My current top pet peeve – people who forward emails without research. Not only the usual “check snopes” type urban legends, but also political information – don’t take the word of someone who has an agenda when you forward an issue to everyone you know!

Ugh! I’ve been avoiding any political discussions lately. (Though President Obama’s Miyagi-like mad fly-killing skillz were very impressive!)

Anyhow, I just received a forward about the evils of Bill S909 – the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. According to the email, it will protect people who commit incest, pedophiles, and other creepy folks, and make it impossible for people to speak freely and quote the Bible, pray, or express contrary opinions on homosexuality (plus many other free speech topics). First off, I now identify myself as a Christian. However, I still think that these accusations are confused, so I wanted to read the original text of the Bill before making a decision to talk to my representatives (always a good idea – read the fine print!)

Do these people ever actually read the text of Bills before they send these emails? The one I received said (in part):

On the other hand, guess what WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and will be considered a hate crime and YOU WILL GO TO JAIL…..

1. Praying In Jesus’ Name in ANY PUBLIC VENUE–that includes church buildings

2. Preaching against SIN in general that could in some way be considered hateful by those who don’t want to be told they sin or their behavior is sinful
3. Quoting the Bible in church as that is offensive and considered hateful speech by some

I’m not a lawyer (nor have I ever played one on TV…), but my father is, and I have done a lot of paralegal-type work for him, so I have read a lot of bills and other legal documents. In reading Bill S909, I don’t see anything that would indicate the above is accurate. In fact, there is even a section which says:

Section 10: RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
For purposes of construing this Act and the amendments made by this Act the following shall apply:
…
(4) FREE EXPRESSION- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to allow prosecution based solely upon an individual’s expression of racial, religious, political, or other beliefs or solely upon an individual’s membership in a group advocating or espousing such beliefs.

So, you can express your beliefs all you want. What you can’t do if this Bill is passed is hurt/kill someone or incite others to hurt/kill someone. Saying “straight white men are evil, and sex outside procreation is sinful” would be OK. Saying “we all know straight white men are evil sex outside procreation is sinful, so we must kill all straight white men who have sex outside of procreation – here is how we should accomplish this…” would not be OK, especially if you or your followers then follow through on it.

However, the Bill only is in effect if someone is actually injured:

‘(2) OFFENSES INVOLVING ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, OR DISABILITY-
‘(A) IN GENERAL- Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, in any circumstance described in subparagraph (B) or paragraph (3), willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person–

Emotional or psychological injury doesn’t count:

‘(1) the term ‘bodily injury’ has the meaning given such term in section 1365(h)(4) of this title, but does not include solely emotional or psychological harm to the victim;

I, personally, think the bill sounds like a good idea. But, if you disagree with me, please at least read the Bill and offer a reasonable, educated argument. And please don’t send me any more emails that aren’t well researched, and rely only on biased media reports! Thanks in advance!

We have another snowstorm, which is leaving me reading, pondering, and praying about the changes in our lives. So here goes…

I believe, and I have faith that there will be “glory which shall follow after much tribulation.” ² We are in the midst of the tribulation part, working toward the glory. I know that we will be stronger and happier and in a better place after these tribulations. I also know that we will have help from Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and the many people in our ward, our homeschooling friends, our other friends, and our family.

I knew this would happen eventually, but I kept hoping against hope – we are being evicted, and need to move out on the 19th. This isn’t going to be easy, and I’m not particularly happy about it. It’s a big struggle for the girls, too – so much change!

That said, we have an opportunity to really start fresh, and to clean out our physical, emotional, and spiritual spaces. I am learning to ask for help (it’s much harder than it sounds!), and to literally get down on my knees and thank God for my many blessings, and ask for His help right now. I am so grateful for my wonderful girls, for our pets, and for the wonderful people in our lives. There are so, so, so many hard choices right now. I have been following the guideline “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good,”³ and trying to go in the direction I’m led by the Spirit. It’s very, very, very humbling.

Jesus has taught us that we can learn when we are humble -”Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” ⁴ Well, I think I’m well and humbled at this point! I prayed a lot on Thursday and received a blessing, needing strength and hope and help with a place to live. Much to my surprise, on Friday morning we received an offer from my family for temporary housing and help with storage of our stuff & pets. “Ask, and it shall be given unto you,” ⁵ indeed!

I’ll keep praying and working to get a smallish apartment somewhere reasonably close to where we have been living, but it is nice to know we will have a place to go! A place that is smaller, yet not as remote, and also more walkable will actually be an improvement. Ideally without too many stairs, too. I’ll ask for a car, too, while I’m at it!

The past several months have been so incredibly hard, and I’m so, so, so grateful to my friends, faith, and family. I couldn’t do this alone, and being the Strong One for the girls can be a real challenge. It takes a lot of weight off my shoulders to know that I have help and support from so many directions – it’s not easy, but I can get through.

Just to add a small whine in here – my tailbone injury from a week & a half ago isn’t yet healed. I’m on a second round of steroids to help with the swelling, and I’m still on the extra fun painkillers to keep me semi-functional. Injury + chronic pain + stress = not fun. I know that it will pass, but it’s still Not Fun.

We’ll get through this time, though. We will get through it with some help, and we will be in a better place when we are done. For now, we just need the strength to carry on. “The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”⁶

¹ D&C 58:4
² D&C 58:3
³ Alma 37:37
⁴ 1 Peter 5:6
⁵ 3rd Nephi 14:7
⁶ 1st Nephi 3:7