"One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 313, 1976 edition)

As a mid-septuagenarian curmudgeon, I am predisposed to ignore most of the banal theater of modern discourse. Offense-taking has become the default emotional tactic of many, like the scammer who intentionally backs into your car and then blames you for running into him. Ah, but the dashcam solved that by exposing the scam.

In like manner, on occasion, I strive to oblige the emotional scammers by filling the air with all the right perceived pejoratives. I giggle, gleefully, as I watch the figurative smoke emanate from the ears of heads in the process of exploding. I understand that this may not be the most diplomatic approach, or particularly Christlike, however, as the old 1969 Badfinger tune invites, “If you want it, come and get it…” We are an equal opportunity offender for those who choose to invite offense.

Having endured that last paragraph, and you’re still here, I am impressed. I morn the loss of days when intelligent people could toss ideas into the ring of discourse and enjoy lively discussion. And all this with a complete lack of fear of giving offense. In those days, pronouns were not up for grabs, and satire was understood to be just that, and nothing more.

One of the most humorous of today’s quips is the answer to the question: How many genders are there? Answer: Three. Male, female, and mentally ill. I’m sorry if that offends you, but I think it’s hilarious because of the truth of it. I lament that we have lost much of our collective sense of humor because we have become so lazy about our emotional control. Getting upset because someone says one plus one is two, is simply not rational or intelligent.

Can you imagine, today, anyone writing a newspaper article about the solution to a famine being eating their babies? And yet, in 1729, that’s exactly what Jonathan Swift did when he published his piece, “A Modest Proposal,” and the result is hilarious satire. Today, he would probably be executed by some, supported by others, with everyone taking his work much too seriously. It seems the Irish, generally, got the satire as a poke at the British government and its policies. Many highbrow British, however, did not get the joke and thought the proposal was disgusting. How sad that many become so seriously self-important.

Discussions I’ve had with Republicans, Democrats, Marxists, Atheists, Jews, Buddhists, and even psychologists, have been productive, and even enjoyable. And this, despite my disagreement at the most fundamental levels with many of their conclusions and practices. Unfortunately for those who value lively discourse, there are those for whom a declaration of opposition, results in highly defensive emotion and even anger.

Purposeful Fragility Breeds Slavery

I can’t imaging being so fragile, or arrogant, to think that my opinion is the only one worth considering. Those so fragile, have made their choice of existence and its lack of rich emotional quality. Such are the lives of those who choose to live in “echo chambers” where a slavery of ideas disallows differing thought. There is little more satisfying than discovering some nuance of thought that persuades a change of mind. How lovely to grow and progress in understanding. How wonderful is the occasional paradigm shift!

Each of us are endowed with the absolute gift of agency and are allowed by Nature’s God, both to hold and express whatever sincere human understanding we possess. In that case, there will be no surprise when differences occur. Why do we seem so unable to control our emotions, as if it’s surprising, when one of those expected differences presents itself? When you’re incessantly taught victimhood, it should be no surprise that your general mentality is that of a victim. When uncontrolled emotion becomes the center-point of the human experience, victimhood cannot be far behind.

Dr. Naomi Wolf, a favorite author, describes the point beautifully:

“When I was at Oxford, the tradition of wit and verbal exploration was still so prized that dinner table conversation was as intoxicating as a chemical stimulant, and as demanding as a marathon. Political correctness was not the goal; nor were set answers. To the contrary; the verbal journey was everything.

“If there had been ‘stupid questions’ or ‘improper subjects’ at Oxford, during the two different eras in which I was a student there, that dazzling verbal and intellectual tradition would have been quenched before it could have drawn breath.”

For the complete story click here: The Regrettable Death of the Stupid Question and How Too Much "Knowingness" Kills Lively Intelligence, Dr Naomi Wolf, Apr 19, 2026

Emotional Elitism

There is also an element of elitism baked into the emotional victimhood mentality. As a student at the California State University, Northridge, in 1976, I made the statement, to an informal group of students, that the purpose of a university education was little different than a vocational school. Albeit, each environment teaches a different kind of employment, with the university mostly intellectual in exercise with vocational training being more hands-on practical.

Oh, the pushback I got! Oh no, they cried, this is a university. It’s not the same at all. I then asked about their majors. Easy. I suggested that a major in business admin was job training for employment in business. Or a physics major was training for employment in science.

They still weren’t having any of it. Their internal value was placed on an external locus, which they assumed, put them on a higher level of Plato’s Republic. They felt qualified to be in an elite “golden” environment, unavailable to blue-collar workers. That diploma on the wall was external evidence of their value. They are victims of expensive emotional propaganda because, along with all that education, no one taught them to think.

