7-5-12
…A lot of people gave me advice before I entered the MTC. I only remember 2 things. I already told you one last week: "The MTC is what you make of it." The other is equally true: "There's a lot of farting in the MTC." Thank you for your wise words, Amy Flood.
We had a fireside Sunday by Ted Gibbons. He described the events starting with the Nauvoo Expositor until Carthage Jail in character as Willard Richards. It was pretty well done. Dad, Tiffany: what have I read by that guy?
Other firesides and talks have been less...yeah. For example, in mission conference Sunday, we were encouraged to always remember the words of "that great philosopher, Polonius" ("To thine own self be true"). [Eric's note: Polonius is actually a character in Shakespear's "Hamlet"]
For July 4th we went to a surprise fireside. The time was uncertain so a lot of people arrived 30+ minutes early. I brought along "Jesus the Christ" but instead we were entertained by singing 4 or 5 rounds of Happy Birthday to various people in the audience, then "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" and "Once There Was a Snowman." When does the "turns boys into men" begin? Then they had a patriotic program which somehow turned into a Joseph Smith celebration, fed us ice cream bars and let us watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks.
Pretty much nothing else interesting happened this week, aside from the letters people sent (note to KB: I know you meant for "mattress dominoes" to sound like a bad thing, but really that just sounds awesome). So instead, and in the spirit of America and things that go *BOOM* please allow me to explain to you why gun owners should be required to enlist.*
1) It's Constitutional. I don't know the exact wording of the 2nd Amendment but I think it says something about "the right to bear arms FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING A WELL-REGULATED MILITIA." In modern terms, I think that means joining the local National Guard or Army Reserves unit.
2) It will boost our nation's health. Good luck to all stereotypical obese, beer-swilling gun nuts trying to pass the PFT(?).
3) It makes good economic sense. Since gun ownership is voluntary, you have a volunteer military reserve force. It won't replace the current military but it will supplement. And being volunteers, you don't have to pay them, or if you do, you don't have to pay as much as a full-time soldier. Not to mention the slight decrease in obesity-related health care costs.
4) Security. I'm pretty sure the number of violent crimes actually prevented by the threat of maybe somebody in the area carrying a concealed weapon is approximately zero, but even if so, perhaps having well-trained gun owners who have sworn an oath to uphold freedom, liberty, peace, etc. will at least not make things worse.
That reminds me. Spanish isn't keeping me busy, so please feel free to "teach me diligently of things both in the earth and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgements which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms, that I may be prepared in all things and in the mission with which I have been commissioned."
