Good article in the newspaper

MICROSOFT FOUNDER, NFL OWNER, PAUL ALLEN, SPEAKS OUT ON MORMONS


Paul Allen is the owner of the Seattle Seahawks, the ones who played the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Super Bowl a few years ago. He is also the owner of the Portland Trail Blazers NBA basketball team and is co-partner with Bill Gates in Microsoft. He wrote this editorial in the Santa Clarita, California newspaper:

I have heard and seen enough! I have lived in the West all my life. I have worked around them. They have worked for me and I for them. When I was young, I dated their daughters. When I got married they came to my wedding. Now that I have daughters of my own, some of their boys have dated my daughters. I would be privileged if one of them were to be my son-in-law.

I'm talking about the Mormons.

They are some of the most honest, hardworking people I have ever known. They are spiritual, probably more than most other so-called religious people I have encountered. They study the Bible and teach from it as much as any Christian church ever has. They serve their religion without pay in every conceivable capacity. Not one of their leaders, teachers, counselors, Bishops or music directors receive one dime for the hours of labour they put in.

The Mormons have a non-paid ministry - a fact that is not generally known. I have heard many times from the pulpits of others how evil and non-Christian they are and that they will not go to heaven. I decided recently to attend one of their services near my home to see for myself.

What a surprise!

What I heard and saw was just the opposite from what the religious ministers of the day were telling me. I found a very simple service with no fanfare. I found a people with a great sense of humour and a well-balanced spiritual side. There was no loud music. Just a simple service, with the members themselves giving the several short sermons.

They urge their youth to be morally clean and live a good life. They teach the gospel of Christ, as they understand it. The name of their church is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. Does that sound like a non-Christian church to you? I asked them many questions about what they teach and why. I got answers that in most cases were from the New Testament. Their ideas and doctrines did not seem too far fetched for my understanding. When I read their "Book of Mormon" I was also very surprised to find just the opposite from what I had been told I would find.

Then I went to another church's pastor to ask him some of the same questions about doctrine. To my surprise, when he found out that I was in some way investigating the Mormons, he became hostile. He referred to them as a non-Christian cult. I received what sounded to me like evil propaganda against those people. He stated bluntly that they were not Christian and that they did not fit into the Christian mold. He also told me that they don't really believe the Bible. He gave me a pile of anti-Mormon literature. He began to rant that the Mormons were not telling me the truth about what they stand for. He didn't want to hear anything good about them. At first I was surprised and then again, I wasn't. I began to wonder.

I have never known of a cult that supports the Boy Scouts of America. According to the Boy Scouts, over a third of all the Boy Scout troops in the United States are Mormon.

What cult do you know of that has a welfare system second to none in this country? They have farms, canneries and cattle ranches to help take care of the unfortunate ones who might be down and out and in need of a little help. The Mormon Church has donated millions to welfare causes around the world without a word of credit. They have donated thousands to help rebuild Baptist churches that were burned a few years ago. They have donated tons of medical supplies to countries ravaged by earthquakes.

You never see them on TV begging for money.. What cult do you know that instills in its members to obey the law, pay their taxes, serve in the military if asked and be a good Christian by living high moral standards? Did you know that hundreds of thousands of Mormon youth get up before high school starts in the morning to attend a religious training class? They have basketball and softball leagues and supervised youth dances every month.

They are recruited by the FBI, the State Department and every police department in the country, because they are Trustworthy. They are taught not to drink nor take drugs. They are in the Secret Service - those who protect the President. They serve in high leadership positions from both parties in Congress and in the US Senate, and have been governors of several states other than Utah. They serve with distinction and honour.

If you have Mormons living near, you will probably find them to be your best friends and neighbours. They are Christians who try to live what they preach. They are not perfect and they are the first to admit this. I have known some of them who could not live their religion, just like many of us. The rhetoric which is spread around against them is nothing more than evil propaganda founded in untruths. (Others) had successfully demonized them to the point that the general public has no idea what they actually believe and teach. If you really want to know the truth, go see for yourself. You also will be surprised.

When I first moved here some 25 years ago there were five Mormon wards in Santa Clarita, Calif. Now there are 15. They must be doing something right.

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything. .... They just make the best of everything."

Alma 37:6 Behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass

Dear Ja,
You're not just a hero over there.  In the eyes of 4 little people you are their greatest hero back at home too.  Thank you for building our kids a playground before you go.  We are taken care of very well because of you.

