I was catching up with the show "Gold Rush" last night. For those who don't know, it's about some ill-prepared guys trying to mine gold in Alaska.

It's their second year at it, and they've learned a few things 9without making enough money to cover their costs), but now they're trying to work a new claim that was chosen by their mostly unqualified leader. There's a history of gold in the area, so there's a good chance there's some on their claim -- somewhere. They pick what they imagine to be a likely spot -- going by their guts -- and start clearing trees, digging up permafrost and shoving dirt and mud around, all the while burning thousands of dollars on fuel for their machines.

Then one day the guy they're leasing the claim from comes by and tells them they're digging in the wrong place, that the spot had already been mined out 60 years ago. Doh.

Why hadn't they asked the owner in the first place? Because they believed they knew what they were doing.

Some of the smarter, less fantasy-addled members of the crew finally stepped up and demanded they get some PROOF there's gold there before wasting any more time and money. Proof? What a concept.

So the leader FINALLY goes to an expert for advice. The guy, who's pulling hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the ground every day, tells him he needs to drill test holes first. No holes, no digging. Wow, making decisions based on data rather than hunches. Who knew?

So they paid to have a guy drill test holes and discovered one area they had REALLY GOOD FEELINGS ABOUT was essentially gold free. But, luckily, another area brought up excellent samples.

Of course, all this time I'm thinking about Mormons, not gold. The ring leaders make a lot of grand predictions and promises, do a lot of praying and flag waving and BS-ing about freedom, hard work and the American Dream, but the lower guys on the totem pole worry about losing their homes and start to wonder if they're total fools. No, but you're following one.

Wow, who'd a thunk it? Drilling holes to get actual data. The story does give the lie to just going by feelings. I wonder if any one of the men thought to get a dowsing rod or hire a fortune teller. Maybe they just didn't have enough faith in their leader. You know, they did not sustain him enough, and they weren't living worthily enough. If only they were spiritually stronger, less doubting, had more integrity, more character, etc., they would have found gold sooner. Wait. They did finally find a good deposit of gold. Through science, evidence, reason. See, they were led in the end by their wise leader to pursue the right course. The church is twoo.

The whole get rich quick scheme reeks of Mormonism, MIM and the like. Morridor is full of gold diggers.

purely coincidental they are digging for gold like smith though.