Hugh's Reflection

I didn't want anyone to miss an excellent post from Modern Pharisee:


"With the Fort Hood tragedy dominating the news, the Raymond Jessop verdict sorta slid beneath the waves. I was on my way to the bank this morning, and overheard on the news, as the last story (paraphrased of course) was this:

"Raymond Jessop is facing 20 years in jail as a result of being convicted yesterday in Texas for sex with a teenage girl. The conviction was a result of a raid on the Yearning for Zion Ranch last year, in which over 400 children were put into foster care."

There are probably less than 2000 people outside the FLDS and Texas Law Enforcement that know what really happened and this is how public opinion is shaped. The story didn't include the fact that the children were all returned. Most people don't know the big issues that were in play at YFZ for all of us, and are still fuzzy on what happened afterward. I think Brooke Adams spoke for herself as well as others about the result of the trial when she had an anonymous man who accosted her outside the courtroom respond to the verdict with one word.

"Good."

Most people who did know about the details of YFZ were concerned with the children. When they all went back (a perception not reinforced by the above referenced news story) that was the end of their outrage. By hook or by crook a molester or 12 had been apprehended and that was good enough. Compromise tends to rule the day when truth is at stake and it seemed a fair result to most that at the end of an illegal raid, FLDS members got half their stuff back. You YFZ'ers keep your kids, we'll jail the dirty old men for the next 20 years. Nothing can ever make a wrong right, but the least you can do is try to reset things to the way they were. Such moral compromises always encourage the despot and the thief.

You want 100%? Just steal twice as much as you need. Compromise. Meet your opponent half way. How is it good that I walked through the door with $100.00, got beat up, had to dust myself off, shake hands with my assailant and walk out the door missing a tooth and only having $50.00 and him getting credit for giving it back to me? I want my $100.00 thank you.

The Washington Times - "Kathy and George Norris lived under the specter of a covert government investigation for almost six months before the government unsealed a secret indictment and revealed why the Fish and Wildlife Service had treated their family home as if it were a training base for suspected terrorists. Orchids.

That's right. Orchids."

"Everything is criminalized now. From food, to sex to drugs to marriage, it's all regulated overmuch by the Government and you're doing something wrong, I promise you. Have we forgotten the Manna Storehouse? In a completely criminalized society, where you cannot hope to stay violation free, you're only hope is a valid search warrant standing in between you, and imprisonment. Anyone who has bothered to follow the few facts accumulated about Rozita Swinton's call to the Newbridge shelter knows that she guessed at a lot of details and out of several jurisdictions she called, only Texas eventually chose to believe her tall tales. We all laugh in theaters and watching TV at the pretense used by police to gain entry to places they cannot go. We cheer them on because they are the monolithic "Good Guys" and the script demonized "Bad Guys" have been getting away with too much anyway. Time to win one for the team.

"If you combine too much regulation, too many personal swat teams and too little in the way of barriers to home invasion on the part of Law Enforcement, you end up with the purest form of tyranny. The laws cannot all be enforced. Many of the agencies still don't have their personal swat teams and their laws just lay there, on the books, no one enforcing them. You can TRY to get them enforced but good luck with that. Angry police officers and detectives will inform you of rules and regs they know about pertaining to harassing a police officer and threaten to come get you if you don't quit bothering them. And they can. This then becomes the selective use of law to keep you in line, not to make for a law abiding society. I have personal experience with that. A 2am obscene phone caller from out of state. I should have known when the whole YFZ thing started that nothing would happen with the prank caller. I had personal experience with a misdemeanor offense committed against me. It ended with a Gallatin County Sheriff's department detective threatening me to enforce a law against me if I didn't stop bothering him about it. It didn't stop them from sending a cruiser to my door in the middle of the night to shut up my persistent out of state harasser, that they could not shut up.

"How odd that this in many ways fits the pattern exactly of the YFZ affair. Wanting to be cooperative I invited the Deputy into my home. It is only now that I remember his eyes roaming the room for an "exigent circumstance." There was none, whatever unknown misdeed I was committing, he either did not see, or didn't know about himself. I suppose if my daughter had been up downloading copyrighted music, he could have cuffed me right there.

"We are all in that sort of peril. We are all at the mercy of Law Enforcement trying to make their day go easier and shut up pests, many of them from out of state, be it pranksters from Colorado, or Malcontents from Utah and Arizona or regulators from Washington DC wanting to eliminate the illegal orchid trade, or food Nazis in Ohio.

"My only natural son has proved an interesting lesson for me in many ways with his various and continuing scrapes with the law. One of the most vital lessons was how LE seeks to gain control over people. At the end of one of his scrapes I had managed to guide him through the court system, getting him cleared of an undeserved felony and winding up with a correct charge that was a misdemeanor and accompanying probation to go with it.

"Then I got my education. The probation officer as much as told me that he wasn't interested in managing my son's probation to keep him out of trouble, instead, he wanted to manage it so that he could catch him in another felony. Why? Because he could then control him better, if he was a felon. A felon goes back to prison, a misdemeanant does not. Alcohol consumption may be legal, pot a minor crime and having hand lotion (allegedly for the purposes of self gratification) are not that big a deal for you or I, but as terms of probation for a felon, can send them to jail for things they seemingly can't resist. Control.

