Helaman's Army Forums: Recent Posts

Helaman's Army Forums: Recent Posts http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ Keeping the faithful strong! en Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:40:29 +0000 bkb on "Vote!" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=17#post-21 Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:37:21 +0000 bkb 21@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ Linds, you are so right! My younger sister has been very active in registering students to vote on Campus for probably a decade or more. She doesn't get paid and they only seek to register people who are eligible. I have a cousin with a felony who was very happy to learn at a voter registration both that based on a law that passed years back that she is now eligble to vote. She does not take the privelege for granted. It may surprise you to learn that she is actually Conservative in the canidates that she generally supports. She has made her mistakes but has a strong Catholic background like me so is Pro-life and also from her father has been brought up with a Conservative mindset. Jonathan on "BIG CHANGES" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=18#post-20 Thu, 06 Nov 2008 23:12:49 +0000 Jonathan 20@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ As you might have seen by now, the site looks different. That wasn't by accident - I've been thinking a lot lately about our current political and religious positions and I feel very strongly that I have a opportunity to do my part in passing the word of prophets of old (even relatively newer ones too) about what's happening in our world, and the global world. The tone of the site will change also, but feel down - I still would love for anyone to write articles, mine though will reflect my new commitment to talking about what's happening in the government, politics, secret combinations, etc. Also if you happen to notice anything weird with the site, let me know - I'm still working out all the kinks with the theme. Lady_Linds on "Vote!" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=17#post-19 Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:57:47 +0000 Lady_Linds 19@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I know there's been a lot of scandal [at least here in Ohio] about voter fraud, and that there may be fraudulent votes going to the polls. Nevertheless, I believe it our privilege and civic responsibility go out and make our [informed] vote. Hopefully we've all been listening to [and reading about] the candidates; what their goals are [and how they will accomplishment]. Although I do have a strong leaning one way. I think my role should just to remind others to make their voice be heard. If you're still unsure of who to vote for there is a good source online (non-partisan that lists all candidates) at [url=http://www.votesmart.org] or [/url=http://www.gotoquiz.com/candidates/2008-quiz.html]. I hope this helps those undecided voters make an intelligent decision, and help their beliefs, values, and voices heard. Jonathan on "Ron Paul - Something Big s Happening" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=16#post-18 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:45:37 +0000 Jonathan 18@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ <a href="http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2008/cr070908h.htm">Article</a> For a position that requires upholding the Consitution (like say the President), you would expect speeches like Ron Pauls to be more common place, or for that matter not so common place because we wouldn't be in the mire like we are if we had better men in office. I hope you take the time to read his speech, and I hope you catch what he's saying about certain time periods and what happened during those time periods. If you've listened to any of Benson's or Skousen's talks about the government it's should be all too familiar. It's almost as if Ron Paul helped write those talks or vice-a-versa. It should be alarming that there aren't a lot of people in our government who say things like this, or think this way. It's even more alarming that not one single candidate for President has said anything remotely close to this. It's a shame he didn't make it... Jonathan on "Sharing the Gospel using the Internet" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=15#post-17 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:18:18 +0000 Jonathan 17@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ YES! When I saw that headline on the newest issue of the Ensign [<a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=72443645a2cba110VgnVCM100000176f620a____">Sharing the Gospel using the Internet</a>] I was excited. I've had this site up for years, and I've finally gotten it a point that makes me very happy - and I've loved all those who've stood by all the trouble and problems. But I'm glad to know that the church is embracing these technologies, even if there is still a huge possibility for exploitation. It use to be when you'd go looking for LDS related information you'd have to wallow through a lot of anti and ex mormon garbage to find what you were looking for. I've noticed lately how much that has changed. Don't get me wrong, you'll still run into the occasional heated remark - even on here - I feel no remorse deleting comments of that nature, but it seems more and more mormons are opening up on the web - and this is GREAT! I think more mormons should have blogs or other Gospel dedicated sites, getting different opinions and takes on the Gospel helps everyone involved. So keep it up mormons and bring the Gospel to the world. Jonathan on "The 4 things we should be doing" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=14#post-16 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:07:57 +0000 Jonathan 16@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I was just reading over "Our Divine Constitution" and thinking about the 4 tasks given to us by President Benson. 