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Misbell1952 Introduction

Hello to the community. I'm new here. I thought I would check out what is being discussed and see if I fit in.

I am semi-retired, although I do have a limited law practice in Utah. My wife and I have been living full-time the past couple years in a small village in Baja, Mexico, called Zarahemla. The place is about a hundred miles south of Ensenada, Mexico, in the coastal plain of Bahia San Quintin. It is probably the most tranquil setting I have ever seen. The beach here stretches for 20 kilometers without any development of any kind. The people are generally poor as can be economically but rich in friendliness and hospitality. The climate is Mediteranean and never too hot, never too cold.

We are heading back to Utah this next week but will hereafter still spend summers and holidays in Mexico. Some of my kids still live in Southern California and will probably make use of our Mexico place as a getaway.

I have done a number of things in my life. A few years with the U.S. army, then a dozen years with high tech companies as an engineer. The former put me through college and the latter through law school. I have had my own law practice (which I still do), but at heart I am a high school teacher. My wife and I operated a public charter school in Southern California for several years. Maybe some day again ...

My academic interests are wide ranging (law, religion, history, anthropology, quantum physics, genetics, ...). I have a love-hate affair with politics. I watch Hardball, Olberman, Tim Russert, and Jon Stewart often, but not with regularity. I am presently leaning toward Ron Paul in the 08' presidential race, but admire Al Gore and would have to re-evaluate if he decides to run. Definitely not a Hilary, Rudy, or Obama kind of guy. Edwards? Hmm, maybe.

My wife and I have been married 30 years (in August) and we have five grown children (4 boys and a girl). I served an LDS mission as did all 4 of my sons. My youngest is presently serving in the Dominican republic. Our kids are our magnum opus. We are extremely proud of them and are very close as a family. I have served in many positions of responsibility in the LDS church.

Religiously, I am neither a round peg, nor a square one. What is orthodoxy anyway? Policies change, but principles do not. I see churches (even my own) as supports for families and not as the primary purveyors of religion.

Philosophically, I lean toward monistic idealism. Free will is not an epiphenomenon of our complex physical being. It is instead the ground of our being. Without the agency to choose for ourselves we do not exist.

Freedom is the most important issue of our time. It was THE issue at the genesis of humanity and remains so. The maintenance and enlargement of freedom is a more important litmus test than abortion, gay rights, or any other popular issue. In fact all these other issues should first be vetted for where the various positions regarding them stand with respect to agency before gravitating toward any of their poles.

Mike

Introduction Misbell

Welcome LDS Member

Thanks for posting your introduction message, this INTERNATIONAL Forum allows you to interact positively with many people on varying topics such as LDS Church news, Doctrine, the Book of Mormon, etc. However, do keep in mind that LDS Related Discussion is kept only in the LDS Related Boards as this is an International Community.

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Misbell1952 Introduction Sharing Member & Introductions

Hi Mike, welcome. Thanks for such detailed introduction. It looks like you are quite a busy man. Please feel free to check the boards and jump into the discussions. We always welcome a good debate. Thanks for coming.
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