Love, Shan

Young Women of Mililani, HI ward on Michelle Obama's blog:

http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2011/04/04/young-people-plant-coastal-garden-to-benefit-endangered-sea-turtles/

Way to go, Eliza!

I'm no poet . . .but I can revise one.

All of a sudden it was love at first sight,
I acted on a feeling hoping it was right.
Oh my could this be the one,
He walks with God, believes in his Son.

Through out our courtship, he put God first,
We spent most of our dates going to church.
He acts like a gentleman, always around me,
but can I deal with his different personalities?

Please, please, God please help me
Marriage is a commitment, through eternity it should be
I have decided to say "yes"
Praying to God to guide me through the rest

Today is my wedding
I look at who is here
I start over to the alter
My heart no more full of fears.

As he offers me up his hand,
I look into his loving eyes and now I understand
My heart and my worries ease
I know this one is for me.
Three, seven, thirteen years have gone by
When life is bliss, doesn’t time fly.
My husband, my lover, my very best friend
I knew he would be here for me through thick and thin.

No one could ever be as lucky as I,
I have a great marriage with a wonderful guy.
So from then into the next life we start,
He can rest assured he has all my heart.

". . .a time to DANCE!" Ecc.

Dear Ja,

Don't know if there's any movie theaters out where you'll be going.

Just in case you need a movie night:  Nothing but the best.  Professionals ya know.

Luv, Shan

Say goodbye to Ja . . .not me. You.

He's having difficulties letting his heart out to publicity.  He's a private guy.  Guess this blog is for my blabbing only.  That's okay, I have 2 blogs now.  The other is his letters to me but it's locked down and private.  It's for the best so that the kids can read my blog and be a part of the deployment journey too without anything negative.  Or anything private concerning them.  This blog will continue to be my letters to him in optimism (since the theme is 'blessed') as I want to continue looking for God's blessings as well as having Mr. Man
(and the kids) see me content with life while he's gone.  The rest. . . . will be left to others' imagination. :)

To my Friend

To my Dearest Friend: Soft and subtle the sunlight basks you with its warm gentle rays. An angel rests before me. Free from malice, envy or strife you share your warmth and life. Friendship so soft a gift from above. A tender rose bearing the dew of life, you have blessed me with joy and happiness untold. The myriad of ways cannot be exposed... Like the river which never ends. Gentle waves lapping against the shore of my soul.

It's Wonderful, It's Marvelous!

Dear Shandra,

I woke up this morning to this song. It expresses very well the way I feel about your love towards me.

What a wonderful blessing it is to be back with you and the children. Being away for 3 weeks without phone or internet access was difficult. I think I will be a better father and husband because of it though.

Life is wonderful and marvelous! I feel like we have a special piece of heaven in our home. I've been thinking a bit lately. Jesus' love for us is wonderful and marvelous. We know it is only by His name that we are saved. Jesus has many names. Love is Jesus. Selfless service is Jesus. Hope and faith and trust are Jesus. Mercy is Jesus. Forgivness is Jesus. Kindness is Jesus. Courage is Jesus. Divinity is Jesus. God is Jesus. When we truly believe in Jesus, we are blessed with so much happiness. Jesus is the only way. Thank you for believing in Jesus with me. I think there are many around the world who may believe deeply in Jesus even though they may not have heard the name "Jesus" yet. Only Jesus saves us from the misery we would otherwise experience, both in this life and the next.

I love you and I so love our children. I am so thankful for the life we enjoy together. What a wonderful and precious gift this life is.

Thank you for traveling this eternal road with me, my friend.

Love,

Jason

James 4:2 "ye have not, because ye ask not."

Dear Ja,
I'm really glad I emailed Emma's teacher about her report card.  At first I was going to let it go with all the MP's she got (B's) but then Emma showed me all her work and the grades on them. So I decided to question it: 
Dear Ms. Ikuma,
Emma and I were looking over the report card and were a bit perplexed about all the 'MP's she got especially in writing/grammar. I looked at all her spelling tests which were never lower than a -1 as well as her writing essays which were always so detailed and thorough. We don't mind those grades but would like to know what she is lacking in so she can improve.
Thank you for all you do on a daily basis. . .you are a great teacher and Emma is enjoying her school year.
Shandra



Dear Mrs. Harris,
I am deeply sorry about Emma's report card. I can't tell you how embarassed I am! But I am also very appreciative to you for your email.

