Did Anyone Run The Numbers???

Technorati Tags: Health care,Barack Obama,Cash for Clunkers

I guess I must be on the wrong page…

A vehicle at 15 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 800 gallons a year of gasoline.
A vehicle at 25 mpg and 12,000 miles per year uses 480 gallons a year.
So, the average "Cash for Clunkers" transaction will reduce US
gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.
They claim 700,000 vehicles – so that's 224 million gallons / year.
That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.
5 million barrels of oil is about ¼ of one day's US consumption.
And, 5 million barrels of oil costs about $350 million dollars at $70 / barrel.
So, we all contributed to spending $3 billion to save $350 million.
I guess I must be on the wrong page…
How good a deal was that ???

They'll probably do a great job with health care though!!

So I got LASIK…did I turn out blind?

Wow, it’s been nearly forever since I’ve posted to my blog, and for that I’m sorry.  Of course, no one sends me nasty emails asking me to post an update, so I figure not too many people really care.  With that being said, I had a rather life-changing procedure performed on me in early July that I would love to share with the rest of you.  I had LASIK done on both of my eyes at Southwest Eye Center.  Let me start from the beginning…

Many moons ago, I had perfect vision.  I could see anything at any distance fine and without any assistance (from either contacts or glasses).  As I started to age and gradually make it through high school, it became increasingly difficult so see objects at a distance (I believe this means that I was farsighted – although I could be wrong).  When I was just about ready to leave for my mission, I was tricked into believing that I needed to get a pair of glasses (since 2 years is a long time to be gone, especially without any glasses!).  I grudgingly got a pair of glasses and was sure to pack them at the bottom of my suitcase.

As the mission progressed, so my need to utilize glasses did as well.  I hated it.  I hated wearing glasses.  They were just downright ANNOYING!  I eventually decided that I wanted to give contacts a shot, and so I made an appointment with a local optometrist in Virginia Beach, VA (my mom’s insurance, which still covered me on the mission, paid for any expenses).  I went in, was fitted, and was asked to try on a pair.  I remember the day was dark, cold and rainy (as it was November).  I entered a large room with high floor to ceiling windows that looked out at the main street, and in the more distant background, a huge empty parking lot, riddled with puddles.  I vividly remember looking out at the puddles and seeing each individual raindrop.  I was floored.  I couldn’t believe what I had been missing the whole time.  The next few weeks, I’m sure I annoyed the death out of my companion, Elder Gavilanes, but he bore it well.  I eventually became dependent on my contacts and never left the house without them.

I decided in July to start investigating LASIK facilities to find the best deal, but more importantly, a competent firm that I felt comfortable with.  After all, these people were going to be entrusted with my eyes – these are the only things on my body which give my brain visual access to the world.  I settled on Southwest because they are a large company, well known (meaning they’ll probably be around in 20 years), and they offered a lifetime enhancements option (if my LASIK ever loses its touch).

I went in for the consultation exam on a Friday afternoon early in July and was told that I was an excellent candidate for the procedure (proper thickness of the cornea, very light prescription, etc…).  I looked at the pricing and decided that it was well worth the cost to make an investment in myself.  I decided to have the procedure done the following day.

The Procedure (not for the weak)

Here’s how the story goes.  You are not allowed to wear contacts three days prior to the consultation exam.  This is to ensure that your eyes are in their most natural state before you have the procedure done.  Little did I know the Tuesday prior that that would be the last time I would ever wear contacts again.  I arrived on Saturday morning (with my parents in tow – to drive me home) and was taken to a back room that was FREEZING cold.  There, I was given instructions for eye drops that would be put into my eyes in the subsequent weeks (a steroid to reduce any pain, an antibiotic to ensure proper healing of the flap, and artificial tears to keep my eyes moist).  I was also given a cool doctor hairnet sort of hat contraption and pads to cover my ears (so no extraneous liquids had opportunity to enter during the procedure).

