Traveler

The concept of Killing for good has long been apart of society. There is not an “action” movie to come out of Hollywood that has not used this theme. This concept is central to the idea of a war hero. The difference between the good guys and the bad guys is that the good guys only kill people that deserve to be killed??? Do not misunderstand me – I am a believer in capitol punishment – law – and due process. What seems to be lacking in this story is the due process and in general that seems to be lacking a lot in our generation. Some say it is better that 99 guilty go free rather than convict one innocent. It is my opinion that if one guilty person is set free or one innocent person convicted the law has failed equally for both situations. However, I believe that in general, society will be safer if an innocent person is convicted (put to death) than it would be if a guilty murder is set free in society. The Traveler

Enough of the fear stuff. This is kind of a funny story but a little scarey. It was at a Auto plant that was to be a unmanned complete robotic factory. I was testing out a new kind of AGV. AGV stand for automated guided vehicle. This new model was an automated fork truck that was supposed to pick up pallets off the floor. Big problem for a robot because it has to sense where the pallet is - most agv’s pick the load from a special stand. The concept was a little nuts but somebody was sure we could make it work. Anyway I was working on the software model that figured out how to get the AGV around the plant without hitting things, getting lost or in traffic jams. I was in the computer room with no way of seeing the factory floor. I had a union guy from the plant out on the floor with a radio but there was too much interference to communicate well. I had about 6 AGV’s running around keeping track of them on a display. We could only use part of the plant floor for test because there was still a lot of construction going on. One of the Fork AGV’s was traveling down the back side of the plant and the watch man lost track of it. BTW these things weigh about 2 ton. Someone had left a fire hose on a metal spool hinged to the wall open and not up against the wall. The AGV went by and tore it off the wall (the hose was at the perfect height to miss all the sensors). The hose was caught on the AGV that was dragging the metal spool behind. Sometime later the AGV went by a construction area where a guy was working on electrical stuff on a mark lift about 60 feet up at the ceiling. The metal spool went into the construction area when the AGV turned a corner and caught the mark life and started dragging it sideways. The workman at the top realized the problem and attached his safety harness to the ceiling just as the AGV pulled the mark lift over leafing the guy dangling from the ceiling. Robots can be a lot of fun at parties but sometimes at work they are a real drag. :) The Traveler

Just for your information I was raised in a very wealthy family. However, my father hated rich kids when he grew up (he grew up poor). So I was in college when I found out my family was wealthy. Growing up, my father got his boys up about 3: am to get work done at his various businesses (mostly apartments or warehouses). We had to earn money to buy our own cloths and pay for any vacations or anything else we had. I thought I had to work to help support the family. I have lived well through the years and we have great vacations. My wife and I usually spend a week in Hawaii and Mexico every year. I also like to take about 60 people on a white water river trip. Each year we try to take a family that otherwise would not have a vacation. I have trained my kids as river guides for the boats. Last year my son brought some of his friends from the Hollywood seen and they could not believe anyone camps like we do. The water fight especially they thought got rather intense. As a side note I also consider myself an expert in desert survival. The point is that I am not concerned about myself and I am sure many people will find some way to survive. That is not the point about Social Security. The point is that many people are depending on Social Security. I am not saying that is a good thing or a bad thing. What I am saying is that the government has done two things. One: They have taken something that they have no right to take but they took it with a promise to give it back. Second: They have used what they have taken for something they will not even tell; so now they cannot give the money back. They are as bad as an alcoholic that begs for money to buy his children some cloths for winter. They get some money and just go buy booze and come back begging for more money saying the need for winter cloths has increased and please won’t we help. The money is not to relieve the poor and suffering. That is obvious. I would like to know where the money is really going. I believe if the public knew we would rid ourselves of both Social Security and all the politicians that use it to beg for what they know is not the government's. The Traveler

I'll think about it I did not think I had a fear of heights until I was on a job and there was a 150 foot storage rack that had a stairway at the back attached at the top, bottom and about 1/3 the way up. We were having a problem with a robotic crane and I took off up the stairway to check it out. The robotic crane movements caused the stairway to sway about a foot and a half side to side and I only made it half way up. I had to send someone else up with a radio. It took me two weeks to get to the top going a little farther each day at work trying to get over my fear. The last time if visited that site I could not get even half way. So much for conquering fears. The Traveler

