Time Experience Thoughts

The Star Spangled Banner Fourth of July (2013) This is the story about the Star Spangled Banner. And a little bit about our country, and a little bit about you. Some historians claim that the most important political act in American History was neither the daring signing or publishing of the Declaration of Independence, nor was it the brilliant design or ratification of the U.S. Constitution. But that it was when George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, purposely chose to step down from power. Evidently this was the first time in world history that the leader of a great nation voluntarily left office of his own accord. Prior to Washington, if a leader or king did not die of natural causes they were either overthrown or assassinated. By the way, this was not the first time Washington gave up power. After he won the Revolutionary War, rather than take over as the conquering hero/general, he turned back his military commission to the civilian leaders w...

Robert Treat Paine -- named Thomas Paine at birth -- had his name changed to that of his father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. (NOTE: The original Thomas Paine had fallen out of favor with the public later in his life.) Robert Treat Paine wrote a song: Adams and Liberty . It was perhaps the most popular political song of its era, and was even republished in Great Britain. It was one of many songs sung to the tune of the English song  To Anacreon in Heaven . A later, now more famous, The Star-Spangled Banner . This poem/song is, in its own right, quite a commentary on the promise and character of the new nation. (Try singing it to yourself in the melody mentioned above.) ODE. ADAMS AND LIBERTY. Robert Treat Paine (1773-1811) Written for, and sung at the fourth Anniversary of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, 1798. 1     Y E   sons of Columbia, who bravely have fought,           For those rights, whi...

By Miss Eliza R. Snow, July 1, 1844   Poetry For the Times and Seasons The Assassination of Gen'ls Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, First Presidents of the Church of Latter Day Saints; Who Were Massacred by a mob in Carthage, Hancock County, Ill., on the 27th June, 1844; _____ A. GIVE EAR     Ye heav'ns  attend ! Let all the earth  give ear !     Let Gods and seraphs, men and angels  hear  -     The worlds on high - the universe shall know     What awful scenes are acted here below!   B. BLOOD SO NOBLE/PURE BLOOD ON INNOCENCE      Had nature's self a heart, her heart would bleed;      For never, since the Son of God was slain      Has  blood no noble,  flow'd from human vein      As that which now, on God for vengeance ...

General Douglas MacArthur's Farewell Speech Given to the Corps of Cadets at West Point on May 12, 1962, Awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Medal (the Highest Honor of the United States Military Academy ), Reminiscences pg. 423-426. (Outline suggested by me.) A. GREAT MORAL CODE As I was leaving the hotel this morning, a doorman asked me, "Where are you headed for, General?" And when I replied, " West Point ," he remarked, "Beautiful place. Have you ever been there before?" No human being could fail to be deeply moved by such a tribute as this. Coming from a profession I have served so long and a people I have loved so well. It fills me with an emotion I cannot express. But this award is not intended primarily to honor a personality, but to symbolize a great moral code the code of conduct and chivalry of those who guard this beloved land of culture and ancient descent. That is the meaning of this medallion. For all eyes and for all time, it is an expression...

The prayer below was written by George Washington as part of a short letter, dated June 14, 1783 at Newburgh, New York at the close of the Revolutionary War. It was sent to the thirteen governors of the newly-freed states on June 14, 1783. I offer it here to commemorate Memorial Day. See the very center of the prayer, where he asks the governors and all of us to remember "particularly our brethren who have served in the field." (Outline and emphasis added by me.) George Washington's Prayer for the Nation Circular Letter Addressed to the Governors of all the States on the Disbanding of the Army   a.  I now make it my earnest prayer,  b.  that God would have you, and  the state over which you preside , in  his holy protection ;    c.  that he would  incline the hearts of the citizens  to cultivate     d.  a  spirit of subordination  and  obedience  to government,   ...

This morning Becky was one of the presenters at the Oakton Virginia Stake Women's Conference 2013. She and a former colleague from Fairfax County Schools presented together. Here's a blurb about their presentation: Title:  Raising Resilient Children: It’s Never Too Late! Presenters:  Becky Vanatter and Virginia Rutledge   They will share and discuss the pitfalls that hinder resilience and share some life-strategies to teach children of all ages (K-YSA) to help them through their school life, missions, and come what may.  Rebecca Vanatter and Virginia Rutledge are members of the Fair Oaks Ward. Becky Vanatter works for Brigham Young University as the coordinator for BYU's student teaching program in the Washington D.C. Public Schools. She previously worked as a 6th grade teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) for almost 15 years. Jenna Rutledge is a retired school psychologist from FCPS for 20 years. Both have advanced degrees in how children/people l...

Our recent book, Discoveries in Chiasmus: A Pattern in All Things, is now available at Deseret Book in addition to Amazon.com. See links here: http://deseretbook.com/Discoveries-Chiasmus-2nd-Edition-Yvonne-Bent/i/5098976. And here: http://www.amazon.com/Discoveries-Chiasmus-Pattern-Things-Edition/dp/1937735109 A couple of years ago Yvonne Bent invited me, among others, to be one of the speakers at a conference she organized on chiasmus . She and I have subsequently edited the proceedings into this new Second Edition. We added a Bio on each author, an Index, and improved the formatting for ease of reading. "This book is a compilation or anthology of the some of the best and most current research on Chiasmus. Each of these author/presenters includes a powerful and unique perspective comprising the separate chapters of the book. "Chiasmus, once assumed to be only an ancient Hebraic literary pattern, can be shown to provide a pattern in all things. It has been identifie...