I waited for about an hour while two people ahead of me had the procedure done.  After each was finished, they informed me that it was painless and they could already see better.  For my procedure, I was taken back to the surgery area and asked to lie back in what I can only describe as a sort of dentist chair.  I looked up into a machine hovering overhead where there were flashing green and red lights.  The procedure began almost immediately.  The doctor began by inserting collagen plugs into my tear ducts.  Your tear duct is visible in the very corner of your eye toward your nose on the bottom flap.  It is a VERY tiny hole that acts as a sort of drainage system for your eyes.  Excess tears are drained away from the eye via this duct.  The tear duct is plugged for the LASIK procedure because the procedure requires the temporary severing of the nerves that allow you to cry.  Therefore, the drainage system is plugged to prevent what little tears you produce for the weeks after the procedure from draining away from your eye.  This was painless (as is the entire procedure).  The collagen naturally degrades away within a few weeks and is completely gone.

The doctor proceeded to begin the procedure with my right eye.  Therefore, he placed and taped gauze over my left eye and then the assistant added a numbing drop to my right eye.  Next, my eyelids were taped open so that I did not blink.  At this point, the doctor inserted tongs that held the eyelids open.  You may think it impossible to go without blinking, but during this time, the urge ceases as the eye is held open by the tongs.  This next part is rather graphic and not for the weak of heart!  A sort of suction instrument lifts the eyeball out of the socket.  This is done to make the surface more accessible so that the doctor can make a proper flap.  During this time, your vision begins to leave you and you are then blind.  Everything goes black, and then the blackness changes to stars as if you are in space.  At this point, you begin to see the flashing green and red lights above your head.  The doctor then begins to make the incision (the creation of the flap).  While you are thinking that a doctor cutting your eye open would be quite painful, it actually isn’t.  I will not lie, however – it was VERY uncomfortable.  Imagine someone running a rubber-tipped instrument around the surface of your eyeball in a circular motion.  This is what the creation of the flap felt like.  He then lifted the flap and everything went blurry, as if I had just removed a contact (which technically, the equivalent to this was just done). 

The next part is where the miracle of the laser takes place.  You are instructed to look at the green and red flashing lights and not move at all.  The laser starts to zap your eye (it sounds like a bug lantern zapping repeatedly).  You also see ultra-violet blue light flashing in your eye.  At this point, you can see the flashing blue in the shape and image of an eyeball (I know, it’s weird).  Also, it smells like burning flesh.  Gross as it sounds, this is the unadulterated truth.  When the correct number is reached (the assistant is reading numbers as the laser is going), the laser stops, and the doctor begins to put your eye back together.  He places the flap back where it belongs and applies some sort of gluing agent (organic).  He paints it on with a sort of eyeball paintbrush.  The other assistant applies some more drops of the numbing agent, and the whole thing is done all over again in the other eye.

After the procedure is complete and you exit the chair (in my case, at least), everything is blurry and foggy and hazy at the same time.  However, at this point, I could see better than I could before with uncorrected vision.  I placed my glasses on my face and left the facility with my parents.  During the procedure, my parents had their eyes checked and my mom decided to have LASIK done as well.  Throughout the rest of that Saturday, my vision continually improved and by night time, I was watching Forever Strong with a group of friends in perfect clarity.  At my 1 day and 1 week follow-up I had 20/20 vision.  On my one month follow up, I was officially given a rating of 20/15 vision (which is better than perfect).  I am glad I had the procedure done and I would NEVER go back to contacts!!!

A SoCal Vacation with the parents

So my recent competition participation (see previous post) afforded me and my parents an opportunity to take some well-needed vacation time in San Diego and Reno, NV.  While I forgot my digital camera for the trip to Reno, I made sure and brought it to California.  We had an amazing opportunity to visit the San Diego Temple and do an endowment session.  The temple is amazing – and it reminds me of a funny story.  My parents and I were vacationing in San Diego probably about 10 or 12 years ago and we were staying in a hotel close to the San Diego Temple.  At the time, we were not members of the Church, but I remember seeing the temple from the rooftop garden of our hotel.  I remember thinking to myself that the building looked like something that had just been brought down out of heaven.  If you’ve ever been to the SD Temple, or seen a picture of it, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

So the next day, we’re driving along the freeway and suddenly I wonder to myself, “It would be really funny if we stumble upon the cancer treatment center that McCarthy built and that our Reno problem statement was based upon (see previous post) – for I knew that the building had been built in southern California.  They also showed us pictures, so I knew I would recognize it if I saw it.  About a minute later, I did see it and I told my parents we had to stop so that I could get a picture, for a good memory.

