Recently a friend posted a work of art on Facebook by renowned artist and fan of President Trump, Jon McNaughton.  Another of my friends introduced me to an article in Newsweek where many on twitter took the painting and changed it according to what they think President Trump is painting.  I decided to introduce my own take on President Trump's "Masterpiece."  I hope this finds a few smiles.  Enjoy.

I consider myself a fiscal conservative.  I know many of you are thinking, "but wait, Matt, aren't you a Democrat?"  Yes, and looking through history, as I am currently, I've found that the two aren't mutually exclusive.  Some of you may know I am in the middle of a years-long goal of reading a biography of every president of the United States.  I just finished Herbert Hoover and right now I'm in the middle of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR). The contrast is stark.  I can almost hear your brains turn off: blah blah blah, history.  However, if you'll bear with me, a little history may help us understand what's going on right now and where we're heading.

One-hundred and seventy-two years ago today the first members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints crossed the Wasatch mountains into the Salt Lake Valley. By the time the next day had passed, acres of potatoes had been planted. A day later, Brigham Young and other pioneers entered the valley.

Not long ago a Republican friend of mine asked me to read a book.  Being the bookworm I am, I took him up on the offer.  The book was Spygate: Exposing the Obama/Clinton Deep State Criminality.  I do love a good read, and I often look for books and articles that will challenge my political conclusions.  This book presented just that challenge.

Last Wednesday I decided to dig myself out of the biggest snowstorm in 26 years, take time away from work, and head up to Capitol Hill in Salt Lake City to add my voice to the tens of thousands who have already come out against Senate Bill 96, which guts *proposition 3 and costs more.  I walked into room 445 of the capital, sat in the front row, right in the center so I would have the chance to testify.  I never did get that chance.

I grew up in places with a lot of room to play.  At one house we had woods in the backyard that led to a dammed up creek.  We tied a rope to one of the trees and jumped from a ledge, catching onto the rope, letting go at just the right moment to land right in the middle of the pond.  

Growing up, a favorite movie for my family was The Princess Bride.  One of the most memorable scenes came after Wesley and Buttercup, having conquered the many obstacles in the fire swamp, come out the other end and meet Count Rugen and his lackeys who are ready to arrest Wesley and bring Buttercup back to Prince Humperdinck.  After Buttercup bravely gives herself up to save Wesley’s life, a smiling Count Rugen lies about their destination, “Come, sir. We must get you to your ship.”  Wesley replies with the classic line, “We are men of action.  Lies do not become us.”

We are told to love the sinner, if not the sin. What about loving the creation, if not its creator?

The following is adapted from a Sacrament Meeting talk given by the author, Amy Howell Oglesby:

My assigned topic today is the 12^th Article of Faith: “We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law”.

On the subject of religious freedom, Elder D. Todd Christofferson has said, “A robust religious freedom is the freedom to live one’s religion or belief in a legal, political, and social environment that is tolerant, respectful, and accommodating of diverse beliefs”.

Like any good millennial, I recently decided to butt into a Facebook debate about gun control. In the wake of the recent tragedy in Las Vegas, a friend shared a popular video from last year of President Obama assuring a town hall questioner that “I’m not trying to disarm you.” Another friend commented with the usual second amendment talking points: “but good guys with guns,” “laws don’t stop criminals,” and “are we going to regulate anything that could be used in violence/suicide?”