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MOORE, Oklahoma - Several children have been pulled out of the rubble alive at a school in an Oklahoma City suburb. An Associated Press photographer saw several children being pulled out of what was left of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Okla., on Monday after a massive tornado hit the region. Rescue workers lifted children from the rubble before they were passed down a human chain and taken to a triage center set up in the school's parking lot.

Over the last few days, I’ve heard the word “impeachment” from more of my sources on Capitol Hill than in the last six years combined. One member of Congress told me to look at the Richard M. Nixon articles of impeachment and just change the name to Barack Obama. That member believes that many of the arguments about the Watergate cover-up apply to the current Benghazi cover-up scandal, the IRS Tea Party scandal, and the AP telephone records scandal. Here’s how article one against Nixon laid out the charges: making false or misleading statements to lawfully authorized investigative officers and...

Ted Olson weighs in...

NOM says IRS illegally leaked donor info...

Leftist liberals are a close-knit group. They hear the "scuttlebutt." They know who contributed GREATLY to the 2012 Obama campaign. And they reward accordingly. I mean, come on, what exactly DID the IRS director of Exempt Organization Division, Lois Lerner, do to earn a prestigious "honor" from the far left Western New England School of Law anyway? (Other than simply being an alum of the school?) Yes, the IRS' Lois Lerner bowed out this week from electing to provide the scheduled commencement address for the Western New England School of Law. But keep in mind that the WNE didn't "x"...

"Certain elements may try to stretch the Watergate burglary beyond what it is." – Nixon Press Secretary Ron Ziegler, 1972, referring to Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. @ http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2013/05/scandals-cover-ups-irs-intimidation.htmlGov't obtains wide AP phone records in probe "The president is aware of what is going on in Southeast Asia. That is not to say that there is anything going on in Southeast Asia." – Ron Ziegler, 1971.Meanwhile, Jay Carney continues to morph into Baghdad Bob with stories like this appearing in the previously reliable Pravda-on-the-Potomac: "IRS officials in Washington were involved in targeting of conservative groups." Ooopsie! Carney...

President Obama’s second-term campaign slogan was “Forward,” but instead we’ve got cover-ups, congressional investigations and the government persecution of political opponents and reporters. That sounds like “backward” to me. All the way to, say, 1972. Who would have guessed that just a few months into his second term, President Obama would be compared to Tricky Dick. And by a liberal Massachusetts Democrat — U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano. Republicans could not even have scripted this one. The agency most hated by voters, the Internal Revenue Service, admits to going on a Nixonian witch hunt against Tea Party and conservative groups during...

As the IRS controversy over targeting The Tea Party grew even more troublesome over the weekend, Barack Obama and the Democrats were nowhere to be found. No statements. No Comments. No condemnation. Fox News is reporting that the IRS may have been casting an even wider net, saying agents could have unfairly targeted groups that touted better government economic policy and debt pay-down. Also among the targeted: Groups that tried to educate about the Constitution or government policy critics, Fox News said. Unlike the Benghazi scandal, which the mainstream media virtually ignored for eight months, the IRS controversy already has...

President Obama used British Prime Minister David Cameron as a human shield as he ranted on about how he and his administration had honestly portrayed the Benghazi terrorist attack. Obama’s remarks at the press conference with Cameron were a tidy 928 words that covered the relationship between Britain and the United States. Following the remarks of Obama and Cameron, the first two questions asked by a reporter concerned the current IRS and Benghazi scandals. Obama launched into a defense of 1,192 words, Well, let me take the IRS situation first. I first learned about it from the same news reports...

...Bruce R. McConkie was a boy growing up in Monticello, Utah... ...the son grew to be a member of the Quorum of the Twelve from 1972 until his death in 1985, well respected and remembered for his written and spoken discourses in which he taught the doctrines of the gospel with clarity and power. The above...was recounted by Elder McConkie’s son Joseph Fielding McConkie on April 11 in an address in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square in Salt Lake City for the monthly Men and Women of Faith Lecture Series sponsored by the Church History Library. His topic was...

Multiple sources have identified Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, as the remaining suspect in the Boston marathon bombings. His brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, has been identified as the first suspect and died overnight following a firefight with police. NBC News' Pete Williams said earlier Friday morning that the two suspects likely had "foreign military training," and had been in the country for about a year. Later he said they were brothers, and added, "They were legal permanent residents. They were in this country legally, at least a year. They appear to be from Turkey, possibly Chechens from Turkey. That seems to...

