MAY 6TH

May 6th is important this year for two reasons--it's Jenny's birthday (yeah, #37!) and it's the National Day of Prayer. Now, I've never paid particular attention to the National Day of Prayer before, but I am this year because a judge in a United States District Court for the western District of Wisconsin just ruled on April 15th that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutonal because it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment! When I learned that, I sat up and took notice!

That is not okay. It is not right. This ruling itself violates the First Amendment of the Constitution. The First Amendment begins: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise, thereof..." Declaring a National Day of Prayer is not establishing religion, but it does encourage the free exercise of a religious belief, for those that wish to do so. It in no way forces anyone to take part, but only gives a platform for those who wish to take part.

Besides that, there are numerous precedents in U.S. history for a National Day of Prayer, beginning even before the establishment of the Constitution, and continuing to the present day.

• In 1775 the Continental Congress designated "a time for prayer in forming a new nation."
• In 1812 President James Madison, who is often referred to as The Father of the Constitution, issued the first proclamation requesting the "people of the United States observe a day of public humiliation and prayer." Surely, if such a notion would have been unconstitutional in the minds of those who created the Constitution, President James Madison would have never suggested such a thing!
• In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln adopted a resolution proclaiming a national day of fasting and prayer. You can find the full proclamation on the internet, and it is well worth reading. An abbreviated quote follows: "Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too...proud to pray to the God that made us. It behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness."
• In 1952 the National Day of Prayer was created in a bill to promote voluntary prayer in the United States one day each year to be designated by the acting President.
• In 1988, the National Day of Prayer was officially designated as the first Thursday in May of each year.
• In 2008 the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the National Day of Prayer.
• In 2009 the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) filed a brief on behalf of itself and 31 Members of Congress defending the National Day of Prayer.
• On April 15, 2010, Judge Barbara Crabb ruled the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.
• The ACLJ is now calling on Americans to make their voices heard and take a stand to protect this American tradition. They have stated, "It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it."

I agree completely, and had to write to tell why I believe as I do. I hope my readers will give this some thought and do the same!

TRIP TO MOAB, March 29-April 2nd

Arches Natl Park

Arches Natl Park

Close encounter in Arches Natl Park

Balanced Rock, Arches Natl Park

Still balanced!

Elephant Eyes, Arches Natl Park

Double Arch, Arches Natl Park

Indian Petroglyphs, Arches Natl Park

Delicate Arch, Arches Natl Park

Devil's Garden, Arches Natl Park

Needles Overlook, Canyonlands Natl Park

Needles Overlook--Looks like the Grand Canyon!

Needles Overlook, Canyonlands Natl Park

Landscape Arch, Arches Natl Park

(Spans a football field.)

Newspaper Rock, Canyonlands Natl Park

Indian Petroglyphs, detail, Newspaper Rock

Footprints, Newspaper Rock

The Shafer Trail in Canyonlands Natl Park

(Note the road at the bottom of the canyon.)

The Shafer Trail (The road winding through the canyon)

Arch in Canyonlands Natl Park

Indian Petroglyph along Hwy 279

Scenic Hwy 279

Train in Kane Creek Canyon

Fisher Towers on Hwy 128

Thoughts for Presidents' Day

I have just finished reading David McCullough's book 1776. What a great book! I feel cheated that I was never taught these things about the American revolution before. But then, when have I ever chosen to voluntarily learn about it, either?

The book contains many fascinating stories and memorable quotes. In honor of President's day coming up, I would like to cite a quote about General Washington that impressed me. It comes from a letter written to Washington by Congress, making him a virtual dictator where the army was concerned. "Happy it is for this country," it read in part, "that the general of their forces can safely be entrusted with the most unlimited power, and neither personal security, liberty, nor property be in the least degree endangered thereby." It reminds me of the description of Captain Moroni in Alma 48:16-17.

The book quotes Thomas Paine's paper, The American Crisis, which he wrote in early December, 1776, when it seemed that all could easily be lost. These words might well be read today in defense of our Constitution and the freedoms that seem so fragile now:

These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, tht the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly:--'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to set a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated...

And finally...on Lincoln's birthday, February 12th, it would be well for all of us to remember his immortal words given at Gettysburg:

Fourscore and seven years ago, our Fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this, but in a larger sense we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be here dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is for us rather to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from the earth. Nov. 19, 1863--Abraham Lincoln

By the way, I love having those words in my head, to recall at any time! I've discovered in the last year that I love to memorize passages that have significance to me. Some other time I'll post some of the things I'm memorizing.

Mom Blogging?!

This is the first time I have visited my blog since setting it up in November when I was at Christina's. I feel like a stranger in foreign territory--but I guess you have to start somewhere!

We have had stake conference this weekend, and I feel just like I did after general conference. I wish each of my children could have been there to hear the messages! They were all about fortifying our families for the storms ahead. There surely will be storms ahead--there are plenty of storms right this moment that all of us are dealing with in some way or another. But there are more ahead--some potentially as devastating spiritually as the earthquake in Haiti was physically! The Lord is preparing us, but we must listen to the counsel coming from His servants!

I cannot say this loud enough or convincingly enough! I'm a few years ahead of you and I know what is coming for you. Your time with your children is sooooooooo short! Today nearly every person talked about how we spend our time and effort:

"Don't spend your life chasing something not worth a dime when you've caught it."

"Fathers, have you prepared your children for life?"

"Arm your family morning and night with family prayer."

Speaking of teaching and memorizing a family scripture: "The hosts of evil will tremble as sacred words come from the mouths of your children."

Defining "vain things" as those things without eternal value, i.e., entertainments such as movies, sports, computer games, facebook, blogging,: "Vain things will not protect our families or fortify them from evil. Fathers, don't let the vain things of the world fill up your time."

"Mothers, time spent on facebook, twitter, or blogging, keeping in touch with hundreds of others who don't really matter, can rob you of sacred time with your family."

"Don't be moderately committed members."

"Weak individuals make good dominoes."

"Don't waste your time in trivial pursuits at the expense of that which really matters most."

"Give your best time, your best efforts to your children and spouse."

"Fathers, you are the Captain Moroni of your family. You are the one who is responsible to protect and fortify you children and marriage from the worldly influences that would destroy them." (See the Proclamation on the Family; Alma 48:7-10)

The best thing I can counsel you to do is to do what we learn every Sunday of our lives: pray, study the scriptures and words of our modern prophets, attend your meetings on Sunday, and worship in the temple regularly. I promise you that if you will do these things faithfully, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the Holy Ghost will teach you what you need to do each day in your families.

P.S. This rule helps me: The first thing I read every day is a chapter from the Book of Mormon. The second thing I read every day is a talk from the latest General Conference. And I make sure I read at least two things every day!

Porter Lincoln Is Here!

I'm in Michigan this week to welcome Porter Lincoln Butler to the family! What a cutie! He's giving his mother fits, but that's the way it's supposed to be--so she will quickly learn who is boss!

Here are the proud sisters, Abbie and Leah!