Why I Love Summer

This is definitely my favorite time of year ~ warm weather, strawberries from the garden, long days ~ what more could I ask for? Maybe the most important reason I love summer is because of the 4th of July, my favorite holiday. I suppose it was my parents who instilled in me a love for this country and an appreciation for freedom. It's importance in our family was second only to our love and devotion for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the Book of Mormon we read:

"...according to the Spirit of God, which is the spirit of freedom..." Alma 61:15

And in the Doctrine and Covenants:

"And for this purpose have I established the Constititution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose..." D&C 101:80

So, because of my feelings for this land and the principles of freedom on which it was established,  I want to share with you a few of my favorite books and movies on this topic.

 I just finished this one, it came highly recommended and I did enjoy it. 

WARNING: it has lots of swear words, so be forewarned. 

It is a touching story of bravery and dedication.

 This is a book that was made into a movie by HBO, both are excellent.

 I read this book a few years ago in just a couple days, wonderful! 

I plan to read it again this summer.

I cried pretty much through this whole movie, but just let me say that I wasn't the only one.

It's a true story about a military officer who volunteers to escort the remains of a fallen Marine 

back to his hometown in Wyoming. 

 I found this on Netflix a few nights ago and watched it for the second time.

Another movie based on a true story which gives a glimpse of personal sacrifice given for freedom. 

This one makes me cry too, a touching story and explanation of how freedom and the gospel of Jesus Christ are intertwined. We read it every Christmas, but would be wonderful to read anytime.

Please share with me your favorite stories, books, movies and music that celebrate freedom, our country, and those who have served and sacrificed for both. 

Knitting for a cause

My favorite yarn shop sends a newsletter every month, and in the last one they issued an invitation. It seems that our servicemen in Afghanistan and Iraq need hand knit helmet liners, made from 100% wool. "When soldiers are in explosions from IEDs or in a fire, the wool helmet liner will not melt like synthetic fibers and will provide protection from the flames and help reduce the traumatic shock from the explosion."
They provided a pattern and are collecting the finished product to ship to our servicemen.
I have made 2; I need something to do when we watch TV, it's hard to keep up with the many programs the designated channel changer likes to watch at one time.


If anyone is interested, I can post the pattern, it's not difficult. Each one takes one ball of Galway 100% wool or Plymouth Merino Super-wash wool, 175 yards. The preferred color is black, but gray, tan, and brown are acceptable.

My Current Reading List

I saw this chart on Glenn Beck's TV show a day or two ago and would like to share it with you.
It shows how the processes put in place by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution to protect liberty and freedom have been circumvented.

I am not sure what lies in the future for our country and the liberties passed down to us by those who paid a high price for them. I feel a need to educate myself regarding the principles our government was founded upon and have found several books to read on this topic.
The 5000 Year Leap ~ A Miracle that Changed the World by Skousen
I read this book a couple years ago, and plan to re-read it soon.
The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes
I read this one while in WA with Robin when Jude was born, it is a bit over my head and I need to read it again too.
The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay
I tried this one while still in Idaho, it is difficult reading for me but I find it referenced so often I am going to give it another try.
Vindicating the Founders: Race, Sex, Class, and Justice in the Origins of America by Thomas G West
I just finished this one yesterday and highly recommend it. It gives an accurate perspective on controversial issues as the Founders saw them in their day. Very, very good.
A Patriot's History of the United States by Schweikert & Allen
I am just starting this one, it is longer than the others I have listed, 800+ pages, but goes 'From Columbus's Discovery to the War on Terror'.
Please share with me any books or websites that you have found which teach the original principles of freedom as our Founders established them.

Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's day so I want to express my appreciation to my husband for the service he gave to our country. He saw much of the world and gained skills and perspective thanks to the time he spent in the USMC. I wish I had a picture of him in uniform that I could add, but the logo will have to do.

My dad is also a veteran. He served in World War II on a battleship in the Pacific. He was so young, yet willing to leave home and family to defend freedom. He taught me to love my country, and that freedom and liberty come at a high price.

It seems that many today have forgotten the sacrifices that have and are being made by so many to give us the freedom that we often take for granted. I am grateful to them and their families and pray that we will all do whatever is necessary to preserve the liberty of our nation that it might spread throughout the world.

