in love, they should reject the cultural script they’ve been sold and adopt a whole new view of men and marriage.”

I was particularly touched by Venker’s suggestion that young women today have “few role models for lasting love” because they are often the product of divorce.  Venker added that young women have the additional “burden” of being “taught instead to honor sex, singlehood and female empowerment.”  I feel pity for such young women!  This statement helps me to better understand the attitudes of some young women.

Venker concluded her interesting article with this statement:  “The battle of the sexes is over.  And guess what?  No one won.  Why not try something else on for size?  Like this:  men and women are equal, but different.  They’ve each been blessed with amazing and unique qualities that they bring to the table.  Isn’t it time we stopped fussing about who brought what and simply enjoy the feast?”

Kelly O’Connell believes that “feminism is hateful and hated” and needs to be killed.  “If you were to ask men off the record, most would express displeasure and disagreement with Feminism.  Pressed, many would even confess open hatred of this ideology and a curse upon its originators.  But don’t be surprised if many women feel the same way because of how it has confused gender roles and poisoned everyday discourse.  This article is written to argue that feminism is unnatural, creates more harm than good, and has left generations of unhappy and lost persons in its wake, many still searching for their place in society and God’s universe.

“Perhaps the most startling aspect of Feminism is how it engenders and encourages disrespect from women to men.  While this can be regularly seen in popular culture, it has also been so widely dispersed that disrespect regularly courses through the everyday lives of many Americans.  Shockingly, American women have been convinced through the strange, mindless alchemy of pop culture that by refusing to recognize or honor men for their unique merits, they have somehow bagged some great achievement.  Unfortunately this unpleasant conviction has percolated down into the DNA of several generations of females, creating much of the rude culture dominating our society today.  Such insipid rudeness will not easily be removed, but probably will need to be rooted out after a Christian revival which reminds us that all people deserve polite treatment and honor, as we are all made in the image of God the Father….

“The answer to the question - `If the Women’s Movement is Dense, Obnoxious & Contradictory, Why Does it Persist?” is – Because we let it.  America is in desperate need to revive its respect for men, fatherhood, polite society and masculine-based religion  This can only happen when men themselves stand up for their dignity and demand a return to roles as leaders in politics, religion, family and society.  Until this happens, expect women to walk all over wimpy men until confronted by real men.”

I know about the indoctrination taking place – the “percolating down in the DNA of several generations of females.”  I taught a group of teenagers about fifteen years ago in our Church.  After class every Friday morning, we took time to fold up the tables and chairs for the weekend meetings.  One day I said something to the effect that the boys will fold up the tables and the girls will fold up the chairs.  The girls were highly insulted that I would think they were incapable of carrying the tables.  It was not my intent to insult them for I knew they could do it; I simply felt that the heavier pieces of furniture should be carried by the boys because of their stronger muscles.  I was trying to “protect” the femininity of the girls, and my efforts were not appreciated.

Many people are concerned about how the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints treat the female members of the Church.  President Gordon B. Hinckley said it best when he said:  “People wonder what we do for our women….  We get out of their way and look with wonder at what they are accomplishing.”

A family friend named David, the husband of Donna who is a very dynamic and accomplished woman, said the same thing.  He said that he never tries to stop her or get in her way because he knows she will just run over him.  Instead, he simply asks how he can support her.  Another husband, while introducing himself in our ward, simply introduced himself as “Tammy’s husband” and supporter.  Tammy is another talented and accomplished woman who has the full support of her husband.  A third example is a man whose wife was chosen to be the president of a parent group to support a basketball team.  Her husband immediately agreed to be co-president because they “work as a team.”  These men are just three of the many examples I could share of men who are very accomplished in their own way but who are firm supporters for their wives.  In return, the wives give their full support to their husbands. 

I agree that the battle of the sexes is over.  No one won the war, but there are many victims of the war in the rising generations.  While men and women have been battling, the children have suffered.  We are responsible to show the rising generation that men and women can work together for the good of all.  My friends and I understand that wives are on the same team as our husbands.  We have the same goal, and we use our different skills and talents to reach that goal.  Because we work as equal partners, our families are strengthened.  Strong families are better able to strengthen communities and nations.