Good News about IRS

                We are deep into income tax time, a time of year when most Americans have ill feelings toward the Internal Revenue Service.  Our feelings toward the IRS were not helped by the discovery of a scandal at the IRS - and the Obama administration’s response to it.  Now Speaker of the House Paul Ryan claims the Republican majority in Congress has brought the IRS under control. We can only hope!

                “There is now a codified Taxpayer Bill of Rights hanging at every IRS building across the country.  Because of the actions we’ve taken, agency employees like Lois Lerner can no longer use their personal email addresses for official business.  Organizations can self-declare their tax-exempt status, and if the IRS rescinds their status, they have the right to appeal.

                “As a result of our legislation, if the IRS compromises an organization’s confidential information, it can learn exactly what happened and who is responsible.  And finally, political targeting is now a firing offense.

                “This is the difference a Republican majority has made, but we still have much more to do.”

Nancy Reagan

                I believe it is only fitting that my VIP of the week is Nancy Reagan.  She passed away on March 6, 2016, at the age of 94.  She was buried at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, as close as possible to her husband, Ronald Wilson Reagan.  The two of them were seldom separated before his death on June 5, 2004, and they are now back together. 

                Nancy, as she was known to all of us, was a powerful first lady, but she was also a very classy lady.  We all knew that she loved her husband very much and was loved very much in return.  She left a legacy that has been matched by few first ladies that followed her.  The Reagan administration was a time of prosperity and classiness in our nation.  The Reagans are very much missed in our society!

Civil Asset Forfeiture

                On this Constitution Monday it seems only fitting that we discuss civil asset forfeiture.  Numerous states are being proactive in protecting the property rights of people who have not committed a crime.

                According to an article published by FreedomWorks, “In most states, law enforcement does not need to arrest, formally charge, or even convict some before taking permanent possession of their property.  Some states, though, have established a criminal conviction as a prerequisite to forfeiture.  Those states include New Mexico and Montana, both of which, just last year, passed this essential property rights protection for innocent owners.  While a criminal conviction would not be required in Florida under SB 1044, the evidentiary standard it sets -- `proof  beyond a reasonable doubt’ – is the same the government needs to secure a conviction.”

                Besides action in Florida, Montana, and New Mexico to force the government to stop taking private property of innocent people, Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, Virginia, and Wyoming are also involved determining what they should do, passing bills, and having them signed by governors.  Where does your state stand on civil asset forfeiture? 

               

Prepare for General Conference

                The annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held three weeks from today on April 2-3, 2016.  The conferences always consist of addresses by prophets, apostles, and other general leaders.  The addresses are always time appropriate and helpful.  One such address was presented by Elder Russell M. Nelson when he spoke about the need for us to “learn to listen and listen to learn.”  I encourage you to read his remarks to be better prepared for General Conference.  

                “Members, learn to listen, and listen to learn from Church leaders. Faithful members love the Savior and honor His servants, having faith in the Lord’s declaration that “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

            “One day in Italy I met a wonderful priesthood leader and his wife. In him I saw a man with great potential. But my language was foreign to them. Through an interpreter, I challenged them to study the English language. They listened obediently and studied diligently. Now six years later, ably sustained by his wife, Carolina, Vincenzo Conforte is faithfully serving his second assignment as a mission president, interviewing missionaries well in Italian or in English.

            “President Ezra Taft Benson has proclaimed the importance of studying the Book of Mormon.  People throughout the earth are being blessed as they follow this and other counsel he has given.

            “Gratefully we thank God for a prophet to guide us in these latter days. But many turn a deaf ear to his teachings, oblivious to his prophetic position. They do so at great risk, for scriptures contain this warning:

            “`A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you …; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. …

            “`Every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.’

            “President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said, `We do not lack a prophet; what we lack is a listening ear.’ Words of the Lord are taught by His disciples. Wise members listen to learn from Church leaders.”

