tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35319173215443139472024-02-19T00:44:11.080-08:00The Blessings of Family LIfeThoughts about families, homeschool, religion, the importance of the United States of America and other necessities of life.The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.comBlogger271125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-33089480062982461252023-11-11T13:36:00.022-08:002023-11-11T13:48:50.662-08:00Touch the Water Movie: Please Watch!!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We have been a big fan of Holt Hamilton movies. He is a great independent film maker with a focus on Native American life and underdog stories. They are inspirational and wonderful to watch!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now his <b>Touch the Water </b>movie has picked up more movie times in the Phoenix area, Durango Colorado, Farmington, Gallup New Mexico areas:</span></div><p></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; transition-property: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Exciting news, 9 theatres will continue to play <span style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/TouchTheWaterFilm?__cft__[0]=AZWQhWnlg7phIca9UG_D4DQdDwizpdsRC4sX2PCnvEYjEk79p_h7tAOWcKJUnsArcW1NaNzCwJgWzAERCM4Nm2BUqOQKDvMSXNzqgFcJiDrnzFZSYkR0XawoTvqSJLoIuCgz9CRQVbWz2LQtnrR2OK2wMg-j55o7aeRTTtkF25TXV68gyrGmoqOzHzGoPHahuV9SSz7wkMTfu8z1DfR1ilQ_&__tn__=-]K-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="animation-name: none; display: inline; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">Touch the Water</span></a></span> November 10-16, 2023! Please share the flyers below!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; transition-property: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We continue our theatrical showings in the <span style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><a style="animation-name: none; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>following cities/theatres: </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tempe,AZ/AZ Mills Harkins </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Scottsdale,AZ/Shea Harkins</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Flagstaff,AZ/Harkins</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Prescott Valley,AZ/Harkins </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Casa Grande,AZ/Harkins</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lakeside,AZ/Village 8 WME</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Durango,CO/Gaslight Twin Cinema</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Farmington,NM/Animas 10 </span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gallup,NM/Red Rock 10</span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">See below:</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; transition-property: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lets have a great 2nd week run so all who want to see it, still can!</span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="animation-name: none; background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: "Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; transition-property: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you to all who have seen and shared the film information. And Thank you to theatres who continue to support this film. <span style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/allentheatres?__cft__[0]=AZWQhWnlg7phIca9UG_D4DQdDwizpdsRC4sX2PCnvEYjEk79p_h7tAOWcKJUnsArcW1NaNzCwJgWzAERCM4Nm2BUqOQKDvMSXNzqgFcJiDrnzFZSYkR0XawoTvqSJLoIuCgz9CRQVbWz2LQtnrR2OK2wMg-j55o7aeRTTtkF25TXV68gyrGmoqOzHzGoPHahuV9SSz7wkMTfu8z1DfR1ilQ_&__tn__=-]K-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="animation-name: none; display: inline; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">Allen Theatres</span></a></span> <span style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/WME-Village-8-163141767058661/?__cft__[0]=AZWQhWnlg7phIca9UG_D4DQdDwizpdsRC4sX2PCnvEYjEk79p_h7tAOWcKJUnsArcW1NaNzCwJgWzAERCM4Nm2BUqOQKDvMSXNzqgFcJiDrnzFZSYkR0XawoTvqSJLoIuCgz9CRQVbWz2LQtnrR2OK2wMg-j55o7aeRTTtkF25TXV68gyrGmoqOzHzGoPHahuV9SSz7wkMTfu8z1DfR1ilQ_&__tn__=kK-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="animation-name: none; display: inline; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">WME Village 8</span></a></span> <span style="animation-name: none; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;"><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x6umtig x1b1mbwd xaqea5y xav7gou x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1qq9wsj xo1l8bm" href="https://www.facebook.com/harkinstheatres?__cft__[0]=AZWQhWnlg7phIca9UG_D4DQdDwizpdsRC4sX2PCnvEYjEk79p_h7tAOWcKJUnsArcW1NaNzCwJgWzAERCM4Nm2BUqOQKDvMSXNzqgFcJiDrnzFZSYkR0XawoTvqSJLoIuCgz9CRQVbWz2LQtnrR2OK2wMg-j55o7aeRTTtkF25TXV68gyrGmoqOzHzGoPHahuV9SSz7wkMTfu8z1DfR1ilQ_&__tn__=-]K-y-R" role="link" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; animation-name: none; background-color: transparent; border-color: initial; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: inherit; text-decoration-line: none; touch-action: manipulation; transition-property: none;" tabindex="0"><span class="xt0psk2" style="animation-name: none; display: inline; font-family: inherit; transition-property: none;">Harkins Theatres</span></a></span></span></div></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJuNw228aA9jnOcKQ0WFQtdLWxpShEeIsDa2I0ktSM3XjEQHUahXahWzxfGa5JkNxIHIoDIJv4h8b6ygMdH7F_DRIu6OA0bFWZzed-82zVjIuKDgCKux09YR3VufGGe6lDOluOfdk8p_FinO4aVGs-EV8HdfY8bSsRCze-IW-qjEVBU5ZTeWdxw1tyADM2" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-32538060187302993732022-09-24T20:08:00.006-07:002022-09-24T20:09:58.050-07:00So tired of the lies spread about the American people<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EUsMigWBjGHaj60sN9lx3zHZy40SIoWG68Nf4z0cE4GpAJN3d8jAsXEoqRLcR_xjFfYybIVraxvo0UNktH9ILqjmaG_71CFTrEAEddpECrWzfZu6ZoXCfVYjlttyKpIRCgJnwEPbQFfJTodS79rI3vJ2xT-XW5orgG94Wye1V4bP1g5IgPg4e035iQ/s1280/Proclaimed%20Truth.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EUsMigWBjGHaj60sN9lx3zHZy40SIoWG68Nf4z0cE4GpAJN3d8jAsXEoqRLcR_xjFfYybIVraxvo0UNktH9ILqjmaG_71CFTrEAEddpECrWzfZu6ZoXCfVYjlttyKpIRCgJnwEPbQFfJTodS79rI3vJ2xT-XW5orgG94Wye1V4bP1g5IgPg4e035iQ/w587-h330/Proclaimed%20Truth.jpg" width="587" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> I'm back speaking up for all those patriots who believe we are living in the best country in the world. All the garbage online and in the mob media just tears us down. The elephant in the room needs to be talked about. The Emperor's New Clothes needs to be exposed. We are not racists!! We hold life dear to our hearts! We don't not want baby fetuses in our food and there are only two genders!!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Enough is enough. Let's be rid of the evil and corruption in our government </span></p></div>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-44622018603065035492021-10-14T23:11:00.008-07:002021-10-14T23:13:27.769-07:00Testimony of a Patriot<div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">About a year ago, my husband and I started attending classes on the U.S. Constitution. A friend of ours whom we knew from church had invited us to go. This friend has taught me a lot about the history of the United States. He emails many whom he knows about what he reads and learns. This piece is by him: <b>Ralph Hughes</b>: (the references are from scripture and conferences familiar to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8EzYc4NZx3CY9Z16CbxzP5yx_2KjU24vPG3zNiMSh0mAV-pg9dPKweZNHhBH7TbvT5BsUeoTvJ5rUCyU9zVObNIlwwxkcnlRbMFOzj4xinODEXei2NqHrnPXrHe9eOFEf72JWmtPjAPx/s550/american+flag.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="550" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8EzYc4NZx3CY9Z16CbxzP5yx_2KjU24vPG3zNiMSh0mAV-pg9dPKweZNHhBH7TbvT5BsUeoTvJ5rUCyU9zVObNIlwwxkcnlRbMFOzj4xinODEXei2NqHrnPXrHe9eOFEf72JWmtPjAPx/s320/american+flag.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div>"It is my conviction that for over a hundred years the United States has been
beset with a carefully and methodically executed conspiracy intent on completely
destroying the constitutional republican government which was established by the
Lord, Jesus the Christ, as He Himself stated, "by the hands of wise men whom I
raised up unto this very purpose" (D&C 101:80).</div><div><br /></div><div>We should be thankful to the
Lord, to the men who were inspired by the Lord as they drafted the United States
Constitution during the hot summer months of 1787 in a room with limited air
circulation and no air conditioning, and to those persons who subsequently
realized what has been happening to that government and have tried to alert
Americans to the existence of that "secret combinations" that prophets,
apostles, and others have warned us would strive to "overthrow the freedom of
all lands, nations, and countries" (Moroni, Ether 8:25, and President Ezra Taft
Benson, October 1988 General Conference). </div><div><br /></div><div>We should also recognize the warning
given us by Nephi, son of Lehi, who wrote "I prophesy unto you concerning the
last days ..... there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old,
according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these
things; (2 Nephi 26: 14 & 22). </div><div><br /></div><div>Also worthy of our awareness is the statement by
Elder Bruce R. McConkie that "Gadianton robbers fill the judgement seats in many
nations. An evil power seeks to overthrow the freedom of all nations and
countries." (April 1980 General Conference)<br /></div><div><br /></div><div> Interestingly, and much more
recently, Elder Boyd K. Packer stated on two separate occasions the following:
"We live in a time of war, that spiritual war that will never end. Moroni warned
us that the secret combinations begun by Gadianton 'are had among all people
.... Wherefore, O ye Gentiles [and the term gentile in that place in the Book of
Mormon refers to us in our generation], it is wisdom in God that these things
should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer
not that these murderous combinations shall get above you .... Wherefore, the
Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall
awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination
which shall be among you.'" (16 January 2007 BYU Devotional, and later in the
August 2010 Ensign magazine, Pg. 23). <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt2W7VArMbR6QctpPNJXYn_CSf-Huc9eC7xV2rHkzobwXO_UFqc-ZGeDRiYZn7QUZO49H7tlNpoGhbbbpcB9Ry-HvkADxepA4MRrwzdJrMQOxVTYVR_zUiwXkcavSvkO1-wlpqPK4Rp8E/s2048/Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="2048" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRt2W7VArMbR6QctpPNJXYn_CSf-Huc9eC7xV2rHkzobwXO_UFqc-ZGeDRiYZn7QUZO49H7tlNpoGhbbbpcB9Ry-HvkADxepA4MRrwzdJrMQOxVTYVR_zUiwXkcavSvkO1-wlpqPK4Rp8E/w391-h252/Scene_at_the_Signing_of_the_Constitution_of_the_United_States.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><br /></div><div>President Gordon B. Hinkley once stated
that "The Book of Mormon narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone.
But in its descriptions of the problems of today’s society, it is as current as
the morning newspaper, and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring
concerning the solutions of those problems.” </div><div><br /></div><div>You might find the following
scriptures from the Book of Mormon indicative of what has been going on in
America for some time now. In 2 Nephi 26 we read that in the "last days" “The
Gentiles shall build up false churches and secret combinations.” </div><div><br /></div><div>In Alma 51 we
can note that certain people, referred to as "king-men", "were desirous that the
law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to
establish a king over the land." </div><div><br /></div><div>"Those who were in favor of kings were those of
high birth, and they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who
sought power and authority over the people." In their anger with the "people of
liberty...they would not take up arms to defend their country" against forces
from outside their county. It became necessary for Moroni and his army to "go
against those king-men" in battle and kill many of the king-men before
persuading/compelling others to join in fighting for the freedom that the
Lamanites were threatening to take away from them. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj253VzEwSJhcAXud97eL_G65DKUGhgeUjz7_VEFQ_uyKMCEf8JRtEdjCA1mU-bRciN8huH3z1ceZaXgAt7oCvnG_6S-nYLHtryTj0JwPiysOOPDjnECKWzRjjw8JNNH1eJN4fit3D1ZKvm/s600/title+of+liberty.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj253VzEwSJhcAXud97eL_G65DKUGhgeUjz7_VEFQ_uyKMCEf8JRtEdjCA1mU-bRciN8huH3z1ceZaXgAt7oCvnG_6S-nYLHtryTj0JwPiysOOPDjnECKWzRjjw8JNNH1eJN4fit3D1ZKvm/s320/title+of+liberty.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>In Helaman 1 we read first
that upon the death of a chief judge his oldest son is elected to fill the
judgement seat. A younger son, desirous of the judgement seat for himself, tries
to instigate a rebellion and "destroy the liberty of the people". For this he is
executed. However, some of his supporters persuade a "hit man" to murder the new
chief judge. The second son is appointed chief judge and governor. But
contention among the Nephites allows a Lamanite force to invade, and kill the
newly appointed chief judge. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ultimately, the Lamanites are defeated, but the
judgement seat is left vacant for a time. In Helaman 2 we read how one Gadianton
became the leader of a band, the object of which was to “destroy Helaman”, the
newly appointed chief judge, and “to murder, and to rob, and to gain power”. We
are also told that “this Gadianton did prove the overthrow, yea, almost the
entire destruction of the people of Nephi.” </div><div><br /></div><div>In Helaman 3 we learn that “there
was continual peace established in the land, all save it were the secret
combinations which Gadianton the robber had established in the more settled
parts of the land, which at that time were not known to those who were at the
head of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the land.” In
Helaman 6 we are told in some detail that “Lucifer, the author of sin, guides
the Gadianton robbers in their murders and wickedness – They take over the
Nephite government.” </div><div><br /></div><div>It is interesting to read that “this band of robbers was
utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites”, but “on the other hand, that the
Nephites did build them up and support them....until they had overspread all the
land of the Nephites,....And thus they did obtain the sole management of the
government.” </div><div><br /></div><div>In Helaman 7 we read that Nephi, the son of Helaman, found “the
people {of Nephi] in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton
robbers filling the judgment-seats – having usurped the power and authority of
the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright
before him; doing no justice unto the children of men.; condemning the righteous
because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished
because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of
government to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and
glory of the world, and moreover, that they might more easily commit adultery,
and steal, and kill, and do according to their wills”. </div><div><br /></div><div>In Helaman 8 we read how
“Corrupt judges seek to incite the people against Nephi.”, and that “those
judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their
secret works of darkness”. At the end of this chapter and into Chapter 9 we read
that “By inspiration Nephi announces the murderer of the chief judge, and then
by inspiration identifies the murderer, and finally “is accepted by some as a
prophet." <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjIvIHQktXO8yBNj8DpxhBHE8m1GEJRoJdXSIZeAJNM4yqWCqGkD8Zr-DhcSGvrU97isTqblzL5Q5hcLCOpST_xPrrpngjTGOiPVLx3dg9aN56UeDYbyDWRIPr2GPzPOsbDe5ENkQjAia/s310/Edmund+Burke.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjIvIHQktXO8yBNj8DpxhBHE8m1GEJRoJdXSIZeAJNM4yqWCqGkD8Zr-DhcSGvrU97isTqblzL5Q5hcLCOpST_xPrrpngjTGOiPVLx3dg9aN56UeDYbyDWRIPr2GPzPOsbDe5ENkQjAia/w455-h239/Edmund+Burke.jpg" width="455" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In 3 Nephi 6 we learn of further iniquities. “A complaint came up unto
the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these judges who had
condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to the
law.....those judges had many friends and kindreds....and they did enter into a
covenant one with another....which covenant which was given by then of old,
which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all
righteousness.... And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their
country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to
establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but
should be subject unto kings.” </div><div><br /></div><div>In 3 Nephi 7 we read of the murder of a chief
judge and the overthrow of the Nephite government; "the regulations of the
government were destroyed, because of the secret combination of friends and
kindred of those who murdered the prophets....and did place at their head a man
whom they did call Jacob; and they did call him their king." </div><div><br /></div><div>In 4 Nephi we again
read “that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret
oaths and combinations of Gadianton”, and “the robbers of Gadianton did spread
over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it
were the disciples of Jesus.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Do you recognize these sorts of things happening
in our time now? We have been commanded to awake to a sense of our awful
situation, and to suffer not that that these murderous combinations shall get
above us. "Unless we as members of the Church do all we can to preserve the
freedoms we have, within the bounds of the laws of God, we will be held
accountable." (Principles of the Gospel, 1991 Edition, Pg. 36) </div><div><br /></div><div>"I know that the
Lord gives no commandments unto the children of men, save He shall prepare a way
for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (Nephi,
son of Lehi, 1 Nephi 3:7). <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ralph Hughes</div><div><br /></div><div>There have been so many great examples of what we as a people need to watch for in our own country. We will lose all that we have and hold dear. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVCgXYgdrTRHritYW5DwoWVFIyzVMvI8gOo8gHPASkkPoaEojpTkyfRTQ9tkeMIEJ4HelwtHCXyesfZb2V2OKtwsfDhNbGqia06yu07Q3SaPts5guTswrpdhYMpQX2M1l1blte-WdCzJ_/s466/Fighting+men.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="466" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVCgXYgdrTRHritYW5DwoWVFIyzVMvI8gOo8gHPASkkPoaEojpTkyfRTQ9tkeMIEJ4HelwtHCXyesfZb2V2OKtwsfDhNbGqia06yu07Q3SaPts5guTswrpdhYMpQX2M1l1blte-WdCzJ_/w381-h381/Fighting+men.jpg" width="381" /></a></div>It's unconstitutional for the federal government to mandate masks, vaccines, and take away our right to bear arms. It is morally wrong for the federal government to take the proper medication away to help ourselves get healthier.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are not a racist people!! Our history is not a racist history! We are being pitted against each other to divide us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Those of other countries illegally coming over the border are cared for more than our own U.S. people. It's a horror story that we need to take care right in our own back yards.</div><div>Keep fighting against evil and search for the truth of this land. There are good people who are helping. We just need to unite in the good cause and help them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></span>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-35250651000554991542021-09-04T10:27:00.005-07:002021-09-04T10:30:33.623-07:00So, you want to Learn about the Heartland Model?<p> Learning about the Book of Mormon is fascinating. Not
only is this book a scriptural wonder that will bring us closer to Jesus Christ
more than any book in the world, we also learn about the Promised Land as we
read from 1<sup>st</sup> Nephi until the very end of Moroni. This promised land
is believed to be the United States and with the evidences found so far, our
promised land needs the prayers of the righteous to keep us from the enemy.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH9FuRNIRbq40baEtnVf8xugIX-WPO_S1kYFn0OuwzR8f66_o5Uz_KuYWapvSux6nYYzjr6qs3gaicnlFnAAnLVylVNTxy2mPr5FPN1Bztp-pHzEuTpe6LKJSqar4d9Z9tABw4dnm5i8a/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="623" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlH9FuRNIRbq40baEtnVf8xugIX-WPO_S1kYFn0OuwzR8f66_o5Uz_KuYWapvSux6nYYzjr6qs3gaicnlFnAAnLVylVNTxy2mPr5FPN1Bztp-pHzEuTpe6LKJSqar4d9Z9tABw4dnm5i8a/" width="195" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above photo from </td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Another fascination of the Book of Mormon is finding the
places where the events actually took place. Now many who have studied the
relics and artifacts from Michigan, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa (to name a few)
have come up with a model of where the Book of Mormon has taken place called
the Heartland Model. There are many websites
to study and understand this Heartland model.