I couldn’t believe that I had found it – The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment – St. Joseph Hospital.  This building was the reason I was in San Diego, and was the cause of much grief and stress in the Reno Competition.  After this, we made our way to Knott’s Berry Farm, because they had the cheapest tickets – 2 for $25 for my parents, and then my ticket was $25.  A whole day’s worth of adventure for only $50!  You can’t beat that!  If my mom knew I was posting this picture she would kill me.  Maybe she won’t read this blog post…

And finally, our favorite ride of the whole park – La Revolución – and not only because it’s in Spanish – this ride ROCKS!!  I mean, just look at the picture.  You know you’re jealous.

The Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Reno Competition & The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) National Student Championship 2009

I would like to take up a post on my blog to explain (probably in more detail that most of you want to read) a series of events that have happened recently in my educational life.  As referenced in the title, I will explain my involvement with the ASC Reno Competition and the subsequent AGC National Student Championship.  For the time being, we’ll put aside the AGC National Student Championship and focus solely on the Reno Competition.  Throughout my education in the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University, I had heard of this Reno Competition (referred to as “Reno” from here on out), and always wondered what it really took to compete.  Last year in about April, I finally made the decision that I would get more involved with school functions, so I went to the initial Reno meeting.  The school sends about nine or ten teams every year – each team having to do with a different aspect of the construction field.  Some examples of teams are design/build, commercial, Building Information Modeling, LEED, Electrical, Mechanical, Residential, and so forth.  I decided that I would head up the design/build team since it had no team members.  The process to get on the team was a tough one in which one had to be interviewed by the team captains.  I figured the easiest way to get to Reno would just to become the team captain and do the interviews myself. 

I compiled a team and we began meeting throughout the fall 2008 semester.  We formed a made-up company called Helix Building Corp and established a company history and a list of prior projects our made-up company and designed and then built.  The design/build delivery method of construction occurs when a client knows they need a building but have no idea what the building will look like.  They ask a construction company to deliver an entire package – design, plans, construction, and sometimes even maintenance after the building is completed.  In the case of our team, we decided that our made-up company would partner up or “Joint Venture,” as it’s referred to in the construction industry, with an outside design firm known as iNNOVAR Design (Innovation in Architecture).  Thus, we built an entire program around the Helix + iNNOVAR Joint Venture.

Our team worked tirelessly to prepare and develop our company.  We enlisted the help of a student in the School of Design majoring in Architecture to assist with the design portions of the requirements for the problem.  Essentially, the Reno Competition as pertaining to the design/build problem is as follows:

