Proposition 8

My little entry here is only one of thousands of comments about this particular issue. I wanted, nevertheless, to add my two cents.

I have read a lot of the online postings on news websites about this proposition and people's opinions, reactions, and intentions regarding it. I have had an hour-long conversation with my younger brother Will and a shorter conversation with Erin about it. I have pondered it in my heart. I have questioned myself whether I was being hateful in my arguments. I have prayed about it, mostly to plead for the preservation of righteous and wholesome marriage in this country.

I still have the same opinion after all that.

I am for Proposition 8, even though I'm not voting for it.

I know God loves his children, all of them, even the ones who are deviating from His perfect pattern of families. I have no doubt of that. I am certain he sorrows over the iniquity of His children, obviously because He loves them.

His prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, the only one on the earth authorized to speak for the Lord to all the inhabitants of the earth has sustained what the prophets before him have spoken: marriage right now is for one man and one woman. Perhaps at various times it was commanded for a man to take more than one woman to wife, but the prophet at that time spoke for the Lord when that was needful. Never before and never hereafter has it been or will it be proper or right for members of the same sex to marry or engage in sexual relations one with another. That is the standard set by the Lord communicated by His prophet.

My stand is with the Prophet of the Lord. I raised my hand to sustain him as my prophet. I did that because I knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that he is God's mouthpiece. Therefore, I support and sustain his position on this issue. I certainly have compassion for the homosexual, but I cannot vary from that which is right because of that.

Pickens Plan

Last Thursday I attended a town hall meeting at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The featured speaker was T. Boone Pickens. He was there to present his energy plan to whoever would come and listen. 2000 people showed up. They filled the hall. I don't think that is the whole number of those who are concerned about energy and where we get it from. I can tell you that those in attendance were fired up about this issue.

Mr. Pickens has a lot of good, viable ideas in my opinion. (For what it is worth... and it ain't worth much) The biggest piece of his plan is replacing a large chunk of oil usage with natural gas usage (particularly with transportation of goods) and a large chunk of coal usage with wind power and solar power (focusing first on wind power). To see more details, I'd take a look at his website pickensplan.com.

One thing he said that really caught my attention was his plan to publish in major newspapers and other media outlets lists of governors and federal legislators who support Pickens' plan, another plan, or no plan at all. He is personally contacting all these politicians to get their support or to at least find out if they have an alternative plan. This way we can know if our elected leaders have a plan for energy independence. If they don't, well, they ought to be kicked out of office. I hope that the majority of voters are watching for this information so they can make a good choice.

The reason this stood out to me is because that is how we need to run our country. It doesn't have to be a specific plan for energy independence. T. Boone Pickens himself, who stands to make a profit on this plan while doing good for our country, said he would follow any plan rather than his own if it is better. The point: there aren't any other plans out there. Our politicians are sitting on their hands doing nothing, devising nothing, following nothing. I don't know what they are doing. But it ain't much.

We all need to get behind a plan NOW. I recommend taking a look at Pickens' plan and see if you can get behind it. If you can, let your legislators and governors know that you stand behind it and ask them if they have a plan if they aren't going with Pickens.

Broken American Male

I have recently finished reading an excellent book entitled The Broken American Male by Rabbi Shmuley Boteach. I think it is important to note the subtitle "And How to Fix Him." I always like to read Rabbi Shmuley's work. I find it enlightening, entertaining, and inspirational. He can get a little repetetive at times in his books, but overall they are excellent.



The reason I liked this book so much (and the reason it caught my attention) is because I have long felt broken. I have felt like a failure, I have been driven into depression, and the thought of suicide has even crossed my mind on more than one occasion. You may be asking "How can that be? With all the great blessings you have, what would take you down such a dark road?" I have asked myself that very question. It seemed absurd to me too. But I couldn't shake the broken, hopeless feelings no matter how I tried to count my blessings.



The biggest driver, in Shmuley's opinion, for this broken feeling among so many of American males is the soulless capitalism that engulfs our culture and society. There is intense pressure to become wealthy at any cost. Beyond that is the pressure to matter in society or to leave a big imprint on the world before you leave it. I can agree with that. He wants the reader to understand that he is not opposed to the great blessings and opportunities our capitalist economy affords us. To be enveloped in it to the extent "success" dictates, however, is ruining families and hence it is destroying individual men. There must be balance in our prosperity.