Those who do understand the messages of many relics know that the
temples built by the Nephites in ancient times had ramps, not steps as that is
what the Jews did. Those who study the relics and artifacts found in Michigan,
Missouri, Illinois and Iowa, learn how important the stories of the Old
Testament were to the ancient Nephites. Check out these websites and you will
be amazed:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">https://hub.catalogit.app/5585/folder/17652120-d39a-11eb-b51c-57c5e999067f</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><u style="text-indent: -0.25in;">heartlandsearch.org</u><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> – Once this address
is typed online it will change to a HUB website called Heartland Research Inc
maintained by Lloyd Marchant.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This
website has so much information and artifacts from all over the eastern side of
the United States.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><a href="http://ldsarchaeology.com/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">http://ldsarchaeology.com/</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> - This website
maintained by Wayne May has information on the Hopewell (Nephite) and Adena
(Jaredite) Cultures.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Video, pictures,
explanations of many evidences of The Book of Mormon places in the United
States.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><a href="https://zarahemla.site/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://zarahemla.site/</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> - This website
maintained by John Lefgren has updates of the Heartland Research Group and what
excavations as well as video of the evidences of what many have found to be
relics and artifact finds for The Book of Mormon lands.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><a href="https://theholyscriptures.info/BookOfMormonCovenantLands/" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://theholyscriptures.info/BookOfMormonCovenantLands/</span></a><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
- This website maintained by Jay Mackley is an extensive and logical physical
model of The Book of Mormon geography.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">This database driven website presents over 149 locations with modern
place names. There is so much information here.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Helpful Videos:</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHVh3bDYGRE" style="text-indent: -0.25in;" target="_blank">click for helpful video</a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcii9P3Zd5w&t=69s" target="_blank">Very interesting video</a><br /></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e425KUgXL9w" target="_blank">Another good video</a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RridXoCFXWE" target="_blank">More videos</a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_jYPg53Sfo" target="_blank">Another good video</a><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some people might not understand why the search for the
actual places of the Book of Mormon is so important. Yes, we have our own
spiritual conversion to the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ
but if we think about how we felt when we visit the Sacred Grove in New York
state, Nauvoo, Illinois where Joseph Smith lived and is buried or <span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Adam-ondi-Ahman in Springhill, Missouri, then
maybe we can understand why this search and study is important for all those
who know The Book of Mormon to be true. When we visit these sacred places, we
feel strengthened in our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that is
what visiting these places in the United States does for me: it strengthens my
testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #202124; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-66904131374903063262021-02-07T11:42:00.004-08:002021-02-07T11:42:31.814-08:00Israel Will Shortly be Free...<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB1RmHwDq69d22M7YMXzF0XS-bo59bUu10Tx3UtVyF_CILPywC0ULWYYdkzs93ZBgQhooBapih5wFgoaAcQvup0P0A8pi_Y_L6UFz4Bu4PV862VCjSYHHrpLgbFVObkpsuqM1kHAh-jvP/s1280/Phoenix+Sunrise.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOB1RmHwDq69d22M7YMXzF0XS-bo59bUu10Tx3UtVyF_CILPywC0ULWYYdkzs93ZBgQhooBapih5wFgoaAcQvup0P0A8pi_Y_L6UFz4Bu4PV862VCjSYHHrpLgbFVObkpsuqM1kHAh-jvP/s320/Phoenix+Sunrise.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Today in Sacrament meeting we finally were able to sing the
hymns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so excited, as I have terribly
missed singing in church. The opening song was Redeemer of Israel. (one of my
favorite)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to the third verse
where is says, “our foes have rejoiced, when our sorrows they’ve seen” and it
just hit me like a ton of bricks. We see these foes every day on the news,
radio and internet. There are such foes who rejoice in our difficulties. Even
causing more difficulties to their benefit, but the next line was of great
comfort to me: “but Israel will shortly be free”. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We will be free, but during the time we live in bondage can
be very difficult. Sometimes if feels that there is no end in sight, but we
continue to pray, move forward in life and be thankful for what we have. We can
all receive our personal messages from God to comfort us as some call it: personal
revelation. This personal revelation helps us to make good choices when those
difficult times are around us. (It even helps when there are no difficult
times.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">These messages can come in many different forms such as an
email, a phone call from a loved one, at work or talking to a neighbor. Part of
this particular message came from Lin Wood, the famous attorney from Georgia. I
edited it to fit my needs.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What can we do to help ourselves to not worry so much during
this difficult time?</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">1.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">P</span></span></span>ray,
Pray, Pray.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 2. </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Protect
ourselves, our families and our friends whether it’s in the neighborhood, at
school or at family gatherings.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 3. </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Write
members of the military and tell them you love the fact that they will never
dishonor their oath to defend the Constitution, freedom and the People</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 4. </span></span></span>Turn
off your television. Do NOT watch any mainstream media, movies, comedies, game
shows or other meaningful mind junk. (We have stopped watching the news. It’s
just too depressing.)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 5. </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Read
books that are inspiring and helps to uplift us as human beings. (Including the
Bible, Book of Mormon or any other uplifting scripture.)</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 6. </span></span></span>Organize
your communities and neighborhoods for safety. Talk to leaders of your
congregations at church, synagogues or mosques. </p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> 7. </span></span></span>And
above all: Love all and forgive all, but always demand justice and
righteousness.</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">8. Yes, Israel will be free and we will eventually live
peaceably, but this Sunday afternoon, I have to keep the thoughts from above in
my heart and move forward on in life.</p><br /><p></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-64848560281244845712021-01-02T18:52:00.003-08:002021-01-02T18:52:22.659-08:00The Evidences of Living a Lie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5k9_4XYFz51UeW0NWZwBev1yLMr8a7PWuDRWuc3osd4KJJQu-Jp5DddoubU9Kr-Yg8k6BrDIst4vaQmsqWYiRwQaVTiwtmBVE8XgrnzP2yLC8bh6YoseaKsi4f05lZumWM28Jt_6YQbO/s2048/US_-_Liberty_Island_-_05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5k9_4XYFz51UeW0NWZwBev1yLMr8a7PWuDRWuc3osd4KJJQu-Jp5DddoubU9Kr-Yg8k6BrDIst4vaQmsqWYiRwQaVTiwtmBVE8XgrnzP2yLC8bh6YoseaKsi4f05lZumWM28Jt_6YQbO/w269-h358/US_-_Liberty_Island_-_05.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">If you are one
to follow CNN, MSNBC,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ABC, NBC CBS and
now even Fox News at times, then you are not getting the clear, honest picture
of what is really going on in this country. January 6 2021 is one of the most
important days of our lives. As a people of the United States of America, we
are equipped with the power to demand an election without corruption. Everyone
has their own story of how they realized they were not living in the same place
their great grandparents had lived. Here is one story from someone who wants to
remain anonymous:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“Sometime
during the middle of 2003, my mother-in-law showed me a documentary, Alex
Jones' 911 The Road to Tyranny. At the time I thought maybe half of what he was
saying might be true, so I started doing research... It wasn't this that woke
me up, but this was one of the events that led to me waking up. It sure did
open my mind.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Early in 2004 I began to take notice of the Presidential race between
George W. Bush and John Kerry. This was going to be the first time I had ever
voted. At the time I was leaning towards Bush because I knew I didn't like the
ideas of the Democrats, but I still wasn't even sure if I supported the actions
of the Republicans either.</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">As I was reading online a friend pointed me to a campaign
website of a guy he knew that was running for office in Utah. It said that he
was running as a 3rd party candidate with the Constitution Party. I had no idea
what the Constitution Party was and at that time had little understanding of
the US Constitution.</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
</span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This Constitution Party candidate's site then led me to
constitutionparty.com for more information about the party and their platform.
As I read through the site I found various messages about freedom and a
statement that said the Constitution Party (CP) is 'what the GOP used to be.'</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Here's where my big 'aha moment' came; the moment of
realizing that I was living a lie, that I didn't really know what freedom was,
and I didn't understand the proper role of government. It was also a very
spiritual moment for me. I read a story on the CP website titled<i> 'Not Yours to
Give.'</i></span></span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><i>'Not Yours to Give'</i> is the story of Congressman Davy Crocket
and a constituent of his, Horatio Bunce. Mr. Bunce brought to Crocket's
attention that he (and the other representatives) had usurped power and
violated the Constitution by giving of the public money in charity (socialistic
welfare). Crocket asked for this man’s forgiveness and strive to adhere to the
Constitution from that point on. Something clicked in my mind as I read this,
and began to start to understand the proper role of government.</span></span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">This example was only the beginning. It was a powerful moment
for me. I realized that there was so much I didn't understand about God’s
intended role for government in our lives.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 424.35pt;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">For those who know how important the Book of
Mormon is in these difficult times then you would appreciate this next
paragraph:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"> Ether
Chapter 8 of the Book of</span><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;"> </span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=137" id="x_PXLINK_2_0_2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank"></a></span><a data-auth="NotApplicable" href="https://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=137" id="x_PXLINK_2_0_2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial !important; border-left-style: initial !important; border-right-color: initial !important; border-right-style: initial !important; border-top-color: initial !important; border-top-style: initial !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;" target="_blank"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">Mormo</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">n</span></span></span></a><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">:</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" />
<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye
shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your
awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among
you…For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the
freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the
destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father
of all lies…Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil
may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon
the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good
continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be
saved.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 405.2pt;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">This next section was written by Joel Skousen, a
true patriot and nephew to Ezra Taft Benson who was President of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints from 1984 to 1994. Joel has years of study
and evidences of what is really going on in the world:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g-9POFRuKyUTFf6WWTOy83NsdArTwG3CWL-Tt0tABJE6m1TYYyH-p9hpvuU2m2p_pzbjGP7bBpI9FLPgU7aDHeP2ykJtkorSagsgp2uF089DdeFy7rGLHEsdBs6u4e3Gh0MWfS0mTUX6/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3g-9POFRuKyUTFf6WWTOy83NsdArTwG3CWL-Tt0tABJE6m1TYYyH-p9hpvuU2m2p_pzbjGP7bBpI9FLPgU7aDHeP2ykJtkorSagsgp2uF089DdeFy7rGLHEsdBs6u4e3Gh0MWfS0mTUX6/" width="160" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joel Skousen</td></tr></tbody></table><br />HOW
TO ANALYZE THE NEWS AND WHAT GOES ON AROUND YOU </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">“Critical analysis of current
events is a complex process that is not systematized or rigid. All the
information you see or gather is, generally, a combination of truth,
half-truths, and error. Filtering out the truth begins with finding reliable
sources, as well as critically scrutinizing sources that are known to have a
specific bias.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">We cannot
understand how this world operates if we hold to a purely secular,
evolutionary, or humanistic view. Even though the spiritual spectrum is mostly
hidden to man on earth, its workings can be detected if one is sensitive to </span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">truth<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> and if one avoids offending the source of
all truth by chronic violations of conscience. </span></span><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: black; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1; padding: 0in;">With a lack of
direct evidence and first-hand accounts of the ongoing conspiracy, we must rely
on our own abilities to gather and analyze information to formulate a reliable
picture of what’s going on in the world. The more accurate that picture is, the
better prepared we will be to protect ourselves from the real threats that all
of us will have to face."</span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span>The above
statements are key excerpts from an informative article by LDS investigative
journalist Joel Skousen.<a href="https://joelskousen.com/how-to-analyze-the-news " target="_blank"> This link below will take you to it.</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">In my own
experience, I have been taught from my parents who discovered the truth about the
current events in the U.S. during the 1960s and what was really going on.
Although I didn’t believe it then, I do now after doing my own study. </span><span style="background-color: transparent;">The United Nations was not a good fit for
the United States in 1945 but joined then which now has its consequences. The
act of removing prayer from public schools from the likes of Madalyn O’Hair has
haunted public schools since this decision. Taking the Ten Commandments away
from public buildings, the removing of religion during Christmas and Easter are
all the tell tale signs of losing our freedoms. There are conspiring men in secret
societies that want to make a one world order to take our freedoms away
completely. When will the people of the U.S. wake up and demand we cut ties
with China (specifically the Chinese Communist Party). We would be on better
ground because according the goal of China by 2030 the goal of private property
or ownership of personal items anywhere will be gone.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s not too
late. Call, write emails or mail snail mail to your state and national leaders.
Tell them that you want the U.S. Constitution to reign supreme in this great
country. Study those truths so we can never live a lie.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-62601882842327947632021-01-02T14:24:00.000-08:002021-01-02T14:24:24.025-08:00The Fight For Freedom<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBNuRBfKXplb3oPQw7ko-1E3C_5zOJ1YLqV_CzvY4otAFITHsGD3Ksf-x75kiMOsawOaj1KWQtLS1eZEFUq_89mephcL3P_3Lz9FQmLOJJpZHGPRzZQabWBtnYi0mPH0kTL15kB3G2-O6/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="235" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglBNuRBfKXplb3oPQw7ko-1E3C_5zOJ1YLqV_CzvY4otAFITHsGD3Ksf-x75kiMOsawOaj1KWQtLS1eZEFUq_89mephcL3P_3Lz9FQmLOJJpZHGPRzZQabWBtnYi0mPH0kTL15kB3G2-O6/" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is a fight; a fight for freedom as we know it!! Do we
want a new normal? No! Do we want others
to control every aspect of our lives? No!! We want honest and true elections
without corruption. We want our
livelihood and our leisure with our families saved from corruption and control.
We are the people of the United States. Our forefathers fought the King of
England for independence. Our families fought the evil tyrants of World War I
and II for our freedoms to continue. We can fight this obstruction of justice
and burdensome control over our lives.
