Four Reasons Philpot Will Beat Matheson



Morgan Philpot's Family

I am a state delegate from Precinct 11 in Wasatch County.  Historically, 2nd District Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT) has received significant support from our county in his five previous terms.  The reason is because registered Republicans like me have routinely crossed over and supported him. 

That is not true this year!

In an e-mail blast from Wasatch County Philpot for Congress coordinator, Aaron Gabrielson, I received an update on the progress of the campaign.  Morgan Philpot and Jim Matheson squared off this week in St. George at their only public debate.  I wished I could have been there, but seeing it for yourselves should seal the deal for Philpot:

http://vstream.dixie.edu/DSC/Viewer/?peid=cac4131afa2d4fd397fc9e08b7d0b12d

It's unfortunate when incumbents with overwhelming leads in the polls refuse to give the electorate a clear picture of their positions by withholding themselves from public events like this one.  Matheson has a financial advantage by 10-1 over Philpot in campaign funding.  He's sitting on it, like he is his lead.  It happens every time there's an election.  Rather than willingly submit to public scrutiny they cower in the corners to protect their leads in the polls, relying upon name recognition alone to carry them through election day.  As the video stream of their debate clearly illustrates, there are substantive differences between these two candidates.  The choice could not be more differentiated. 

Four reasons Philpot will win

A)  Jim Matheson is a Democrat in a year when Democrats are as popular as a hurricane in kite flying weather;
B)  Matheson's a much more liberal Congressman than any of his constituents previously believed;
C)  Morgan Philpot is much more representative of his constituents than Matheson will ever be; and finally,
D)  There is an uprising nationwide and here in Wasatch County against incumbents of any stripe. 

It's just not a good year to be Jim Matheson anywhere within his district, and particularly in Wasatch County.

Aaron's e-mail blast explains:

Poll Predicts Philpot Win over Matheson

A recently completed poll conducted by the Wasatch County Philpot For Congress campaign predicts that Republican Morgan Philpot will win in the county over five-term incumbent Democrat Jim Matheson.

The poll received 738 responses from registered voters in the county and shows 51% support for Philpot among registered Republicans and 47% with unaffiliated voters. Matheson scored 31% and 37%, respectively. 16% of respondents were undecided and registered Democrats were not included in the poll.

Based on those results and awarding Matheson 100% of the registered Democrats, indicates a 4% margin of victory for Philpot in Wasatch County.

County Philpot coordinator, Aaron Gabrielson, said, "Matheson has won Wasatch County by large margins in previous elections. A poll showing him behind at this point shows that voters are dissatisfied with Congress in general and with Matheson specifically. Wasatch County has always been Matheson territory. If he can't win here, I don't see how Matheson will win the election."

The poll results follow an anti-incumbent trend across the nation that is likely to result in Republicans regaining control of the House of Representatives.

"This poll actually looks worse for Matheson than it first appears, because Democratic turnout is expected to be lower this year and Republican turnout should be higher. If that happens, Philpot could win by a margin of 8% or more. However, Matheson has a big money advantage in this race, so the Philpot campaign still has a lot of work to do."

When asked about a recent Dan Jones poll showing a large lead for Matheson, Gabrielson responded, "I have taken a look at that poll. It was from a small sample with a big margin of error and included a large percentage of Democrats. I think even the Matheson campaign is not putting much trust in it. Back in 2008 during the 3rd District primary, polls showed Cannon up by 4% and Chaffetz ended up winning by 20%."

* * *

Don't be too surprised if the same dynamic plays out this year in the Utah 2nd Congressional District race across all the counties in the district, not just Wasatch.  If the Republicans just show up to vote, and they follow my lead and the other "reformed" Republican voters in Wasatch County who will finally abandon Matheson after being "irrational" in our former support of his liberal voting record, then our next Congressman will be Morgan Philpot.

This is the year to make a difference by taking down one Democrat seat in Congress on the march toward taking down 41 and wresting control from the disastrous majority we have witnessed in the last two years.

Last week, I read an analysis by some pollsters stating there may be as many as 100 Congressional seats in play that could move into the Republican side of the aisle.  If that is true and those predictions play out on election day, this 2010 tsunami I spoke about earlier in the year will have historic ramifications. 