• A pre-problem statement is released in October of the year before the competition (the competition is held in February, thus we received our problem in October 2008
  • This pre-problem statement gives vague instructions as to what will be required in the competition and also points the team in the direction of what the client wants built – in our case, they told us they wanted a cancer treatment center with the latest and greatest equipment
  • A real-life construction company sponsors, or provides the problem statement and the judging.  In our case, the company was McCarthy.  In all cases, the  company has to have built the project they are requesting in real life
• The team works to prepare a Request for Qualification.  The requirements for this RFQ are outlined in the pre-problem statement.  This must be a professional-quality company portfolio and snapshot.  It offers a brief company history, previous projects, your project team organization chart, resumes, and sometimes made-up financial data
  • The RFQ is due to the judges (McCarthy) when you arrive in Reno, usually at the beginning of the day in which the competition actually starts
• Finally, after hours of preparation and team meetings, we flew to Reno, Nevada with the rest of the teams competing for Arizona State University.  We arrived on Wednesday afternoon and participated in an opening banquet (the food was good)
• The next morning at 6:00 AM, we reported to the room where the McCarthy judges held a pre-proposal conference with us and the other teams we were competing against (I believe there were nine total).  In this meeting, we handed in our RFQ and were given a detailed booklet outlining specifications for the building they wanted built, along with site plans, showing the physical space we were provided to design our building
• We left this meeting and headed up to the hotel room we designated as our office.  The afternoon we arrived, we cleared all the furniture out of the room and moved in large tables that the competition sponsors gave us.  We essentially set up a mini-office in this hotel room (don’t worry – we put all the furniture back exactly as we found it at the end of the competition)
• We were given from the time we started until 11:59:59 to completely develop a feasible design, a budget, a schedule, and a request for proposal (RFP).  The RFP contained all things pertaining to the design, budget and schedule.  The day had few breaks, if any, and we worked tirelessly.  When it got to the late evening, we were scrambling to get all our information compiled.
• In what seemed like eternity, we had successfully worked as a team and compiled the necessary information and turned in our RFP a whopping 15 minutes early at 11:45 PM.  That wasn’t the end of the night either!  We had to prepare for a presentation the next day!
• We all took about an hour break and met back in the office to begin compiling our presentation.  The file containing the presentation had to be turned into the judges by 7:00 AM the next morning.  We got a rough outline and decided to call it quits at 3:00 AM.
• At 6:00 AM, we met in our office and placed the finishing touches on our presentation.  We got it turned in just in time.  We found out at that time that we were not assigned to present until 4:10 PM!  The last group!  We wanted to go first and get it out of the way, but hey, last always leaves the most impression
• We decided to take the rest of the day off until about 1:00 PM when we met back up in the office and ran though our presentation a couple more times
• We finally presented (this was actually easier than I thought – the hardest part was the previous day when we spent 18+ hours working through the problem) and found out the next afternoon that we won 1st place.  For being a team that had no members that had ever competed in the Reno Competition, we were pretty dang proud of ourselves

Certificate of Participation (click on any picture to enlarge):

Team Picture right after we found out we won first place.  Yes, this is what we look like running on 3 hours of sleep:

Now I mentioned earlier that we also competed in the AGC National Student Championship.  This was because when we won first place at Reno, we won the region 6 championship (of which there are 7 regions).  For more information on this visit www.asc67.org.  The Associated General Contractors of America sponsors this competition and it took place in San Diego this year.  We had to do everything I mentioned above but for an entirely different company (Hensel Phelps), for an entirely different problem (a mixed-use building in Colorado), and in only three weeks (as opposed to several months for Reno).  It was difficult and in the end, we didn’t prove to be the best school in the country, but I feel good knowing that we did our best and that we won first place in the regional competition.  We did get an additional vacation to beautiful San Diego out of the National Student Championship.  Some pictures from the National Championship are below.

The team just before we presented to Hensel Phelps (from left to right: Jason Madison – coach, Gilbane, Tyler Lyons, Me, Bret Burnham, Nico Rochwalik, Blake Dijkman, Joel Smith):

Us after just having enjoyed a nice lunch at the Hard Rock Hotel (it wasn’t the Hard Rock Cafe, but a restaurant at their hotel):

A picture of all of us shortly before we found out that we did not win (the awards banquet):

Both events presented an amazing opportunity for me to learn and grow in the construction field.  I was glad to have participated and am grateful for the experiences I gained.  I am also glad to have made so many new friends.

The Adament cause – a means behind a name

For some reason, I haven’t posted to my blog in ages.  For those of you who may have been following my posts, I’m sorry for the long night of silence.  But that night is over and I am dedicated to writing again.  In my sad, single life I’ve noticed that usually the people who have blogs are married couples.  Unfortunately, I haven’t attained the status of “married” yet, but maybe one day it will happen (I don’t suppose that me sitting home blogging on a Saturday night is much help toward my cause).

I wanted to take just a short little post to explain the means behind my name, Adament cause.  Yes, I know that adament is spelled wrong (correctly spelled as adamant).  The name came to existence in my search of an XBOX Live name.  I purchased my XBOX toward the end of 2007 and held off paying for Live until about four months later.  In my experience, I always noticed names like Killer1049585 or something of the like.  Names that were unoriginal, already thought-of.  I wanted a name unique to me – and not just some dumb name that applied to only one game that I play.  I wanted a name that defined me, and had true meaning.