We need to retain our rights according to the U.S. Constitution. </p><p class="MsoNormal">From a trusted patriot about personal experiences of interest:<span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: #333333; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">“In my lifetime (1938 to the present), the United
States of America got into WW2 officially due to a conspiracy involving
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and some of his military staff and civilian
“advisors” that provoked the Japanese to attack U.S. forces on the Philippine
Islands and on Hawaii on 7 December 1941. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> America declared war against Germany and its
allies in WW2 supposedly to protect Europe and Great Britain from Germany and
to save China from Japan. But I have since become convinced that
the real reason was to protect the Soviet Union from defeat and create the
formidable enemy to freedom that it became and still is. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> At the end of that war, American traitors (I
calls ‘em as I sees “em) gave the Soviets all of Eastern Europe,
Manchuria, the Kurile Islands, the Chinese port of Darien, the northern half of
Korea, and half of Germany. In Yugoslavia, they guaranteed the
success of Communism by throwing America’s weight behind the Stalinist Tito in
his fight against the pro-Western Mikhailovich. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Traitors in the U.S. State
Dept. clandestinely supported the Communist forces of Mao Tse-tung in their war
against Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist forces and actively worked behind the
scenes to bring about the Communization of China. Under leadership of the
American traitor Alger Hiss and the Russian Molotov, the United Nations was
created and its Secretariat was staffed with Communists from the United States
Department of State. The Soviets were given three votes in the General
Assembly, compared to one for the United States, and it was agreed further that
a Soviet national would always be in charge of UN military activities, which
led to betrayals of Americans fighting in the Korean War. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Algeria was pushed into the
Communist camp by support of Ben Bella. Certain Americans helped Castro to
power in Cuba and, later betrayed the anti-Castro invasion force at the Bay of
Pigs. In Korea and Vietnam, we denied our military forces the option of
victory. In the case of Vietnam, as some of you may remember, American
aid was regularly sent to Communist countries that were sending military aid to
North Vietnam. Americans supported the Sandinista Communists in the
takeover of Nicaragua. American traitors gave the Panama Canal to a pro-Soviet
dictatorship. America has been bilked of billions of dollars in foreign
aid to our most bitter enemies around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Americans built much of
Soviet industry and have given them high technology for their nuclear strike
force. When they could not pay, their debts were forgiven and passed on to the
American taxpayer. American government have condemned anti-Communist
regimes in Africa and Latin America allegedly for violations of human rights,
but then invited to the White House and publicly embraced many Communist
dictators in the world, no matter how bloody their mitts. And, while freedom
fighters battled Soviet tanks in Hungary, Afghanistan and Poland, we gave the
Soviets solemn assurances that we would not intervene and then sent economic
aid to the very Communist governments which the people themselves are
attempting to topple. So many years ago now, all these
and other events. But they certainly form a
pattern....hardly even a complete one, the truth of which should be made
known, especially to Americans.” Ralph Hughes</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">No greater responsibility rests upon the citizens of this country then to protect our Constitution. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We will protest or picket peaceably. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We will not use violence or abuse.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We will rally together as a people; get off the couch and flood email inboxes, make telephone calls and mail letters telling our state and federal government that we demand a legal and honest election.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">We as a people of the United States of America want our country back. As stated in our U.S. Constitution, we are entitled to our liberties and do not want Socialism, Communism, Fascism or any other form of government in these United States. </p><p class="MsoNormal">We can take care of ourselves and protect our families. We
will start standing up for our rights.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Remember, we don’t have to fight in hand to hand combat. We
are not sent to foreign lands to kill other people. This has already been done
for us by many brave men and women. The least we can do is take action in our
own homes to save our liberties. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">President Trump won the election free and clear. There is evidence that this is so. Seventy-Five million people agree as well. We want President Trump to be our president for the next four years.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p> </o:p></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-2946174523575141712020-09-30T18:26:00.030-07:002020-09-30T21:25:18.153-07:00My Journey to Learn about the True Promised Land <p> </p>Over the past ten years, I have been led on a journey which
took me totally by surprise. This
journey strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon more than anything else
in the world. I have read and studied this book from cover to cover countless
times from 1981 to present day, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it
is “Another testament of Jesus Christ. What took me a step further in my
testimony was the journey as to where the Book of Mormon lands are
located. <p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUjU8S7J2fHYT3ZjKV4t2IUiBLoxml0Ki8WuvNwEBo9Cc71TV7sjvMPEBAj07QstUVbNCA2R9M9XTgJCXzjbSe97KxW-eeBKbWD2Da1PvIiorHKgAg6Wf4iUm3188t0lW6avi1d_XG-qYL/w309-h232/DSCN2860.JPG" style="text-align: left;" width="309" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view of the Nauvoo Temple from Zarahemla</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>2005</b>: Fifteen years ago, my two oldest daughters attended
college in Alabama: one at Auburn University and the other in Montgomery,
Alabama (Huntington College). Many times we would drive up to visit them there
which took 3 to 3 ½ hours each way. Driving back and forth presented a lot of
time to think and ponder. Sometimes the Spirit would impress upon my mind
interesting information. One of those being about some of the early people who
lived in Alabama before the Europeans arrived.
I would see in my mind men running with girded loins and bare chests in
and out of the wooded areas as I drove by.
I never really thought much of it until later on.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2014</b>: During this year I started finding and watching some
videos about the Heartland Model talking about Promised Land from The Book of
Mormon being in the United States. This was an interesting idea as all I’ve
heard was that the Book of Mormon lands were in Central America.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never understood all of that information
and it was confusing to me especially with the idea of having two Hill
Cumorahs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How can there be two Hill
Cumorahs? There is no way to me that Moroni could drag all of those plates,
sword of Laban and the Liahona from Central America to New York State. There
must be more to all of this.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>2015</b>: With several weddings to attend in Utah, my family and
I stumbled on a conference at the UVU Conference Center in Orem in April which
promoted the Heartland Model. I know that nothing happens by accident and as I
attended the conference I felt that I was being taught some Book of Mormon
truths. After pondering the Heartland Model for ten years I felt that I really
knew the people of the Book of Mormon and where they lived. I bought and read
an interesting book called Prophesies and Promises by Bruce H. Porter and Rod
Meldrum which explained the whole Heartland Model in a very simple and easy to
understand manner.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>May 2020:</b> After finding the Zarahemla site on Facebook, I
contacted the site manager and asked if they were in need of volunteers to help
with their expedition in August of 2020. We were planning a trip back east
anyway, but had not made final plans. I was overjoyed to find that my services
would be greatly appreciated and planned to meet this group in August in Nauvoo
to help with writing their blog.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>August 2020</b>: My experience in Nauvoo, Illinois and Montrose,
Iowa was a highlight of my life. The Lord was with us the whole way and we were
able to learn about some of the point places of the Book of Mormon: </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Both the families of Lehi and Mulek crossed the
Atlantic Ocean</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The place of Lehi’s Landing is Florida, near
Pensacola.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The place of Mulek’s Landing is the Great Lakes
Area</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Land of Nephi covers all the Tennessee and
surrounding areas.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The River Sidon is the Mississippi River</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The battle fought in Alma 2 between Amlici and
Alma<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was near Montrose Iowa and Nauvoo
Illinois.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Land of Zarahemla stretched from Nauvoo,
Illinois to Montrose Iowa.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The Hopewell culture in the United States are
the Book Of Mormon Nephites</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The only Hill Cumorah is in New York State </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The early Native American people living in the
East, came from the East.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The United States of America is the Promised
Land of the Book of Mormon </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p>Through these spiritual experiences and visiting areas on
the Eastern side of the United States, my testimony of the Book of Mormon has
been strengthened tenfold. I am learning more every time we study and read. I
know the United States is the covenant Promised Land the Lord has guided the
people of Jared, Lehi’s family and Mulek, the son of Zedekiah to live. It is our beautiful United States and we should
recognize how blessed we are to live in the Promised Land.</p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-48214349280542383102020-09-30T18:09:00.000-07:002020-09-30T18:09:08.910-07:00Riding the Mississippi River <p> Our third day on the Expedition (August 5<sup>th</sup>) was
spent on the Mississippi River. We were
with our Heartland Research Group on the boat “Truth” along with sonar
equipment (using a sound ping sent to the bottom and coming back as a picture) expert
Don Cummings. He was onboard to take more pictures of the bottom of the river. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">This time we had Don Blum and his diver brother and cousin with us. We
were hoping for a human eye’s view from our two divers exploring the river bottom
near where the crossing could have occurred over 2,000 years ago. This crossing
is recorded in Alma chapter 2 in the Book of Mormon during the war between the
Lamanites and Nephites. Finding this crossing would connect the ancient account
to the geography on digital maps. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Two thousand years ago, even 200 years ago, the Mississippi River was
crossable by foot at the harvest time of the year. Sitting on that boat it was
hard to believe anyone could cross by foot but we tried to visualize what could
have happened from our vantage point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before the Keokuk Dam was built in 1913, the rapids on the Mississippi
River (called the Des Moines Rapids) were 12 miles long but only three feet
deep. Since 1913, the river had risen 18 feet and that area of the Keokuk bend
was difficult to imagine anyone crossing by foot. Gone are the little islands
shown on a late 1800 map. Gone are the areas which could have been crossed so
long ago.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>From the boat outing the day before, Don Cummings along with
Mike Baker found three key areas where this crossing could have occurred. The first
is called Sandusky and with the sonar scans, it was the most likely place for
our divers to explore. The
nature of the limestone as a horizontal ledge at the Keokuk Gorge at
Sandusky would have been much shallower before the dam was built.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvVSZkmzukVlpJBcrGh_cZcAc_6oHY-OeEUVfUZ8fDaA7aRcCks9DtYy9YeBKC1x1qEpx7meVNNlZfVasGEBdQ4vL1tanGcJ492afMbfWQQPoTxn2F2Ce7brZlCBz0aoFMcy7DSJiwCzv/s2048/DSCN2947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvVSZkmzukVlpJBcrGh_cZcAc_6oHY-OeEUVfUZ8fDaA7aRcCks9DtYy9YeBKC1x1qEpx7meVNNlZfVasGEBdQ4vL1tanGcJ492afMbfWQQPoTxn2F2Ce7brZlCBz0aoFMcy7DSJiwCzv/s320/DSCN2947.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We also had Don Blum with us who has over 40 years
experience as an explosive expert for a good part of the Mississippi River. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before he even got on the boat he talked about
the dangers of diving down into the Mississippi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to many divers, the Mississippi river
is the most dangerous body of water to scuba dive into. It’s murky with very
limited visibility and has whirlpools that catch divers who can lose their
sense of direction. Then there are the leftover grappling hooks from past
fishing excursions which can grab onto arms or legs and not let go. There are
also many large logs which are hard to see with 150 pound catfish, snapping
turtles and snakes swimming around, all creating a most dangerous place to
dive.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Then we learned
about Don’s experience blasting rock on the Mississippi River and how the
Keokuk Gorge area, which have layers of limestone and is one of the hardest
rocks ever blasted in his 39 years of blasting. Once blasted into pieces, these
boulders called “riprap” are used to protect the banks of many rivers from
erosion. From the Missouri River to the Moline River in Illinois to the end of
the Mississippi river in New Orleans, barges of riprap are sent down the river
to be used as protection from disintegrating river banks.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj2ZB5mCCognsnwOy_Ya6L9xefsrCNZ_xE38-HddmK1quyYddJjNy7cNT-NNMXplgux8b0WLJERSH6yGoLNhz7nDLQD7_sedx9G_m7w0VkGDGHkFn-0H5M4AaR2DUftsJpslskBpLAskg/s1080/Driving+the+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUj2ZB5mCCognsnwOy_Ya6L9xefsrCNZ_xE38-HddmK1quyYddJjNy7cNT-NNMXplgux8b0WLJERSH6yGoLNhz7nDLQD7_sedx9G_m7w0VkGDGHkFn-0H5M4AaR2DUftsJpslskBpLAskg/s320/Driving+the+boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Our time on
the river was an adventure as the wind blew and the waves pushed against the
boat. It was time for the divers to go down to see if they could find that
limestone ridge. Once in the water, the visibility under the water was just too
difficult to see anything. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with
underwater headlights, it was too dangerous to go any farther.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a great disappointment to us all, but
there was nothing we could do. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">With this experience
now behind us, our divers will get another chance to go again in the future.
Using 3D sonar and more powerful lights, the chances will be better to pinpoint
a location to search and find the original banks of the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will find better visibility and another
time of the year would be better with little waves and no wind. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will look forward to another excursion to
ride down the Mississippi River and find the ancient crossing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-68697160654642157922020-09-30T17:59:00.008-07:002020-09-30T18:05:41.456-07:00Mounds of History<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you have ever traveled the eastern side of the country
from Alabama to Michigan, you might have seen large areas of fields or woods
that have mounds of dirt covered with grass that stand over 15 feet high. Some
are not that high, but smaller mounds in wooded areas. If you have been lucky enough to find these cherished
burial grounds of an ancient people, you should call yourself very blessed.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PSC8JgG7idACd0_Q6wolwGTGtMMygRq2PdOUDM7_o9F0Re-bVSfh6i5wAqH6LdU6ZE1ysrFJ1OUNhyphenhyphenJmHqsJyuBRe60pTeaIDYrivQyj6Rxasy6pzWvf0ATxEfUFlnbWw-RStSl4nW5J/s2048/DSCN2929.JPG" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PSC8JgG7idACd0_Q6wolwGTGtMMygRq2PdOUDM7_o9F0Re-bVSfh6i5wAqH6LdU6ZE1ysrFJ1OUNhyphenhyphenJmHqsJyuBRe60pTeaIDYrivQyj6Rxasy6pzWvf0ATxEfUFlnbWw-RStSl4nW5J/s320/DSCN2929.JPG" width="320" /></a></p><br /> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">There are some places on earth
that are so sacred, you cannot take a picture of it nor tell others of your
experience. They don’t fully understand
what you have felt and many times make fun of what they don’t understand. Our
visit to the Nauvoo Ancient Mounds on Tuesday’s (August 5</span><sup style="background-color: white;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;">)
excursion was a sacred one. It was life changing.</span></div>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">Walking along these burial grounds, one can feel a
sacredness not matched in most places. Two thousand years ago the early
ancestors of today’s Native Americans lived there along the banks of the
Mississippi River. Roaming around these mounds, gives most people a feeling of serenity
and peacefulness. It is believed that these mounds are a part of the Hopewell
culture of 550 BC to 400 AD and are like “grave stone marker” that we would use
today. Some believe this ancient mound area is the famous Hill Amnihu from The
Book of Mormon’s Alma, Chapter 2. I’m
one of those believers.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">When the care takers, Jennice and Wilson Curlee first
started to clean up the area of the Nauvoo Ancient Mounds, it was discovered
that some of the mounds had been looted and disrupted, leaving the mound
partially open. There is a special ceremony to restore these mounds and the
Curlees were able to organize enough people to replace these open mounds.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> First, the mound was
cleaned for the dirt to be filled. A special material is laid in the spot for
the soil. Then soil is brought by dump truck and piled close by to use for the
fill. Then bucket by bucket in a bucket brigade, people placed the soil to
recover the mound. <o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal">With much study and research, this special place along the
Mississippi River was discovered to have many burial mounds. The early pioneer
Saints of 1839, who settled there, leveled some of those mounds without knowing
who was buried there before their arrival. There are many more mounds which
have been discovered on the hill top of the Nauvoo Ancient Mounds since then
and are kept safe with cemetery status from the State of Illinois.</p>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Close to the Mississippi river
where they laid Joseph and Hyrum Smith’s body along with their parents and Emma
Smith, was discovered a Nephite burial ground. There are mound sights all along
the Mississippi river on the Illinois side in Albany, East Dubuque at Granmercy
Park and at the L</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">ittle
Maquoketa River Mounds State Preserve.<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<h2 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 31.65pt; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 31.65pt 0in 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h2>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> There is one
special burial mound which was discovered back in 1834. During the months of
May and June of 1834 Joseph Smith led more than 200 men on a trek called Zion’s
Camp from Kirtland, Ohio to Clay County, Missouri. It was an unsuccessful
attempt to regain land from which the early members of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints were expelled by non-member settlers. It was on
June 3<sup>rd</sup> while passing through west-central Illinois</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"> near Griggsville, that
some bones were uncovered from a mound.
