Has the Equal Rights Amendment Been Brought Back to Life?

            Many people, including myself, thought that the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) died when it failed to be ratified by enough states. However, I recently discovered that the amendment is on life support with hopes of total revival.


            The ERA was introduced in 1923 soon after American women won the right to vote. It languished for 26 years until the Senate approved the amendment in March 1972. It then went to the states and was given seven years to be ratified by 38 states. The deadline was extended to June 1982, but the amendment failed to win enough states. 


            I thought that the ERA was dead but recently learned that it still lives – if only in the minds of progressives. As this opinion piece emphasizes, no one questions the right of women to be treated equally, but there is cause for concern when even avowed feminists have concerns. 

There are two significant challenges with the ERA:

First, there are far-reaching unintended consequences that could ultimately harm women. It could, for example, change family law – including child custody rights in divorce – impact abortion law and potentially draft women into military service during times of war.

The second is a procedural problem for a proposed amendment that was not ratified when it was introduced in the 1970s. Serious doubt remains whether the expired amendment can be picked up more than 40 years later and whether recent state votes in favor of it, in addition to the states that have since rescinded their votes, are valid….

The Equal Rights Amendment also risks constitutionalizing abortion once and for all. Since, under the ERA, governments arguably couldn’t treat abortion differently than any other medical procedure performed on a man, certain state abortion regulations would likely be struck down as unconstitutional….

            Some of today’s concerns were the concerns of those who fought against the ERA in the 1970s and 80s, but some of them are new. Valerie Hudson describes herself as a “feminist scholar” and a “dyed-in-the-wool feminist,” and she has concerns. The proposed amendment states, “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.” Hudson wants the term “sex” to be debated. Does “sex” mean male and female? She says that the wording in all federal laws must be changed to “sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity) if the ERA passes. She wants clarity on the term. Her second concern is about the possibility of women being drafted into the military during war time. If the ERA passes, there would be no legal grounds to continue the policy of drafting only males. This means that our daughters and granddaughters could be drafted into the military during war time.

Like Pandora’s Box, the ERA gleams and shines on the outside but holds the possibility of much danger on the inside. Those who are pushing for an ERA do not appear to know all the possibilities that could turn into big problems. They want what they want, and they want it now – no matter who gets hurt. Americans need to go slow on this possible amendment.

When Will the Impeachment Circus End?

            Impeachment is back in the news. The Democrat impeachment circus is starting over in another committee. Jerry Nadler, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, reported last week that his committee started “formal impeachment proceedings” against President Donald Trump. Nadler is apparently going rogue because he said that he is not waiting for approval from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.


            The impeachment circus would have ended long ago if we lived in a sane world. The whole impeachment charade started from a telephone call made by Trump to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in July. Democrats claim that Trump should be impeached because he demanded action from Ukraine in return for military aid. There are many problems with the claim, but the main one seems to be that Zelensky has said numerous times that there was no quid pro quo. He said that he felt no pressure from Trump whatsoever. In fact, he did not know that the aid was being held. This does not mean that Zelensky approved of the aid being held. He was upset because his country needs the money.

Look, I never talked to the president from the position of a quid pro quo. That’s not my thing…. I don’t want us to look like beggars. But you have to understand. We’re at war. If you’re our strategic partner, then you can’t go blocking anything for us….

I think that’s just about fairness. It’s not about a quid pro quo. It just goes without saying.

            The Trump administration is concerned about corruption in Ukraine. Zelensky ran for office on the promise to do something about the corruption there. Zelensky admits that there is corruption, but he is afraid that Trump’s words will hurt the Ukraine image with the business world.


            Meanwhile back in Washington, D.C., House Republicans are defending Trump with “a point-by-point rebuttal” of the impeachment case made by Democrats against him. They argue that the previous Democrat circus did not turn over any evidence that the President did anything wrong in his July telephone call with Zelensky. The GOP report is 123 pages long and includes this statement: “The evidence presented does not prove any of these Democrat allegations, and none of the Democrats’ witnesses testified to having evidence of bribery, extortion, or any high crime or misdemeanor.”


            The report was co-authored by three GOP Representatives: Devin Nunes (California -Intelligence Committee ranking member), Jim Jordan (Ohio – Oversight Committee ranking member, and Michael McCaul (Texas – Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member). The report includes the following statement. 

The Democrats’ impeachment inquiry is not the organic outgrowth of serious misconduct; it is an orchestrated campaign to upend our political system….

This impeachment inquiry and the manner in which the Democrats are pursuing it sets a dangerous precedent….

The impeachment of a president is one of the gravest and most solemn duties of the House of Representatives. For Democrats, impeachment is a tool for settling political scores and re-litigating election results with which they disagreed.

