The Month of December

Well, everyone.. it's currently 3:46 am on December 21st, 2006. I always like to add the year whenever I write an intro as compelling as that one.. You all can glance it up and down, and if you are lucky.. turn to the person next to you and say something like, "He must think we don't know what year it is." And the two of you can laugh over something so simple as an unnecessary specification :-). Back onto topic, It's 3:46, three days into Hanukkah and three days from Christmas Eve. It's amazing how you spend enough holidays away from home, that you don't really seem to mind it as much anymore, I know what you're thinking.. if I TRULY didn't mind I wouldn't even be making mention of it in this small update entry, but I honestly felt I needed to make the point that I really don't care about the "Christmas season" before I stated how much I love the month of December. Read More...
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2 interesting quotes. compare them if you will...

Quote 1:


"The function of propaganda is, for example, not to weigh and ponder the rights of different people, but exclusively to emphasize the one right which it has set out to argue for. Its task is not to make an objective study of the truth, in so far as it favors the enemy, and then set it before the masses with academic fairness; its task is to serve our own right, always and unflinchingly.


It was absolutely wrong to discuss war-guilt from the standpoint that Germany alone could not be held responsible for the outbreak of the catastrophe; it would have been correct to load every bit of the blame on the shoulders of the enemy, even if this had not really corresponded to the true facts, as it actually did."


Quote 2:


"There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher Of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful...


In an effort to be objective impartial, and scholarly a writer or a teacher may unwittingly be giving equal time to the adversary...


In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided. There is a war going on and we are engaged in it. It is the war between good and evil, and we are belligerents defending the good. We are therefore obliged to give preference to and protect all that is represented in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we have made covenants to do it."

Read More...
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Wii!!!

Well, I completed this quarter finally. I don't have my grades yet, but I think I got 2 As.

So I got to go to my first launch Saturday night. A friend from work and I were first in line. Out of the first 5 people, 4 had Nintendo DSs, so we all got to play multiplayer together and it was a lot of fun. We were in line about an hour and a half before GameStop opened up and we could pick up our Wiis. So let me give you some first impressions. Read More...
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Okies, all done!

Yeah, I am all done with the move. Heck, most of you didn't even notice! =) That's just how good I am! Okies, well SeporahsCrib isn't back up yet, but give me a day or two, and it will be back up with updates! Read More...
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Going down for a bit

I have been paying a disgusting amount for web hosting, largely because I had planned for much more than I have been using. I have been paying roughly $60 every 3 months plus $15 a year for each domain. 4 domains makes that another $60 a year. My new hosting will be about $100 a year and free domains for life. Unfortunately it will take about 3 weeks for the domains to move over to the new server, so it looks like this site and SeporahsCrib.com will be down for about 3 weeks starting whenever they start it. Sorry folks, but we will be back and better than ever. Read More...
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Sorry folks

Not that many of you care.

I have been forced to implement a new policy concerning comments. Basically I get too many mortgage, poker and porn spammers on my site to allow anyone to comment. Now you must register on the site to comment.

I would really like more of you to comment though. It makes me feel like someone is actually reading what I write, and cares. You can post a blog here too! All you need to do is click the register link (if you havnt already registered) in the upper right hand of the screen and start a blog! Anyways, the offer is open. Read More...
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All Saints Day

What, you don't know what all Saints day is? Of course you don't. Heck, most American's don't even know what All Hallow's Eve is, even though they celebrate it! Here's a hint, it was yesterday... Read More...
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The Chicken Dance and Don't Eat Yellow Sand

Well here we are again. It's a Tuesday morning and I've already run around doing the chicken dance. (This is where I run around trying to figure out what in the world is going on! So now that I have completed said dance, my quota for dancing is over and I can calm down to write more on my short story and write alittle here, so that you all know I am still alive. Read More...
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More

So the earthquake just 10 miles west of the Big Island was a 6.5 earthquake, about 200 miles from us at 7:07 this morning. I'd say it woke us up, but I'd been up for over 3 hours (knew I should have gotten some benadryl somewhere). It's also been crazy rain here for about a week and then there was no electricity and boy was it fun. No fatalities, however there is a missing soldier in Steven's group (please exchange the word 'missing' with 'lazy and not answering the phones'). So it's all good, this would number 2 earthquake that I remember vivadly. Talk later,
Märia Read More...
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EARTHQUAKE!!!

And we're all ok, just an update. Read More...
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October Iraq Update

Hey everyone,
Well, another week has passed and we enter into the month of October. Has anything changed? Well I've moved, I'm still working with the same guy. He's a real easy guy to get along with and I think on some level he considers me a friend. We don't really hang out but we laugh about the same stuff.. (usually how stupid the people we work for are (-: ) We had a guy come in just a few days ago with a laptop to be fixed. He said the thing doesn't power up and then we plugged it in and it loaded right up. So we gave it back to him and told him it wasn't broken. The next day he comes back with it and demands that we fix it. So we took it in the other room waited about two minutes and then came back out and plugged it in for him.. showing that it was working. He says.. "you guys are amazing.' And takes it with him. Click "more" to read the rest... Read More...
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First Assignment for Speech Class

Well, my first assignment for Speech class is complete, and I thought I would post it up here for you to see. The assignment was to do a 2-4 minute speech introducing myself. I gave the speech at work in front of 7 guys I work with, but there were so many distractions that we had to refilm the vid for my instructor. Telephones and pagers and such. Anyways, here is what I have submitted to my instructor for my first grade. I will keep you posted when I get my grades. =)


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Health care politics

I was listening to a radio show and heard some disturbing news. Apparently some very OLD news. The city of San Francisco is paying for city employee's sex changes as a normal part of medical benefits. They called it a civil right! It is costing something like $40000 for hes wanting to be shes, and $80000 for shes wanting to be hes. And that is just the procedure! You have to tack on hormones and counseling and therapy and the list goes on. Click more to read the rest... Read More...
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Sitting on the lanai feeding Seporah carrots

Diced that is, she's moving up in the world, from glop to dices. She's wondering what the fuss is about and I think would prefer the glop. Unfortunately she has yet to learn the skill of feeding herself anything, not even a cracker. But fortunately she doesn't know that she has the ability to spit things out yet. We are still definitely going to need a bath anyways after this. Read More...
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Military Ball Pictures

Well, the military ball was interesting. Not quite what we imagined it would be. It was quite a bit more formal than we expected. The first hour was a real waste of time, as we did not know anyone and it was mostly a "gathering" hour. The people that we went with smartly skipped this hour and only showed up at the beginning of the second hour, when they seated us in the ballroom. Read More...
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Update from Iraq

Well, all. I have been LONG overdue for an update, and for that I apologize. Things have been busy here and I have been cherishing every tiny bit of free time allotted to me. As you all know Iíve been in Iraq for about three weeks now. I came here with a detachment of Electronics marines and we are already kicking butt and taking names (and by that I mean we are fixing broken stuff.. not shooting people). Read More...
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My talk on adversity...

This talk borrows a little from a lesson by Lynda Needham on Job and a little from a talk by Elder Monte J. Brough titled ìAdversityî, but is mostly original. I will give this talk tomorrow, but you guys get to see it first! (if you get up early enoughÖ) Click more to read the talk...
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Elitism gets such a bad rap...

