Reconciling The Heart and The Mind

A letter to the Editor from my dear friend, who definitely proves that one can and should reconcile what they know in their heart to their intellect. It is completely worth the read! Thanks to my friend for 1. taking the time to put your thoughts to paper and 2. being the rock that you are as per usual!

As a twenty-something Bay Area resident and a Stanford graduate, I have struggled recently as church leaders I love and trust have encouraged my participation in the "Yes on 8" campaign. I have gay friends and colleagues and have long embraced a "to each his own" mentality on the issue of same-sex marriage. It has been very difficult for me to reconcile my faith and my socio-political philosophy on this issue. I have done it, though, and it's important that I lay out my logic for two reasons: I) so that those on the "No" side of this issue can see that, though my reasoning is founded in my belief in a loving God, many of us on the "Yes" side have thought and prayed deeply about this issue and we aren't just thoughtless, fanatical, religious bigots, and II) so that others struggling to reconcile these two aspects of their lives can know they can reconcile their minds and their hearts and be empowered to do what they feel is right on November 4th.

I believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful Creator who loves each of us and wants us to be happy. Operating from this premise, it is easy to conclude that this Creator knows us better than we know ourselves. Like the mother who tells her young child not to play in the street or not to touch the hot stove God knows what will bring us the most joy and how we can best avoid and overcome heartache and pain.

There are things that I'm sure I would find to be quite pleasurable if I were to indulge in them, but that God has asked me not to do. Though specifics vary for each individual, these vices exist for all of us. I have found that as I abstain from the things the Lord has guided me away from – even when I have inside of me a seemingly innate propensity to do them -- I have eventually found joy and peace in those decisions. It hasn't always been easy. In fact many times it's been excruciating, but I can honestly say that when I don't do things the Lord has counseled me to avoid, in the long-term I am happier than if I do them. Similarly, I can see the heartache and trials and stress and worry that going against God's counsel has brought into my life, and the lives of my friends who have chosen to partake of their personal forbidden fruit.

Homosexuality is not a temptation for me, but it is for some people – it's how they are wired. I'm not pretending to know how hard it must be to deal with the challenges of same-sex attraction, but just as one can choose to wait until marriage to have sex, those struggling with same-sex attraction can choose for themselves whether they want to walk the path that God has pointed to and keep their appetites within the bounds He has set, or if they want to blaze their own trail. I won't condemn anyone for either choice, but I will promise them that walking the path their loving Heavenly Father has prepared for them—though we might not understand exactly why or how just yet—will eventually lead to greater happiness.

The Lord's path is in many ways harder, in some ways easier, and in all ways the best. I truly believe that an all-knowing God knows where all the paths of life could lead us, and that he has pointed us down the one leading to joy, peace, and happiness -- because He loves us.

I ask everyone to avoid the temptation to stereotype and demean those whose views differ from their own—and encourage everyone to reflect on what they feel is right and then to act on that conviction. I have, and I will: "Yes on 8."

First Grade Field Trip to a Gay Wedding

On Friday in San Francisco the unimaginable happened that will continue to happen if Proposition 8 isn't passed. However you try and paint the picture, children will be taught that same-sex marriage is acceptable from as young of an age as a six-year-old in school. Are parents really ready to have schools to teach their children that such relationships are "equal" to traditional marriage or "normal"? I am not! Click on the Title to read the SF Chronicle article!

You Know Enough....

Our spiritual journey is the process of a lifetime. We do not know everything in the beginning or even along the way. Our conversion comes step-by-step, line upon line. We first build a foundation of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We treasure the principles and ordinances of repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We include a continuing commitment to prayer, a willingness to be obedient, and an ongoing witness of the Book of Mormon. (The Book of Mormon is powerful spiritual nourishment.)

We then remain steady and patient as we progress through mortality. At times, the Lord’s answer will be, “You don’t know everything, but you know enough”—enough to keep the commandments and to do what is right. Remember Nephi’s words: “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.”²

Elder Neil L. Andersen
Of the Presidency of the Seventy

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

In 1995, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” This proclamation is a declaration and reaffirmation of doctrines and practices that prophets have stated repeatedly throughout the history of the Church. It contains principles that are vital to the happiness and well-being of every family. Family members should study the proclamation and should live by its precepts.

“We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

“All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

“The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

“We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. ‘Children are an heritage of the Lord’ (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

“We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society”

Interfaith Fast: October 12th (Sunday)

Please join an interfaith fast on Sunday, October 12th for California Proposition 8.

Whatever your professed faith may be, your faith and fasting can bring forth the powers of heaven. Please abstain from food and drink on Sunday, October 12th and please pray for a positive outcome for California's Proposition 8 (Yes on Prop 8), that hearts may be softened, and that understanding and wisdom will prevail and marriage between a man and a woman will be protected.

IMPORTANT: Should This "JB" Be Admitted Into The JB Club?

Application submitted for admission into The JB Club from: Jonathan Blake Hammer

I hereby submit my application to join the "nicknamed JB" club. My application is simple: just ask yourself, could you say no to this cute of a face?

Respectfully yours,

Jonathan Blake Hammer

Props Jonathan for trying to appeal to your audience! :) Vote Now: Yah or Nah! Your votes will be considered and then JB and I will make a final decision.
PS: Don't ya just want to squeeze those cheeks?

Making Reija Matheson's Gchat Status!!!

Haiku Ode on Jessica Berry's Red Dot:
Round and red and plump
Your sweet name succulently
Symbolized on screen.

Learning To Be Creative: Modge Podge

Look Shalece, not bad right!!!
I am sure the DP gave me the necessary inspiration for this masterpiece!

The mastermind behind the Modge Podge evening! Outside of stealing Mer's idea to paint my canvas and stealing the bubble cutting from HC I would say that I was impressed by my creativity tonight. It was such a fun evening: FREE Pizza Chicago, finger-painting, Dr. Pepper, H,M,&M! Thanks Heather! You pulled girls' night off excellently! :)

Saying Farewell to 1T 3232

Today my heart fell a bit and there was definitely a moment of silence standing next to the Silver Bullet after my faithful Idaho license plates were traded in for your generic, "be-like-the-crowd" California plates. I've never driven my car without my 1T 3232 license plates until today. 1T 3232 was in the Berry Family long before I started driving legally. I remember how I learned quickly as a child to memorize the license: 3232 (Magic Johnson's number twice, MJ's number backwards twice, and our local sheriff's office number backwards). The only consolation prize is that my new plates end in the number seven, but how am I to make such correlation with sports figures with random letters and generic numbers? I will miss seeing 1T 3232 everyday....maybe I'll frame the plates and put them up in the apartment.

The Hunt For October

October is here and baseball dirt is in the air. Some might say: Marry me to Reggie Jackson and call me Mrs. October. Others might glorify in the fact that Sports Center is almost strictly dedicated to the Post-season playoffs. October really is the 2nd greatest month of the year (next to September, of course (lots of important birthdays that month!!!))! The Dodgers lead the Cubs 3-0 in the NLDS and it looks like they just might be taking their lunch box (see above picture) to the World Series with Joe Torre at the helm. While Boston leads the Angels 3-0 I am still praying for some immortal angels to come help those boys tomorrow night. Yes, I am aware that this is the first time in 14 seasons my Yanks haven't made the playoffs, but at the end of the day my Yanks are still my Yanks and I still heart October!