President Obama and Senator Reid

Make no mistake about it -- this mid-term election is a referendum on Barack Obama, plain and simple.  Harry Reid is experiencing a lot of push back in his race for re-election in Nevada.  President Obama is stumping for him every chance he gets.  How can anyone conclude anything other than a loss by Harry Reid, the number one Democrat in the Senate, is a complete refutation of Obama's policies and the agenda he has put forward? 

If Bob Bennett can lose in Utah, then Harry Reid can lose in Nevada.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Don't hold your breath over this one, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is in the most competitive race she's faced for re-election in years.  It seems even in her "true blue" liberal home district her popularity is waning.  Here again, when one sees serious challenges to the leaders of the party, Reid and Pelosi, in trouble and threatened at home in their own states, one must conclude this mid-term as perhaps never before is all about the country's revulsion at the way they've been treated these last two years.

I wondered aloud on this page months ago who was doing the political calculations within the Democrat Party, when the evidence suggested they were arrogantly going about mustering their votes for the most liberal lurch to the left I have ever witnessed during my lifetime. I called it "the mother of all political cramdowns," when they passed Obamacare. 

And now we are seeing nothing but an aroused and angry electorate pushing back, as the chickens come home to roost.  I have believed for some time the Republicans set a poor example under the Bush administration.  We lived through a reprehensible period with their profligate spending habits and rampant desires for "deficits-don't-matter" wars and nation building attitudes.  Rather than learn from the rejection at the polls that handed control of the presidency and both houses of Congress to the Democrats in 2008, we have seen an acceleration of the same wrong-headed direction they have taken the country. 

Obama completely misread his "mandate" from the election.  Surprise of all surprises -- the people wanted him to take the country in a different direction than out-of-control spending.  They didn't want social re-engineering after all.  They rejected Obamacare resoundingly.  They wanted economic recovery, not stifling regulation and taxation for as far as the eye can see.  They wanted business-friendly stimulants, not anti-business legislation and trillions of dollars of foreign debt for "shovel-ready" projects that still don't seem to be "ready."  Turns out the only shoveling that got done was the knee-deep manure in the political barnyard.

Maybe on November 2nd, 2010, the only way to change course is to fire the incumbents and begin anew.  Maybe this time someone in Washington D.C. will finally be listening to the will of the people.

Make no miscalculations this time, they will be speaking. . . make that shouting out loud.

Utah Business Features Brandt Page, CEO of Launch

In the latest edition of Utah Business there's a great story in the Entrepreneur Handbook (pull out section) featuring Brandt Page, CEO and Founder of Launch Sales and Marketing. . .  click to enlarge:

Congratulations to all the Launch team!  

P.S. Up to 20 employees now, still hiring. . . go to the Careers tab in the website at Launch Sales and Marketing, LLC, fill out the online form and attach your resume.  We're looking for people with a personality who are entrepreneurial by nature and full of integrity.  If you qualify, Brandt Page wants you!



Obama and the unCreator

President Barack Obama

In case you missed it, this is a priceless quote from the President of the United States of America.  Monday night in Rockville, Maryland., President Barack Obama told Democratic Senate candidate donors:

"As wonderful as the land is here in the United States, as much as we have been blessed by the bounty of this magnificent continent that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, what makes this place special is not something physical. It has to do with this idea that was started by 13 colonies that decided to throw off the yoke of an empire, and said, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that each of us are endowed with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'"

Except for the obvious grammatical error "each of us ARE endowed," (should be IS), there was a glaring omission from what is otherwise a very patriotic and high-toned statement.  Did you catch it?

When one consults the actual document, the Declaration of Independence, from which the President was quoting there is a glaring deletion.  This is what the Declaration actually says:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

That could just be a slip of the tongue, or maybe the speech writers are to blame, or maybe it was willfully intentional, because it isn't the first time it's happened.  It seems the "bully pulpit" of this President is dedicated to the deletion of God from our public dialogue.

Monday was the third time in a little over a month that President Obama wrote the Creator out of one of our nation's founding documents. He omitted the exact same phrase at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's 33rd Annual Awards Gala on September 15th, and again at a September 23rd fundraiser in New York City.

I'm not accusing him of anything, I'm just sayin'. . . is he trying to tell us something?

If you want to revise American history in the hearts and minds of the uneducated among us, there couldn't be a more powerful voice to do it than the President's.