Yeah. A friend today said he would buy a Mac, as they are great machines, except that it seemed people who owned Macs were elitist pricks. Lets check out dictionary.com for a nice definition of elitisim... Read More...
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Bruce R McConkie to Eugene England

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
The Council of Twelve
47 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
February 19, 1981Mr. Eugene England
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx, xx xxxxxxx

Dear Brother England:

This may well be the most important letter you have or will receive. It is written in reply to an undated letter from you which came in an envelope postmarked, September 4, 1980. Your letter enclosed a 19-page document which you had prepared under the title, "The Perfection and Progression of God: Two Spheres of Existence and Two Modes of Discourse."

In your letter and the article enclosed with it, you set forth the thesis that although God knows all things as pertaining to our sphere of existence, there are nonetheless other spheres beyond ours in which Deity continues to advance and progress in knowledge and truth. In espousing and explaining this philosophy you suppose you are harmonizing quotations from various of the early Brethren. Some of these statements emphatically say that God knows all things and has all power and others of them say that he is advancing in knowledge and understanding and is gaining new truths.

When your letter arrived I was aware of the subject material contained in it and in the enclosed article. Because I do not engage in controversy or discussion of divergent views, either orally or in writing, I simply dropped your letter in a drawer and did not bother to read it. Some four and a half months later, in January of this year, I did read your presentation for the first time. I was not at all pleased, but still thought I would have nothing to say to you on the subject.

Over the months various hearsay reports have come to me indicating that you are presenting and championing the views you sent to me. I have now reached the conclusion that it would be wise for me to depart from my usual custom and send you an answer to your letter. I do so out of respect for your parents, G. Eugene and Dora, and for your own personal well-being and for your guidance where your teachings and discussions with others are concerned.

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 2

I shall write in kindness and in plainness and perhaps with sharpness. I want you to know that I am extending to you the hand of fellowship though I hold over you at the same time, the scepter of judgment. My office door is open to you and if you feel the need for discussion with me, my secretary will be pleased to set up a mutually convenient time or times for such.

On Sunday, June 1, 1980, I spoke at one of the multi-stake firesides in the Marriott Center on the subject, "The Seven Deadly Heresies." In that talk I said:

"There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

"This is false -- utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it. It grows out of a wholly twisted and incorrect view of the King Follet Sermon and of what is meant by eternal progression.

"God progresses in the sense that his kingdoms increase and his dominions multiply -- not in the sense that he learns new truths and discovers new laws. God is not a student. He is not a laboratory technician. He is not postulating new theories on the basis of past experiences. He has indeed graduated to that state of exaltation that consists of knowing all things and having all power.

"The life that God lives is named eternal life. His name, one of them, is 'Eternal,' using that word as a noun and not as an adjective, and he uses that name to identify the type of life that he lives. God's life is eternal life, and eternal life is god's life. They are one and the same. Eternal life is the goal we shall obtain if we believe and obey and walk uprightly before him. And eternal life consists of two things. It consists of life in the family unit, and, also, of inheriting, receiving, and possessing the fulness of the glory of the Father. Anyone who has each of these things is an inheritor and possessor of the greatest of all gifts of God, which is eternal life.

"Eternal progression consists of living the kind of life God lives and of increasing in kingdoms and dominions everlastingly. Why anyone should suppose that an infinite and eternal being, who has presided in our universe for almost 2,555,000,000 years, who made the sidereal heavens, whose creations are more numerous than the particles of the earth, and who is aware of the fall of every sparrow -- why anyone would suppose that such a being has more to learn and new truths to discover in the laboratories of eternity is totally beyond my comprehension.

"Will he one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation and turn man and the universe into an uncreated nothingness? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 3

one he has already given to men in worlds without number?

"The saving truth, as revealed to and taught, formally and officially, by the prophet Joseph Smith in the Lectures on Faith is that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things, he has all power, and he is everywhere present by the power of his Spirit. And unless we know and believe this doctrine we cannot gain faith unto life and salvation.

"Joseph Smith also taught in the Lectures on Faith 'that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. These he named as:

  1. "'The idea that he actually exists';

  2. "'A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes; and

  3. "'An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to the divine will.'


"The attributes of God are given as knowledge, faith or power, justice, judgment, mercy, and truth. The perfections of God are named as 'the perfections which belong to all of the attributes of his nature,' which is to say that God possesses and has all knowledge, all faith or power, all justice, all judgment, all mercy, and all truth. He is indeed the very embodiment, personification, and source of all these attributes. Does anyone suppose that God can be 'more honest than he already is? Neither need any suppose there are truths he does not know or knowledge he does not possess."Thus Joseph Smith taught, and these are his words:

'Without the knowledge of all things, God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures, for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him.' (Cited, Mormon Doctrine, p. 264.)

"If God is just dabbling with a few truths he has already discovered, we have no idea as to the real end and purpose of creation."

The foregoing quotation is from the published version of the talk. As it was actually given it included the following

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 4

paragraph: "Will he one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation and turn man and the universe into an uncreated nothingness? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the one he has already given to men in worlds without number? I have been sorely tempted to say at this point that any who so suppose have the intellect of an ant and the understanding of a clod of miry clay in a primordial swamp -- but of course I would never say a thing like that." I deliberately deleted the last quoted sentence because it does not come out in print the way it was expressed by voice. It was said in such a tone as to draw laughter from the congregation and is of course, a normal use of hyperbole.

In that same devotional speech I said; "There are those who believe or say they believe that Adam is our father and our God, that he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and that he is the one we worship." I, of course, indicated the utter absurdity of this doctrine and said it was totally false.

Since then I have received violent reactions from Ogden Draut and other cultists in which they have expounded upon the views of Brigham Young and others of the early Brethren relative to Adam. They have plain and clear quotations saying all of the things about Adam which I say are false. The quotations are in our literature and form the basis of a worship system followed by many of the cultists who have been excommunicated from the Church. I also received, of course, your material in which you quote from Brigham Young and others of the early Brethren saying that God is progressing in knowledge.

I assume that you were aware of the foregoing quotations when you wrote me in September of 1980. In the October 1980 General Conference, without as yet having read your material, I said the following:

"True religion is found only where men worship the true and living God. False religion always results from the worship of false gods. Eternal life itself, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God, is available to those and those only who know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

"It is all the rage in this modern world to worship false gods of every sort and kind. There are those who bow before idols of wood and stone, and others who lisp their petitions to icons and images. There are those who worship cows and crocodiles, and others who acclaim Adam or Allah or Buddha as their Supreme Being.

"There are those who apply the names of Deity to some spirit essence that is immaterial, uncreated and unknowable and

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 5

that fills the immensity of space and is everywhere and nowhere in particular present.

"And there are even those who champion the almost unbelievable theory that God is an Eternal Student enrolled in the University of the Universe where he is busily engaged in learning new truths and amassing new and strange knowledge that he never knew before.

"How belittling it is -- it borders on blasphemy -- to demean the Lord God Omnipotent by saying he is an idol, or an image, or an animal, or a spirit essence, or that he is ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of all truth.

"It is the first principle of revealed religion to know the nature and kind of being that God is. As for us: 'We know [and testify] that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.' (D&C 20:17.)

"This great God, the Lord Almighty, is a personage of tabernacle. He 'has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's.' (D&C 130;22.) He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He has all power, knows all things, and, by the power of his Spirit, is in and through all things."

