Now that Romney is no longer a Candidate

I see my Musings on Romney that I sent to a few friends is now circulating around the Internet -- in fact my kids are getting people sending them this post... but of course they left my name off of it. So, for the record, here's the original sent Nov. 28, 2007:

I just returned from Washington, DC. Spoke with a top congressional policy advisor who is also LDS. He said the vast majority of GOP congressmen are endorsing Mitt. He thought a Mitt presidency was no longer improbable, but, it is now something that "could happen."

So... I wondered, if Mitt Romney became President of the US (code name POTUS) won't we have something we've never before -- a president who goes to a specific church? All other presidents belonged to religions that didn't have tight congregational boundaries. Now, think about that:

What Ward would POTUS be in?

If you are his new Bishop, here are your top 10 questions:

1. Will you allow an inaugural ball to be held in the cultural hall? Do you mount security cameras on top of each basketball rim and have a secret service detail stationed on the stage?

2. Can you call Mitt and Ann as the Nursery Leaders... even if you really feel inspired?

3. Who is going to home teach them? Will you call someone who needs activation but may not pass the vetting and national security screening?

4. If Harry Reid and Mitt Romney are in the same High Priest group, will you need to be there to keep order?

5. Exactly how will tithing settlement work? Will the Secretary of the Treasury come too?

6. Will you be inviting the new Romney family to speak in Sacrament Meeting... and if they go a little over at what point do you ask them to sit down?

7. Will the Secret Service do a sweep of the building before each meeting? And if the Romney's always leave before Sunday School, will the Sunday School president need to interview them? If they stay, where will you hold the class?

8. Can you call the Secret Service agents to help out in Primary?

9. If you give Mitt a calling and the two Democrats in the Ward raise their hand AGAINST sustaining him - partly out of habit - does the Supreme Court need to be involved?

10. If you can't give them a calling, and they don't attend very often (for presidential stuff) will that mean they're "inactive?" If they're not active, can you give them a Temple Recommend? And if you do, can they go? Will the Secret Service have to screen the temple too?

11. If the President wants to hold Sacrament Meeting at Camp David or the White House for security reasons, is that a conflict of Church and State?

If you're assigned to be the Romney's home teacher:

1. Can you just drop by, no appointment?

2. Can you even call them for an appointment or do you have to go through the Chief of Staff?

3. Can you bring by Christmas sweets and cookies? Will they be analyzed? And for how many people - family, secret service details?

4. If you don't come can the IRS do an audit on you?

5. Will they want to do a national security background check?

6. Do you have to have a permanent companion who has been vetted? Can you just grab any teacher or priest to come to you? And what if that priest has been a little wayward. Do you need to search him first?

7. Do you have to help him move in and out of the White House?

8. If Ann Romney gets sick, are you allowed to bring in meals or at least tell the Relief Society about it?

9. What can you share with the Bishop about the Romneys?

10. Do you have to ask them about their year's supply?

11. If you get a late night call for a blessing will reporters follow you around wanting to know what was wrong and what you said?

If Mitt Romney is assigned to be YOUR home teacher,

1. Is telling the group leader you haven't been home taught a national security breech?

2. If he wants to come at the end of the month, do you accept his reason "I've been out of town"?

3. Will he drop by unannounced or will the media crews give him away?

My Experiences with President Monson

He sat down next to me in the window seat. His tall frame consumed all the space, but in his dark blue suit with a bright red tie against a crisp white shirt, he looked perfectly at ease in the cramped airplane. His broad smile never left his face as he stowed his brief case and put on his seat belt. When he had completed the flying necessities he asked me how I was doing.

I replied I was fine and asked how he was doing. His smile increased as he said he was doing just fine.

He was not old, although to a young teenager anyone is their forties is old. Still, his energy was infectious. I'd been planning to read and sleep but in short order I knew that wasn't going to happen. He asked me about my parents, my schooling and then hit on a subject that made his eyes sparkle even more – my Scouting. He loved scouting and hoped I did too. I'd just finished with a survival outing where I thought I would die from hunger so I wasn't too keen in my recommendations. He wanted to hear all about the trip and why, he joked, in the Arizona desert we hadn't been able to find food and water.