I do not think very many people have a good grasp of the effect unclean spirits have on the general population. Please do not take what I am saying wrong but it is my personal belief that any evil done among mankind is assisted, and inspired through unclean spirits. For example, I do not believe that one person will deliberately take a human life without the influence of an unclean spirit. This is not to say that a person is operating ability to control their actions.I am aware of peer pressure, especially on teenagers. This does not mean that their friends are possessing them but that they are an influence. So it is with spirits. We invite them (good or evil) into our lives through associations, music, entertainment and other means. The more we give in to certain things (including temptation) the more power the spirit inspiring those things has influencing us. I also do not believe that “casting out” unclean spirits cleans a person. If they do not build a relationship with the spirit of G-d they will always return to the unclean spirits. In general I suggest that people seek good things and learn to enjoy good things and in so doing unclean spirits will not find them a good to hang with. Just as the spirit of G-d departs from those that entertain unclean things so unclean spirits depart from those that stand in holy places. The Traveler

Good for you - I have never been able to get over being shot at!!The Traveler

Alive. Traveling – not as much (new job). Pending surgery – First time except for wisdom teeth. I do not like doctors. Still ridding a bicycle to work. Opinions mostly intact. The Traveler

One of the problems with statistics is understanding exactly what they mean. In general when we speak of life expectancy there is more than one category. The reason for multiple categories is to try to understand what is being expressed. For example, if I were to say – what is the life expectancy of the average American today? What would you expect that means. How many more years will the average American live or to what age will the average American live? Or is it the average number of years Americans that are born this year will live to? The most recent official government statistics I know of are dated 2002. The web link is http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr53/nvsr53_06.pdf This shows that on average a person that is 60 years old in 2002 will live to 82 years of age. However, that does not take into account everybody that was born in 1942. Only those that are still alive in 2002. I assume the statistics you are using include only those Americans alive today. You will also note that everybody that turned 100 in the year 2002 can expect to live another 2 years or so. This would mean that their average life expectancy would be 102 years. My calculations are based on everyone born the year I was born. What I do not have is the statistics of all the Social Security paid by those that were born the same year that I was. So I have tried to extrapolate the number based on what I have paid for the years I have worked as an average projected on the numbers of those that will retire based on the age 65 or the age 70. Using the record from my taxes during my life time I can check to see how much I personally paid Social Security and use that to compare with the pay back from the statement form Social Security I received in the mail. All numbers projected from my date of birth and adjusted for life expectancy for all persons born that year. Any way I figure it I will not even get back the money I put in and that does not account for the pay out from my employers against my earnings. All by my self I have paid for my Social Security retirement and at least 3 others just like me. Now there may be somebody that gets back more than they put in – but I believe to date those people are extremely rare. And will remain rare based on the behavior of those running Social Security continually asking for more. The problem is all the money that is missing – all the money that went in and was never paid out in actual payment to anybody trying to live on Social Security. That is the cover-up. That is the lie. That is the problem. And no politician I know of will even try to address that problem, including Pres Bush. The only political solution has been – send us more money. My point is to end this insanity now! The Traveler

Yes I did and I agree a 401k is superior to SS. But not everyone can or does have a 401k. My point is that increasing the amount paid into SS has not solved the SS problem. For the record I think that someone that keeps doing the same thing over and over and over again in attempt to solve a problem and thinking that there will be a different outcome is the defination in insanity. In 60 years of increasing SS from 2% of earnings to 15% of earnings has not solved the problem. I do not think Pres Bush cares are wants to fix Social Security - I think his motives are 100% political.Social Security does not need to be fixed - it needs to be ended and another concept put into place. Do you think making SS a 401k is the solution to the problem. It might work and be better but I think there is a much better solution for government funded retirement. The Traveler

If you check the life expectancy for men it is 73 and for women I think it was 75. This is the average and has not changed in over 15 years. This means that the time on SS is about 10 years but there are efforts to up the retirement age to 70. There are more payouts if you do not retire till 70. With the average between 73 and 75 and the working force between 20 and 70 (or even 65) the population would be in more trouble than just SS if there are more over 65 than under 65. If you could fix your old car for $175,000 or buy a brand new one for $20,000, why do you think someone would be trying to convince you to fix the old one? And if your neighbor kept saying the the person trying to talk you into the $175,000 repair job is a really nice guy that wants to help you - what would you think? That either they really do not have your interest at heart or they are not real bright. I am thinking that you may not realize that there are other options other than Social Security. Why won't any body consider that possibility? The Traveler