She definitely deserves an ME in all areas (reading, writing, and speaking). I am working on going back into our report card system to change her grades.
Hopefully I will be able to get a new report card to Emma by tomorrow, but if not, it will be sent as soon as possible.
Thank you again for pointing that out to me, and again, I apologize for the error.
I am so happy that Emma is enjoying school. She definitely is a wonderful student to have in class. Every day she impresses and amazes me with her articulate thinking and also her thorough understanding of what we are learning.
Thanks again!
Margeaux


Kinda odd I think but. . .oh well . . .ye have not because ye ask not.  Glad I asked.  Emma's happy and tells me I owe her 'more' money for that report card now.
Speaking of something else I asked for. . . . I asked to be released from my calling with the men.  No more boy scouts committee chairman.  Get ready to say hello to another calling . . .:)
 
Today I had a good warm day at the pool with 3 other ladies and  kids for 3 hours.  We ate raw green beans, apples and a whole box of ritz crackers. 
Tonight I took the girls to activity days and Liza wore her nightgown to it.  At least her hair was brushed.  I guess it should be something I'm proud of?  True confidence?  I couldn't help looking down at myself though in my torn up jeans and thinking . . . .
 
We're counting the days for you to come home!  I hope you're feeling our prayers towards you!
Luv, Shan
PS Sometimes I still feel that boat rocking when I'm holding real still.  Liza REALLY wants to do it but I told her not with me.  Maybe you can be the hero.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

Dear Ja,

Well it's back to life. . .back to reality.  Terilynne left last night.  That morning we went on a Dolphin Excursion!  It was a blast.  We took a boat out to the depths of the ocean, spotted a team of dolphins and jumped in with snorkel gear.   It was amazing, the first part of it anyway.  That was before I got sea sick and puked all over myself in the ocean floating upright in my life jacket.  Never thrown up vertically before.  It was kinda convenient with the water right there to just splash in my face when I was done.  I looked up and saw everyone from the tour staring at me and keeping their distance.  All I could reply was, "Well, at least you know I'm not contagious." They seemed more assured after that.  They did need to drop me off at the harbor with 2 hours left to go as I wasn't doing so good.  Learn something new about yourself everyday, yeah?  I slept in the car while waiting for those couple hours like a log.  Guess it took a lot out of me.  The first thing I said was, "Did you bring me any food?"  My stomach needed it.

I dropped her off at the airport about 7pm and since it was a late Monday, I just swung through McD's for the FHE treat.  Ice cream sundaes.  I'm actually glad to be back in schedule now.  I like playing and going off schudule but like too, to get back.  Season's change even if the weather doesn't.  We went to Ben's pre-K class this morning and Farmer's market at the park.  I met the new moms I'll be friends with for this winter/spring term so it feels good.  My bliss was short-lived as I left when I got pulled over by a cop for turning left out of the parking lot (a no left-turn sign was apparently there.)  It's OK I just played dumb and said I just moved here.  He was nice.  I always seem to get out of it.  I think it comes from my dad's genes. Wish I could say my luck is just as good when it comes to keeping my cell phone charged.  La la.
Luv, Shan
PS One of the moms I met at the park is your patient.  She had a brain tumor wrapped around the back of her left eye.  Amazing story.  She wants to re-schedule with you for follow-up.  Small world us military moms.

D&C 88:124 "arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated."

Dear Ja,
Wow!  2 blogs in one day. . .talk about setting records.  Just came back from the church building.  Got the kids up and ready and out the door in time for church at 8:30am to see no one in the church parking lot.  Come to find out it's stake conference today at 10am.  Came home informing the kids to stay in their Sunday clothes, went up stairs and there was Ben playing in his underwear.  The kids were estatic about coming home.  Ahhhh life.  I really need to get some freinds.  This never would have happened if I was being more social. 
Luv, Shan
PS  I purposely took out the beginning of the scripture above ('retire to thy bed early') because I didn't do that first half of the verse.  It still counts.  Uhhhh.

