By their fruits ye shall know them

I have a hard time with when people start trying to mock the LDS church. It's not that they can't believe what they want, but when they spout off nonsense without knowing the truth. There is really not anything you can say that can validate the beliefs of mormonism with someone who doesn't understand the principles behind it. in Utah far to often it becomes the thing to do if your not mormon and we are an easy target because of the lack of truth. How can you expect someone to understand some of the more difficult beliefs if they have never taken the steps to believe the basic. It's easy to say Joseph Smith is a fake if you have never really given his work a chance. It's easy to say the Book of Mormon is false if you've never read it. Ignornace is a poor excuse to mock the values of others. I by no means want to proclaim my perfect life, but I know truth when I see/hear it. Which is why I feel I really need to express my disapproval of another local Religion. If you are Catholic you might to quit reading now.

I've grown up LDS, but have always been surrounded by members of the family who are Catholic and community members who are Catholic as well. Some of the best people in my neighborhood growing up were Catholic. Many times being better than the LDS of my own faith. The actions of the Father Rock of St. Mary's Parish is enough to make me wonder if even he believes in the position that he holds in in church. I've previously written about my uncle Seve and aunt Alma' deaths. For Seve's funeral Alma had to fight to get him to preform the mass. It was only after begging and pleading that he agreed to do it. When Alma died he flat out refused to do any of the ceremony for her. He stated that Seve's funeral was a complete mess and that he wouldn't do it. Alma and Seve were not just Christmas and Easter Catholics, they were very active participating members of St. Mary's. As a matter of fact when St. Mary's split from St. Joeseph's in 1952 Seve and Alma were the First members of the parish. When Seve was ready to die and they wanted to do last rights Father Rock Didn't even know his real name. He didn't know the name of a active 98 year old member of his parish. He wouldn't perform the mass to the lady who not only went religiously to church but was an intrigal part of building both buildings that St. Mary's have been in. Shame on Father Rock for not being the Sheperd he is suppose to be. Whether you believe in the LDS, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, or other faith the flock is watched over by their sheperd. If the Sheperd doesn't care then maybe the flock should scatter to other flocks. Thanks to Father Eric at St. James for seeing my aunt's last services was performed. He went above and beyond his flock to help Alma family in their last minutes with Alma on earth.

The good don't always die young!

Alma passed on on Dec. 28th. We already knew that she would go fast after Seve died and we were right. She just wanted to have one last Christmas to hang around the family. Alma was layed to rest on Jan 3rd. Alma was always a kind loving women who accepted anyone she knew. As much as she'll be missed I'm sure she is happy where she is at.
I can remember from a very young age walking over to Alma house and she always had dum dum suckers or popcicles to eat. The back door was always open and she was willing to spend time to entertain a couple of little kids. I remember going over there and borrowing her World Book Encyclopedias for reports. She was the only on that had them and although they were published in the early 70's, they worked. it's hard anymore to believe you had to research with books and not the internet.
Alma was a fixture at the corner for decades and she'll be missed. I know that her and Seve are happy now and back together. There work will be done soon enough and their eternal connection can continue.