After months of pondering, I came to the conclusion that Adament cause was the best name for me.  You see, when there is a debate or a cause, something to be believed in, I am usually very adamant about it.  I usually have a strong opinion one way or another.  Those who are close to me can bear witness of that truth.  Sometimes my strong opinions work against me, and that is something that I am striving to keep in check as I go about life.  I will openly admit that I originally thought that adamant was spelled “adament,” and wasn’t made aware of the error until someone told me.  I came to the conclusion that I liked my spelling more, and just kept it (and yes, I’ve added the word to the dictionary on my computer – you should do the same). 

Closure is attained

In early January 2006, I was serving as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the area of Newport News, Virginia.  Our stewardship encompassed everything from Williamsburg down the peninsula to Hampton.  One night, as me and my companion were preparing for bed, a call came from our leaders confirming that we were in our apartment.  They gave us the news that two missionaries were unaccounted for.  Phone calls kept coming in from different parts of the Tidewater area (all major cities, including Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, etc...) bringing more detailed and grim news.  The missionaries in the Deep Creek area in Chesapeake were missing, and rumors were flying that at least one of them was dead.  I didn't believe the story at first, but shuffled through papers on the table to find the transfer sheet (it would tell me which missionaries were currently serving in the Deep Creek area).

My heart sank as I discovered the names of the two missionaries - Elders Morgan Young and Joshua Heidbrink.  I didn't know Elder Heidbrink, but had spent plenty of time with Elder Young.  We served around each other in Virginia Beach a little more than a year before.  We once ran into him and his companion tracting.  On that occasion, he said he wanted to get permission to have a sleep over on Halloween night.  He was the missionary who carried his Book of Mormon everywhere - even into the library to email on preparation day. 

As the night continued on, confirmation that Elder Young had, in fact, been murdered came.  I called our branch president.  His wife, Sister Hamblin, answered the phone.  I informed her of what had happened, and politely asked her to call my parents and let them know that I was okay.  The last thing I wanted to happen was for my mom to hear on the news the next day that a Mormon missionary in Virginia had been shot and killed and that his companion was also shot, without knowing that her own son was okay.

I later found out that our mission president, President Spencer F. Kirk, was unable to make it to the hospital before Elder Young had died.  A cloud of solemnity swept over the mission that night, and the missionaries near to Elder Young were forever changed.  The next two days were cold and rainy ones.  Happiness and zeal for the work we were effecting left for a time.  President Kirk called two special mission devotionals two days after the incident.  We made the trip to Virginia Beach where the meeting was to be held.  In attendance was President Kirk and his wife, the parents of Elder Young, the parents of Elder Heidbrink, and Elder Heidbrink himself, complete with arm brace to support the arm affected by the gunshot wound.  That cold January day, in a land far from home, I had the opportunity to experience perhaps one of the most spiritual meetings in a lifetime.  Tears were shed and new friends were made.  We said goodbye to a fellow soldier in the army of God.  Elder Young was gone, but we as missionaries were to continue on in this great work.  

Days went on, seemingly slow, but eventually turned to months and years.  Finally, nearly three years later, Elder Heidbrink, and more importantly, the Young family can finally find the closure they have been seeking.  The man accused of the murder and attempted murder, has been found guilty of his crimes and will spend the rest of his life in prison.  Please click here to see the video concerning the outcome of the trial.  My heart goes out to Elder Heidbrink, who has had to make repeated visits to Virginia to have this chapter of his life reopened time and time again.

Why I Voted Yes on 102 and Why You Should Too

"We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."

I have no greater joy than posting to my blog about this topic. For those of you unaware of the current situation in the State of Arizona, there is a marriage amendment that is hopefully going to be passed in November. It is called Proposition 102, or more commonly, "Yes for Marriage." The entire proposition reads: "Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state." This blog post will be more for those of you who are Latter-day Saints who may not be in agreeance with the passage of this proposition. My first words to you are: "Shame on you." The quote in italics at the beginning of this post is from "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," as given by President Hinckley in 1995. The chosen Prophet of the Lord has called upon us, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, to promote any measure which maintains the sanctity of the marriage covenant. Furthermore, in a letter from The First Presidency dated 29 June, 2008, the following was read in sacrament meetings across California:

"In March 2000 California voters overwhelmingly approved a state law providing that “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.” The California Supreme Court recently reversed this vote of the people. On November 4, 2008, Californians will vote on a proposed amendment to the California state constitution that will now restore the March 2000 definition of marriage approved by the voters.

