Hello fellow Pathway Students and friends,

I hope all is well with you all.
This post mainly is for my Provident Living Project. It also is to let others read my thoughts on this subject and if individuals know what The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints view are on this subject.
Is everyone ready to know what my topic is? It is one that I have thought about immensely. The following is from an Essay I am still writing for my English class. Please read and make your comments after you have read the whole Essay. The subject is...

Should Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide (Death) Be Legal?

Individuals should be able to decide for themselves to die with dignity and with as little pain as possible because they are the ones who know how much pain they are really in. I will make statements based on facts that will support my view on Assisted Suicide. To be fair, I will present both sides of each argument to let you see why It is up to each one of us to decide for ourselves.

I would like to start with the Right to die argument. According to the website Procon.org. The ACLU on December 10, 1996 made this statement ¹ "The right of a competent, terminally ill person to avoid excruciating pain and embrace a timely and dignified death bears the sanction of history and is implicit in the concept of ordered liberty. The exercise of this right is as central to personal autonomy and bodily integrity as rights safeguarded by this Court's decisions relating to marriage, family relationships, procreation, contraception, child rearing and the refusal or termination of life-saving medical treatment.” As you can see the ACLU was trying to tie the right to die in with the right to refuse life-saving treatments. The problem with this point is the fact that the U.S Supreme Court issued this majority opinion on June 26, 1997 concerning the case of Washington v. Glucksberg. ² “The history of the law's treatment of assisted suicide in this country has been and continues to be one of the rejection of nearly all efforts to permit it. That being the case, our decisions lead us to conclude that the asserted 'right' to assistance in committing suicide is not a fundamental liberty interest protected by the Due Process Clause."  Because of this ruling it made it illegal to help some on to die, even under the care of a doctor. This leads me to my next point of patient suffering.

 It should be left to each individual the decision to end a terminally ill patient’s suffering at their End of Life. As stated before we have a right to refuse life-saving treatments if we are a competent terminally ill adult. Logic tells me that same person should be able to administer the medicines needed to let them die without the pain. ³ “The argument is over the right to die with a doctor’s help at the time and in the manner of your own choosing. As yet only a handful of European countries, Colombia and five American states allow some form of doctor-assisted dying. But draft bills, ballot initiatives and court cases are progressing in 20 more states and several other countries.” These statistics are encouraging if you are on the side with letting each person decided for themselves. The following Quote comes from the website www.economist.com. ^4” The popular desire for assisted dying is beyond question. The Economist asked Ipsos MORI to survey people in 15 countries on whether doctors should be allowed to help patients to die, and if so, how and when. Russia and Poland are against, but we find strong support across America and western Europe for allowing doctors to prescribe lethal drugs to patients with terminal diseases. In 11 out of the 15 countries we surveyed, most people favored extending doctor-assisted dying to patients who are in great physical suffering but not close to death.” The last part of this quote worries me. We should not end a life just because we are in pain and not terminally ill. This argument has so many variables we can’t write the laws needed to cover ever possibility.

I want to conclude my essay by making my stance of this subject clear. From my own personal witness of my mother dying from the fourth battle with cancer, I know she wanted to die peacefully because she told me so. You see, my mother knew how much pain I have been living with since I lost my leg in 2003. The two of us had many talks about the subject of dying without pain. We both said that given the choice when there was nothing more to do, we would like to be allowed to decide to die without the pain. A competent, terminally ill person should be able to decide for themselves. Another thing a person should do is their wishes into a will for all to see, this way everyone would know the person’s choice if they are no longer able to communicate.

Works Cited

^{1 “}Should euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide be legal?” Procon.org website Pros v. Cons Link

^{2 “}Should euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide be legal?” Procon.org website Pros v. Cons Link

³ Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2016. All rights reserved. www.economist.com

⁴ Copyright © The Economist Newspaper Limited 2016. All rights reserved. www.economist.com

Gender in Gods plan.

The Proclamation
Here is a link to The Family: A Proclamation To The World. It was read and then Published in 1995. It is not new Doctrine from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but a reminder to the world what God has told us from the beginning of man and woman. It is not meant to offend anyone but to show us what is the best circumstances for a family to live.
Of course their our examples of bad fathers or mothers that are not good examples of this in the works, but I would also point out that they may not be following other commandments of God or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now here is an important statement from me; I would like to say that there are many, many, many wonderful single mothers and fathers, that are raising their children to be great adults and or followers of Jesus Christ. I was one myself for a few years after my divorce. So I feel I know what I am talking about. I can testify to all that it was much easier to teach and raise my children as a whole family than it was by myself. My point I am trying to make is that it can and is possible to raise our children as single parents, but for me it was necessary to have a woman as my partner.

Here is a short video from the Christ of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about moms.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1440-it-was-mom-a-mothers-day-tribute-to-moms?category=topics/mothers&lang=eng&cid=HP_FR_6-5-2016_dMIS_fMLIB_xLIDyL1-A_

Let me know if this video reminded you of your mom. My mom was not a member of the church, but she gave me the foundation of Jesus Christ as my Saviour and I thank her for this everday in my own way.

Love and miss you everyday Mom!

"Come, follow me" 3 simple words spoken by our Savior Jesus Christ.

  What an invitation by the Savior himself.
  Below is a link to a new video by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I invite all to view the video and tell me what you think.

https://www.mormon.org/easter?cid=HP_SU_3-13-2016_dMIS_fSPC_xLIDyL1-A_

   After you view the video I also invite you to look around the website. There are many great this to view or read. If any of you would like a Free copy of the Book of Mormon or the Holy Bible King James version there are links to these also.