WASHINGTON (AP) — AP sources: Boston bomb suspects from Russia region near Chechnya, lived in US at least 1...

Hundreds of Snow College students, alumni, employees, and community members gathered in the Heritage Plaza on November 1 for the dedication of the Karen H. Huntsman Library, Snow College’s new state-of-the-art facility. President Scott Wyatt welcomed those in attendance and discussed the importance of tradition at Snow College. SNIP “When I see my name on the building, it doesn’t seem quite right,” said Karen H. Huntsman, who recognized her husband, Jon M. Huntsman, Sr., and her ancestors who lived in Sanpete County as those who should share the honor with her. SNIP Jon M. Huntsman Sr., a General Authority of...

College changes policies to settle Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit Attorney sound bite: Travis BarhamSALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Snow College has changed several policies to restore greater religious freedom to its campus and settle an Alliance Defending Freedom lawsuit filed in October of last year on behalf of a Christian student group. In light of the settlement and corrected policies, the group has voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit. College officials banned the Solid Rock Christian Club from including religious speech as part of a homecoming event. The college, located in the town of Ephraim, also denied the club benefits that it...

The Chinese Consulate in New York said this evening that the latest fatality of the Boston Marathon explosion was a Chinese national. The consulate's statement came a few hours after Boston University said that the victim was a BU graduate student. Colin Riley, a BU spokesman, declined to release the student's name, pending discussion with the family. According to BU Today news site, the student was one of three friends who had been watching the Marathon near the race finish line. One of the three was injured and is in stable condition at Boston Medical Center, according to the university....

Police and federal agents appealed to the public Tuesday for amateur video and photos that might yield clues to the Boston Marathon bombing and CBS News learned that one of the explosive devices appears to have been placed in a metal pressure cooker packed with nails and ball bearings. The details on the explosives emerged as the chief FBI agent in Boston vowed "we will go to the ends of the Earth" to find those responsible. A law enforcement source told CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton that one of the explosive devices appears to have been placed in...

<p>The father of Martin William Richard today said he is trying to both grieve the death of his 8-year-old son, who was killed at the Boston Marathon bombings, and help his wife and daughter recover from injuries they suffered during the terrorist attack on Monday.</p>

A fire and possible explosion this afternoon at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum prompted a full-scale investigation by local, state, and federal authorities to determine whether the incidents were linked to the deadly Boston Marathon blasts. This afternoon, Police Commissioner Edward Davis said a preliminary investigation indicated that the JFK incident may not have been an explosion. The fire broke out shortly before 3 p.m. — around the same time as the Marathon blasts several miles away — in an HVAC system in a section of the complex opened in 2011 that houses offices, a classroom, and...

The victims of the Boston Marathon bombings include a 9-year-old girl who lost a leg and a 10-year-old boy who suffered deep shrapnel wounds to his legs, according to the director of the trauma program at Boston Children’s Hospital. The most seriously injured children had BBs and nails embedded in their bodies, said Dr. David P. Mooney -- objects that were apparently packed into the explosive devices. The 9- and 10-year-olds are in critical condition but are expected to survive. They will need multiple surgeries to recover from their devastating injuries, Mooney said in an interview with the Globe Tuesday...

REVERE - The roommate of the Saudi Arabian man whose apartment was searched by Boston Marathon bombing investigators today said he doubts his friend played a role in what Governor Deval Patrick today called a terrorist attack. “I don’t think he could do that,’’ the roommate told the Globe. The roommate described the man as a devout Muslim who is 20 years old and a fan of soccer. He said the man is from the city of Medina in Saudi Arabia. The man is in Boston attending an English language school in greater Boston, the roommate said, who added that...

Only two explosive devices were involved in an “act of cowardice” that left at least 176 people injured and three dead near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon yesterday, city officials said today. “Make no mistake, an act of cowardice and of this severity can not be justified or explained; it can only be answered,” Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said during a press conference at the Westin Copley Plaza Hotel today. “The loss we’ve suffered is enormous.” Authorities said the explosions were caused by two devices. No unexploded devices were found, Gov. Deval Patrick said. Other...