1. We must be righteous 2. We must learn the principles of the Constitution in the tradition of the Founding Fathers 3. We must become involved in civic affairs to see that we are properly represented 4. We must make our influence felt by our vote, our letters, our teaching, and our advice I'd to take a minute and add my own thoughts to this, some 21 years later and having the benefit of some hindsight. It's rather prophetic, that the first task is being righteous, in fact we must be - and look at what's happening to this country as the moral footings which use to be so prominent are being traded in for money and power and other worldly treasures. We have seem a number of Constitutional legislation come and go that would make the Founding Fathers cry. But do we even know what we're giving away? Have we studied the Constitution enough to know what's even happening on capital hill? President Benson asks the same question that Cleon Skousen asks, are you ready? Do you have the knowledge to "be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction"? I know I'm not. In fact my wife and I often discuss what we're suppose to do, we feel helpless sometimes on what we can do. But I feel there is a lot of little things you can start doing at home right away. The internet is a boon of information, you can find the text of the Constitution, church talks, and other references in a matter minutes that you can read - knowledge is easy to come by, if you're willing to put some in. This is a double here because with your knowledge you can share it with your kids and pass on a deep sense of patriotism that they may not be learning at school. Our next leaders are the children of today. I brought this section of the forums together because I want to learn more about our Constitution and the divinity of it. I want others to share their ideas and opinions and advice and together we can fulfill our destiny in keeping this nation free. Jonathan on "Links - audio, text, web" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=13#post-15 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:47:24 +0000 Jonathan 15@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ You can links to important talks that are on topic specific to this forum. If you have links you think people should use send me a message to add them. Ezra Taft Benson Audio · <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=87">The Constitution -- Under a Heavenly Banner</a> · <a href="http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1636">The Proper Role of Government</a> Text · <a href="http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=632e79356427b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1">Our Divine Constituion</a> · <a href="http://www.latterdayconservative.com/ezra-taft-benson/secret-combinations-etb.html">Secret Combinations</a> · <a href="http://www.latterdayconservative.com/ezra-taft-benson/index.php">LDS Conservative - List of Ezra Taft Benson Talks</a> Cleon Skousen Audio · <a href="http://www.latterdayconservative.com/downloads/view.download.html">Secrect Combinations and Freedom</a> Text · <a href="http://www.latterdayconservative.com/w.-cleon-skousen/index.php">LDS Conservative - List of Cleon Skousen Talks</a> Jonathan on "Yalta Conference -> Operation Keelhaul" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=12#post-14 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:44:30 +0000 Jonathan 14@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ In a talk given by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleon_Skousen">Cleon Skousen</a> entitled "Secret Combinations and Freedoms" he discusses the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalta_Conference">Yalta Conference</a> lightly which piqued my interest in what happened there. So I read what wikipedia had on it. In the same talk Skousens explains how we were loosing millions of people under the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_curtain">Iron Curtain</a> after Yalta, the people that we had been over there fighting and dieing to save. At the end of the wikipedia article it links to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Keelhaul">Operation Keelhaul</a>. Whic goes on to explain exactly how so many people ended up back under the curtain after the war. <blockquote>One of the conclusions of the Yalta Conference was that the Allies would return all Soviet citizens that found themselves in the Allied zone to the Soviet Union. This immediately affected the Soviet prisoners of war liberated by the Allies, but was also extended to all Eastern European refugees. On March 31, 1945, Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt concluded the final form of their plans in a secret codicil to the agreement. Outlining the plan to forcibly return the refugees to the Soviet Union, this codicil was kept secret from the American and British people for over fifty years.</blockquote> <blockquote>The name of the operation comes from the practice of torture, keelhauling. In his book Operation Keelhaul, Julius Epstein states: "That our Armed Forces should have adopted this term as its code name for deporting by brutal force to concentration camp, firing squad, or hangman's noose millions who were already in the lands of freedom, shows how little the high brass thought of their longing to be free."</blockquote> So how do I reconcile this with the gospel, well this is more of a reference for the talk by Skousen, but also you can see the effects of forcing people to do what you want. Parallel that to satan's plan of the removal of free agency and you have what went on behind the curtain. People who were free were now oppressed and killed. While you'll probably want to listen to the <a href="http://www.latterdayconservative.com/downloads/view.download.html">talk</a> to further discuss it, not to mention that there's so much more in it. Jonathan on "Explanation of this forum" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=11#post-13 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:05:44 +0000 Jonathan 13@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ This area is dedicated to talking and discussing topics discussed by church Presidents and other church leaders that deal with subjects like Secret Combinations, The Constitution, Government, Education, etc. If you participate in these discussion, please remember that the basis of this forum is still centered in the Gospel and should always be an underlying thought in your post. Please try to use documented or quotable sources to reference your points, so that others may use them in their own study of the topics. Thank You Jonathan Jonathan on "Library" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=10#post-12 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:41:16 +0000 Jonathan 12@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I added a library section for books that I've read. I think that it will work for other authors too. Log in and let me know if you see any way of adding books under "Now Reading" bkb on "habits" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=9#post-11 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 03:19:13 +0000 bkb 11@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ A trainer at a former company