On Tuesday, February 17, 1981, I was the speaker at the BYU Devotional. My subject was "The Three Pillars of Eternity," under which heading I spoke of the creation, the fall and the atonement. With reference to the omnipotence and omniscience of God I said in that talk:

"Who is Elohim? He is God the Eternal Father. He is a glorified and exalted personage. He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's. In the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things and has all power -- not simply as pertaining to us or in some prescribed sphere or realm -- but in the absolute, eternal, and unlimited sense. In the ultimate sense, he is the Creator. And anything you may have heard to the contrary, whether in the creeds of Christendom or the mouthings of intellectuals who, in their own eyes, know more than the Lord, is false."

Now may I say something for your guidance and enlightenment. If what I am about to say should be taken out of context and published in Dialogue or elsewhere, it would give an entirely erroneous impression and would not properly present the facts. As it happens, I am a great admirer of Brigham Young and a great believer in his doctrinal presentations. He was called of God.

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 6

He was guided by the Holy Spirit in his teachings in general. He was a mighty prophet. He led Israel the way the Lord wanted his people led. He built on the foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph. He completed his work and has come on to eternal exaltation.

Nonetheless, as Joseph Smith so pointedly taught, a prophet is not always a prophet, only when he is acting as such. Prophets are men and they make mistakes. Sometimes they err in doctrine. This is one of the reasons the Lord has given us the Standard Works. They become the standards and rules that govern where doctrine and philosophy are concerned. If this were not so, we would believe one thing when one man was president of the Church and another thing in the days of his successors. Truth is eternal and does not vary. Sometimes even wise and good men fall short in the accurate presentation of what is truth. Sometimes a prophet gives personal views which are not endorsed and approved by the Lord.

Yes, President Young did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to him. This, however, is not true. He expressed views that are out of harmony with the gospel. But, be it known, Brigham Young also taught accurately and correctly, the status and position of Adam in the eternal scheme of things. What I am saying is that Brigham Young, contradicted Brigham Young, and the issue becomes one of which Brigham Young we will believe. The answer is we will believe the expressions that accord with the teachings in the Standard Works.

Yes, Brigham Young did say some things about God progressing in knowledge and understanding, but again, be it known, that Brigham Young taught, emphatically and plainly, that God knows all things and has all power meaning in the infinite, eternal and ultimate and absolute sense of the word. Again, the issue is, which Brigham Young shall we believe and the answer is: We will take the one whose statements accord with what God has revealed in the Standard Works.

I think you can give me credit for having a knowledge of the quotations from Brigham Young relative to Adam, and of knowing what he taught under the subject that has become known as the Adam God Theory. President Joseph Fielding Smith said that Brigham Young will have to make his own explanations on the points there involved. I think you can also give me credit for knowing what Brigham Young said about God progressing. And again, that is something he will have to account for. As for me and my house, we will have the good sense to choose between the divergent teachings of the same man and come up with those that accord with

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 7

what God has set forth in his eternal plan of salvation.

This puts me in mind of Paul's statement: "There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (1 Cor. 11:19.) I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of the Church and that such teaching is part of the sifting process of mortality. We will be judged by what we believe among other things. If we believe false doctrine, we will be condemned. If that belief is on basic and fundamental things, it will lead us astray and we will lose our souls. This is why Nephi said: "And all those who preach false doctrines, . . . wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!: (2 Ne. 28:15.) This clearly means that people who teach false doctrine in the fundamental and basic things will lose their souls. The nature and kind of being that God is, is one of these fundamentals. I repeat: Brigham Young erred in some of his statements on the nature and kind of being that God is and as to the position of Adam in the plan of salvation, but Brigham Young also taught the truth in these fields on other occasions. And I repeat, that in his instance, he was a great prophet and has gone on to eternal reward. What he did is not a pattern for any of us. If we choose to believe and teach the false portions of his doctrines, we are making an election that will damn us.

It should be perfectly evident that under our system of church discipline, it would be anticipated that some others besides Brigham Young would pick up some of his statements and echo them. Those who did this, also on other occasions, taught accurately and properly what the true doctrines of the gospel are. I do not get concerned when a good and sound person who. On the over-all, is teaching the truth happens to err on a particular point and say something in conflict with what he has said himself on a previous occasion. We are all mortal. We are all fallible. We all make mistakes. No single individual all the time is in tune with the Holy Spirit, but I do get concerned when some person or group picks out false statements and makes them the basis of their presentation and theology and thus ends up having a false concept of the doctrine, which in reality, was not in the mind of the person whose quotations they are using.

Wise gospel students do not build their philosophies of life on quotations of individuals, even though those quotations come from presidents of the Church. Wise people anchor their doctrine on the Standard Works. When Section 20 says that God is infinite and eternal, it means just that and so on through all

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 8

of the revelations. There is no need to attempt to harmonize conflicting views when some of the views are out of harmony with the Standard Works. This is what life is all about. The Lord is finding out what we will believe in spite of the allurements of the world or the philosophies of men or the seemingly rational and logical explanations that astute people make.

We do not solve our problems by getting a statement from the president of the Church or from someone else on a subject. We have been introduced to the gospel; we have the gift of the Holy Ghost; we have the Standards Works and it is our responsibility to get in tune and understand properly what the Lord has revealed and has had us canonize. The end result of this course of personally and individually pursuing light and truth is to reach that millennial state of which the scriptures say it will no longer be necessary for every man to say to his neighbor "know the Lord," for all shall know him from the greatest to the least. Joseph Smith says this will be by the spirit of revelation.

If it is true, as I am advised, that you speak on this subject of the progression of God at firesides and elsewhere, you should cease to do so. If you give other people copies of the material you sent me, with the quotations it contains, you should cease to do so. It is not in your province to set in order the Church or to determine what is doctrines shall be. It is axiomatic among us to know that God has given apostles and prophets "for the edifying of the body of Christ," and that their ministry is to see that "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Eph. 4:11-16.) This means, among other things, that it is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent. You do not have a divine commission to correct me or any of the Brethren. The Lord does not operate that way. If I lead the Church astray, that is my responsibility, but the fact still remains that I am the one appointed with all the rest involved so to do. The appointment is not given to the faculty at Brigham Young University or to any of the members of the Church. The Lord's house is a house of order and those who hold the keys are appointed to proclaim the doctrines.

Now you know that this does not mean that individuals should not do research and make discoveries and write articles. What it does mean is that what they write should be faith promoting and where doctrines are concerned, should be in harmony with that which comes from the head of the Church. And those at

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 9

the head of the Church have the obligation to teach that which is in harmony with the Standard Works. If they err then be silent on the point and leave the event in the hands of the Lord. Some day all of us will stand before the judgment bar and be accountable for our teachings. And where there have been disagreements the Lord will judge between us. In the meantime if we want to save our own souls we need to strive with all the power we have to be in harmony with the revelations and not to be teaching or promulgating doctrines that suit our fancy.

I advise you to take my counsel on the matters here involved. If I err, that is my problem; but in your case if you single out some of these things and make them the center of your philosophy, and end up being wrong, you will lose your should. One of the side effects of preaching contrary to what the Brethren preach is to get a spirit of rebellion growing up in your heart. This sort of thing cankers the soul spiritually. It drives people out of the Church. It weakens their faith. All of us need all of the faith and strength and spiritual stability we can get to maintain our positions in the Church and to work out our salvation.