Phillipians 4:11 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Dear Ja,
I think I set a record.  I'm getting ready for Terilynne to come play on Monday for a week, so Saturday I spent the day doing laundry (so she'd have clean towels) and mopping the kitchen and bathroom floors.  I felt success so I took the kids out for a movie.  (Tangled: which may just be my new favorite disney movie).  Coming home during bed-time routine, and within 10 minutes of eachother 2 toliets overflowed dumping gallons of you-know-what water on my pine-sol floors.  I put the kids to bed first and came back to clean.  How did I clean it up?  Well, with my newly washed and folded towels, of course.  I have today to re-do everything (yeah, Sabbath) but I was sad. 

I was sad because you, my best friend, weren't there squealing and laughing with me about about it.  (well maybe I'd be the only one doing the squealing).  But then I was sad that I was sad as I battled my mixed emotions almost laughing outloud but having no one there to even hear me laugh.  Wanting to scream out natural responses (all rated PG of course) but no one there to answer back.  So I cleaned up silently.  That felt out of character for me and made me sad.

I'm realizing it doesn't matter where you live but the people you're living with.  It's not the days we pass through, but the people that pass through our days.  Thank you for being that person. 
Luv, Shan
PS: yes, I did pay the bills

Dear Shandra,

I already miss you too. Thankfully, we will be together again at the end of the month. You know... the last few weeks (and even months), I feel like a whole new dimension has opened up in our relationship that I wasn't fully aware even existed before. It has been pretty amazing. I feel like I am beginning to better see and feel life through your eyes. Doing so has been somewhat of a bittersweet experience, but I would not trade the insights you have shared with me about your viewpoints and perspectives for anything. I promise I will always do my best to be there for you, strengthen and support you. Thank you for helping to make this whole experience a stepping stone and thank you for trusting me so much.

I love you. We will be back together soon!

Jason

"It shouldn’t matter when the call comes. It shouldn’t matter where we are asked to go." Robert L. Simpson

Dear Ja,

Miss ya already. We take you to the airport in 2 hours. I'll miss not being able to communicate to you at all for this month while your gone. Good luck out in the field and please stay warm. I'm still going to write to you while your gone so you can read them when you get back.
Luv, me.

Dear Shandra,

One of the reasons I was attracted to you was because of your wisdom... I am coming to realize more and more this is due at least in part to the perspective or vision of life you have been blessed with... You see things from a broader viewpoint... which in turn lends itself to a healthy longterm perspective, better parenting and healthier prioritizing of what matters most in life. You are very good at seeing the forest.

Admittedly, I am quite good at seeing and comprehending the details... the trees... However, this is often at the expense of forgetting about the forest, getting caught up in the here and now... This type of thinking can be very good when it comes to establishing a neurological diagnosis, but also can lend itself to sub-optimal parenting, and decreased street smarts.

I admire you a great deal and would not change anything about you. I need your strengths. You are very intelligent. The world measures intelligence on how well an individual can describe trees. (Academic tests by their very nature are written by tree analyzers for tree analyzers). There are very few measures out there that analyze how well an individual is at comprehending the forest. A laser beam may be very impressive... a sharp pinpoint of light that can cut down trees. A "sharp tool." However, it will never illuminate a forest. Nor will the light that illuminates a forest cut down too many trees.

There are countless brilliant psychologists and psychiatrists that are lousy parents and spouses... they see the trees great but can't step back to see the forest for fear of losing sight of the trees. They have difficulty applying the knowledge they know, because life does not happen one tree at a time.

An aerial perspective often matters far more than knowing the minutiae on the ground. I believe in mortality one can usually only gain the full benefits of either perspective at the expense of the loss of control of the other perspective. Those that see the forest realize they are letting go of their control of the view of individual trees... and are ultimately OK with that (even if they sometimes beat themselves up about the "deficiencies" that result from their lack of a "tree view"). Those of us that focus primarily on the trees often don't comprehend the "forest level control" that we fail to seize because we often don't get far enough off of the ground to even realize that there is a higher and broader level of control that can be gained only by letting go of the control of the here and now... the details. Which perspective is better? I guess it depends on the situation.

In your Dad's business, I don't know how good he is at looking at individual trees. However, I do know that he is excellent at comprehending the forest... and this has led to a great deal of economic success. I would be willing to bet that there were many "tree analyzers" in his classes in college that probably had better grades but that have not been blessed with near the same level of economic success. I view your father as a very intelligent man. So do many others. I believe you have been blessed with much of this same type of intelligence.

You bring a great deal of balance to my life. I need your strengths and am constantly learning from you. I hope to become more like you. Thank you. Together we are one and will continue to strengthen and develop each other.