"In this same way police don't want to give up the small controls they have in our lives. It works to their advantage if they can just go anywhere they want, anytime and in the currently over regulated environment, if all it takes is Pinky (or Sarah) calling while watching TV to spark a raid, LE doesn't worry about what they'll find when they get inside. They know they'll find something.

"Jerry Lee Lewis had already gone through two marriages by 1957; he'd married Jane Mitcham, his second, 23 days before his divorce from his first wife, Dorothy Barton, was final. On December 12, 1957, Jerry married his third cousin, Myra Gale Brown. A lot of ink has been spilled about his close blood relationship with Myra, and the fact that she was only thirteen and still believed in Santa Claus when the pair were married. For a man from his time and place, however, marrying at thirteen and marrying one's third cousin (twice removed) were both fairly commonplace occurrences, although Lewis further complicated matters by again marrying before the divorce from his second wife was final.

"Lewis didn't seem to realize that this was offensive to most urban markets (and to other countries): in fact, Sun Records' Jud Phillips (brother of producer Sam) had warned him against taking Myra with him to England on his first European tour. Jerry Lee, never one to change his mind, took her anyway. When they stepped off the plane on May 22, 1958, Lewis obligingly told the British press that Myra was his wife (although he gave her age as 15 and moved up the date of their actual wedding). His bride, for her part, told the gathering that fifteen wasn't too young to marry back home: 'You can marry at 10 if you can find a husband.' "

"1957. It wasn't that long ago, I was three years old. Jerry Lee Lewis is now considered to be a bit of a rascal, a country singer, and his daughter by his union with Myra, manages his career. Now there's a pedophile for you. We too quickly forget. What is now a 20 year jail term was once commonplace and I promise you that a look back at your recent ancestry is liable to produce a similar union. Without them, we would not be here.

"Now like prohibition crazies gone wild again, we have found a new vice to be shocked about. Sex with "children." On the surface it seems like a righteous cause and it's perfect because both the left and the right hate their newfound sinners, so they have no friends. The left tears at the LDS and other religions regularly and popularize their failings. The right whines about molesters and homos and wants to pull the dust from everyone else's eye while ignoring the lumber yard in their own.

"What do they find? A small fundamentalist group of Latter Day Saints who have been doing what they've been doing since the religion was founded. The Right hates them. The mainstream LDS religion hates them, the Left hates them. Once you're isolated like that, you have little hope. After a year and a half of demonizing the FLDS and trying the case in the press with outright lies, Raymond Jessop, who they can't even prove committed a crime in Texas, is convicted by a jury in time to get home for dinner. Raymond's wives will not see him now for perhaps the rest of his life. His children may even be barred from seeing him. They will become doubtless members of the welfare roles. Not a single participant in the "crime" (both adults now) testified in the case. Raymond's "victim" didn't even complain.

Is all well?"

Somewhere in Texas

Somewhere in Texas a child awakes
to a sweet mother who has tears on her face

"Mother dear why have you been weeping so,
and why are you here in my place?
Where is my father, so grand and true,
that sweet man so noble and tall?
He would comfort and console your heart,
he will answer your tearful call!
He has done it many times, mother dear,
when I was sad and blue
Even when policemen came in here
and took me away from you"

"O angel, dear angel, I love you so,
you came from heaven to me
And because of your life, little child of mine,
your father here cannot be
The same poor people who know not love,
have taken him far away
Because you live, little child of mine,
the poor devils wants father to pay"

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:1-16

Lest We Forget

I read this post again to my brother this morning, and for some reason I feel a need to re-post it...
with or without permission :)
Thanks Uncle Bill!

July 31, 2009 – 10:47 am

"I spent the last 3 days in Salt Lake City surrounded by about 4,000 of some of the kindest, gentlest people I’ve come into contact with in my 65 years. I wasn’t really surprised; I’ve spoken to many over the phone and have been in contact through letters, pictures and packages with many more.

"Smiles came easiest from babies only weeks old when I stroked their cheek. The pre-teen boys all stood in clusters with hands in pockets wondering who the stanger in their midst was. The girls too were in bunches of 4, 6 and 8, usually all dressed in the same color dresses. They stood a little further away, but clearly curious as well. From the adults, I received a “Good Morning” if we made eye contact, but little else.

"At 6:00 in the morning on Wednesday, I walked up to the Courthouse and sat down with probably 100 FLDS members already there waiting for the doors to open at 8:00. We all waited to go inside and get one of the much treasured “Passes” that Denice was going to give out, and everyone knew that the FLDS would receive a certain amount, and the “General public” (Read that non-FLDS) would get theirs.

"Quite naturally, I volunteered to go as one of the general public and then hand my pass over to a member of the FLDS who wanted to speak. So there I was, in short pants and short sleeve shirt sitting on the steps of the Courthouse, looking as general public as I could with a whole lot of eyes occasionally looking at me. I now know what a nudist would feel like at a black tie dinner.