Now, I think I have said enough in this letter so that if you are receptive and pliable, you will get the message. If you are not, rebellion will well up in your heart. I pray for your well-being. I repeat: the door to my office is open. Perhaps I should tell you what one of the very astute and alert General Authorities said to me when I chanced to mention to him the subject of your letter to me. He said: "Oh dear, haven't we rescued him enough times already."

Now I hope you will ponder and pray and come to a basic understanding of fundamental things and that unless and until you can on all points, you will remain silent on those where differences exist between you and the Brethren. This is the course of safety. I advise you to pursue it. If you do not, perils lie ahead. It is not too often in this day that any of us are told plainly and bluntly what ought to be. I am taking the liberty of so speaking to you at this time, and become thus a witness against you if you do not take the counsel.

I repeat: I have every good wish for you, pray that the Lord will bless you and hope that things will work out properly and well in your life.

Sincerely,

Bruce R. McConkie

BRM:vh

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 10

P.S. I am taking the liberty of sending copies of this response to those to whom you sent your communication. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
The Council of Twelve
47 East South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150
February 19, 1981

Mr. Eugene England
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxx, xx xxxxxxx

Dear Brother England:

This may well be the most important letter you have or will receive. It is written in reply to an undated letter from you which came in an envelope postmarked, September 4, 1980. Your letter enclosed a 19-page document which you had prepared under the title, "The Perfection and Progression of God: Two Spheres of Existence and Two Modes of Discourse."

In your letter and the article enclosed with it, you set forth the thesis that although God knows all things as pertaining to our sphere of existence, there are nonetheless other spheres beyond ours in which Deity continues to advance and progress in knowledge and truth. In espousing and explaining this philosophy you suppose you are harmonizing quotations from various of the early Brethren. Some of these statements emphatically say that God knows all things and has all power and others of them say that he is advancing in knowledge and understanding and is gaining new truths.

When your letter arrived I was aware of the subject material contained in it and in the enclosed article. Because I do not engage in controversy or discussion of divergent views, either orally or in writing, I simply dropped your letter in a drawer and did not bother to read it. Some four and a half months later, in January of this year, I did read your presentation for the first time. I was not at all pleased, but still thought I would have nothing to say to you on the subject.

Over the months various hearsay reports have come to me indicating that you are presenting and championing the views you sent to me. I have now reached the conclusion that it would be wise for me to depart from my usual custom and send you an answer to your letter. I do so out of respect for your parents, G. Eugene and Dora, and for your own personal well-being and for your guidance where your teachings and discussions with others are concerned.

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 2

I shall write in kindness and in plainness and perhaps with sharpness. I want you to know that I am extending to you the hand of fellowship though I hold over you at the same time, the scepter of judgment. My office door is open to you and if you feel the need for discussion with me, my secretary will be pleased to set up a mutually convenient time or times for such.

On Sunday, June 1, 1980, I spoke at one of the multi-stake firesides in the Marriott Center on the subject, "The Seven Deadly Heresies." In that talk I said:

"There are those who say that God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

"This is false -- utterly, totally, and completely. There is not one sliver of truth in it. It grows out of a wholly twisted and incorrect view of the King Follet Sermon and of what is meant by eternal progression.

"God progresses in the sense that his kingdoms increase and his dominions multiply -- not in the sense that he learns new truths and discovers new laws. God is not a student. He is not a laboratory technician. He is not postulating new theories on the basis of past experiences. He has indeed graduated to that state of exaltation that consists of knowing all things and having all power.

"The life that God lives is named eternal life. His name, one of them, is 'Eternal,' using that word as a noun and not as an adjective, and he uses that name to identify the type of life that he lives. God's life is eternal life, and eternal life is god's life. They are one and the same. Eternal life is the goal we shall obtain if we believe and obey and walk uprightly before him. And eternal life consists of two things. It consists of life in the family unit, and, also, of inheriting, receiving, and possessing the fulness of the glory of the Father. Anyone who has each of these things is an inheritor and possessor of the greatest of all gifts of God, which is eternal life.

"Eternal progression consists of living the kind of life God lives and of increasing in kingdoms and dominions everlastingly. Why anyone should suppose that an infinite and eternal being, who has presided in our universe for almost 2,555,000,000 years, who made the sidereal heavens, whose creations are more numerous than the particles of the earth, and who is aware of the fall of every sparrow -- why anyone would suppose that such a being has more to learn and new truths to discover in the laboratories of eternity is totally beyond my comprehension.

"Will he one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation and turn man and the universe into an uncreated nothingness? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 3

one he has already given to men in worlds without number?

"The saving truth, as revealed to and taught, formally and officially, by the prophet Joseph Smith in the Lectures on Faith is that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things, he has all power, and he is everywhere present by the power of his Spirit. And unless we know and believe this doctrine we cannot gain faith unto life and salvation.

"Joseph Smith also taught in the Lectures on Faith 'that three things are necessary in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. These he named as:

  1. "'The idea that he actually exists';

  2. "'A correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes; and

  3. "'An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to the divine will.'


"The attributes of God are given as knowledge, faith or power, justice, judgment, mercy, and truth. The perfections of God are named as 'the perfections which belong to all of the attributes of his nature,' which is to say that God possesses and has all knowledge, all faith or power, all justice, all judgment, all mercy, and all truth. He is indeed the very embodiment, personification, and source of all these attributes. Does anyone suppose that God can be 'more honest than he already is? Neither need any suppose there are truths he does not know or knowledge he does not possess."Thus Joseph Smith taught, and these are his words:

'Without the knowledge of all things, God would not be able to save any portion of his creatures, for it is by reason of the knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end, that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures by which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for the idea existing in the minds of men that God had all knowledge it would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him.' (Cited, Mormon Doctrine, p. 264.)

"If God is just dabbling with a few truths he has already discovered, we have no idea as to the real end and purpose of creation."

The foregoing quotation is from the published version of the talk. As it was actually given it included the following

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 4

paragraph: "Will he one day learn something that will destroy the plan of salvation and turn man and the universe into an uncreated nothingness? Will he discover a better plan of salvation than the one he has already given to men in worlds without number? I have been sorely tempted to say at this point that any who so suppose have the intellect of an ant and the understanding of a clod of miry clay in a primordial swamp -- but of course I would never say a thing like that." I deliberately deleted the last quoted sentence because it does not come out in print the way it was expressed by voice. It was said in such a tone as to draw laughter from the congregation and is of course, a normal use of hyperbole.

In that same devotional speech I said; "There are those who believe or say they believe that Adam is our father and our God, that he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and that he is the one we worship." I, of course, indicated the utter absurdity of this doctrine and said it was totally false.

Since then I have received violent reactions from Ogden Draut and other cultists in which they have expounded upon the views of Brigham Young and others of the early Brethren relative to Adam. They have plain and clear quotations saying all of the things about Adam which I say are false. The quotations are in our literature and form the basis of a worship system followed by many of the cultists who have been excommunicated from the Church. I also received, of course, your material in which you quote from Brigham Young and others of the early Brethren saying that God is progressing in knowledge.