Miracles -- Doctrine and Reality



Roger Ebert

Someone sent me a blog post written recently in the Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert, the famous movie critic (thanks Alan).  It is interesting to read his analysis of how he characterizes the word "miracle." He contends it is overused to explain a natural phenomenon. Ebert concludes, "Do I believe in miracles? No. I believe any event we observe can be explained by natural or scientific laws."

Ebert begins his blog with the observation the Chilean miners who were rescued recently after spending 69 days underground were not the recipients of a "miracle."  Opines Ebert:

"How much better to describe the rescue as the result of the fortitude of the miners and the skill of the good-willed people on the surface who reached them in what was, after all, a very short time. How much better to say the outcome in Chile was the result of intelligence and good will. But there seems to be a narrative in these matters that requires the citing of divinity. Newscasters, victims and their families alike praise the powers above."

When I first read his blog post, my reaction was, "That's a little cynical, Roger."  I can accept cynicism from a film critic, but was there no divine intervention involved and no response to millions of prayers around the world on their behalf?  Who held up the roof so it didn't collapse until the rescuers could drill the hole to free them?  Can we so easily dismiss faith?  He once said of himself:  "I have never said, although readers have freely informed me I am an atheist, an agnostic, or at the very least a secular humanist — which I am."

So we have the logical question:  When does God intervene, why and how?  And when He does intervene is it counted as a miracle even though natural laws we don't understand are likely being invoked, or is it just God dispensing His will in random fashion, or could we just say miracles have nothing to do with God but are the result of pure coincidence and nothing more?

I saw a quote attributed to Carl Sagan recently, something to the effect, "If you're truly going to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the cosmos."  Ebert rejects out of hand the belief in creationism and intelligent design.  However, there is a valid opposing view to Roger Ebert's.

Again, Joseph Smith:

If in this life we receive our all; if when we crumble back to dust we are no more, from what source did we emanate, and what was the purpose of our existence? If this life were all, we should be led to query, whether or not there was really any substance in existence, and we might with propriety say, "Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die!" But if this life is all, then why this constant toiling, why this continual warfare, and why this unceasing trouble? But this life is not all; the voice of reason, the language of inspiration, and the Spirit of the living God, our Creator, teaches us, as we hold the record of truth in our hands, that this is not the case, that this is not so; for, the heavens declare the glory of a God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork; and a moment's reflection is sufficient to teach every man of common intelligence, that all these are not the mere productions of chance, nor could they be supported by any power less than an Almighty hand; and He that can mark the power of Omnipotence, inscribed upon the heavens, can also see God's own handwriting in the sacred volume: and he who reads it oftenest will like it best, and he who is acquainted with it, will know the hand wherever he can see it; and when once discovered, it will not only receive an acknowledgment, but an obedience to all its heavenly precepts. For a moment reflect: what could have been the purpose of our Father in giving to us a law? Was it that it might be obeyed, or disobeyed? And think further, too, not only of the propriety, but of the importance of attending to His laws in every particular. If, then, there is an importance in this respect, is there not a responsibility of great weight resting upon those who are called to declare these truths to men? Were we capable of laying any thing before you as a just comparison, we would cheerfully do it; but in this our ability fails, and we are inclined to think that man is unable, without assistance beyond what has been given to those before, of expressing in words the greatness of this important subject. We can only say, that if an anticipation of the joys of the celestial glory, as witnessed to the hearts of the humble is not sufficient, we will leave to yourselves the result of your own diligence; for God ere long, will call all His servants before Him, and there from His own hand they will receive a just recompense and a righteous reward for all their labors.  (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 56).

As holders of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God (D&C 107:3), commonly referred to as the Melchizedek Priesthood, ordinary men in the Church are invited to participate in extraordinary, even miraculous, outcomes by invoking their faith, the faith of family members and friends, and their priesthood authority coupled with the power devolving from their personal righteousness.  Often we limit our thinking about miracles to healings, but some of the biggest miracles I have witnessed involve the restoration of faith and matters of soul and spirit transcending the physcial realms.  Someday when the books are opened (I suspect "the books" include the journals we have kept), the ordinary events of the lives of members of the Church throughout the world will reveal miracles were indeed commonplace among people who believed in miracles.

I am tempted to write about some I have witnessed and been party to this morning, but I will wait for that future day to come when the record of my existence is adjudicated by a heavenly tribunal -- my journals are full of them.  So are yours.  I have also been party to events where miracles did not occur, but faith, priesthood and full desire of heart for a happy outcome were all in evidence.  When all that happens, we defer to "God's will," and I confess I know little about that.  My faith has never been contingent upon outcomes.  I have learned I have little or no control over outcomes.  What I can control is my faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what.

