Today's topic, Traveling.  I have traveled more than some, less than others.  I driven coast to coast, up and down this great country and love to see the differences and the sameness we have to offer. 

First, let me talk about how some drivers need to get places so quickly.  I, too, want to get places quickly.  I really do. I have what some refer to as a lead foot.  I feel that I am a good driver, definitely a good driver.  But, I am not crazy.  I may be a good driver, but I cannot depend on the drivers around me to be the same.  I am amazed at how more, for lack of a better word, bold drivers seem to think that everyone drives at their level.  The get so close, and weave around the other cars on the road assuming that the other drivers won't make a decision that could cause a horrific wreck. You will note that I don't use the word accident.  It would be no accident.  One tap on the brakes, or foot off the accelerator or deciding to move from one lane to the next would end in disaster.  Yet, the bold drivers seem to think they know what they are doing.  I would agree with that, they know what they are doing.  Unfortunately, they don't know what anyone else is doing.  Maybe that slower moving car has an inexperienced driver, or a driver concerned with answering their phone, quieting the kids, changing the channel on the radio, looking over the scenery, etc.  There are so many variables that are uncontrolled.  Maybe, it gives the bold driver a thrill to take the risk of not knowing what the other driver may or may not do or react.  Or maybe, the bold driver is an idiot.  I will go with the idiot idea.  And it is the same in any state or region the sameness of idiots is apparent.

Secondly, let us talk about how beautiful our country is, even in it's differences.  The skylines of large cities, compared with the rolling spaces of rural areas.  Both have so much to offer.  In my opinion the large cities have nonstop action.  There is something seductive about the go, go, go mentality.  Always something to do, somewhere to go, some fun to be had and it doesn't end, ever. 
Then, you have the wide open spaces offered by less developed areas.  The trees, rolling hills, gurgling streams that call to us in a different way. Yet, they can be equally seductive.  The pull of peaceful, beautiful spaces filled with fresh air and sunshine calls to us too.

I find that I like the offerings of big cities and rural communities.  I guess that is why I see my self as a suburbanite.  I like the quiet of rural areas, but want access to the action of a city.  What to do?  Live in suburbia. 

I digress, back to traveling.  I love to take driving trips, I love to see the beauty offered around the county myself.  I love to learn about what is common here or there.  For instance, I was surprised that my mom had never had a cannoli.  Then, I thought about it.  She is from the South, where you are more likely to eat banana pudding.  I wonder how many routine cannoli eaters have never had banana pudding?

Sometimes, I forget that even though we are all Americans and all live in the greatest nation the world has ever seen, we are so different regionally.  Sorry, that so many of my analogies are food related but it is an easy way to point out how we are different.  Barbecue, Carolina barbecue, in my opinion, is the best barbecue you can eat.  You look a state or two over and they are eating a completely different kind.  It is made with beef, not port, sweet, not savory.

Tea, I don't even drink tea, but am very aware of how stunned people from the North are when they come to the South and get iced tea with their meal.  They aren't prepared for the sweet tea that is served.  I guess that Southerners are also shocked when they get tea, plain unsweetened tea with their meal in the North.  I thankfully, don't have to worry about that.  I am drinking water or soda. Of, course depending where you are the water can be a real issue too.

I have driven through some small towns and large cities.  I remember a trip through small towns in Michigan.  Population less than 3000.  It seemed the sidewalks were rolled up at 6pm, the grocery stores closed, every thing would be closed and all good people in their homes with the blinds, you guessed it, closed.  I had never seen anything like it.  Then, of course I have done driving though big cities with their narrow streets, never ending traffic and scarce parking.  I was able to participate in moving day in Boston.  Moving truck after moving truck, up and down all the narrow streets, with all the students from all the colleges trying to move from one place to the next all on the same weekend.  I have never seen anything like that either.  It is such an event, the year I was there, a documentary was being made to record the phenomenon.

