Sunday, June 28, 2009

As In the Days of Noah-The Days in Which WE Live

Have you taken the time to develop your testimony of Jesus Christ and your personal relationship with Him? Do you live your life in a way that will encourage the Holy Spirit to be with you and influence you to make the best choice? Do you look towards the world to see how well you are doing, or to a higher path, the one of the Lord?

Our Father in Heaven loves us, His children. He has sent warnings to us through the scriptures and modern-day prophets so that we may be prepared for those trials, temptations and tribulations that will come to us. The world that we live in now is filled with hate, war, fear, blood, death, smoke, sin and pain. If we are to succeed temporally and spiritually, we must fortify our homes and ourselves as individuals, on a very personal level.

We need to be able to stand anywhere and be standing on a holy place because WE are standing there. We have been warned over and over again, it is time to heed those warnings to protect yourself, your family, and friends by having ears to hear and eyes that see.



No matter how appealing and enticing the things of this world may appear, they pass away, the pleasure is only temporary and it too soon fades. To have true eternal happiness, we must give heed to the things that the Lord has told us to do. To become the true people of Zion. Being of one heart and one mind as our Father in Heaven, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are. We must connect to them spiritually that we may work as one to prepare to bring the Kingdom of God on earth forth. We must prepare every needful thing for the times that have already begun.

Be ever watchful, read the scriptures and know the signs of His coming that you will not be deceived or taken by surprise as a thief in the night. We may not know the day or the hour, but we can tell when the leaves are on the fig tree, and that the time is nigh.

If you have not gotten prepared in the ways that the video above lets you know you need to be, then work on it now. Press forward with faith, and do what is required. Do it not in fear, but with faith, that the Lord will guide you to be able to fulfill what He has asked of us, that He will indeed provide a way for you to accomplish what He has commanded.

As intense as the sin and wickedness is, there is still more to come. Stand on that firm foundation, your holy place, and be not moved. Cling to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and gather in all you can to safety.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

A Moment of Reflection

With the news of my making it through the first qualifying round for the Deseret Book 'Mormon Night" competition, it has brought back memories of one of my performances in Branson Missouri at the Tri-Lakes Center.

Many of you will remember that night too because you were there. I sang the National Anthem then as well. I shared the stage that night with Congressman Ron Paul, State Representative Jim Guest, and Candidate Jeremy Cady. It is definitely a night I will not forget. Jeremy's speech was very moving, and the energy there contagious.



What I also remember is my friend Stephanie helping me get ready and making sure that every little detail was taken care of. Her husband Michael filmed the event for me, and did a very good job considering the size of the crowd.

That night, prior to performing, I also introduced Sarah Steelman, who was running for Missouri State Governor at the time, to many in the crowd that I had met over the months previously at several events. It was a time in my life that so much was happening in my life that I never had imagined ever being part of. I am so glad that I was.

I wish I still had that video to share with you all, especially Jeremy's speech, but it was lost when my youtube account was deleted. I have a new one now, but I hope that I can find someone else that has them.

Here's to remembering great times, with great friends.


Charity Angel Flies Through First Qualifying Round

Charity Angel Flies Through First Qualifying Round



Independent Christian singer Charity Angel has made it through the first qualifying round for Deseret Book's "Mormon Night" competition to sing the National Anthem at Dodger's Stadium in LA on August 6th.

"This is a pleasant surprise," Charity Angel stated as she excitedly showed her family her name on the list of those who made it through the first round. "I am number 30 out of 250." Charity then started to text some of her friends and extended family with the news. "I have to let the bishop know that I made it this far." She stated, as she selected another recipient.

The Deseret Book 'Mormon Night' competition will narrow it down to Fifty semi-finalist's for a round in Salt Lake City Utah or LA in July, and only one will go on to perform the National Anthem in Los Angelos at the Dodger's Stadium on August 6.

When asked about how she would feel if she didn't make it pass this point, Charity replied, "I am just thankful to have made it to this point. I understand how tough the competition is, when I was in the top 40 for Ozark's Idol in Missouri, the competition was tough, but it was a great experience. I look forward to where ever this takes me."

Charity just recently returned to Utah in March of this year, the previous 6 years she lived in Missouri, which she states that she loved it there. Charity released her first CD shortly after moving to Missouri called "Only Prayers Away". Her songs did really well when they were first released on independent internet music sites. Some of them even made it to the number 1 and number 2 position on the charts on several websites. There are only a few copies of her first CD left that are still available to the public.

You can hear her two A Capella entries for the competition in the player below:





From Deseret Book:

Over 500 entries were received, 250 listed qualified for the first round. Letters are being mailed out to notify those participants who have been selected by our professional panel of judges to compete in a semi-final round.


Thursday, June 25, 2009

Michael Jackson Dead From Heart Attack

As many of you know, it is very rare that I ever write about famous people, other then the Founding Fathers, but Michael Jackson is an icon in U.S. Pop culture, and a part of my life.



