What Every Freshman Should Know...

From the post below, you can see that I have been reading statements on socialism by modern prophets and apostles. While I was doing that, I came across this talk of Elder Boyd K. Packer given to a graduating class at Utah State University in 1973. This talk hit me right in the heart as I remember some of the challenges I faced in my classes with my different professors.
My biology class at BYU taught many things that didn't sit well with me. I sat in that class confused and frustrated. My Romantic Lit. professor was a tool and a half, in love with himself and his own voice and the students who flattered and patronized him. I was not one of those and he made me miserable.
My favorite professor taught Shakespeare. Dr. Glade Hunsaker had such a love of beautiful language, beautiful music and noble ideas. I am a better person because I was a member of that class. Class lasted about 5 electric minutes and we left with our brains abuzz with loveliness. Sometimes Dr. Hunsaker would sing to us bits of his favorite operas (Pilgrim's Chorus) and weave the stories into our lesson. I've always liked opera and I loved that. Dr. Hunsaker taught us how the study of great beauty can make us more beautiful and how close art can bring us to divinity. I remember being so happy in that class. I knew the things that I was learning were good and right. I hope my daughters will have teachers like Dr. Hunsaker.
You have to be so wise so young these days. There are those who want to help you up and those who want to trip you up. What Every Freshman Should Know is wise council for all of us searching for truth. I read it aloud to my family tonight. I hope some sunk in, but I'm not taking any chances. I will be reading it aloud again soon. I think it would be great for the first of every school year.

Socialism and the United Order...

Recently, the S.L. Tribune posted an article called The case for Book of Mormon Socialism. This topic crops up periodically and so I want to offer up some information here from the most reliable sources I know. And, I hope that if you have any questions on this issue, you will do some further study. This is one of the important questions of our time and each member of the church ought to have this settled in their own mind.

“[The Constitution] is the keystone of our nation. It is the guarantee of our liberty. That original document, with the Bill of Rights, constitutes the charter of our freedom. Through all of the years that have followed we have had some ambitious men who have sought to subvert the great principles of the Constitution, but somehow we have endured one crisis after another. We have been involved in terrible wars during this, the bloodiest of all centuries in the history of man. All of this is part of the miracle that is America, the struggle, the travail, the bitterness, the jealousies, the cynicism, and the criticism. But beyond and above it all is the wonder of a nation that for more than two centuries has remained free and independent and strong, the envy of the world, the hope of the world, the protection of free men everywhere, the manifestation of the power of the Almighty.” ["Keep Faith with America", commencement address given at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah on 6 May 1999.] President Gordon B. Hinckley

The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of great wealth, and possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit. Elections often turn on what the candidates promise to do for voters from government funds. This practice, if universally accepted and implemented in any society, will make slaves of its citizens.
We cannot afford to become wards of the government, even though we have a legal right to do so. It requires too great a sacrifice in self-respect and in political, temporal, and spiritual independence. In Mine Own Way ~President Marion G. Romney (This whole talk is very helpful on this subject).

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the fights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;
That every man may act in doctrine and principle pertaining to futurity, according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment.
Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.
And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. (D. & C. 101:77-80)

More HERE...

I have included 4 different talks on my other blog if you are interested... but, if you look just a little, there is much more.