I Cannot Support Planned Parenthood

One thing is very clear from many of the posts and comments I read on Facebook and other internet sites: we are a divided nation. I'm always amazed and the dichotomy of opinions expressed on the internet. One article extols an idea, organization or individual while another vilifies the same subject. Most resort to name calling and emotional responses not backed by any thought, facts or research. Most comment threads associated with one side of the argument are unanimous in their support or disparagement, leading to only one possible conclusion: most people only read things with which they agree and avoid the contrary point of view.

So, with all of this polarization of opinions, how can anyone decipher what is correct? Which side is right? Which is wrong? As opposed as the views are, it is impossible that both are correct; but someone must be, right? I believe, in most situation, both sides have some validity but at the same time, both sides are amiss.

The approach of the day is to say, write, produce something that plays on the emotions of the left or the right. The most well received vilify the other side of the aisle with half truths or out-right lies. I don't care which side of the political aisle you are on, your side is just as guilty as the other. However, because everything your side says makes you feel good, your tendency is to just accept it and believe it. But, here's the problem. When you rely on half truths or lies, the other side will uncover them and expose you, severely weakening your argument. Once a lie or falsehood is uncovered, it doesn't matter how valid the rest of your treatise is, that one mistake destroys your credibility and any chance of persuading the other side to your point of view. As often as this is done, I'm left to wonder if the purpose is to persuade anyone to think as you do or is it just to stir up the animosity between the right and left with more emotional drivel.

I make a call to all would be bloggers, posters and anyone writing about a politically charged subject: use integrity in your writing. Make sure that there are no falsehoods or made-up facts in your thesis. Support you claims and address the opposite view. Use critical thinking and consider the other side before you demean their opinion. If you do, you will have much more credibility and be much more persuasive. I'm pretty sure this will fall of deaf ears, because this type of writing doesn't get attention. It doesn't feel good to consider an opposing view. We don't experience the same emotional response in reposting something that is kind to those with whom we disagree. But, there's so much more to be gained if you will.

Case it point, and the real reason I wanted to right this blog entry: the recent videos about Planned Parenthood. Because a picture was misrepresented and the videos may have been questionably edited, the effect of the videos has just served to further divide our country on abortion and Planned Parenthood. One side is vilifying the creator of the videos and standing by Planned Parenthood because of the good they do. The other holds fast to the disturbing images of babies being torn apart after abortions. Some good could have come from the videos if the producers would had used complete integrity in their production and release. The point does not need to be made that Planned Parenthood is breaking the law, it is enough to make public the actual images and results or abortions so that those of us who live in ignorance are enlightened by what is actually happening in the world. Whether within the law or not, you have to come to terms with either supporting or not supporting this wretched activity.

I have friends and family on both sides of the Planned Parenthood debate. I have read emotional posts by many on both sides as well. Most who support Planned Parenthood praise the good they do for women's health aside from abortions (and some support abortion as well). While, I know many of the services they provide are beneficial, I cannot support Planned Parenthood. I want to make my position known that I do not believe that abortion should ever be used for birth control. I will not claim that I can empathize with any woman who has been raped or experienced incest and will therefore not judge any who seeks an abortion in this case. As for situations where the mother's life is in danger, again I will not judge. But, I firmly believe that abortion should never, ever be used for birth control. I believe that a woman that consents to sexual intercourse has made her "choice" and should be willing to accept the consequence that she may become pregnant, even if using birth control. No birth control is 100% effective and so any sexual activity including intercourse may lead to pregnancy. If you make that "choice", be ready to accept the consequence.

For this reason, I cannot support an organization that, although within the law, performs so many abortions for the sole purpose of birth control. I would hope that the "good" services they provide can be provided by other organizations with, what I would consider, a more appropriate moral compass.

Journal Entry from October 2006

This is a journal entry of mine from October of 2006. I thought it was interesting considering the events of today with terrorism continuing to grow and the formation of ISIS. The later part is also interesting considering the testimony I bore in Sacrament today.

I also wanted to write about some of the other things I’ve been pondering about. I have been thinking about our country’s response to the attacks on 9-11-2001 and wondering if there might have been a better response. As a “Christian” nation, with a devoted “Christian” president, I have been wondering if we should have been more Christian in our response. Christ taught that although it had been taught of old “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” now we should turn the other cheek. We should not hate our enemies, but we should pray for them and do everything we can to recover them. I know this would be a very difficult thing to do as a nation, but what would happen if this were our response?

There are a couple of examples in the Book of Mormon that could lead to either a “turn the other cheek” response, or a “defend ourselves” response. The Nephites were taught that as long as they were not guilty of the first offense, that they should defend themselves, and not let themselves, nor their privileges to worship God be destroyed. Then we see the converted Lamanites refuse to talk up arms against their brethren, and this was counted to them as great righteousness. There is a verse also, I believe it is during Christ’s visit that says they are not to go to war anymore unless the Lord commands it.

With all these examples and the teaching of Christ, I wonder where the right balance is in our current situation to “turn the other cheek”, yet preserve our rights and freedoms.

I also strongly believe that the only way to truly achieve peace and win this war with terrorism is through the preaching of the Gospel in the Middle East. The Gospel was the only effective means of turning around the hatred of the Lamanites for the Nephites. Ammon and his brethren were the means of bringing many Lamanites to the light of the Gospel. Once they were converted, they buried their weapons of war and sought to repair all the damage they had done. Nephi and Lehi also were the means of converting many Lamanites and Nephite dissenter to the Gospel, after which they returned lands to the Nephites and also sought to repair all the damage they had done to the Nephites.