As the media enters day 257,685 openly pushing for gun control, the almost total national-media blackout on the murder trial of Dr. Gosnell, an abortion doctor accused of murdering seven babies, marches on. Wednesday, in the state of Delaware, a very similar story surfaced in local media, naturally: A series of emergency calls made from the Planned Parenthood of Delaware this year are raising concerns about what's happening behind the closed doors. … Jayne Mitchell-Werbrich, former employee said, "It was just unsafe. I couldn't tell you how ridiculously unsafe it was." SNIP Werbrich said "It's not washed down, it's not...

On April 6, 2013 Grant Palmer, former CES teacher and author of two outstanding books (1 & 2) on issues in the LDS church, released a statement through an anonymous blog about his meeting with mission presidents and a first quorum of the seventy member of the LDS church. Many many people have called the account fable and rumor. I’ve heard these experiences since last November, and Grant alluded to them (with the mission presidents) in the exmormon foundation conference (where he also mentioned my public resignation) last October (2012). Late Sunday (April 7), Grant reconfirmed to me personally that...

Editor Comment: Grant waited 6 months before releasing this report to the public because he wanted to make sure this is what the GA believed. In mid-October 2012, a returned LDS Mission President contacted me to arrange a meeting. Several days later, he called again and said that a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy also wished to attend. He said the General Authority would attend on condition that I not name him or repeat any stories that would identify him. He explained that neither of them, including the GA’s wife, believed the founding claims of the restoration...

SNIP Young women, their mothers and leaders recently participated in the annual Young Women meeting in the Conference Center and in thousands of meetinghouses across the world. The Church’s Young Women organization provides instruction, encouragement and support in living the gospel of Jesus Christ for teenage girls ages 12 to 17. SNIP The Young Women program emphasizes eight values — faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works, integrity and virtue — each represented by a different color, as in these flags...

I just wanted to share with you my story of grace so you can more fully understand why we do what we do. Rob Sivulka is definitely more on the truth end of things and I am on the grace end, but whatever the approach our goal is the same. I pray that you would read my testimony and not go by emotions, but by the facts. I know some of what I say will well up anger or frustration in some of you (it did in me when I was first confronted that Mormons are not Christian), but please...

The grand council of atheist Mormon bishops have met and codified the Creed of Practical Mormon Atheism, a list of things that both atheists and Mormons can largely affirm together: Even if Mormonism is false, it is still worth believing and ought not be refuted.Faith is ultimately irrational.Even if you don’t believe in God, you should still stay on the membership rolls and consider yourself a Mormon.If the LDS Church isn’t true, there is no God.How you live your life is more important than what you believe.I can’t believe in a God who demands worship.It doesn’t matter if it’s true....

SALT LAKE CITY — Mormon Democrats announced a new national organization Thursday with chapters in eight states joining the Utah State Democratic Party's year-old LDS Dems Caucus. The Florida-based head of LDS Democrats of America, Robert Taber, said the organization is intended to counter the perception that "there's only one way to be involved in political life as a good Mormon and that's as a Republican." The LDS Church itself has a long-standing policy of political neutrality. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in matters of party politics,” church spokesman Scott Trotter said. Taber, who also...

On this day – April 4, 1981 (32 years ago) – Mormon church president-”prophet” Spencer W. Kimball made an announcement about what the three-fold MISSION was of the Mormon church. In other words, these three things were not “minor fair,” and the first two were not surprising for any given “church” (proclaim the gospel, and perfect the saints). What was the third part? Per Kimball, it was to “redeem the dead.” (Source: On This Day in the Church: An Illustrated Almanac of the Latter-day Saints, Eagle Gate Publishing, Salt Lake City, 2000, p. 65) A previous string of Mormon “prophets”...

At home and abroad, the American people plead for broad-mindedness, tolerance and charity. Abroad, our ambassadors use all of their powers to influence warring parties to come to the conference table in a spirit of give-and-take. There is a sense in which the world needs broad-mindedness and tolerance. However, in the realm of Christian experience there is a need for intolerance. In some things Christ was the most tolerant, broad-minded Man who ever lived, but in other things He was one of the most intolerant. TOLERANCE CAN BECOME TOO STRETCHEDOne of the pet words of this age is tolerance. It...

