The Political Surf

High court is looking for an easy solution to gay marriage debate

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Doug Gibson

I listened closely to the arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on gay marriage, concerning California’s Proposition 8 ban and the restrictions placed on gay marriage through the federal Defense of Marriage law. If the court’s majority is consistent, a … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Constitutional rights, Defense of Marriage Act, Federalism, Gay marriage, Proposition 8, U.S. Supreme Court | 11 Comments

Elijah Ables, a black Mormon priesthood holder in the 19th century

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). Elijah Ables is no stranger to Mormon history, although he’s virtually unknown to anyone who relies exclusively on LDS correlation. Ables was a black man who was ordained … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Brigham Young, Elijah Ables, Joseph Smith, Journal of Mormon History, LDS Church policy on blacks, Missionary Work, Priesthood authority, Racism, Russell W. Stevenson, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 27 Comments

There are more subtle ways for banks, nations to erode savers’ accounts

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Doug Gibson

Many have been outraged, and justifiably, of the European Union and the busted nation of Cyprus’ efforts to tax the bank deposits, guaranteed or not, of Cyprus banks’ depositors. As columnist Thomas Sowell notes: “The economic repercussions of having people … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Bank investment accounts, Banks, Buttonwood, Certificates of Deposit, Cyprus, European Union, Financial-repression levy, Inflation, Quantitative easing, The Economist, Thomas Sowell | 2 Comments

Oliver Cowdery’s ‘Article on Marriage’ embarrassed the LDS Church in its polygamy heyday

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here). During its first several decades, LDS Church leaders included an “Article on Marriage” in the faith’s Doctrine and Covenants. Penned by early church leader Oliver Cowdery, it stated, … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Brian C. Hales, Doctrine and Covenants, Emma Smith, Fanny Alger, Joseph Smith, Law of Consecration, Oliver Cowdery, Polygamy, Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Article on Marriage, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 10 Comments

Senate Democrats finally have a budget plan, and boy it stinks

Posted on March 20, 2013 by Doug Gibson

One should be happy that Senate Democrats have produced a budget plan. After all, it’s been a few years since that responsibility was fulfilled. Earlier this month, one was finally unveiled by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. Simply stated, the plan … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Debt, Deficits, Democratic Senate budget plan, Rep. Paul Ryan, Republican budget plan, Sen. Patty Murray | 9 Comments

Doubt, rather than knowledge is most compatible with faith

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Doug Gibson

Michael Vinson, of Salt Lake City, a master’s graduate of the Divinity School of the University of Cambridge, has a fascinating essay in the current issue of Sunstone. Titled, “The Crisis of Doubt in the Church,” it offers the proposal … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Apostasy, Doubt, Faith, Knowledge, Michael Vinson, Sunstone magazine, Testimony, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints | 24 Comments

Why does ‘The Bible’ TV show have to make Satan look like President Obama?

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Doug Gibson

I am really enjoying the History Channel miniseries, “The Bible.” It’s been very interesting and in my opinion, well produced. I’ve tried to tune out friends, within my own faith, who want to nitpick particular theology. Hey, it’s a film. … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged " The antichrist, History Channel, Mark Burnett, paranoid fringe, President Obama, The Bible | 13 Comments

Traditional Mormon ‘Last Days’ theology similar to Bible Belt beliefs

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(To see Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post, click here.) There’s a 2007 clip video of Mitt Romney stumbling over the question, “Do the Mormons believe the Garden of Eden is in Jackson County, Missouri?” Romney was clearly … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged "Prophecy and Modern Times", Christian fundamentalism, Conservative Mormonism, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ezra Taft Benson, Garden of Eden, Jackson County Missouri, Mitt Romney, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The last days, W. Cleon Skousen | 186 Comments

Week of sequester, Rand Paul might cause upheaval to the political norm

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Doug Gibson

This has been a big week in politics. Two events occurred that have a strong potential to disrupt the political norm and effect major changes. The first was the collective public yawn over the sequester. The Obama administration, and its … Read More

Posted in The Political Surf | Tagged Debt, Deficits, Drone strikes, Federal Reserve, Filibuster, John Brennan, President Barack Obama, Sen. Rand Paul, Sequester, U.S. Senate | 18 Comments

From Mormonism to punk, a visit to the devil, and back to Mormonism

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Doug Gibson

(Here is Cal Grondahl’s cartoon that goes with this post) Christopher K. Bigelow is well known as a Mormon blogger, writer, publisher and author of several books. He started the Mormon literary journal, Irreantum, and the satirical Sugar Beet. He’s … Read More