An ongoing concern of mine is the lack of awareness of the Palestine-Israel conflict among Americans. Indeed the American government has consistently blocked measures that could result in “a just and lasting peace.” Since the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, no one diplomat has done more to bring peace to this region than Jimmy Carter. When he speaks or writes on this critically important issue we should listen and read in earnest. This morning he published an... Read more
This is likely the most noteworthy group of religious leaders that has ever convened at Utah Valley University at one time. Please take a moment to read the event description. Then peruse the biographical sketches of our guests. It is an impressive group indeed. Please join us Wednesday. You won’t get this opportunity again anytime soon. The event is free and open to the public. Dress is casual. Parking is available west of the Library. If that is full the... Read more
Please read. Thoughts? http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4225654-155/mia-maids-mission-prezs-wife-pleasehttp://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4225654-155/mia-maids-mission-prezs-wife-please Read more
I’ve long been fascinated with the angst my peers in the middle to upper middle class exhibit toward preserving tax benefits for the wildly wealthy. Take the inheritance tax as an example. It only effects the fantastically rich–those people that don’t even have to work in order to make millions of dollars per year off capital gains alone. Yet few things get their hearts pumping more than the idea of abolishing the inheritance tax (which only kicks in if your... Read more
This just doesn’t happen every day. Usually Democrats totally avoid Utah in their runs for the president. Enjoy the read. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659843/Exclusive-Hillary-Clinton-What-I-have-in-common-with-Utah-leaders-2-religious-freedom-and-the.html Read more
I have few expectations that Trump supporters will change their minds about him if they have not already done so. Therefore, I ask a different question at this point in his campaign: How can a clear thinking American vote for this man? Even with disdain for Clinton. Even with Supreme Court appointments in mind. This man is unfit for the presidency in almost every conceivable way. Please explain your ongoing support for this man. Let the discussion continue–civily please. Trump’s... Read more
On May 12, 2016, Senator Orrin Hatch (Republican, Utah) threw his support behind Donald Trump for President of the United States. It was not a casual endorsement. In his own words, “I totally endorse him.” On June 7, 2016, Hatch went even further to describe himself as an “increasingly enthusiastic Trump supporter” and invited Americans to “Be nice to [Trump], he’s a poor first-time candidate.” He also stated that “My experience with Donald Trump is he doesn’t have a prejudiced... Read more
A welcome break from the Trump/Clinton drama. This ad agency, founded by Mormons is creative, very funny, and has captured a niche in the advertising world like none other. Unicorns at no extra cost! Read last week’s article from the Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/the-art-of-advertising-things-people-find-gross/2016/07/20/0eae80fc-3c6f-11e6-a66f-aa6c1883b6b1_story.html Read more
Back in march I wrote a blog asking the question: Are American Latter-day Saints Republican first and Mormon second? I posed the question because Donald Trump’s presidential platform was, and continues to be, antithetic to many tenets of Christianity generally and Mormonism specifically. However, a high percentage of conservative Christians support Trump. Mormons fit into the conservative Christian camp. With alternatives to Trump, he got very little support from Mormons in the Republican primary. However, now that the race is... Read more
Seventy-two hours ago I returned from the Middle East and passed through passport control in Detroit, Michigan. I don’t know how many times I’ve been to the Middle East but it is far too many times to feel the need to count. In other words, I could tell you off the top of my head how many times I’ve been to Great Britain, France, Mexico, and Canada, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been to Egypt, Jordan,... Read more
Civil Nations
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