Converted Latter-Day Saints

In 1855, Apostle John Taylor was given a special call to go to New York City to organize and publish a newspaper whose purpose would be to present the doctrines and practices of the Church in such a way as to neutralize the groundswell of anti-Mormon feeling that had been mounting for over a year. He responded with boldness, challenging his critics to prove their charges: "We have said before and say now, that we defy all the editors and writers in the United States to prove that Mormonism is less moral, scriptural, philosophical; or that there is less patriotism in Utah than any other part of the United States. We call for proof; bring on your reasons, gentlemen, if you have any; we shrink not from the investigation, and dare you to the encounter." He then sketched for readers the salient characteristics of a converted Latter-day Saint: "He grasps at all truths, human and divine... He has nothing to lose but error, nothing to gain but truth. He digs, labors, and searches for it as for hidden treasure; and while others are content with the chaff and husks of straw, he seizes upon the kernel, substance, the gist of all that's good, and clings to all that will ennoble and exalt the human family." He went on to affirm boldly: "The omnipotent power of eternal truth will stand unscathed in the view of gathering hosts, and the nations will know that God rules in the heavens, and that Mormonism is not a vague fantasy ... but the greatest boon that could be conferred upon man, the offspring of heaven, the gift of the Gods, a celestial treasure, an earthly, heavenly inheritance, and a living, abiding and eternal reality."

Carrrrne Asada

Hi Everyone! Sorry I've been off the grid for the last few weeks. Friends have been in town, work has been insane and I've started traveling again. I also have a new calling that's taking up more of my time. I just haven't had the energy to do anything extra, especially if it's on the computer/internet, since I have to spend most of my working days attached to one.

Alex says the only word in Spanish I consistently pronouce like a gringo is 'carne'. I'm not sure why since I was blessed with the gift of being able to roll my Rs. Anyway, you'll see how hard it is to actually do when you watch this. ;-)

talk about a bad day

hey everyone,
you have to go to dave and katuska's latest post. it will make you grateful for your children!

mom

AI - Week 1

I was really underwhelmed with the girls. Was it just me? There were a couple that were pretty good, but no one blew me away. I think I'm going to be a Paige Miles fan, and I think I'm jumping off the Lacey Brown train....that was just awful. I think Didi will redeem herself and Crystal Bowersox was one of the only performances I really liked.
Jason likes Siobhan "because she's weird," and Lilly Scott who sang The Beatles song.

I have no idea who's going home because no one was really great, but I think it will be Lacey Brown, Ashley Rodriguez, and/or Janell Wheeler. I can't even remember what songs the last 2 sang.

I can't wait for the boys though! Even if Simon thinks this is the girls year, I think Andrew Garcia is going to win.

I just like this.

New Year for AI

So, what do you all think of the new top 24? I thought the picks were great, but there are one or two that I think should go soon. Who are your favorites?

Season 9 - Top 24

This was always fun, right?
MY FAVORITE!!
Andrew Garcia

I can't figure out why this video is so huge! Any ideas?


My Runner Ups
Crystal Bowersox

Lacey Brown

Didi Benami


Honorable Mentions
Todrick Hall
Tyler Grady

I Belive

Example of the Believers

Good Interview

T. Boone Pickens Interview

This is an interview I saw a little while ago and felt like it was very intriguing.

Family Time

Out of respect for my wife who is tired of the barrage of "Global Warming is a Myth" posts here is a picture of what we made as a family. We made this for Crystal's friend who is getting baptized with her family on Saturday.

WARNING: The following may contain some statements which are viewed by some to be the rantings of a lunatic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know the family blog is subject to a super majority and of the opinion that only idiots believe in Global Warming. However, you should keep in mind that my wife (who is a scientist by the way) is one of those idiots. It also might be helpful to consider that I wanted to be an engineer because I wanted to "change the world" by helping to produce cars that ran cleaner and with more respect to the environment.

I have always identified myself as a conservative; but in recent years I have taken the stance that I have little respect for parties. I do this because it seems like crappy policies have come from either side of the isle.

In the case of global warming I do feel that elements of it are true. Isn't it our responsibility to be good stewards of the planet of which God has given us dominion? Or perhaps we should just go on doing nothing, buring fossil fuels and increasing the environmental problems rather than finding a real solution. After all global warming is a myth right?

