Prophet's Prey

Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower




I HATE to start a book and not finish it. It really bothers me. But I’m afraid I can’t finish this one. I read a few chapters, but hate how it makes me feel. It is the story of a cult and of a very evil man- Warren Jeffs, their so-called prophet. I think I maybe could stand to read the sordid details if I thought the story was over. . . If I thought Warren Jeffs was behind bars and could never hurt or wrong or destroy people again. But nearly every week there’s more in the news about him and his cult and how he continues, much like Manson did (does?), to control them from his jail cell. It is just sickening that someone so evil can continue his mind control and evil ways in the name of God.
I am grateful to the author, Sam Brower, who was able to do what very few have been able or willing to do before: infiltrate the cult and really find out the truth. I appreciate his perseverance. I’m sure the work didn’t pay him for his efforts. I hope this book does. He was instrumental in putting this evil man behind bars. That’s good. But I wish the law allowed that Jeffs be silenced and that innocent people- especially children- could be rescued from his evil grasp.
I’ve read books about Hitler (way too many), Stalin, Mao Tse-Tung and other evil men. There are lists of the most evil people that have ever lived. There’s even a Discovery Channel series called Discovery’s Most Evil. Who belongs on that list is debatable, but I think Warren Jeffs belongs there. He may not have the huge influence or killed thousands like others on the list, but he has sadistically destroyed the lives of hundreds of innocent people and preyed upon innocent children. Even the bible says the most evil are those who offend children, so I don’t think I’m far wrong. Though I don’t want to endure the dark feeling I have when I read this book, I’m glad it was written and that there are those who care enough to try to make a difference. Maybe doing so will prevent another Jonestown. As my dad would say, “At least let us hope so.”




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Being George Washington

Becoming Washington by Glenn Beck

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Today, in the Senate chambers, Kelly Ayotte, a woman Senator from New Hampshire will participate in a tradition that has continued every year since 1896. She will read George Washington’s final address in the senate chambers on his birthday. Probably very few senators will even be there to listen. Mostly pages will hear the remarkable and prophetic words spoken in 1796 by one of the greatest men who has ever lived. I finished this book about Washington a couple of weeks ago, but, in honor of him, waited until his birthday to post my review.
I liked the premise of the book. It was not just an accounting of the events and character of the man; other books are far better at presenting the history. The author’s intention is that we all look inside at what we can do to be George Washington ourselves and make a difference in our world. That is worthy of some contemplation, I believe.
I thought the book started a little slow, but when I got to the Benedict Arnold part, I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t help but notice that Arnold and Washington were similar in desire at the beginning. But George married Martha and Arnold married a selfish social-climber who I’m sure pressured him to do the unthinkable- according to Benet’- to sell his soul to the devil.
I loved getting to know George Washington and to appreciate his willingness to put aside his personal interests and desires and do what was best for our nation. I wish he were here now. Enough said.




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"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

Aibileen, in "The Help," tells this to  Mae  each day so that she'll remember.  It's especially moving when she says it to her just after she's been fired and has to leave.  She gets down on that little girl's level and tells her to always remember, "You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important." What a great mantra.  What a great thing to repeat to yourself every day. I see this as a "fill in the blank" mantra.  Choose three adjectives or characteristics you want to instill in yourself and repeat them to yourself several times every day. In the last conference, President Monson suggested three things people need to understand about themselves: You is beautiful, you is valued, you is worthwhile.  Sounds pretty similar to Aibileen's!  Other suggestions:
You is energetic
You is self-disciplined
You is compassionate
You is happy
You is loving
You is calm
You is friendly


You can see you can personalize this to help you achieve your goals and improve your character.
And isn't that the very purpose of a mantra?

I Looked Out the Window and What Did I See?

It must be a holiday, because the balloons, they be a'flyin!   

The Perfect Valentine's Day

Ken and I had the perfect Valentine's Day.  Every year we take a pilgrimage back to where we honeymooned- Ruby's Inn at the mouth of Bryce Canyon. Ken audits a little town near there and each winter he attends their city council meeting and reports his findings.  The meeting was scheduled on Valentine's Day, which was perfect for us.  

We enjoyed a beautiful drive up there on a beautiful, clear winter day.

Ken dropped me off at the hotel while he went to the city council meeting.  When he came back, he surprised me with a dozen red roses.  Who knew you could buy roses in the little town of Tropic?

 While Ken took his walk five miles to the entrance of Bryce Canyon, I sang for an hour, preparing for The Keynotes to sing for our ward's high priest social on Friday night.

We had a delicious steak dinner at Ruby's Inn.  Their steak is THE best we've ever tasted.  Ken asked them once for the recipe.  He came home and ordered all the ingredients online, but it wasn't the same.  He's got a source that used to work there and is hoping they'll give him the recipe for the rub and marinade.  It is his quest to figure it out! Whatever they do, the steaks are incredible!

We also love the portebella mushrooms with gorgonzola cheese.

We took dessert " to go" to eat later.  We then went swimming in the indoor pool.  I did a 45 minute swim and Ken did an hour swim.  We both were sucking wind.  But we had to do something to work off all of those calories!  We then enjoyed dessert in the room and I even got a foot rub!   It was the perfect Valentine's Day.

We got home in the afternoon on Friday.  That evening, the Keynotes, well actually HALF of the Keynotes( the rest were out of town) performed for our high priest social.  We all had to work hard to get the seven songs ready in time(not quite half of our whole program).  Our concert is in April, so February is a little early to have songs memorized and performance worthy, but they all did it and it went great.  I sure love these ladies.

  

So, for me, it was the perfect Valentine's:
1)A nice, long drive with my husband
2) Staying in a nice hotel
3) Roses!
4) Singing
5) A delicious dinner
6) A good swim
7) A foot massage
8) As Ken would say, "A good time was had by all."

The Secret Heart

I want to share my new favorite poem with you.   It's the perfect Valentine gift, I think.  What parent hasn't looked in on a sleeping child and found their heart melting with love for their dreaming little one?  This poem captures the memory a grown man has of waking up as a child and seeing the unspeakable look of love on his Daddy's face and a secret heart in his hands:

The Secret Heart

by Robert P. Tristram Coffom

Across the years he could recall

His father one way best of all.

In the stillest hour of night

The boy awakened to a light.
Half in dreams, he saw his sire
With his great hands full of fire.
The man had struck a match to see
If his son slept peacefully.
He held his palms each side the spark
His love had kindled in the dark.
His two hands were curved apart
In the semblance of a heart.
He wore, it seemed to his small son,
A bare heart on his hidden one.
A heart that gave out such a glow
No son awake could bear to know.
It showed a look upon a face
Too tender for the day to trace.
One instant, it lit all about,
And then the secret heart went out.
But it shone long enough for one
To know that hands held up the sun.


Happy Valentine's Day!

My Favorite Things-Great Value Brand White Corn and Black Bean Salsa

This is THE best salsa.  I got hooked on it when I stayed with Shonna and Blake last summer.  Blake discovered it, and I think he deserves finders fees.  I'll even (are you sitting down?) GO to Walmart for this stuff.  I hate Walmart.  But I'll go for this.  (This, and the Creamy Peach Yoplait Yogurt.)   I bought another brand of white corn and black bean salsa- I think Target- and ended up throwing it away.  It has to be this Walmart Great Value brand.   It is great on everything and in everything that you put salsa in/ on.  It is one of two secret ingredients that makes Ken's Guacamole THE best in the world.  Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm headed to Walmart  (EEK!) to buy a whole case!