Theologically and doctrinally I don't agree with all of Shmuley's viewpoints. That can be easily ascribed to a fundamental difference in faiths. He is an orthodox Jew and I am a Latter-Day Saint. Yet I agree whole-heartedly with his premise and his solutions.



Without going into too much detail, the main solution he proposes is for each man to define for himself what success really is, and to not base his definition on the shifty ground of wealth and fame. After all, money can be easily lost, and fame, well, look at Michael Jackson. Men get intoxicated by their riches and their power and they often become delusional, which explains Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot and many others. (It even explains Bill Clinton, but that is another story.) Many if not all of those who are deceived by their apparent "success" believed that they would be changing the world into a new model of their creation and that it would follow that model even after their death. Again, they were delusional.



The only way for a man broken by this faulty ideal to heal is to reject the faulty ideal and adopt one that has real substance. He needs to find a cause that will endure. He needs to have a family to love and that will love him. That must be his anchor to something with soul and with the capacity to heal.



My personal belief is centered in Jesus Christ and His ultimate healing power. Eventually everybody will come to know that he is the Son of God, the Savior of all mankind. Until then, and continuing thereafter, grounding ourselves in the family is our only hope. If we are careful to observe, the family is exactly what society mocks and derides. It knows that family will be its soulless power's demise.



The question is, what am I doing now that I have read the book? The information in the book was not new to me. Most of it agrees with the doctrine I have been taught my whole life. I have been praying for help out of my hopeless despondency for a long time. I think this book was, in part, an answer to my prayer. Even thought it didn't reveal anything to me, it sort of encouraged and inspired me to have more faith.



I need more faith to abandon society's definition of success and to adopt my own. I know most people would disagree with my definition of success, they would probably mock it too. They would say I am delusional and that I'm making something up to compensate for my weakness and inability to achieve "real success." That is exactly what Satan has been taunting me with since day one. To them I would say that my success is dependent on rejecting that notion. In other words, that "real success" is in reality completely irrelevant.

The reason? All ought to realize at some point in their life that the gifts of this world are ethereal and elusive. If a person bases their whole worth on success in terms of the world's gifts, he is just setting himself up for eventual heartbreak. Even the most rich and the most famous will eventually lose it all. Nobody in heaven is going to be impressed with things you amassed on earth. Jesus said, "Lay not up unto yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust doth corrupt," (notice he didn't say might corrupt) "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Families, sealed together by the power of God's priesthood, are the only things that will endure death. They are your treasures in heaven.

It has been very liberating to redefine success, even after only a few weeks. It has allowed me to set priorities in my life that really matter and that I really care about. I hope my family feels more loved by me, because I certainly love and treasure them more. It has allowed me to feel more energized by life and not so downtrodden by setbacks. It has given me true perspective and a greater reverence for God and His Gifts. It has especially given me more gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and His love and sacrifice for me. Suddenly everything that was so dreary and dying, has vibrant color and is thriving. Let the world mock me for this. It won't change the way I feel about things.

Eight Wonderful Years

Happy Anniversary, Erin!

I have been married for eight wonderful years to this beautiful and marvelous woman and I look forward to the rest of eternity with her at my side. You are an inspiration to me!

The Proper Role of Government

The other day I came across a speech (I think it is a speech, maybe just an article) written 40 years ago by the then Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson. (He also happens to be a former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the church I belong to). In this speech, he outlines the proper role of government, specifically the Federal government.

Here is a link to that piece: http://laissez-fairerepublic.com/benson.htm

I recommend reading that, signing your name at the bottom, framing it, and hanging it up in your house (It could take some serious wall space, just be advised). Hang it right next to the Constitution. Don't have a copy of the Constitution hanging up? Get one of those framed and hang it up too.

I completely stand by the ideals set forth in this article. I have felt this way for a long time and I am glad to see that it was proclaimed 40 years ago and that its relevancy hasn't changed one bit.

