Insights from the Patriot Post
"The malice of the wicked is reinforced by the weakness of the virtuous" --British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
"We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst." --British novelist and Christian apologist C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
"If you are afraid to speak against tyranny, then you are already a slave." --author John "Birdman" Bryant (1943-2009)
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it." --American author Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Statism in opposition to Christ's Gospel
"The whole purpose of the organization of this great Church, so complete so perfect, is to bless the individual. How that stands out in striking contrast, in opposition, to the claim of the communist who says that the individual is but a spoke in the wheel of the state, that the state is all in all, the individual being but a contributing factor to the perpetuation and strength of the state.
"That idea is diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus sought for a perfect society by perfecting the individual. He recognized the fallacy in the dream of those who hoped to make a perfect society out of imperfect individuals. In all his labors and associations, he sought the perfection of the individual.
"The goal he always set before his followers was the emancipation of men and women from greed, from anger, from jealousy, from hatred, from fear; and in their place he hoped to bring about a complete and normal development of the individual's divine powers through right thinking and unselfish, efficient service.
"He promised no material rewards, but he did promise perfected, divine manhood. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) And with that divine manhood comes the resultant happiness-true happiness."
- President David O. McKay, April, 1965, LDS General Conference
"That idea is diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus sought for a perfect society by perfecting the individual. He recognized the fallacy in the dream of those who hoped to make a perfect society out of imperfect individuals. In all his labors and associations, he sought the perfection of the individual.
"The goal he always set before his followers was the emancipation of men and women from greed, from anger, from jealousy, from hatred, from fear; and in their place he hoped to bring about a complete and normal development of the individual's divine powers through right thinking and unselfish, efficient service.
"He promised no material rewards, but he did promise perfected, divine manhood. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) And with that divine manhood comes the resultant happiness-true happiness."
- President David O. McKay, April, 1965, LDS General Conference
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Divine Science of Politics
A few thoughts from John Adams:
"The science of government is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take place, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
...
"Politics are the divine science, after all." (letter to Abigail Adams, 1780)
As I was reading this, it occurred to me that John Adams felt it his duty to "study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy," not so that his sons would study those other disciplines in place of politics, but because they would need a firm foundation of, what he termed, "the divine science" of politics, in order to properly understand those other disciplines. Likewise, a foundational understanding of "mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture," with their foundation of political understanding, would be necessary for the next generation to properly understand the application in "painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
Foundational, fundamental truths, if thoroughly and deeply understood by parents, are easily and naturally passed on to the next generation in their childhood, so that, when mature, that next generation can build on those truths, line upon line, precept on precept.
And, from George Washington:
"A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
"The science of government is my duty to study, more than all other sciences; the arts of legislation and administration and negotiation ought to take place, indeed to exclude, in a manner, all other arts. I must study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture, in order to give their children a right to study painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.
...
"Politics are the divine science, after all." (letter to Abigail Adams, 1780)
As I was reading this, it occurred to me that John Adams felt it his duty to "study politics and war, that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy," not so that his sons would study those other disciplines in place of politics, but because they would need a firm foundation of, what he termed, "the divine science" of politics, in order to properly understand those other disciplines. Likewise, a foundational understanding of "mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history and naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture," with their foundation of political understanding, would be necessary for the next generation to properly understand the application in "painting, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain."
Foundational, fundamental truths, if thoroughly and deeply understood by parents, are easily and naturally passed on to the next generation in their childhood, so that, when mature, that next generation can build on those truths, line upon line, precept on precept.
And, from George Washington:
"A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government. In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?"
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Constitution Learning Resources
For those who feel the call to prepare to save the Constitution, here are some excellent online resources:
The Inspired Constitution
St. George Tucker's "Blackstone's Commentaries"
The Inspired Constitution
St. George Tucker's "Blackstone's Commentaries"
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