There is an element associated with the working of miracles we rarely discuss, but it is real.  Miracles to which I have been party have always required a degree of revelation.  When we seek for an outcome we cannot possibly facilitate in any other way because it is simply beyond our knowledge or our ability to effect, then the outcome is a miracle.
 
I always take Joseph Smith as my guide in these matters.  Said Joseph in one of his revelations:

"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come. There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated — and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:18-21).

When we seek a miracle (and Roger Ebert is correct on this point) the miracle is dependent upon obedience to a natural law upon which it is predicated. The bursting of his carotid artery twice, and the subsequent repair on two occasions, he argues, cannot be classed as a miracle.  He claims medical science and being in the right place at the right time produced the result his life was spared.  So be it. 

But the first verse in The Book of Mormon attests:

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days." (1 Nephi 1:1).  Based upon that beginning, the reader is immediately immersed in an adventure with Nephi and his family chronicling miracle after miracle.  We live in a day of fulfillment of prophecy, as Roger Ebert's assertions have so amply proven.  He is among those who mock the believers from the great and spacious building and declare, "Miracles have ceased."


President Harold B. Lee

I have always treasured Harold B. Lee's definition of "a mystery," when he observed, "A mystery may be defined as a truth which cannot be known except by revelation."  (Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 575).

Here's a scripture chain to illustrate:

"They deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men; Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work." (2 Nephi 28:5-6).

"Yea, wo unto him that shall deny the revelations of the Lord, and that shall say the Lord no longer worketh by revelation, or by prophecy, or by gifts, or by tongues, or by healings, or by the power of the Holy Ghost! Yea, and wo unto him that shall say at that day, to get gain, that there can be no miracle wrought by Jesus Christ; for he that doeth this shall become like unto the son of perdition, for whom there was no mercy, according to the word of Christ." (3 Nephi 29:6-7).

"It is given unto you [Jesus' disciples] to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them [those who are not spiritually attuned] it is not given." (Matthew 13:11).

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4:1).

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers." (1 Nephi 2:16).

"For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round." (1 Nephi 10:19).

"For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name. And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk." (D&C 35:8-9).

"Do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles…
"And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles." (Mormon 9:9-20).

"Has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain." (Moroni 7:28-38).

"Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing — unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance." (Alma 26:22).

"If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things — that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal." (D&C 42:61).

"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich." (D&C 6:7).

"And to them [the righteous] will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom." (D&C 76:7).

"The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church — to have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly and church of the Firstborn, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the mediator of the new covenant." (D&C 107:18-19).

Miracles are by definition something we do not understand, therefore they are mysterious to the natural man.  However, a miracle occurs when the natural laws -- "the mysteries" involved -- are revealed to someone holding the priesthood and those laws are invoked to produce the desired outcome.  The scriptures teach this principle clearly and without ambiguity -- when we obey the law upon which the blessing is predicated, mysteries are revealed and a miracle happens, even though the natural laws may not be universally known at the time. 

Computers are a miracle to me.  I simply do not understand the software code that makes them tick.  Neither do I understand the minute detail of the hardware assembled to make it all work.  I toured a chip manufacturing plant in Palo Alto years ago when I was consulting, and was ushered into a clean room where the chips were microscopic.  They told me the future of chip making was to harness "light," the purest element.  Those little chips had more computing power than the first computers filling rooms in the early days.  To me it's all a mystery.  I suspect to the inventors of hardware and software those laws upon which computers operate are perfectly understandable and sequential, but to me those principles will likely forever remain an unrevealed mystery.  In turn, what is obvious to me about faith, miracles and mysteries remains an unrevealed mystery to Roger Ebert.

We are told signs follow those who believe. Signs are evidence of faith:  "Verily, I say unto you, there are those among you who seek signs, and there have been such even from the beginning; but, behold, faith cometh not by signs, but signs follow those that believe." (D&C 63:8-9).

Signs are a natural consequence of righteousness.  They are given as gifts from God to those who purify themselves before Him. When we accept and believe what the Spirit tells us, signs follow as a natural consequence.

