Share The Light

What a question Jack! If I just knew how myself then it would be wonderful. As I read in the Book of Mormon about the struggle that King Mosiah and Alma the High Priest had with their children being among those that were unbelievers, and knowing that without the intervention of an angel that could shake the earth with his voice, thus convincing these boys that they were on the wrong path, the outcome in their life would have been vastly different. It almost makes me wish that I could borrow that angel myself. I often ask myself what worked for me? Why did I want to follow my religion? Why did I believe when others did not? Now with children I realize that to a great degree I am just raising myself over and over again. I could mandate no television, but know how I have would have reacted when I was young. I could deny the dance, the social, the swim, the hockey as many have done, and I know what the reaction would have been. I could have family home evening every night, read from the Bible until I was the only one enjoying it, shut off all music other than hymns, and require my children to listen to long monotone sermons night and day. When I was growing up that would have been punishment to me. So, what can I do that will help my children get a foundation in my faith? Or value religion at all?

Some of the most confused people that I have ever met were religious people. They have read everthing that anyone has ever said about anything until they don’t know whether they are coming or going. They don’t know their religious colors or the abc’s because they have a masters degree in confusion. All they seem to know is to follow the leaders. If the leaders say that the unwilling children must go, then out they go. They just give them the boot! We just have to do something different than that. But what? How?

I have a boy that can hardly wait until he is eighteen so that he can try puffing the weed. I have tried to get him to have some other holy aspirations because I have definitely met those who thought that weed was a sacred thing. I have others who only think of making money. Millions of dollars! It doesn’t matter how many times I quote the Savior, “no man can serve God and mammon”, they just know that they want millions of dollars. They want to give it a try. I also know families that to look at them you would gasp in amazement at the visible success that they are having with their family. They are wonderfully dressed, well mannered, and publicly perfect. They haven’t been trained to be that way, they have been broke that way and some of them can hardly wait till their dad dies so that they can have a life. Others just carry on the tradition cause it is not about religion, it is about a tradition that is altogether something other than Christian.

Years ago when I was a young man trying to make any sense at all about our way of life, we had a conference. Our then President Johnson, Uncle Roy as we called him, was speaking in conference talking about the responsibility that parents had to teach their children. An old lady in the assembly raised her hand and stood up. She asked; “Uncle Roy, when does a parent cease being responsible for the actions of their children”? Uncle Roy told her and all of us that a parent ceases being responsible for the actions of their children when they have taught them what God expects of them sufficiently that they know what is right and what is wrong, thus transferring the responsibility to make good choices and decisions to their children. That was the jist of it anyway. I have often reflected on it and reminded myself that I need to contnue teaching my children about the simple decent teachings of Christ. I want them to make good life choices and have them not be able to say, “my father never taught me about that”.

So, here is a bit of advice from a busy dad. Remember that you are trying to raise yourself, your dad, grandfather and great grandfather all in one. You are struggling with your grandmother and great grandmother, your mother in law and maternal grandparents. Not only do your children resemble the photos that you have of them, they have a genetic resemblance in human traits. Yikes, you may think, my grandfather was a pirate! No, you are not trying to raise pirates, just people. Your family is a labor of love, your labor of love, and unique because of the diversity that you have. I have not seen that anyone has done any better with their family than anyone else, but that should be no comfort. Lets teach our kids to keep the commandments of God, how to make good choices when they are old enough, and then honor their choices the best way we can. That doesn’t mean that you can’t kindly nudge them to do better if they have made mistakes, it only means that as their dad, you should.

No, not sixteen, but I have plenty of things to do on the to do list. In a family like mine there are a few folks that are good at doing many of the things on others to do lists. I have one lady that seems to enjoy seeing to it that the garbage gets hauled away. Another one is my in house carpenter. She sheetrocks, paints, makes shelves, does repairs on anything that needs fixed. (well just about) She still has lots of things she likes to nag me about but I don’t entirely not enjoy it. I don’t mow the grass or do the leaves but I do keep the mowers in good repair and keep them fuelled.

Sometimes like everyone else that I know, I feel picked on! That’s what partners are supposed to do isn’t it? At least that is what my family seems to think!

