Why I came to BYU-Idaho

Last summer, I began to prepare my application to go to BYU at Provo. I was excited about it. I had jsut a spent a semester there during the summer and did well. The campus was wonderful, the library amazing. I had so many friends from the mission and from Florida who were attending.

But something changed. On a superfiscal level, a wonderful woman came into my life. Of course, at this point we were just friends writing back and forth as she finished her mission. She was attending BYU-Idaho and was willing to transfer schools if it meant we could spend more time together.

I began to give it a lot of thought, which I never, ever did before. My mother had attended Ricks. But me? I never considered it. I confess that I thought it second rate.

It turns out that all my roommates (all five I had while at BYU for 6 months) came from BYU-Idaho. There was one exception: Tim, who was a resident of Rexburg and his father taught there. I had my own panel of experts to ask.

Most importantly, I began to pray about it. It really didn't take long to realize that BYU-Idaho was the school for me.

So I altered my application. First choice, BYU-Idaho. Second choice, Provo. A few weeks later I got my approval and immediately accepted the offer.

My first Bishop up here challenged us to find out why were accepted. As I now prepare to enter my third semester up here, I am overwhelmed thinking back to that challenge, and what has transpired.

I came across this new video used by admissions. It's a powerful example of the spirit that drew me here. Of course, at that time, I had no idea of President Eyring's Prophecy he had made. But I felt like something I had to offer and something to gain from this place. My emotions stirred as I watched this video and felt the spirit again renew the confirmation I have had that school is where I need to be.

I know the Lord was the one who brought me here. Next to my decision to serve a mission, my choice to come here to BYU-Idaho has proved completely revolutionary in my life.

Enjoy the video.

BYU-Idaho Promotional Video from BYU-Idaho on Vimeo.

Days away . . .

In one week, I will begin moving into our first apartment.

People ask if I am nervous. I can't say that I am; mostly because it's hard to conceptualize that we are just three weeks from time and all eternity.

I've attended my last single's ward fast and testimony meeting.

My last Christmas as a single guy is on the horizon. Next Christmas I will share it with my wife.

I am grateful for the time of engagement, though at times I stomped my feet with impatience. This has been a great time of growth.

Sometime before Christmas I should be verified as a manager at McDonald's.

I take how everything is coming together so beautifully as further evidence that there is a God, and that He is my Heavenly Father, and is aware of my needs and listens to my prayers.

22 days . .

Thoughts on Government

Elizabeth gave me a copy of some excerpts and quotes from Ezra Taft Benson, LDS church President. President Benson had great insights, of course, into government having served 8 years as President Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture.

In light of the ongoing agenda of the current administration, I found some of his quotes, well, prophetic and spot on:

"The important thing to keep in mind is that the people who have created their government can give to that government only such powers as they, themselves, have in the first place. Obviously, they cannot give that which they do not possess, so the question boils down to this: What powers properly belong to each and every person in the absence of and prior to the establishment of any organized governmental form? A hypothetical question? Yes, indeed! But, it is a question which is vital to an understanding of the principles which underlie the proper function of government.(An Enemy Hath Done This, pp. 129-30.)"

What powers properly belong to each and every person prior to the establishment of any government?

Without much commentary--except to say that this question rings very true for me--let me share a follow up quote that seems to address much of the recent social initiatives before congress as of late:

"The proper function of government is limited to those spheres of activity within which the individual citizen has the right to act. By deriving its just powers from the governed, government becomes primarily a mechanism for defense against bodily harm, theft and involuntary servitude. It cannot claim the power to redistribute money or property, or to force reluctant citizens to perform acts of charity against their will. Government is created by the people. No individual possesses the power to take another's wealth or to force others to do good, so no government has the right to do such things either. The creature cannot exceed the creator. (The Constitution: A Heavenly Banner, p. 9)"


That's why so many people cry "Socialism!" as the agenda of this current administration unfolds.

In another quote, President Benson states that the government is a group of citizens who have been hired to carry out specific responsibilities. Tax money is raised so that these individuals can perform those functions, such as protect the country from invasion, prosecute criminals, enforce a uniform business standard. But I object when the government lends out that money (or worse, borrows additional money) to serve other social purposes.

I think people struggle to see the problem in Federal funding and Social Programs because yes, it is a kind thing for one man to give to another. But, is it right that I require you to give of your substance?

A certain man hired someone to guard their house while he was at work. When this man comes home, he finds the security officer in his place. The security guard asks for more payment.

"Heavens, why? I paid you what we agreed to. Does the defense system need upgrading?"
"No."
"Does the wage I paid you not pay your bills as my security guard?"
"No."
"Then what is it?"
"Well, while you were at work, I saw that your neighbor's house needed mending so I used the funds you left me to repair their roof."
"Did I hire you to mend their roof?"
"Well, no."
"Okay, well--I hired you to do a specific job. I gave you money so that you would be able to do that job. If you leave this job undone to pursue other interests--as noble and well-intentioned as they are--you breached your end of our employment agreement and I have chosen the wrong man for the job."

There is a place for charity work, but that is on the part of individual citizens.

Programs like Social Security, No Student left Behind, Medicare and Medicaid fail to work and yield true results because they are based on the same unworkable concept that Satan based his plan for salvation on.

You can't save everyone because everyone has agency and must take specific steps on their own.

Justice must be preserved, and that's why there is a Savior--to step in and right those wrongs. It is government's role to provide justice. But mercy is an individually applied principle. There is no one size fits all. Each case must be individually handled which is something a government cannot and should not have that responsibility to address.