Teaching Children

                Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we teach the children as Jesus Christ would teach them.  The instructor in my Book of Mormon class shared the following insights into how the Savior teaches children.  The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ contains two very poignant examples of Christ teaching children during His visit with the Nephites. 

                The first example is found in 3 Nephi 17 where Christ commands that the little children be brought forward and waited until all of them were around Him.  “… and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them” (3 Nephi 17:21).  A little later in the chapter we are told that “angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them” (3 Nephi 17:24).

                The second example is found in 3 Nephi 26:14:  “And it came to pass that he did teach and minister unto the children of the multitude of whom hath been spoken, and he did loose their tongues, and they did speak unto their fathers great and marvelous things, even greater than he had revealed unto the people; and he loosed their tongues that they could utter.”

                The Lord gave specific instructions to parents in our day about how to teach children.  These instructions are found in the Doctrine and Covenants 68:25:  “And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine… the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”

                Parents have known this counsel since the beginning days of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and many parents try to follow the admonition to teach their children.  My instructor shared the following quote by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  Elder Bednar’s words definitely make clear how parents are to teach their children.    

                “Here is the hard doctrine.  It does not say to teach our children.  Teaching is an activity.  It says that we should teach them to understand.  Understanding is an outcome; it is a result.

                “It is easy for us to say, `I teach my children in the home.’  That is not the job we have been assigned.  That is not the admonition.  It says that we are to teach them to understand.  Understanding is the outcome; that is the result.  Sometimes we say `I am teaching my kids; they are going to be okay.’  Ultimately, teaching is not the outcome of what we do; understanding is.”

                My instructor pointed out the obvious:  Parents are commanded to teach their children in such a way that the children can understand the doctrine being taught to them.  He explained that parents can “create, invite, and facilitate” but it is the Holy Ghost that actually does the teaching.  If we want our children to learn the doctrine – and learning the doctrine will help them behave better, then we must teach in such a way that the Holy Ghost can be present to help the doctrine to sink deep into the souls of our children.

                In closing his remarks, my instructor shared a story of how his son showed great love to his daughter at a time when she was going through some difficult times.   He spoke of the peace that came into the home because his son had been taught by the Holy Ghost how to show love for his sister.

                I know that we can strengthen our families, communities, and nations by preparing our children to be taught by the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Spirit is the greatest teacher there is because His teachings sink deep into souls.

Missile Crisis

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday concerns the current missile crisis.  I was a child in the 1950s during the Cuban missile crisis and the atomic bomb scare.  I remember the concern in the world around me.  Now we have another missile crisis.  This time the threat comes from North Korea, and it comes at a time when our military forces and budget have been greatly diminished.

                The Heritage Foundation put together a video showing where missiles from North Korea could hit.  From the video, it looks to me like a missile from North Korea could hit anywhere in the United States.

                North Korea is not the only nation threatening the freedom of people all over the world.  Iran apparently fired two missiles on Wednesday showing that they have the potential ability to fulfill the phrase written on the missiles “Israel must be wiped out.”  

                The world is definitely more dangerous than it was before Barack Obama became the President of the United States.  I hope American citizens will open their eyes and elect a President who will rebuild our military forces and reclaim our position as leader of the world.

Tithing

                The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ tells of a man named Lehi who took his family and left Jerusalem in 600 B.C. on a journey that eventually ended on the American continents.  The family divided into two groups - the Nephites and Lamanites - and their history ends about 420 A.D.  Part of their history contains a visit by the resurrected Jesus Christ, a visit that took place six to eight months after His resurrection.

                The Savior was with the Nephites for three days and then visited frequently thereafter.  On one occasion He asked to see the Nephite records.  After reviewing the records, He commanded that other information should be recorded.  He quoted Malachi 3 and 4 and commanded that the information be included in the Nephite records. 

                Malachi means “My messenger.”  The prophet Malachi wrote and prophesied about 430 B.C. – approximately two hundred years after Lehi left Jerusalem.  The Lord considered Malachi’s words on several topics to be so important that He wanted them included in the Nephite record.  One of the topics on which Malachi wrote was the commandment to pay tithing. 