I would request that you read:
*James 1: 5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

Also in the Book of Mormon in the very last chapter there is a promise that reads:
*Moroni 10; 3-7

 3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

 6 And whatsoever thing is good is just and true; wherefore, nothing that is good denieth the Christ, but acknowledgeth that he is.

 7 And ye may know that he is, by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever.

 I hope you all can feel the love of or Lord Jesus Christ as you read these scriptures. I believe that were written for our times and by reading the gospel of Jesus Christ we can truly become more like him and serve each other.

* Scriptures copied from the lds.org website.

Attibutes of Christ

As we have gone along in our Pathways classroom this semester we have had the opportunity to look for attributes of Jesus Christ and then try to make them a part of us. Earlier in the year I was seeking "knowledge" and wanted to be able to have the words to say that the Lord would have me speak at the time he want me to speak. Like during a Fast and Testimony meeting, or Sunday school class or and Elders Quorum meeting and or any other situation that may have come up.

Well this week we have had the opportunity to continue with the ones we had chosen or to search the scriptures and to try and develop a different attribute. I have searched and decided to work on "good"

If we read Alma 21 we see a lot about Good, Goodness or happiness. If it is the true desires of my heart, at the resurrection I will keep this and any other attribute I may have developed. Good or bad. I am hoping by trying to develop the "goodness" attribute into my heart I will become what God and Jesus would have me become. Below is the whole chapter from the Book of Mormon.
I also want to point out that the scriptures also state if the desires of my heart are evil that when resurrected that will be the desire of my heart. This is why I want to work on developing this attribute. What do you all think of this chapter? Do you think my understanding of this chapter is correct? Am I applying it to my life the way it was intended to be? Respond to this post and let me know. Please remember to be respectful to all those who comment, Including myself.

The Book of Alma
the Son of Alma
Chapter 41
Header: In the Resurrection men come forth to a state of endless happiness or endless misery—Wickedness never was happiness—Carnal men are without God in the world—Every person receives again in the Restoration the characteristics and attributes acquired in mortality. About 74 B.C.

1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee.
2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.
6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.
9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are withoutGod in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

* All scriptures are copied and pasted from the lds.org website.

Judging. Is it ok and or how do we apply it to ourselves?

Brothers and Sisters,
We are all Gods Children, so that is why we as Mormons address each other in such a manner.
I want to see what other people views are on the following scriptures from the New Testament and The Book of Mormon. I really hope to hear from others on this one. I will gladly try to answer anyone who response to this post. I want all my friends to view and comment on this post form my blog. I need to know if I am truly learning what my Savoir Jesus Christ wants me to learn and to pass it on to who maybe looking for answers.
So following are the verses:

* Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Luke 6: 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

John 7: 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

3 Nephi 14: 1-2, 7-11 1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged.

 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

 7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

 9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone?

 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

What or how are we to apply this to our own lives. I have gone back and forth on judging. I think if I can judge the act and not the person then apply my "judgement" onto myself then it is OK. Also sometimes depending on ones charge in this life it is necessary to judge. As a father of 6 children I have had to judge activities others may of been enjoying and then decide for myself if I thought I should attend and have the same activity in my or my family's life.

OK everyone it is your turn to add to this blog. 
*Footnote: Scriptures posted here are copied and pasted from lds.org 

Gaining knowledge through prayer and studying the Scriptures.

Putting it all Together Assignment. Lesson 05

This week we were to study Helaman 10 through 16.

We are encouraged to share what we learned each week. Well I have chosen to share with you all the following scripture from the Book of Mormon, which reads:

·       Alma 17:9

9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

This verse is not from the chapters we were assigned to study. For those of you not in the Pathways Program through the church which I belong to. If you are new to my blog, I will give you a littler background here. As a student in the program we are required to teach others what we are learning because part of the BYU-I learning model it is believed that we will learn and understand a point of study or skill more if we are able to teach another. If we are able to teach another, we must be able to understand it before we can teach it to someone else. I for one believe this theory to be true. I have seen it work and have been a part of it now for 1 ½ semesters.

Now back to the scripture I want to talk about. See when we are studying a scriptural block we are not just reading the scripture as it is written. We are encouraged to study it out and ponder it for ourselves. This is how I ended up with this verse. I am trying to gain a Christ-like attribute of “Knowledge”. So I searched the term “Knowledge” on the lds.org website and searched within the Book of Mormon.

The term or word “knowledge is used twice in this verse. The first time it is used it is referring to the knowledge of the truth that what they were trying to teach to the brethren the Lamanites was true. The second time “knowledge” is mentioned it is referring to the fact that they knew that some of the things that their fathers were teaching or “traditions” were false or not correct.

I have found that to be one of the most point of issue one may find hard to try to teach another. Telling someone that what they may have been doing since they were old enough to be taught is wrong or incorrect. Let me write about one such point here. It is taught by many churches that God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost is one person or unity. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it is taught that God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost are 3 separate Personages that work as one to bring about the salvation of man.

Ok remember these are my thoughts on this verse and my opinions only. I want to state again I do not speak for the Church and hope I am teaching others what I believe to be true. My The Holy Ghost testify to you the truthfulness of the scriptures as you read and ponder them for yourselves.

Any additional thoughts from my classmates or anyone who has been invited to view this blog? I would love to hear others takeaways from this verse.

*Footnote: Scriptures posted here are copied and pasted from lds.org