My Response to Economic Harmonies by Frederic Bastiat

Ramblings...

Bastiat’s Economic Harmonies has been a breath of fresh air for one who just finished reading the works of Karl Marx. The harsh society of socialism abolishes private property, family relations, classical education and religion. The socialists argue that capital causes a division of labor, which creates social classes, which creates hostility between the classes. They say that such a social order includes exploitation, evil choices and human suffering. To that I agree; and yet, I say, that is part of the natural path of free trade. With all good things there is opposition because men have agency. Agency is a natural order that brings choice and accountability. “Society is composed of men,” writes Bastiat, “and every man is a free agent. Since man is free, he can choose; since he can choose, he can err; since he can err, he can suffer.” There is growth through suffering and when institutions attempt to remove that error and suffering, they must remove agency and ultimately freedom. “If man-made institutions intervene in these matters to nullify divine law, evil nonetheless follows upon error, but it falls upon the wrong person. It strikes him whom it should not strike; it no longer serves as a warning or a lesson; it is no longer self-limiting; it is no longer destroyed by its own action; it persists, it grows worse.” So I echo Bastiat and proclaim, “bring on free trade and liberty!” Let the people choose for themselves.

The Socialist’s negative view of capitalism and competition is contested that evil choices made by men eventually correct themselves in time. Bastiat wrote, “Man’s principal social tendencies are harmonious in that, as every error leads to disillusionment and every vice to punishment, the discords tend constantly to disappear.” Bastiat did not try to cover up the fact that in a free society there would be errors. Competition does not remove hardship and suffering. The importance of struggle and effort, pain and suffering was essential for man’s progress. “On every rung of the ladder of progress,” says Bastiat, “a certain degree of suffering is and always will be man’s lot. But it teaches us also that suffering has a mission, since it would be impossible to comprehend the role of desire as a goad to our faculties if it lagged behind them, instead of rushing along ahead, as it does.” Although susceptible to evil and injustice, the best way to freedom, according to Bastiat, is undeniably free trade, which includes capitalism and competition.

Seemingly unbeknownst to the socialists, competition exists in both the natural and artificial order. Bastiat warned that competition could not be destroyed. In a free society it would be manifested in a struggle to become the best and most preferred producer, however in a socialist society it would be manifest in the direct opposite. Says Bastiat, “Men would still compete, but they would compete to excel in idleness, stupidity and improvidence.”

Whether we choose the natural social order or the artificial order there will always be competition, free exchange, evil, pain, and suffering. Bastiat enlightens the reader that there is a natural harmony that exists between the interests of man and mankind and that free trade and natural competition will be the mainspring to extend all the gifts of nature worldwide to bless humanity. In the spirit of the book of Revelations, Bastiat proclaims that “evil ends in good and hastens its coming, whereas the good can never end in evil, and therefore must eventually triumph.” Hooray for the good news projected in Economic Harmonies. I am convinced that no artificial social order can bring the happiness achieved in a free state.

Bastiat's Economic Harmonies

A summary...

The French politician and economist, Frédéric Bastiat was concerned with France’s unfortunate direction towards an artificial social order called Socialism and set out to convince his countryman to adopt the notion of liberty, the natural social order. His passion for freedom gave him an interest for free trade, which subject he examined in his book, Economic Harmonies. In argument with the socialist’s scarcity mentality, he established the belief that the interests of mankind are essentially harmonious and that the more an individual produced the more he blessed those around him. The same is true for a nation: the more a nation produced the more it blessed the world.

Among many of the socialists’ views were the beliefs that as the rich became richer, the poor became more impoverished; as population increased, food would become scarce; and as private property is theft, it should be abolished with all property becoming communal. He sums up their ideas that mankind is unable to make the right choices and that liberty must be the culprit. Underestimating the good and denying the progress made by humanity, the socialist persisted in, “seeking out evils and exaggerating them beyond measure.” Reducing liberty and free choice then became the first motive as they created, “systematic obstructionism, parliamentary bickering, street insurrections, revolutions, crises, factions, wild notions, demands advanced by all men to govern under all possible forms, new systems, as dangerous as they are absurd, which teach the people to look to the government for everything.” In simple terms, people could not do anything for themselves so the government must step in to provide.

The socialists were particularly caught up with the seemingly evil notion of self-interest. They believed that it was the root of evil in a society. The capitalist’s self-interest exploits the proletarian; self-interested greed leads to monopoly; over-population leads to scarce resources were some of their complaints. Frequently misunderstood by humanity are the two social sciences, moral and political economy. The moral realm directs our moral character and includes religious sentiment, parental affection, filial devotion, love, friendship, patriotism, charity, and all godly virtues. The remaining social science runs the economy and includes the single and cold domain of self-interest. It is because of self-interest, observes Bastiat, that the man produces and acquires, but it inevitably blesses society.

Bastiat contended that exploitation, monopoly and scarce resources are problems that arise when there is a disbelief in Providence. If men are ruled by virtuous principles then their self-interest will be in harmony with nature. He urged his people to have faith in God who knows our wants and will provide. “Let us, therefore stop worrying about the fate of mankind,” wrote Bastiat, “Thousands of centuries lie ahead of it; and in any case, without asking political economists to settle problems that are out of their field, let us confidently leave the fate of future generations in the hands of Him who will call them into existence.” With the help of God, whatever his children cannot do, He makes up for it. Bastiat historically showed that, “As capital increases, the capitalists’ absolute share in the total production increases and their relative share decreases. On the other hand, the workers’ share increases both relatively and absolutely.” History has shown that in a free society, Bastiat is right.

My Response to the Works of Karl Marx

Beware Marx:

Why should one study the works of Karl Marx? The reader either loves him or hates him. Dark and abstract are his ideas of dialectic materialism and the abolishment of family, classical education, religion and private property. The reasons to pursue a careful study include the following. Reading Marx reveals the antithesis of religion, which when studied gives greater understanding of one’s own belief just as the carpenter compares two boards to find the one that is straight. His ideas cause readers to ask questions, to argue, to reach deep inside themselves to understand their own beliefs and the effects of their choices. However dark and odious are his conceptions, he has greatly influenced most of the world’s modern politics and economics.