Through personal revelation and inspiration, Joseph Smith identified
these bones belonging to a white Lamanite and chieftain-warrior named Zelph. It
was also told that he was a “thick set man of God”. There was a sharp arrowhead
stuck in his side near his ribs. According to the story, one of his thigh bones
was broken apparently by a stone flung from a sling while in battle years
before his death. He was killed in the battle during the last great struggle of
the Lamanites and Nephites.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUbJ23Jr_6VwK1mNsADxwA4wkaEYNsJSZfNyHaiO46vxJG88lH4Jg67r-3RMrDc6qK7zEDngWmifgbGeuKHpDTPSOPK1SGOuCC72ZcmK91pBBkUmIpE07l_vyk4enViwoh3yZ6c3Hv7xK/s2048/DSCN2923.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUbJ23Jr_6VwK1mNsADxwA4wkaEYNsJSZfNyHaiO46vxJG88lH4Jg67r-3RMrDc6qK7zEDngWmifgbGeuKHpDTPSOPK1SGOuCC72ZcmK91pBBkUmIpE07l_vyk4enViwoh3yZ6c3Hv7xK/s320/DSCN2923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">There is
so much history living in these mounds. Peoples’ lives were lived with families
in times of peace and in war. There is so much we don’t know about those who
lived so long ago, but we can revere these burial grounds. One day we will meet
those who lived in this area and they will have wonderful stories to tell.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The
Curlees continue to treat the mounds with reverence and hope to preserve the entire
site of the hill for the future. </span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.5pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black;">They believe that this ridge or hill
outside of Nauvoo is the ancient Hill Amnihu as mentioned in Alma chapter 2,
and that the mounds and ancient fortification are located on that hill.</span><span face=""Calibri","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12.5pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Visitors
are welcome to walk through the land and see the mounds located about 2 miles
north of Nauvoo on Sycamore Haven Drive and feel for yourself about this sacred
place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TC3q8eaW7w" target="_blank">Nauvoo Mounds</a></o:p></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-64744779746919108462020-08-13T19:38:00.000-07:002020-08-13T19:38:10.365-07:00The Expedition Begins....<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Have you ever thought about those family members who have
gone on before you were born? You’ve never seen a picture of them but you are
sure they exist from the stories told about them. Then you find evidences of
these family members, like pictures or letters they wrote and you know for sure
that they exist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing this gives you
great comfort. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It’s the same with Zarahemla.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zarahemla is the largest, ancient city of the
Nephite nation written about in The Book of Mormon. We know it exists as we
read about it in the Book of Mormon, but where is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monday, August 3<sup>rd</sup>, was the first
day of the Heartland Research Group’s expedition to find the river crossing
from Alma Chapter 2 which will point us in the right direction in finding the
city of Zarahemla.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times;">The Heartland Research Group is made up of a group of very
special people. John Lefgren, the organizer, one of the main thrust of the
group, our quarterback you might say, educated in <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">economic history, keeps us on task to accomplish our
goals. </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">Then there is
Wayne May who is an authority on ancient North American archaeology,</span><span style="font-family: times;">
publisher of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: times;">Ancient American Magazine who manages the 14-acre site where the ancient Nephite temple lot sits.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jeff Green is next and he owns and is the captain of the
pontoon boat “Truth” getting us out there on the Mississippi River. Kevin Price
is onboard as our leading scientist in imaging, remote sensing and geographic
information as well as many years in botany study. Dave Holmes came aboard as
our investigative reporter, digging up as much information as he could. Don
Cummings came with his sonar scanner equipment which was a big part of finding
this crossing as he could take sonar pictures of the bottom of the river and
find the best places where divers can check it out. Mike Baker, a retired U.S.
Marine was onboard as our Field Operations Manager driving us all forward. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Then Ryan Sorenson and his wife Melanie were there as our videographers.
There were other support crew as well with a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm: Betty and Mike Lafontaine, keeping us fed with
great lunches and in tune with her beautiful flute music and Jennice and Wilson
Curlee, caretakers of the Nauvoo Mounds. There were other great supporters who
came in families cheering us on.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The Heartland Research Group met on
the Zarahemla temple lot to prepare for the search on Monday morning (August 3<sup>rd</sup>). Our boat name “Truth” was made ready and the
maiden voyage started. The waters were choppy but Truth made its way up and
down the Mississippi River to start the search with the scanning machine
brought out by Don Cummings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MQF_jRUbMcE27iK2-zHJi2pH7PMUiIPzKPqwK3PWVr9815BIhztrxLPboxXsg_wGD8OgchbZoIY2KA1ACmvxVnhHgl5kpWpmeYP19h1uGGUI34xbWrBgovO8WKFCowwv8pjp51UOOb3P/s2048/DSCN2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MQF_jRUbMcE27iK2-zHJi2pH7PMUiIPzKPqwK3PWVr9815BIhztrxLPboxXsg_wGD8OgchbZoIY2KA1ACmvxVnhHgl5kpWpmeYP19h1uGGUI34xbWrBgovO8WKFCowwv8pjp51UOOb3P/w328-h246/DSCN2853.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This scientific tool allows
us to see and measure the topography of the river bottom. These scanning
technologies are non-invasive and uses sound to record what is on the bottom of
the river. Once we were done with recording these scans on Wednesday, we would
know where to direct the two divers coming Thursday morning to take a look on
the bottom of the river. We are searching for the crossing from Alma chapter
2. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After the “Truth” was
launched, those on the Zarahemla Temple Site in Montrose, Iowa had their first
lesson in “rod dowsing”. Rod Dowsing is
a type of divine gift using two L shaped metal </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILZGElSpuqGsISsUJRWdpgZv4sPaozuxmsP0h61DkaHJxVEW0xJZiOTFBiNfbcp0uNJZXZkF3dnPPAxNloVYuZUgA4KYB1EL5aL4u_ezR0oaukaSBXOpXhWAA-mBOKimgwAbyHLOOos6I/s937/Wayne+May+with+rods.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="937" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILZGElSpuqGsISsUJRWdpgZv4sPaozuxmsP0h61DkaHJxVEW0xJZiOTFBiNfbcp0uNJZXZkF3dnPPAxNloVYuZUgA4KYB1EL5aL4u_ezR0oaukaSBXOpXhWAA-mBOKimgwAbyHLOOos6I/w200-h189/Wayne+May+with+rods.jpg" title="Wayne May with Dowsing Rods" width="200" /></a></div>rods held in your hands which
can locate ground water, buried metals or ores, gemstones, oil, or gravesites.
Wayne May is the expert in this interesting phenomena and taught us all how to
do it. Interestingly enough, Oliver Cowdery (one of the Three Witnesses to the
Book of Mormon) had this gift as well. This revelation given to Joseph Smith
for Oliver talked about the “gift of working the rod” in the Book of
Commandments Chapter 7 verse 3. Using the power of God to work the rods, along
with the faith of the user, many remarkable things can be discovered under the
ground. We all tried it and it was amazing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBva3ptnaF8CYninIrAMmw6CjYOj86JHeimxdlCMyamlQzaYemgb2f0yqCQQSFPz7amj-YpXZiA7jIMG0NMbGKLXL1ZjSMziP2IS1uiTUWGwGGjmMhLuSv8pxOKIp8J1DhW6WqY15k_wi/s2048/DSCN2858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBva3ptnaF8CYninIrAMmw6CjYOj86JHeimxdlCMyamlQzaYemgb2f0yqCQQSFPz7amj-YpXZiA7jIMG0NMbGKLXL1ZjSMziP2IS1uiTUWGwGGjmMhLuSv8pxOKIp8J1DhW6WqY15k_wi/w262-h197/DSCN2858.JPG" width="262" /></a></div><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">While still at the Zarahemla Temple site, children of all
ages, parents and other adults gathered Spotted Bee Balm flowers. This
wonderful plant was discovered by Kevin Price to have great medicinal
properties. They are growing in abundance on a berm (long, narrow mound of
earth) on the Zarahemla Temple site one mile from the Mississippi River.
Amazingly this plant loves sandy soil and was discovered growing precisely on
this 14-acre site. It is a mystery to many.
How could sand be in a place that was a mile from the Mississippi
River? Who put the sand there so it
could grow? I can’t imagine early
farmers dragging wagon loads of sand.
More research will be done these next few weeks to see exactly how
medicinal these special plants are and how our modern society can use the oil
to keep ourselves healthy. Stay tuned.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">There is so much in the earth to discover and
the blessings of the Book of Mormon written by faithful, powerful men along
with their faithful women who lived so long ago, leave us their testimony of
their experiences and faith. They leave
behind a great legacy of truth. The Book of Mormon just came to life for many in
Montrose that day.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 0%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-11708740834863846892020-07-23T19:33:00.002-07:002020-07-23T19:34:30.595-07:00What do Brigham Young’s Spyglass and the City of Zarahemla have in Common?<div class="MsoNoSpacing">For the quick answer: “they both were lost”.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkndKypmsxw9lVZTsGjvmas4iDkzHCFOt-RiDgHF6sPDGPAmLjF1ok27S9iwlQRUjx4SbdcakbAGHZ43b_zzuZ4t424K3LKcsi6_3ut89Owl__pUKSzj9N5WMP6W8P_OyI2xpJe9xbdgD/s1600/Brigham+Young+Spyglass.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkndKypmsxw9lVZTsGjvmas4iDkzHCFOt-RiDgHF6sPDGPAmLjF1ok27S9iwlQRUjx4SbdcakbAGHZ43b_zzuZ4t424K3LKcsi6_3ut89Owl__pUKSzj9N5WMP6W8P_OyI2xpJe9xbdgD/s320/Brigham+Young+Spyglass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of Brigham Young Spyglass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For the explained long answer: According to the <a href="https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/content/museum/brigham-youngs-spyglass?lang=eng" target="_blank">ChurchHistory section</a> of churchofjesuschrist.org, Brigham Young used a collapsible brass and leather spyglass which was popular
in that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On President Young’s first
trip to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, he used this spyglass to scout the trails
ahead, search for game and watch for danger. In May of 1847, while the Pioneer Saints
were still on the plains of central Nebraska some of their cows wandered away
getting too near a buffalo herd. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: #212225;">From the Church History Website: “Concerned that the cows
would run away with the herd, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Thomas
Woolsey chased after them. They were able to turn the cows back, but Brigham
lost his spyglass in the confusion. The three men made a careful search but
could not find it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in;">
Company member
Thomas Bullock reported that on the next day they encountered thousands and
thousands of Buffalo . . .”marching directly in our path going the same way as
the Camp. There were such a mass of living blackness that the Van Guard could
not see the Prairie beyond them.</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in;">
Knowing that
Brigham Young was upset about the loss of his spyglass, Porter Rockwell and
several others returned to search for it. William Clayton recorded, ‘About four
p.m., Porter and the others returned, having found the spy glass which was a
source of joy to all the brethren.’ Miraculously, the spyglass was intact and
undamaged, despite the thousands of buffalo that could have trampled it.” Quite
the miracle.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On the other hand, Zarahemla was destroyed by fire, as
written in 3 Nephi chapter 8, later rebuilt and then lost. In the last five
years, the Heartland Research Group has made great strides in recovering what
looks like to be the Zarahemla Temple grounds and the City of Zarahemla itself
located in Montrose, Iowa. This is truly a miracle as no one ever thought
anyone would ever find Zarahemla just like Brigham Young never thought he would
ever find his spyglass after that herd of buffalo trampled their way through
Nebraska. The best explanation of the Zarahemla Temple found is in this video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqmJw-GBds"><span style="color: windowtext;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNqmJw-GBds</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Miracles do happen when we are on the Lord’s errand. We
are inspired to never give up and do our best. Our testimonies are strengthened
of a loving, kind Heavenly Father and for the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.</div>
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-8034868516832995872020-07-23T19:25:00.000-07:002020-07-23T19:25:32.973-07:00More Mississippi Crossings in Early Church History<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
For the next two weeks, the
Heartland Research Group will be gearing up for their great expedition to find
the crossing of the River Sidon where Alma and Amlici fought each other alongside
their armies. The Amlicites together with the Lamanites wanted to make war on
the Nephites headed up by Alma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
great story from Alma Chapter 2 in the Book of Mormon talks about the armies
crossing the River Sidon to fight until one side won. From my prior post of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Crossing the River Sidon</i>, we learn that
the Mississippi River is the River Sidon. Since Nauvoo sits on the banks of the
Mississippi River, there were several other crossings of this river by early
members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints before the Saints
left Nauvoo in 1847. Learning of these crossings adds interest to the Heartland
Research Group search for the earlier crossing in 90 B.C. What is exciting to
many is the understanding of where the great city of Zarahemla is located
according to Joseph Smith’s revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants (Section
125 verse 3) and to those researching the Montrose, Iowa area within the
Heartland Research Group.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsLmn36r76VJSlICLnrU1rOjyjGBtrMgi1j7iv6MhweNVO7Wf7eKx5-YMeiLjFyPquGtOwWFDZsw-c3J7BrnxLrYGPsGPEBE2tfeYvCfayIDB-Pb09mTkQR7n922WjiUzMSyN2bkdXui-/s1600/Joseph+Smith+and+Joe+Duncan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsLmn36r76VJSlICLnrU1rOjyjGBtrMgi1j7iv6MhweNVO7Wf7eKx5-YMeiLjFyPquGtOwWFDZsw-c3J7BrnxLrYGPsGPEBE2tfeYvCfayIDB-Pb09mTkQR7n922WjiUzMSyN2bkdXui-/s400/Joseph+Smith+and+Joe+Duncan.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joseph Smith and Joe Duncan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To understand the whole story of one early crossing of the
Mississippi, we must understand some of the difficulties Joseph Smith had
during the time living in Nauvoo with his wife, Emma and their children. He was
falsely accused many times of crimes he never committed and this particular
time was no different. Taken from Rod Meldrum’s book</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.” <i>Exploring the Book of Mormon in
America’s Heartland</i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, we learn</span></span><span style="color: black; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> “</span>On
August 8, 1842, a Warrant was served by Governor Carlin for the arrest of
Joseph Smith and Porter Rockwell who had been charged with the near fatal
shooting of Gov. Lilburn Boggs. Joseph and Porter went into hiding, knowing
their innocence and that this was just another attempt to thwart the work of
the Lord.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Another
interesting element is the story of Joseph Smith’s horse that was given to him
by Moses Martin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Moses Martin came from a wealthy family in Tennessee. Moses and his
wife, Amanda, were converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and helped settle
Nauvoo. He also owned a beautiful horse but as the story goes; this beautiful horse
was spirited and unruly so much so that Amanda was afraid to take care of him when
Moses went away. One day, Joseph Smith approached Moses and said to
him, <em>“Brother Sanders, give the horse to me and I’ll promise that you
will never lose by it.”</em> Moses Martin replied, <em>“I would, but
I am afraid that he may hurt you.”</em> Then the Prophet said,<em> “No,
he would never hurt me.” </em> So Moses tossed him the rope and
said, <em>“His is yours!”</em></span></span><em><span style="background: white; color: #212529; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.5pt; font-style: normal; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> (</span></em><a href="https://www.josephsmithjr.org/joe-duncan-joseph-smiths-horse/">https://www.josephsmithjr.org/joe-duncan-joseph-smiths-horse/</a>)
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Joseph named the horse Joe Duncan after the
unsupportive former Governor of Illinois and the horse never did hurt Joseph.