I assume that you were aware of the foregoing quotations when you wrote me in September of 1980. In the October 1980 General Conference, without as yet having read your material, I said the following:

"True religion is found only where men worship the true and living God. False religion always results from the worship of false gods. Eternal life itself, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God, is available to those and those only who know God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent.

"It is all the rage in this modern world to worship false gods of every sort and kind. There are those who bow before idols of wood and stone, and others who lisp their petitions to icons and images. There are those who worship cows and crocodiles, and others who acclaim Adam or Allah or Buddha as their Supreme Being.

"There are those who apply the names of Deity to some spirit essence that is immaterial, uncreated and unknowable and

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 5

that fills the immensity of space and is everywhere and nowhere in particular present.

"And there are even those who champion the almost unbelievable theory that God is an Eternal Student enrolled in the University of the Universe where he is busily engaged in learning new truths and amassing new and strange knowledge that he never knew before.

"How belittling it is -- it borders on blasphemy -- to demean the Lord God Omnipotent by saying he is an idol, or an image, or an animal, or a spirit essence, or that he is ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of all truth.

"It is the first principle of revealed religion to know the nature and kind of being that God is. As for us: 'We know [and testify] that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.' (D&C 20:17.)

"This great God, the Lord Almighty, is a personage of tabernacle. He 'has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's.' (D&C 130;22.) He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He has all power, knows all things, and, by the power of his Spirit, is in and through all things."

On Tuesday, February 17, 1981, I was the speaker at the BYU Devotional. My subject was "The Three Pillars of Eternity," under which heading I spoke of the creation, the fall and the atonement. With reference to the omnipotence and omniscience of God I said in that talk:

"Who is Elohim? He is God the Eternal Father. He is a glorified and exalted personage. He has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's. In the language of Adam, Man of Holiness is his name. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He knows all things and has all power -- not simply as pertaining to us or in some prescribed sphere or realm -- but in the absolute, eternal, and unlimited sense. In the ultimate sense, he is the Creator. And anything you may have heard to the contrary, whether in the creeds of Christendom or the mouthings of intellectuals who, in their own eyes, know more than the Lord, is false."

Now may I say something for your guidance and enlightenment. If what I am about to say should be taken out of context and published in Dialogue or elsewhere, it would give an entirely erroneous impression and would not properly present the facts. As it happens, I am a great admirer of Brigham Young and a great believer in his doctrinal presentations. He was called of God.

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 6

He was guided by the Holy Spirit in his teachings in general. He was a mighty prophet. He led Israel the way the Lord wanted his people led. He built on the foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph. He completed his work and has come on to eternal exaltation.

Nonetheless, as Joseph Smith so pointedly taught, a prophet is not always a prophet, only when he is acting as such. Prophets are men and they make mistakes. Sometimes they err in doctrine. This is one of the reasons the Lord has given us the Standard Works. They become the standards and rules that govern where doctrine and philosophy are concerned. If this were not so, we would believe one thing when one man was president of the Church and another thing in the days of his successors. Truth is eternal and does not vary. Sometimes even wise and good men fall short in the accurate presentation of what is truth. Sometimes a prophet gives personal views which are not endorsed and approved by the Lord.

Yes, President Young did teach that Adam was the father of our spirits, and all the related things that the cultists ascribe to him. This, however, is not true. He expressed views that are out of harmony with the gospel. But, be it known, Brigham Young also taught accurately and correctly, the status and position of Adam in the eternal scheme of things. What I am saying is that Brigham Young, contradicted Brigham Young, and the issue becomes one of which Brigham Young we will believe. The answer is we will believe the expressions that accord with the teachings in the Standard Works.

Yes, Brigham Young did say some things about God progressing in knowledge and understanding, but again, be it known, that Brigham Young taught, emphatically and plainly, that God knows all things and has all power meaning in the infinite, eternal and ultimate and absolute sense of the word. Again, the issue is, which Brigham Young shall we believe and the answer is: We will take the one whose statements accord with what God has revealed in the Standard Works.

I think you can give me credit for having a knowledge of the quotations from Brigham Young relative to Adam, and of knowing what he taught under the subject that has become known as the Adam God Theory. President Joseph Fielding Smith said that Brigham Young will have to make his own explanations on the points there involved. I think you can also give me credit for knowing what Brigham Young said about God progressing. And again, that is something he will have to account for. As for me and my house, we will have the good sense to choose between the divergent teachings of the same man and come up with those that accord with

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 7

what God has set forth in his eternal plan of salvation.

This puts me in mind of Paul's statement: "There must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." (1 Cor. 11:19.) I do not know all of the providences of the Lord, but I do know that he permits false doctrine to be taught in and out of the Church and that such teaching is part of the sifting process of mortality. We will be judged by what we believe among other things. If we believe false doctrine, we will be condemned. If that belief is on basic and fundamental things, it will lead us astray and we will lose our souls. This is why Nephi said: "And all those who preach false doctrines, . . . wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!: (2 Ne. 28:15.) This clearly means that people who teach false doctrine in the fundamental and basic things will lose their souls. The nature and kind of being that God is, is one of these fundamentals. I repeat: Brigham Young erred in some of his statements on the nature and kind of being that God is and as to the position of Adam in the plan of salvation, but Brigham Young also taught the truth in these fields on other occasions. And I repeat, that in his instance, he was a great prophet and has gone on to eternal reward. What he did is not a pattern for any of us. If we choose to believe and teach the false portions of his doctrines, we are making an election that will damn us.

It should be perfectly evident that under our system of church discipline, it would be anticipated that some others besides Brigham Young would pick up some of his statements and echo them. Those who did this, also on other occasions, taught accurately and properly what the true doctrines of the gospel are. I do not get concerned when a good and sound person who. On the over-all, is teaching the truth happens to err on a particular point and say something in conflict with what he has said himself on a previous occasion. We are all mortal. We are all fallible. We all make mistakes. No single individual all the time is in tune with the Holy Spirit, but I do get concerned when some person or group picks out false statements and makes them the basis of their presentation and theology and thus ends up having a false concept of the doctrine, which in reality, was not in the mind of the person whose quotations they are using.

Wise gospel students do not build their philosophies of life on quotations of individuals, even though those quotations come from presidents of the Church. Wise people anchor their doctrine on the Standard Works. When Section 20 says that God is infinite and eternal, it means just that and so on through all

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 8

of the revelations. There is no need to attempt to harmonize conflicting views when some of the views are out of harmony with the Standard Works. This is what life is all about. The Lord is finding out what we will believe in spite of the allurements of the world or the philosophies of men or the seemingly rational and logical explanations that astute people make.

We do not solve our problems by getting a statement from the president of the Church or from someone else on a subject. We have been introduced to the gospel; we have the gift of the Holy Ghost; we have the Standards Works and it is our responsibility to get in tune and understand properly what the Lord has revealed and has had us canonize. The end result of this course of personally and individually pursuing light and truth is to reach that millennial state of which the scriptures say it will no longer be necessary for every man to say to his neighbor "know the Lord," for all shall know him from the greatest to the least. Joseph Smith says this will be by the spirit of revelation.