I wish to compare Marx’s ideas with some of the fundamental principles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. The first is the divine directive to “put off the natural man.” The spiritual man must dominate the natural man through believing in and partaking of the Atonement. It is a journey of self-mastery in line with God’s moral code as a means of Eternal Life. In direct opposition, Marx professes world happiness when the natural man dominates the spiritual man, even to the point of destroying him. “The more man puts into God,” scorns Marx, “the less he retains in himself.” It is his goal to elevate man higher than God “The criticism of religion,” Marx writes, “ends in the teaching that man is the highest being for man, it ends, that is, with the categorical imperative to overthrow all conditions in which man is a debased, forsaken, contemptible being forced into servitude.” His view depended upon the working class, the proletariats, rising up to dominate the upper classes; to be prepared to revolt against the French aristocracy.

Another comparison is the task to remove human error and suffering. Marxism endeavors to take the place of the Savior’s divine role as Redeemer by fixing all the societal problems associated with affliction and sin. First it must remove all religion. If there are no moral codes there can be no sin. “Communists preach no morality at all,” profess Marx, “They do not put to people the moral demand: Love one another, be not egoists, etc.; on the contrary, they know very well that egoism, like sacrifice, is under specific conditions a necessary form of the individual’s struggle for survival.” If there is no capitalism or division of labor there is no exploitation. If there is no family, there can be no division of labor.

Finally, the Saints of the Latter Days are admonished to study the scriptures and their heritage in order to remember the many good things the Lord has done to bless his children. Marx attacks the study of history, as it is not relevant to a communist society. He seems to think that if there is no classical education there will be no remembrance of the rich history that reminds the masses of the right paths to take or how to think and act in every condition. Today our education spends much of the time teaching multi-culturalism instead of a balance of the rich history and heritage. It’s goal leans toward teaching the embarrassing and the degrading class struggles just as Marx dictated. We need a balance of all history. Remember William Wilberforce who, because he understood the degradation of the slaves, stood up as a hero for humankind. Remember Christopher Columbus who was "wrought upon by the spirit" to discover this land for the preparation of the Restoration of the gospel? Because of his voyage, we know from the annals of history and the Book of Mormon that the descendants of Nephi were to be scattered and afflicted, but that if they would return to his fold, they would be blessed beyond measure. I fear that if we forget the stories, the heroes and the Lord’s hand in all the annals of history, we will lose the greatest heritage, that of the great founding of our country. Preparing to usher in the Restoration of the Gospel, many great and common people were led to find and found this land with good government. We can keep this if we study and learn from all facets of history, not just the facet of class struggle.

Karl Marx

A Summary of his works:

Using Hegelian philosophy, English economics and French politics, Marx sets out to create the ultimate communist society. His dialectic materialism takes the contradictions of thought, namely a thesis and antithesis and forms a “higher truth” called a synthesis, which becomes the new thesis. It is now combined with an antithesis, which again produces a synthesis, which again becomes a new thesis. The process continues until the ultimate “truth” is found. In this way, according to Marx, we will eventually attain the perfect state, free of class struggle. “It is the return of man himself as a social [being],” writes Marx.

The enemy to communism is capitalism with its division of labor and its division of the classes into property owners and property-less workers. Marx describes how the laborer is separated from the products he creates, his labor-power and from nature. He is alienated from his potential to become a universal being and master the universe. Abolishing capitalism will require that private property, religion, family and classical education are abolished and replaced by “free, conscious, creative social activity, in which man is not dominated by need, envy, or the desire to possess.” (Eugene Kamenka)

Marx predicts that the proletariat will rise up against the bourgeoisie and overthrow the state, as was the attempt during the French Revolution, but that it would not fail as in the French Revolution. He feels that no leader could liberate the proletariat, but the proletariat itself; nor could any ideology replace the theological understanding or the empirical insight of the perfect society, communism.

Karl Marx to Change the Way We Learn From History

I am reading Karl Marx works form my university class and am amazed at the parallels between his ideas and what is happening in our nation and world:

Although much of the world believes Marxism, do we realize that his ideas attempt to take over the Savior’s Divine Role. “The criticism of religion,” says Marx in 1844, “ends in the teaching that man is the highest being for man, it ends, that is, with the categorical imperative to overthrow all conditions in which man is a debased, forsaken, contemptible being forced into servitude.” In these words, Marx is planning on reducing all afflictions of mankind by eventually setting up communism. The Atonement of Christ redeems mankind from their sin and afflictions and it is only through him on the condition that we believe and keep his commandments and covenants. Our nation’s public education spends much of the time teaching multi-culturalism instead of the rich history and heritage. It’s goal is going towards teaching the embarrassing and the degrading class struggles just as Marx dictated. I fear that if we forget the stories, the heroes and the Lord’s hand in all the annals of history, we will lose the greatest heritage, that of the great founding of our country. Preparing to usher in the Restoration of the Gospel, many great and common people were led to find and found this land with good government. We can keep this if we study and learn from all facets of history, not just the facet of class struggle.

Book Review: Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

A Brief Summary:

The natural processes of a successful economy are found in Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. Although two hundred plus years old, Smith focuses on significantly profound and pertinent principles for any age. Stressing that regulations tend to limit prosperity and production, his extensive research of history and economics proves that a free market is an effective system in producing a wealthy nation. “The object of political economy of every country is to increase the riches and power of the country,” writes Smith. He proposes that wealth is built on labor, savings and investment. His labor theory of value regards “labor [as the] the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities [and that] the real price of everything is the toil and trouble of acquiring it.” Unlike our nation’s current course of consuming, Smith declares that saving is the sure path to wealth. He observes that, “Parsimony, and not industry is the immediate cause of the increase of capital.” Importantly, he measures the wealthiest nations as those who have a surplus to invest or to increase production. His main theme throughout is that great fortunes are made through a long life of industry, frugality, and careful saving.

My Response to Smith's Wealth of Nations:

Lamentably our country is in financial trouble. The future looks bleak as we contemplate the consequences of consumer and national debt, deflation of currency and an increase of government intervention and regulations. A close look at society will reveal that individuals as a majority are heavily in debt. What is the solution to this downward financial spiral? Do our societal choices mimic individual choices?

God, as a standard of what is right and wrong sets moral principles for promoting human happiness and progress. When those principles are followed, happiness and progress abounds. But the opposite is true that misery and decline follow when wrong choices are made. For example, a prodigal, who does not live within his means, destroys his capital and that of others. His idleness and prodigality encroaches upon the industry and capital of his progenitors. If a great number in a society follow his immoral example then society is in a state of debt and moral decline. Adam Smith states in his book, Wealth of Nations, that if prodigality is not compensated by frugality the path will lead to an impoverished country. Individuals must change if the society is to change. Change must come from the bottom up.