It was widely known that Joseph traveled everywhere on that horse, so what
happened next was interesting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On August 11 of
1842, Joseph left Nauvoo and spent a little time with his Uncle John Smith's
in <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Zarahemla<b>. </b>The reference
to Zarahemla is again taken from the Doctrine and Covenants and in August of
1841 became a stake of Zion in Iowa. (It was discontinued in January of 1842)
Joseph’s Uncle lived there and he went to visit him crossing the river from
Nauvoo. The story continues: “</span>On the night of Thursday, the 11th of
August in 1842, he left in a skiff with Brother Erastus H. Derby to an island
on the Mississippi between Nauvoo and Montrose where they were met by Emma,
Hyrum, William Law, Newel K. Whitney, George Miller, William Clayton and Dimick
B. Huntington.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Joseph’s
visitors stated to him the current report that the Governor of Iowa had issued
a warrant for his apprehension and that the sheriff of Lee County was expected
any hour to execute it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation
was critical and Joseph’s immediate removal from his Uncle John’s seemed
necessary. It was decided that the Prophet should proceed to the house of
Edward Sayers in Nauvoo and abide there for a time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day William Walker crossed the river
from Nauvoo into Iowa, riding the Prophet’s well known horse Joe Duncan, to
lead the gathered officers and kidnappers away from the area that Joseph was on
the Nauvoo side of the river.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
“This stratagem was conceived to
trick the Sheriff and his Deputies. From Dean C. Jesse’s The Papers of
Joseph Smith, in the Illinois journal states,” Accordingly Joseph’s new horse
which he rides was got ready and Wm. Walker proceeded to cross the river in
sight of a number of persons.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
The next day, “A report came
over the river that there were several small companies of men in Montrose,
Nashville, Keokuk, etc., in search of Joseph. They saw his horse go down the
river yesterday and were confident he was on that side.” The Mississippi River
was shallow enough on this late summer day to ride a horse across it at this
location.” <i>Exploring the Book of Mormon in America’s Heartland by Rod
Meldrum pg 80-81</i><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
Imagine the Mississippi River
being shallow enough to cross by horse!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Imagine
two armies of people fighting like dragons as they cross this river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It happened so long ago and the story
continues as the Heartland Research Group explores the Mississippi River in
Montrose Iowa during the first week of August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stay tuned. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-86512031844296159602020-07-23T19:18:00.000-07:002020-07-23T19:18:11.632-07:00Chief Keokuk: Link to the Past<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
By Valerie Steimle with John Lefgren</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
During the 1830 census, it was
established that 105,060 Indians were living on tribal lands, east of the
Mississippi River. Keokuk, Chief of the Sauk Tribe was one of those Indians. In
that same year, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which authorized
the President of the United States to make treaties with the Indians to
exchange lands east of the Mississippi River for lands west of that river.
Because of this treaty, 100,000 Native American’s were relocated to the west.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqVrIhPFWjmCKMHBfWulnwEJ_O78LWHMftChBmwvb-sqM4dLR08TRpnktlw7_HJguw1SvGB22YljXCBhTVDuqF25hcTtl_LzGiuTk1aw2B1f6TvhheETyODH3-3WpUAoHCk5H4GsV4exv/s1600/ChiefKeokuk.SMBaer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqVrIhPFWjmCKMHBfWulnwEJ_O78LWHMftChBmwvb-sqM4dLR08TRpnktlw7_HJguw1SvGB22YljXCBhTVDuqF25hcTtl_LzGiuTk1aw2B1f6TvhheETyODH3-3WpUAoHCk5H4GsV4exv/s320/ChiefKeokuk.SMBaer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture taken by SM Baer. Used by permission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Soon after the signing of the
1830 Removal Law, Keokuk understood that the Indians had no chance of winning
any battle against the white settlers. Knowing this, he determined that it
would be better for his people to negotiate with the Federal Government rather
than go to war.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chief Keokuk was a master at
negotiations and knew he could get the best terms in exchange for his people’s
eastern lands. He negotiated annual payments in gold and silver for the lands which
made him popular with not only his own people but with the white settlers who
didn’t have to fight with the Indians.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chief Keokuk moved his tribes
several times and always acted as an ardent friend of the Americans, visiting
Washington, Philadelphia and Boston. He was a great orator and was very
conscious of his public image. Some of the leading artists of that day painted
Keokuk as a model of a good Indian Chief. One such painting was a mural in the
LDS Mesa Temple wall where the stairs lead to the second floor. The story
behind the mural is an interesting one:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
In August 1841 Keokuk
and 100 other chiefs camped for several days across the river from Nauvoo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years before, Keokuk had briefly met
Joseph Smith when he received a copy of the Book of Mormon. During the first
week of August representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints crossed over to Iowa to meet Keokuk. They made detailed arrangements for
a social event for Keokuk and more than 100 fellow Chiefs together with their
wives, to meet Joseph Smith and his people in Nauvoo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
The Indians and the
members of the Latter day Saints agreed on the details for an all-day event that
was to be a summer festival of diplomacy including food, music, and dance. The
Indians would bring their drums and the Church members their brass band. The
arrangements were clear and agreeable to both sides. On the appointed morning
of Thursday, August 12th, the Ferryman took two flatboats and one ferry over the
river from Nauvoo to Montrose to get the Indian guests whose total number was
greater than 200. Joseph had pre-arranged for the city's brass band and a military
unit to greet the arrival of this large group of Indians. These guests were at
the time some of the most significant leaders of Native Americans in the
country. Keokuk had a great sense of drama and after he and his people came to the
Nauvoo landing they remained on the ferry and flatboats.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
Keokuk asked where was
the leader of the Mormon Church. (as was called back in that day) The welcoming
committee said that Joseph Smith was waiting for them up the road in the grove.
Keokuk said that he would not get off the ferry except that Joseph Smith was
there to greet him in person. A messenger immediately went to get the Prophet
and after a short time, Joseph and Hyrum came down to the landing to welcome
Keokuk and his fellow Chiefs and their wives to Nauvoo. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
For the rest of that
day, there was a summer celebration in the grove. Church members offered the
visitors their best "dainties" and fresh melons along with their
brass band and singing. The Indians entertained the Church members with their
drums and dancing. This was a very significant event for both the LDS Church
members and the Indians. For Joseph Smith, this was one of the most important
social events of his life. He made a speech to as many as 500 people when he
announced that God had revealed to him that the Book of Mormon was an account
of the fathers of Keokuk and his fellow Indian chiefs. Joseph Smith declared
this as a direct revelation from God and thereby confirmed the truth of the
Book of Mormon that it was "written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of
the house of Israel." The giving of his testimony to those Native
Americans was very important for Joseph Smith. Keokuk was the living embodiment
of the people of the Book of Mormon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
An account of the day's
activities was placed in the documentary history of the Church. The children of
some of those members who were there would be so influenced by the telling of
Keokuk's visit to Nauvoo that when the Mesa Temple was built in the 1920s, an
artist created the mural that was used on the wall with the stairs to depict
the day of Thursday, August 12th, 1841, when Chief Keokuk and his fellow Chiefs
came to visit Joseph Smith. </div>
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-40075938606195212942020-07-07T16:20:00.003-07:002020-07-07T16:20:57.319-07:00Chief Keokuk: A Link to the Past<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Valerie Steimle with John Lefgren</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YwXKwy3FsCJ4Rqp5sFc8w2qXUCg_L6ITqsvMWKl9p-0QNaww3WVgOk1c01lY3sYDwpWKDvC35D4ZFq8gf1vb4Zk2UZ6BPczD2QhvUyFBKCW78LYPE3QetJxWE5px3NjNSCUqdt62tG4w/s1600/ChiefKeokuk.SMBaer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0YwXKwy3FsCJ4Rqp5sFc8w2qXUCg_L6ITqsvMWKl9p-0QNaww3WVgOk1c01lY3sYDwpWKDvC35D4ZFq8gf1vb4Zk2UZ6BPczD2QhvUyFBKCW78LYPE3QetJxWE5px3NjNSCUqdt62tG4w/s320/ChiefKeokuk.SMBaer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by SM Baer Parker/ Used by permission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
During the 1830 census, it was
established that 105,060 Indians were living on tribal lands, east of the
Mississippi River. Keokuk, Chief of the Sauk Tribe was one of those Indians. In
that same year, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which authorized
the President of the United States to make treaties with the Indians to
exchange lands east of the Mississippi River for lands west of that river.
Because of this treaty, 100,000 Native American’s were relocated to the west.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Soon after the signing of the
1830 Removal Law, Keokuk understood that the Indians had no chance of winning
any battle against the white settlers. Knowing this, he determined that it
would be better for his people to negotiate with the Federal Government rather
than go to war.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chief Keokuk was a master at
negotiations and knew he could get the best terms in exchange for his people’s
eastern lands. He negotiated annual payments in gold and silver for the lands which
made him popular with not only his own people but with the white settlers who
didn’t have to fight with the Indians.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Chief Keokuk moved his tribes
several times and always acted as an ardent friend of the Americans, visiting
Washington, Philadelphia and Boston. He was a great orator and was very
conscious of his public image. Some of the leading artists of that day painted
Keokuk as a model of a good Indian Chief. One such painting was a mural in the
LDS Mesa Temple wall where the stairs lead to the second floor. The story
behind the mural is an interesting one:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
In August 1841 Keokuk
and 100 other chiefs camped for several days across the river from Nauvoo. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few years before, Keokuk had briefly met
Joseph Smith when he received a copy of the Book of Mormon. During the first
week of August representatives from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day
Saints crossed over to Iowa to meet Keokuk. They made detailed arrangements for
a social event for Keokuk and more than 100 fellow Chiefs together with their
wives, to meet Joseph Smith and his people in Nauvoo.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
The Indians and the
members of the Latter day Saints agreed on the details for an all-day event that
was to be a summer festival of diplomacy including food, music, and dance. The
Indians would bring their drums and the Church members their brass band. The
arrangements were clear and agreeable to both sides. On the appointed morning
of Thursday, August 12th, the Ferryman took two flatboats and one ferry over the
river from Nauvoo to Montrose to get the Indian guests whose total number was
greater than 200. Joseph had pre-arranged for the city's brass band and a military
unit to greet the arrival of this large group of Indians. These guests were at
the time some of the most significant leaders of Native Americans in the
country. Keokuk had a great sense of drama and after he and his people came to the
Nauvoo landing they remained on the ferry and flatboats.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
Keokuk asked where was
the leader of the Mormon Church. (as was called back in that day) The welcoming
committee said that Joseph Smith was waiting for them up the road in the grove.
Keokuk said that he would not get off the ferry except that Joseph Smith was
there to greet him in person. A messenger immediately went to get the Prophet
and after a short time, Joseph and Hyrum came down to the landing to welcome
Keokuk and his fellow Chiefs and their wives to Nauvoo. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
For the rest of that
day, there was a summer celebration in the grove. Church members offered the
visitors their best "dainties" and fresh melons along with their
brass band and singing. The Indians entertained the Church members with their
drums and dancing. This was a very significant event for both the LDS Church
members and the Indians. For Joseph Smith, this was one of the most important
social events of his life. He made a speech to as many as 500 people when he
announced that God had revealed to him that the Book of Mormon was an account
of the fathers of Keokuk and his fellow Indian chiefs. Joseph Smith declared
this as a direct revelation from God and thereby confirmed the truth of the
Book of Mormon that it was "written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of
the house of Israel." The giving of his testimony to those Native
Americans was very important for Joseph Smith. Keokuk was the living embodiment
of the people of the Book of Mormon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
An account of the day's
activities was placed in the documentary history of the Church. The children of
some of those members who were there would be so influenced by the telling of
Keokuk's visit to Nauvoo that when the Mesa Temple was built in the 1920s, an
artist created the mural that was used on the wall with the stairs to depict
the day of Thursday, August 12th, 1841, when Chief Keokuk and his fellow Chiefs
came to visit Joseph Smith. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU1PQkEW1uVJOpeoz7PBTsZhU9jPwA8JFD40BqODwF6kEDbE2zzP9wSeN9Qjhoq-49MObsQJL4YzP3IjO06vk3N15LMKOl8QgcN2l4jtrF-IEG62alaRGOu0UQ_piV-jXxAXtM6s0wMxY/s1600/Mesa+Temple+Mural.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="473" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivU1PQkEW1uVJOpeoz7PBTsZhU9jPwA8JFD40BqODwF6kEDbE2zzP9wSeN9Qjhoq-49MObsQJL4YzP3IjO06vk3N15LMKOl8QgcN2l4jtrF-IEG62alaRGOu0UQ_piV-jXxAXtM6s0wMxY/s400/Mesa+Temple+Mural.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-49803851519334470142020-07-06T15:08:00.002-07:002020-07-06T15:08:38.128-07:00Clues to the Crossing<div class="separator"><p class="MsoNormal" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWVmtjK-g5TkblukbTAJfAg1Ih7ASDykXScN4D9Bd0w6zOrNXBnJga7uBahpgSLKbAKNeANNeznWCjzac-PYRq4Oo3kTRuQdEeVBmSRwNcNVTK6alXwpXNhexQZPFHaQIf_Eca-bZpj6U/s1280/Map+of+River+Sidon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWVmtjK-g5TkblukbTAJfAg1Ih7ASDykXScN4D9Bd0w6zOrNXBnJga7uBahpgSLKbAKNeANNeznWCjzac-PYRq4Oo3kTRuQdEeVBmSRwNcNVTK6alXwpXNhexQZPFHaQIf_Eca-bZpj6U/s320/Map+of+River+Sidon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><p></p></div>As discussed in my last post, our August event near Nauvoo,
Illinois will include finding the crossing of Alma and his army as recorded in
Alma chapter 2.<br />In order for the search of this crossing to be successful, there
are certain elements that must be studied to understand where this spot exists.
The first clue is the Robert E. Lee survey.<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Traveling up and down the Mississippi River was pretty
common by the early 1800’s but crossing it was a bit dangerous. There is a
place along this river called the Des Moines Rapids that lies between Nauvoo,
Illinois and Keokuk, Iowa. The Des Moines Rapids limited steamboat passage
because of the “dangerous, sharp, rocky bottom” as noted by Swedish novelist,
Fredrika Bremer, who in 1850, was taking a trip down the Mississippi from St. Paul.<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> </span> <a href=" http://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/daily_gate/news/des-moines-rapids-proved-to-be-major-obstruction-to-traffic-on-river/article_98e0680c-e615-58c7-914f-3b9b092ed622.html" target="_blank"> </a><a href=" http://www.mississippivalleypublishing.com/daily_gate/news/des-moines-rapids-proved-to-be-major-obstruction-to-traffic-on-river/article_98e0680c-e615-58c7-914f-3b9b092ed622.html" target="_blank">Gate City Newspaper</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In 1937, a group of Army Corps of Engineers led by Robert E.
Lee (the same Robert E. Lee who was the confederate general in the War Between
the States) was a cartographer which most people did not know. Robert E. Lee
and his group took a survey intending to cut a channel through the rapids, but
after three months of trying along with budget cuts, the project was canceled. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070813184416/http://www.beautifulnauvoo.com/site/default.asp?pg=pages%2Fhist_explore.asp">Nauvoo The Beautiful</a></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Army Corps
of Engineers did another survey of the same Des Moines rapids in 1866, just
after the War Between the States. This time Lieutenant Colonel James H.
