Another chapter in my baking adventures. (more…)

Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain.

–Thus Frederic Bastiat

Words of Lemuel Sturdevant Leavitt (1827-1916):

Our crops had been very poor. There was never enough water for each man to irrigate his scanty acres. We not only had our own families to feed, but often the Indians came and demanded bread. One winter was particularly hard. Our crops were more meager than usual and the winter was extra-long and severe. Our bins, as well as those of most of our neighbors, were getting pretty low so it was decided that I should make a trip to Parowan to replenish our supply of flour. At that time it was a hazardous undertaking, for in the winter a trip over the snow covered mountains to the north, with no road to follow, was a real undertaking, however, it was necessary that someone make the trip. (more…)

[For previous discussions of the Benedict Option, see here]

In reducing his signature idea to book form, Rod Dreher set a clear, if daunting, task for himself: 1) Describe the challenges that serious Christians face in the modern world due to increasing secularism, and 2) Propose solutions to meet those challenges. (more…)

In my last post, I proposed some axioms to guide legislators in formulatings laws that are likely establish civil liberty in a free society.

(more…)

Sunday evening two days ago I had a follow-up conversation with a young mathematician, a son of members of my ward. A couple years ago I asked him about his area of work, but there wasn’t much for me to connect with—something vague about mapping manifolds. The Sunday before last I saw him again at a reception for a departing missionary couple and learned that he will begin a post-doctoral position in Finland, so I asked him, “Why Finland?” “Well, Finland is a small place, so the math research there is focused on a particular area that happens to be my area. I’ll be working with my PhD advisor’s advisor.” “And what is that area?” I asked, fearing that the answer would be as vague as before. Instead he simply said, “Complex analysis.”

There couldn’t have been an answer of more interest to me. (more…)

Everybody says they want more in-depth journalism, more serious and thoughtful discussion on cable-news shows, and more highbrow programming, but what everybody actually watches is porn and the Sean Hannity show.

Thus Kevin D. Williamson

Christ brings us the infinite power of repentance – but modern Man does not understand the need for it; because he does not understand the nature of sin, and will not make the effort to understand it.

Therefore, we need a way of explaining what Christ did for us in a way that avoids mention of sin, and emphasises the positive nature of his great gift.

Sin is inevitable in this mortal life – therefore repentance is vital; and indeed sufficient (even for the worst of sins).

Repentance is, ultimately, to live by the two great commandments – love of God and of fellow men. Because repentance = the desire to become part of the divine family: the choice to take up our places as sons and daughters of God.

Love of God and Neighbour translates to the desire to live eternally as a part of the Heavenly Family.

Repentance is the wish to become part of God’s holy family, and the acceptance of what that entails.

So – the gift of Jesus Christ was his invitation to join God’s family for eternity; including the ability to do so; the choice is therefore whether we want to accept this gift; or not.

The inestimable Rod Dreher relates a panel discussion on religious freedom, discussing the Benedict option. There are a lot of good things to relate from it, but the thing that most impressed me, was the inability to even imagine withdrawing from the World. It is too much intertwined with most so-called Christians. Resisting the World is more than a great many can do, much less completely withdrawing. A majority of those who call themselves Christians, are only Christians in name only.

Alas, I do not think there is anywhere for us to physically flee, and we are not ready for Lunar/Martian/Venusian/Jovian colonization. But withdrawing from the World (its blood and sins, and necrotizing philosophy) is something we must withdraw from, as part of our salvation.

This article makes an interesting thesis, that the way children are being raised now, makes them more accepting of an authoritarian society, because they never had the free time, or freedom, to do as they please. If they have always looked to adults for direction, if they haven not learned anything else, then they will continue to look to others, such as government, when they are older.

One important foundation of freedom are found in childhood play and children learning to act.

Is American Childhood Creating an Authoritarian Society?

I have had an inchoate feeling that our nation’s philosophy on parenting is largely as unhealthy as the immoral society that spawned it. This is one manifestation of that.

Gummy vitamins?  (more…)

And cats. And ducks, puppies, monkeys, and miniature horse.

(more…)

On Sunday, I taught some 9- and 10-year-olds about the creation of the Doctrine and Covenants. We talked about how almost all of the revelations in it came through Joseph Smith, although there are also sections by John Taylor, Brigham Young, and Joseph F. Smith. I also took the liberty (sorry/not sorry, Curriculum Department), of directing their attention to the Official Declarations at the end, regarding the cessation of polygamy and the extension of the priesthood to blacks.

“Wait, so we used to be racist?”

Well, of course they didn’t know. (more…)

I would like to resume my exploration of the meaning of freedom by contrasting the approaches to criminal and civil law advocated by Freemen and Consumers.

(more…)