"I did ask a question of one man who seemed to know a great many of the people there if he had seen the people I deal with in the FLDS, and he looked at me strangely. Who are you? He asked. “Bill Medvecky” came my response. “Never heard of you.” I was told. I smiled at the candedness of the comment, and tried to pick my ego off the steps of the Courthouse. Here I came 2,000 miles, and I’m a stranger!. Oh well, I sat back down and tried to cover my bare knee’s with my newspaper.

"Just before showtime in the Courthouse, my first adult smile came my way in the form of Merrill Palmer from Bountiful. From that point on, The smiles, the handshakes, the introductions to the newborns, and the picture taking began in earnest. Shorts or no shorts, I was acceptable.

"Once the game with the passes were over, I left for my hotel and got into something a little more uncomfortable in the desert heat and sun, but certainly more non-threatening to the 4 to 14 year old set. Once back at the Courthouse, I met Pliggy and 1,356 of his closest relatives. I spent pretty much the rest of the day outside the Courthouse meeting and shaking the hands of people I had only known by name up to that point in time, and without exception, they exceeded my expectations of what these people were about, and how cohesive they were as a group. I was genuinely honored to meet them all.

"As for the demonstration itself, according to Denice, most of the thousands of people who showed up had no idea why they were there. How utterly insulting. My hope is that the moron made that statement on the record. It shows her ignorance and total lack of understanding with what she is dealing with. She’s destroying people’s lives without a clue of what’s happening around her. One has to wonder if the bottom line isn’t a kickback from Bruce.

"To educate you Denice; folks don’t pack up their families in the middle of a work week to stand in the sun in front of a Courthouse and not know why they are there. They don’t drive hundred’s, and even thousands of miles, just to have the honor of pissing you off by their mere presence. Contrary to your obvious mind-set, they are thinking people, not robots who will do other people’s bidding on a lark. You threaten to steal their land, their homes, and their way of life. Yet it amuses you to believe they’re just stupid fools. To me, the word “Pathetic” comes to mind. I pity you for your ignorance. Bruce does this for the dollar, you do it out of ignorance and are a disgrace to the Bench.

"A little over a year and a half ago, I was disgusted and sickened, but not surprised, by the assault on the Ranch and the kidnapping of inocent children. I wasn’t surprised, because some 30 years age, CPS stole 2 of my children. As I watched the scene in Texas unfold, extremely bitter memories came flowing out long after I thought they were buried deep in my soul. I knew precisely how shattered and miserable the parents were. What was worse, I also knew what confusion, hurt and terror the children were going through.

"My worst fear was another Waco. We can thank the parents and Heavenly Father a blood-bath did not occur in spite of every provocation to the contrary by the Texas Rangers and especially the local keystone kops.

"I know it is unfashionable to defend child molesters once the mere charge is levied, no matter how baseless the charges. Naturally there was a media frenzy, after all, sex sells big in America.

"What I did not expect was the general acceptance of the obvious persecution that was going on against the Ranch by the LDS Church leadership. I would have thought the learned from 1953. Mormon children were being persecuted and abused, and yet, somehow that was OK… I would have thought that after all the persecution the LDS went through they would have been the last to pile on with the rabble.

"It took the concerted effort of decent people around the world to see all 465 children returned to their homes. With Merrianne’s freedom, that battle is won. Now, the battle shifts to the children’s future. If Denice, Dan, Bruce and the rest of the vultures have their way, the children have no future. The goal is to strip them of their land and their homes.

"Make no mistake; once they decimate the FLDS, they will be coming for the rest of the Fundamentalist Mormon’s, even those who currently aid in this fight against their parents, their relatives and their neighbors. The targets are those that follow Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. To me, that’s a mighty strange statement to be making in Salt Lake City.

"Constitutionally, Denice and Bruce will not prevail. Even Mark Shirtleff knows that Denice stepped over the Official line in her zeal to do Dan’s bidding. He is no friend of the FLDS, but he does want to become a United State’s Senator, and to completely ignore, as the Utah Attorney General, the Constitution just won’t get him there. The bottom line is that he is a politician and knows when the ship is sinking and it’s time to leave.

"Just as we did in Texas, the matter of the U.E.P. will have to be heard in a real Court of law. Until that happens, and until the men of the Ranch are exonerated and Warren Jeff’s is freed from prison for a rape that never was, I’ll continue to be a thorn in the side of their bigots and the haters.

"People kept asking me what I thought at the Rally. After 65 years of traveling to every State in the Union, Canada, and every Country from the Bahama’s to Brazil, my impression was that the FLDS has it all, and maybe that explains why so many folks want to destroy it, or have it for themselves.

"Again, it was an honor to meet all those I came into contact with, and a few thousand more I stood with in solidarity against an American travesty that will not stand."

Written by Bill Medvecky

Breaking NEWS! Documented Proof of Elissa Wall Abuse!

New evidence was discovered today from archives found of a secret video recording of the typical abuse Elissa Wall suffered while she was a member of the FLDS Church.