Tell you what - if you will send me $10,000 I will explain exactly how the scam works and President Bush continues the problem, plus I will guarantee $2,500 retirement for you.President Bush wants more money for Social Security. I have paid enough in that 4 could retire on just the Social Security I will pay plus the ratio right now is 8 paying for each person receiving Social Security. There never will be a time when there are fewer paying in than receiving - Why then does President Bush think more is needed? He has no desire or ability to end the fraud - He cannot think of any alternative. His plan is Social Security or bankruptcy for everybody. You are right the fraud has had scores of helpers since the 50’s but just because someone else has gotten away with being a criminal is no reason to thank then next one in line. Don’t you get it my friend? Social Security cannot work – if it is headed for trouble so soon after being fixed dozens of times there is no way it can ever be a success. It started out asking for 2% of earnings – it is currently around 15% of earnings and rising. The reason it is rising is because Bush says it must have more or 95% of Americans that depend on Social Security will be forced into complete poverty. Do you know a con when you hear it? Maybe we should can the concept and try a new one starting over at the 2% level. The Traveler

A few days ago I got a fifty letter from the Social Security Administration. They informed me of the status of my account and my future benefits. I thought I would make some calculations based on the information in the report and the internet statistics on aging and the amount I have paid and will pay into Social Security by time I retire. I will get back less than ½ of what I paid. In essence I will get back about 47 cents on every dollar paid. There is no counting for inflation, and no interest. Accounting for inflation I will receive during my retirement something less than 1/4 of the value I paid during my lifetime. That is unless inflation increases as most economist are predicting. It is possible I could end up with less than 20% of the value that I paid into the program. Keep in mind that my employer has been paying into Social Security dollar for dollar every penny I have paid. When I was 16 years I bought and paid for a $25,000 whole life insurance policy that I paid in full with about $3,000. If you are to talk to any investment councilor or economist they will tell you a whole life policy is the worse investment possible. Really? Since my insurance was paid I have invested the extra dividends in more insurance for a total current value of $85,000. That is what the initial investment has returned. That is over 28 times what I paid or a 2,800% increase. Even counting for inflation I will come out a head – not a whole lot because that money invested in compound interest would net close to $1,000,000 when I retire. That is why it was considered such a bad investment. My conclusion – if any insurance or any other retirement program in the United States was run like Social Security everybody bulked out of their savings would sue the management of the company and demand that everyone involved in the scam serve time in a federal correctional facility for fraud. I am not kidding – every politician, liberal or conservative would agree to the criminality of those that perpetrated the program. No one would suggest we put more money into such a debacle. President Bush is lying about Social Security running out of money. The money is not there because we are running out – the money is not there because it has been mismanaged; so mismanaged that it is criminal. President Bush belongs in jail for his lie and cover-up of criminal mismanagement – more so than any Enron executive. Of course Bush is not the only criminal – he has not pulled this off all by himself. He had help – lots of it. Every politician alive to day is a part of the lie and criminal offense and they are all exempt from Social Security, every lying stinking one of them. Am I bitter? Yah I’m bitter, not just with the lying stinking scum politicians but even more so of the idiots that continue to trust the lying stinking scum to fix Social Security, education and over see ever other government program – and especially keep us safe from domestic criminal predators or foreign terrorist. I am not so bitter for myself – I will do alright. I have made some investment and I will be okay but there are a lot of others that have trusted in their elected officials and Social Security is their only hope from complete poverty in their retirement. Social Security robs the greatest from the poor. Hay I’ve got a great idea – lets have these bums solve the health care problems by putting together a Social Medical program. How stupid is this country? Sorry – I’ll crawl back in my hole now. The Traveler