Wilson was in charge of making this
survey. Colonel Wilson's survey was even more extensive than Lee's with more
information.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span>The Heartland Research Group realized Robert E. Lee’s
original survey matched up with the description in the Book of Mormon of the
River Sidon that helped pin point an approximate location from over a 2,000
mile distance of the river down to a few acres.<span style="color: #1d2228;"> Lee’s
survey marks the point on a chart that shows where the flow of the river's
water at harvest time would have been sufficiently low so as to allow an
ancient army to cross the large river.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The second clue to the whereabouts of this crossing has to
do with the river’s first and biggest dam built in Keokuk, Iowa in 1913. The
town of Keokuk was named after the famed chief of the Sauk tribe who met with
Joseph Smith back in 1841 in Nauvoo but that is a story for another time.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What is interesting about the dam in Keokuk, is that all
water flowing down the river has to pass through the dam each day and there is
no water being stored as in other hydro power projects. That’s a lot of water
passing through so it could be that all the evidence of that army crossing was
washed away. Reportedly, the Keokuk Dam pond is filling with sediment due to
slowing of the river in that area which would make searching for Alma’s army crossing
location more difficult because if may be covered in sediment. The more we
study this area, the more difficult the finding of this location sounds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In the late 19<sup>th</sup> century, the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers employed as many as 1,000 workers to build the Des Moines Rapids
Canal near the dam. In that project, they blasted as much as a million tons of
limestone rock on the west bank. The obvious question is what will be the
effects of this blasting on finding the immediate area that is associated with
the Battle of Zarahemla.</p>
<p class="yiv9482430966msonormal" style="background: white;">Another clue we need
to study is the trail of the Mississippi River. <span style="color: black;">The
Des Moines River flows into the Mississippi River just below Keokuk,
Iowa. For approximately 25 miles before this river reaches the
Mississippi River, it had served as a state boundary line between Iowa and
Missouri. If we looked at a map from early 1800, we would see the
meandering of the river trail. But now this boundary does not follow the
current Des Moines river channel because it has migrated from its early 1800s
path, albeit a few hundred feet in one way or the other. In some places it is
the same with the Mississippi River. Over the years it has changed its course
somewhat through meandering which increases the challenge to those searching
for the crossing place of the Nephite and Amalicite armies. With the study of
the river, we have found however, that the geologic structure of the Des Moines
Rapids area has restricted channel meandering. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="yiv9482430966msonormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: black;">With these clues and many others put together by
historians, engineers and scientists, we believe we will be successful in
finding the crossing that will lead to even more clues to the city of Zarahemla’s
location.</span></p><br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-52240664551158294542020-07-06T10:33:00.013-07:002020-07-06T11:15:55.891-07:00Crossing the River Sidon<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N0OHVXA8Ig5CqycVlIXh8wg53rF9Sa5M4TITdXQtOpE0eWLr2tG3I4UCBzEQbM43zPsdWAIqt7nR4ucbS9dO6xSly9-ixvAaW9fU-zW7FZXDu9KOsFnO4S2rCuZ1a-SL_MpwwfRLn9oz/s1600/Survey+of+DesMoines+Rapids+Canal.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N0OHVXA8Ig5CqycVlIXh8wg53rF9Sa5M4TITdXQtOpE0eWLr2tG3I4UCBzEQbM43zPsdWAIqt7nR4ucbS9dO6xSly9-ixvAaW9fU-zW7FZXDu9KOsFnO4S2rCuZ1a-SL_MpwwfRLn9oz/s400/Survey+of+DesMoines+Rapids+Canal.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202122;">In our
search for physical evidences of the Book of Mormon lands in the United States,
we need to start with Zarahemla and the River Sidon. From the 600 BC to 400AD, the Book of Mormon lands
were described in the book itself. Zarahemla
was the largest city in the area and according to </span><a href="https://zarahemla.site/that-great-city">https://zarahemla.site/that-great-city</a>
“<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202122;">the most frequently mentioned
place by name in the Book o</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202122;">f Mo</span><span style="color: #202122;">rmon.”</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
The U.S. Geological Survey tells us that the
Mississippi River is one of the world’s largest river systems. It is made up of several large tributaries
making it the largest river and river system in North America. It flows 2,340 miles from its source at Lake
Itasca through the midcontinent of the United States all the way to the Gulf of
Mexico passing by New Orleans.</div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">From the
<a href="https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/education/upload/brjfact.pdf" target="_blank">National Park Service River Facts</a> t</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he name "M</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">ississippi" comes from </span>the
Anishinabe people (Ojibwe Indians.) They called the river "Messipi"
or "Mee-zee-see-bee," which means "Big River" or
"Father of Waters." Dakota Indians called the river
"Hahawakpa," meaning "River of the Falls" in reference to
the falls we now call the Falls of St. Anthony.”<span style="color: #222222;"> </span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
So what does the River Sidon have to do with the
Mississippi River and Zarahemla? </div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
First, we learn the word <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">Sidon is</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"> the Greek name which means
“fishery” for the ancient Phoenician port
city of Sidonia which is now Lebanon.
Many Native Americans have considered this river a great resource for
fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">We read
about Prophet Joseph Smith receiving a revelation from God which is written in
the Doctrine and Covenants, section 125 in verse 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;"> “</span><span class="verse-number"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">3 </span></b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Let
them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo,
and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it.” Interestingly enough, the word Zarahemla in
this verse has a cross reference to Omni 1:14 in the Book of Mormon which says:</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="verse-number"><b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">14 “</span></b></span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">And they discovered a people</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">, who were called the people of Zarahemla. Now, there was
great rejoicing among the people of Zarahemla; and also Zarahemla did rejoice
exceedingly, because the Lord had sent the people of Mosiah with the plates of brass</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;"> which contained the record of the Jews.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">For years and years the Heartland theory has
matched the River Sidon with the Mississippi River. How is this possible? We read in the Book of
Mormon itself that Zarahemla is close to the River Sidon. According to The Book
of Mormon, the River Sidon is east of Zarahemla which lines up with what </span></div><div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Joseph
Smith reveled. It w</span><span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">ould make sense from a geographical point of view that the
River Sidon is the Mississippi River. As more study is done, we find that there
is a possibility of finding the place of the war mentioned in Alma.</span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">From Alma </span>chapter 2 verses 27 and 28 and
verses 33 through 35, “<span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">And behold, as they were crossing the river Sidon, the Lamanites
and the Amlicites, being as numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the
sea, came upon them to destroy them.<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">28 </span></b></span><span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">Nevertheless,
the Nephites being strengthened by the hand of the Lord, having prayed
mightily to him that he would deliver them out of the hands of their enemies,
therefore the Lord did hear their cries, and did strengthen them, and the
Lamanites and the Amlicites did fall before them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">33 </span></b></span><span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">But
Alma, with his guards, contended with the guards of the king of the Lamanites
until he slew and drove them back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">34 </span></b></span><span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">And
thus he cleared the ground, or rather the bank, which was on the west of the
river Sidon, throwing the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain into the
waters of Sidon, that thereby his people might have room to cross and contend
with the Lamanites and the Amlicites on the west side of the river Sidon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="verse-number"><b><span style="border: 1pt none; color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">35 </span></b></span><span style="color: #0d0f10; font-family: "palatino linotype", serif; font-size: 11pt;">And
it came to pass that when they had all crossed the river Sidon that the
Lamanites and the Amlicites began to flee before them, notwithstanding they
were so numerous that they could not be numbered.”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG1wNFrZtwnPDKLKFaS-V6ONf6k9wXUJFe1LDjIHuA3t5Q483WeHtuAJZ1mIROs9HGGYQ2d4WEz2vEtcUUZzJ2TJrx-aDrwANPH75k_EjdjLqx16jLEXPMpSpVaMLlhU6xXughSI8Mjoq/s1080/Google+earth.MississpRiver.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Google Earth of the Mississippi River" border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="1080" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEG1wNFrZtwnPDKLKFaS-V6ONf6k9wXUJFe1LDjIHuA3t5Q483WeHtuAJZ1mIROs9HGGYQ2d4WEz2vEtcUUZzJ2TJrx-aDrwANPH75k_EjdjLqx16jLEXPMpSpVaMLlhU6xXughSI8Mjoq/w320-h161/Google+earth.MississpRiver.jpg" title="Google Earth of the Mississippi River" width="320" /></a></div><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="verse" style="background: white; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We know that the bodies of the Lamanites who had been slain
were tossed into the waters of the River Sidon.<span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span>We just have to find it. An exciting event will be taking place during
the first week of August of this year on the Mississippi River. A group of more
than 15 professionals in science and engineering will be joining together to
search for this spot. A 32-foot Pontoon Mississippi Riverboat named “Truth” is
being outfitted for this expedition. Surveys of this land and river area are
being studied. <span style="background: white; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Using SENSYS, a</span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">dvanced magnetometry
(which measures the magnetic pull of objects under the ground) and military-trained
scuba diving, we will be able to see and chart the river bottom. </span> Hold onto your hats as all
of these preparations are taking place to find the crossing of the River Sidon.<span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span><div>For more information: <a href="https://zarahemla.site/">Zarahemla.site</a></div>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-69632374327512371502020-07-06T10:03:00.001-07:002020-07-06T10:03:45.689-07:00Discovering the Promised Land<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq-qLAdREKYhNM6Rb28c5-eVJtxpk2PYpPJ42aDNi3jnBWrBtxNm1loTW5VAc2TxdzanC-XELzjWAw-5M4_SOYMwMlOXKHtg697mAo_qqFoCgGdYayrL9Os4Lvop8m7-qhbK6Iju2VTrN/s1651/Heartland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1651" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXq-qLAdREKYhNM6Rb28c5-eVJtxpk2PYpPJ42aDNi3jnBWrBtxNm1loTW5VAc2TxdzanC-XELzjWAw-5M4_SOYMwMlOXKHtg697mAo_qqFoCgGdYayrL9Os4Lvop8m7-qhbK6Iju2VTrN/s320/Heartland.JPG" width="320" /></a>Discovering the places we read about is very exciting. As we
read descriptions and narrations of these faraway places, we visualize through
site, smell, sound and feel of what they would actually be like. What would it
be like to actually visit the places in the Book of Mormon we have read about
for so many years? When I visited the
Sacred Grove, my testimony grew exponentially of the First Vision. When I
visited Nauvoo, my love for those pioneers filled my heart to over flowing in
appreciation of what they experienced and saw through their eyes and understand
how they felt. It was an amazing
reality.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For those trying to understand the places of the Book of
Mormon, we search that book for clues and then find evidences of where they are
located. Let me start from the beginning. A letter written to John Wentworth who
was the editor of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chicago Democrat,</i>
from Joseph Smith was very instrumental in beginning to understand where the
Nephites and Laminates lived.</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #202122;">Here an
excerpt of that letter which start the clues: “I was also informed concerning
the aboriginal inhabitants of <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">this
country'<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, and shown who t</span></span></span><span style="color: #202122;">hey were, and
from whence they came; a brief sketch of their origin, progress, civilization,
laws, governments, of their righteousness and iniquity, and the blessings of
God being finally withdrawn from them as a people was made known unto me: I was
also told where there was deposited some plates on which were engraven an
abridgment of the records of the ancient prophets that had existed on </span><span style="color: #202122;">this continent</span><span style="color: #202122;"> ...”</span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #202122;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #202122;">Joseph
Smith wrote for the Times and Season Newspaper in editorials called “American
Antiquities” which corroborates wars described in the Book of Mormon with
archaeological finds in northern America. Josiah Priest also contributed some
of this information under the approval of Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His statements were as follows: </span><span style="color: #202122;">"Weapons of brass have been found in many parts of
America, as in the Canadas, Florida, etc., with curiously sculptured stones,
all of which go to prove that this country was once peopled with civilized,
industrious nations.”</span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">In other readings, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Times and Seasons</i> associates earth, timber and metal works found in
northern American including artifacts of mount builder societies with
implements and construction as described in the Book of Mormon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fascinating to put the pieces together.</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">In another letter written by Joseph Smith to N.C.
Saxton, editor of the Rochester Observer, January 4, 1833 reprinted in the
Times and Season November 15, 1844 it says:</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: #EAF3FF; color: #202122; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;">“The Book of Mormon is
a record of the forefathers of our western tribes of Indians; having been found
through the ministration of an holy angel, an</span>d translated into our own language
by the gift and power [of] God, after having been hid up in the earth for the
last fourteen hundred years, containing the word of God which was delivered
unto them. By it we learn that our western tribes of Indians are descendants
from that Joseph that was sold into Egypt, and that the land [of] America is a
promised land unto them, and unto it, all the tribes of Israel will come, with
as many of the Gentiles as shall comply with the requisitions of the new
covenant.”</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white; color: #202122;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;">What we have in our
country is evidences of those early people of this continent who made covenants
with God to live in this Promised Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nephites and Lamanites left behind a great history here and although we
cannot see some of those evidences, they are still there waiting to be
discovered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;">One such place was told
by Joseph Smith from a vision of these areas which was written down by Wilford
Woodruff, Heber C. Kimbal, George A. Smith and many others:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;">"On the top of the
mound were stones which presented the appearance of three altars having been
erected one above the other, according to the ancient order; and the remain</span>s of
bones were strewn over the surface of the ground. The brethren procured a
shovel and a hoe, and removing the earth to the depth of about one foot,
discovered the skeleton of a man, almost entire, and between his ribs the stone
point of a Lamanitish arrow, which evidently produced his death. Elder Burr
Riggs retained the arrow. The contemplation of the scenery around us produced
peculiar sensations in our bosoms; and subsequently the visions of the past
being opened to my understanding by the Spirit of the Almighty, I discovered
that the person whose skeleton was before us was a white Lamanite, a large,
thick-set man, and a man of God. His name was Zelph. He was a warrior and
chieftain under the great prophet Onandagus, who was known from the Hill
Cumorah, or eastern sea to the Rocky mountains. The curse was taken from Zelph,
or, at least, in part-one of his thigh bones was broken by a stone flung from a
sling, while in battle, years before his death. He was killed in battle by the
arrow found among his ribs, during the last great struggle of the Lamanites and
Nephites."</p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;">That is an incredible
writing and what an incredible find and message from the Prophet Joseph Smith
of this great warrior. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to hear of these stories
and will continue writing about the search and discover of evidences of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the Book of Mormon in the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></p><p class="verse" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;">For more information see: <a href="https://zarahemla.site/">Finding Zarahemla</a></p><br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-64775815208282125272020-07-06T09:22:00.000-07:002020-07-06T09:22:09.299-07:00Searching for the Promised Land<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-KWrJhHI7L8IxJSZpNn6PG1UK6ZBL4najgBfyONdukvm3eXcBEbkl2uW_wCaMZdDaB8NoVZ7BG76F0_JdOfUbIf3t8tiKfuScPiRFcVOjoDFkpkvxftoHTnNVc2YNUWUZOwBgn0EJpE5/s1600/Map+of+the+Heartland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1481" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-KWrJhHI7L8IxJSZpNn6PG1UK6ZBL4najgBfyONdukvm3eXcBEbkl2uW_wCaMZdDaB8NoVZ7BG76F0_JdOfUbIf3t8tiKfuScPiRFcVOjoDFkpkvxftoHTnNVc2YNUWUZOwBgn0EJpE5/s400/Map+of+the+Heartland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the past five years, I have been led on a journey which
took me totally by surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
journey strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon more than anything else
in the world. I have read and studied this book from cover to cover countless
times from 1981 to present day, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that it
is another testament of Jesus Christ. What took me a step further in my
testimony was the journey as to where the Book of Mormon lands are
located.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why is this so important to know where the Book of Mormon
lands are located? Why should I even waste my time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The answer lies within the book itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From Nephi speaking in the book of 2 Nephi in the Book of
Mormon chapter 10, verse 10 and 11 he says: “But behold, this land said God
shall be a land of thine inheritance, and the Gentiles shall be blessed upon
the land. And this land shall be a land of liberty unto the Gentiles and there
shall be no kings upon the land who shall raise up unto the Gentiles.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the Brother of Jared in Ether chapter 2 verse 9 and 12
says “(9)And now we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it
is a land of promise…(12)Behold, this is a choice land and whatsoever nation
shall posses it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, from all other
nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land who is Jesus
Christ who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From 3<sup>rd</sup> Nephi chapter 20 verse 22 it says:
“…this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the
covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem.
And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of these people; yea, even I
will be in the midst of you.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I can go on with many more prophesies and scripture about
this Land of Promise. So where is it? How are we, who believe in the Book of
Mormon, able to follow this command of “serve the God of the land” if we don’t even
know where it is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s important for us
to know so we can protect it and be free from bondage and captivity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Heartland Research Group has spent years researching and
sharing the information of the Promise Land. There are incredible amounts of
physical evidence all over the United States of the early people of this
country called the Hopewell people and how they were the decedents of Lehi and
his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of it is explained very
well on this website. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the
covenant land promised by God. This is the Promised Land which we are enjoying
the freedoms and prosperity and as a people we need to pay attention to what
God wants us to do in His land. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ezra Taft Benson once said, “The promises of security,
prosperity and freedom are directly connected to the chosen land by divine
decree and secured by worship and faith in Jesus Christ.” We are those people
who will secure the land by worship and faith in Jesus Christ.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The path I am following has deepened my love for the Book of
Mormon and love for the United States as well. <span style="background: white; color: #0d0f10;">I’ll be following along this path of the Book of Mormon lands
in Iowa, Ohio, Clay County, Missouri and more and I invite you to come along
with me. I add my testimony to the many who know the same as Joseph Smith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That </span><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">“The Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">this earth</span>, and the keystone of our (The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Church) religion, and a man would get
nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than any other book.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do I have a testimony of the
spiritual significance in our lives of the Book of Mormon but also the physical
significance of the places of the The Book of Mormon in this promised land of
the United States of America.</span></div>
<br /><br />
For more information see: <a href="https://zarahemla.site/" target="_blank">Finding Zarahemla</a>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-34254907290733525912020-05-16T12:19:00.000-07:002020-05-16T12:19:35.384-07:00Pay No Attention to the Plan Behind the Curtain<p class="MsoNormal">I am so tired of the lying. I am so tired of the fear
mongering. People are locking themselves at home so they feel safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just done with this whole COVID 19
fiasco with the world in lock down mode preaching that we will never go back to
the normal life we had before it all began. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My thoughts and nightmares about this illness are becoming a
reality. We shouldn’t have to get used to the new normal because there
shouldn’t be any new normal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told
that this virus is worse than the flu we get every year. We have to take
precautions to remain healthy and although I agree that we should always take
care not to spread our illnesses, wearing face masks outside for a year will
not help. Maybe this “new norm” will not continue on if our national and state
leaders lend an ear to doctors all over the country who have reported their
common sense practices backed by experienced words of wisdom to conquer this
enemy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Look at the
Numbers:<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The state of Georgia started opening up on April 25, 2020,
with a mountain load of criticisms from politicians telling the Georgia
Governor, “you have to stay closed or else you will have millions of Georgia
people die from the Corona Virus.” Two weeks later, the number of Georgians
getting sick during the two week time was 555 people. This number was basically
the same from the earlier two weeks. There were no millions of Georgia people
dying from opening Georgia.</p>
<div> It is not reported in the mainstream media but did you know
that 98% of those who do get the virus recover! (And that is worldwide!) I was so surprised to hear this from a report
done on a local radio show. What? This
whole fear mongering thing is to tell us that even though you might have the
COVID 19, you most likely will recover!!