Rodney King nothing! THIS is on film!

Help!

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace!
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from failing,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace!
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

Elissa Wall fan club.... Not

At least one can grasp the truth...

"Hi Al, It's R- from MA again. Remember me? First of all, I hope all is well with you and your loved ones. I felt much better after communicating with you the last time. It was like a cleansing of my soul to express my thoughts and concerns to someone who knows the truth. After that, I kind of went on my merry way of life and didn't get on the computer every day to learn more. For some reason on Monday night I decided to check things out in my own inept computer way (as i mentioned previously). I was so surprised to learn that Allen was going to court the next day (7/21). My heart, thoughts and prayers were with him all day. When I got home from work I was right back on the computer again trying to find out what happend. I'm not sure I fully understand the outcome except that it is not over for Allen and he'll have to go to court again. I went to a KSL news website to learn that. After the article there were some type of blog comments from people on the situation. I was horrifed at some of the comments and the stupid things people say. I then went back to your web/blog that i read before and got your e-mail address and contacted you. I was surprised to see more recent comments but again horrifed at some of the comments and ingnorance.

"Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".

I don't understand why people can't just mind their own business and worry more about how they are living their own lives for when they meet their maker one day. Again I hope you don't mind that I contacted you directly instead of commenting on the blog. I'm a little embarrassed to speak in a public forum and I think a little afraid of how I would reply to some of those idiots. In my frustration I would not want my comments to make me seem as ignorant as they are. Some more of my thoughts, Al, I hope you don't mind. First, I hate the way the words "rape" and "rape of a child" are being used . They make it sound like Allen stalked her after school, dragged her in the woods and forced himself on her. Can't anyone understand that he was with his WIFE? I also hate the word "brainwashed". Realistically, aren't we all brainwashed (for lack of a better word) to some degree. I learned my religous beliefs from my parents. I didn't know any better. I believed what I was taught. Also, I know that Christmas and Santa Claus is not recognized by all nationalities or religions but it was in mine. Isn't that the biggest brainwashing of all? I really thought that a fat man in a red suit came in my house and left presents under the tree. Boy, was that a tearful day when i learned the truth about that one. But was either one done to hurt me? NO. One was to teach me and the other to bring pure joy to an innocent child as parents STILL do. Lastly, when i read Elissa's book, I was horrified to realize the time frame between meeting Lamont and finally leaving with him and everything in between. Your blog had a better time frame stated and I was suprised of the large age difference between her and Lamont and their actual ages at the time. As I mentioned before, she was vague in her book when it seemed she didn't want to give too many details. Where I come from, sex with a minor child (under 18) is considered rape whether it's consentual or not. Where I come from Lamont could be facing a prison cell as well. Now that would be justice. Once again, Al, Thanks for listening to me.

Take care,
R-

P.S. I think what breaks my heart the most is looking at Allen's wedding pictures. He looked so happy and handsome. I'm sure he never would have imagined that his life would be like this. At this age in his life he should be with somone (or more) that would love him and take care of him and give him little Steed's to be proud of. In case you havn't figured it out, Al, I'm a sap. I am a nurterer and caregiver by nature. I just want to mother the world. Thanks again.

The UEP is Tithing to the FLDS

"The Lord has so arranged it that the people must be tried. He says, "My people shall be a tried people." There is not a person that tries to apply to his life the fullness of the Everlasting Gospel that doesn't have to be tried. If they are not tried one way, they will be tried another. It is the trials that come along our way that makes us grow. The great trial the Prophet Joseph was put through -- I don't know of any other man in Zion's Camp [who] was tried more than Joseph himself, because he was the leader of the people. The actions of the people tried him. It was through the trials he passed through that he gained the favor of the Lord.

"We have experiences every day that show to us that people are being tried in their feelings. I have a man in mind that has visited me from time to time over a period of several years, and every few days he calls me on the telephone and tells me what a wonderful man I am, what a wonderful spirit I have, and how he is built up by just hearing my voice over the telephone. He came to my home the other day and spent one hour and a half or more conversing on the principles of salvation. In all this time he has never paid any tithing at all, that I know of, and he acknowledges it to me. But he said, "Brother Johnson, what can I do? How shall I start to bring myself in line with the Priesthood that you have?" He says, "I know that you hold the keys of the Everlasting Priesthood; now how can I start to get in line?" I said, "Brother, the first thing that you should do would be to commence to support that Priesthood, support it with your tithes and your offerings." He said, "I guess that is right. I guess that is my stumbling block, is to place my tithing where it belongs." He left me with the determination by his looks, anyway, that he would immediately begin to support this work. But I haven't heard anything from him for several days.