            Trump seems to understand that the Democrats will continue their vendetta against him. If they fail with the Ukraine impeachment attempt, they will try something else. I hope that Americans are watching this circus – and others – closely. I know that there are many Democrats who have gone crazy with Trump Impeachment Mania, but I also know that there are many others who are wise enough to see through the charade. Hopefully, many of the clowns in Congress will be voted out of office in 2020. I think that some of them deserve to be in prison, but I could be satisfied with them losing office and power.

Who Is Herbie Newell?

            I chose Herbie Newell as my VIP for this week for several reasons. He has an interesting story, and he provides a valuable service to children and families. I am not interested in fostering or adopting a child, but I found his services to be interesting. I am sending them along for anyone who may be looking for a child or children to take into their home.


            Newell is the president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services. He has held this position for 16 years. This organization is based in Alabama, and it “serves vulnerable children around the world.” Here are his own words.

First, and this is, I believe, what has been a big … part of the growth that we’ve seen in the ministry over the last 16 and a half years, and that is really identifying the children who are in need. 

I think a lot of times … a family has a desire, or they have a calling to take care of a child and then you kind of start with, unfortunately, at times, what kind of child are you looking for? What are the specifics of a child’s background that you’re looking for? 

And really what we’ve tried to focus on the last 16 and a half years is not necessarily what is a family looking for, but truly what are the children in need of, and then going and recruiting families that can meet the needs of that child. 

            I think that this is a different approach from what usually happens. The family looks for a specific type of child, whereas an agency should look for a couple or family that can bless the child. If you are looking for more information on fostering or adopting a child or children, check out this interview. 

Where Do My Rights End and Yours Begin

          The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday is the right of Americans to privacy when dressing, undressing, or using bathroom facilities, or at least be with people who are biologically the same sex. This is a right that may soon be gone because the battle over the rights of people who believe they are transgender. This battle seems to be centered in the schools.

            Nicole Russell shared some of her thoughts about this battle in an article posted by The Daily Signal. She wrote about two schools that are being sued because transgender students are not satisfied with their efforts to accommodate all students. She stated that there are some key factors that are driving both cases.

Though the lawsuits differ slightly in specifics, they share several common denominators that are key to understanding the transgender debate, particularly when it comes to students and schools.

First, these lawsuits are based on President Barack Obama’s 2016 “Dear Colleague” letter that mandated schools must include and accommodate transgender students and recognize gender identity, or else the school could face discrimination charges.

This was an order by executive fiat, not a law passed by Congress, and not a ruling from the Supreme Court.

            In 2017, the Trump administration rolled back those provisions, while the Education                             Department acknowledged that “each school has a responsibility to protect every student in                 America and ensure that they have the freedom to learn and thrive in a safe environment.”

Second, both lawsuits share an important, particular curiosity: Both schools addressed the transgender student’s wishes to be included and to have “equal access” to facilities, yet in both cases, the students complained that equal access wasn’t equal enough. They claimed the accommodations were somehow still discriminatory, even though it appears the schools took extra efforts to ensure the transgender students were treated equally while also preserving the rights of other students.

            In other words, both school districts went out of their way to protect all students’ rights, but                 transgender students made that an impossible task. They pushed for entitlement rather than                 equality.

            These students keep shifting the goalposts with their self-focused demands. Their demands                 ultimately pose a greater risk to other students’ privacy rights, which raises questions about                 discrimination in the opposite direction.

            Russell points out that these lawsuits should not even be happening. They are not based on any law passed by Congress or decided by the Supreme Court. The school districts caved to the demands of a few students while denying privacy rights of the majority. They took these actions even though “gender identity does not have protected status in federal civil rights laws, like sex, religion, or ethnicity.” 

The problem with making decisions based on gender identity is that there is not a specific identity with which to work. Common sense says that there should be restrooms for two sexes – male and female. How can any public facility have enough restrooms for all the different genders, specifically because we do not know how many genders with which we are dealing? In a quick Google search, I found three different numbers – 33, 63, and 112. Who knows which number is correct, or if any of them are true? 

            I propose that school districts build three different restrooms instead of two – one for biological “girls,” one for biological “boys,” and one for “others.” One thing is for sure: the right of privacy for biological girls and biological boys should not be compromised because a few people feel that they are in the wrong body. No one has the right to force the majority to conform to the desires of the few.

What Does It Mean to Know God?

          I have been exploring the First and Second General Epistles of Peter for my “Come, Follow Me” studies this week. Peter wrote his epistles to the members of the Church in general at a time when there was great persecution and apostasy. In his first epistle Peter wrote about Jesus Christ’s visit to the spirit world during the time that His body lay in the tomb (see 1 Peter 3:18-20; 4-6). There He organized the righteous spirits to do missionary work among the spirits of the wicked, so that they could have an opportunity to hear His gospel.