Supposing that Adam Smith is correct, I propose that the solution to our economic woes begin with individuals who are hard working and frugal, who save for a rainy day and who invest surplus income. Individually achieving these four principles will have a great affect in improving our nation’s economy. Smith affirms, “As capital of an individual can be increased only by what he saves from his annual revenue or his annual gains, so the capital for a society, which is the same with that of all the individuals who compose it, can be increased only in the same manner.” Sorry John Maynard Keynes, your philosophy of spending, debt and deflation of money has historically proven to send a nation to its ruin.

Smith explains that the principle of saving regularly is a natural expression of bettering oneself and that the greater the fortune, the greater ability to improve individual, familial and societal conditions provided that the individual is a moral person. “Capitals are increased by parsimony, and diminished by prodigality and misconduct,” writes Smith. Wealth is not built upon spending and consuming, but upon sound principles of careful investing, saving, frugality and parsimoniously living. If Smith’s principles are practiced, the nation’s downward spiral can be reversed.

A Vision to Improve Family

A great family has a vision of purpose or mission—they actively create their life together while other families are created by life, passively waiting to see where their life’s activities take them next. A successful family improves the environment by working hard along side each other in such activities as chores, family meals, routines, family meetings, trainings and spiritual worship. Of course, they are not perfect, but they know a few secrets that help them to be successful.

An attitude of serving each other is a significant link to a successful and happy family. It enlivens the giver and favors the receiver. The Arbinger Institute has discovered a solution to an age-old dilemma of behavioral problems. In their book, The Choice, it infers that responding to others in service is the root of our personal happiness. They observe that on the surface, humans differ extensively, but below that surface and at the level of who we are, there are only two ways that we differ—we either respond to others needs or we resist their needs. By seeing another as a “person” we respond to them in a personal and caring way. By seeing them as an “object” we inadvertently resist their needs.

When we choose to see another as an object we habitually form false ideas in our mind, thus we betray ourselves. An example would be when a mother senses a need to bond with a child, and does not follow through; she is soon filled with guilt. But rather than returning to her responsibility of following through, she begins to put her blame on someone or something. In this case, she begins to fill her mind with degrading thoughts about her husband and his neglect of the child in question. She, therefore, transferred her responsibility (her feeling that she should bond with her child) to someone else. The moment we choose to resist any individual’s need is the moment we go down the dark path of self-betrayal.

If we choose to resist service to others we are betraying our deepest sense of what is right. When we positively respond to another’s need, we portray our deepest sense of what is right.

Leading by example coupled with real intent is an effective tool to silently teach. Individuals learn more perfectly from a leader’s example. A parent acting how he wants his child to act will have a greater impact on what they become than from any other manner of teaching. Expedition leader Ernest Shackleton portrayed an excellent standard of example on Britain’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914. Upon asking his men to do something, he would be the first to comply. All of the men on the voyage survived the difficult expedition because of the morale and good attitude learned from their leader’s example. One of his men wrote that [Shackleton] was “the greatest leader ever came on God’s earth, bar none.” Similarly, a parent’s example and pure motive will empower their children to become well behaved.

Michael E. Gerber, of The E-Myth Revisited, enlightens the reader on the attitude that drives example, “The work we do is a reflection of who we are. If we’re sloppy at it, it’s because we’re sloppy inside. If we’re late at it, it’s because we’re late inside. If we’re bored by it, it’s because we’re bored inside, with ourselves, not with the work. The most menial work can be a piece of art when done by an artist. So the job here is not outside of us, but inside of us. How we do our work becomes a mirror of how we are inside.” Those with whom we live exemplify the vision of who we are.
Success in the family depends a great deal on selfless service and genuine example.

It is not enough to live together, eat together and work together. Positively responding to one another will enhance relationships plus improve morale and behavior. In this setting, family meals, meetings and trainings become more meaningful and chores feel more like charitable service.

—Julie Greenman

Classical Math Evokes Higher Learning

For some, arithmetic has never been a favorite subject. However, most of us have enough understanding of it to get along in life. While it is true that many current educational systems use the modern methods of teaching and learning math, the focus is mainly on applied math. In the past, the study of math was not always limited to the application of the concepts, but was dedicated to the study of the math philosophy of the great mathematical minds such as Nicomachus, Euclid and others. There are a handful of schools and universities that are becoming successful in returning to the age-old way of learning—with the classics. This method of study seems to evoke an unquenchable desire for more knowledge. The following are considered to be two reasons why classical math may contribute to a greater desire for learning.

Many human beings, with or without realizing it, search for a higher power whether it is God or some other being. When educational studies recognize that higher being, it seems to strike a familiar chord within and creates a significant increase of learning. Classical math philosophy recognizes a supreme creator. Nicomachus of Gerasa (100 A.D.) explains in his two-volume book, An Introduction to Arithmetic, that the patterns in math are conceived “by divine nature, [and] not by [man’s] convention or agreement.” He further expounds that everything existing in nature that has a systematic method “seems both in part and as a whole to have been determined and ordered in accordance with number, by…him that created all things; for the pattern was fixed, like a preliminary sketch, by the domination of number preexistent in the mind of the world-creating God…so that with reference to it, as to an artistic plan, should be created all these things, time, motion, the heavens, the stars, all sorts of revolutions.” In essence he is reminding us that numbers have existed infinitely and eternally and are an integral part the knowledge of God, which is an inspiring prospect

Another aspect is man’s desire for truth. Truth is something that does not change over time, but stays the same uniformly and as Nicomachus says, “never departs even briefly from its existence.” Those that search for the truth and apply it are known to be full of wisdom. Pythagoras (580-490 BC) defined wisdom as the knowledge of the truth as it applies to the knowledge and comprehension of reality—and this he said is the only wisdom.