I will add a couple other opinions to the mix. A few years back I was visiting several ancient Mayan archeological sites in Mexico when I ran into a group of LDS Mayan’s involved in the digs (and other things). They were of the opinion that the main temple at Jackson county Mo. would be built by Lamanites; in particular the Mayan people that would one day arise and unite the Laminite populations of the Americas (North and South) and create a powerful economic and political force. They also felt they would save the USA from moral corruption of secret combinations. My personal opinion is that the city Zion and the associated temples (Jackson Co.) will be a restoration of an ancient city that was also called Zion that had the nick name of “The City of Enoch”. The Zion cities of Enoch were established under the covenant (Divine Law) of peace that was given to Noah a second time following the flood. (The society of Enoch being taken up and perserved from the flood as a type of the saints that will be taken up prior to the return of the Messiah when fire shall cover the earth in the manner of the flood) The city Salem also means peace (Salem is the Hebrew word for peace) and was reestablished as a shadow of Zion by Melchedeck. When Salem (that was built on a hill or mountain) was expanded to include a second mountain; Salem became known as “Salem on two mountains” which is the Hebrew meaning of Jerusalem. Therefore, it is my theory that the “New Jerusalem” is the reestablishment of the reestablishment of the covenant of peace established in the city states of Enoch’s Zion. Those that were taken up will return at the end of time as a “Chiasm” to complete the prophesies of Enoch. The Traveler

It is my understanding that Zion exist anywhere there are stakes of Zion. Because the LDS headquarters is in Salt Lake City Utah many refer to Utah as the “Center” stakes of Zion. As far as there being a city established upon the concepts of Zion – there is no such thing. Even in the wildest stretch of any imagination, Rocky Anderson is not capable of being a mayor of a “holy” or Zion city. Building of Zion is the support and enlarging of the stakes. The Traveler

Ever since Eden man has experienced various levels (depths) of apostasy. In general we tend to think of apostasy as a state of separation from the divine. In the Last Days prior to the return of Christ to the earth a people need to be organized into a society and prepared to receive the Kingdom of the Christ. If there had been no apostasy since Jesus there would be no need for preparation. I believe history indicates that a society based on the teachings of Christ had been lost to mankind. It is my opinion that there may be individuals prepared for and ready for the Christ outside of organizations but I do not believe that there is any “church” society on the earth that is ready. To my knowledge, however, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only organization on earth taking the steps necessary for change to move from the apostasy of world society (symbolized in scripture as Babylon) to a state prepared and acceptable (symbolized in scripture as Zion and New Jerusalem) for the returning Christ. My definition of a “true Church” is any church willing and able to absorb and change according to revelation given from heaven concerning the preparations for the establishment of Zion. The LDS church is the only church I have found susceptible to needed revelation. The Traveler

Good statement....but don't you think that to sacrifice something of yourself to try to obtain betterment for yourself and others is not a sacrifice in vein? There is a trap of pride whenever one thinks that they are more important than others and there is a trap of making the excuse that your selfishness is really a caring for others. I believe that at some point one will be placed so they must choose between sacrificing themself or sacrificing others. We may get by for a time but there is that climax when a final choice is made. I never really understood until I was a parent. The Traveler I am a little confused at your statement Trav. I was thinking more along the lines of those who are fighting for freedom for others....the soldiers who give up so much, and the ultimate sacrifice of death to try to ensure a brighter future and better life for other people. I just can't see their sacrifice classified as "in vein." We may be on the same page - Jesus said that no greater love is there than to lay down your life for another. In reality our life and time is all we really have. Sacrificing one's life and one's time is the only real gift we can give. The point I attempted to make is that when we make sacrifices for ourselves over others the sacrifice is in vain. The Traveler

Good statement....but don't you think that to sacrifice something of yourself to try to obtain betterment for yourself and others is not a sacrifice in vein? There is a trap of pride whenever one thinks that they are more important than others and there is a trap of making the excuse that your selfishness is really a caring for others. I believe that at some point one will be placed so they must choose between sacrificing themself or sacrificing others. We may get by for a time but there is that climax when a final choice is made. I never really understood until I was a parent.The Traveler

Traveler, Was that to me or Jackvance? I thought it was for Jack but if you like it you may use it also - although I thought this would be nothing more than a conformation to you. The Traveler

There have been some good advice offered but I would add two ideas.First: You need to be concerned more with others and less with yourself. If you had climbed the mountain with some young men in your ward you would have learned that the view changes when the climb involves service. Second: You need to discover covenant. Not just commitment - because covenant is way beyond commitment. Your word must be as solid as the mountain. Do not set out on a quest to see what will happen, become your quest. For example do not try a couple things to determine if G-d will give you something for doing it. Take on the greatest and most important task you know - put your life into it, love it, rejoice in it and when G-d blesses you thank him with all your heart. Strange as it may seem good things happen (out of the worse things) along the way of a good traveler The Traveler