Author: B. Carmon HardyReviewer: Lowell C. BennionCategories: History of the Church, Pioneer PeriodJournal: 33:2In recent years, studies of Mormon plural marriage have multiplied almost as rapidly as polygamous families did more than a century ago. With this book, Cartoon Hardy, who teaches American history at California State University in Fullerton, has made a major contribution to our understanding of the solemn covenant of plurality. His study, The Mormon Polygamous Passage (1831–1911), began with his 1963 dissertation on "The Mormon Colonies of Northern Mexico," and he has steadily expanded that research ever since. Solemn Covenant, Hardy's first book, serves as a...

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, in part, “Inasmuch as this church of Christ has been reproached with the crime of fornication, and polygamy: we declare that we believe, that one man should have one wife; and one woman, but one husband, except in case of death, when either is at liberty to marry again.”It sounds pretty simple, albeit a bit clumsy in the wording. Some have surmised that the slight difference in the words “man should have...

(This was actually a reply to another thread but thought I'd re-post it as its own thread) I think I was at least partially responsible for approximately 10 friends and my entire family (parents & siblings). I may have lucked out but some things to note that I think helped me was: 1) I never came across as angry or bitter. I was always nice, friendly and self assured (but not arrogant or condescending) 2) They all knew I was a "good" Mormon so they were all very curious as to why I left when it wasn't because of being...

<p>NEW YORK The seemingly unstoppable hit "The Book of Mormon" has broken another record — this time on the other side of the Atlantic.</p> <p>The quirky, profane musical opened Thursday night to some critical bashing, but the next day earned the highest one-day gross in London theater history.</p>

SNIP Surely we must appear at times to be very amateurish when compared to the professional clergy of other churches. One doctrine presents a particular challenge. It is our firm conviction that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is...“the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” (D&C 1:30) This doctrine often generates resistance and repels the casual investigator. Some have said, “We want nothing to do with anyone who makes so presumptuous a claim as that.” The early Latter-day Saints were...the butt of many clever stories. We, of course, are not free from...

SNIP The position that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth is fundamental. Perhaps it would be more convenient and palatable and popular if we were to avoid it; nevertheless, we are under a sacred obligation and a sacred trust to hold to it. It is not merely an admission; it is a positive declaration. It is so fundamental that we cannot yield on this point. Now to those who think us uncharitable, we say that it was not devised by us; it was declared by Him, for...

Does anyone know the story behind Lorenzo Snow marrying a sweet 16 year old girl...?

Most religious traditions begin with or develop a mystical tradition—a tradition given to the study and direct encounter with the divine, the ineffable, or the transcendent. Somewhat surprisingly, the theme of the mystical has in recent centuries been as prevalent outside of the religious sphere as inside, suggesting that it may be fundamental to the human experience generally. Mysticism leaves its traces in the arts and cultures studied by the humanities. We also might ask what role mysticism plays in Mormonism. Is there a mystical tradition per se in Mormonism? Are mystical texts present in Mormon scripture? Are there mystical...

Annual Summer Seminar on Mormon Culture, June 3-July 12 The Annual Summer Seminar on Mormon Culture “Workings of the Spirit and Works of the Priesthood: Gifts and Ordinances in LDS Thought and Practice.”Brigham Young University June 3 – July 12, 2013In the summer of 2013, the Neal A Maxwell Institute at Brigham Young University, with support from the Mormon Scholars Foundation and the Jack and Mary Lois Wheatley Institution, will sponsor a summer seminar for graduate students and junior faculty on “Workings of the Spirit and Works of the Priesthood: Gifts and Ordinances in LDS Thought and Practice." The seminar...

Mormon leaders have written an italicized intro to each chapter within the Book of Mormon. With Easter approaching, it's interesting what the Latter-day Saint “snapshot” is of the crucified Jesus – per the Book of Mormon. If you have a Book of Mormon, you can turn to 3 Nephi chapters 8 and 9 and read the Mormon leader intro to these two chapters: Chapter 8: Tempests, earthquakes, fires, whirlwinds, and physical upheavals attest to the crucifixion of Christ – Many people are destroyed – Darkness covers the land for three days—Those who remain bemoan their fate. Chapter 9: In the...

As Easter approaches, think of this question: Does it make a difference which Jesus you believe in? The "Jesus" of the Marharishi of Transcendental Meditation is a Jesus who never suffered -- at odds with the cross. The "Jesus" of Guru Maharaj Ji supposedly merged with Krishna, Ram and Buddha -- at odds with the uniqueness of Jesus. The only difference between the Moonie "jesus" and the rest of us, said, Sun Myung Moon, is that Jesus had no original sin nature. The "Jesus" of Christian Science think of themselves as "Christian," yet they don't believe Jesus is God. The...

