Lightning Rods

10 days since the last post.

If you read this blog. . . thank you. It is intended for an inmate, and my kids, if they ever want to check on me.

I have this hope and prayer that HF might guide someone here and they will see:

1- It is OK to be candid and honest and to express yourself.

2- That the gospel is alive even in the weakness of this human soul.

3- That the gospel is motivating and brings satisfaction and joy versus misery and pain.

Satan, also called the adversary or the devil, is the enemy of all righteousness and of those who seek to follow God. He is a spirit son of God who was once an angel "in authority in the presence of God" (D&C 76:25; see also Isaiah 14:12; D&C 76:26–27). But in the premortal Council in Heaven, Lucifer, as Satan was then called, rebelled against God. Since that time, he has sought to destroy the children of God on the earth and to make them miserable.

4- We can try to entertain each other with the curiosities and puzzlements of life.

5- We need to pat each other and even ourselves on the back when we make worthwhile efforts. When we try hard. Trying matters.

6- The Church of Jesus Christ has apostles that can be trusted. And that I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I am trying to be a worthwhile saint. And that you can too.

7- I am learning and growing all along the way.

I have a wry sense of humor. I am a yellow personality and love fun. I am also a walking wounded and had a horrific, scarring childhood with criminal psychopathic parents.

Some people may hate our bishop, Quincy Adams. Some people hate our stake president, Gil Almquist. Some people hate Joseph Smith and Thomas S Monson and Russel M Nelson. I don't profess to be a prophet of any kind. Although Gary Caldwell used to teach we should all be prophets, and testify of Christ.

I used to shy away from honesty and candidness. I didn't dare say things the way they really are for fear I would be caught out or be found wrong. I don't tend to whine and complain. Dwelling on the bad, sad, and criticizing is more acceptable in our society than cheering the efforts of good people. Who wants to talk about the good and uplifting. How boring. Let's talk about the sins and mistakes and gossip about the perceived weaknesses of others. Who wants to compliment and build up when you can be more accepted by whining and pointing out the faults of others. Who wants to comment in a positive way when something reaches you in a blog compared to spreading possible hurtful observations made.

Have you noticed that even Youtube commenters identify trolls? 

Bishop called me in Sunday morning. Randalls and JenniferR had someone point out to them things to hurt their feelings from my blog.

3 years ago the bishop sat down with me about someone working on repenting I had noticed in sacrament meeting and mentioned in my letter to Brandon, trying to point out to Brandon all can repent. Some people even do! Yes.

Hey, we made 3 years between visits!

Back then I invited whoever felt offended to be my editor and let me know. Every blog entry has a comment section. I have no issue with removing things that may be hurtful.

I fight against the secrecy of sin. My parents kept their nefarious deeds secret. Abusing children needs to be exposed.

I have no issue with human foibles, weaknesses or even lifelong genetic burdens. I applaud those who bear them. I feel for them. I feel for me and my siblings. I have a soft spot in my heart for all those abused. I have a soft spot in my heart for all those burdened by blindness, lameness, mental, emotional or physical or spiritual handicaps. This life is intended to burden us all. Poor me, poor you, poor everyone! But it is intentional. By turning to Christ he will share our burden. We are suppose to need him.

Next, If you have a grudge it is your job to go to the person and make peace with them. If you have been offended the same is true.

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive. Sometimes we are so hurt we just can't forgive.  What then?

That is when we let it go, stay away from that person and protect ourselves. We turn it over to God and we let go. Joseph Smith spoke with a whistle for 11 years. 1832-1843 His two front teeth were broken the night of the tarring. He walked with a limp because his left leg was lame from age 7. He combed his hair over his bald spot where his scalp was ripped out the night of the tarring. Somehow or other he never bore a grudge. His little boy died 3 days after the tarring, his little twin girl survived. Could I forgive men for killing my child? I can't forgive them for abusing me and my children! How could I forgive them for killing one? No way.  But can I turn it over to God?  That I can do.

Satan hates goodness. He has 40 billion spirits that followed him and live here on this planet. They can find every chink in our armor, every weakness in our soul. As we stir others up to anger we are his tools. Contention is not of God.

So once again, I invite you to let me know if you are worried something I have written may hurt someone's feelings. phonev6@gmail.com is my email. Especially if you don't dare to comment right here on my blog.

I can understand the worry of being placed on display or exposed. Some of us are extremely private. I have gotten loose with what I have dared to post. It is only by reminding me, that I can limit my natural inclinations to be too frank.

Don't stir the pot. Keep it to yourself and let me know.

I have gone to great extremes to draw Brandon out. Did you notice in his last letter he finally owned 4 FEELINGS!  And I cheered. I have written thousands and thousands of pages trying to get that to happen. And then finally when I say good bye, this is the end, he responds.

I love you.

God bless you.

PS. I have no problem with apologizing. I make all kinds of insensitive mistakes. I have had a mission. But that part is now done. We'll see how I will be engaged in the future.