I will remember this day, not just because another star died, but because my great uncle died today too. I have reflected on my family and I wonder what my uncle thought of Michael Jackson, and if he is listening to him sing "Thriller" "Bad" or "Beat It" or another famous Michael Jackson song. It is definitely something interesting to ponder about.

Just for memories sake, I went to visit Michael's website www.michaeljackson.com and there I found a single image of him against a red background. It immediately made me think of the news that he had suffered a heart attack.

I was sitting at my desk working on a project, when I received a text message from my friend Matt in Missouri that Michael had a heart attack. I got online and the first thing I found was an article on hotair.com that mentioned that he had died. It stated that Michael did not have a pulse when he arrived at the hospital and never regained one. My first thought was that I better wait to see if this is real, if he really died or if it was some internet rumor. I let a few people at the office know about Michael, and the news spread like wild fire. I sent Matt another text about what I found online, but he said CNN had not confirmed it yet. On the way to pick up my husband from work, I heard the DJ on KLOVE radio talking about it and what the online chatter was about his death, but that it was not yet confirmed.

What amazed me was the fact that the news spread online faster then the news could report it. I guess I have really under estimated the power of the internet and cell phones! (See a great slide show here)

While I will miss both my great uncle, and Michael, I know that they are definitely in a better place then here. I know that there will be many fans that will be mourning the loss of a pop icon, but at least his music and a ton of memories remain. And those collectors of Michael memorabilia will be glad that they collected so many items about a star whose light has faded from this world but has started to shine brightly in another.





Grab your copy while you can!!

The 28 Principles of Liberty -Principle #6

The 28 Principles of Liberty

Principle #6

All Men Are Created Equal


When we read the statement “All Mankind are Created Equal”, what do we think that it means? We know that we are all born into different lifestyles, have different talents and abilities, and different opportunities, so what did the Founder’s mean by that statement? There are only three ways that mankind can be equal, and they are to be treated as equals in the sight of God, in the sight of the law, and in the protection of their rights. Some people, like Jean Jacques Rousseau, get a little confused and think that this means that men should be equal in all things. John Adam’s called this type of thinking a “gross fraud”.

While our country has not had a perfect history in defending the rights of all, that is what the Founder’s intended. The breakdown really occurs with minorities. Minorities in any country feel like they are the outsiders and they want to be the insiders. What is interesting about America is that every group in this nation was once a minority. After the major influx of immigrants to the U.S., it was only two or three generations before the immigrants became first-class citizens.

After the Constitution was adopted in 1789, there were four amendments added to make sure that everyone could enjoy equal rights. These were the thirteenth, the fourteenth, the fifteenth, and the Nineteenth.

The Founders distinguished between equal rights and they recognized that society should seek to provide equal opportunities but not expect equal results, provide for equal rights, but not equal things; provide equal protection but not equal status; provide equal education opportunities but not equal grades. The founder’s believed that the moment that we tried to force people to have everything equally would be the moment that we lose our liberty.

This article was adapted by Charity Angel from W. Cleon Skousen’s book “The 5000 Year Leap”. (The same book recommended by Glenn Beck).

This series can also be found at www.LDSFreemen.com, The Free-Patriot Press, and printed in the Cape Fair Missouri Newspaper.


More on Glenn Beck:

Glenn Beck's request "The first thing you could do, please, is get the 5,000 Year Leap. Over my book or anything else, get the 5,000 Year Leap."

  • It's the book Ronald Reagan wanted taught in high schools and Ted Kennedy stopped it from happening.
  • When you read these principles, your mouth will fall open. You'll read it and you'll be -- the scales will fall off your eyes on who we are.
  • You'll be able to know what makes it possible for 6% of humanity living under our free economy to produce 1/2 of the Earth's developed wealth every single year.
  • It's the virtues and the principles that our founders believed in, that took us and pushed us and made us -- allowed us to take a 5,000 year leap from the dark into the sunshine.
  • Help those people who have been deceived or misinformed find the truth.

Glenn Beck Recommends this Book! Best Book About the US Constitution

READ THIS BOOK!!!!





Saturday, June 20, 2009

My Temple Photos are Now on eBay!!

I just posted my Limited Edition photos on eBay here

These are photos that I took at the Mount Timpanogos Temple after a rainstorm. There is a rainbow featured in each of the 6 pictures. There will be only 10 of these printed, and they will all be numbered and autographed.



If you love rainbows, temples, or just want to show your support, go and bid for my first eBay photos for sale!!!



My items on eBay



Father's Day

This video is a gift to you.

Father's Day Fruit Salad

According to Wikipedia, Father's Day is a day honoring fathers, celebrated on the third Sunday of June in 52 of the world's countries and on other days elsewhere.

If you are curious, you can see the other countries that are celebrating Father's Day on the third Sunday in June HERE.

Generally on Father's Day I have focused on my own father, but this blog is going to focus on the father of my children, Aaron. It is not often that Aaron gets mentioned, so I thought that this would be a great time to do it since it would be unusual and unexpected for him to be the feature in my blog.

