Proud to Be and American

     There are so many reasons why I am proud to be an American. At this time, more than at any other time in my life, I have witnessed a polarization, a sorting of values and ideals, as never before. The ideas of social progressivism vs. freedom. Our country is at an apex and will choose righteousness and self-empowerment or captivity, communism and sin. Division and hate mongering is dragging down our country. Our current president just doesn't understand the American Dream. He never grew up in our country experiencing that hope and culture.
     If President Barack Husein Obama is re-elected, it will be a very dark day for this country. I am afraid for us if he is. We are so far in debt (16 Trillion) and spiraling down. Our Constitution is truly hanging by a thread as prophesied. The family is under attack by the adversary. The Democratic Party is adding abortion rights masked as "women's health issues" to their platform. Gay marriage is legalized in many states. Our literal core freedoms are in danger. His healthcare program borrowed money from our parent's future Medicare promise to pay for a new system of entitlements and taxes that we didn't want in the first place!
     The housing crisis and world financial credit rating plummeting, and lack of leadership is unbearable. And to hear him tell small business owners that they didn't build that, that the government did it by providing roads and internet. Economics is a delicate balance that is fed by the passion of the entrepreneur and the American Dream.
     Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan must win the election or America will die as we know it. I will mourn heavily if they do not win. A defining responsibility of government is to encourage and stand out of the way of progress. Being part of the problem or being part of the solution is the real choice here. Behind every small business is a great story. A family story. One, I hope with a happy ending.
    

Turning the Hearts of the Children Toward the Fathers, and the Hearts of the Fathers Toward the Children

I was asked to sing a song in Sacrament Meeting. We decided to share a song Dave wrote called, "Handcarts Full of Faith." It is a prayer for our ancestors, ourselves and our children.
People were crying. The Spirit was strong. It went well.

"Dear Father, we thank Thee for our pioneering fathers.
For the sacrifice they made, and the tears they freely gave.
For their courage and their faith, and the trails they bravely faced,
Please bless them. We honor them. Turn our hearts to them we pray.

"Handcarts full of faith, with handcarts full of faith.
For they sought to bring forth Zion, a place for the pure in heart
As their source of spiritual power was their faith in Jesus Christ.
They forged into the wilderness blazing Trails of Hope and Light.

"Dear Father, we ask Thee to plant within our hearts
All the promises Thou made to our fathers for their part.
And may unseen angel's hands help us push with all our might
Our handcarts heavily laden with faith in Jesus Christ.

"Handcarts full of faith, with handcarts full of faith,
Help us seek to bring forth Zion, a state of the pure in heart.
May our source of spiritual power be our faith in Jesus Christ,
Help us forge into our wilderness, to blaze Trails of Hope and Light.

"Dear Father, we ask Thee to bless our children dear.
Turn their hearts towards their fathers that their paths may be clear.
Make their testimonies bright, filled with happiness and light.
Please love them and guide them on the path of truth and right.

"Handcarts full of faith, with handcarts full of faith,
Help them seek to bring forth Zion, a state of the pure in heart.
May their source of spiritual power be their faith in Jesus Christ.
Help them forge into their wilderness, to blaze Trails of Hope and Light."