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I have read stories of members who were excommunicated for refusing to recant views they’d aired publicly, which were contrary to church teachings. I have seen an all too common thread running through many such stories. It’s stubborn pride. What ever happened to following through on our covenants by exercising obedience to church authorities? We are NOT supposed to pick and choose which aspects of the church’s teachings and rules we will obey. We certainly have the right from Heavenly Father to use our agency. But no one ever has the right to infect others with his or her spirit of dissent. If one must harbor contrary views, then such views should be kept to oneself.

I am saddened and disgusted to write that the town my husband is from, has approved of plans for a casino to be built. The standard reason of various communities for bringing in casinos is that the revenues will benefit them and their states by creating more funds to shore up budgets. Lottery tickets also continue to be a way of life for so many people. It is not gaming, people, no matter how much others try to sugar coat an insidious industry. It is GAMBLING. The moneys derived from casinos and from lottery tickets is from an unclean source. The church would not want tithing and offerings on such money. Besides, no Latter-day Saint should be gambling and/or buying lottery tickets.
Whom do you think has been the source of inspiration for getting something for nothing? I guarantee that it ISN’T our Heavenly Father or the Saviour. So that leaves…

Where I live, there’s only a few hours left of Christmas Day. I spent it with family, which was the best part of the day. Sure, the gifts we exchanged were fun, and something to look forward to, but at the same time, I am disappointedin the rampant commercialism which makes it seem that a happy Christmas is conditional upon buying the “right” things. We need to always remember that “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

For some time now, I have known that colas are bad for the body. It’s not only that caffeine is a drug which one can become addicted to. It’s not just that caffeine raises the blood pressure and heart rate. For a woman, colas are especially harmful. And for a woman in menopause, they are even more dangerous. Colas leech calcium from the bones. If a person drinks many colas for a number of years, then that person is going to have lost precious calcium. When a woman gets older and goes through changes, the bones can and do, become brittle. One can be at high risk for fractures. Such a person absolutely must not drink colas! They have NO nutritional value. I finally gave up soda pop months ago. I only wish I had done so years ago. I am in the unenviable position of approaching middle age and having osteoporosis. I regret having drunk colas, even the caffeine-free ones. I didn’t need to. I have finally won the battle of having the spirit be stronger than the desires of the body. I will never slip up again. I am sure that my Heavenly Father is pleased, but I wish I had exhibited more strength a lot sooner. In section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we have the wonderful gift of the Word of Wisdom. It also contains wise words warning us of “the hearts of conspiring men.” I cannot believe that those who manufacture soft drinkas are ignoran of their adverse effects upon the body. We don’t have to do damagwe to our bodies by taking in unhealthy substances. We can be strong and exercise our free agency in our favor. Conspiring men don’t have to win the battle.

Babylon is all around us. Babylon is in every aspect of our lives. It can be seen in the stores we frequent, in the commercials that assault our senses. Babylon creates supposed wants out of needs. Every year, television commercials imply that our Christmas will be happier if we purchase and also receive expensive material things. Babylon says that revealing clothes are “in,” and that if a woman or young girl isn’t thin enough to meet outrageously exaggerated standards, then she isn’t good enough. Babylon perversely “inspires” young men to father numerous babies out of wedlock and not assume responsibility for them. Babylon is the source for excuses married people make, to justify committing adultery. Babylon tells us to hang onto our money when it comes to the poor and needy. “Someone” or the government will step in and care for unfortunate people. Babylon tells us that we just have to have the latest expensive things that are seen on celebrities, so we “can’t afford” to donate to charity. What is Babylon? Look in the scriptures. Babylon is everything wicked that is opposed to the gospel. Babylon’s founder? The devil.

Recently money has been really tight. We haven’t gone without food, but we don’t eat fancy. I have seen clothes I’d like to buy, and books and magazines. Over a week ago, I had a nice sum of money in my hands. But what did I do with it? I gave it away. To the Lord–as tithing. I felt better about using the money that way. Once again, payment of tithing has brought home the blessing of being able to set worthwhile priorities.

Being given free agency means that we have rights. We have a right to make our own choices. Under the laws of our country, we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have the right to do various things with our lives. But there are situations where we do not have the right to exercise our free agency in certain ways.
As a woman, I do not have the right to dress in such a manner as to “inspire” impure thoughts in men. I have the right to clothe my body as I choose, but as a Latter-day Saint, especially one who has been to the temple, I, and other endowed women are held to a higher standard of dress.

I am now required to take two additional prescription medications, and have had a change in another, all of which are not cheap, even with insurance coverage. Lately I have been worried about how I could afford everything. Above all, I knew that tithing must always come first, and somehow things would work out. So last night I sat down and wrote out a budget (again) for the remainder of my husband’s paydays until the end of the year, with tithing being the first item on the list. Once done, I felt calm, and after looking at everything I’d written, I knew that things would work out. After finding out today that one of my new medications won’t be as expensive as I’d feared, I know that Someone has been watching over me.

I saw this on someone’s t-shirt:

“Accused of being a Christian? Is there enough evidence to convict you?”