Back in history the church was having quite a time dealing with the fact that they were not only polygamous but that they were supposed to be living the United Order. Both principles were considered by the faithful as fundamental to our church and salvation.  The mandate of our faith base since 1886 was that some brethren were commissioned to keep alive those sacred fundamental principles. Historians have written volumes about it. By 1890 the manifesto was adopted and the fundamental principles went into hiding.  Throughout our history many missionaries went far away to preach the gospel and while doing so realized that something had greatly changed in the church and particularly among the fundamental teachings. My father was one of those. He began preaching what the Prophet Joseph taught and soon discovered that the present leaders of the church and most of his siblings were much more wise and inspired in their minds than the Prophet Joseph was. But hard work, faith, prayer, study, and inspiration led him to find the brethren commissioned to keep our fundamentals alive and active. He lived out the remainder of his life as a missionary, teaching and preaching the same things taught by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor and others.

Father joined the fundamentalist brethren. He had no aspirations, no coveteousness. He wasn’t interested in someone else’s wife nor their daughters. He tried to do what he was directed to do as faithfully as he thought possible. He helped others join. So have I and so do I.

It may be a surprise to discover that there are actually many families and people that are diligently trying to find the way that the Prophet Joseph taught as being the way to the Kingdom of God. I could name many that are just as my father was. They have studied, searched, prayed and prayed some more, all the while knowing that what they were doing was not popular with their friends, relatives and families. They are the best missionaries the church has ever known, and maybe has never known. They inspire everyone. They are not in the category of those who are just looking for wives because they aren’t. They are looking for a faith that rings true with a church that rings true with a message that rings true and a life that will take them back to where the heros of our yesteryear peacefully dwell in quiet friendship with their families, their brethren, their forefathers, their God.  They don’t really need to join because they have already joined in the lifelong personal struggle that living this way becomes as we carefully hold onto that “rod of iron” or the unpopular word of God in our way back to Him.

It was one year ago today that I got arrested! It had snowed a couple of feet of heavy wet snow in the night and our village was just groaning under the weight of it all. I got my children up and then called my brother to get him to come help me with some snow. He plowed the school yard and sidewalks and I was worried about the pending avalanche of snow soon to be coming off my houses and directly into the corridor where my children walk. Tons of snow would be rumbling off and I worried as we worked quickly to direct it out of any harm to my family. The school bus was late and it was no surprise because no one could even move in that snow mush.  I jumped on my snowmobile to take some kids across the way when up the road comes two fourwheel drives, one a pick up and the other an SUV. Out jumps four plain clothes officers and promptly arrested me. Soon I had a swarm of children around and they weren’t happy. The officers were kind though and two went to explain to Leah that I was being arrested. It kicked her into early labour and added to the complications of the day. I also got to change my boots and coat and I appreciate that boys! Shelley, the only woman on the team was very tender as she tried to explain to Leah the greater good that this would be to our family. Canada should be proud of her. What a way to end a two and a half year multi million dollar investigation Wally!

Well, I am short, fat and wide and a pair of handcuffs behind my back were really miserable. I hope Wally gets the chance to see how those feel and since he blatantly broke the law I hope it will be soon. The guy trucking me let me have two pairs and that was much better. The reporter that was supposed to be at my driveway and get it all documented for Wally was waiting patiently on the summit for the road to re-open. Thank God for our good old summit! Anyway, I got a good ride to Cranbrook, probably the safest ride I have ever had. We chatted and soon were there. We beat the media again and I got to go downstairs and get finger printed, photographed and inventoried. I had so much junk in my pockets! Wire nuts, screws, fittings, couple pex rings and just miscellaneous junk. They gave it all back too.

Well, I spent the day in cell #7. Cozy and quiet but a little grungy. I think I should take some of my big girls and go do an anniversary cleaning of that place for free. I like to make things better than I found them and I really would do it if I got to. A couple months later I had a school class that wanted to go for a tour but the place was occupied.

Finally, I got my first interview. The officer told me that he had been investigating me for over two years and that was our first conversation. We talked of a lot of things. I saw myself on Larry King and heard some stuff that I have never heard before. When I left I left the same way that I came. Out the back way. The media had made it to town and were waiting out front. They had a picture on the news of someone other than me leaving but to them it was me. No surprise there either!

It was a long day–a long week, a long month, a long year. What a year! To top it all off, the government thinks that I should pay for it all while Wally gets a pension!

Ouch! I am not Dr. Laura nor any of the other females that give advice. I only know how to answer what I think that I know.  Because I am male, I may never be able to convince anyone that I am anything but a chauvinist but I don’t think that I am and I realize that I may never convince you. The most wonderful people that have ever been in my life have been and are female.  One of my old Uncle’s used to often say, “he who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still”.  I think you are wrong!