Plato describes the way to become wise in the mathematical realm when he says, “Every diagram, system of numbers, every scheme of harmony, and every law of the movement of the stars, ought to appear [as] one to him who studies rightly.” He then recommends his reader to study all things regarding them as one principle all bonded together in one great whole. Then he gives this warning to those seeking for an easier way of study, “if only one attempts philosophy in any other way he must call on Fortune to assist him. For there is never a path without these; this is the way, these the studies, be they hard or easy; by this course must one go, and not neglect it. The one who has attained all these things…I for my part call wisest, and this I maintain through thick and thin” As math is a difficult subject to comprehend for some and is often avoided, it is definitely enhanced with the classics. Classical math philosophy is a powerful supplement to applied math as it assists man in his search for truth.

It is not at a desk with a math workbook where one usually feels inspired. However, coupled with the text of one or two of the great mathematicians, one is certain to find insights into the magnificent mathematical world and have a clearer vision of how everything works as a whole. Education is meant to be inspiring and should serve as an avenue to acquire knowledge of God and man. The classic works combined with math concepts will achieve that goal.
—Julie Greenman


Nicomachus of Gerasa, Introduction to Arithmetic, Great Books of the Western World, Ed. R.M. Hutchins, (Chicago: ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA, INC., 1952)

A Lesson for Mothers from Moses and the Children of Israel

Moses led the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. His goal was to take them to the Promised Land. The length of trip undoubtedly exceeded his expectations since they wandered for 40 years. What took them so long? They would have arrived dozens of years before had it not been for their rebellion and disobedience to God. It was during this time that the Lord had to instigate a lesser law suitable for them to understand. The lesser law consisted of a set of laws for almost every action with a consequence for disobedience. It seemed that the Children of Israel could not be counted upon to make their own decisions and had to rely on the strong Mosaic Law to force them to comply.
Paul teaches in Galatians that the lesser law was instituted to help the Israelites proceed closer to the higher law—that of acceptance and faith in Christ. Parenting is similar to the way God dealt with the children of Israel: Just as the children of Israel lived under the lesser law, our children also live a lesser law. Our children live under many rules and consequences given by parents. Little by little they are taught and can understand the higher law and their own knowledge guides them—as this transformation takes place, they no longer need the lesser law or their parent’s constant guidance, they will begin to live the higher law and guide themselves.
Faith is eventually developed and becomes the guiding force for the individual to live the higher law. Paul teaches, “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the [Mosaic] law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:23-25) Our motherly task, therefore, should be to instill the powerful principle of faith into the hearts of our children.
In another part of the world we contemplate youth that are guided by faith. It was Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors who “had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.” Their faith was so great that they were freed from death in the great battles against the Lamanite people.
The vision that is created by studying the story of Moses and the Children of Israel is one of hope to modern mothers. The metaphor descriptively chronicles the different stages of youth and gives a perspective of what to work towards. By understanding Moses’ patience, long-suffering and constant guidance towards his people, a mother can learn to develop essential qualities needed to guide her children.
Rebels or not, all children need guidance from faithful mothers who are not concerned about the repetitive teaching and reminding. At times young mothers or mothers of teenagers lose hope and vision because their children fail to live up to their seemingly high expectations. They are expecting their children to live the higher law prematurely. Repetition and reminders are principles employed constantly in the story of Ancient Israel and eventually will lead a child to find the faith required to live the higher law. Meanwhile a mother should develop the essential qualities to live the higher law as an effective example in guiding her children.
The process of guiding a child to the higher law may seldom be a forty-year plan, but many agree that it is longer than expected. With a given set of rules and consequences coupled with a patient mother who knows the importance of quality teaching and gentle reminding, the youth of today will arrive at the promised destination of a faith-filled life.


—Julie Greenman

Books I have read…

Books I have read…

A Real Education

My Response to The Choice

Recently I went about my day practicing new principles from a book I read.  I not only failed miserably, but now I know the source of all my problems-ME.  That knowledge is hard to grasp, especially when I am resisting it.  But why would I resist something that would bring me more

 joy and happiness than I have yet experienced?  Chances are that human nature wants me to believe I am faultless, flawless and can do no wrong.  Then along comes a book that tells me plainly that I am the cause of all my unhappiness.  Would not most resist under that condition?  Alas, the act of resistance is the greatest inhibitor of change. 

 

The Arbinger Institute and their team of authors have enlightened the world of psychology in their pocket-sized book, The Choice.  Never before have I seen an age-old problem so clearly understood, defined and resolved.  Their remedy to relational situations far exceeds the popular material that we read today about human behavior and relationships.  Of course, comprehension and change seems easier on paper than is the reality of truly changing oneself.  The intention of this paper is to explain the simple process of change as described by the Arbinger Institute.

 

Two Choices: Respond or Resist

A situation arises and we choose whether we are going to respond or resist.  By seeing others as people, we can respond when they have a need and act in service toward them.  By seeing others as objects, they become obstacles and problems in our way.  We refuse to serve them and spend the rest of the time blaming, justifying and resenting.  The pathway is dark and lonesome; it is the course to self-betrayal.

A very recent experience taught me that I am unaware of the choices I make until it is too late and I have made the choice to resist, heading down the path of self-betrayal.  I wondered if I had this experience because some hand of Providence wanted me to see clearly how habitual I had become in resisting service.  The choice of resistance is an unhealthy habit. When we choose to resist, we slide down the slippery slope of suffering and self-betrayal.  As we are presented with situations to serve we can stop and think what will be our choice: to resist or to respond.

 

Serving Others

If I were to respond instead of resist I could effect a change in me.  The only catch is that I need others in which to respond.  It isn’t enough to make that change on my own.  Clearly, other people are essential to my quest for change.   The authors explain that “my responsiveness to others’ needs is my deepest sense of what is right” and by serving them I do right and feel happy.  Change only takes place by forgetting myself in response to others.  Jesus taught the same principle when He said, ”For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”  Change will come as we serve those around us.

 

The choice is undoubtedly my responsibility.  Unlike in the first paragraph, it is not a question of resisting, but a question of choice.  Will I choose to serve by responding to a need or will I choose to resist?  My happiness and satisfaction hinge upon my responding to others’ needs.  That knowledge is easier to grasp.

 

 

Summary of The Choice, by The Arbinger Institute

The Choice, by the Arbinger Institute is a refreshing new approach to self-betterment. It puts the responsibility back onto the right person, ourselves. The authors attribute our responsiveness to others or our desire to serve others as the deepest sense of what is right. When we feel to assist another and follow through we are showing responsiveness. When we resist the feeling to help others, we betray ourselves and become resistant.

