Geoff B graduated from Stanford University (class of 1985) and worked in journalism for several years until about 1992, when he took up his second career in telecommunications sales. He has held many callings in the Church, but his favorite calling is father and husband. Geoff is active in martial arts and loves hiking and skiing. Geoff has five children and lives in Colorado.
There seems to be some widespread perception among left-wingers and other COVID crazies that freedom-loving Americans refused to wear masks during the COVID pandemic. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, Americans were more than happy to mask up. During the worst of the pandemic (which coincided with the seasonal flu), close to 94 percent of people said they masked up in public locations. This is of course easy to prove anecdotally — when was the last time you went into a store and saw more than one or two people (if that) NOT wearing masks?
The most astonishing thing about this video to me is how lacking in self-awareness Mitt Romney is. He really seemed to think he would be universally cheered by Utah Republicans after voting twice to impeach a Republican president.
Romney’s point that Trump’s personal behavior is often worth condemning is certainly true, but what Mitt Romney fails to realize is 1)by historical standards, there is nothing unusual about Trump’s often negative personal behavior and 2)Romney’s failure to equally criticize Antifa and the progressive left make him seem like a rube who just got off the turnip truck. Mitt Romney sees himself as a hero (and of course the establishment sees him that way), but many Utah Republicans and others see him as filled with spite and jealousy for a man who won the presidency when Mitt Romney could not.
Romney mouths pieties about uniting the Utah Republican party, but in reality his actions indicate he wants to be cheered by the left, the Democrats and establishment Republicans while directing nothing but vitriol at Republicans who want to reject the establishment. Romney is the one causing division.
By contrast, Mike Lee, the senior senator from Utah, is nothing but class. He often criticized Trump’s behavior while doing it in a way that did not bring attention to himself. Mike Lee votes like a conservative and represents the will of Utah voters. Mike Lee shows how to unify Republicans — Mitt Romney has only succeeded in embarrassing himself. He will go down as one of the most feckless and self-serving Utah politicians ever. And members of the Utah GOP are beginning to see this.
A missionary couple who work at the Bishop’s Storehouse in Northern Colorado told me today that need for food assistance in early 2021 is about half of what it has been in recent years.
The missionaries were astonished at this result, as was I. Is it possible that the Saints are doing well compared to the many people suffering during the lockdowns and other mandates going on worldwide? Again, my information is completely anecdotal, but very few people in our ward have lost their jobs during the lockdowns. Meanwhile, many other of my friends (not in the Church) have suffered job losses and many other problems in the last year. And of course, every family in my ward was concerned about their children during the school closures.
(To readers who may not know what our Bishop’s Storehouse does, it primarily serves as a clearinghouse for food assistance for people who need it).
Do any other readers have any stories that confirm or contradict this report? How are people doing in your region of the world?
This post will look at a few quick takes from recent events. We start with Elder Oaks’ inspiring talk on the Constitution, which can be read or watched here.
Some key paragraphs:
Despite the divinely inspired principles of the United States Constitution, when exercised by imperfect mortals their intended effects have not always been achieved. Important subjects of lawmaking, such as some laws governing family relationships, have been taken from the states by the federal government. The First Amendment guarantee of free speech has sometimes been diluted by suppression of unpopular speech. The principle of separation of powers has always been under pressure with the ebb and flow of one branch of government exercising or inhibiting the powers delegated to another.
There are other threats that undermine the inspired principles of the United States Constitution. The stature of the Constitution is diminished by efforts to substitute current societal trends as the reason for its founding, instead of liberty and self-government. The authority of the Constitution is trivialized when candidates or officials ignore its principles. The dignity and force of the Constitution is reduced by those who refer to it like a loyalty test or a political slogan, instead of its lofty status as a source of authorization for and limits on government authority.
Please re-read or listen again to Elder Oaks’ very important talk. There have been many good talks by Church leaders on the Constitution, but this is one of the best.
