Anybody want to move in down the street?

Looks like the economy hit a neighbor down the street. We'd love to have you as a neighbor...

Take a look and place your bid today. We hope the rumors we've heard are correct and that it is a HUD Home. Otherwise, property values have really dropped on our street!

Tent cities

Editor's note: I wrote this in March. Not sure why it didn't post back then.

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I have been perplexed by the recent news reports of tent cities popping up with fellow down-on-their-luck Americans populating these impromptu residents. How do you get to a point where you have no other options than to camp out? Where are the families and friends of our down-on-their-luck neighbors? How did they end up in such circumstances where they have no one to turn to? Where is the safety net?

I admit to subscribe to an approach to charitble giving which provides for the recipient a hand up, not a handout. I agree with the following statement:

"True charity to a poor family or person consists in placing them in a situation in which they can support themselves” (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 2:134).

From another angle, what can I do to help those who may be on a similar road within my reach? How do I step in and provide a helping hand. It seems to me that as Americans, we have always helped our neighbors. Historically, we've had barn raisings, work parties, and we give change in jars at the check-out to help others. Sometimes the charity which is provided is simply our providing a 'fish.' Other times we provide the 'fishing pole,' and in the ideal circumstance, we provide the pole and some knowledge where to find the best fishing spot.

Surely we are not now as a nation so full of ourselves, so proud from all of our possessions and things amassed over the recent years of plenty that we cannot step back and help a struggling friend or family member? Does financial success still trump personal needs?

There are many in need. There are also many in just want. We are learning as a nation the difference between wants and needs. Greed and hunger. Hummers and Model Ts. A beautiful house and a house which meets the needs.

Choosing the Truth

One of the most difficult aspects about living in our day and age is the challenge of choosing truth over the philosophies of men.

How do you decide what is right? How do you define the path you will take? Why do you choose one path over another? Who do you let influence you?

There are many voices pulling at us. We may not notice but they are there. For instance, the Brethren encourage instructors and teachers in the church to use the manuals provided. Some instructors seem to do well with this challenge while others can't help but bring in notions and ideas from other sources. I struggle to keep my eyes off the floor when a talk show host, popular author, or other source is used to introduce or enhance an idea taught in the lesson. More often than not the intent is good, but the principle taught is foreign to the concepts taught in the scriptures. Or the ideas of the popular figure twist the truth in to a partial picture of what the Lord's principles teach. The instructor's true purpose is to ensure truths are taught.

However, getting to a point where you can teach truth or accept truth requires the acceptance of two basic truths. Illustrated in this article from the June 1979 Ensign telling of one convert's story of accepting truth:

"[My friend] Ted referred to and described what he said were two truths contained in scriptures: first, the truth of history, an actual account of the Lord’s dealings with his people; and second, the truth of righteousness, the commandments, the will of God for his children." (1)

With revisionist notions and ideas pushing us to have a lack of faith in the history we've been taught and a culture which accepts any actions as 'ok,' it is as confusing as ever to find the truth. The scriptures are an obvious source from which we can obtain the ideas and concepts which will help us avoid the pitfalls of the world. Do we regularly read the scriptures?

I also think the key to avoiding the pitfalls of our day still centers around the simple principle taught in Primary and by the Missionaries: Follow the Prophet. The leaders of the Church teach us clearly the principles of truth. Is our first source of information the recent words of the Brethren? When we look for clarification through their words rather than that of a world figure on the topic we can be assured we are on the right path.

The world truly is in commotion today. Men's hearts are failing them and they don't know where to turn for guidance and peace. The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us the truth. We must have faith that the principles taught are true and seek after the wisdom of God's chosen mouthpiece in these latter days. As we do, the promise is that we will have the peace which comes from fully living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


(1) Bazyk, Robert J., "Inquiry beyond Reason," Ensign, June 1979. Online.

Josh's Talk

I will strengthen my family

A talk by Josh Leonard on July 12, 2009

Today I have been asked to talk about how we strengthen our family. Elder Robert D. Hales, one of the Twelve Apostles said “The key to strengthening our families is having the Spirit of the Lord come into our homes”


We can invite the Spirit into our home by praying with our family; go to church together; have Family Home evening together; play together; and read the scriptures.

Elder Hales also said “The goal of our families is to be on the strait and narrow path.” So I will strengthen my family by living the Gospel. I love my family. I want to be Together Forever with them.

Yes, We're Still Here

It has been a long time. I guess I just haven't known what to write. It is summer, and we are being lazy, sort of. Maybe it is just the children who are being lazy. Actually we had a really good vacation to Utah where we went to two family reunions, visited the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House, and kept really busy with lots of fun activities.

And now that we are back, Kyle and I have been tackling the list of things that needs to be done around the house. We found an electrician who could fix our electrical issue without replacing the entire electrical panel (hurray!). Kyle has already glued a cupboard door back together and hung the new shade for the kitchen window. Now he is working on replacing some damaged base board in the family room. After that there is some dry wall repair for the kitchen ceiling, repairs on the back door, and removing mirrors in the bathroom (and then fixing the walls), and probably a few more things I've overlooked right now. Eventually there will also be a new side fence, but that is not happening while temperatures are in the high 90s or low 100s. When we get this list finished, I think we will really work on staying on top of things rather than letting them build up.

During the days, I am trying to keep the children busy enough that they aren't picking at each other. Last summer all they wanted to do was play Webkinz on the computer. This summer the most popular activities are riding bikes and reading.

--Shawnie