The book is founded upon our view of how we see people. When we are responsive, we see others as people and when we are resistant we see them as objects. Seeing others as people we are seeing them truly and thus we are true to ourselves. Perceiving others as objects we are resistant to their reality and see them falsely, consequently we are false.

Seeing others falsely, we resist them, thus we do wrong, then we seek to be justified, then we begin to see “a world that makes the wrong seem right.” The consequences are numerous when we are resistant. We find fault and place blame on others; self-betrayal magnifies others’ problems; seeing falsely we walk in darkness; and finally we become consumed with self.

The authors touch on some widely accepted behavioral views such as Psychodynamic Tradition, behaviorism, humanism, and cognitive theory teaching that they all have one thing in common: helping people to cope in a resistant, self-betrayal state. Their response to these popular views is that we must change to be responsive and that the only way to change from resistant to responsive is to forget ourselves in the service to others.

Standing Up For What Is Right and True

I am convinced that only through selfless service will we be able to keep our nation free.  We waste our time and energy when we focus on the deficiencies of our government and leaders by complaining, sending emails that degrade and humiliate, and spending numerous hours gossiping with friends.  Complaining has never gotten us where we need to be nor will it ever further the cause of liberty in the future. It is an unmistakable misuse of our time. 

We need to serve our families, community and nation.  Service is the action word for love.  I like to think of the compassionate  bishop in Les Miserables who transforms the guilty and desperate Jean Valjean with a single service of love.  His life is altered in such a way by that solitary act that he is compelled by some unseen power to give his life in service to the forlorn and neglected Cozette and others.  Similarly, we can do as the bishop and be forgiving, kind, selfless in our ministrations and charitable.  That alone has the power to change our nation.  

Our decisions determine our liberty.  We the people are not only the cause of our nation's problems, but WE ARE THE SOLUTION.  "Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me?", say the lyrics in the song from Les Mis called, Do You Hear The People Sing?  I invite all of you to stand up for what is right by rolling up your sleeves and serving your spouse, your child, an elderly grandparent, a neighbor, a worthy community program etc.  Together we can form a powerful band to spread peace and freedom.

Prince Richard

The cousins got together in February with a great idea.  To show their love and gratitude for her and the legacy she has begun, they set off to create a movie for Cathy Davis' birthday.   All their lives they have been entreating Cathy to tell them the famous stories of Prince Richard.  The story commenced at Lake Powell when Richard Marsh began splashing little Emily Greenman who then ran for cover in the arms of Cathy.  In order to build her up and divert her attention, Cathy set in motion a series of stories that she called the Prince Richard Stories.  They were told and retold as each new Tibbets' grandchild was born until the stories are as big as life.  

Here is the movie they created:

The Joy Comes

Sometimes Mothers feel inadequate to the task of homeschooling and I have not been one to escape that feeling.  At times I wonder if my children will grow up to be responsible citizens, devoted followers of Jesus Christ and full of charity, intelligence, truth and light.  It is in those times that Heavenly Father blesses me through other people who see and admire something in my children.

Today I attended the Parent/Teacher conference of my one daughter who is still in Public School.  She is an eighth-grader.  While walking down the hall towards her teachers we stopped to talk to the counselor, Mrs. Ramsey.  She was full of emotion as she told me how much she loved our Elissa.  She said that she had told her returned-missionary-son about Elissa and how wonderful she is (that someday she would make a tremendous wife) and that he should finish his bacchelors degree, go on to get a masters and by then she should be old enough to marry. Of course, that made my heart soar (not that we had made a match for her, but that she is growing to be that young person I was describing in the first paragraph).  

During the conferences many of the people told how helpful and good she is, but one in particular, Bonnie Fronk, told me of her love for Elissa.  Today I felt Elissa's goodness and knew that she was developing into a beautiful young lady.

Later while visiting with Emily and Andrew's Seminary teachers I was showered with more good comments about their characters.  Andrew's said that he is always anxious to participate and Emily's said she is growing to be an outstanding young woman.  I walked away from that building with joy in my heart.

In the evening, after the Online Georgics Class that Andrew and I are taking we got an email from one of the other participants (a mother) who wrote us this email. (Her name has been changed.)

On Mar 12, 2009, at 7:22 PM, Helen Hansen wrote:

Julie,

 

My name is Helen Hansen.  I am a member of the Georgics class and I have been very impressed with Andrew.  I have a 12 year old son and I was wondering if you could give me some pointers on what you as a mother did (I know there was something) that helped or inspired Andrew to become the marvelous young man that he is.  I have only homeschooled for a little over a year but I am struggling with how to inspire my son.  I also have a 12 year old daughter who has just taken off but because they are the same age it is difficult to watch him remain behind.  It is also difficult because my daughter is very much like me in personality and learning styles and so it is easier for me to inspire her because I can relate.  Anyway, Andrew has just been very impressive.  I would like to ask him what motivated him to become what he is as well.

 

Thank you so much,
Helen Hansen

Here is my answer to her:

Helen, 

You are very kind.  We have only been homeschooling for a little over a year also.  Andrew and I have just been discussing what inspired him and we came up with this list below.  If there is any one of these that you would like me to expound upon, just let me know.  We have Skype capabilities and could video conference if you would like.

1.  Work, work and work. (whenever there was lazyness, defiance or contention, I had him and any other sibling do work) Inspiration only comes when we are working.

2.  I would lay out some good reads and ask him if he had read any of them, if not, I would ask him if he would like me to summarize them and then let him choose one to read.  Sometimes I even read the first few chapters to get him hooked (Carry On, Mr. Bowditch and The Lonesome Gods were some of them that I did this with)

3. Schedule,  I made sure that we kept a schedule of math time, reading time and writing time (scheduling time, not content)

4.  Andrew liked it when I would kidnap him and take him to a restaurant where we would have an interview and discussion of what I could do better and what he could do better.

5. Parent/youth interviews every Sunday

6. More work

7. Lots of prayer and pondering

8.  After lots of prayer we kind of fell into a reading/study group with a few peers.  They met each week and discussed an assigned book in a colloquium format.  This was very motivating for him and a Godsend.  After the study group and after the summer, our group became a Commonwealth School that offers the LEMI classes called Key of Liberty and Shakespeare.  Also a Godsend.  It is a once a week class with reading and writing assignments.