I walked into a shop in Cranbrook one day in time to overhear a giant of a man railing about the Catholics. He made a remark that all Catholic Priests were pedophiles and I voiced a disagreement. The giant turned on me and was not one bit happy at being called down on his theory. It is not possible nor reasonable to be so sure that that could be the case.  Lawyers have a reputation for being slimy, dishonest, mudsucking ambulance chasers. Totally not true. Politicians enjoy the infamy of being not only polygamist by their lazy nature, but dishonest, money grabbing, bribe taking folk who only think of themselves. Not true either. The media have a reputation that they must enjoy, dishonest, sensational, intrusive, and you name it! That isn’t always true either.

But polygamy is just wrong sings the “your cheating heart choir.” Thats not true either. I really don’t know how to change the public view that all the groups of polygamists are not connected to me, or our group. I don’t even know most of those groups but maybe I should go meet some of them. Just the other day I had a LDS missionary call looking for some advice. Most of the non Mormon population in Canada thinks generally that I lead the Mormon population in our country.  Not true Canada, but as one man that I corrected said, “those other guys aren’t Mormons. Mormons believe in polygamy! That is what my grandmother told me and that is what I have told my children.” How do you ever correct or argue with that?

I actually have come across people who wanted to convert to our faith just so that they could have more wives. There have not been many of them though and they soon get tired of hanging around and leave. I don’t know many old men in our faith, but the ones that I do know are not looking for any young wives. I know of some young women that want to marry some of the older men in the community. Any that have talked with me get the direction to go finish your school, help your parents, get older than eighteen and if you still feel the same way by then, come back for a talk. It just makes good sense.  I also like the fact that Canada has raised the age of sexual consent to 16. It is wonderful knowing that no where in our country are children under the age of 16 engaging in sexual activity. I wish that Canada would raise the age of sexual consent to 18 and maybe add that you can’t have sex until you graduate from grade 12. Just think of the millions that could be saved on dealing with underage pregnancies, abortions, and health care issues.

Public perception will never change until the public makes a perception change. No, all Catholic Priests are not pedophiles, all cops are not crooked, all lawyers are not bloodsuckers, all polygamists are not abusers, all politicians are not unfaithful, all monogamists don’t cheat on their spouses and all ministers are not money grabbers. Oh yea, all Canadians don’t play hockey! ” Eh O, Canada Go! ” Go for gold you suckers and don’t you dare lose to the US team. My US hockey moms would have supreme bragging rights for the next four years! It would be a Canadian polygamists worst nightmare.

May I take this opportunity on behalf of myself and family to wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year! The beginning of a new decade! We made it through the last one, finally! It seems almost that a curse is lifted from somewhere. God only knows, but we all hope so. Tomorrow is a whole new day!

In case you may be interested here are some of my targets for the new year. 1. I want to go to England and see where my grandfather was born and where he came from. I want to write a story about his life for my children. 2. I want to write a story about “Shorty” our famous shetland pony that passed away a couple weeks ago. He has been in our family for a long time. 3. I have 96 days to finish my mothers house and get her moved in by her birthday April 6. Lots to do there still. 4. I want to build a chicken coop and start raising our own eggs again. 5. I want to help build an activity center so that we have a place to watch plays, dance, have concerts and maybe the odd conference or two. 6. I want to go to at least three conferences this year. I think we should have one in Missouri with our friends over there. 7. I want to introduce two languages besides English into our school system. From the beginning to the end of our school program I would like to see us graduate tri-lingual students. That would be something very exciting and very useful and worthwhile. If our students were fluent in French and Spanish besides English, that would be so nice. My children could help me learn French and Spanish. Hurray! 8. I want to send three more children to college. One already speaks French so she needs to hurry and get her teacher certification. 9. I want to help build 2-3 more houses. (I really don’t do much but I like to think I do.) Sam and Mary have the roof on their new house and I am going to help them with it. 10. I hope to see some more of my family get married off. They are getting quite old these days.

Thats just ten things. I know there are more but I will happily target those ten things and see how it all goes. So once again. Happy New Year to All!

I came from the society of the Fundamentalist LDS believing people. They make up many groups nowdays and are called by many different names. Too many of them in their fever to celestialize themselves prey on the little guy, like King David did to Uriah in the Old Testament. They will discredit and plunder their own faithful warriors in an effort to destroy them so they can enjoy the spoils, all the time tricking themselves into believing that there is something beautiful and right about that.  My reference has everything to do with those people. They have presidents, officers, bishops, etc. and my prediction is one for them. Over two hundred families of my friends have been destroyed by those officers, bishops, presidents, councillors. Enough is enough as far as I am concerned! I think that nothing is more useless than a police officer that is dishonest, or a president that watches porn by night and takes peoples families away the next day because they have looked at porn. A nasty bishop who wastes away the peoples means, a lying spokesman or an untrustworthy trustee who get their jollies by watching the very people suffer that support them and that they should be protecting and serving, are the ones that I make a reference to.