Something I have found is that it doesn't matter where you are, there are lovely, kind people all over.  They want to help and care about you.  Big city, small town, people are people.  Kind, loving, flawed.  Sure there are some bad people out there.  But there are more of the good ones.  The ones who will go out of their way to help someone in need.  How grateful I am, since I seem to get lost so easily and wind up depending on the kindness of strangers more than my fair share.   

Today's topic Shopping.  OK, I don't enjoy shopping.  I somehow was born without the gene to shop.  I should be rich, right?  Wrong!  I still spend money and shop, I just don't like it.
 
I think I don't like to shop because of early childhood trauma.  Oh, not abuse, but shopping with my mom (gasp).  She can shop.  She pretends now that she is old and frail.  Don't be fooled.  Granted she has to use one of the motorized carts now because she is arthritic, but she can shop.  When I say shop I don't just mean to purchase things.  I mean going from store to store looking at display after display of stuff to buy.  See, I usually know what I want, I go to the store that should have it, buy it and take it home.  Done. Finished.  Mission accomplished.  Yeah, with mom, not so much.  She does have one of the motorized carts, but they aren't a car, for goodness sake.  So, why can't I keep up with her?  Especially, when she stops to look at almost everything.  It is part of the torture, that's why. 

When I shop if I go to more than two stores (which is rare) I feel like crying.  Sometimes, I just decide I don't need what ever it is at the third or more horribly, fourth store.  "Yeah, I don't need shoes."  You know, stuff like that.  I try to think about what I need and try to be in a store that carries as much of it as possible, like Wal-mart or Target. 

Now that you can buy so much on the Internet I admit I don't mind that so much.  Maybe because I don't have to brush my teeth or bathe for that matter, to online shop.  Oh, and if I play my cards right I can have things sent to people so I don't have to travel with their crap I bought them.  OK, that is harsh.  I try to buy people nice things that I think they will like and use.  But, when I am stuck dragging it from place to place where they might be, I let it become crap and a burden.

Back to Internet shopping.  That is my niche for shopping, and I don't just mean purchasing.  I will peruse various websites for things I may want to buy.  I have to be serious though to actually buy.  I usually just look at the stuff.  I go to certain sites looking at stuff and checking the prices.  I try to be careful not to get caught up or upset about what I can't afford to buy. 

I think it is important to remember there is a difference between wanting something and needing it. For instance, I need furniture for my home. I want Ethan Allen furniture. But, I can't really afford that so I don't have it. I need food to eat. I want to eat out a lot. See, I don't need to eat out and pay more for food, I just want to . I am not perfect at this and get needs and wants confused but I try to be aware. Oh, and my house has cute enough furniture and I have good healthy food to eat so it isn't like I suffer. 

I love to shop for other people.  I think my second job would be a personal shopper but with a twist.  I wouldn't take a list and pick it up for you.  Again, I hate to shop.  But you tell me you are looking to buy and I hunt it down on the net.  Or even better you show me what you are thinking of and I tell you yea or nay.  I love the excitement of trying to figure out your taste or getting someone to think in a different direction.  That isn't my goal but sometimes people aren't sure about what they are really looking for or they have an idea just not fully developed.  That is when I love to help out.  I am not saying I know best, I just want to think that I do.

So, despite childhood trauma I have persevered, overcome, climbed out of the shopping Hell of my formative years.  I hide the scars, smile to hide the anguish and just say "Charge it!"

 Today's topic Mormon.  Well, with the confirmation that we will have a Mormon as nominee for President of the United States, I feel the need to talk a little about what we believe.  Understand that I am not an official representative, am not trying to proselyte, or change minds.  I am just giving some information out.  Oh, and the above isn't some kind of official disclaimer.  I just want to lay out what my agenda is.  As ever, I will be frank.

 

I think that there are so many misconceptions of what Latter-day Saints, Mormons, believe and practice I thought I would give a tutorial of sorts from my point of view.  I was thinking about how to cram everything I believe to be true into a short blog post.  I don't want to do a mini series so thought that I would go to some of the tenets of our beliefs. They are called the Articles of Faith and can be found in the Pearl of Great Price.  I have listed all 13 and will make comments about some of them and will pretty much say anything else that comes to mind.  Scripture will appear in blue, non scripture, me, in red. 