9. More prayer.

10.  Helping to mentor David (Andrew's dad and my sweet husband) to see and understand the idea of homeschooling.  Dave has just begun to see some good with this… and… as he has progressed in this understanding so has Andrew begun to be self-directed.

11.  Also, and I am not sure how much of a difference this one makes, but we are adamant about having family meals together, family scripture study, family home evening, very limited computer and video time, no video games or hand-held devices and no TV ever (we don't have them-except for a TV for occasional videos).

I hope this helps a little.  Andrew has come a long way in such a short time, but I would never had believed it could happen last January 2008 when we began.  I truly think it has been a combination of the above.  I am also known around my house as a perpetual repeater of teachings.  We have frequent discussions of the phases in a Thomas Jefferson Education (Core, Love of Learning, Scholar and Depth) and I ask my children where they think they are on any given day.  I also discuss things that I am reading (I am a distance student of George Wythe University) and inspire them with the ideas that are running through my mind at the time. 

He has impressed me too, come to think of it.  I just told him that it has been God who has molded him into what he is now and I have just been here to help facilitate it.  Thank you so much for your compliments and have a nice night.

Julie

Thoughts regarding the Stimulus Bill from "The Cause of Liberty"

Click on the title above to go to an interesting article for those who are seeking encouragement to write to your representatives.

Social Leadership

Check this new pre-print publication on Social Leadership

Coming soon…

Doom and Gloom is an attitude of the Scarcity Mentality

The below video shows a heart-stopping housing chart and I believe that some people are taking it as a doom and gloom message.  I did not intend to post anything with that kind of message, but to show anyone reading my blog that the natural downward spiral is a normal and expected thing to happen especially after consumer debt has hit an all-time high since 1929 (it is even-steven with our Gross Domestic Product today just as it was the day the market crashed in the late 20's).  

Do I think that people should try to pay their mortgage down as fast as they can in order to save their skin?  No!  Do I think that people should learn wisdom in crisis? Yes! Do I think that people should continue to save money regularly to bring down consumer debt?  Yes!  It is true that the value of our homes will continue to drop to its necessary place on the chart and yes, it is probable that it will dip well below the average just as it did during the 1930's depression and WWII.  But we have good reason to believe that it will eventually come to its average place when we have recovered from our economic disaster.  The former statement should not cause us to panic while declaring the fateful attitude of doom and gloom to all our loved ones and friends, but should teach us that runaway consumer spending always will come back to haunt us.  Economic and political knowledge coupled with hope and cheerfulness can replace the negative and inspire an abundance mentality.

Folks,  let us save a little more money each day; be a little more frugal; be hopeful and full of wisdom as we encourage others to do the same.  

Learn how to say the pledge of Allegiance with feeling

Heart-Stopping Housing Chart

In this video of Glenn Beck's we can see that knowledge is power.  I am amazed that when we understand economics and history we can comprehend what needs to be done in any given situation.

Freedom vs. Dependence?

Dear Family and Friends,  Last semester as I studied the Federalist papers I came across this quote that discusses  the vigor of government (a healthy government) vs. zeal for the rights of the people.  

It says in Federalist Paper No. 1, "it will be equally forgotten that the vigor [health] of government is essential to the security of liberty; that, in the contemplation of a sound and well-informed judgment, their interest can never be separated; and that a dangerous ambition more often lurks behind the specious mask of zeal for the rights of the people than under the forbidden appearance of zeal for the firmness and efficiency of government. History will teach us that the former has been found a much more certain road to the introduction of despotism than the latter, and that of those men who have overturned the liberties of republics, the greatest number have begun their career by paying an obsequious court to the people; commencing demagogues, and ending tyrants."

I don't know why we have come to a point that we desire dependence upon the government to bail us out. I may be wrong, but it seems like the leaders are "paying an obsequious court to the people".   I am not quite sure that the stimulus package is such a good idea.  For instance, (supposing that I lived twice as long as Methuselah) if I were to spend $1,000,000 (one million dollars) per day since the day Christ was born I would have spent $733,285,000,000 (almost $54 billion dollars less than what the stimulus package is today). I still have not got over the previous stimulus packages of last year.  I can't exactly put my finger on it, but they seem so wrong to me. 

I was reading Marion G. Romney's article in the March 2009 Ensign today called "The Celestial Nature of Self-Reliance" wherein he teaches the danger of dependence on well-meaning welfare programs.  Here is an excerpt that teaches the principle:

Gullible Gulls

I clipped the following article from the Reader’s Digest some time ago. It reads:

“In our friendly neighbor city of St. Augustine great flocks of sea gulls are starving amid plenty. Fishing is still good, but the gulls don’t know how to fish. For generations they have depended on the shrimp fleet to toss them scraps from the nets. Now the fleet has moved. …

“The shrimpers had created a Welfare State for the … sea gulls. The big birds never bothered to learn how to fish for themselves and they never taught their children to fish. Instead they led their little ones to the shrimp nets.

“Now the sea gulls, the fine free birds that almost symbolize liberty itself, are starving to death because they gave in to the ‘something for nothing’ lure! They sacrificed their independence for a handout.

“A lot of people are like that, too. They see nothing wrong in picking delectable scraps from the tax nets of the U.S. Government’s ‘shrimp fleet.’ But what will happen when the Government runs out of goods? What about our children of generations to come?

“Let’s not be gullible gulls. We … must preserve our talents of self-sufficiency, our genius for creating things for ourselves, our sense of thrift and our true love of independence.” Fable of the Gullible Gull, Reader's Digest, Oct. 1950, 32.

The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of wealth, possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit. Elections often turn on what the candidates promise to do for voters from government funds. This practice, if universally accepted and implemented in any society, will make slaves of its citizens.

We cannot afford to become wards of the government, even if we have a legal right to do so. It requires too great a sacrifice of self-respect and political, temporal, and spiritual independence.

In some countries it is extremely difficult to separate earned from unearned benefits. However, the principle is the same in all countries: We should strive to become self-reliant and not depend on others for our existence.

Governments are not the only guilty parties. We fear many parents are making “gullible gulls” out of their children with their permissiveness and their doling out of family resources. In fact, the actions of parents in this area can be more devastating than any government program.