                “Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them.  Return unto me and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts.  But ye say:  Wherein shall we return?

                “Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say:  Wherein have we robbed thee?  In tithes and offerings.

                “Ye are cursed with a curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

                “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

                “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts.

                “And all nations shall call you blessed, for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of Hosts”

(3 Nephi 24:7-12; see also Malachi 3:8-10 and Doctrine and Covenants 110:13-16).

                Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:  “Some people say, `I can’t afford to pay tithing.’  Those who place their faith in the Lord’s promises say, `I can’t afford not to pay my tithing.’

                “Some time ago I was speaking to a meeting of Church leaders in a country outside of North America.  As I spoke about tithing, I found myself saying something I had not intended to say.  I told them the Lord was grieved that only a small fraction of the members in their nations relied on the Lord’s promises and paid a full tithing.  I warned that the Lord would withhold material and spiritual blessings when his covenant children were not keeping this vital commandment.

                “I hope those leaders taught that principle to the members of the stakes and districts in their countries.  The law of tithing and the promise of blessings to those who live it apply to the people of the Lord in every nation.  I hope our members will qualify for the blessings of the Lord by paying a full tithing.”  (See “Tithing,” Ensign, May 1994.)  

                Elder Daniel L. Johnson of the Quorum of Seventy also spoke about tithing:  “He who has not only the power and the means to bless His children temporally and spiritually, but also the desire to do so, has provided to us the key to those blessings that we both need and desire.  This key is the law of tithing.  Indeed, as stated by President James E. Faust:  `Some may feel that they cannot afford to pay tithing, but the Lord has promised that He would prepare a way for us to keep all of His commandments.  To pay tithing takes a leap of faith in the beginning.  … We learn about tithing by paying it.  Indeed, I believe it is possible to break out of poverty by having the faith to give back to the Lord part of what little we have.’  My brothers and sisters, we have but to obey the law.”  (See “The Law of Tithing,” Ensign, November 2006.)  

                If you do not believe prophets, apostles, and other Church leaders, you might believe a financial advisor.

While reading The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom – Practical & Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying by Suze Orman, I found this interesting information in Step #7 “Being open to receive all that you are meant to have.”

                “… As we’ve seen, money is a living entity and responds to energy….  When you are worrying about money, feeling powerless over your finances and sorry for yourself, money won’t want to hang around you….  On the other hand, when you feel you’re in control of your money and have enough to be generous with it, money will naturally flow your way….

                “You open yourself to receive all that is meant to be yours.  Giving not only when you feel poor, but also when you feel rich, lucky, grateful, expansive, vital.  Giving to say please, and giving to say thank you.  It’s the impulse to give that puts you in touch with the best part of yourself – and the principles of abundance that are alive in the world.  Yes, we help ourselves when we give, but that is not why we give.”

                “… You must break these thoughts of poverty, for thoughts of poverty are the chains that keep you bound to poverty.  Mental chains may be invisible but they imprison you nevertheless.  You must and you can break through, overcome, move beyond these mental barriers.  You must open your hand…. Think of how much you do have, think of others with far less, and give thanks with your gift.” (See pages 262- 272.)

                When I read this chapter in the book, I was amazed at how intelligent God is.  Thousands of years ago He knew the same information as this financial advisor knows today!  In order to open the windows of heaven and receive the gifts that God has to give to us, we must be willing to part with a “meaningful” amount of money each month.  I consider a tithe – one tenth of our income – to be a significant amount.  It is enough that we must make a real commitment to part with it, but it is a small enough amount to make the act possible and not be missed.

                Yes, tithing is an important financial and spiritual principle, given to us by our loving Heavenly Father to help us obtain all the blessings that He has in store for us.  All we have to do to receive this abundance of blessings is to open our hands to give some of the abundance away.  By following the law of tithing we can receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us.