The Woes of the Bishop of a Dying Ward

It goes without saying that Man’s understanding of God is limited. Religion matches the knowledge of Man. Ancient Religions were shaped and limited by man’s Knowledge of the World and Nature at the time. The World's religions have evolved over time because man’s understanding has grown over the centuries and millennia of civilization. Religious beliefs had to evolve as various scientific discoveries have become undeniable, such as the movement of the planets around the sun. Religion had to move away from the idea that the Sun and stars revolve around the earth. The solar centered reality of the solar system changed Christian understanding of Heaven and Earth. It changes the perspective of where Heaven is.  When religion has to reconcile with science or culture in order to survive, it can sometimes form breakaway religions. An example of this is with Martin Luther Born in 1483. He started the dissension from the Catholic Church by teaching his doctrine of Justification - His belief ...

  The Platonic Seal I have written on what I call the “Platonic Seal” in previous talks but haven’t yet dedicated a talk to explain the idea and how I came about it. The Platonic seal is basically what the name suggests, a non-romantic temple sealing for time and all eternity. This already is performed in L.D.S. temples when a parent is sealed to their children. I believe one day the Platonic seal will be expanded to include cousins and friends. Let me explain why this is important. When the U.S. made same sex mairage legal in the U.S. it started in motion discussions on how to handle the subject of same sex mairage in religious circles incuding Latter-Day Saints. Discussions on the moral implications, the doctrinal implications, how to support the LGBT Community or at least not ostracize the LGBT LDS members and hold to Gospel teachings at the same time. I was called as Bishop just a few weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2015. A few weeks before I got the call I w...

  The Second Amendment is the right to protect the land we own (with arms), not to form Citizen Militias. Citizen Militias may not be illegal till they attack the Capital, but they are Not a Right, and they are Not Needed!     Let's take a look at The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Which reads:  " A well regulated Militia , being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed." The first part is explaining the reason for the right, the second part is the right which is to keep and bare arms. Adding the words Because, and therefore makes it more clear.   " Because a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, Therefore the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed."   "Well Regulated" can only refer to Government, Whether that be National, State or Local. Otherwise it allows the creation of a separate government. The Militia...

I was released as Bishop on November 15th 2020. I did want to say that I am thankful for the opportunity I had to serve as Bishop, to stand for those who may not have had a voice in the Church Before. I will always be an advocate for the marginalized. I have been meaning to revisit my religion and what I believe now that I no longer have the stresses of being Bishop. About halfway through My calling as Bishop around October 2017, I wrote down some thoughts on what I believe. I didn't feel I should post it while I was still Bishop. Here it is. My religion is not one religion, it is All religions. When I say all religions, I don’t mean all parts of all religions, only the Spiritual parts of all religions. I don’t believe that only one religion is the True religion or ever could be because I believe that God is bigger than any one religion. There are so many different cultures and ways of thinking within the human race. But there are common threads that run through humanity that bind...

     I was released as Bishop Sunday November 15th 2020. I served 5 and a half years as Bishop. I find it interesting that I was called in 2015, a few months before Trump first started his campaign for President in 2016 and then released a week after it was evident that Biden won the election, and that Trump Lost, Although Trump is still fighting tooth and nail to turn over the vote of the people. I stood as a counter balance (at least for our Ward) against the deceit, corruption and harmful influence of Trump. Now that I am released I can relax a little.  Although the person who has replaced me as Bishop is a staunch Republican ex Military type. I have hardly heard him give a talk without referring to his Military service, or wars, or combat and somehow trying to tie it into a Gospel lesson. He is a nice enough guy, if you don't mind strict by the book. But he will most likely run the Ward like a military unit. The Church unfortunately is very structured and with th...

 Biden and Harris win the election! Victory Victory Victory! Angels have come from Africa and South America. As Paula White said. But she thought they were coming to divide. She thought they were coming to give Trump four more years. But they have come to give the mantel of the Presidency to someone who can Unite us! Someone who can heal this Nation! Someone who will be an American President, who will treat both sides with dignity. Someone who knows what it is like to lose someone. President Elect Joe Biden. The Angels in heaven from Africa have helped Kamala Harris Shatter the glass ceiling, To become the first Women Vice President, The first Bi-racial Vice President! Victory! Peace! Let us heal the wounds of the past four years! Let us reach out to friends and family who we may have lost connections with. Let us reconnect with loved ones who voted for the other Trump and remind them that we still care for them. Help them to accept the New President-elect and Vice President-elect....