With the 2024 US General Election on our heels, I thought I'd share my own experience with deciding who to back. Where happiness is involved, government certainly is also. Governments have the potential to stifle agency or enhance it, making the lives of those within its borders much better—or far worse—depending on the policies implemented by those in leadership positions. I know there are eternal principles regarding political organization. Tune in to this week's episode to see how you can come to know yourself which principles to promote in your government, in order that we might all "secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Posterity."

God save the King; God bless America. 🇺🇸

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First guest appearance! This is Bekah Moss one of my classmates. She's great.

In our chat we talk about some of the inspiration in creating the podcast and dive a little deeper into past experiences aspiring to create a school of some kind. Bekah herself is working as an aide in the local elementary French immersion program—just before we hit record she told me how she’d want to change the way schooling is done. We come to the conclusion that.... but you don't want us to give it away here! Hit play, sit back, and give it a listen-through to find out ;)

My name’s Isaac Lee, host of the My Side of Maple Mountain Podcast. I’m a son of God, a child of covenant Israel, and I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. Teaching is my passion and my calling, and this is one of the ways I’ve found to do it.

God bless you, as you try to do the things God has asked you to do.

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It's not a test. It's a rescue mission.

Ever thought, "Why is there so much evil in the world? Why is there confusion instead of clarity? Why... do I have to live in a world where I'm bound to sin?" Though I am unable of myself to answer these questions—I can assure you that our Heavenly Father can answer you. I hope that not the words I speak (there are plenty of errors), but that Spirit which the Father imparts to every "humble seeker of happiness," may testify to you of what's good and true.

Feel free follow along with the written text below. Chapters are at the bottom for those who want to skip to the reading. As always, enjoy your time participating on My Side of Maple Mountain.

Not a Test

By Isaac R. Lee

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Let not thy dreams be enemy

To what dreams’ purpose fulfillment be

For interpretation creator’s key

Disclosure’s secret poetry

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The road of sin and sad decay

A path not swathed in nobility

So prov’d not only source of pain

But realized sun for cause of rain

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Such depth attain’d by paths not straight

When straitness lone could ne’er repay

That mortal burden: Eternal pain

A Savior’s crowning anguish strain

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And so discovered I this shame

My self-crowned Madonna unworthy the name

I beheld again, Ethel Traverse

A life ne’er lived to commit a verse

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Destroying dreams: reality

Escape the shadow of the day

Thus drew dark’ning dusk for one

So another could behold the sun

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That Resurrection: love once lost

In life’s experience now embossed

So could the Phoenix its birth attain

By destruction of its former flame

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And then, O smile! Wilt thou not ever depart?

Such joy be naught but heaven’s art

So found I Venus’ sweet reprise

Sweeter still through heaven’s eyes

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Let not thy dreams be enemy

To what dreams’ purpose fulfillment be

And what is that but life and love

Crowned by God above

00:00 Intro

00:40 How I Came to Write This

02:00 So Much Evil in the World

04:04 Reading of the Poem

06:10 Thanks

06:47 Brief Interpretation

08:37 My Prayer for You