President Spencer W. Kimball

President Spencer W. Kimball said, "Signs will follow them that believe. He makes no promise that signs will create belief nor save nor exalt. Signs are the product of faith. They are born in the soil of unwavering sureness. They will be prevalent in the Church in about the same degree to which the people have true faith." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 500).

President Brigham Young

President Brigham Young said, "Miracles, or these extraordinary manifestations of the power of God, are not for the unbeliever; they are to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith of those who love, fear, and serve God, and not for outsiders." (Discourses of Brigham Young, 341).

Elder James E. Talmage

Elder James E. Talmage adds this insight: "Miracles are not primarily intended, surely they are not needed, to prove the power of God; the simpler occurrences, the more ordinary works of creation do that. But unto the heart already softened and purified by the testimony of the truth, to the mind enlightened through the Spirit's power and conscious of obedient service in the requirements of the Gospel, the voice of miracles comes with cheering tidings, with fresh and more abundant evidences of the magnanimity of an all merciful God." (Articles of Faith, 199).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Elder Bruce R. McConkie put it this way: "Miracles are part of the gospel. Signs follow those that believe. Where the doctrines of salvation are taught in purity and perfection, where there are believing souls who accept these truths and make them a part of their lives, and where devout souls accept Jesus as their Lord and serve him to the best of their ability, there will always be miracles. Such ever attend the preaching of the gospel to receptive and conforming people. Miracles stand as a sign and a witness of the truth and divinity of the Lord's work. Where there are miracles, there is the gospel, the Church, the kingdom, and the hope of salvation. Where there are no signs and miracles, none of these desired blessings will be found." (The Mortal Messiah, 2:10).

Elder McConkie also wrote: "Signs flow from faith. They may incidentally have the effect of strengthening the faith of those who are already spiritually inclined, but their chief purpose is not to convert people to the truth, but to reward and bless those already converted. . . . To seek the gifts of the Spirit through faith, humility, and devotion to righteousness is not to be confused with sign-seeking. The saints are commanded to 'covet earnestly the best gifts.' (1 Corinthians 12:31).  But implicit in this exhortation is the presumption that those so seeking will do so in the way the Lord has ordained." (Mormon Doctrine, 713, 715).

To the world without the fulness of the gospel, of course, the gospel itself is a mystery.  We know the Father and the Son have bodies of flesh and bones.  But the world, not knowing, claims the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are an unknowable "mystery."  The false doctrine of the "Trinity" is the result. 

"If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." (D&C 88:67-68).

We are headed for a time when all will know God.  The "mystery" of God's true identity will be revealed to all, and all the mysteries, all the "hidden things" regarding the earth's creation, will likewise be revealed without reservation:  "Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals?  A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence." (D&C 77:6).  Until the book is opened and the seals broken, we walk by faith not seeing.

Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was an eyewitness: "We beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fulness; and saw the holy angels, and them who are sanctified before his throne, worshiping God, and the Lamb, who worship him forever and ever. And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father — that by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God." (D&C 76:20-24).

That would certainly count as a miracle, even in Roger Ebert's world!

"Great and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the mysteries of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion; which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not lawful for man to utter.  Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; to whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory." (D&C 76:114-18).

"Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am." (D&C 93:1).

Elder McConkie, writing in his last book, said, "Personal revelation is not limited to gaining a testimony and knowing thereby that Jesus, through whom the gospel came, is Lord of all, nor is it limited to receiving guidance in our personal and family affairs — although these are the most common examples of revelation among the Lord's people. In truth and in verity, there is no limit to the revelations each member of the Church may receive. It is within the power of every person who has received the gift of the Holy Ghost to see visions, entertain angels, learn the deep and hidden mysteries of the kingdom." (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 489-90).

"This greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God. Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest. And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; for without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live." (D&C 84:19-22).

President Joseph Fielding Smith

President Joseph Fielding Smith observed: "It is impossible for men to obtain the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom or the knowledge of God, without the authority of the Priesthood. Secular learning, the study of the sciences, arts and history, will not reveal these vital truths to men. It is the Holy Priesthood that unlocks the door to heaven and reveals to man the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. It is this Divine Authority which makes known the knowledge of God! Is there any wonder that the world today is groping in gross darkness concerning God and the things of his kingdom? We should also remember that these great truths are not made known even to members of the Church unless they place their lives in harmony with the law on which these blessings are predicated." (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:338).