If it is true, as I am advised, that you speak on this subject of the progression of God at firesides and elsewhere, you should cease to do so. If you give other people copies of the material you sent me, with the quotations it contains, you should cease to do so. It is not in your province to set in order the Church or to determine what is doctrines shall be. It is axiomatic among us to know that God has given apostles and prophets "for the edifying of the body of Christ," and that their ministry is to see that "we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Eph. 4:11-16.) This means, among other things, that it is my province to teach to the Church what the doctrine is. It is your province to echo what I say or to remain silent. You do not have a divine commission to correct me or any of the Brethren. The Lord does not operate that way. If I lead the Church astray, that is my responsibility, but the fact still remains that I am the one appointed with all the rest involved so to do. The appointment is not given to the faculty at Brigham Young University or to any of the members of the Church. The Lord's house is a house of order and those who hold the keys are appointed to proclaim the doctrines.

Now you know that this does not mean that individuals should not do research and make discoveries and write articles. What it does mean is that what they write should be faith promoting and where doctrines are concerned, should be in harmony with that which comes from the head of the Church. And those at

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 9

the head of the Church have the obligation to teach that which is in harmony with the Standard Works. If they err then be silent on the point and leave the event in the hands of the Lord. Some day all of us will stand before the judgment bar and be accountable for our teachings. And where there have been disagreements the Lord will judge between us. In the meantime if we want to save our own souls we need to strive with all the power we have to be in harmony with the revelations and not to be teaching or promulgating doctrines that suit our fancy.

I advise you to take my counsel on the matters here involved. If I err, that is my problem; but in your case if you single out some of these things and make them the center of your philosophy, and end up being wrong, you will lose your should. One of the side effects of preaching contrary to what the Brethren preach is to get a spirit of rebellion growing up in your heart. This sort of thing cankers the soul spiritually. It drives people out of the Church. It weakens their faith. All of us need all of the faith and strength and spiritual stability we can get to maintain our positions in the Church and to work out our salvation.

Now, I think I have said enough in this letter so that if you are receptive and pliable, you will get the message. If you are not, rebellion will well up in your heart. I pray for your well-being. I repeat: the door to my office is open. Perhaps I should tell you what one of the very astute and alert General Authorities said to me when I chanced to mention to him the subject of your letter to me. He said: "Oh dear, haven't we rescued him enough times already."

Now I hope you will ponder and pray and come to a basic understanding of fundamental things and that unless and until you can on all points, you will remain silent on those where differences exist between you and the Brethren. This is the course of safety. I advise you to pursue it. If you do not, perils lie ahead. It is not too often in this day that any of us are told plainly and bluntly what ought to be. I am taking the liberty of so speaking to you at this time, and become thus a witness against you if you do not take the counsel.

I repeat: I have every good wish for you, pray that the Lord will bless you and hope that things will work out properly and well in your life.

Sincerely,

Bruce R. McConkie

BRM:vh

Mr. Eugene England
February 19, 1981
Page 10

P.S. I am taking the liberty of sending copies of this response to those to whom you sent your communication.
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I'm Finally One of Those Crazy Moms

Well after 2 weeks of Seporah being sick, I am officially one of those crazy moms ready to pull her hair out. I just want to put her in her room and come back when she's my sweet happy baby again. For the first little while I was sympathetic, but well I don't have much patience and I'm done with all the crying. I really don't have a clue how parents with colicky babies manage (or get around to having another). I swear if anyone was baby happy and needed a good form of birth control all they would have to do was watch Seporah for a couple of the last few days and they would be like nope, I really don't want one of those. I know I don't have a lot of patience, I never acquired that virtue and now it's coming to bite me in the butt. Ouch... Read More...
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Iraq here I come

My phone will be passed on come Saturday.. So Saturday is the final day that you can reach me by phone.† Here is my contact information.. I will be lucky to get a phone call from you all. hopefully friday night. Read More...
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Achoo Syndrome



http://youtube.com/watch?v=7IgKIKMCcOQ Read More...
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I had a fun story too! (giving blood... yeah)

This actually happened within an hour or so of Märia's story from yesterday (which actually happened on the 3rd, but she didn't post it until yesterday) and I am posting mine today).

Well, Josh and Märia left the house so that I could get some sleep as I was tired from work. About a half hour after they left I got a phone call from the blood bank. They told me that they needed my blood. I said I had Saturday off and would come in then. They said no, they needed my blood now. I of course thought this a gimmick; call people up, make them think they HAVE to give blood as a moral matter and you get more blood. So I called her on it, said I have given blood every opportunity I had to give it ever since I was 17. I only didn't give blood for 6 months after Korea because I was deferred, and for 1 year after Iraq. She said it wasn't a gimmick. Read More...
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And it's only getting warmer...

Well today I was in a movie...or at least it kinda felt like it.

Josh, Seporah, and I were driving home from the post office when a huge accident happened right in front of us. We almost got in the accident ourselves but Josh told me to stop. A Honda Civic was shredded and flipped around 180 degrees and a red Toyota Tacoma engulfed in flames (literally). So we pulled over to help and this huge Polynesian guy pulled another guy out of the burning truck and then we kinda got him away from the truck, which was leaking gas which was burning down the highway (someone else stoppped it by throwing dirt in it's way). Read More...
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Animusic - Pipe Dream

I saw this, and absolutely had to share it...



Read More...
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Welcome to Summer

Well summer has officially hit here. School actually just started last week, but the heat, oh my the heat. It's been fine all summer long until the last 3 days. The high has only been 85 and the low 76, but still we're in the middle of the ocean and there's humidity. And with no air conditioning it's been warm.
Maria Read More...
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RIP WB

Yeah, that is right. The WB is gone. The network that brought us Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawsons Creek, Smallville, Felicity, One Tree Hill, 7th Heaven, Charmed, Gilmore Girls, Angel, Everwood, and so many other great shows. Yes, I know there is a lot of teen angst in there, but I was a teen when I these shows were great. I feel all old now. When I talk about "The WB" (and I do, more often that I realize) I will be talking of an extinct creature. My children will not know what I speak of. UGH. Read More...
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Quotables

I thought I would do a quick page of quotables, and we can update as needed.† =)

Märia: "Where are the bunny waves?" Read More...
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Update from Jason

Well guys, It has been a while so I figured i'd give you a little post to let you know what's going on in my life. In May I got promoted to Cpl, so I am officially a Non Commissioned Officer. It was a HUGE step in my advancement, and I was unbelievably excited at the time of pinning. I had Gabrielle come and pin me up. She is the mom of the local family who has taken me in. Since then I have been given a significant amount of responsibility and an increase in pay and respect. Definately excited about the second part.. makes Jason a much happier person. Read More...
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New Phone Numbers!

Yeah, we figured we are going to live here several years, so we ought to get local numbers. And our contract was up, so we qualified for $100 off a new phone, and mine was pretty beat up. It was an el cheapo to begin with, plus it was mine. Not a good combination. M‰ria's still looks new and it is 2 years old! But anyways, I got a new phone, and we got new numbers! Read More...
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Some YouTube Videos...

Well, I was telling you all about how I am a YouTubeAholic, or addicted to YouTube. I came across a couple of fun videos today I wanted to show you; just examples of what you can find on YouTube. Read More...
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I made weight...

Yep, that means my time is much more mine than it was. I am also only averaging 51 hours a week, which is a major improvement over the 72 I averaged in June. Read More...
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Where are you on the political grid?