I believe true religion is an eternal perspective. In ancient times of the Old Testament a person that had mastered the ability to maintain an eternal perspective through trials was referred to as a prophet. I would point out that an eternal perspective or prophetic ability has little or nothing to do with understanding the sequence of things during a mortal trial. Instead it is the opposite or the ability to not focus on non eternal things, especially at the expense of eternal things. With this understanding in mind, I have found much of the criticism of the Prophet Joseph Smith is caught up in a non eternal view of things. But Joseph is not the purpose of this follow up post. The focus of this post is G-d the Father and his Son Jesus the Christ. In order to master an eternal perspective there is something about G-d the Father and his Son Jesus Christ that must be understood. “For this is life eternal to know thee, the only true G-d and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” The only way to have an eternal perspective is by coming to an understanding of G-d the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. This is the very core of true religion with power to bring about eternal life. On this notion I would add two thought provided by Jesus. First, Jesus offers himself as an example of eternal perspective of things. “If you have known me ye should have known my Father also”. In other words Jesus offers himself as the key to unlocking the eternal secret of G-d the Father. This is why Jesus said that he is “the Way”. There is a great deal more to this doctrine but I will not expand this thought – leaving such effort to the reader. The second important notion: Jesus taught, “If ye continue in my word then are you my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Here Jesus pleads that we do not just listen to his doctrine but that we alter our lives to conform to what he is teaching. If we do this he promises that we shall know truth (or the goodness of the Father) and with such knowledge that we will be empowered to become free. But what is he teaching? In what manner are we to alter our lives? What is the secret? Lets take a look at what we know, first about G-d the Father and second, the Son Jesus Christ. “In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth.” There is a lot of powerful information in this simple statement. Originally written in ancient Hebrew the extent of the meaning goes far beyond the simple English translation. In essence the creation was no simple or easy thing, even for the Almighty G-d the Father. He expelled power, attention and divine effort to bring about the creation of “the heavens and the earth.” The very important notion is that prior to the “beginning”, G-d was G-d. The creation did not occur for his benefit or investment. He was eternally focused on a “work” or a “plan”, which he considered more important than himself. So important is the plan that he is willing to make personal divine sacrifices – with no possible benefit for himself. He is willing to pay a divine cost to something of eternal purpose. He has an eternal perspective and disciplines himself (sacrifices) to achieve that end. The Son of G-d, Jesus the Christ has the same eternal perspective. He is centered on a “work” or a “plan” that he also considers more important than himself. He is willing to sacrifice himself, at the price of pain, suffering and even death for what he considers more important. Not so he could be exalted because he was exalted before any sacrifice. Like his Father he has an eternal perspective above that of himself and he will sacrifice to that end. Now the ball is in your court – it is your life to live. You can play to win for your personal benefit and amusements or you may play with an eternal perspective. If you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the benefit of others, you will, through that play have a glimpse of eternity and G-d. But there is a caveat, if you sacrifice thinking to obtain the better for you – your sacrifice is in vein. But do not despair, G-d knows you and loves you and he will insure that you will have the challenge for whatever your heart most desires that is not eternal and in that you will choose between good and evil, it is your divine destiny. The Traveler