Why doesn’t the media talk about that?</div><div><br /></div><div>We do everything we are supposed to do for 6 weeks, the
virus infection numbers go down and they change the rules. The goal post is
moved again.</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="712" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FwJy-CAdR5_B1MIoBWinUMo5WIoOA2Iidmm7UnlvcCLn0d7KfJGbZhQFAFwZd4SqmcNpq5b2zoDL3Yo54_UMQhthS4sZ_wIC6fnt2X5rkQoZiraRY3qJ1oJvAR8pHmnD-7LLO1Jt3EXJ/w400-h223/COVID+19.jpg" width="400" /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The Good Doctors’ Reports</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From a website called Corona Virus Truths, a group of
doctors from West Alabama got together with scientific information and common
sense in the medical field, to talk about what the truths and lies we are
hearing about this corona virus.</p><a href="https://coronavirustruths.godaddysites.com/?fbclid=IwAR3v6j_CRzEuSkVtPDhfM9lopgmHw50iR3QX-ofjnaWDPzK1o3WYZSJ8tJE" target="_blank">Corona Virus Truths</a><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">This is the most telling video of all. Amazing what Dr. Judy
Mikovits has researched and promoted as a way to stay healthy.</p><a href="https://kfyi.iheart.com/content/2020-05-06-coronavirus-watch-dr-anthony-faucis-ex-employee-tell-all/?fbclid=IwAR2bCssbgJztDSut1zzjPnYYhuv2kthrcKTTZgGbpTERJP_P6vVgxA6n6JY" target="_blank">Dr. Judy Mikovits</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Recovery Medicines: </b>May
15, 2020 Facebook post about the Virus: "The opening news stories of the day tells of the
great success of Hydroxychloroquine,
Zinc and Z Paks. They are being touted as the best medicine to recover from
COVID 19. <span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="background: white;">Doctors have been writing in from all over the country
of their success with these procedures.
There should be no reason for anyone to not get the help they need from
their doctors and these prescriptions to make a full recovery."</span></div><div><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/drericberg/videos/949003162202024/UzpfSTcwNzk0Mzc0MzoxMDE1ODE4MDk2NDIxODc0NA/" target="_blank">The truth about Hydroxychloroquine</a></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Testing: </b>This
sounds like a sure thing to be tested of whether we have this virus or not. But
we should be weary of false positive results. President John Magufuli, from the
country of Tanzania sent samples from a goat, a quail and a papaya. This test came back positive and President
Magufuli said gotcha! He had suspicions about the testing and fired his
national health leaders. He then told the WHO—“Tanzania will not be using any vaccines”.</div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is reported that if anyone has had the flu vaccine in the
past, the test for COVID 19 will come out positive. If we are sick, then we should take care of
ourselves. If we are healthy, then we should be able to live our life before
COVID 19 was released.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Face Masks:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As Dr. Mikovits talks about how the constant wearing of face
masks: “Wearing the mask activates your
own virus.” Sick people can wear face masks, or even just stay home. Healthy
people should not have to wear them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40ndXwbYUpY5FR-YeGMoa5-eX7D-n2itdtSW6385EWfeRq7hgyLh092BpsZ9Y2G7RM72gFLOMREgu0pxm59ZkNg9-QMhk3ZFcNUu7Y1heI9_iK-HjTynA2-gyb0Mkooa9IMi5PmWg7MBF/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40ndXwbYUpY5FR-YeGMoa5-eX7D-n2itdtSW6385EWfeRq7hgyLh092BpsZ9Y2G7RM72gFLOMREgu0pxm59ZkNg9-QMhk3ZFcNUu7Y1heI9_iK-HjTynA2-gyb0Mkooa9IMi5PmWg7MBF/w360-h640/Face+masks.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Vaccine:</b><span style="background: white;"> When the vaccine does become available, I am happy to
hear that President Trump decided not to enforce a required vaccine for all
Americans. For those wanting to take the
vaccine, that is up to us. We have our freedom.
But what most people don’t know is that this vaccine has RNA-sequences
created with derivatives of a fetal (aborted) by-products. Those with access to
medical and pharmaceutical subscription services can look this up to verify.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Theory of Conspiracy:</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As someone who supports President Trump as the leader of the
United States and the free world as well, economically we were doing the best
our country has ever done in over 50 years. Our unemployment was the lowest in
a long time, businesses were booming, corporations were starting to come back
to our country to open up more jobs for Americans. We were all busy living our
lives. This had to be stopped by the opposition which I will call <b>Group A</b>. Group A hated the fact that
President Trump was doing so well as a president. Group A hated the fact that
President Trump was not following in the footsteps of former presidents. Group
A hated that he has helped so many American people to become self-sufficient.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> I know from a special
witness who spoke from his experience with President Trump that our president
loves the people. He wants the best for
us. He wants us to be successful instead of depending on government handouts to
run our lives. Group A wants the opposite.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The best thing President Trump did for our country and for
the world was to develop a great economy and that is what Group A wants to
ruin. So this evil COVID 19 virus was somehow mysteriously unleashed with the
plan of keeping everyone in lock down for as long as possible with the
possibility of a required vaccine or else we have to stay at home. Group A
wants the fear of this COVID 19 to stay hanging over our heads. We are being
manipulated. We are being fooled.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No more restaurants, no more gatherings, no more sports, no
more religious worship, no more anything with the possibility of never really
getting back to our normal life. This is my greatest fear and a nightmare. Pulling
the curtain away to see what Group A wants is disturbing:</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><font size="1"> </font><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><font size="1"> </font><font size="2">1. C</font></span>omplete
government control over all aspects of our lives.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><font size="1"> </font><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><font size="1"> </font><font size="2">2. </font></span>President
Trump to lose the election come November.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><font size="1"> </font><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><font size="1"> </font><font size="2">3. </font></span><!--[endif]-->A
required vaccine with a tracking chip in our bodies.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"><font size="1"> </font><span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span><font size="1"> </font><font size="2">4. </font></span>No
opening businesses until there is a cure.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">COVID 19 is being used as a political ploy and this is
unacceptable. The United States has been under the government of a constitution
by and for the people and we must adhere to its principles. This is the land of
the free and the home of the brave, as Sean Hannity quotes many times. Group A is frustrated that governors’ COVID
19 decisions for states are being violated and people pushing back. We deserve
our freedoms as we have fought for them for over 200 years. If we are healthy,
we should be allowed to go back to work and live our lives, if we are sick then
stay home. As Americans, we need to take responsibility for our actions. We
need to work and support ourselves.</p></div><div><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/report-california-sheriff-refuses-to-enforce-newsoms-stay-at-home-orders/" target="_blank">Riverside California Sheriff</a><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Pull the curtain away, and realize what this COVID 19 plan
is really all about. We need to be informed and smarter and not wake up to an awful
situation which will be out of our control.</p></div><div><br /></div>The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-51811245610035536012020-04-17T16:21:00.001-07:002020-04-17T16:22:35.182-07:00Day 32 of U.S. Shut down--Interesting words from Bill O'Reilly<span style="font-size: large;">This next writing is from Bill O'Reilly. I totally agree with his ideals and information.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">China’s Bio weapon, and Pelosi..</span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Bill O'Reilly</span></b></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xca1-ur4OzAfLzdKTON_Hly6SS3bqS7Em7yPJJKANe2n5lRN2cVDzzKYwiX_mgivMN7Zqg3816-Jq1Op_TS6bZuD6dtT1XSW4ZRNNCTRhVErJLMUnxNHuFluUElKbRhv4jstc30bSY59/s1600/Bill+OReilly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="640" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xca1-ur4OzAfLzdKTON_Hly6SS3bqS7Em7yPJJKANe2n5lRN2cVDzzKYwiX_mgivMN7Zqg3816-Jq1Op_TS6bZuD6dtT1XSW4ZRNNCTRhVErJLMUnxNHuFluUElKbRhv4jstc30bSY59/s320/Bill+OReilly.jpg" width="320" /></a><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My wife Angie will tell you that I study history and world events fluently every day. I have studied China for many years. To get answers I need to questions, I call many I know in Washington on Capitol Hill (from my tenure on two Presidential campaigns and Presidential talks) and I ask them for straight up answers to better understand what affects us as a nation.</span></b></i><u style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></u><u style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"></u></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Well, in 2016 America elected a new Sheriff: Donald J Trump. For decades the Chinese walked all over America but the new President said “not anymore”. Trump literally strangled China’s economy to the point their economy was in its worst free fall ever. Trump negotiated a new 50 billion trade agreement. He had Xi by the proverbial balls. America’s economy was on fire and unstoppable. President Xi Jingping knew he could not beat the USA militarily and he knew any domesticated economic attack would fail as our economy was too strong. He had to act. But how?</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Enter the USA democrats led by Pelosi and Schiff. Impeachment. A hoax. A distraction for our people and President. Xi Jingping and his thugs see this. They aren’t stupid. They have very intelligent intellectual thinkers in their government. Now you must understand , the Chinese regime are truly Barbarians. Notice I did not say ALL CHINESE. The Chinese people are a good people. I enjoy my interactions with them.</span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The communist regime has millions of its own citizens slaving in gulags simply for speaking against the government or openly practicing Christianity. Knowing they could not attack us openly they needed to be coy, like a deceptive fox. In my opinion, I believe the regime released a biological weapon upon the world that doesn’t kill everyone, but kills “enough,” especially the elderly and in-firmed. Back in WW 2 Hitler thought the same way. He got rid of what he considered the useless and rejects of society.</span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Trumps task force uses models to figure things. Xi used and uses “models” too. He figured that if he killed a few of his own (a few hundred thousand to them would be a few out of 1.4 billion people) and spread the virus to other nations (especially to the USA) they would “level the economic playing field” and not have fired a shot.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Losses of his own people were acceptable costs of a new war. When China’s own doctors attempted to sound the warning, they were immediately silenced. In fact one died and another has simply disappeared. Trump and the other allied leaders indeed KNOW this is what happened. They have under reported their own deaths. Trump knows he cannot out rightly seek retribution. His news conference today showed me this when he balked publicly about no outright retribution over Xi’s handling of this and he immediately brought up the “trade deal”. However, Trump wasn’t being weak, he too was now being coy. We know this was a biological weapon. The food market story is not true.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Xi knows we know it. Trump also today announced he sent two battle groups of destroyers and other ships to sea several days ago to fight drugs and rogue actors like Iran should they try anything.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I say he did this to show Xi he knows what has transpired (we have the greatest intelligence assets) and that they (the Chinese) should rethink further action. Politics is premier. We cannot overtly attack China for what they have done as we would also suffer greatly. We all know this.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But China has temporarily achieved its goal. America was literally consumed by Trumps phony impeachment brought by the ultra left democrats (supported by democrat rank and file and one Republican Mitt Romney) and Xi Jingping saw an opening. He took it. Xi did what Trump usually does...he walked onto the world stage and threw a grenade into the “room” and left. It exploded in the form of this worldwide pandemic. It brought the USA and the rest of the world to its knees and leveled the economic playing field.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our economy is now near depression. Xi didn’t fire one bullet. Trump needed to up his game of chess and putting our Naval ships to sea was his next move. He said he is a “war” President. He is.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But now on not one but two fronts. One front is the virus and the other front is the Chinese. While the Saudi’s and Russians are screwing with oil prices they aren’t overtly doing what this pandemic is doing. The drug smuggling story for dispatching the Naval Force is bullshit and the world knows it. I am of the opinion Trump can indeed bring us back from this catastrophe albeit with a changed playing field.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;">
<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But Trump is a genius in chess and financial matters. He’s become a champ at international politics too. I am sure Trump can once again lead the economy to even stronger strength and greatness the it was . He can do it quickly I’m sure of it. He has proved it. Xi Jingping needs to be sent a message loud and clear. NEVER AGAIN. We need to bring all of our critical manufacturing back from China beginning with our medicines they were recently threatening to withhold. We can do it immediately. Again, another reason for Trump putting to sea such a sizable Naval Force. Sending a clear message.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We all must ride out the next few weeks. Then we and the world pick up the pieces and move on. The democrats who have given Xi this opening wrapped in a bow must pay a heavy price in November as they (the democrats) truly have cost and continue to cost America precious lives by the phony scandals. Nancy Pelosi continues to help the Chinese by her daily shameless attacks upon the President and meddling in stimulus packages as she did this last weekend. Yesterday’s statements she made were truly appalling and the lowest of low. I didn’t think she could go any lower. What a disgrace she is to our nation</span></b></i><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But, Pelosi aside, make no mistake, China must and will be taught a lesson the likes they have never seen before and Trump is the man to pull the trigger.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: inherit; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We the people must teach the democrats the same lesson at the polls. They (the radical wing of the party) are the enemy of a free America. I am certain of it. The entire democrat party of our forefathers is dead. Remember people, Trump indeed tried to warn us all of the corona virus in his State of the Union Speech. He spoke of it. He said he was on top of it.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">After he spoke , Nancy Pelosi ripped up the speech calling Trumps words “a manifesto of lies”. She disgraced the country and all of our fellow honored citizens present in the House Chamber. Well she now has American blood on her hands. She is very majorly responsible for these needless deaths as well as the Chinese. Her and Adam Schiff.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The left and democrats laughed as she tore up his speech. Well, as they laughed the disease he just spoke of in that speech came to our shores. Republicans and Democrats alike are now dying. Your family members and mine. Our grandparents and middle aged citizens alike. Bodies are being loaded in trucks with forklifts in Brooklyn outside of hospitals. No one is safe. Our liberty is for the most part suspended. As we bury our dead (without proper funerals) from this calamity let’s drive the nails into the coffin of the Democrat party as well in November.</span></b></i></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #26282a; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It’s time people. Stand up for your rights and your country! Our Liberty and survival is at stake! I am praying for God’s blessing on our nation. But, God also gave us the ability to think for ourselves and it’s time we placed blame for all this death where it belongs: on the doorsteps of Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff and Xi Jingping directly. </span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wake Up America</span></b></i></div>
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<i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">WAKE UP!</span></b></i></div>
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The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-14653607642001515492020-04-10T21:42:00.003-07:002020-04-10T21:45:26.024-07:00Day 25 of COVID 19 Shut down....It's going to end!!<span style="font-size: large;">Today is Good Friday and after fasting for most of the day, I really felt that God has heard our prayers. I feel really great that this virus thing will end soon and we will all go back to our normal lives. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is so much good going on in the world too. People helping others less fortunate. There is a sewing brigade going on all over the country of women sewing face masks. It's really incredible.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love mixing comments with really inspiring quotes like this one.....</span><br />
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<img alt=" " height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/93/66/95/93669567c13d7092feb073af7b891760.jpg" width="240" /><br />
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c9/db/2c/c9db2ce237f12c2aba962a5348d1ffd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt=" " border="0" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c9/db/2c/c9db2ce237f12c2aba962a5348d1ffd4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And this one....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this one too....</span><br />
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<img alt="Motivational Quote: 30 Motivating Quotes to Read When You Don't Feel Like Working Out. #motivation #truth #quotes #sayings #motivationalquotes #inspirationalquotes #imagequotes #positivequotes #quotestoliveby #inspiration #goals #mindset #productivity" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f0/24/e2/f024e29be773bc5e0049e667394aa4a2.jpg" width="223" /><br />
<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/89/59/b5895909c7a107d301968523f0dbf86d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Most Inspiring and Inspirational Quotes and Memes from LDS ..." border="0" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b5/89/59/b5895909c7a107d301968523f0dbf86d.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.comeuntochrist.org/hearhim" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Easter!!</span></a><br />
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-75632476166092934772020-04-05T22:12:00.000-07:002020-04-05T22:12:52.295-07:0020th Day of Covid 19 Shutdown: April 5th, 2020It has taken me over two weeks to really start to feel the affects of this pandemic and I have ignored this blog as well. I decided it was time to post positive messages through this blog and not just on my Facebook page. Facebook has taken over my life with keeping up each day as well as other responsibilities.<br />
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Over the last two weeks I have kept busy with<br />