Bishops and other priesthood leaders can be guilty of making “gullible gulls” out of their ward members. Some members become financially or emotionally dependent on their bishops. A dole is a dole whatever its source. All of our Church and family actions should be directed toward making our children and members self-reliant. We can’t always control government programs, but we can control our own homes and congregations. If we will teach these principles and live them, we can do much to counter the negative effects which may exist in government programs in any country.

We know there are some who, for reasons beyond their control, cannot become self-reliant. President Henry D. Moyle had these people in mind when he said:

“This great principle does not deny to the needy nor to the poor the assistance they should have. The wholly incapacitated, the aged, the sickly are cared for with all tenderness, but every able-bodied person is enjoined to do his utmost for himself to avoid dependence, if his own efforts can make such a course possible; to look upon adversity as temporary; to combine his faith in his own ability with honest toil. …

“We believe [that] seldom [do circumstances arise in which] men of rigorous faith, genuine courage, and unfaltering determination, with the love of independence burning in their hearts, and pride in their own accomplishments, cannot surmount the obstacles that lie in their paths.”3

What does the Stimulus package mean for us?  For the many generations to come?  What can we do to help our economy without going into exorbitant and unreasonable debt?  What are your suggestions?  

There is great wisdom in studying the scriptures that teach us the pride cycle; there is wisdom in hearing the counsel from our prophets and apostles that tell us to stay out of debt; live frugally; serve and help the needy; build up our stores of food, clothing, and money; obey the commandments;  fast and pray for our needs and those of our leaders and for our Barack Obama.  There just might be some wisdom in studying the histories that grace our libraries.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if these histories graced our minds more often…

Maybe the single most important thing we can do is to fix ourselves individually before we can fix our ailing nation.  Confucius said it best when he wrote, "The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things. Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. 

Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy."

I have hope that each of us can make small and constant improvements in our lives and that as we do it will eventually spread throughout our nation and the world making the whole a pleasant and fairly peaceful place, eventually.  Of coarse, that is the ideal…

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man 

does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.  —Albert Einstein 

Albert Einstein also said, "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."

"Hello, Greenmans, this is Hannah…"

Here is our little secretary, Hannah Banana.  If you give us a call, she will surely answer and take your message.

September 2008, shortly after Edie's Baptism.

What is Leadership? Ideas from reading Marcus Aurelius' Meditations

While coming out of a recent backpacking trip in the Uinta Wilderness, my 15 year-old son, Andrew, discovered the art of leadership as he tried to convince his little 4 year old sister, Hannah, to keep walking the rough and rocky ten miles back to the car. He was excited to tell me of his discovery; “A leader is not someone who is just at the front of the line, but someone who can do what it takes to convince people to move along. A leader can even be at the back of the line if need be!”

Leadership is the art of influencing a group of people to reach a common goal. There are many groups that teach the art and skill of becoming a leader, but art and skill are not the only things we should study in order to lead. We should strengthen character and obtain moral courage to bring virtue into society. Leadership involves the very core of our character. Some of society’s greatest leaders have been ordinary men and women who continually sought improvement in their moral character. Among such Men and women were Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Corrie ten Boom, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. In Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary a leader is “one who goes first.” The definition suggests that leadership is the art of showing the way, improving oneself first before trying to improve another.

In his book, Meditations, Marcus Aurelius reminds us of the good moral values that we must seek to obtain if we are to lead others. This blog-post will discuss three values and their application. They are self-mastery, love and truth.

Self Mastery

Self-mastery may be the hardest of the virtues because it requires us to recognize that we must change. That is a humbling position that demands remembrance of all our defects, imperfections and weaknesses. Human nature teaches us that we blame our shortcomings on our neighbor. Aurelius teaches that when we remove our judgment placed on another, we do not feel the hurt we once did.

When another wrongs me, what is that to me? Really it should not matter. They have their own disposition and their own actions. I also have my own disposition and my own actions. Self-mastery is a virtue that involves improving our moral character. No one can do that for us and we cannot do it for anyone else. An example comes to mind of my relationship with a friend. For the past several years I have looked mostly at her shortcomings. We humans think that criticizing others will somehow result in a change. But, what kind of change, surely it is a change for the worse. Her faults were things that I couldn’t control. If I were to gain self-mastery, I would only be able to control my own actions, not hers. During a recent visit, a tough situation arose and I again found fault. Things went awry, causing me to question if I really wanted to go down that path again. I knew that I should change my attitude and see the genius in her – see that she was a “potential Goddess” as C.S. Lewis would say. The shift was slow, but when I changed, I felt love for her and pity for her faults. The anger was gone. I had made a change in myself and stopped thinking that I could make a change in her.


With self-mastery the focus is on those things over which I have power. Many are the virtues that I have the power to exercise. So why ignore the virtues and desire only to be revered for the talents that I think people should notice? For instance, when I visit my childhood home I am not admired for my intellect, but I am admired for my hard work and organizational skills. Because of this I live up to the expectation and keep the house clean and picked up. Much of the time I allow it to bother me, and wonder why I should pick up after everyone. Begrudgingly, I begin to conquer the jumble, muddle and chaos. As always I receive praise for this and the cycle continues. I would like to be praised for my heart or be praised for my good example or for my knowledge, but why am I not? Perhaps, it is because I am so caught up in the trap of trying to please according to what they think of me, rather than focusing on the virtues that will help me master self.

Marcus Aurelius says the virtues that are, “wholly in [my] power – [are] integrity, dignity, hard work, self-denial, contentment, frugality, kindness, independence, simplicity, discretion, magnanimity.” In focusing on these virtues of which I have the power, I could then be and feel worthy of being useful in the world.

Love

Once we are on the path to mastering ourselves, we will want to develop a deep and influential love for mankind. Aurelius tells us to accept “and love these people among whom destiny has cast [us] – but [our] love must be genuine.” People will always be a part of our lives. Most of our greatest joys and trials come because of our dealings with other people. When dealing with difficult situations you say, ‘I will just ignore that person, or get revenge…that will teach them!’ This will only make matters worse. Aurelius warns us that, “The best revenge is not to be like your enemy”, but that we must genuinely love them even when it is difficult. I had a neighbor that loved to complain. She sought me out on a regular basis just to complain about her lot in life. When I realized her agenda I began to feel abused. Instead of showing love, I let anger and frustration build up and one day I blew up right in front of her. Several years later and much wiser than before, another opportunity arose. This time another friend loved to gossip. I recognized her agenda and made plans to practice genuine love towards her by listening to her heart. In validating her feelings, I wasn’t expressing that I agreed with her, but that I believed what she was feeling was difficult for her. I know that she could feel the genuine love coming from my heart because her response was usually a recognition that she ought to start accepting the persons she was gossiping about. When I showed genuine love, she sought change in herself.

