Several of our readers have asked for the Beehive Standard Weekly to speak out on the recent raids on polygamists in Texas. Uniquely, our staff consists of lawyers who also happen to be Mormon, who also happen to be journalists. To that end, perhaps we can't avoid having or expressing an opinion.
To that end, we offer the conclusion before the commentary, so no one can misquote us without knowing that they are misquoting us.
Conclusion: Our conclusion is that though there may be specific and individual examples of violations of several laws of the State of Texas relating to underage marriage, the state and federal authorities have also violated the most sacred law of all, the United States Constitution. In the balance, religious prejudice and bigotry has tainted the actions of authorities, the media and the peeping-tom public. It may be one of the ugliest displays of religious intolerance since -- well, since the Mormons were driven out of the United States.
With that said, this is not an apology for those who have violated the law or abused children. Those participating in such low crimes should be brought to justice. The FLDS cannot hide behind their faith for attrocities against children. Religion is not an excuse for violating the laws which are clear and unambiguous.
Collective persecution, however, is not the way to obtain justice. In the majority, the people who were subject to the raid were living peaceful lives, though their religious practices are clearly not mainstream.
Some may view this act of Texas authorities as America taking a stand against abusive religious doctrines. In many ways, this is a test of the American system. Either we believe in religious freedom, or we don't. If we don't, then let's not act like hypocrites and let's rescind the right under the Bill of Rights. We can't continue to hold up litmus tests for public office and persecute those who don't hold mainstream religious beliefs and claim at the same time to have religious freedom. We either do, or we don't.
At the Beehive Standard Weekly, our Internet analysis tools allow us to see what some people are searching for on search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and the like. Time and again, we see searches for "Mormon Underwear" coming up in our keywords section.
There appears to be some appetite for those who are curious as to the undergarment that some Mormon men and women wear. Rather than the void being filled with some anti-Mormon lunatic or those who might only desire to ridicule, we thought it would be appropriate to give a discrete response to those who might be genuinely curious, but who don't want to read the bigoted slander that exists on the world wide web.
John McCain is headed for defeat in November. He has won over 40 percent of the Republican party, but will likely face a political rock star in Barack Obama who will not lose a single Democratic vote and might even get some Republican cross-overs. A McCain defeat will be devastating for the GOP and a last embarrassing blow to a once proud coalition of religious, financial and military conservatives.
To avert this loss, Senator McCain, with the help of prominent conservatives, needs to make a New National Covenant filled with new ideas and a definition of conservatism.
LAS VEGAS—University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE) is offering two free seminars in February, both at the Lifelong Learning Center located at 8050 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89123 (Windmill Lane and I-215).
The first, Growing Vegetables Hydroponically in Greenhouses in the Hot Desert, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 26 from 7 – 9 p.m. The instructor is Deborah May, proprietor of VIP Produce. During the seminar you will learn the pluses and minuses of hydroponic growing of vegetables; what it costs to get going; and marketing responses to hydroponics. Free sample tasting will be provided.
The second seminar, Up and Coming Roses Now and in the Future, is scheduled for Thursday, February 28 from 7 – 9 p.m. This seminar is co-sponsored by the South Valley Rose Society. The guest speaker is Christian Bedard, Rose Hybridizer and much acclaimed for his new miniature rose release, Coffee Bean™. During this seminar you will learn about the new rose releases and which will grow in the desert Southwest and how roses are hybridized. For more information or to register for these free seminars, please call Bob Morris at (702) 257-5509 or e-mail morrisr@unce.une.edu.
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension is an outreach arm of the University that extends unbiased, researchbased knowledge from University of Nevada—and other land-grant universities—to local communities. Educational programs are developed based on local needs, sometimes in partnership with other agencies and volunteers. For more information about University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, please visit the website at www.unce.unr.edu or call (702) 222-3130.
Shunned Mormons Could Serve Up the West for Obama Mormons learned a hard lesson from the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney. The message Southern Evangelicals made loud and clear was "you are not welcome." Despite sharing substantially similar values, Mormons and Evangelicals are deeply divided on the issue of theology. To Mormons, voting for Evangelical candidates is routine. For Evangelicals, voting for a Mormon candidate is now seen as nearly heresy -- hence the reason Mormons may abandon the Republican Presidential nominee in November
As one blog contributor noted recently, this election was never about the Mormons supporting Evangelicals, as there is a history of such support coming from Mormons. This election was about turn about and fair play. Mormons believed that the Republican Evangelical base in the southwestern portion of the United States would accept a Mormon candidate on shared values, despite theological differences. In other words, Mormons incorrectly assumed that where common values prevailed over theology, Evangelicals would return the favor and vote for a Mormon candidate.
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