If you don't have time to read the whole thing right now, here is a 15-point summary, a creed if you will, that basically summarizes it:

FIFTEEN PRINCIPLES WHICH MAKE FOR GOOD AND PROPER GOVERNMENT
As an Independent American for constitutional government I declare that:
(1) I believe that no people can maintain freedom unless their political institutions are founded upon faith in God and belief in the existence of moral law.
(2) I believe that God has endowed men with certain unalienable rights as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and that no legislature and no majority, however great, may morally limit or destroy these; that the sole function of government is to protect life, liberty, and property and anything more than this is usurpation and oppression.
(3) I believe that the Constitution of the United States was prepared and adopted by men acting under inspiration from Almighty God; that it is a solemn compact between the peoples of the States of this nation which all officers of government are under duty to obey; that the eternal moral laws expressed therein must be adhered to or individual liberty will perish.
(4) I believe it a violation of the Constitution for government to deprive the individual of either life, liberty, or property except for these purposes:
(a) Punish crime and provide for the administration of justice;
(b) Protect the right and control of private property;
(c) Wage defensive war and provide for the nation’s defense;
(d) Compel each one who enjoys the protection of government to bear his fair share of the burden of performing the above functions.
(5) I hold that the Constitution denies government the power to take from the individual either his life, liberty, or property except in accordance with moral law; that the same moral law which governs the actions of men when acting alone is also applicable when they act in concert with others; that no citizen or group of citizens has any right to direct their agent, the government to perform any act which would be evil or offensive to the conscience if that citizen were performing the act himself outside the framework of government.
(6) I am hereby resolved that under no circumstances shall the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights be infringed. In particular I am opposed to any attempt on the part of the Federal Government to deny the people their right to bear arms, to worship and pray when and where they choose, or to own and control private property.
(7) I consider ourselves at war with international Communism which is committed to the destruction of our government, our right of property, and our freedom; that it is treason as defined by the Constitution to give aid and comfort to this implacable enemy.
(8) I am unalterable opposed to Socialism, either in whole or in part, and regard it as an unconstitutional usurpation of power and a denial of the right of private property for government to own or operate the means of producing and distributing goods and services in competition with private enterprise, or to regiment owners in the legitimate use of private property.
(9) I maintain that every person who enjoys the protection of his life, liberty, and property should bear his fair share of the cost of government in providing that protection; that the elementary principles of justice set forth in the Constitution demand that all taxes imposed be uniform and that each person’s property or income be taxed at the same rate.
(10) I believe in honest money, the gold and silver coinage of the Constitution, and a circulation medium convertible into such money without loss. I regard it as a flagrant violation of the explicit provisions of the Constitution for the Federal Government to make it a criminal offense to use gold or silver coin as legal tender or to use irredeemable paper money.
(11) I believe that each State is sovereign in performing those functions reserved to it by the Constitution and it is destructive of our federal system and the right of self-government guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to regulate or control the States in performing their functions or to engage in performing such functions itself.
(12) I consider it a violation of the Constitution for the Federal Government to levy taxes for the support of state or local government; that no State or local government can accept funds from the Federal and remain independent in performing its functions, nor can the citizens exercise their rights of self-government under such conditions.
(13) I deem it a violation of the right of private property guaranteed under the Constitution for the Federal Government to forcibly deprive the citizens of this nation of their property through taxation or otherwise, and make a gift thereof to foreign governments or their citizens.
(14) I believe that no treaty or agreement with other countries should deprive our citizens of rights guaranteed them by the Constitution.
(15) I consider it a direct violation of the obligation imposed upon it by the Constitution for the Federal Government to dismantle or weaken our military establishment below that point required for the protection of the States against invasion, or to surrender or commit our men, arms, or money to the control of foreign or world organizations of governments.

I think that says it all. I plan to memorize this list because this is what it is all about. If we want to keep our freedom, we MUST (and I say that without any equivocation) stand up for each and every principle listed there. No matter how inconvenient life might become, it could become a whole lot worse if we stand idly by and let these principles get trampled upon and eradicated from our government.

I think what we need to understand is that it isn't just the terrorists in some far-off land that want us destroyed. There are domestic enemies as well. There are people right here in our own country who claim to espouse the principles of good government, yet they turn around and try to legislate or court mandate principles of bad government, such as social welfare programs (including universal health care), military neuterization, central bank authority without controls, eminent domain, banning of firearms for private citizenry, etc.... The list goes on and on. There are those who believe the Constitution and ideals of the Founding Fathers are passe. They want a new law, a new constitution that will bring this country down economically and as a beacon of truth, justice, and freedom. They have this as their agenda even though they sound like they are for the principles of individual liberty. They are devilish and I will not stand for my country to be destroyed by these enemies. They are treasonous and if we do not watch out for them and take them down early, our very liberty could be destroyed.