where I worked stressed how important good habits were. He said that even on a bad day that he could come across good on the phone when he used good habits. I think that it is said that a habit can be formed in thirty days. When something is part of our routine it really doesn't quite seem right to skip it. The analogy of brushing one's teeth is a common one to use when it comes to habits. I have always been rather fanatical about brushing my teeth before bed. There are some good things that I have had habits with in my daily life too. And when I have low points, it is good to know that I can count on myself to still stick with my habits. And I do believe that I have been blessed to hold on as much as I have through my habits. There are important things that I have fallen away from doing and it is so hard for personal reasons to get back on track there. I'm glad that I don't have vices in word of wisdom or other important areas. I think it is harder to stop a vice in many cases than to start a positive habit. Well, that may be a reflection on me who is so grateful that I did not start certain habits in the first place. Well, these are some of my random thoughts on habits. bkb on "Service" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=8#post-10 Sun, 25 May 2008 01:22:22 +0000 bkb 10@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ A common attribute in some of the people who I respect the most is their willingness to serve others. Linds, I think you gave a great least of reasons to serve. I find it interesting how doing good can feel so good. :) Lady_Linds on "Service" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=8#post-9 Sat, 24 May 2008 18:14:58 +0000 Lady_Linds 9@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I had to put this in part of the Gospel because whenever I think of service I think of Jesus Christ who was my example of how I can serve others. Lately I've been thinking about service. How I can serve others, how I can teach my children to serve, and how I feel when I give service (and how to give service joyfully). I recalled there was a talk on service this past general conference that really touched me so I thought I would touch on a few points that Elder Amado (of the Seventy) made. Full link at <a href="http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-13,00.html" rel="nofollow">http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-851-13,00.html</a> As I already pointed out, Jesus Christ is our ultimate example because no other could Atone for our sins and enable us to come back to our Heavenly Father. I recall Jesus having the children come unto him and I know he would let these little ones sit on his lap. I consider the image of him with a child or the fact he would want my child to sit on his lap and I have to smile. He healed so many [physically and spiritually]. So how are we blessed through our service? We get to know God better; service gives us purpose; service helps make us stronger [in faith]; we become more virtuous and put aside our vices; the Holy Ghost can better dwell with us; we become more optimistic; will learn to depend on the Lord; and we're serving God when serving others. How do you serve? (according to Lindsay)... Well I guess the most obvious answer would be to fulfill your calling to the best of your ability. It doesn't matter if you are a stake president, a primary teacher, a deacon, a visiting teacher, or cub scout leader... if you fill that calling with a sincere heart you'll notice a difference. I have found that Heavenly Father has given me callings that help me love those I am serving. I have learned to love and honor my ancestors and relatives more through genealogy and temple work; I have learned to love [all of the ]primary children through being a teacher; I have learned to love my fellow sisters through being a compassionate service committee member and my multiple visiting teaching related callings. Each time I was honestly afraid I wouldn't be able to do what Heavenly Father had asked me to do. I have finally (after 8 years in the Church) realized that Heavenly Father is trying to help me love those I serve as Jesus did. I don't think I'm quite there yet, but I'm confident that He's giving me these calling to grow and be able to serve those I meet. I've found that the service doesn't have to be anything big (to the person giving the service). I have been touched many times to what I thought was an amazing feat to only have the person come back and tell me it wasn't a big deal to them. A small treat, a simple complement, a small private prayer, childcare (my favorite form of service to give and receive.. LOL!) It doesn't take much to bless our own lives and the lives of others. bkb on "how to blog" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=7#post-8 Sat, 17 May 2008 18:31:49 +0000 bkb 8@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ Helaman, I think it is gret that we are now with wordpress. I was not sure how to access the blogs though. When I go to that area, it looks like I might need to download something. Or am I already set up? Maybe you could send me a link if I am already set up. Everything looks great! bkb on "Ok to believe in Aliens?" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=5#post-7 Sat, 17 May 2008 15:40:57 +0000 bkb 7@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I think a lot of said to think that in a whole Universe that we are the only ones is hard to believe. On the other hand, I believe we have been told that none of the people from the other planets would ever visit us. That really sounds reasonable when you consider that it would take a year to go to Mars if we were to have the same mode of transportation that it takes to go to the moon from what I have heard. bkb on "My Visiting Teacher/My Friend" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=6#post-6 Sat, 17 May 2008 15:26:43 +0000 bkb 6@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ This is more of a blog type entry but as I just registered and am not quite sure how the blog opererates, I thought I would post this here. My visiting teacher would laugh at my comments. I wasn't necessarily trying to elicit a laugh. It made me feel so good and normal that she would laugh at me when I would share a thought or comment. As my circumstances make it difficult to have visitors in my home now or to go places, these were phone contacts. Sometimes she would not call for a time of maybe or month or more and say that she was a bad Visiting Teacher. I wish that she did not feel that way. It is so important to let a person know though that you have good intentions as she