The other night, Aaron made three wonderful and beautiful fruit salads. The salads had tender juicy fruit and one of them even had a chocolate caramel fruit dip in the middle. The edible fruit arrangement was so beautiful, that I HAD to take pictures of it. I took these fruit pictures and made a little video to display his food art skills.



These fruit salads contain blue berries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, black berries, rose hips, grapes, nectarine, and cantaloupe. The rose hips were peeled and then the seeds removed from the center. They added just that extra touch to the taste buds.

There was a great Father's Day video that I found today that I also wanted to share. There are so many things that makes a father special to his children, and this story just touches my heart.



Take some time to let your father know that you really appreciate him. Write him a Father's Day poem, or find some great ones that others have already written. Many times dad's get overlooked, and they really are essential in the lives of their children, and their wife.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Our Judeo-Christian Nation

In the video below, Congressman Forbes makes a solid case for this nation having its foundation built upon Judeo-Christian beliefs and principles.





If you are interested in the Supreme Court ruling, you can find it here:

CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY V. UNITED STATES, 143 U. S. 457 (1892 ...
United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions ..... a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation. ...
supreme.justia.com/us/143/457/case.html

HR 1207 Dealing with America's Money Changers

Ron Paul updates us on the situation of HR 1207. The number of co-sponsors shows that the American people are catching on and are waking up. The TARP funds, bailouts, and secrecy of the Federal Reserve makes it clear to The People of the United States that there needs to be less control and power in government, and the free market needs to be allowed to determine interest rates etc.

Representative Ron Paul discusses the history of a central bank within the United States, and how it has been a battle since the beginning to today. He discusses the different president's who go rid of it, only to have it return later.

Additionally, I will provide a link to another site below the movie that will tell you the even greater history of Money Changers throughout history.



The History of the MONEY CHANGERS.
(click the link above to learn about Money Changers in World History)

Scriptures on Money Changers


John 2: 14-15
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;


Matt. 21: 12
12 ¶ And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,


Mark 11: 15
15 ¶ And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;


D&C 117: 16
16 And again, verily I say unto you, let all my servants in the land of Kirtland remember the Lord their God, and mine house also, to keep and preserve it holy, and to overthrow the moneychangers in mine own due time, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen.







Saturday, June 13, 2009

Determination



Sometimes, there are examples of determination that take very little words to explain, your eyes and ears tell you all that you need to know. This is one of those times. Watch this and never doubt again if you can accomplish what you put your mind to.



Friday, June 12, 2009

Principles of Liberty -Principle #5



"All Things Were Created by God, Therefore upon Him All Mankind are Equally Dependent, and to Him They are Equally Responsible."

The Founders vigorously affirm throughout their writings that the foundation of all reality is the existence of the Creator who is the designer of all things in nature and the promulgator of all the laws that govern nature.

The Founders were in harmony with John Locke who said that a person who calls himself an 'atheist' is merely confessing that he has never dealt with the issue of the Creator's existence. Therefore Locke would say that an Atheist is out of touch with the most important and fundamental reality.

John Locke insists that everyone can know that there is a divine Creator. With Descartes each person can say "Cogito ergo sum'. With God, each person can say, "I AM!" Further more, each person knows that he is something. And something cannot be produced by nothing. Therefore what brought man and everything else into existence had to be something. In order for all of this organizing and arranging to be as such that it is, the Organizer would have to be all-knowing. The something would therefore have to be superior to everything which had resulted from this effort.

Locke taught that the Creator must be a cogitative being since man is cogitative. And that a non-cogitative being like a rock could never have produced a cogitative being like a man. Locke also taught that the Creator would reflect a sense of right and wrong, and a sense of indignation for violation of the law.

The American Founding Fathers agreed with Locke. They considered this truth as the most fundamental premise underlying ALL self-evident truth.

The Founding Fathers also relied on the writings of William Blackstone when it came to their foundation on God's revealed law. He stated that the will of God which is expressed in the orderly nature of the universe is called "the law of nature' and there are laws for human nature just as surely as they exist for the rest of the universe.

The Founders looked at the Creator as both intelligent and benevolent, and anxious and able to respond to people's petitions when they are deserving of needed blessings and engaged in a good cause.

Charles Bracelen Flood discovered in his research that during the Revolutionary War that there were at least sixty-seven desperate moments that George Washington acknowledged that he would have suffered disaster had not the hand of God intervened in behalf of the struggle for Independence. James Madison also acknowledged the hand of God during the Constitutional Convention.

We can now see that the Founders were quite sincere when they adopted the motto "In God we trust." And it is also now clear why they required all witnesses who testify to take an oath and swear before God that they will tell the truth.

In closing, a note from Tocqueville "A presiding judge remarked that he had not before been aware that there was a man living who did not believe in the existence of God; that this belief constituted the sanction (in law, that which gives binding force) of all testimony in a court of justice; and that he knew of no case in a Christian country where a witness had been permitted to testify without such belief."

(The 28 Principles of Liberty are adapted from the book "The 5000 Year Leap" by W. Cleon Skousen. This article is also published at www.Myspace.com/angelsings www.LDSFreemen.com and the Cape Fair Cryer newspaper in Missouri.)