President Smith made it clear these supernal spiritual blessings were available without restriction to men and women: "It ought to make every man among us who holds the priesthood rejoice to think that we have that great authority by which we may know God. Not only the men holding the priesthood know that great truth, but because of that priesthood and the ordinances thereof, every member of the Church, men and women alike, may know God." (Doctrines of Salvation, 3:142-43).

In our extended family right now we are uniting our faith on behalf of beloved cousins who are struggling with cancer and other physical ailments.  Miracles are being sought and priesthood blessings are being given.  Medical science has advanced in these areas beyond what it was even five or ten years ago.  Common treatments today, but unknown a few years ago, would have been classed as "miracles" then.  I heard a speaker at a technology symposium for small business last week make the statement that anyone studying for a technical degree in today's universities can expect a shelf life for his degree of about six months, the advances are coming so fast now.


Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, speaking in a recent General Conference, said, "Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.

"The use of medical science is not at odds with our prayers of faith and our reliance on priesthood blessings. When a person requested a priesthood blessing, Brigham Young would ask, 'Have you used any remedies?' To those who said no because 'we wish the Elders to lay hands upon us, and we have faith that we shall be healed,' President Young replied: 'That is very inconsistent according to my faith. If we are sick, and ask the Lord to heal us, and to do all for us that is necessary to be done, according to my understanding of the Gospel of salvation, I might as well ask the Lord to cause my wheat and corn to grow, without my plowing the ground and casting in the seed. It appears consistent to me to apply every remedy that comes within the range of my knowledge, and [then] to ask my Father in Heaven … to sanctify that application to the healing of my body.'" (Discourses of Brigham Young, 163).

Elder Oaks concludes:  "From all of this we learn that even the servants of the Lord, exercising His divine power in a circumstance where there is sufficient faith to be healed, cannot give a priesthood blessing that will cause a person to be healed if that healing is not the will of the Lord.

"As children of God, knowing of His great love and His ultimate knowledge of what is best for our eternal welfare, we trust in Him. The first principle of the gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and faith means trust. I felt that trust in a talk my cousin gave at the funeral of a teenage girl who had died of a serious illness. He spoke these words, which first astonished me and then edified me: 'I know it was the will of the Lord that she die. She had good medical care. She was given priesthood blessings. Her name was on the prayer roll in the temple. She was the subject of hundreds of prayers for her restoration to health. And I know that there is enough faith in this family that she would have been healed unless it was the will of the Lord to take her home at this time.' I felt that same trust in the words of the father of another choice girl whose life was taken by cancer in her teen years. He declared, 'Our family’s faith is in Jesus Christ and is not dependent on outcomes.' Those teachings ring true to me. We do all that we can for the healing of a loved one, and then we trust in the Lord for the outcome."

And many of those outcomes today do involve miracles.  Even if Roger Ebert wouldn't call them that.

Philpot or Matheson? You Decide



Morgan Philpot (R Cand. UT)

Facts About Morgan Philpot

I suspect most people in the Utah 2nd Congressional District are quickly learning more about Morgan Philpot.  For those who haven't had a chance yet to learn about him and his positions, I encourage you to visit his website.

• Morgan is a Utah native.  He and his wife Natalie graduated from the University of Utah and lived in Salt Lake County for several years. While there, Morgan represented his neighbors in Utah House district 45.  He now lives in the Utah County portion of Utah's 2nd Congressional District.
• As a young boy, Morgan was raised primarily by his mother who spent several years parenting seven children on her own.  Starting with his first "real” job picking strawberries at age 9, he quickly learned independence and self reliance. He knows the value of balancing a budget and of making decisions based on how much money you actually have, not how much you wish you had.
• At the University of Utah, he earned degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Studies. During that time, he and his wife served internships in Washington D.C., for the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Supreme Court respectively.
• After graduating from college, Morgan took a job as the new account sales manager for a Salt Lake fabrication company. Two years later, Morgan ran in a hotly contested race for State Representative of Utah House District 45 (Sandy, Salt Lake County, Midvale) with the motto "Freedom, Family, Future."  He put together a strong, effective grassroots campaign and in 2000, at the age of 28, he became one of the youngest state legislators in the Utah House.
• As a State Representative, Morgan didn't hesitate to take strong stands on tough issues. He consistently led the fight against wasteful government spending, championed life, second amendment rights and free market principles. He sought creative and innovative ways to improve public education and was the lead sponsor of the Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship, a bill that created an educational voucher program. This law has opened new avenues to a better education for Utah's families with special-needs children and now serves over 500 individuals. 
• While in the legislature, Morgan was granted the "Friend of the Taxpayer” award by the Utah Taxpayer's Association and the "Guardian of Small Business" award by the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Morgan was also one of the founding members of the House Conservative Caucus.
• In 2004, Morgan chose to leave the legislature and attend the Ave Maria School of Law, a school dedicated to life, the rule of law, and the U.S. Constitution. While there, he was privileged to learn from such influential minds as Judge Robert Bork and Charles Rice.
• Upon completion of law school Morgan clerked for Utah's Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. Morgan served as the in-house legal counsel for a Utah business for two years and is now a consultant with a private company in Sandy.
• In addition to his legislative service Morgan has also volunteered his time to Scouting, Church, and Utah politics. He has served as a State delegate, County delegate, State Central Committee member, Executive Committee member and most recently as the Vice-chair of the Utah Republican Party.