"The Church’s teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God, and the formation of families is central to the Creator’s plan for His children. Children are entitled to be born within this bond of marriage.

"A broad-based coalition of churches and other organizations placed the proposed amendment on the ballot. The Church will participate with this coalition in seeking its passage. Local Church leaders will provide information about how you may become involved in this important cause.

"We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to assure that marriage in California is legally defined as being between a man and a woman. Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage."

Please click here to be taken to this letter on the Church website. If you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you sustained the same First Presidency that released this letter in the past October 2008 General Conference. You signified by the raising of the right arm to the square that you truly believe and affirm that President Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. How is it then, that there is even one active member of the Church that cannot possibly agree with the passage of a marriage amendment? It is spelled out in plain English in this letter and in the Family Proclamation. Those who are against the passage of this amendment, who are willingly rejecting the words of a living prophet are among those to whom the scripture was written:

"That [the rights of the Priesthood] may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man."

-Doctrine and Covenants 121:37

I would like to elaborate on a single statement in the previous scripture: "gratify our pride." Now recognize, here, that I am no saint, and am definitely guilty of being prideful. There are many parts of this talk that apply to me, but those arguments are for a different post. Listen to the words of a prophet; those of Ezra Taft Benson:

"The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us...The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works...The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s."

-Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4 (Read the full talk here)

I don't care what your background is; you may be homosexual, you may have homosexual tendencies, you may be sentimental toward the homosexual cause, however, the words of the Lord, through His chosen and sustained prophets are clear. We love the sinner, but not the sin. We cannot possibly accept what they do, and should provide support wherever possible. However, I will not stand idly by as the adversary slowly works within the hearts of Latter-day Saints. As members of the Church, you should already know how to vote on this issue. In the words of a great prophet of God:

"Where stands the perversion of homosexuality? Clearly it is hostile to God's purpose in that it negates his first and great commandment to "multiply and replenish the earth..."

"Let it therefore be clearly stated that the seriousness of the sin of homosexuality is equal to or greater than that of fornication or adultery; and that the Lord's Church will as readily take action to disfellowship or exommunicate the unrepentant practicing homosexual as it will the unrepentant fornicator or adulterer..."

"Next in seriousness to nonrecognition of the sin is the attempt to justify oneself in this perversion. Many have been misinformed that they are powerless in the matter, not responsible for the tendency, and that "God made them that way." This is as untrue as any other of the diabolical lies Satan has concocted. It is blasphemy. Man is made in the image of God. Does the pervert think God to be "that way?"

-Spencer W. Kimball, "The Miracle of Forgiveness, 1969, pp. 81, 85

The perversion of homosexuality is just that, a perversion of nature. It is the great and abominable sin against nature because it goes against the very plan of the Creator. With that being said, I field the question: why do we, as Latter-day Saints, care how marriage is defined? The government should have no say in who can be together, right? The answer is simple: if we approve homosexual marriage relations, then we confirm that homosexual relations are an acceptable institution of society. Those who believe that allowing homosexual marriages will not affect anyone, only allow such couples to be happy together, are led away into a perverted world of tolerance for "that which is evil." This won't affect the Church, right? Wrong. Lawsuits are already coming to pass against churches that do not perform same-sex marriages in states such as Massachusetts and California, where gay marriage is allowed. The Church will be forced, in future days, to cease temple marriages, or face tax penalties, and risk of disbandment by the government. Classrooms will teach that being homosexual is O.K. - giving birth to a generation that will be more tolerant. The plans and designs of the adversary are easily being carried out, with great help from members of the Church who are too stubborn and prideful to listen to and heed the council of the Prophet. These are reasons we should care. Read an article here about the divine institution of marriage. I hope that some are offended by the words I have presented in this blog post. If you are offended, then this scripture applies perfectly to you:

"And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."

-1 Nephi 16:2

If you are offended by my words, then you choose so to be. I have no remorse for the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I am not sorry for defending the cause of truth and righteousness. Those who would sit idly by as the homosexual rite attempt to make us accept their lifestyle are lulled into a carnal sense of complacency.