I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream!

Traditionally, I have been told that it is difficult to shop for me, during birthdays, Christmas etc. Some have told me that it is because I am “hard to please.” Maybe that is one way to define it, but I like to think that it is more that I am a bit practical more often than not. What I mean is that I have a hard time getting a new pair of shoes for example, if my shoes are still in decent condition. So while I am thankful for gifts, I often times would rather money be saved. So having said this, I can completely understand the notion of being hard to please. To remedy this, Sonya and I have been trying to give one “big gift” that is considered our gift for the entire year of gift giving. Last year, I got a piano. This year I have had a gift in mind, but haven’t been able to justify it = hard to please right? Hardly! Sonya, for Father’s Day, surprised me with one of the best gifts that I have ever received. It is something that I have wanted for a long time, but couldn’t seem to justify it either.

An ice cream maker. I love ice cream! Funny thing is that my favorite is the simple flavor of vanilla bean. Every Sunday, including Father’s Day, that I have had the ice cream maker, I have made ice cream for friends and family.

This past Sunday I made Vanilla with Butterfinger mixed in.

I enjoy watching the ice cream forming in the maker.

Sonya got me this ice cream scoop to go along with my gift. Orange, as many know, is my favorite color.

Oh and did I mention that, Noah and Lyla love the treats that my little treat gives them each Sunday!

Moroni Where Are You?

When he was just 25 years old he was made the chief capitan over his people, the Nephites. He immediately went to work defending his people against the Lamanites, their constant enemy. One of the things that allowed him to find victory was his endless preparations! His soldiers always had the most current armor and weaponry. The cities that he was defending were being fortified and strengthened constantly. When a battle would happen and a city would be weakened, or if a weakness was exposed by a battle, Moroni would immediately make the needed repairs and added strengths. Moroni was the chief capitan for approximately 16 years and then handed over his position to his son, he died 4 years after.

Moroni dedicated his life to defending his people and their rights. While fulfilling his duty there came a time when he felt that those who governed the land were neglecting their responsibilities. He had written a letter discussing his concerns to Pahoran, the “chief judge.” To his first letter there was no response. So Moroni wrote a second letter that was more aggressive. Although he directed his letter to the wrong person, there was a guilty party. They called themselves “king-men.” The king-men wanted to destroy the liberty of the people and replace the government with a king. With this in mind, they had run Pahoran out of his position and taken control of the central city, withholding the proper supplies and additional troops needed to continue to defend their land. This is why Moroni had written the letter.

So what did Moroni do? Did he wait around to see how the government would take shape? Did he quit? Did he continue to fight until finally defeated? No, he took a small group of soldiers and left the rest of his troops to the command of his leading officers. He took with him his flag that he had made earlier, that was called “The Title of Liberty.” He created it from his clothes. It read; “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.”

He carried that with him as he rode from town to town on his way back to the central city. On his way others joined him to defend the standard that was given on “The Title of Liberty.” He joined with Pahoran and traveled to the central city and a battle insured, in which the leader of the king-men was killed. The rebel survivors were arrested and tried. Once the king-men were out, Moroni and Pahoran sent the much needed supplies and troops to those Moroni had left behind. Shortly after, peace was established and Moroni retired.

So why am I bringing this up? Well, because I look at our wonderful country which is a country that was created according to the will and power of God and think to myself, “We have king-men in our central city.” To me, I see our rights, that if boiled down to its simplest form would be the words that Moroni wrote on his clothes, getting destroyed, minimized and restricted.

Here are some of the words that Moroni wrote to Pahoran; “we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state. Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor… And now, my beloved brethren—for ye ought to be beloved; yea, and ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but behold, ye have neglected them insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for known unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings.”

The Armed Forces take an enlistment oath. The oath states; “I, (NAME), do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Not all enemies are using arms such as missiles, guns, tanks, etc. Some enemies use authority and position to give themselves more power and control. The king-men in Moroni’s time did not use weapons to take control; they used status and authority to gain control and to become the enemy. They were a domestic enemy that was causing the nation to fall to their foreign enemies. I think it is time to change the power and authority that have been created by the king-men in our day. Moroni where are you?