Our government is our agent to do what we collectively need to do. They are to enforce what we collectively need to enforce. We are not owned by our government, our government is owned by us and politicians should never even have the slightest notion that it works the other way. It is up to us to make sure that they are not under this illusion.

There it is.

Texas Gov't Needs A Lesson

I've been watching the news about the plight of the FLDS women and children in El Dorado, Texas with interest. I should make it clear that I do not condone how the men of that religious group treats their women, and mostly their young women. There seems to be a lot of evil happening there. That concerns me and it needs to be handled. Yet, the same entity which needs to take care of that problem, is grossly mishandling it right now.

Rounding up 400+ people, separating children from their mothers (regardless of the age of those mothers) to be placed in foster care, forcing DNA testing on all of them, and who knows how many other common-senseless acts is entirely the wrong way to handle the real issue. While it may be possible that every single mother in that group was wed and bred too young, it does not give license to our government to sever families and traumatize children, among whom are some of the mothers. If the Texas government will do it to them, other state governments might not feel so shy in the future about doing the same to some of the groups in their residence.

Our government is forgetting its place. Do they need to enforce laws and protect the innocent? Of course! That is exactly what they are supposed to do. Perhaps the Texas government officials believe that is what they are accomplishing. Individual rights, though, are being trampled by a heavy-handed officiary, and there should be a public outcry against their methods. They need to be taken to task. Officials (including judges where necessary) need to be released from their government duties and possibly serve jail time for their miscarriage of justice. Due process is being ignored because someone feels compelled to flex their political muscle. If they are willing to do it to them, who says you, or I, won't be next?

Our laws are set up to handle crime on a case by case basis. Gathering DNA samples on more than 400 individuals might be necessary to accomplish that. But tearing apart mothers from their children is not necessary to do that. Don't punish the innocent with bureacracy because you are trying to build your case. Gather up the men and put them in jail and take the time necessary to build your case (assuming, of course, you have just cause). You can put a halt to illegal behavior in that manner just as well.

We Need to Make Our Voices Heard

I've got a very good friend, with whom I served in the church when we lived in Ogden, Utah, who entered the "blogosphere" to share thoughts and feelings about the great United States of America. He feels that it is a land that needs to be preserved by people who are trying to be good, strong, citizens. Those people, imperfect as they may be, need to stand up and speak out against the evil permeating our culture at every turn, and affect government policy as far as they are able. He is now the bishop (like a Priest in a catholic congregation) up there now. I have a lot of admiration for him and what he is trying to accomplish. He has inspired me to be, as Gandhi once said, "the change [I] wish to see in the world." His name is Ken Coman. I've linked to his blog if you want to take a look.

I'm one of those imperfect people who is not going to stand idly by and allow wicked men and women lay waste to this great country. I don't promise this blog will only stay on that theme of preservation, but I hope to evoke it often.

Who am I, and why would you care what I have to say?

Those are very good questions. I am just like most people on this earth. My name is Ethan Rux Jolley. I care about making life happy for myself and those I love. I care about life being a happy one for people I haven't even met (and whom I hope I will come to love). I want a safe, clean place for my children, and their children and children's children, to grow up. I want a country that is goverened justly by people who want the same thing for their families. If they don't, I want a government that at least knows its place. I want a government that knows it governs by my consent, and yours, and that of your neighbor.

Why is this so important to me? Because I believe in the God-given liberty all men, women, girls, and boys should enjoy. This liberty is so precious to me. It was paid for by the blood not only of men, but of God, even Jesus Christ. He gave us this precious gift. It is because of His great and eternal sacrifice that you and I have the blessings which we have, the greatest being that we can choose to follow good or evil.

I choose good.

I don't know if anybody is ever going to read these posts. I might be writing them for my own benefit. It is good for a man to know where he stands. And publishing it somehow makes it more official.

I have a family. My wife, Erin, and I care for three beautiful souls: Emily, age six, Greta, age 5, and Jase, age 3. My sweet wife has been chronicaling our life with another blog, also linked to on this page. I invite you to see that if you wish.

I invite you, dear reader, to make comments if you wish to the ideas posted here. Feel free to agree or disagree. I would be interested to know your thoughts.