 

Before I get to the Articles of Faith I want to make something clear.  We do NOT as a church discuss politics from the pulpit.  We are encouraged to review the candidates and prayerfully consider and vote for those who best represent our values.  From the pulpit you may be encouraged to vote, to support our leaders and military.  The Church officials do not endorse any candidate.  They may privately do what they will but in their official capacity they maintain a neutral stance.  Even though a Mormon is running for President as Mormons we shouldn't vote for him because of his faith.  I couldn't in good conscience do so.  Just like I couldn't vote or not vote for anyone else related to their race, religion or sex.

 

1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. That is right, we are Christians.  We believe in Christ and recognize him as our Savior.  There is no other way or means into Heaven but through him. Some think that we try to work our way into Heaven.  No, we don't.  But we know that even though we are saved by Grace, our Heavenly Father wants to strive to be like Him and our Savior Jesus Christ. Genesis 17:1 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. So, we try to do what is right, improve upon ourselves because we are commanded to do so. We refer to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost as the Godhead.  They are 3 separate beings.  God the Father and Jesus Christ being flesh and bone and the Holy Ghost as a spirit being.  They are one in purpose.

 

2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.

 

3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. We must repent of all our wrong doing and be obedient to God's commandments.

 

4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. The need to repent is real.  There are steps to repentance.  We must recognise the sin, feel truly sorry, stop the sin, and make restitution to those hurt by our sin. That may also have some conflict with the belief of being saved by Grace.  We are saved by Grace, but cannot sin and bear no responsibility.  That would negate the Atonement.  Alma 11:37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.  That takes me to the cross.  Because we don't wear crosses some think that means we aren't Christian.  We are.  We have a few reasons for not wearing crosses.  1, Jesus Christ isn't dead, he has risen we don't want to forget he lives. As the literal Son of God he was able to give up his life and take it up again. 2, the death on the cross isn't the only part of the Atonement, don't forget the suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he took on the sins of the world, which was so painful, so agonizing he literally sweat blood. Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  He is the Son of God, he wasn't just praying and sweating blood from fear of the scourging and death on the cross.  The Holy Ghost has the role of helping us feel the spirit he has many task associated with this.  Including helping us to feel comfort, peace and to testify of truth.  Moroni 10:5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

 

5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof. We boldly claim the authority to act in God's name through the power of the Priesthood.  We have no paid clergy.  Those called serve do so on their own time.  We pay tithes and give offerings.  But these are for the building up of the kingdom, to feed the poor and care for those in need.

 

6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

 

7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

 

8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.  We do believe and study the Bible, Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants.  We study them at church on Sundays and in our homes.  We have programs for the youth of our church to study the scriptures.  We call it Seminary, over 4 years we study each for a school year, the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants.  From there we move onto Institute where we continue to study and learn about our Father in Heaven, our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost and their love for us and their expectations for us to grow and follow our Savior's example.

 

9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.  We believe that Our Father has more to tell us in these last days.  I think this scares people into thinking we don't feel the scriptures are enough.  The world is troubled and chaotic place.  I like to know my Father in Heaven is aware of me, aware of my personal challenges and speaks to a Prophet today.  The Prophet is Thomas S Monson who oversees the Church. 

 

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.  This a big one.  We believe that Christ will come and save His people in person.  The second coming will happen and He will personally reign upon the earth.

 

11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.  We send missionaries into the mission field to offer anyone who wants to learn about the gospel and practice as we do.  Beyond that we are taught to respect the beliefs of others. 

 

12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

 

13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.  This is the kind of people we are encouraged to be. To be loving, kind and decent.  We are to be of service to our fellow man.

 

I will end with part of my personal testimony.  I know God lives.  I know my Father in Heaven and Savior love me, know me personally and that Jesus Christ intercedes for me, personally.  Even with all the work to be done I matter to them.  As do you.

 

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