Springtime seems to be the season when strange things happen – or controversial occurrences – happen in connection with temples within the church system of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons). The chart at the end of this article highlights “15 occultic and controversial facts you may want to know about Lds temples.” Thirteen of those 15 “Facts” relate to the Lds church history of its temples, and strangely the overwhelming “dates” associated with these occur in mid to late March and the months of April or May. Why? Perhaps it goes back to the original...

Free Republic can no longer post Salt Lake Tribune based threads...but we can still link to them. Just last week, the Trib ran this very significant article: Mormons increasingly drawn to Holy Week rituals In other words, Mormons are attending Christian church services during Holy Week! (And they love the services there!) To understand this, you have to understand the backdrop -- the vacuum of Jesus and the cross within Mormonism: 1. BYU study: Disconnect between Mormons and Easter In this article, published by the Mormon church owned Deseret News, it said that Easter has ”only 'lightly more planning than...

Easter EssaysThis had to be one of the most blessed and exciting Holy Week and Easter celebrations IÂ’ve experienced since I was saved on Palm Sunday in 1993. I had the opportunity to mentor several brand new Christian ex-Mormons. It was completed in a hap-hazard way, but it gave me much insight for next year. The blessing was in seeing and witnessing via e-mail and phone how wonderful their lives are now that they are saved. The assurance God gave them and the rest they now feel in their hearts has started to settle in for them. They finally heard...

I did not expect to meet so many atheists when I moved to Utah seven years ago. But I should have known better: America as a whole is secularizing, and Mormonism itself has a “scorched earth policy.” My Mormon girlfriend in high school once essentially said, “If the LDS Church isn’t true, I don’t know that I could ever believe in God.” Mormonism already is a form of atheism: it denies the existence of an all-powerful, all-knowing, first, most high God, and instead teaches a kind of naturalism or materialism: everything is matter, even spirits, and everything is subject to...

Hundreds of students of all ages — including at least one LDS apostle — gathered at locations in Provo and Salt Lake City Thursday and Friday to listen and take notes as 26 scholars examined the extent to which LDS Church founder Joseph Smith was familiar with ancient writings, scriptural or otherwise. “Approaching Antiquity: Joseph Smith’s Study of the Ancient World,” a two-day BYU Church History Symposium, drew capacity audiences to the BYU campus and the LDS Church Conference Center Little Theater. SNIP Another highly attended session on the first day of the symposium featured Dr. David F. Holland, associate...

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - A Mormon church leader says the faith is largely in line with President Barack Obama on what needs to be included in a comprehensive immigration bill. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' governing First Presidency, joined 13 other faith leaders at a private meeting on the issue with Obama on Friday. Uchtdorf said Obama urged the church leaders to stand together and ensure the U.S. remains a place where immigrants can come in a lawful way and not live in fear. The president expressed support for a...

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State trustee Paul Suhey admits relieving Joe Paterno of his head coaching duties in November 2011 over a late-night phone call was not the right tact. Stephanie Deviney, another trustee, is certain the whole board feels that way. “We apologize, we screwed it up as far as how we delivered the message,” Suhey said Friday in an interview. “Our decision, we’re not going to go back on. But we messed that up big time. “People are still so hurt by that, and you know, damn it, we screwed it up.” The Paterno decision will go down...

...the original text of the Book of Mormon contains expressions which seem inappropriate or improper in some of their uses. For example, in the original text a good many occurrences of the phrase "and it came to pass" are found in inappropriate contexts. In his editing for the 1837 edition, Joseph Smith removed at least 47 of these apparently extraneous uses of this well-worked phrase. In most cases, there were two or more examples of "it came to pass" in close proximity; in some cases, nothing new had "come to pass."

Readers along Utah’s Wasatch Front will have a rare opportunity to hear from the foremost expert on the history of the text of the Book of Mormon between late February and the middle of March. In a series titled “25 Years of Research: What We Have Learned about the Book of Mormon Text,” professor Royal Skousen will discuss “The Original and Printer’s Manuscripts” (Tuesday, Feb. 26), “The Printed Editions” (Tuesday, March 5) and “The Nature of the Original Text” (Tuesday, March 12). A professor of linguistics and English language at BYU, Skousen is the founder of the “analogical modeling” approach...