It has been just about a year since I was arrested. Our government broke their own law and hurt a lot of people in the process. The officer that did so was dealt with by the voice of the people. Our justice system seemed to work and proved it to be so. I have known some prejudiced police officers over the years. They made ugly jokes about the local First Nations community, they ridiculed us, and I was glad when they were transferred out of here. But their hurt was nothing compared to the thousands of people that have been hurt by our lost religious society. Lost boys, lost girls, lost fathers, lost mothers, lost grandfathers, lost grandmothers, lost decency, lost dignity, lost honor, lost money, lost truth!

I think it is time for LDS believing people to practice what they preach! It is definitely time for every Christian to stop looking for reasons to injure their neighbors. It is time for everyone to do better. Do you know what Bob? That includes me as well!

As for the Justice System. If you are a Fundamentalist practicing LDS person and involved in the Justice System of Canada or the United States then my prediction includes you as well.

Yes, those were the days. I quit because it took a lot of energy to predict a year in advance. I am much lazier now than back then. No really, I have learned how to live just one day at a time. It really isn’t that hard to make a few simple predictions but we need to give the credit to Jesus Christ. Here are a few of his predictions.

Anyone who lays a snare for his fellow will be taken therein. If you judge a person you will be judged the same way back. If you take away a persons family then you will lose yours. If you believe a lie that you know is a lie then you will be damned. Maybe I will make one prediction. Here goes.  This coming year will not be a good one for all you officers, presidents, bishops, counsellors, trustees,  spokespersons, or any other responsible persons that deliberately break up families, interfere with the free agency of men, women and children, and cause an attack or assist in an attack, religious or otherwise upon any person or his family. This year will be the beginning of your end and in the end you will be single, lonely, desolate and damned.

You folks that are so stuck on the One Man thing should be aware that Christ is the one man that you should be strictly obedient to and you should follow Him and no one else. He said if you build a church on the teachings of a man then you belong to the church of that man. When whole congregations bow to new teachings that contradict what Christ has already said then they are shifting their foundation from His church to their new man. Holy Cow! Why were we so dumb?

I certainly do enjoy Christmas, though I do not celebrate it in the traditional way. This year my family are doing a Christmas/New Years concert for anyone who wants to come listen. We have lots of friends and will advertise it for one day, the day we do it. We plan on singing our favorite Christmas songs along with some others. There are many people in my family and most plan on attending and participating.

We have so much of everything that we do not need to spend thousands of dollars on useless plastic toys or things that only keep the Chinese employed. Dad used to use Christmas as the time to get us all some socks, shoes, shirts or pants if that is what we needed. He came from a family that did the big tree thing and so he did. The fun left it all when he passed away in 74. My mom has a tree with all the lights, in her apartment. She enjoys it very much. I will put a small gift for her under it tomorrow night. And–on Christmas day we will surely eat lots of good things. Fruit, nuts, fresh baking, roast turkey, beef, ham and chickens. Lots of mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and more pies than any fat Mormon should eat. I am getting tired of the annual same old Christmas shows that I have watched forty times, so this year I am watching something new. If there is a football or hockey game somewhere I will watch that.  Oh yes, the book. I plan on getting started on some book I have never read. I am not going to read any books that talk about sad abused FLDS or any other abused folks. Don’t plan on a romance novel either. I am going to let the Bible rest a day or two as well. Maybe I will add to Larry Kings fortunes by buying a copy of his book and reading it. I’ll let you know.

Yes, at the time in the world when all Christians take a few days, sing some nice songs, go to church and talk of Christ, I will as well. He is no baby and isn’t asleep in a barn anymore but those are sure sweet songs that help us remember that he once was. That memory hurt no one.

So Merry Christmas to all the Christian world! May you think, sing and act like Christ would even if it is just one day. Call your parents, grandparents, siblings! Renew your friendships, forgive your enemies and show kindness to the needy. Give to the poor, heal old wounds and act like a better person. Sing good songs until your voice is hoarse. Don’t forget to pray and have that prayer in your heart. You all will be glad you did.