Ok, if you know me at all, you know I take great pride in my ultra-conservatism. I always thought I was off the charts in my extreme right-wingedness, but apparently not. Over at PoliticalCompass.org, they have altered the traditional left-right line chart, creating a grid that plots you with regards to economic, moral and governmental politics. It is a really cool test really. Here are my results, sorry if it shows up weird: Read More...
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Hello All

I thought I would tell what's going on in here since it looks like I haven't written in a while. I did write a post when we had the other style website, but it got deleted somehow. So life here is good. Mostly a lot of Seporah and Mommy time, which is 99% of the time lots of fun. Seporah's so easy going and happy that it's all good according to her. She's been tetthing the last week and a half. I thought she'd have a tooth by now, but that's not the case. Sorry about the lack of pictures, but in case you hadn't heard, I lost the camera (I am so mad at myself). Read More...
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The Gods of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

How many times have you heard the statement, ìWe all worship the same godî or ìThere is one god with many namesî? Muslims, Jews and Christians all claim to worship the God of the Old Testament, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, yet they have radically different ideas of who that God is. I write this to say they are all wrong. Abraham worshipped my God. Muslims, Jews and Mainstream Christians worship false gods. Now before you get all offended, hear me out, and know that this is not an attack on anyoneís beliefs, but rather an excercise showing diversity of beliefs, and their incompatibilities. I doubt many will be offended if they read the whole of the post. Click More to read the article Read More...
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Weight loss...

Welcome to my new weekly weight loss article type thingy. I have struggled with my weight for a long time, going through periods of trying hard and not caring. The army says I am fat and takes too much of my time with the fat body program, so it is time I get my act together and lose the weight! I will give a weight loss update weekly as possible. Click "more" to read the rest of the article! Read More...
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My new schedule

Well, it is pretty nasty.† Everyone decided to take leave in June, and those that didn't take leave are away at various military schools.† To make things worse, we lost 2 soldiers to another team!† So personnel are low and hours are high.† Here is my new schedule:
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New Webpages

Well, Märia left today. Her and Seporah both, to visit the Grandparents in Washington state. We had a nice visit with my dad and Patricia, and now she is going to visit hers. Not a whole lot else going on here...

I have 3 new websites to announce though...

http://www.rushingaround.com/debra Read More...
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I am da wo-man

A lot of times with babies and toddlers it takes more than 1 try IVs in because their veins are so tiny and they like to wiggle. I totally got 2 babies on the first try today. Someday's are good and someday's are bad and I was so good yesterday. I just thought I'd share it with everyone.
Märia Read More...
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Here in Hawaii

Well Lonnie and Patricia have been here the past couple of days. We've been doing the tourist stuff with them. We finally went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, it was just as good as I remembered it. The only bad part was it rained so walking around was a little wet. But it really was a lot of fun. We also went to the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, I am officially tired of being thought of as a tourist. I need to develop a tan, everyone treats me like a dumb tourist and I'm like no, I live in Mililani. Read More...
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They're Making a Movie!!!!!

Holy cow! Well some of you may not know this, but at our house Simpsons was the bomb. We all sat down and watched it every night (we didn't watch anything else on tv really, just The Simpsons). And would you believe it, they're finally making a movie!!!! I just had to tell someone, so there we go. I know some of you may be anti-Simpsons, but oh well. Read More...
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4 years...

Well it seems today is our wedding anniversary, 4 years can you believe it? It's been a pretty good 4 years. So for our anniversary, Steven went to the gas chamber...*pause for hesitant chuckles* Well actually he did, but it was for work (nothing to do with me). I spent the day cleaning, you can actually see our living room floor, holy cow.
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Car, PT Test

Well, I guess I have a little news. I bought a new old car a few days ago. It is a '93 Dodge Shadow. It only had 64k miles on it, and had been owned by an older lady, so I think I got a good deal. It is in really good shape, better shape than my Kia was in after having it for only 4 years and putting nearly 70k miles on it. I am happy enough with it. Only thing is it doesn't have ac, so we will see how nasty it gets this summer =) Read More...
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Houston, we have internet

Well, wow life has been busy, busy, busy lately. We have moved into our new home and are about halfway settled. The other half is still in boxes. We're usual more organized but it seems having a baby changes everything (please see the Johnson&Johnson Ad Compaign). We were right about Seporah's needing her own room. She now sleeps 12 hours at night with 2 eating periods. It's great.We just got the internet today (Steven thought he was going to die). I actually can't write much, there's still about a million things to do.Hopefully all is going well with all of you. Seporah's website may take a couple more days too, sorry. Till then, Märia Read More...
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That's not quite what I meant

When I was saying holy cow about the cell phone bill, I was trying to be funny. You know like those commercials "you used how many minutes?!?!?!" I didn't mean stop calling. Yeah it was a bad bill, but that was mostly talking to real estate agent and esrow people and loan officer and all the other people you call during moves (changing addresses and such). We knew it would be horrible, but figured the house was worth it, we couldn't just tell them now hold on I know I need to talk to you about the house, but I'm out of minutes, could you call back on my next billing cycle, I know I've only got so long to close, but I'm afraid of bad bills.
So look forward to your next call, Märia Read More...
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College and Apple

Well, I just posted my introductions on the two classes I start on Monday.† I am taking Internet/Webpage Development I and Introduction to Philosophy.† I am rocking the boat as always.† =) Read More...
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Holy Cow...

I just got my cell phone bill..... Read More...
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Well, here goes...

I took Seporah to her well baby check up this morning and she is a big girl. 14pounds, 11ounces. That's above the 95th percentile. I actually thought she was bigger than that, even though that is big. We've been using size 3 diapers which are for 16-24pound babies and they fit her pretty well (Guess she's just chunks around the middle, I like her that way though). So I guess I'm feeding her pretty well (boy is that ever a full time job). She does have super sensitive skin, even for a baby. We confirmed that. Because when you touch her, she turns red, even if it's just a light touch. And she has a diaper rash that's been there since the day after she was born (and yes we have tried everything we can to get rid of it). Read More...
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Dating with Children...

What's the classic date everyone with children jokes about? "Where you guys going?" "Costco, we have kids!" Well actually we didn't go to Costco, but we went to somewhere just as good: Sam's Club. We got our first warehouse card there, and we bought it for the diapers. Whew...those get expensive... But anyways it was a lot of fun. We'll go there just for the tasteys next time (Steven says he never used the word tasteys, so that's where people give out samples of cookies or whatever). That's about it, tune it next time to hear about our navel lint.

Märia

P.S. New pictures in the photos. Read More...
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GO DADDIO!!!!

Well Dad (Russell Albright) just called me and he's running a marathon this weekend in Kuwait. However Hawaii cell phone coverage sucks and it went out before I could say Go Dad Go! We're all rooting for you!
So "GO, DAD, GO! WE'RE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU!!!"

Märia, Steven, & Seporah Read More...
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So we're touring around still...

