Oh dear, Polygamy's in the spotlight again.

It must be that time of year, Polygamy's in the news. If this comes as a suprise to anyone, they should come out from the rock they're living behind. Polygamy coverage comes 'round almost once every year, the media drills it into our skulls and after perpetuating the negative connotation of the term "cult" they go on to the next tragedy.

Here are the definitions of Polygamy. Polygamy, the practice or condition of having more than one spouse, esp. wife, at one time. Or, in Zoology, the habit or system of mating with more than one individual, either simultaneously or successively... the latter definition makes the majority of the population of humanity, which in biological terms makes us all highly evolved primates, guilty of polygamy.

If you've noticed, we're a nation that admires this practice. Don't believe me? Turn on MTV, VH1 or E! and you'll see polygamy integrating itself into our cultural fabric. Who are we as a nation when we criticize the unibrowed, awkward haired folk of the FLDS "cult" then commence watching Flavor of Love, Rock of Love or worst Girls Next Door (which shows the domestic partnership of Hugh Hefner and multiple women). Quite the cultural double standard if you ask me.

As a member of the LDS church, I've been asked questions about polygamy multiple times. I go on to make it clear that the official LDS church has stopped the practice long ago and that even when in practice leaders such as Brigham Young took on elderly widows as wives for the mere purpose of supporting them financially.

In a nutshell, our culture views multiple partners for intimate relations as ok and those who use multiple partners for child rearing as unacceptable; both of which I happen to diasgree with.

Disclaimer: I in no shape or fashion defend any act of child abuse or sexual abuse that may have went on inside the FLDS compound, if the allegations are true their actions are horrendous and should be punished accordingly. My commentary is how we view the practice of multiple partners as a culture, not the illegal conduct that may have occured within the confines of the community that practice polygamy.

Michigan Loves the Mormons

Since I make the rules here, I'm breaking one. I'm writing about politics.

The press better do another quick sweep of Wikipedia for an LDS misconception to exaggerate nationally, because Mitt's still running strong. That's right, strike one up for the Mitt-a-nator. Romney has won his first major primary in the race for the presidency; according to MSNBC Romney now leads Huckabee nationally by 10 delegates. Only 1,149 to go.

Why It's Hard to Find a Job.

My wife and I have just returned from a church workshop on careers and employment. The missionaries that were giving this workshop did an excellent job and it really provided me with some incite on how to effectively find a job.

In the LDS Employment Resource book entitled "The Career Workshop" there is a section on the importance of networking. Previously to our discussion on this section I felt that the phrase "it's all a matter of who you know" was reserved for rappers and actors, boy was I wrong. The book cites a survey by J. Michael Farr, from www.jistworks.com/jstips.htm. Of all the people who were surveyed, 14% of them found jobs through the Want Ads; which could be due to the idea that those jobs are filled by the time they reach the press. Who takes those jobs before they reach the papers? Most likely by those who share the same practice as the 30% of people who found their jobs through direct employer contact.

Going back to rappers and actors, they are right. It is all who you know. According to the survey 36%, the highest percentage, of people gained their employment through networking. I can testify that this is true, because every job that I've ever hopped through hoops for, after finding it through the classifieds, has turned me down; where as, all the jobs that I have had in my life were found using my six degrees of separation.

Go figure, all that talk of setting a good example and having a good reputation does pay off. Tally that one up as another token of knowledge that I wish I had as a teenager.

LDS Apostle Backs Blogging

M. Russell Ballard recently encouraged LDS members to help clear up mis-information regarding the church by using alternative/new technology.

For the LDS church link regarding M. Russell Ballards talk click here.