If American democracy ceases to move forward as a living force, seeking day and night by peaceful means to better the lot of our citizens, fascism will grow in strength in our land. Franklin Roosevelt Umberto Eco (1932 – 2016) was an Italian philosopher, cultural critic, novelist, and political and social commentator. He grew up … Read more
The American public generally doesn’t really know what goes on at a Trump rally. Progressives dismiss them as circuses for lunatics. The mainstream media tend to report only on crowd size and the one most outrageous soundbite of the day. Old-style conservatives excuse the rallies as “just Trump being Trump.” Most people actually pay almost … Read more
It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance. Doctrine and Covenants 131:6 Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God, that his eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear; Doctrine and Covenants 136:32 Simply … Read more
It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. Attributed to various people A few months ago, this blog received the comment quoted below. As the administrator of my own WordPress blog site, I did not “approve” this comment to go online for … Read more
Lord, who made the lion and the lamb,You decreed I should be what I am;Would it spoil some vast eternal plan,If I were a wealthy man? Tevye from “Fiddler on the Roof” In our daily trials and troubles, it is not uncommon for us to think, like Tevye, “Oh, if only I were rich! I … Read more
No one is completely independent of others. We are dependent on others for all of our most basic needs: water, food, clothing, and shelter. While some may make their own clothing, they still need cloth, needles, and thread. Those who grow their own food rely on others to make their tools and the pipes that … Read more
To redeem means to gain (or regain) possession of something in exchange for payment. To the ancient Hebrews, a redeemer (“goel”) was a relative who would purchase back someone who had been sold into debt slavery (a “bondservant”), or repurchase and return property that had been sold due to poverty. Jesus Christ is the great … Read more
In the book of Leviticus, the Lord commanded from Sinai that when the children of Israel came to the promised land they should keep every seventh year as a Sabbatical year (Shmita) for the land. They were not to sow the fields or harvest (except that anyone could pick the fruit for personal use). Shmita … Read more