Truth

Aurelius instills in us the motive of life: “Let one thing be your joy and comfort: to move on from social act to social act with your mind on God.” With our mind on God, assuredly we will find truth and the “Truth shall make us free.” (John 8:32) Is it any wonder why many of the great men and women had this thing in common? They were all lovers of Truth. With their mind on God they sought the truth in all things.

In seeking truth we may find ourselves back in our quest to self-mastery. Much of our truth seeking can literally bring us down to the depths of humility as we change what we once saw as truth to the real truth. On the other hand, if we have made a decision that we are going to master ourselves and continually improve, it will be inevitable that we will find truth. Marcus Aurelius gives us the perfect example of the kind of attitude we must employ in truth seeking, “if someone can prove me wrong and show me my mistake in any thought or action, I shall gladly change. I seek the truth, which never harmed anyone: the harm is to persist in one’s own self-deception and ignorance.”

A personal example of truth seeking happened a few weeks ago when after submitting a paper for my college class; it came back with many suggestions on improving it. I realized that I had not taken the time to really seek the truths that would make this paper most convincing. It was devoid of important principles needed to satisfy the subject. Because I desired a paper with substance, I set out to fill it with clear and true principles. It required much more work than I had imagined, but once finished it was transformational to me, full of significance and validity.

By seeking and developing these principles; self-mastery, love and truth we have the tools to be able to govern our impulses and actions. This act of governing our behavior will indeed strengthen character and bestow the moral courage necessary to lead others. Says Aurelius, “It is the gentle [leader] who [has] strength, sinew, and courage.” He also affirms that when it comes to leadership, the closer we are to the control of our emotions, the closer we are to power. Leadership is about first and foremost “becoming great”, and then “showing” the way.

Talk given at Grandpa Rex's Funeral on September 8, 2008

Like all of you, I have accumulated many memories of Grandpa Rex and when I recall those memories, they make up a very useful and often enjoyable part of my consciousness.  At the time of death, we "remember" those things that are dear to us.   Today I want to speak of a more profound role of memory that of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Marlin K. Jensen said, "If we pay close attention to the uses of the word remember in the holy scriptures, we will recognize that remembering in the way God intends is a fundamental and saving principle of the gospel.  This is so because prophetic admonitions to remember are frequently calls to action: to listen, to see, to do, to obey, and to repent.  When we remember in God's way, we overcome our human tendency simply to gird for the battle of life and actually engage in the battle itself, doing all in our power to resist temptation and avoid sinning."

I would like to share one such "remembrance" with you today.  One day as I was reading in the Book of Mormon about how Father Lehi gave blessings to his children and grandchildren I longed for such a blessing and called Grandpa Rex to ask him if he would bless me.  A couple of months later I sat in his living room and learned as he taught about the Creation, the Fall, and the Atoning sacrifice of our Savior.  Later during the blessing, I was taught further, when he blessed me to understand more fully the Creation, the Fall and the Atonement.  He testified of their truthfulness and the important role they play in the Plan of Salvation.

Grandpa taught me more deeply about the Creation by testifying that the earth was not created from nothing; it was organized from existing matter and created by Christ under the direction of the Father.  The Creation of the Earth was essential to God's plan.  It provided a place where we could gain a physical body, be tested and tried, and develop divine attributes.

He expounded upon the science of the earth: the geology of the rock formations, the role of our beautiful plants that cover the earth, and the animals.  He instilled in me a desire to use the earth's resources with wisdom, judgement and thanksgiving.

Adam was the first man created on earth.  In the book of Genesis we understand that "God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Gen. 1:27)

In the Garden of Eden, God commanded Adam and Eve not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; the consequence of doing so would be spiritual and physical death.  Spiritual death is separation from God.  Physical death is the separation of the spirit from the mortal body.

Because Adam and Eve transgressed and partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,  they were cast out from the presence of the Lord—they experienced spiritual death.  They also became mortal—subject to physical death.  As descendants of Adam and Eve, we inherit a fallen condition during mortality, in which we are tested by the difficulties of life and the temptations of the adversary.  Unfortunately, we do not always choose the right, and we know from the scriptures that "no unclean thing can enter into His Kingdom" (3 Nephi 27:19 and Ephesians 5:5)

King Benjamin teaches "For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."  Mosiah 3:19)

The Fall is an integral part of Heavenly Father's plan of salvation.  It has a twofold direction—downward yet forward.  In addition to introducing physical and spiritual death, it gave us the opportunity to be born on the earth and to learn and progress.

Once we understand the doctrine of the Fall, we can understand the Atonement.  The prophet, Jacob of the Book of Mormon taught that we can repent of our sins and become saved and that the "way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free."

Why is salvation free?  Salvation is a gift after we have expended our best efforts.  We are saved by grace, not by our own accomplishments.  In his words, Jacob teaches, "Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth…Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah,  who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise."  Jacob then exhorts his brethren to believe in Christ because those that "believe in Him shall be saved." (2 Nephi 2:6, 8-9)

In the book of Deuteronomy I counted over 35 times when the Lord promised abundant blessings upon the children of Israel if they would only love and obey the Lord.  Moses exhorts, "And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him and to serve the Lord they God with all thy heart and with all they soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes."  The same is asked of each of us today: that we love and obey him that we may partake of the blessings of the Atonement. 

In studying Deuteronomy I have found a fulfillment in the sixth chapter, verse 7 where Moses charges Israel to "teach [the commandments] diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down and when thou risest up."

As I sat in Grandpa's living room, I knew he understood that scripture.  How did he understand it?  He was causing me to "remember" the precious Plan of Salvation.  Coming unto Christ and being perfected in Him is the ultimate purpose of all remembering.

I testify of the truthfulness of the Plan of Salvation, of the Creation, the Fall and the divine Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I add my testimony to Moroni who invites us to "Come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him, and deny [our]selves of all ungodliness; and if [we] shall deny [our]selves of all ungodliness, and love God with all [our] might, mind and strength, then is His grace sufficient for [us], that by His grace [we] may be perfect in Christ."  (Moroni 10:32)  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.