From a religious stand point man was unable to decipher the difference between good and evil until he partook of the “forbidden fruit” at which point evil had such power over mankind to render him mortal with death as the only possible outcome. This is a rather drastic concept don’t you think? Why is evil so powerful that once even the tiniest seed is planted the only possible course is complete ruin. The definition of perdition (damnation) is complete ruin. Only by divine intervention, at great divine pain, suffering and cost can the powers of evil be stayed and put at bay. Wow, sin is an amazing power to be able to render suffering and sorrow on an all powerful G-d even without G-d indulging in sin himself. With such great risk - why is evil given any allowance? Without choosing good, man cannot be good and no choice of good can be made without the possibility of evil. But when and how is the choice made between good and evil? Indeed, what is the difference? When is that choice made to take the first step toward good or the first step toward evil? What is the first step or choice? I have pondered this as the grand purpose of life to which I offer to anyone that cares to read my opinion. I begin by defining the first step of choosing evil. This is a rather subtle concept because the nature of evil is so hideous that no one would ever choose evil unless the reality of it was concealed. How is this done? By evil’s first enticement and discretion. It is the enticement of self gratification or in other words selfishness. This is the lure of evil and first step. It leads only to indulgences, captivity, slavery, death and the lost of ability to comprehend good. One of the arguments used to or excuses employed by someone attempting to justify their decent into self indulgence is what I call the logic of “What’s wrong with” syndrome. I believe that when coupled with a selfish desire the logic of “What’s wrong with” is the core of the criminal mind. It can first excuse the selfishness (as long as it does not hurt anyone else who should care?) Then it moves to the next phase which is the exploitation of others that deserve to be exploited (as long as I am only exploiting someone that wants to be exploited, why should it be of any concern to anyone else? If they do not care what I do to them, why should you or anyone else?) Then moving to the final phase which allows the collateral damage of inflicting others that are innocent (it is not my fault because I did not intend to inflict anyone - or if they were not happy they should have done something for themself). The point is that once selfishness takes hold of a person’s heart they assume that selfishness is the engine of everyone’s actions and behavior. They are no different than anyone else - they are just looking out for themself and what ever goes wrong was not their fault or in their control. They justify their self greed arguing that all behavior is based on selfishness and self greed. The old argument that you do what you do because you want to, so - since everyone is just doing what they want to, shouldn’t I do what I what? And thus the criminal or evil mind justifies itself and at the same time condemns everyone else to their same evil and criminal level thinking - that if anyone is happy, justified or rewarded in what they are doing then they demand the right to whatever they think make others happy. Any reward they deem granted to someone they think they deserve and have just as much right to be as rewarded to it as anyone else. Every evil act, ever war, every robbery, every murder, every abuse, every exploitation, every divorce, and every sorrow inflicted by one person on another began with selfishness and self gratification, the me first mentality. What then is good? Quite simply good is the opposite of evil. The first step to good is self sacrifice for the benefit of someone else. It is the offering of what you want to the greater good. Oh you say - see, good is not really different - you can only do good if what you think is good is really what you what. And this logic is why you have failed. The greater good is not the good for yourself but the good that is needed by others. Many and perhaps most will not fully understand how good works to change harts until they experience marriage and have a child to care for. They will learn that the care for that child will begin with conception, which if the conception was based on selfishness most likely abuses of some sort will result. By time the child is born the parents will learn that only by their self sacrifice can the child be nurtured and grow. But the best possible is realized only when both parents, as a team, sacrifice themself for the other parent and the new child. This is the only way that there can be another generation with any hope for a greater good. Therefore the greater good is the good that is preserved from one generation to the next. This is in great part why I am LDS or Mormon. It is what I believe is a view into eternity. It is the heart and sole of G-d and the purpose of all men and women to experience and learn and thus become like the G-ds knowing good and evil. The Traveler

John D: I thought to send you a personal note. I believe it is rare to find a kind person in this world, even among those that should be kind (meaning children whose spirits are of G-d). I believe that unclean spirits influence and teach unkindness. Sometimes even humor is greatly influenced by an unclean spirit of degrading rudeness. It seems to me that the forces of unclean influences are well organized, in that a spirit of unkind rudeness in an unprincipled person opens the door of temptation to a person that in the past has successfully staved off an unclean spirit of discouragement. There is a great war raging over the hearts of men that began in heaven and it is far from being over. There are some battles that are not worth the fight because there is too much at stake on many fronts. But there are other battles that must be fought and won, so the lesser battles are magnified as a distraction and a diversion by the Adversary. I say this because I believe that for the most part the battles on the forums of the internet favor those influenced by unclean spirits that teach to despise and ridicule things that are virtuous, lovely and of great value to seekers of good things or in other words truth. Because kindness and spiritual wisdom is so rare I have pondered the value of demonstrating such on the internet. I believe my conclusions are much the same as yours are. I see little or no value of communicating truth over the internet where ridicule has such advantage. Those attempting to supply spiritual wisdom in light of the lies being touted as “new wisdom” soon learn that the playing field is not level. Teaching G-dly virtue, chastity and compassion has proven to be of little consequence. Those that love virtue still love virtue and those that hate virtue and chastity in society hate it the more. With all this in mind – thank you for your efforts in keeping the “lower lights” as the storms of our generation rage and the wicked find delight in the suffering caused by their evil ways. The Traveler