Conservatives & Liberals

I have been reading a book I bought at Deseret Industries a few years ago called "Vindicating the Founders" written by Thomas G West. (Published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. in 1997) It defends these great men against the accusations of racism, sexism, and elitism that are so pervasive in textbooks, our school system, and in our society at large. The author discusses the topics of 1) Slavery, 2) Property Rights, 3)Women and the Right to Vote, 4) Women and the Family, 5) The Property Requirement for Voting, 6) Poverty and Welfare, and 7) Immigration and the Moral Conditions for Citizenship.

I have not finished the book yet, but ran across an idea I want to share. For me, it explains the basic difference between conservatives and liberals; their perspective of mankind and the role of society/government.

John Dewey...was probably the most influential theorist of the New Liberalism... At the heart of Dewey’s liberalism was his belief in “historic relativity,” his conviction that there is no permanent human nature...the individual is always made by some historical context but is nothing in himself. “Social arrangements laws, institutions...are means of creating individuals.” Man is capable of being socially constructed in many ways. p 59
According to Dewey, man does hardly anything on his own; self-reliance and individuality are largely illusory. Qualities like “initiative, inventiveness, varied resourcefulness...are not gifts, but achievements.” Even intelligence is not “a ready-made possession of individuals.” That is because the social order, not nature, produces these qualities. “The state has the responsibility for creating institutions under which individuals can effectively realize the potentialities that are theirs.”
[That is to say] that man is essentially a victim or essentially disabled. For Dewey, it is precisely when people are left alone that they are the most vulnerable. p 60

[the Founders] saw in human nature qualities like reason, self-control, ambition, pride, and spirited self-assertion. They thought that if government protects lives and properties from being taken away by others, most people will be able to take care of themselves and their families. Lincoln’s remedy for slavery was not affirmative action or public welfare but opportunity for all people, white and black, to keep the bread they earn with their own hands. p 60
The presumption of the Founders is that normal human beings are capable of taking care of themselves, if only the artificial weight of legal privileges and restrictions is removed. “The political philosophy behind limited government,” writes Harvey Mansfield, “affirms that nature is more important than nurture: that humans have a fixed nature enabling them to overcome a background of poverty and deprivation.”
p 63

the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence. You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves."

Abraham Lincoln

I LOVE this statement by one of our greatest presidents, we need more men and women like him.

Economic security

This is a small excerpt from the speech by Ezra Taft Benson, the whole thing is wonderful, just what our country needs right now. He explains very clearly how to judge any proposed legislation, distinguishing that which preserves freedom from that which takes it away. I highly recommend reading or watching the whole thing, you will be glad you did. The links are on my last post.

Economic security for all is impossible without widespread abundance. Abundance is impossible without industrious and efficient production. Such production is impossible without energetic, willing and eager labor. This is not possible without incentive.

Of all forms of incentive - the freedom to attain a reward for one’s labors is the most sustaining for most people. Sometimes called THE PROFIT MOTIVE, it is simply the right to plan and to earn and to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

This profit motive DIMINISHES as government controls, regulations and taxes INCREASE to deny the fruits of success to those who produce. Therefore, any attempt THROUGH GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION to redistribute the material rewards of labor can only result in the eventual destruction of the productive base of society, without which real abundance and security for more than the ruling elite is quite impossible.

The proper role of government

I received a link to this speech a few days ago, and want to share it with you. It is quite long, but well worth watching. We share the opinions expressed here, and realize that the principles and ideas that made our country great are under attack today. We pray continually that the freedom and liberty that we have enjoyed all of our lives will be preserved; that our grandchildren, and their grandchildren, can live in a free land. We are so grateful for the privilege of living in America, and for the sacrifices which have been made to provide freedom, not only for our country, but for many others around the world. It is our conviction that our country will be free as long as we are good, and when we stop being good, we will no longer be free.

Viddler.com - The Proper Role of Government, by Ezra Taft Benson, Secretary of Agriculture ~ Eisenhower Administration - Uploaded by AwakeAndAriseOr video

The Proper Role of Government - Ezra Taft Benson This is a text version of the same speech