My Mormon Third Eye: I See.... Change I Want to Believe In

Sunday, January 4, 2009

I See.... Change I Want to Believe In

The New Year is a season of renewed commitment to that which is new, noble, and ennobling. It is the most popular and opportune moment of the year to seek and implement meaningful change. The most momentous change in this New Year is the inauguration of a new President who ran on a platform of change - “change you can believe in.”

I did not vote for Mr. Obama – he may have offered change during the campaign, but not change I could believe in. Now that he has been elected by an electorate worn down by our unfolding economic nightmare, however, I have vowed to give him the benefit of all my doubts and hold him to his word. I want him to usher in the New Year with a resolution to orchestrate change I can believe in.

The change I'm looking for is a change in Mr. Obama. I believe in leaders that subscribe to high moral standards of personal and public governance, and are capable of projecting that vision to democracy-empowered masses (can you say Ronald Reagan?). There is no doubt that he possesses the innate charisma to connect with us, but what is the true morality of his message? As we pick politicians to follow, we need to make sure that the nobility of their message matches their character and charisma. Otherwise, we may run the risk of being stuck with the sam

e type of leader that 1/3 of God's spirit children ended up following into the War of Heaven – a charismatic leader with a wrong plan to enslave mankind.

Hence, I want to embrace an Obama administration directed by a president willing to make a change in breaking with the past that molded him. Mr. Obama cultured his moral compass in the confines of an eternally corrupt Chicago political machine that eventually taints many of those who grow up in it. The state of Illinois enjoys a rich, long tradition of graft and corruption at the highest levels - the governor's office is the most popular position for those wishing to wield unrighteous dominion. It may have started as far back as the 1840's, with a Governor Ford permitting clear and violent violations of God-given and constitutionally-mandated freedoms by the mobs that mercilessly drove the Saints west in winter, all in the name of political expediency. It continues on a more secular level in modern times, with current Gov. Rod Blagojevich facing damning evidence prompting federal prosecutors to step in and arrest him because he was on "a political corruption crime spree." Ironically, and even more troubling, Gov. Blagojevich was elected in 2002 as a reformer promising to clean up after previous Gov. George Ryan, who is now finishing up a six-year prison term for political graft. Gov. Blagojevich had been the target of a three-year probe for hiring fraud; his current alleged crime is attempting to “sell” the political appointment of a senate seat vacated by... Barack Obama.

I want the apple to fall far from the tree. After Mr. Obama puts his hand on Lincoln's Bible and begins to direct the affairs of our one nation under God, I want him to show by the integrity and morality of his message and his appointments that he has thoroughly and completely disavowed his manipulated past in ethically starved Chicago politics.

This is change I want to believe in. Do you believe?

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.