An Honest Politician

Relating to Understanding Policy at the State Level
Do you feel that the work of a policy institute, such as Family Impact Seminars, is an effective way to influence legislators “to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society?” Why or why not?

I think that it could possible have some impact.  Looking at the Family Impact Seminar website though it seems that the last policy discussed for Arizona was in 2009.  That doesn't seem like current events.  It also looks like the seminar hosts have changed over the years and that is the only information that I could get out of Arizona's Family Impact Seminar.  This could be more effective if it had current issues ongoing.  Maybe this is just proving a need for Arizona.  It needs someone to get in and make sure that it is happening. 

Senator Brent Hill spoke on the importance of having a political system. What did you learn from his presentation that reinforced this idea? Did his presentation influence your motivation to be better informed in the political process? Explain your answer.

I really enjoyed his presentation.  He is a very down to earth kind of guy.  I liked how he explained the process of government.  It is important to have a political system otherwise we will be living in a monarch. By having a political system it gives us the right to vote, to express our opinions, it gives us freedoms that some countries don't have. Senator Hill was a breath of fresh air.  It would be great if we could have more honest politicians like him.  If we had more like him our system wouldn't be clogged with political scandals and blunders.
Relating to State Policy in Action
Sister Dalton said that one virtuous young man or young woman, armed with the Spirit, can change the world. Is this an idealistic or a realistic statement? Explain your answer.

This is a very realistic statement.  We have seen several examples of people having gone to the United Nations and even though they can't teach gospel principles, they can tell testify of the truth.  And there has been a feeling of refreshment to have them stand up for truth.  When we armed with the spirit, we become a light for others to see.  They want to know what makes us different.  It's like that saying, "We need to be in the world, but not "of" the world."  And it is like the scripture in Luke 11:33 which says: "No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."   We can be a light to the world

What are the most important ideas or lessons you learned concerning family policy from the Utah legislators?

They have to keep a good balance.  They know what the General Authorities say and the policies of the church; and then they need to make a stand in making legal policy.  They need to justify the points they are making without making it too churchy.  You can't compromise your standards for peer pressure of government co-workers.  We have to be aware of "slippery slopes."  Greg Bell gave a great example.  Leggings have become popular under short skirts.  While it still looks modest, it is way of getting past the idea of mini skirts.  But then pretty soon the mini skirt is left behind and it is just the leggings that show to much.  It becomes a slippery slope because we are slowly letting our standards slip.  We have to be aware of slippery slopes. Don't live on the edge.  You have to advocate well rooted in moral issues. 
 

What do you think you could start doing to be effective at influencing Family Policy in your state?  How will you go about doing this?

While I don't understand things of law very well, I think that there are things that can be done.  I was looking at the Family Impact Seminars website http://www.familyimpactseminars.org/index.asp?p=1&page=site.  There hasn't been any real issues discussed in Arizona since 2009.  That doesn't seem very current.  I'm sure that there are things that could be discussed.  Also for the Arizona section of Family Impact Seminars it seems like maybe it changed leadership and maybe with the change in leadership that the public policy seminars have taken a back seat.

What other thoughts, impressions, or insights would you like to remember and share?

It is important to be a good public speaker.  This week we had to do some persuasive speeches with our groups.  I saw some that were really good and others that bordered on boring.  We need to be well educated on the subject at hand.  We need to present in such a way that we catch the audiences attention.  And as we have learned from Marcia Barlow we need to have the me, you and all of us incorporated in our speech. We need to speak with boldness, but not overbearance.