"We have had these experiences before. Some men support this work because they feel like when they support it they are laying away money that they can draw back sometime with interest. I had one man tell me that came to my office and said, "Brother Johnson, how much tithing have I paid the last two years? I have been supporting this work for two years. I would like to know just how much I have paid in." I said, "It would be impossible for me to give you a correct account of what you paid in because you paid some to me and some to President Hammon, and a great deal of your tithing has gone to Brother Musser. So I don't have all the record at hand. If you give me a little time, I might be able to give you the account." "Well," he says, "the reason I want to know, I am in a little bind right now and I thought maybe I could figure up the interest on that, and I could borrow it back and get me out of this bind." I said, "Brother, in the first place, this is not a financial institution, a place where you put your money on interest." I said, "When you give your tithing to the Priesthood, you give it to the Lord. You don't give it to the Priesthood, you give it to the Lord, and the Priesthood uses it wherever needed. There is no such thing as interest in this work on your money; or there is no provision made for you to draw back your money. When you place it here, it is a voluntary donation. Therefore, there will be no compensation made upon any such terms." He said, "Brother Johnson, you have hit me with a sledgehammer between the eyes. I thought I was placing my money in a safe place where I could draw it back any time I wanted to." From that time to this he has never paid anymore tithing. I didn't have the money to give it back, so I didn't make any restitution.

"Another man came and gave me a check and said, "Brother Johnson, I know that this is the Priesthood of God. I know that we should support it. Here is a check for half my tithing." He said, "The other half I gave to the Church, so that if the time comes that I find you people are not right, I will have something to fall back on in the Church." I don't know how much tithing this man had paid. I know I hadn't received any. But that is about the amount of faith some of our people have. In some instances we have a great call upon the Priesthood for the return of money. If there are any in our midst who feel like their money is being placed at the hands of the Priesthood with the expectation that they can draw it out any time they wish or desire, they better change their faith quickly, because this money is being used for the building up and establishing the Kingdom of God, for no other purpose.

"The things that have been told us this afternoon are true and faithful, and if we will apply them to our lives, the Lord will bless and reward us and pay us for our faith and our support. The Lord is very mindful of our situation. Plans have been made in the minds of some people to take away from us our rights upon this land upon which we live. But the Lord has protected us thus far, and I hope He will continue to bless us and overrule for the good of our people. In the first place, we came to this place under the direction of the leaders of this work, under the leadership of President Barlow and President Musser and the rest of the Council at that time. When they met in council to decide upon a place for the gathering of the saints who were in dire need of homes, a place to live where they could live their religion under the protection of the Spirit of God, places in Idaho were considered, in Oregon, in California, and other places. But they decided upon this place here. They came here and blessed the land. A great blessing was pronounced upon it. When they were questioned as to when they would obtain these blessings, they were told, "When the people become united."

"No one here knows the fertility of this soil or how extensive it is, and they won't know until the Spirit of God rests upon this place in abundance. I know that this land is a choice land. It is the most choice at the present time upon this whole continent in the sight of God. He is trying to prepare a people to redeem it from the curse that is upon it. This whole continent is cursed because of the disobedience of the people. But the Lord has said that it would become a choice land unto a people who would keep His commandments, who would apply to their lives the Celestial Law. So great is the desire of our Father in heaven that a people be prepared, that He has caused that the Prophets throughout the history of time have prophesied of a Millennial reign of a thousand years upon this continent, this land."
(Our Prophet Leroy S Johnson 11-15-1964)

The Greatest Thing in Life

I often contemplate what it is that is the most valuable thing to have in the whole world. And although it may seem to be different to different people, yet the truth is absolute. There is something more valuable than all other things in life, when it comes right down to it. At the end of life and we look back we all know that this is the greatest thing, if we think about it.

Many believe that money is the most valuable thing in life, even many people who say they don’t. So much time and effort and labor is used to gain money that we can often forget why we are trying to earn it, and many center their whole life on it and the things they can buy with it. In fact many believe that the decision of whether or not to become parents is a financial decision. I cannot tell you how backward that is from my thinking.

Many say that children are the most valuable thing in life, and the association of friends and family and little ones is the greatest thing on Earth. How can they be wrong? They are wrong, and I have been wrong as I have often believed this to be the case myself. To me, not being able to be with family and most especially little children has been very hard on me, as I love to be around them; having had that privilege most of my life. But even holding your own child in your arms, while being greater in value than money, exponentially, to the power of millions, it is not the greatest thing in life. It is not.

So what is the greatest thing in life? What is it that is so valuable that no one would argue with me when I tell what it is? Actually, some may argue with me now, but when they look back at their own life on their deathbed, they will realize it truly is the greatest thing, the most valuable thing they have.

And what is it? I will tell you. It is this:

“Righteous Desire”

The center of our character is WHAT we want.

Believe me, desiring only right is the greatest thing in life, it is the most valuable thing in life, and is the most sought after thing in my life. It is what I pray for the very most to improve in myself. Without it nothing else holds its value; with it everything gains value. What we truly desire defines who we are, it guides what we do, and in truth we will find we have never freely acted, spoke, or even imagined, against our deepest desires whether we admit to it or not.

Those who have changed their life, their heart, their mind, to the point that they desire nothing, truly not one thing, that is different than what God wants, are truly the happiest people alive. They are the ones who are the MOST alive, and the most free.

