Thomas Jefferson advised – “In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of principle, stand like a rock.” Barrack Obama’s entire presidential campaign is based on the promise of “change we can believe in”. This election will determine who the “we” is in that proposition and what we believe as a nation. As we watch crowds of people get swept up in excited chants of “change,” it is well to pause and ask what exactly are we as Americans willing to change? Is everything up for grabs? What are the unforeseen and unintended consequences of the wrong kind of change? A strong nation knows the difference between experience and experiments. A strong nation does not discount its past nor foolishly surrender its future and its principles to the unknown and the untested.
Gertrude Himmelfarb has described the negative changes we have witnessed in the past few decades. In her book, “One Nation –Two Cultures,” she asks: “Have we forfeited the long view that enables us to put the present in perspective?…. Are we unduly impressed by change (a golden age lost or a new world gained) rather than continuity and permanence?”
Posted by: LaVar Christensen
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On the morning of July 4, 1826, America ushered in the 50 year anniversary celebration of the Declaration of Independence. At his Monticello estate atop a small mountain of foothills in the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia, Thomas Jefferson lay asleep. Earlier, he had risen briefly to inquire, “Is this the 4th?” He peacefully slipped away into eternity in the early afternoon on the 4th of July. At this same time, in Quincy Massachusetts, John Adams lay similarly at the edge of death. He had hoped to join in the Nation’s celebration but was confined to his home. When asked to propose a toast that could be shared with his fellow countrymen, he offered this, “Independence Forever”. When asked if he wanted to add something to his brief tribute, he replied, “Not a word”
The Republicans in Washington botched a golden opportunity to bring back the ‘Reagan Revolution”. They promised to uphold the core principles of low taxes and limited government. They presented it as a “Contract with America” and regained control of Congress in 1994. This occurred in the midst of the Clinton era, which was rudderless, completely unprincipled and so damaged the Presidency and lowered expectations that our country may never again expect “private” or personal morality from their president. Instead, all that is expected is charm, “charisma” and the ability to give an inspiring speech. (Nowadays, I say, if you like the speech –elect the speechwriter since the speech is rarely a true and accurate glimpse of the candidates themselves. Lincoln wrote his own speeches and those timeless words are now etched on memorial walls where we appropriately honor him and revere the wisdom and character that were the source of such inspiring leadership. Sadly, it is much more superficial now). 
When Americans are choking on runaway gas prices and feeling pinched at every turn, the Democrats in Washington voted last week to raise taxes in next year’s budget. They also rejected the Republican plan to make the earlier Bush tax cuts permanent. (At the same time, they also continue to block exploration and retrieval of domestic oil in Alaska and will not relieve the extreme environmental restrictions that have kept businesses from building any new oil refineries for the past thirty years).
Other than in history classes or on holidays such as Memorial and Veterans Day or the Fourth of July and at other patriotic gatherings, it seems as if our society and our political assemblies have forgotten or grown tired of uplifting and instructive references to our nation’s history. Quotes from the vast treasury of wisdom left to us by past generations are too seldom applied as guides to help solve current problems. With every challenge that confronts us, we should always gather all the pertinent facts through diligent study and research and then identify and apply the controlling principles that should govern and dictate the outcome. That is what principled government requires. It is the opposite of “power politics” where affected special interests press for immediate benefits that so often compromise everything they touch – our process and our representatives. In such a political environment, where is the trusted anchor that will keep us from tossing to and fro with every passing wind? It is our Federal and State Constitutions, our history and the wisdom of the ages. That is our American Heritage. That is our foundation. We forget and neglect such lessons and principles at our peril. As Carl Sandburg noted, “A nation which forgets its hard beginnings is a nation in decline.” 
The news media continues to fuel a “housing crisis” with a steady stream of negative reports that cause many realtors, contractors, lenders (and ultimately homebuyers) to hold back on their normal home buying or home building plans. However, a closer look shows that Utah stands out as a refreshing and encouraging exception. Yes, the market may be slower than before but that is only relative since recent reports show that the “bad news” in Utah is that appreciation in home prices is only 9%. (For several years, Utah led the nation with an even higher rate of home appreciation).
As the Democrats in Washington have regained majority control of Congress, their unreasonable and extreme environmental policies continue to block our nation’s ability to harvest our own natural resources. No new oil refineries have been built in this country for more than 30 years. Washington politicians make lots of excuses but ever increasing environmental regulations and restrictions are a very real contributing factor. Here are some important facts that every citizen should know when they are inclined to complain about federal budget deficits and rising gas prices at the pumps:
I spoke recently to a large group of young adults and asked them where the phrase “separation of church and state” comes from? All were familiar with the phrase but they were unsure of its origin and its proper application. One guessed that it came from the Constitution while another guessed the Bill of Rights. Both were wrong. This resulted in an uplifting conversation that leads me to post the following for the benefit of all those who share our commitment to uphold the original intent and meaning of our Constitution.
“Old Folks Day” is a Utah tradition going back more than 100 years. It is still going strong in Draper where five LDS stakes sponsor an annual President’s Day luncheon that draws more than 200 senior citizens each year. It is a wonderful gathering of old friends who have shared so much together over the years. Almost every man in attendance was a war veteran. Their wives share that same heritage and immense pride and patriotism born of personal sacrifice for our country. I was honored to be asked to be the speaker at this year’s luncheon . Some in attendance asked for a copy of the message I shared that day. I have posted it