Dogs and Cats Living Together!

OK, this video will put all the confusion to rest. Herein, Algore's concerns are put into terms we can all understand and appreciate.


Maybe we should all just slit our wrists now, and get it over with.

In reality, I think Algore must have been a Ghostbusters fan back in the day, and now he is suffering from delusions of grandeur. He is now the Master Ghostbuster and he has sold his bill of goods to the world. Sadly, much of the world has bought it.

To Clarify

If you're confused about the last post, here's the original.

If you haven't seen this yet, you need to.

Happy

Our little smarty pants.

A little earlier I asked Asher if he wanted to go on a walk. When I went to get his shoes and hat I was surprised to see him walk up to me with his arm through one of the sleeves of his coat. It's even more surprising that he had his right arm through his right sleeve.

I never cease to be amazed by how smart he really is at almost 17 months old. I can hardly wait to see how he will be when he is older.

Hah!

I thought of you, Abby!




'









View outside... note, only top of mailbox visible.












Normal view... note, sizeable shrubs- only the tops are visible.

Last week I noticed my tulips and hyacinths were pushing up... Sad.

Enough said.

Issued by The National Weather Service
Baltimore/Washington, MD
11:33 am EST, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010

... EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS CONTINUING THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON REGION... CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND... SOUTHERN MARYLAND... AND THE EASTERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA...

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THIS AFTERNOON. LIFE THREATENING BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE REGION AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY EVENING. THE MARYLAND STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION IS URGING ALL MARYLAND DRIVERS TO STAY OFF THE ROADS DUE TO THE EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE CITY OF BALTIMORE HAS IMPLEMENTED PHASE III OF THEIR SNOW PLAN... WHICH MEANS THAT ONLY EMERGENCY VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD.

WIND GUSTS OVER 40 MPH ARE OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE AREA... COUPLED WITH FALLING HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW... PRODUCING WHITE-OUT CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION WEST OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING BEFORE GRADUALLY SUBSIDING AFTER 8:00 PM.

WHILE ALL REGIONS IN THE AREA ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS... BALTIMORE COUNTY... THE CITY OF BALTIMORE... AND ANNE ARUNDEL AND HARFORD COUNTIES IN MARYLAND ARE EXPERIENCING PARTICULARLY PERILOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS THROUGH 3:00 PM.

PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO PANIC... BUT TO SIMPLY STAY INSIDE... ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE INDOOR ACTIVITIES... AND RIDE THIS STORM OUT... THE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS WILL BE IMPROVING LATER THIS EVENING.

IF YOU GET STRANDED IN YOUR VEHICLE... DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR TO TRY TO WALK FOR ASSISTANCE... YOU CAN QUICKLY BECOME DISORIENTED IN WIND DRIVEN SNOW AND COLD. THIS STORM WILL SUBSIDE EARLY THIS EVENING... SO WAIT IN YOUR CAR FOR EMERGENCY HELP TO ARRIVE. PERIODICALLY RUN YOUR ENGINE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES EACH HOUR FOR HEAT. ENSURE YOUR EXHAUST PIPE IS CLEARED OF SNOW AND ICE. CRACK YOUR WINDOWS TO AVOID CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. TIE A COLORED CLOTH TO YOUR CARS ANTENNA OR WINDOW TO BE VISIBLE TO RESCUERS. FROM TIME-TO-TIME... MOVE YOUR ARMS... LEGS... FINGERS... AND TOES TO KEEP BLOOD CIRCULATING.

I take your Cleveland and raise you a Virginia...

This year, at least, the winter has been awful. 30 inches on the ground 6-12 more tonight.

You should move to Cleveland - we did!

Forbes.com has ranked Cleveland as the #1 WORST weather winter cities to live in.

So happy we live here!

Be happy.

How can you not smile at this?

Your Opinion Please

So, Dad and I went to 2012. Kind of good special effects. My question to all of you is, is the water destruction at the end an anti-God kind of thing? Remember how Noah was told that the rainbow would be God's covenant that the earth would never again be covered by water... There are movies out there that mock those who believe in God. I didn't see it, but the movie, "The Invention of Lying" spends a good deal of movie time advocating atheism. What do you think? Am I being conspiracy theoryish? Or, are there evil and conspiring men trying to destroy our collective belief in God?

Mom