Bigotry Repeats Itself

Life of Heber C Kimball-
Chapter 30

THE fall and winter of 1838 was one of the darkest periods in Church history. Mobocracy on one hand, and apostasy on the other, dealt the cause of God cruel blows, such as no human work could hope to withstand. The tempest of persecution, briefly lulled, burst forth with tenfold fury; no longer a city or county --a whole state rose in arms against God's people, bent upon their destruction. "The clogs of war" were loosed upon the helpless Saints, and murder and rapine held high carnival amid the smoking ruins of peaceful homes and ravaged fields.

Then fell the mask from the face of hypocrisy. Treason betrayed itself. Apostles, Presidents, and Elders fell from the faith and joined hands with the robbers and murderers of their brethren. Satan laughed! The very mouth of hell seemed opening to engulf the Kingdom which He who cannot lie has sworn shall stand forever.

Truly, those were "times that tried men's souls."

Like a rock in mid-ocean, facing the storm, unmoved by wind or wave, stood Heber C. Kimball; among the truest true, among the bravest brave. Referring to the time of his visit to Adam-ondi- Ahman, he says:

"In a few days an express came with the news that the mob was gathering in every part of Missouri to come against the Saints in Far West. We therefore returned to Caldwell County.

"Thomas B. Marsh left the day previous to the rest of the Twelve, pretending there was something very urgent at home, and when we arrived at Far West, October 22nd, we learned that he and Orson Hyde had left the city. Brother Hyde was sick when we went to Diahman.

"The Saints, tenacious of their liberties and sacred rights, resisted the unlawful designs of the mob, and with courage worthy of them guarded their families and their houses from their aggressions. But not without the loss of several lives, among whom was my much esteemed and lamented friend David W. Patten, who fell a sacrifice to the spirit of persecution and a martyr to the cause of truth. The circumstances of his death I will briefly relate.

"It being ascertained that a mob had collected on Crooked River, led by the Rev. Samuel Bogard, a Methodist preacher, a company of sixty or seventy persons immediately volunteered in Far West to watch their movements, and if necessary repel their attacks. They chose Elder Patten for their leader, and commenced their march about midnight, and came up to the mob at the dawn of October 25th. As the brethren were marching quietly along the road near the top of the hill, they were fired upon, when young O'Banyon reeled out of the ranks, and fell mortally wounded. Thus the work of death commenced, when Captain Patten ordered his men to charge the mob, who proved to be on the creek below. It was yet so dark that little could be seen, looking to the west; but the mob could see Captain Patten and his men in the dawning light, when they fired a broadside and three or four of the brethren fell. Captain Patten ordered the fire returned, giving the watchword, 'God and Liberty.' The brethren charged the camp, when the mob were soon put to flight and crossed the river at the ford. One of the mob fired from behind a tree, and shot Captain Patten, who instantly fell mortally wounded, the ball having pierced his abdomen.

"Immediately on receiving the intelligence that Brother Patten was wounded, I hastened to see him and found him in great pain, but still he was glad to see me; he was conveyed about four miles to the house of Brother Stephen Winchester; during his removal his sufferings were so excruciating that he frequently desired us to lay him down that he might die; but being desirous to get him out of the reach of the mob, we prevailed upon him to let us carry him among his friends. We carried him on a kind of bier, fixed up from poles.

"Although he had medical assistance, his wound was such that there was no hope entertained of his recovery, and this he was perfectly aware of. In this situation, while the shades of time were lowering, and eternity with all its realities opening to his view, he bore a strong testimony to the truth of the work of the Lord, and the religion he had espoused. He was perfectly sensible and collected until he breathed his last, which occurred at about ten o'clock in the evening. Stephen Winchester, Brother Patten's wife, Bathsheba W. Bigler, with several of her father's family were present at David's death.

"The principles of the Gospel which were so precious to him before, afforded him that support and consolation at the time of his departure, which deprived death of its sting and horror. Speaking of those who had fallen from their steadfastness he exclaimed,

'O that they were in my situation! For I feel that I have kept the faith, I have finished my course, henceforth there is laid up for me a crown, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me.'

Speaking to his beloved wife, he said, 'Whatever you do else, O do not deny the faith.' He all the time expressed a great desire to depart. I said to him ' Brother David, when you get home, I want you to remember me.' He replied, 'I will.' At this time his sight was gone. A few minutes before he died, he prayed as follows, 'Father, I ask Thee in the name of Jesus Christ, that Thou wouldst release my spirit, and receive it unto Thyself.' And he then said to those who surrounded his dying bed, 'Brethren, you have held me by your faith, but do give me up, and let me go, I beseech you.' We accordingly committed him to God, and he soon breathed his last, and slept in Jesus without a groan.

"This was the death of one who was an honor to the Church and a blessing to the Saints ; and whose faith, virtues and diligence in the cause of truth will be had in remembrance by the Church of Jesus Christ from generation to generation. It was a painful way to be deprived of the labors of this worthy servant of Christ, and it cast a gloom upon the Saints ; yet the glorious and sealing testimony which he bore of his acceptance with heaven and the truth of the Gospel was a matter of joy and satisfaction, not only to his immediate friends, but to the Saints at large.