did. Her acceptance of me was the service that I needed. She was easy to talk with about a variety of subjects. As I had a background in elementary education having majored in that at one time, we had discussions in that area. She had a teaching degree and had taught in schools at the kindergarten level and also for Adults learning English. At the time, she was Home Schooling her daughter in kindergarten. I found it interesting to learn of the curriculum she used that had a very strong reading emphasis for kindergarten. I caught up on her extended family in our conversations. I had known her when we were both single and also some of the family that she married into. I really liked her husband's sister who I had known a little since she was in my ward. Her husband's sister had such a sweet way about her and would invite me to sit with her at Church. I remember his sister sharing her testimony once and how very pure her heart was in sharing that people can let you down but God can never let you down. Her words showed someone overflowing with love for her Heavenly Father and a desire to convey that message. Her husband's brother was a friend of mine from Young Single Adult Days and for so many reasons one of the men that I have so much respect for as a person and a friend. It was nice to hear about him now as he was married and of his family and his wife's family who I knew a little. His wife's sister was one of my visiting teaching companions at one time. She was sensitive to ask if it would be okay to visit in my home. I let her know that was not possible. Once she made cookies around the holidays and asked if she could bring them by. I declined. I felt bad in decling but I think she understood. In her conversations, I enjoyed hearing her feelings as a mom. In talking about food storage, she said how she could go to bed hungry but how terrible she would feel if her children ever had to go to bed hungry. Her protective side also came out in our conversations. I shared with her how I felt taking a nutritional supplement was helping me to be more stable. She said that some people need that in a matter-of-fact way. She never made me feel odd as she was so comfortable to speak with. In speaking of my personal struggles once, she made a comparison to my condition and a person being overweight. She said that if it were so easy to just eat less and exercise more that everyone would be thin. Although we were talking about my condition that was unrelated to weight, I felt it a very apt analogy. It made me feel that she did not minimize my struggles nor did she think there was an easy fix. At Church, she would come up to speak to me sometimes. I liked sitting ahead of them in the pew as their daughter in first grade sang the words quite well for a girl her age. One Sunday, I was asked to share a poem that I wrote about Christmas that I had shared with my Bishop previously. She complimented my poem. I told her about another poem that I wrote about people being there for someone in their time of need. She asked for a copy. That means so much to me when someone cares enough to ask for a copy. What I create is something generally to my liking and not necessarily to what a critic would look for. However, it is a way that I communicate. She said that she could not write herself and did not even like how her journal sounds. I think I admitted that I don't do so well writing in my journal. I do much better if I am writing for an audience. Maybe that is the Communication major in me. I don't think I am too self-effacing but I did say that people with a lot of idiosyncracies like me tend to be writers. She agreed in her sweet way how that is often the case. Here is the poem that I shared with her and emailed that is dedicated to so many. Thank you for your every prayer When I was in sore despair. Thank you for helping me again to reason. In what has been my darkest season. In times of peril, thank you for being unwaveringly kind. Thank you for the humor that you did astutely find. Thank you for treating me with dignity. Without you, I do not know where I would be. Thank you Visiting Teacher for being what I needed----a friend!! Jonathan on "Ok to believe in Aliens?" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=5#post-5 Wed, 14 May 2008 20:41:43 +0000 Jonathan 5@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I found this post on yahoo - thought it was kind of interesting that the Catholic church is easing some stances on science. "How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation." <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_aliens" rel="nofollow">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080513/ap_on_re_eu/vatican_aliens</a> Jonathan on "Science and Religion" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=4#post-4 Wed, 14 May 2008 14:20:21 +0000 Jonathan 4@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ Some may remember (or know) I've always maintained that science and religion aren't at odds with each other. It's us more like we're at odds with reconciling them. Someday, we'll understand them and how they connect. But it looks like I'm not the only one (I know there's probably a lot more then just two of us). I found an article about a couple in a different religion grasping the same concept. I can't vouch for what they say - I haven't read or seen anything they put out, but here's the article: <a href="http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/61738" rel="nofollow">http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/61738</a> Jonathan on "Is it really a picture of Joseph Smith?" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=3#post-3 Tue, 13 May 2008 21:56:23 +0000 Jonathan 3@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ I'm not sure how many of you might have run across this yet, but it's a week or so old. It's about a picture, specifically a daguerreotype image. The article is interesting, but I guess it's up to you whether or not you believe it. <a href="http://origin.sltrib.com/faith/ci_9128850" rel="nofollow">http://origin.sltrib.com/faith/ci_9128850</a> Jonathan on "A change again" http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/topic.php?id=2#post-2 Tue, 13 May 2008 14:39:08 +0000 Jonathan 2@http://helamans-army.com/forums/bbpress/ Yes, I went to update and well - I've finally had it with Drupal! I'm done with it! I've moved the site over to Wordpress and (since I run another blog on it and have had no troubles) I feel this will be easier on me. Sorry for the change, bkb and Lady_Linds are set up as authors to contribute - if anyone else wants to be one join and let me know.