He especially wanted to hear why I was flying from Phoenix to Salt Lake City for General Conference, and flying alone as well. When I told him my older brother was seated in the back he volunteered to switch places. I assured him the separation was fine with both brothers. He said the he too was headed to General Conference. It surprised me he would tell me that for I had known instantly who he was when he entered the plane. I knew him as an Apostle but was surprised he didn't think I would know that. His modesty impressed me, and impressing a 14 year old isn't easy.

He introduced himself as Tom Monson I would guess but no doubt I only heard Elder Thomas S. Monson.

As the plane landed he said how much he'd enjoyed meeting me and getting to know me. I just couldn't wait to rub it in to my brother about who I had sat next to.
Such was my introduction to this apostle. His affable nature so apparent during his talks at previous General Conferences was the same in person. Not for a moment did I feel anything other than genuine interest from him. He wasn't self-impressed nor lacking in inner confidence.

In the years that have followed our paths have crossed numerous times. As a missionary in Australia we had the good fortune, as missionaries all over the world do as well, to have General Authorities regularly visit us. Elder Monson was the visiting apostle one time and met with all of the Elders, Sisters, couples and Stake Missionaries in the Queensland portion of our mission. In his jovial manner he told us of his joy of meeting the missionaries at that he'd just had one amusing encounter. On his way to us he'd stopped in the Samoa. There, he said, he'd been greeted by two missionaries, Elder Reigns and Elder Storm. Their mission president was Elder Flood and his first counselor was Elder Snow. And, "I was there... Elder Monsoon!" That was 1971. More than 30 years later I met Elder Monson at a Ricks College dinner. After he had lifted up my yellow tie and said, "It's a confident businessman who can wear a yellow tie," I said, "You once visited the missionaries in Australia and told us a story about going to Samoa and being greeted by Elder Reigns..." He instantly took over the story and laughed as he recalled the incident and fully completed my story. He added some other details about not only that story but his trip to Australia.

I then said, "Well, let me tell you of an incident you probably didn't know about." I then related to him that I had a lady who was investigating the Gospel who just couldn't find the answers to her prayers. She had read much of the Book of Mormon, attended church, embraced the Word of Wisdom and prayed fervently to know in her heart that God lived and that the Church was true. We tried to help her receive the prompting of the Spirit, but to no avail. Still, she persisted to investigate, read, ponder, study and pray. I suggested that maybe she ought to come to a special "fireside" and listen to an apostle of the Christ, Elder Thomas Monson. She agreed.

We sat in the middle of the Kangaroo Point chapel in Brisbane, Australia that soon filled to overflowing. Elder Monson gave a typical Elder Monson talk filled with gospel stories, poems, and a cheerful countenance. Our guest soaked it all in and enjoyed it very much. Toward the end of his sermon, he stopped and said, "I feel impressed that at the end of this meeting I need to meet you. So I'd like to go back to that door and meet you. I didn't want you to think I was walking out during the closing hymn so I thought I'd better tell you now."

During the closing hymn he did arise and walk to the only door leading out of the chapel. After the closing prayer people began to file out. As they passed Elder Monson he shook many hands and I could hear him plainly saying, "Thank you for coming. Good to meet you. Pleasure to be hear. Thank you for coming." Or at least words to that effect. Very pleasant, cheerful and kind.

As we began to walk by him he shook my hand and said, "Good to be here with you." Then he turned and saw our investigator and stopped. He looked at her deeply and extend his hand. As he looked at her and her alone, he paused and then said, "Sister, it is true." She froze for a moment as the tears welled up in her eyes. She whispered, "Thank you" and we left. Elder Monson immediately was back to cheerfully thanking people for coming and wishing them well.
I had not prompted him nor given him any reason to know who she was. As we exited to the veranda she was standing by the rail. "It is true," was all she said. She became a diligent, strong member of that ward.

When I finished telling him this story he quietly stood and the smile turned to a more serious look and he said, "Thank you for telling me about this good sister. I'm glad I could help."