Morgan has enjoyed sharing his love of ancient history with his children through rock-hounding, camping and hiking in many areas of rural Utah. His family also enjoys gardening and reading together. Morgan currently lives in American Fork with his wife and five children.

Morgan believes his real life struggles and experiences uniquely qualify him to serve the families of Utah as the next Congressman from the Second District.

I encourage voters in the 2nd Congressional District this year to re-think their assumptions about Jim Matheson. I know I have, and I've concluded this race is a no-brainer. Join me in voting for Morgan Philpot, because here are the. . .



Facts About Jim Matheson

Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT)

 When Democrat Jim Matheson is campaigning in Utah, he talks about being a moderate and fiscal conservative.

Once he is in Washington his voting record looks a little different.

Decide for yourself if Jim Matheson is a fiscal conservative based on his actual voting record.

Is Matheson part of the solution to an out-of-control Federal government or is he part of the problem?

Jim Matheson’s Voting Record:

• Jim Matheson has voted 93% of the time with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority. He votes with Republicans 5% of the time and abstains 2% of the time. He has voted for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House every time she has come up for a vote. (1)

• Citizens Against Government Waste rated Jim Matheson as "Hostile To The Taxpayer" giving him their worst rating. (2)

• He has voted for every stimulus bill since Obama took office ($1.2 trillion worth), including the most recent public employee bailout stimulus. (3)

• He recently voted to raise the debt ceiling by $2 Trillion. (4)

• When Jim Matheson took office, the national debt was $5.6 Trillion (in today's dollars). Ten years later it is now $13.4 trillion. That is $43,600 for every man, woman and child in the country. A family of four now owes $174,400 in Federal debt. (5)

• He cast the deciding vote to adjourn Congress until after the election, preventing a vote on the huge tax increase scheduled for January 1, 2011. This could result in the largest tax hike in American history, raising taxes on a family of four by over $2,000 next year. (6)

• He voted "No" on final passage of the Obama health care bill, once he knew it was going to pass without his vote. He voted "Yes" on key procedural votes, including "Deem and Pass" and the "closed rule" that made it impossible to amend the bill. These procedural votes were critical to getting the Obama health care bill passed. He now opposes any effort to defund or repeal Obamacare. (7)

Jim Matheson’s Funding:

• Matheson takes more than 84% of his campaign funds from special interest groups and political action committees (PACs). That percentage is double the Congressional average and ranks him 3rd out of 435 Congressmen. The Salt Lake Tribune recently dubbed Matheson "The PAC Man". (8)

• Nancy Pelosi has given $46,000 to his campaign and Charlie Rangel has given $45,000. (9)

Sources:
1. http://www.opencongress.org/people/show/400255_Jim_Matheson
2. http://ccagwratings.org/?page_id=737
3. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2009-01-27-obama-economy_N.htm
4. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll046.xml
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals
6. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700070001/Election-2010-Philpot-criticizes-Matheson-for-adjourning.html
7. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2010-130
8. http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/50209672-90/matheson-money-pacpacs.html.csp
9. http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00344234&cycle=2006
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00302588&cycle=2008

* * *

The truly wonderful thing about America is freedom to choose, to vote, and to enjoy the blessings of liberty.  Matheson's voting record highlights what is wrong with the current members of Congress from both parties -- they just can't help themselves from voting for the status quo.

Let's begin anew in the 2nd District this year -- it's a good year for change and renewal because of the quality of the candidates.