We have lost the values of critical thinking. We live in strict echo chambers of our own making, with no dissent allowed. From an excellent analysis of the problem we find this:

“If everyone is thinking alike, then someone isn’t thinking.” (Some have attributed this to General George S. Patton, or others, but there is no definitive authority one way or the other. However, it does align with Patton's general leadership philosophy.)

Then there’s this thought-provoking experiment showing how we tend to either value ourselves internally, or value ourselves only as we see others value us:

The Dartmouth Scar Experiment
Click for the: YouTube Summary

The Psychology Today Analysis
Click for the: Review by Psychology Today

From the Psychology Today review noted above: “When we see ourselves as victims, we often misinterpret the actions of others and external events as confirmation of our belief, even when those perceptions are inaccurate.” Why don’t we have a Sunday lesson on this? At this point I’ll refrain from intense scriptural analysis but it would be easy to find relevant verses.

For instance, I want my confidence to wax strong before the Lord. He, in fact, instructs us toward that accomplishment*, and the strength of saving faith born of rationality and intelligence**. Confidence displaces victimhood, and that comes from the strength of the faithful internal resilience He provides as we grow from our path’s experiences.
* (D&C 121:45 LDS; T&C 139:6 RE)
** (Lectures on Faith 3:2)

If our Lord leads me, guides me, even walks beside me, helps me, and teaches me, and I inculcate His wisdom into my soul the best I can, I will be strong and confident and find offense-taking a laughable waste of time. What “Trigger” means to me is Roy Roger’s horse. Now that was funny, unless your victimhood is too valuable to allow a sense of humor.

Rationality and intelligence compares and contrasts position with competing position, looking for commonality and congruence rather than differences. Debating differences is great fun for the confident, and can be rewarding as critical-thinking skills become sharper. However, not all are built to debate. If not. Don’t. But don’t get upset when a differing position is honestly offered for consideration. Critical analysis is not argumentative when the analysts seek rationality and intelligence.

Wickedness, after all, never was happiness, and neither was unbelief. Not much is more degrading than censoring lively discourse for some, perceived and propagandized, emotional fault. In Jewish religious school in Israel, for instance, they do not use the “plus” sign in math because it resembles a cross. Instead, they use an upside down “T” symbol. Now if that’s not the most ridiculous use of offense as a weapon, I am unsure of its equal.

Pejorative Pershmorative

Why is it that mortals are so intent on this emotional foolishness. My innocently descriptive use of the word, “feminization” has no pejorative context, unless you invent it for your purposes. The word simply connotes unmanaged emotion over rationality and intelligence. Yes, I know there is emotional intelligence. I read Goleman’s book long ago, and enjoyed it’s rationality and intelligence. Do I sound like a broken record. Some things are worth repeating. Also, back in the late 1970s I devoured Berne's Transactional Analysis and Games People Play, along with Harris' I'm OK—You're OK. This is incredibly useful, clarity-finding knowledge and enlightening perspective. That is, if you enjoy and appreciate a rational and intelligent approach.

The feminization of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, simply, the emphasis on unmanaged emotion as a viable bellwether of spirituality. “Feel the Spirit” directs one to a false premise. The Spirit is not felt as much as its message understood. But feelings are far easier to manipulate than data. The Adversary is extraordinarily good at that, and we ignorantly fall for it. A comfortable dose of endorphins may be mistaken for revelation if the only methodology is, “Did it feel good?”

Revelation, on the other hand, consists of knowledge, according to Joseph Smith:

"This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence." (TPJS, Pg 149) [Emphasis mine.]

"A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you..." (TPJS, Pg 151)

And then, the great definition given by our Lord, Himself:

"Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment." (Moses 6:61 LDS; Gen. 4:9 RE)

This is a description of a database of all truth, a power which makes and keeps us alive, and the ultimate power source "according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment." It's not a guy who sashays about helping us from time to time, but always wondering when he gets to have a body and his own mortal experience. Does String Theory, and its proximate corollaries, postulate on the far outskirts of true power and the government of the universe? How about "Quantum" anything? All are feeble attempts to describe something available in scripture as plain as our current understanding allows.

Gratitude for the receipt of Heavenly knowledge is a beautiful experience, which in turn, breeds humility. But the knowledge gained is the revelation. The emotion of gratitude is frosting on the cake of revelation. The feminization of the Gospel replaces the cake, with the frosting. Delightful as it may be to the sweet tooth, frosting alone is just sugary nothing, providing little nourishment of the soul.