Little did I know on that plane as a young teen or in that chapel as a missionary that Elder Monson would one day lead this Church and be the prophet for all the world, but, he has and it doesn't surprise me a bit. As the mantle of the prophet falls upon him the Church and the world will find another leader worth listening too. The heavens are not sealed but ready to pour out great blessings... if we listen.

Thoughts on Criticism

What I have learned from negative criticism is self-loathing and despair. I know I've inflicted it on others and it's been sprinkled on me as well.

Once over criticism I stumble forward none the wiser but more cautious. Those who wish to teach using negative criticism only fool themselves into thinking it is teaching. Learning comes mostly from emulation. It's how we learned to walk, talk, sing, and live.

I've heard it said we learn more from our failures than our successes but I'm not so sure. Failures are filled with angst, depression, cynicism, skepticism, contempt and loss of confidence. They are a part of life, but well worth leaving behind. Visiting the caverns of failure is only done after positive experiences have led us to understand we are of value. Then, perhaps, in tranquility, we can stop for a moment at the cavern, peek inside and pull something of use for later.

Should anyone seek to shove us inside that dank cave of despair, through words of criticism to make sure we learn from our failures, we enter unarmed and at the mercy of the bowels of negativity.

Instead, journey forth to the springs of eternal life and sip from the clear pools surrounding it. Take others with you. Encourage them as if they were already there. Kind words. Thoughtful encouragement. A mansion can be built upon a miniscule foundation if positive thoughts are applied. As those thoughts mature into actions, the foundation magically increases and soon become rock solid and far wider than the loftiest mansion may need. As the shingles of positive thoughts are applied to the roof, no longer are the hailstorms of negative criticism allowed to damage the mansion's gossamer draperies and plush carpets.

I've considered criticism and conclude that I welcome all criticism so long as it is filled with love and adulation.

To the subject of illegal immigration.

Yes, it is illegal and they shouldn't do it.

You and I both want what these illegals are bringing. We want lesser skilled people who are hard working to start at the bottom with jobs you and I certainly won't do. We need them. They need the work.

You want them to "wait their turn" to come. Yes, it must be orderly and proper, but anyone who has dealt with government knows, their structures and waiting time are unreasonable. I've been to many foreign capitals where it takes weeks of standing in line just to get an appointment to try and get a visa. When someone can't feed their family, they will take the line of least resistance.

We need these workers. They want to be here. Why not set up a system that lets us all have what we want?

Here's the system:
1. Set up dozens and dozens of USA Employment Centers throughout ANY country that has workers who want to come here. Stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. Have employers who need workers pay a posting fee for jobs.
3. Let potential employees bring in a valid police record on themselves to "prove" they don't have a criminal record. Get it validated along with a birth certificate. (Will these be faked? Sometimes. But sneaking across the border is worse.)
4. To finish registering, now they pay a fee. The market has decided how much the fee should be. Desparate workers willingly pay "coyotes" to sneak them across the border, at the risk of their very lives. They pay the coyotes up to $5,000. Looks like the entry fee that the market is willing to bear is about $5,000. So we'll run a special and they pay $2,500 for a 3 year work permit and $5,000 for a five year permit. Cash. No credit.
5. Now they are issued an authentic Social Security card so that when they come here they pay taxes like the rest of us slobs.
6. Now they plan an orderly entrance into the USA by way of real roads or buses or planes or whatever.
7. For illegals here now, the same rules apply. To keep jobs here and not risk getting deported and permanently blackballed from ever coming to the USA, they go back to their country of origin from whence they illegally came, and go to the USA Employment Center, pay their entrance fee, get a real Social Security card and come back. Easily done in one day! By doing so they get instant amnesty from their illegal entry. They pay the fee and jump the little hurdles. Well worth it. Citizenship? Once they're here legally, the clock starts running on the citizenship clock.

They get what they want. We get what we want.

The income and savings of over $200 billion a year pays for the entire Border Security and Enforcement program as well as the USA Employment Centers.

Governments are usually the problem and when they get involved they create more problems than they started with. This solution, while still government led, introduces the proper elements of the free market into the solution.