I really enjoyed reading Isaac's quotes with you that you posted under his section of this blog.

Many of his quotes had to be at least as good as any "deep thoughts" I have heard or read. I loved laughing and laughing with you tonight! Thank you for capturing and preserving the essence of the joy of parenthood. It means so much to me.

I love you, my Dear.

Me

p.s. I haven't forgotten about the back rubs while I'm gone.

1 Nephi 1:1 “…and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days"

Dear Ja,
I wanted to tell you my enlightenment but you're in bed now, so you'll get a letter instead: 

I've been disturbed all day toward myself feeling like I was. . .well. . . stupid.  Not bright.  Oblivious, naive, not the sharpest tool in the shed.  It started while waiting for the lesson to begin in Relief Society.  One sister was sitting next to me, the other in front, turned around talking.  She commented on my pretty turquoise necklace and matching earrings.  I smiled and touched around my neck excusing myself for them with a, "thank you, all my necklaces were lost in the move so Jason's stocking me back up now, guess he felt sorry for me. . ." blah something or another.  The two sisters looked at each other funny and with a confused look questioned me with a, "why didn't you put in a claim?"  I just responded with a 'it was my fault, they must have rolled it up in paper and I guess I threw the packing paper out without unrolling it.'  They probed further with, "Did you see them roll it up in paper?"  "Well, no, I wasn't upstairs."  They looked at each other again and concluded with, "That would be a very easy thing to steal since it's so small to fit in their pocket and why didn't you hide or pack it yourself?"  I felt foolish and all the above mentioned adjectives.

 I began reading up on Joseph in Egypt and his accusations against him, we the reader know what really happened but he didn't utter a word of blame towards those others though.  In fact, contrary to others attacking him he was highly favored of his father Jacob, Potipher and his wife, Pharaoh but ultimately God himself.  Being favored of the Lord didn't lessen his trials though. 

Look at Nephi. He was nearly murdered on five separate occasions. Four times by his own brothers and once by Laban. Nephi lived on a near starvation diet for 8 years in the desert and struggled across 2,500 miles of wilderness. He built a ship with opposition and ridicule from his brothers and set up two civilizations.  Yet he doesn't say it in those words either.  He says 'nevertheless being highly favored of the Lord.'

Why am I mentioning these great men?  Well in my searching for an answer to defend  my character flaw, I wanted to know what God thought about it.  In my searching I found the word magnanimous spirit.  The definition being:
Generous in forgiving; eschewing resentment or revenge; unselfish, big heart, generous in forgiving an insult or injury, free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness.

It was confirmed to me that so many of the scripture stories of people that endured hardships or trials never even pinpointed that it was so.  They never victimized themselves.  They stated what happened as facts, continued to give thanks and praise to the Lord and we never read the blame or judgements casted upon those that gave offense.  Does this mean they were naive?  Oblivious?  Not so sharp concluding that they couldn't SEE being attacked, stolen from or persecuted?  Nay but they each had a magnanimous spirit.  They were highly favored of the Lord.  That natural man is put off and His grace cloaks us with peace.  Even though Nephi had seen many trials in his life he still felt highly favored of the Lord.  Even though Joseph was accused, sold, slaved, he was highly favored of the Lord.  Do we recognize the great blessings we receive from the Lord in spite of our trials?   
I too have been highly favored of the Lord.  My not seeing the possibility of a crime against me wasn't a sign of weakness.  On the contrary, it was the Lord's grace upon me.  It was strength from Him that I didn't even realize he had cloaked over me out of protection for me.  Gracing me with His favor upon me.


I was also reading up on Rudyard Kipling's quotes as I like to know about the author we are reading from (Currently it's Jungle Book) and he has a few favoring women:
"God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers."
"A woman's guess is much more accurate than a man's certainty."
"An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy."
 
But the one that hit me was the one that confirmed wisdom instead of stupidity:
"I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble."   ~Rudyard Kipling.
 
Thank you Lord for this gift.  I recognize now it's not a curse or weakness to not think like the world would expect me to. 
I think if we each look at ourselves and the qualities that we posses, those that we were practically born with, the ones that are different from others, we would see it as a favor from God and not a sign of weakness.  Making us all originally different was done on purpose from the perfect woodcarver Himself. 
Luv, me
PS  It was so fun to be on vacation with you for 2 weeks for Christmas before you need to leave again in 1 week for another month.