Okay, we move on. The next two links are essays from my blog at CelestialThoughts.com. If you want a glimpse into the history of these conclusions, these should help your understanding.

Pavlov’s Saints

An assessment of the emotional propaganda and manipulation in our world: Read Pavlov's Saints

As They Suppose

A Treatise on coercive authority, it’s effect on agency, and the discovery of the Great Equation: As They Suppose

So we end this analysis and hope it has been profitable. Emotion will not present the answers we seek. Light and truth from God in the form of words, concepts, images, and ideas will. Please, shall we discontinue the charade and quit saying, “Oh how I love feeling the Spirit.” I do love feeling the gratitude gained after understanding a specific message God reveals to me. But the understanding, knowledge, and wisdom gained, is the point. The accompanying feelings are nice, but beside it.

The current weakening societal focus on feelings, and perceived offenses, rather than rational thought must be halted if our desire is to continue as a people with any future. All the current focus provides is a weakening of society and the related true principles. As much as we bad-mouth the traditions of our fathers, there is an old anonymous saying that: "Traditions are experiments that worked." There is real truth to that. "Our culture provides the soil in which we grow," is another favorite. For more of this kind of thinking visit: The Dark Truth of the Sexual Revolution

Life is much more nuanced than us versus them, black versus white, political party versus political party, and on and on, ad infinitum. Rationality and intelligence, and its critical-thinking methodology, provides a more confident and richer life stance. Emotion breeds unclear and wishful thinking. Ask Richard Feynman about "Cargo Cult Science" and see where you get.

"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself—and you are the easiest person to fool."/p>

— Richard Feynman, 1974 Caltech Commencement Address.

(If you have not studied this address, you have missed exceptionally productive truth and your expensive education is profoundly lacking. These are Feynman's famous Cargo Cult Science remarks.)

Both the Roman poet Horace, and the philosopher Immanuel Kant, incorporated the concept of “Sapere aude” or “Dare to know” in their journey to truth. Independent thinkers, who understand the difference between perception and perspective, express this as: “Dare to think for yourself rather than relying on authority or the false traditions of our fathers." Be certain, however, not to throw the valuable cultural baby out with the false-traditions bathwater.

Are we courageous enough to think for ourselves, or have we become too lazy and cowardly for any kind of “out of the box” thinking? Can we not step into another's shoes and understand their perception? Is this why the woke crowd suppresses freedom of expression? Why do they hide in the dark, from critical thinkers, while working their evils in secret? Are they, simply, afraid of being discovered as empty, unfruitful, and even dangerous to Godly morality? Do they focus on emotion because it is the easiest to manipulate?

“And these are they who receive the word among thorns: such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19 LDS; Mark 2:14 RE)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Eph 5:11-12 LDS; Eph 1:18 RE)

“In the West, kids are halfheartedly taught reading, writing, and arithmetic. But they don't get much familiarity with concepts like right and wrong or good and evil. If they do, they certainly don't get any instruction in critical thinking or the Socratic method. They're on their own to put the word in perspective, and most fail. They wind up acting on feelings and emotions, not logic and reason.” Raising Free-Thinking Children Amid Societal Madness, By Doug Casey, June 27, 2026

I am not suggesting for a moment that we all become the stoic Mr. Spock. I am suggesting that an over-emphasis on emotion, and refusal to accept personal management responsibility of them, is not productive, and is the embodiment of unbelief, as discussed earlier. As some fight to make emotion paramount, it seems we have lost the tenderness and compassion emotion could have taught.

For the past fifty-three-plus years, I have loved only one woman, with an intensity and depth of passion, I am unable to describe with words. She owns my devotion and my heart. To quote Robert Plant in his excellent Led Zeppelin tune, Ramble On, I have found the “Queen of all my dreams!” Holding my sweetheart in my arms while we relax and listen to Eric Clapton sing, “Wonderful Tonight” opens my heart to emotionally caressing and cathartic feelings I cherish. This is where I spend my emotional currency, loving, caring, joyfully grateful for sweet, enduring and reciprocal love.

Emotion is an important and valuable part of life—no question about that. But when we represent it as the most valuable part of life, we desperately err. Frosting makes the cake lovely and sweet but who, other than perhaps a child, would want a bowel of frosting with no cake? Singling out and positioning one component of life as controlling, is like removing all the pedals from an automobile, except for the accelerator. Life’s components operate synergistically, as elements of our eternal souls. Imagine driving without a break pedal.

As a child, a favorite ride at the amusement part was the bumper cars. No brake pedal. Just continual crashing into others similarly equipped. Is that our new psychological model for an effective mode of living? Now my head is exploding. I need a hug.