Religion and Politics

On May 14, 2009, in Politics & Elections, Religion & Faith, by Trenton Hansen

The Patriot Post today is carrying an important essay by Mark Alexander, entitled “Religion and Politics Don’t Mix?”

An excellent point he makes in the essay is that the Declaration of Independence asserts that our Rights (a political term) originate not from our political relationship to a State, but from our religious relationship to the Creator, God.

He points out that the Left has been busy for decades trying to convince people that there is a wall of separation between Religion and the State, and that we should never mingle them.

The old aphorisms, “Religion and Politics Don’t Mix,” and “You can’t Legislate morality” are both products of what Alexander says is a dumbing down of American culture. I would agree. I remember my parents repeating the idea that you can’t legislate morality. It was something they learned in their youth, which was originally passed down from the Progressive movement in America.

If the 60′s did have a silver lining, it was that we learned to question everything. For the Left, it was about questioning the remnants of the Old Authority. For today’s generation, the tables have turned. Now it’s about questioning the authority of the established Left, whose chickens are, indeed, coming home to roost.

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The Intolerant Left

On November 14, 2008, in Gay Marriage, by Trenton Hansen

Here are some examples of evil in action. So much for tolerance.

So far, these people have proven themselves to be irrational, violent, hypocrites who resort to vandalism and book-burning–all the things they have always claimed to hate–when they don’t get their way.

They live in a free society where they are protected by more special legislation, more than any other group in America. But they will not accept the rules of that society and resort to sedition. They don’t deserve the blessings of a free society.

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Say No To Religious Bigotry

On November 4, 2008, in Gay Marriage, Religion & Faith, by Trenton Hansen

The opponents of Proposition 8 apparently have no shame and no class. Hopefully by the time this election is over, the results will show they had no credibility as well.

Go to their website and goive them a piece of your mind. This shouldn’t be tolerated for any reason.

Benson: I Testify

On November 4, 2008, in Religion & Faith, by Trenton Hansen

One of the final speeches given by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, this testimony, entitled “I Testify,” was delivered in October General Conference, 1988.

It was one of the most powerful speeches I had ever heard. I was serving a mission for the LDS Church at the time, and I clearly remember it.

Since then, I have come back to it time and time again to refresh my memory of what he said. His words are timeless, and should be read aloud in every street in every city in America. We need leaders like this more than ever now.

This portion of the speech bears special significance today.

“I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14–16; D&C 84:49–53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. A secret combination that seeks to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries is increasing its evil influence and control over America and the entire world. (See Ether 8:18–25.)”

“I testify that the church and kingdom of God is increasing in strength. Its numbers are growing, as is the faithfulness of its faithful members. It has never been better organized or equipped to perform its divine mission.”

“I testify that as the forces of evil increase under Lucifer’s leadership and as the forces of good increase under the leadership of Jesus Christ, there will be growing battles between the two until the final confrontation. As the issues become clearer and more obvious, all mankind will eventually be required to align themselves either for the kingdom of God or for the kingdom of the devil. As these conflicts rage, either secretly or openly, the righteous will be tested. God’s wrath will soon shake the nations of the earth and will be poured out on the wicked without measure. (See JS-H 1:45; D&C 1:9.) But God will provide strength for the righteous and the means of escape; and eventually and finally truth will triumph. (See 1 Ne. 22:15–23.)”

“I testify that it is time for every man to set in order his own house both temporally and spiritually. It is time for the unbeliever to learn for himself that this work is true, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter–day Saints is the kingdom which Daniel prophesied God would set up in the latter days, never to be destroyed, a stone that would eventually fill the whole earth and stand forever. (See Dan. 2:34–45; D&C 65:2.) It is time for us, as members of the Church, to walk in all the ways of the Lord, to use our influence to make popular that which is sound and to make unpopular that which is unsound. We have the scriptures, the prophets, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now we need eyes that will see, ears that will hear, and hearts that will hearken to God’s direction.”

Amen.

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I have heard several commentators, including Rush Limbaugh, voice their concerns about the state of today’s Democratic Party. Well, it seems the Democratic Party is in great shape after all. How could it not be with all those people intent on saving us from ourselves?

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Talks between Warren Jeffs’s polygamist sect Yearning for Zion and the State of Texas fell apart Friday when a district court judge decided to expand the ruling of the Texas Supreme Court and add additional restrictions and qualifications that must be met before the children will be returned to their families.

Judge Barbara Walther did not produce any authorization under State law for this usurpation of authority, to which several attorneys for the sect rightly objected. They pointed out that she had no right to expand on a ruling made by a higher court, and they counseled their clients not to sign the new requirements.