            By the time that Peter wrote his second epistle, he understood that his death was drawing near. He encouraged the Saints to develop Christlike characteristics and become more like the Savior. He told the Saints that as their spiritual abilities grew, their knowledge of God would also grow and bring them closer to having their calling and election made sure (see 2 Peter 1:2-10).

            Just as the Apostle Peter emphasized the importance of gaining knowledge of God (see

2 Peter 1:2-3, 5, 8; 2:20; 3:18), Elder Bruce R. McConkie, a modern-day apostle and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught the importance of coming to know God: 

It is one thing to know about God and another to know him. We know about him when we learn that he is a personal being in whose image man is created; when we learn that the Son is in the express image of his Father’s person; when we learn that both the Father and the Son possess certain specified attributes and powers. But we know them, in the sense of gaining eternal life, when we enjoy and experience the same things they do. To know God is to think what he thinks, to feel what he feels, to have the power he possesses, to comprehend the truths he understands, and to do what he does. Those who know God become like him, and have his kind of life, which is eternal life (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965-73], 1:762).

           The Prophet Joseph Smith knew God better than most people who ever lived on earth. He explained the importance of gaining knowledge of Him. 

           The principle of knowledge is the principle of salvation. This principle can be comprehended              by the faithful and diligent; and every one that does not obtain knowledge sufficient to be                    saved will be condemned. The principle of salvation is given us through the knowledge of                   Jesus Christ (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 212).

            According to the Apostle Peter, Elder McConkie, and the Prophet Joseph Smith – three witnesses – we need to gain knowledge about Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. We must do more than just know about them. We need to know them and become like them if we are to gain exaltation and live with them for eternity. This is the most critical knowledge that we can gain in this life. The more knowledge we gain of God, the greater will be our blessings.

What Do You Know about Your Traditions?

            Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when parents teach the purposes behind the traditions. Some traditions are followed knowingly, and other traditions are blindly followed. Christmas hymns and carols are some of the traditions that may be followed blindly. 


            I have sung the Christmas carol titled “Partridge in a Pear Tree” many times, and sometimes I have wondered about the wording of the song. I recently came across an explanation that makes the song more meaningful for me. I do not know the author or if it is true, but I find it fascinating. It could well be the original meaning of the song.

Did you know this? The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.

Three French hens stand for faith, hope, and love.

Four calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

Six geese a-laying stand for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

Eight maids a-milking are the eight Beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

Ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments.

Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples.

Twelve drummers drumming symbolizes the twelve points of belief in the Apostles Creed.

So, there is your history for today. MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Yes, I said MERRY CHRISTmas because Christmas is not without CHRIST!

            As you repeat your family traditions and sing your favorite Christmas carols and hymns this year, I suggest that you look for the meaning behind each of them. Once we know the meaning, we can then determine if they bring strength or not. I know that we can strengthen our families, communities, and nation by following righteous and wholesome traditions.

Why Go to the Trouble?

            It is late on Thanksgiving night. The food that took hours and hours to prepare was eaten within half an hour. It took longer for us to put away the leftover food, clear the table, and do the dishes than it took to eat the food. Why do millions of Americans go to such trouble for such a short period of time? The answer to this question can be answered by the comments of several former Presidents of the United States as reported by the editorial board at The Deseret News. 


            President Abraham Lincoln was “in the middle of the slaughter and tragedy of a grueling Civil War” when he paused and observed that the year 1864 “has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies.”  He noted that the population of the nation had been increasing even though there were many dying in the war.


            Not long after Washington was attacked and the White House burned, President James Madison “declared a day of thanksgiving. He showed no bitterness when he offered thanks for “all those privileges and advantages, religious as well as civil, which are so richly enjoyed in this favored land.”


            President Franklin Delano Roosevelt understood that American soldiers were dying in the war and Americans at home were suffering while supporting the soldiers. Yet he suggested in 1944 “a nationwide reading of the Holy Scriptures during the period from Thanksgiving Day to Christmas.” He continued by encouraging “every man of every creed go to his own version of the scriptures for a renewed and strengthening contact with those eternal truths and majestic principles which have inspired such measure of true greatness as this nation has achieved.”


            General George Washington prayed when his soldiers were suffering at Valley Forge, and General Dwight D. Eisenhower prayed for his soldiers as they prepared to invade Europe on D-Day. Both generals knew that God could help their missions to be successful.


            These great men understood that humility, gratefulness, and reliance on God brings power. Americans are at their best when they are humble and grateful. We need only to look back on September 12, 2001, the day after terrorists hijacked four airplanes and flew them into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the ground in Pennsylvania.

            This is the reason why Americans go to great effort, time, and money to gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day even though the actual meal may be short in duration. The very act of observation of a day of Thanksgiving brings blessings from heaven We humbly acknowledge our weaknesses before Heavenly Father and plead for His continued blessing upon our nation.