Well we now know why Polynesians have a little more fat deposits in general as compared to other people. Food in Hawaii is wonderful. We've eaten Japanese sushi, Korean gyoza, Italian pasta, Hawaii delicacies (except for poi and spam, we stayed away from that :), gourmet pizzas (for those of you that know me know I don't really eat pizza and I ate these) and others, and everything is great. I don't think we would have gone to so many restaurants except for the fact we're living in a hotel and get tired of microwave dinners. Everything we've eaten here is well above average (Actually there is one exception a Chinese restaurant that had to have served the worst food ever, but we won't go back there). So we've got the low down on food here and I've come to grips with no Olive Garden on Oahu. Read More...
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Ramblings

Well, someone must have put in a good word for us with The Big Guy because we have been very blessed lately. Seporah is doing wonderfully. Two nights ago she only woke up twice the whole night. We were so excited, we kinda paid for it last though, she woke up 6 times (and we really can't ignore her being in the same room). However we are very hopeful. She continues to grow bigger and stronger everyday. And we get smiles out the ears (however she still won't do it much for the camera). AND eating time has decreased significantly. Only 20 minutes instead of 60-90 (no lie). Read More...
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Back From Hiding

Hey everyone. I know you guys all thought I dropped off the edge of the planet, but I indeed have yet to find it. My adventures to find this mystic photo site are quite interesting and I thought you might want to hear about it. Read More...
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We're Buying a Condo!

Well we're buying a condo, the offers been accepted and everything, we'll close March 31st! YEAH! We are very excited. Not only for buying a home and everything but also to get out of the hotel. Hotels are all right, but if you're actually living in them, that's another story. Plus Seporah definately needs her own room. She's 2 months and the longest she's ever slept at a time is 4 hours (and that's only happened a couple times, usually it averages 2 1/2 hours at a time). We're figuring when she gets her own room she'll sleep longer (don't get us wrong, she's still a great baby, just a bad sleeper). Read More...
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Update

Well the past week has been very busy. We've looked at about 16 condos and townhouses and we think we've found the one we want. Not quite sure yet, but we think. We're still going to look a little bit more. I know it's fast to most people for buying a home, however if we don't buy one before the military finds us housing we have to live on base. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's almost always better to buy than rent. Read More...
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Aloha!

Aloha! From Hawaii! We have made it here safe and sound (or at least weíve made it here). Seporah was absolutely wonderful for the 10 hour plane ride. We were really worried about that, but she had 2 little crying spells that lasted for less than 5 minutes that werenít even that bad. After the plane ride we had like 20 people say what a good baby she was. So I was like YEAH! It wasnít bad at all (sorry to all those who have had bad plane ride experiences with their babies, especially if we were the babies). Read More...
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We're On the Road! (blogging from Atlanta)

Well, I guess this is an official Blog, now that I am posting from the road.† We are in Atlanta.† M‰ria is asleep in bed still, and I am about to go get the car cleaned so that the Port of Atlanta will accept it.† Just 9 hours until we get on a plane for hawaii!† and 18 hours until touchdown.† Märia and I are both super excited and Seporah is even figuring out that something happy is happening.† =)† Well, I have to get to work!† Steven Read More...
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As crazy as things are around here, there really isn't much news...

The movers came and picked up our advance baggage.† That is about 500 lbs of junk that goes to Hawaii via airmail.† It is supposed to arrive within 30 days.† We are finally going to use our last set of dishes we recieved at our wedding reception.† Probably going to just toss the ones we have here.† I think we have 2 half sets we are currently using.† And they have been going fast of late. Read More...
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February 16th

Well Steven has completely outprocessed. We will be on a plane Feb 16th, it's a 9hour 56minute nonstop flight, whew, we'll see how that goes... Read More...
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The Kia is Gone...

Well we sold the Kia, it was actually very easy with very little effort on our part. My friend Denise told her hairdresser while getting her hair done and her hairdresser bought it when she saw it. Steven's a little sad, he's going to miss it. For me, it's just one more step closer to Hawaii. Read More...
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Life at Home

Well it seems life at home for me is all about feeding Seporah. No one really tells you how much time breastfeeding actually takes. But she just went down for her 2 hour nap (She only has one of those, the rest are 30 minute naps where she wants to be held or she'll wake up). Usually I take this time to clean or eat but I thought I'd write a post today, Steven can do the dishes :) Debra just came here to visit this weekend, you can visit SeporahsCrib.com to see pictures and such with her visit. Read More...
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Update on the move...

Just a quick update on our move to Hawaii.† I am going to be stationed in Kunia Tunnel, just south of Schofield Barracks, Just north of the Honolulu Airport.† I will be with the 30th Signal Bn, 369 Signal Company, working in a strategic (read - nondeployable stationary site) satellite communications facility.† I already have a sponser who will run me through inprocessing and give me rides until our vehicle arrives on the boat.†
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We ARE Moving...

Well after something like 28 days off, Steven went back to work yesterday (Somehow I made it alone :) AND... *drum roll please*...we are moving to HAWAII!! YEAH! We thought we had lost the spot in November, so we were super excited. We should be moving somewhere between Feb 10-14. Yes that is super short notice. We're a little worried about getting everything ready, esp with Seporah, but I'm sure we'll make it. And Seporah will be raised in the Sands of Paradise....ahhhh! Doesn't that sound nice...

Märia Read More...
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Introducing Seporah's Crib

We are creating a new website, as Seporah has taken over this one mostly. It is currently at SeporahsCrib.com . Please check it out, and come here and leave comments telling me what you like, dislike, and alerting me to links or pictures or anything that doesnt work. I havn't been getting much feedback, and would like some comments! =) Read More...
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An Update in the Life of the Frustrated

Well everyone. Time for another update.

I have been planning my future for the last couple of weeks, and have started putting some of the wheels in motion. Read More...
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Forever Above

I thought I would put a quick notice to a small change some might not have noticed. I have added playlists of some of our favourite songs on the right side bar. Clicking them will launch a popup music jukebox from which you can listen to the music.

Also, in the upper right hand corner there is a blue and red play button. The colors may clash, but the music behind the button is great. The song is called "Never Look Away" and it was written and sung by our very own Jason Rushing. Read More...
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Happy birthday to me!

Okies, so it's not my birthday, that was the 7th. I had a great birthday. We started out by opening presents in the morning. I got serenity the movie (i reviewed it and it is great!), and american mormon (funny if you are lds, will just confuse you if you arn't) on dvd. We had a decent breakfast (taquito's, made by me) and then we ran off to atlanta. Read More...
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Update on Seporah

Well, Steven and I have been parents now for 9 days and we thought we'd give everyone an update. Seporah is a wonderful, happy, fun, and interactive baby. We have been very blessed. She goes with us everywhere. We went to the park twice, and we ate at the the Olive Garden, and we went on a day trip to Atlanta where she went to Great Harvest (an excellent bakery), the Apple store (yesterday was Steven's birthday), and she rode her very first carousel. She's very curious about the world around her and likes to look at everything with her beautiful gray-blue eyes. At the very beginning she was over 9 pounds and with the way she eats it won't be long before she's in double digits. Steven and I are quite enamored with her. We love you all and we'll keep you posted.

Märia Read More...
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Click on the Picture!

Hey this comment is for all those who want to see Seporah with her daddy and others. When you go to the gallery you just have to click on the picture of Seporah and me and you get to a whole other gallery with LOTS of pictures. I got a comment and someone didn't realize that. So actually all those pictures on the gallery main page open up into other galleries. If you can't figure it out, post a comment here. Hope you enjoy them!

Märia Read More...
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New year, new baby, new pictures

Happy new year to you all! I am just sitting at home with a sleepy (and sleeping) wife, 3 day old baby and spare time and energy on my hands. So I put up new pictures in the gallery. Hope you enjoy them! Read More...
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