MSN has one version of the story here. I believe with this expansion of the ruling, many people will focus on the judge’s justifications but completely miss the whole point of the case.

It is essentially about legal kidnapping. And the Yearning for Zion group proved in court that the State Child Protective Services removed those 400 children under the color of law, but without legal justification. If you or I were to do the same, we would be prosecuted as kidnappers facing serious prison time. Since when does any government agency have the right to seize anything without due process, even if the life of a child is threatened?

The Texas Supreme Court ruling basically says the Texas CPS agency was wrong to remove those children. Now what would you or I do in such a case? Apologize? Hopefully, and do everything we could to right the wrong. So what does the State of Texas do? I have yet to hear any apologies from any state official, and instead of seeking to return the children as quickly as possible, officials are finding excuses not to return the children.

To make matters worse, this district judge refuses to let any of the children return to their families unless her demands are met. What is this other than legal terrorism? What is this other than blackmail? She holds the fate of the children in her hands, and unless she gets what she wants, she will ignore the Supreme Court’s ruling. She is holding these families hostage, and who is going to stop her? In my opinion, Judge Walther believes she can make such demands because her aim is only to keep the children away from their birth parents for as long as possible, hoping that exposure to other lifestyles will eventually break down the cult’s hold on them.

Where are we headed when the judges and the government ignore the Rule of Law? Judge Walther, by her actions, is demonstrating that in her jurisdictions the law of will prevails–her will. But the rule of will is tyranny. How long will we let officials trample on our rights like this? How long will it be before your children are threatened with removal because of some unproven allegation? Will you just stand there and let it happen?

Our officials need to be constantly reminded that they are bound by the law as much as any other citizen. We should be reminding them often that their authority is not granted by the office they hold, but by We the People who created those offices. We must not tolerate the government overreaching it’s legal bounds for any reason, no matter how well-intentioned.

Memorial Day 2008

On May 26, 2008, in War on Terror, by Trenton Hansen

Today is a hard day for my wife and I. Today we remember our little one, Ellie, who passed into the next world on December 12, 2007, after only two days of life. She was of greater stuff than this world could bear and so God, in his grace, let us hold her close for a few hours and then took her unto himself.

We named her Elisha, which means “God shall save.” God whispered the name to her mother in the days before her birth. We did not know how profound the name would become. God truly has saved her; saved her from a life during the most troubling and terrible times in earth’s history. We know that she earned that station through her goodness and obedience. She overcame the world even before coming here.

We grieve today with the parents and siblings and children of our fallen ones, taken from us in battle. They are truly heroes, and will be remembered in the eternities for their sacrifice. We salute them, and we honor their families.

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Please be certain of one thing: I do not practice polygamy.

I don’t see the issues going on in Texas as strictly limited to the followers of Warren Jeffs. I believe they are misguided, and I believe that breaking the law of the land is wrong; they should not be marrying underage girls.

But I also believe that the State of Texas overstepped its bounds when it seized the children of those people without due process. The argument used to remove the children was that they were in danger. Today, though, a Texas appeals court ruled that the State did not show sufficient evidence that the children were in danger, and did not have the right to take the children.

I am glad of this ruling. If the actions of Texas had been allowed to stand, what argument could have been made to protect other children from unlawful seizure by the state? The next time around, it could have been anyone’s children. Texas used the law to kidnap those children, plain and simple.

Texas may find that they have a tiger by the tail with these people. Not only do they have large financial resources, they are fierce proponents of the founding laws of our country. They believe that the current laws which are being enforced against them are unconstitutional, and any actions taken against them in the pursuit of that enforcement will be vigorously challenged. Texas may end up paying them a large settlement for violating their civil rights.

The Tom Green Connection

On May 19, 2008, in Constitution, Marriage, Religion & Faith, by Trenton Hansen

Remember Tom Green, the polygamist prosecuted by Juab County Prosecutor David Leavitt back in 2001?

This year, Leavitt stated during his run for Utah’s 3rd Congressional seat that the activities going on in Texas involving Warren Jeffs’s followers were a direct result of the Tom Green case.

Well, an interesting connection has turned up in the Texas case. Custody of the children seized by Texas authorities is being determined in court in Tom Green County. Is that weird or what?

That’s got to have some hidden significance. It’d be interesting to find out what.

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Read the story at Section134.com. I can’t help but wonder how much longer the Left can refrain from outright murder in the name of the earth. I don’t think it will be long. The revolutionaries are getting restless.