"I took Dr. Avard [yet another traitor] with me to Far West, a distance of three miles, to Elder Rigdon's house, where we found Brother Patrick O'Banyon, who was wounded in nearly the same manner as Brother Patten. He also died in a short time, firm and steadfast in the faith. He was perfectly calm and composed, and bore a strong testimony to the truth of Mormonism.

"Gideon Carter, who was also a faithful Saint, was shot in the head, and left dead on the ground, so defaced that the brethren did not at first know him.

"This was a gloomy time!"


"On the 30th (October 1838) we discovered several thousand of the mob coming to Far West, under pretense of being government troops; they passed through our corn and wheat fields, making a complete desolation of everything they came across.

"Brother Brigham and I were appointed captains of fifty, in a hurry, and commanded to take our position, right in the thoroughfare on which the mob was advancing to the city, momentarily anticipating the awful tragedy of a bloody massacre. Joseph was with us giving counsel.

"The army came up to within good rifle shot, and halted; seeing our temporary fortifications, which we had thrown up the night previous, by pulling down some of our houses, and fixing up our wagons; they dared not approach nearer, but retreated to Goose Creek, about three-fourths of a mile, screaming, hallooing and screeching; the devils in hell could not have made a more hideous howling. The mob declared there were fifteen hundred of us; but to my certain knowledge there were only about one hundred and fifty in that line.

"The word came to us that Joseph Smith and several others were to be given up, otherwise they would massacre every man, woman and child. In order to prevent this horrible threat from being executed, Joseph gave himself up, with Elders Sidney Rigdon, Parley P. Pratt, Lyman Wight, and George W. Robinson, they having been betrayed into the mob camp by Col. George M. Hinkle and other apostates, on the 3ist of October.

"November 1st, the mob, professing to be the regular militia of the state of Missouri, numbering about 7,000, surrounded Far West, we were all taken prisoners and then marched a short distance into a hollow, where Col. Lucas had previously pointed his cannon, in full range, so that if we had not laid down our arms, he could easily sweep us into eternity, which was his design. We were then formed into a hollow square, and commanded by Col. Lucas to ground arms and deliver up our weapons of war, although they were our own private property. We were then marched back a short distance, on the public square in Far West, where we were again formed into a hollow square, near the house of Brother Beeman.

"The mob then commenced plundering the citizens of their bedding, clothing, money, wearing apparel, and everything of value they could lay their hands upon; and also attempting to violate the chastity of the women in sight of their husbands, pretending they were hunting for prisoners and fire-arms.

"The most of us had not had any food for twenty-four hours, not having time to go to our houses to get it. When these troops surrounded us, and we were brought into a hollow square, the first persons that I knew were men who had once professed to be beloved brethren, and they were the men who piloted these mobs into our city, namely William McLellin and Lyman E. Johnson, two of the twelve; John Whitmer and David Whitmer, two of the witnesses to the Book of Mormon; William W. Phelps and scores of others, hail fellows well met. A portion of the troops were painted like Indians, and looked horrible, led by Neil Gillium, who styled himself 'The Delaware Chief;' who, with many others cocked their guns upon us and swore they would blow our brains out, although we were disarmed and helpless.

"William E. McLellin wanted to know where Heber C. Kimball was. Some one pointed me out to him as I was sitting on the ground. He came up to me and said:

'Brother Heber, what do you think of the fallen prophet now? Has he not led you blindfolded long enough? Look and see yourself, poor, your family stripped and robbed, and your brethren in the same fix; are you satisfied with Joseph?'

I replied, 'Yes, I am more satisfied with him a hundred fold than ever I was before, for I see you in the very position that he foretold you would be in; a Judas to betray your brethren, if you did not forsake your adultery, fornication, lying and abominations. Where are you? What are you about? You, and Hinkle, and scores of others; have you not betrayed Joseph and his brethren into the hands of the mob, as Judas did Jesus? Yes, verily, you have; I tell you Mormonism is true, and Joseph is a true prophet of the living God; and you with all others that turn therefrom will be damned and go to hell, and Judas will rule over you.'

"Soon after this, when things began to be a little more quiet, I desired to go to my home to get something to eat as I had not eaten anything for many hours. I asked some of the mob standing near, if I could not have the privilege to go to my house, a little distance off; they referred me to their captain, who was Bogard, the Methodist preacher. I went to him and told him what I wanted. He first spoke of sending some one with me, as I would be liable to be shot if found alone. In a short time says he, 'I will go with you.' He went down to my house; my wife prepared some dinner, and he ate with me; then we returned, and I took my seat on the ground with my brethren who were under guard.

"The next day, 2nd, I was permitted to return to my house, but was told not to leave the city, as it was surrounded by a strong guard to prohibit anyone leaving the place; they were engaged in taking every man who seemed to have any influence, and putting them in chains to stand a trial. They were pointed out by the apostate allies of the mob.