It took great courage and faith on the part of Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni and their brethren and Nephi and Lehi to go amongst the Lamanites. The Lamanites hated the Nephites and would not hesitate to kill any of them when given the chance. That hatred cannot be much different than the hatred of the current Islamic fanatics’ hatred for all western culture. I look forward to when we will call men of great faith to go to the Middle East to share the Gospel. I think it has to be done. The Gospel must be preached to every nation and this Earth must be prepared for the Second Coming. I don’t believe that will come until we have used the Gospel to spread peace in every nation. I don’t know how the Middle East will be opened to missionary work; I had thought that democracy in Iraq could be a starting point. But, I am wondering why we have to wait for the political climate to be right. Ammon and Nephi didn’t when they went among the Lamanites. Would the Lord and the Leaders of the Church be willing to send worthy Priesthood holders, men of great faith, into the Middle East to try the word of God among them? I suppose if it’s the right thing to do, they would. I know it seems foolish and far too dangerous, but that’s the same thing Ammon and his brethren were told. If it is the right thing to do and is the Lord’s will, I know these missionaries would be protected and allowed to fill their mission. Is there enough faith among us to do it? Is the Lord just waiting for us to be willing? Or is the time still not right? Interesting thoughts.

Another thing I am slowing beginning to understand is the love our Father in Heaven has for all of his children, and I mean everyone. I know I don’t fully comprehend it, but I’m beginning to get a small sense of it. It is one of the reasons I wonder if a better approach could have been taken in our response to terrorist attacks. And why I think the Gospel is the answer to defeating terrorism. Even these evil men seeking our destruction are children of God and He mourns their wickedness. What sorrow it must cause Him to see their wickedness and know they may be lost. I am sure He weeps for them as much has he weeps for any his “chosen” who fall away. Even as I type, I can feel a portion of His love and concern for them. I am confident that he would want them to have the opportunity to repent and accept the Gospel. Not only to stop their senseless violence, but to save their souls as well.

This small understanding of His love for all of us also makes me hope for the people of China; that their country will soon be open to the Gospel.

And, above all, it helps me know how much He wants me to teach my children. He loves them very much and has entrusted me with their upbringing. He wants them to be happy and to know His Gospel so that they can return to Him.

I hope understanding of His love continues to grow within me and that I can also develop some of that love myself. I feel some times that I am just apathetic to those around me. If I can develop a portion of our Father in Heaven’s love in me, then I will want to help and serve everyone I meet. I think this is one of the biggest things I am lacking.

I love Science

I love science. There are some who believe that scientific discoveries are explaining away God. I believe quite the opposite. I believe our discoveries through science are revealing the true wonder and majesty of God. Let me share an example that will help illustrate my point. As humans, we have used the rising and setting of the sun as well as its position in the sky to determine days, months, seasons and years. The movement of the moon has also been used for similar purposes. For centuries, we did not understand why the sun and moon moved in the sky. There were theories or beliefs, many of which have been proven wrong with more learning and understanding of astronomy. 

Today, with our understanding of astronomy, we know that the Earth circles the sun and that the moon circles the Earth. With our knowledge of gravity and the laws of motion, we can explain in scientific and mathematical terms how and why this happens. We know that the Earth travels at just the right speed and at just the right distance from the sun that it continues to orbit the sun indefinitely. It all comes down to gravity and centrifugal force being in just the right balance. If the Earth moved too fast, it would leave its orbit and travel off into space. If it were to slow down, it would spiral into the sun. Either case would be a disaster for all life on the Earth. But, it has been in this perfect equilibrium for billions of years.  

If we believe that this just happened by chance from all the matter flying around the universe, that the rock that we now call Earth just happened to be speeding by the sun at just the right speed to get caught in a perfect orbit around it, we'd have to consider the statistical probability of such an event. In order for all the conditions to be met, the probability would be very, very small, such that this would probably be the only planet, or at least one of a few, to have accomplished such a feat. But, remember, we don't just have the Earth orbiting the sun, we have the moon also orbiting the Earth. The probability of this happening twice in the same location would be exponentially smaller. But that's not all either. We have nine planets circling our sun (yes, I considered Pluto a planet). If this all still happened by chance, the probabilities are infinitesimally small. The fact that we have nine planets with all of their moons in perfect equilibrium in our universe and that they have been in this state for billions of years is incomprehensible from a pure chance, probabilistic point of view. But, we still aren't done. Our solar system is one of millions in the Milky Way and the Milky Way is one in millions in the Universe. And throughout the universe, there are other solar systems with planets in the same state as ours. All of this has been discovered by science and it is amazing. 

With all of these systems that have met all of these necessary conditions to be in equilibrium for billions of years, chance just can't be the explanation. As I wrote at the beginning, I believe that science is helping us discover the wonders and majesty of God. God does not work by magic. He works by natural laws. His understanding of those laws is perfect, whereas our understanding is still in its infancy. But the more we learn, the more we should be wonder at His works and His creations. He put all of this in motions. He is the reason that despite the impossible statistics for the galaxies, suns, planets and moons to all have reached their current state, they have. The moon continues to circle the Earth as it is has for billions of years and the Earth continues to circle the sun as it has for billions of years. All so that conditions would be just right for us to have our short stay here on planet Earth. I think understanding the Science behind it makes me marvel even more at the grandeur of our God.