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finishing craft projects started long ago: (Rag Weaved Basket)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNe3a-qeePgQJF7Um0amVYGEvLO_Z6drY1_9V-D1gsrs4oZwIe7-lBBwM0BnZuLZx0QG6rWhPRAENBABmjbTq1kswbX-eL9iQ5VTFhvv5M0pmTOvupTJXYYWNUkxmOItm2umJqjKz2FfX/s1600/Corona+weaved+basket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNe3a-qeePgQJF7Um0amVYGEvLO_Z6drY1_9V-D1gsrs4oZwIe7-lBBwM0BnZuLZx0QG6rWhPRAENBABmjbTq1kswbX-eL9iQ5VTFhvv5M0pmTOvupTJXYYWNUkxmOItm2umJqjKz2FfX/s320/Corona+weaved+basket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sew face masks for myself and husband along with a friend who needed them for her work:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXteTcG8YG5sfk5UBx_5LOO0iW2MEI1Mi5Ulhz4g0MpBVKfbB24ty0kVcYX4Xu1yk5-rFzBdP_OoudI08GU1kIIHfixjNEloF8FJJcbB9iR9GGVumpng4xgw0-PPIa5IIENDaopjJvq3Y/s1600/Corona+face+masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXteTcG8YG5sfk5UBx_5LOO0iW2MEI1Mi5Ulhz4g0MpBVKfbB24ty0kVcYX4Xu1yk5-rFzBdP_OoudI08GU1kIIHfixjNEloF8FJJcbB9iR9GGVumpng4xgw0-PPIa5IIENDaopjJvq3Y/s320/Corona+face+masks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Work on a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle encouraged by Tom's doctor to keep his brain active:<br />
(We are almost done now)<br />
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Create and mail special messages to our Primary children at Church.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCyd6q-Kfo0riN94TuQVZYP_-7pCq_WF4E5_Zswteb-QTinuFrjbwQUyGk0mtUDm2XK6GMJwmRU5R-scmZWGMBNgqeBT3J1iTPTvLKZ63NFuM7gR5SfWzzGcqjf35KTKQtU3brpkvqord/s1600/Corona+Primary+cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCyd6q-Kfo0riN94TuQVZYP_-7pCq_WF4E5_Zswteb-QTinuFrjbwQUyGk0mtUDm2XK6GMJwmRU5R-scmZWGMBNgqeBT3J1iTPTvLKZ63NFuM7gR5SfWzzGcqjf35KTKQtU3brpkvqord/s320/Corona+Primary+cards.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And add flowers and vegetables to our property. I love these pots of flowers:<br />
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I was very happy and busy. But now after two weeks, I'm starting to feel the effects of this virus and I'm slowing down.</div>
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I still have my mother's diary to type which I am half way through.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr-1-Swa4a9zdPeVwy_-1MIYK7EJ-VT27B0Ftp_9o60NT7xHzuhCDvVEwAF1E2APWafz2Hw23Ome2tXOzjU4cIC9woY0OoIVcxnrcFvT_Vxt1DKiTtXsjowspImHp4cQcUSTietfgUEvJ/s1600/Corona+typing+of+mothers+journal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr-1-Swa4a9zdPeVwy_-1MIYK7EJ-VT27B0Ftp_9o60NT7xHzuhCDvVEwAF1E2APWafz2Hw23Ome2tXOzjU4cIC9woY0OoIVcxnrcFvT_Vxt1DKiTtXsjowspImHp4cQcUSTietfgUEvJ/s320/Corona+typing+of+mothers+journal.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg98JQQ1cXnkIPK6CNunfZ1JVajTRXR0ONWsJB1KesuDJqxWA26jkwzhF3Ujes6S18QovvBvyVOp0zVIyvrHAZuQeJPS83ZmiM07UeHt5Ng5OlZ2V3xgCXBZAvcLBf41RQUvtf_xF3FJGd/s1600/Playing+Ukulale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg98JQQ1cXnkIPK6CNunfZ1JVajTRXR0ONWsJB1KesuDJqxWA26jkwzhF3Ujes6S18QovvBvyVOp0zVIyvrHAZuQeJPS83ZmiM07UeHt5Ng5OlZ2V3xgCXBZAvcLBf41RQUvtf_xF3FJGd/s320/Playing+Ukulale.jpg" width="240" /></a>And practice my Ukulele, which I need to do at least 15 minutes every day.</div>
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We need positive messages of hope!!</div>
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For those who watched today, our Prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has called any and all who can to fast on Good Friday for the following blessings:</div>
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1-that the present pandemic be controlled</div>
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2-that caregivers be protected</div>
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3-that the economy strengthen</div>
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4-and that life be normalized!!!</div>
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<img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, suit, possible text that says '"I INVITE ALL, INCLUDING THOSE NOT OF OUR FAITH, TO FAST AND PRA Y ON GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 10, THAT THE PRESENT PANDEMIC MAY Y BE CONTROLLED, CAREGIVERS BE PROTECTED, THE ECONOMY STRENGTHENED, AND LIFE NORMALIZED.' Russell M. Nelson MAESER ANDERSON'" height="400" src="https://scontent.fphx1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p960x960/92299821_2688331888120701_1412859054279098368_o.jpg?_nc_cat=1&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=wc3lNnrhdHMAX9ZQN6y&_nc_ht=scontent.fphx1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=1d9706cfdac6238dfcd5399d073be8bb&oe=5EAE4532" width="400" /></div>
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We should be greatly blessed by this act of unselfishness throughout the world.</div>
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The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-55003580571631822402020-04-05T11:53:00.001-07:002020-04-05T11:53:46.105-07:00The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been Restored!!This has been long over due as I have neglected to post something here for a long time....<br />
I have been so touched by the messages this weekend from our Church leaders. Leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints:<br />
(A new proclamation has been introduced to day on Psalm Sunday)<br />
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As the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles contemplated “this significant time in the history of the world, and the Lord’s charge to gather scattered Israel in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ,” they issued the following proclamation:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAweGVQRrDOyTrQPxVO1Z0AeQBVg09uRCXOcBEyIGnA4N8E5uFejh82OEZcemg_qONRqNXKb8TL0dRVE1-sqxy5JTXwS6Af64sPyNzsjZMuRyLQhcn4qIEgJbqGuvGvXQUqiERpl9uO-F/s1600/JSVermont.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAweGVQRrDOyTrQPxVO1Z0AeQBVg09uRCXOcBEyIGnA4N8E5uFejh82OEZcemg_qONRqNXKb8TL0dRVE1-sqxy5JTXwS6Af64sPyNzsjZMuRyLQhcn4qIEgJbqGuvGvXQUqiERpl9uO-F/s320/JSVermont.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ</span>: <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bolder;">A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World</span></h4>
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The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<br style="box-sizing: inherit;" />April 2020</div>
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We solemnly proclaim that God loves His children in every nation of the world. God the Father has given us the divine birth, the incomparable life, and the infinite atoning sacrifice of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. By the power of the Father, Jesus rose again and gained the victory over death. He is our Savior, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer.</div>
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Two hundred years ago, on a beautiful spring morning in 1820, young Joseph Smith, seeking to know which church to join, went into the woods to pray near his home in upstate New York, USA. He had questions regarding the salvation of his soul and trusted that God would direct him.</div>
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In humility, we declare that in answer to his prayer, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph and inaugurated the “restitution of all things” as foretold in the Bible. In this vision, he learned that following the death of the original Apostles, Christ’s New Testament Church was lost from the earth. Joseph would be instrumental in its return.</div>
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We affirm that under the direction of the Father and the Son, heavenly messengers came to instruct Joseph and re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ. The resurrected John the Baptist restored the authority to baptize by immersion for the remission of sins. Three of the original twelve Apostles —Peter, James, and John — restored the apostleship and keys of priesthood authority. Others came as well, including Elijah, who restored the authority to join families together forever in eternal relationships that transcend death.</div>
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We further witness that Joseph Smith was given the gift and power of God to translate an ancient record: the Book of Mormon — Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Pages of this sacred text include an account of the personal ministry of Jesus Christ among people in the Western Hemisphere soon after His Resurrection. It teaches of life’s purpose and explains the doctrine of Christ, which is central to that purpose. As a companion scripture to the Bible, the Book of Mormon testifies that all human beings are sons and daughters of a loving Father in Heaven, that He has a divine plan for our lives, and that His Son, Jesus Christ, speaks today as well as in days of old.</div>
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We declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, organized on April 6, 1830, is Christ’s New Testament Church restored. This Church is anchored in the perfect life of its chief cornerstone, Jesus Christ, and in His infinite Atonement and literal Resurrection. Jesus Christ has once again called Apostles and has given them priesthood authority. He invites all of us to come unto Him and His Church, to receive the Holy Ghost, the ordinances of salvation, and to gain enduring joy.</div>
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Two hundred years have now elapsed since this Restoration was initiated by God the Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Millions throughout the world have embraced a knowledge of these prophesied events.</div>
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We gladly declare that the promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation. The earth will never again be the same, as God will “gather together in one all things in Christ.”</div>
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With reverence and gratitude, we as His Apostles invite all to know — as we do — that the heavens are open. We affirm that God is making known His will for His beloved sons and daughters. We testify that those who prayerfully study the message of the Restoration and act in faith will be blessed to gain their own witness of its divinity and of its purpose to prepare the world for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The world has been so blessed to have the restored gospel on the earth again. We have a way to feel peace and bless others who are in need...</span></div>
The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531917321544313947.post-12943152325888532312019-11-28T07:58:00.000-08:002019-11-30T19:25:13.880-08:00The Story of Thanksgiving Most People Don't Know...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like Christmas because it’s the day we
celebrate the Savior’s birth, but I don’t like how commercialized it’s become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So Thanksgiving is it, especially the week of
Thanksgiving. When my children were young, I used to read a book which I don’t
remember the title, but it told the true story of the Pilgrims and the details
we don’t normally hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The people who comprised
the Plymouth Colony were a group from England who were Protestants called
Puritans who wanted to break away from the Church of England. These
"separatists" initially moved to Holland, specifically Leiden.</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="background: white;">There were about 150 to 200 <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Pilgrims</span> intent on forming a
“pure” church in 1608. Leiden proved more welcoming, and many found work in the
booming textiles industry but a</span><span style="background: #FBFAFA;">fter 12
years of financial problems, the group received funding from English merchants
to sail across the Atlantic Ocean in 1620 to settle in the “New World.”</span><br />
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<span style="background: #FBFAFA;"><o:p></o:p></span><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Mayflower_in_Plymouth_Harbor%2C_by_William_Halsall.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Image result for mayflower"" border="0" height="203" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Mayflower_in_Plymouth_Harbor%2C_by_William_Halsall.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: #FBFAFA;">Initially, the plan was
for the voyage to be made in two vessels, the other being the smaller ship
called the Speedwell. The first voyage of the ships departed Southampton,
England, on August 5, 1620; but the Speedwell developed a leak, and had to be
refitted at Dartmouth.</span><span style="background: white; letter-spacing: .4pt;">
This pushed their trip to a later date. A merchant ship called the Mayflower
ended up being used and set sail from Plymouth, a port on the southern coast of
England. Normally, the Mayflower’s cargo was wine and dry goods, but on this
trip the ship carried passengers: 102 of them (Men, women and children,) all
hoping to start a new life on the other side of the Atlantic where they could
freely practice their faith.</span><span style="background: #FBFAFA;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white;">The <i>Mayflower</i>
traveled the ocean for a very treacherous and uncomfortable 66 days and was
supposed to land where New York City is now located. But windy conditions
forced the group to cut their trip short and settle at what is now Cape Cod,
Massachusetts.</span><span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">Throughout that first
brutal winter, most of the colonists remained on board the ship, where they
suffered from exposure, scurvy and outbreaks of contagious disease. Only half
of the Mayflower’s original passengers and crew lived to see their first New
England spring. In March, the remaining settlers moved ashore, where they
received an astonishing visit from an Abenaki Indian who greeted them in
English. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">Several days later, he
returned with another Native American, Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe
who had been kidnapped by an English sea captain and sold into slavery before
escaping to London and returning to his homeland on an exploratory expedition.
Squanto taught the Pilgrims, weakened by malnutrition and illness, how to
cultivate corn, extract sap from maple trees, catch fish in the rivers and avoid
poisonous plants. He also helped the settlers forge an alliance with the
Wampanoag, a local tribe, which would endure for more than 50 years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">In November 1621, after
the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford</span><span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;"> organized a celebratory feast and invited a
group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag
chief Massasoit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">The first Thanksgiving
was not called as such, although the Pilgrims themselves may have used the
term at the time, the festival lasted for three days. While no record exists of
the first Thanksgiving's exact menu</span><span style="letter-spacing: .4pt;">, much of what we know about what happened at the first Thanksgiving
comes from Pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow, who wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“One day, Samoset, a leader of the
Abenaki people, and Tisquantum (better known as Squanto) visited the settlers.
Squanto was a Wampanoag who had experience with other settlers and knew
English. Squanto helped the settlers grow corn and use fish to fertilize their
fields. After several meetings, a formal agreement was made between the
settlers and the native people, and in March 1621, they joined together to
protect each other from other tribes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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It was also told: “One day that fall, four settlers were
sent to hunt for food for a harvest celebration. The Wampanoag heard gunshots
and alerted their leader, Massasoit, who thought the English might be preparing
for war. Massasoit visited the English settlement with 90 of his men to see if
the war rumor was true.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<img alt="Image result for mayflower"" height="225" src="https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/2018-07/2015_06-Nov-Dec_Pilgrims_06.jpg?h=4b77edd5&itok=Zy5_j5M-" width="400" /></div>
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Soon after their visit, the Native Americans realized
that the English were only hunting for the harvest celebration. Massasoit sent
some of his own men to hunt deer for the feast and for three days, the English
and native men, women, and children ate together. The meal consisted of deer,
corn, shellfish, and roasted meat, different from today's traditional Thanksgiving feast. They played ball games, sang, and danced.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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I think of the great sacrifice these people accomplished for
freedom in a new world. If it weren’t for those Native Americans, those Pilgrims
would have died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were blessed to
have Squanto who spoke English, to help them plant and survive.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt; line-height: 107%;">A hundred years
later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration.
It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it
was a one-time affair. Here is George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Thanksgiving
Proclamation</b><br />
<i>New York, 3 October 1789</i><br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
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By the President of the United States of America. a
Proclamation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of
Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to
implore his protection and favor</span>—and whereas both Houses of Congress
have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the
United States <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">a day of public
thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts
the many signal favors of Almighty God</span> especially by affording them
an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and
happiness.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now therefore <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th
day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service
of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good
that was, that is, or that will be</span>—That we may then all unite in
rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and
protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a
Nation—for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interposition of
his Providence which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late
war—for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since
enjoyed—for the peaceable and rational manner, in which <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">we have been enabled to establish
constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the
national One now lately instituted—for the civil and religious liberty with which
we are blessed</span>; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful
knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath
been pleased to confer upon us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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and also <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and
supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon
our national and other transgressions</span>—to enable us all, whether in
public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly
and punctually—<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">to render our national
government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of
wise, just, and constitutional laws</span>, discreetly and faithfully executed
and obeyed—to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as
have shewn kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and
concord—<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">To promote the knowledge and
practice of true religion and virtue, and the “increase” of science among them
and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity
as he alone knows to be best.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third
day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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Go:
Washington”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are so blessed to live in this country with such
great beginnings from those who sacrificed so much to settle this promised land.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The Blessings of Family Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06849592185230836671noreply@blogger.com1