An Open Letter To Fox News Network:

Dear Fox News Network, Newsroom,

I have been watching Fox News since its inception in 1996. Whenever I am at home, Fox News is on my television. When I am in my car, Fox News is on my XM radio. So I watch or listen to Fox News a lot! (Probably more than I should admit to.)

First, let me make clear that while I am an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I do not in any way speak for or on behalf of The Church.

Now, to my concern... The name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." It is not "The Mormon Church". It is not "The Mormons". It is not "The Church of the Latter-day Saints". It is not "That Cult That Romney Belongs To"... It is, in fact, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".

This Morning (12 October 2011A) mere seconds after Senator Orin Hatch explained to your viewers and to Martha MacCallum the proper name of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ms. MacCallum called us "The Church Of The Latter-day Saints".

I have NEVER heard on-air talent at Fox News Network use the proper name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Even CNN usually sites the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints correctly. (Reference Anderson Cooper on 9 October 2011.)

Might I suggest that SOMEONE at the Fox News Newsroom please visit 'lds.org' or 'mormon.org' (yes, we caved in on the name of this site). If you visit "Newsroom" at either of these web sites, you will receive instruction on the proper nomenclature for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

As to our Christianity... among thousands of other references to the Savior in "The Book of Mormon; Another Testament of Jesus Christ", we read:

"...we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins." from: The Second Book of Nephi; Chapter 25 verse 26

Thank you for your attention to this, and, in advance, for your future proper references to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Respectfully,

jeff

Jeffrey C. Schmutz

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

and a consistent viewer-listener to Fox News Network

Open Notes

The followiing two notes have been sent by e-mail to the respective addressees:

An open note to Glenn Beck and TheBlaze.com

Dear Mr Beck,

On the day that Governor Romney anounces, it's:
Governor Palin - 6
Governor Romney - 0.
on TheBlaze.com!

That's the number of stories on each person on TheBlaze.com today.

As a regular follower of TheBlaze since its inception, I am rather disgusted!

I fully recognize that Mr. Beck does not support Governor Romney, but even so I am disappointed.

Jeff

Liberty
In God we trust
E Plurbus Unum

Open note to Bill O'reilly

Dear Mr. O'Reilly,

I have just watched tonight's program (2 June 2011) for the second time (5:00 pm and 8:00pm PDT) and I was distressed to confirm that in your coverage of Governor Romney's announcement as a presidential candidate you spent at least twice as much time talking about Governor Palin as you did about Governor Romney.

Further, the only mention of any positions of Governor Romney were Mr. Williams' jibes regarding 'gay marriage', abortion and 'Romney care'. Neither he nor you clarified in any way what his positions are on these subjects.

I fully recognize that neither you nor Mr. Williams follows Gov. Romney very closely, and that you may not feel qualified to equitably present any of his positions. Perhaps a quick quote or sound bite might have been in order.

Or am I wrong?

Way ta go Bill!

Jeffrey C. Schmutz

The wonderful news of the birth of our Savior

As part of the holy scripture of the LDS Church the book of Mormon stands along side the Holy Bible as the word of God. The Ancient inhabitants of the Americas were awaiting a sign of the birth of our Savior. After much waiting and expectation, the prophet Nephi received a message of great joy unto all mankind...

13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given. 3 Nephi 1:13-14

May this wonderful message of joy and of hope and love be with each of us during all of the year and all of our lives.

The Schmutz Family wishes all of the joy and live of the season to all, now and always.

I'm busted!

I've been out for awhile with a completely broken patella. One half retracted to the top of the tibia and the other fragment retracted to the bottom of my thigh. I'm doing better now and I'm writitng again. I have had a lot of thoughts while I've been down... I'll get them up soon.
Best Regards,
Jeff

Gratitude is an action word!

Yesterday was Sunday, November 22. Since it was the Sunday before Thanksgiving, I thought that it would be a nice opportunity for me to speak to the members of our congregation about ‘Gratitude’. So I was given the opportunity, and I did just that. In preparing, I directed my attention to the Book of Mormon Study Guide in my Spanish language copy of the 'Libro de Mormón'. Under the entry for 'Gratitude' there are only 5 words. It says, “Gratitud. Véase acción de gracia.” – In English, “Gratitude. See action of thankfulness.”

Gratitude is an action word!

What a wonderful concept! Gratitude is not simply a feeling. It is, at least as importantly, an action.

Then, looking under ‘Action of thankfulness,’ one is referred to Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. In Ephesians 1:15-16 it says:

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

We are to be unceasing in giving of thanks! So Gratitude is a verb… an action verb. We should show gratitude in our prayers, in our conversations, and in our actions. We should express unceasing gratitude to our Heavenly Father, to our Savior Jesus Christ, and to one another. We can show gratitude in our loving expressions to one another. And, we can also show gratitude through our actions. As we lovingly serve one another, we are serving our Father in Heaven.

In the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 2:17 we read:

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

We show gratitude by serving one another, and in doing so we are serving the Lord.

In this season in which we are reminded in our celebration of Thanksgiving Day to show gratitude, let us remember that gratitude is an action word. As we unceasingly show gratitude and love to others through our actions, we are giving thanks to our Father in Heaven.

May our Father in Heaven’s choicest blessings be showered upon each of you who read this, and your families.

With our gratitude, and love to all,
Jeff and Ruth Ellen and family