"We were brought up at the point of the bayonet and compelled to sign a deed of trust, transferring all our property to defray the expenses of this war made on us by the State of Missouri. This was complied with, because we could not help ourselves. When we walked up to sign the deeds of trust to pay these assassins for murdering our brethren and sisters, and their children; ravishing some of our sisters to death ; robbing us of our lands and possessions and all we had on earth, and other similar "services," they expected to see us cast down and sorrowful, but I testify as an eye witness that the brethren rejoiced and praised the Lord, for His sake taking joyfully the despoiling of their goods. Judges and magistrates, Methodist, Presbyterian, Campbellite and other sectarian priests stood by and saw all this going on, exulting over us, and it seemed to make them more angry that we bore our misfortunes so cheerfully. Judge Cameron said, with an oath, 'See them laugh and kick up their heels. They are whipped, but not conquered.'

'On the 6th, Gen. Clark delivered his noted extermination speech, and read over the names of the brethren who were made prisoners, to await a trial for something, they knew not what, and placed under a strong guard. In order that the tyrant may not be forgotten I insert a portion of his speech:

''Gentlemen, you whose names are not attached to this list of names, will now have the privilege of going to your fields and of providing corn, wood, etc., for your families. Those who are now taken will go from this to prison, be tried and receive the due demerit of their crimes. But you (excepting such as charges may be hereafter preferred against) are at liberty as soon as the troops are removed that now guard the place, which I shall cause to be done immediately. It now devolves upon you to fulfill the treaty that you have entered into, the leading items of which I shall now lay before you.

"The first requires that your leading men be given up to be tried according to law; this you have complied with.

"The second is that you deliver up your arms this has also been attended to. The third stipulation is that you sign over your properties to defray the expenses that have been incurred on your account; this you have also done. Another article yet remains for you to comply with, and that is, that you leave the State forth-with; and whatever may be your feelings concerning this, or whatever your innocence is, it is nothing to me. General Lucas (whose military rank is equal to mine) has made this treaty with you, and I approve of it. I should have done the same had I been here, and am therefore determined to see it executed.

"The character of this State has suffered almost beyond redemption, from the character, conduct and influence that you have exerted; and we deem it an act of justice to restore her character by every proper means.

"The order of the Governor to me was that you should be exterminated, and not allowed to remain in the State. And had not your leaders been given up, and the terms of the treaty complied with before this time, your families would have been destroyed and your houses in ashes.

"There is a discretionary power vested in my hands, which, considering your circumstances, I shall exercise for a season. You are indebted to me for this clemency. I do not say that you shall go now, but you must not think of staying here another season, or of putting in any crops; for the moment you do this the citizens will be upon you; and if I am called here again, in case of non-compliance with the treaty made, do not think I shall act as I have done now. You need not expect any mercy, but extermination, for I am determined the Governor's order shall be executed.

"As for your leaders, do not think, do not imagine for a moment, do not let it enter your minds that they will be delivered and restored to you again, for their fate is fixed, the die is cast, their doom is sealed.

"I am sorry, gentlemen, to see so many apparently intelligent men found in the situation that you are; and oh! if I could invoke that great Spirit of the unknown God to rest upon and deliver you from that awful chain of superstition, and liberate you from those fetters of fanaticism with which you are bound that you no longer do homage to a man.

"I would advise you to scatter abroad and never again organize yourselves with Bishops, Priests, etc., lest you excite the jealousies of the people and subject yourselves to the same calamities that have now come upon you.

"You have always been the aggressors, you have brought upon yourselves these difficulties, by being disaffected, and not being subject to rule, and my advice is, that you become as other citizens, lest by a recurrence of these events you bring upon yourselves irretrievable ruin."
...
"You must not be seen as many as five together, if you are, the citizens will be upon you and destroy you, but you should flee immediately out of the state. There is no alternative for you but to flee, you need not expect any redress ; there is none for you."

"I was present," continues Heber, "when that speech was delivered, and I can truly say ' he is a liar and the truth is not in him for not one of us had made any such agreement with Lucas, or any other person; what we did was by compulsion in every sense of the word, and as for Gen. Clark and his 'unknown God,' they had nothing to do with our deliverance, but it was our Father in heaven, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, in whom we trust, who liveth and dwelleth in the heavens, and the day will come when our God will hold him in derision with all his coadjutors."

O My Father and Mother

O my Father, thou that dwellest in the high and glorious place,
When shall I regain thy presence and again behold thy face?
In thy holy habitation, did my spirit once reside?
In my first primeval childhood was I nurtured near thy side?

For a wise and glorious purpose thou hast placed me here on earth
And withheld the recollection Of my former friends and birth;
Yet ofttimes a secret something whispered, “You’re a stranger here,”
And I felt that I had wandered from a more exalted sphere.

I had learned to call thee Father, thru Thy Spirit from on high,
But, until the key of knowledge was restored, I knew not why.
In the heav’ns are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare!
Truth is reason; truth eternal tells me I’ve a mother there.

When I leave this frail existence, when I lay this mortal by,
Father, Mother, may I meet you in your royal courts on high?
Then, at length, when I’ve completed all you sent me forth to do,
With your mutual approbation let me come and dwell with you.

-Joseph Smith's plural wife Eliza R Snow Smith