John D: I will leave you with a few thoughts. 1. I think you are making a big mistake by putting up for vote from others as a method of determining what is good and right for you. I do not think forum voting should have anything to do with a process of “choosing the right”. 2. Not all the sheep missing from the fold are “lost”. Some are hiding from both the fold and the Shepard. 3. People that say (or post) hurtful things are by definition not kind. Anyone can be kind to those they agree with – only a Christian can be kind to those that are not kind to others. (another way to determine if sheep not in the fold are lost from the Shepard or do not belong to the Shepard) 4. What you post will have more effect on you than it does on any of the forum readers. Jesus said that it is what comes out of a person’s mouth that defiles them (I believe posting is an extension of our mouths). If posting in this forum leaves you spiritually contrary to G-d’s spirit the question of continuing or leaving is a no brainier. 5. Consider taking some time off from the forum rather than leaving forever, performing instead some service – church or community or perhaps family. Take over a task you wife usually does. 6. Some people have determined not to treat others with kindness. It is like someone that is having a very bad time of things and is in a very bad mood and they do not want their mood changed. Some have not come to this forum with the intent of being kind and they will rejoice if they can share their misery. (I believe this is a sure indication of someone that is influenced by an unclean spirit) 7. In general intelligent post will not generate a lot of attention. Those smart enough to recognize an intelligent post often will agree in silence. But a stupid post will generate a great deal of attention. There are some posters because of their ego for attention and have learned and determined to post accordingly. 8. I have concluded that there are some posters that no matter how wrong or stupid their posts it is better to let it be. It is like wrestling with a pig in the mud. No matter what; the pigs enjoy the mud and I will regret getting even a little dirty. The Traveler

I believe the article is both on to something and misguided. The concept of strict is in great error. The word “strict” implies limits, confinement and loss of liberty or ability to make decisions. Almost opposite in meaning is the word I prefer – discipline. Discipline is not a limiting word but an empowering word. Reading is not a restriction. (note that strict is at the root of restriction). Reading is a discipline. Likewise, writing, math, science, love, relationships, friendships, G-dly compassion, G-dly forgiveness and any other responsible behavior is a discipline. All of these and many other good and moral things are not restrictions in life but are disciplines and disciplines are always liberating not ever restricting. There may be religions that can be classified as strict in that the effort is to restrict and control its members. For the most part I believe true religion is not strict but a discipline. Basic religious concepts, such as: Thou shall not kill. Thou shall not covet. Thou shall not commit adultery. Some may view such concepts as restrictive but this is not a true understanding. Such concepts are disciplines. In truth, when applied with wisdom, they are liberating, both to an individual and to a society. But to a fool they are restrictions. I believe weak souls will view liberating discipline as restrictions. Since such are unable to govern themselves they believe no one can govern themselves, therefore if there is to be order it can only come from restrictions. But any order from restriction is nothing more than the enslaving of the undisciplined. There is no freedom or any success without discipline and discipline needs no restriction – and it can be argued that with discipline there cannot be restrictions. A damned sole is a sole that survives and lives confined and restricted. I have never found anything about the LDS faith to be strict. I have, however, found the discipline of LDS faith a worthy challenge and I feel sorrow for those that quit when they realize the difficulty of the challenge of G-dly discipline offered in the LDS faith. On the other hand I rejoice in those that seek to be disciplined as a “Saint” in the Last Days of preparation for the triumphant return of the Christ. The Traveler

Exactly. My in-laws have a Horse, and plenty of Hay. When they visited me on their Horse, the Horse was hungry. I did not need a "ride", but I fed the horse my Grass, so my in-laws could enjoy a better ride home. But the Horse ate all my Grass, and now I don't have a lawn. I can grow more Grass, so I can continue to feed my in-law's horse when they visit. But now I chose to put a fence up around my Grass, and just feed the Horse small portions. After all, its not my Horse. Ah Grasshopper, there is no reason to look deeper or beyond that which when present the conflict exist. For the power is within you to exist in harmony or exist in conflict.Or to quote Shakespeare, “Nothing is as good or as bad as it seams, only that thinking makes it so.” And Grasshopper, if you must fight a battle, choose carefully a worthy one you are sure to win. The Traveler