Common Core: what it means for YOUR children

I had heard bits and pieces about Common Core but honestly wasn't too interested in it since we homeschool. Then I kept hearing it come up in news articles and on blogs and realized it's something we ALL need to be concerned about whether we homeschool, send our kids to public school, have grandchildren, niece and nephews, etc. it's something we all need to learn and voice our opinion about.

What is Common Core?

As with any issue, there are always two sides. This issue is no different. As far as the supporters (those making money off it) are concerned it's simply a national curriculum designed to make sure everyone gets the same level of education. Sounds great right?

Let's dig a little deeper.

Monumental Giveaway

The more I learn about the pilgrims and founding fathers the harder it is to comprehend how our country has strayed so far from the ideals and beliefs that it was founded on. From career politicians to socialized healthcare and lifelong welfare, banning prayer and all references to religion in schools (yet teaching about sexual practices contrary to their beliefs), infringing on second amendment rights, reckless national debt, and so on.

Parental rights?

Do you have a say in what your children will or will not be taught in schools? Do you have a right to your child's medical information? Do you have the right to teach your child religious values? Should CPS be allowed to remove children from homes where there is no clear evidence of abuse?

There are some who assume that since the constitution doesn't specifically include rights for parents that means they don't have any rights. If you think you have the right to make decisions for your child, watch this video. Your parental rights are being infringed upon and this is just the beginning. Take a stand now before the generation of entitled children has so many "rights" that they start making decisions for you.



I am not a conspiracy theorist and I don't think the government is out to get me. I think that in this world there are a few evil people and a lot of dumb people. Unfortunately both types tend to gravitate toward positions of authority. Personally I don't want either evil or dumb people making decisions for me and my family.

Politics has never been something that interested me. I have been pretty content to live my nice little life and let the politicians worry about that boring stuff. It wasn't until I read Skousen's book The 5,000 Year Leap that my eyes were opened to the ideas and principles this nation was founded on and the deterioration of those fundamental principles. They didn't want the career politicians that we have today- they wanted people who loved this country and were willing to offer their services for the sake of it. I realized that if I do not get involved not only am I subject to the laws that those people make but I can't even complain about it because I sat back and watched it happen (or buried my head in the sand so I couldn't see it happening).

Unfortunately the majority of young voters have no idea about the principles this country was founded on. Many simply want a free handout and don't take the time to realize that someone (you and I) has to pay for it. If only they could see the future implications of a government that "takes care" of you. And the majority of voters that do care and that do have strong values and principles are often silent.

I have commited myself to pulling my head out of the sand, start paying attention and do something. You might think that as a busy mom you can't make a difference. But it is mothers who can and should be making these decisions. We care about the future generation because we are raising them. We have a right to decide the kind of world our children will grow up in. Politics is not something for professionals and academics, it's for us, the people.

It really doesn't take much effort. Simply educating onesself on the issues, researching and choosing a political candidate for president who supports values and ideas the founding fathers would approve of, and writing your congressmen on important issues. Don't leave the job of educating your children on political issues and the founding of America to the schools, you are their best teacher (clearly they didn't do a good job educating us about government and politics).There are also organizations you can join such as American Family Association who will email you about family related issues as well as provide information on what you can do to help.

Still not convinced this is important? Need a little motivation?

One reader will receive a free copy of Skousen's 5,000 Year Leap!

Faith and Politics

I recently watched this adress by Senator Joe Lieberman at BYU. He spoke about how our nation was founded on faith and values and the belief in God. It's not very often you see politicians publicly promoting the good religion offers society. One of my favorite quotes was "America has been from the beginning a faith-based initiative and anybody who tries to separate faith from the public square is doing something unnatural and ultimately bad for our country."

He has published a book called The Gift of Rest: Rediscovering the Beauty of the Sabbath. In this day the Sabbath (for Christian's this day is Sunday) has become a holiday, a day of entertainment rather than a day to worship God and renew our soul. I think it is wonderful that a man in public office is taking a religious stand and setting the example for others to stick to their faith.

He also says "Faith in God, love of country, sense of unity, confidence in the power of every individual—these are the things that are going to carry the American people through crises greater than the ones we face today, and will, I’m sure, propel us forward to a better place if only we will return to those values and recognize them as a source of national strength...The greatest source of American strength and hope for the future is not in current devices and rigid politics of Washington, it is in the broadly shared faith and values of the American people.”

The full speech (skip past first parts) is located at http://byutv.org/watch/event/c4640ed7-2175-445a-9e63-b0e1a1d2c9f2 or on the BYU tv app you don't have to skip past anything...

Are Mormon's Christians?

Amidst all the chaos in the world I keep hearing public statements questioning whether Mormon's are Christians (or rather claiming that they're not). I just want to add my conviction that YES! We ARE!

Jesus Christ- not Joseph Smith (as some claim)- is the founder of our religion. Jesus Christ is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and he has called prophets and apostles to direct his church just as in ancient times. Joseph Smith was the prophet called by God who helped establish the re-institution of His church in modern times.

You don't have to believe it, but I do, and more than 14 million other people on the earth do. We teach of Christ, we testify of His love for us, we live by the teachings of the Bible. The Book of Mormon is ANOTHER witness that Jesus is the Christ. It does not replace the Bible- it confirms the truth of the Bible.

We believe in serving and loving and having charity towards all people. We believe in following all of the Ten Commandments (including the forgotten commandments like not taking God's name in vain and keeping the Sabbath day holy), we believe in being people of virtue (clean thoughts, speech and actions, avoiding the vulgar and profane), we live by a health code that prohibits addictive substances which rob us of our ability to have control of our life (drugs, alcohol), we donate of our own free will money to help build our churches and temples and care for the poor...Our Articles of Faith clearly state some of our beliefs and particularly the thirteenth article "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men...We believe all things, we hope all things...If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." We endeavor to follow Christ in all that we do and say. I think that makes us Christians.

Much has been said, much has been criticized. As a fairly intelligent person, I try to do my homework before forming an opinion about something, so I would ask before you judge, have you read the Book of Mormon? Have you read the Bible? Have you prayed to receive an answer from God? The Bible says:

James 1:5-6 "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. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

One of the ancient prophets wrote a challenge to those who would read the words of his record found in the Book of Mormon: Moroni 10:4  "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."

That is all mormon's ask. We don't want you to take our word for it- we want you to find out what's right for you. This is why thousands of young missionaries go into the world. To teach people about Jesus Christ and to challenge people everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, see if it testifies of Jesus Christ and to pray about whether it is true or if it is a work of fiction. We have nothing to gain other than joy in seeing someone turn to Christ and receive all that He has for them (eternal famililes!) Our clergy is not paid, they are regular people with full time jobs and provide service to the church out of love of God and duty to fellow men.

 

All the intellectual minds in the world may get together and decide what is true or what is not true, but the only one's opinion who ultimately matter's is God's. I testify that God does answer prayers and that he does guide and influence ALL who earnestly seek Him in faith and strive to obey His commandments. If you are interested in learning more about what we believe please visit http://mormon.org/  You can also request a free copy of the Book of Mormon or the Bible. If you have additional questions please feel free to email me, cariandanthony at gmail dot com.