Beliefs
1) I am an active, practicing, faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, sometimes referred to as the "Mormon" church.
3) I believe in the eleventh Article of Faith which states: "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may" (emphasis added).
Overview
I will not be addressing specific arguments for, or against, matters such as abortion, same-sex marriage, legalization of recreational marijuana, gender "reassignment," etc. I will instead be addressing this pressing question:
"Even if you believe that ________ is wrong, why must you force that belief on everyone else legally by voting and campaigning against it? Why can't you just leave well enough alone and let people make their own choices?"
I've heard this question rephrased many different ways and asked by many different people from all walks of life. Even members of the church ask that of each other: "Why must we oppose _________? Of course we won't participate in that, but can't we just let people chose for themselves what they're going to do?" It's a fair question. The LDS Church has taken very strong stances in political matters in times past such as Proposition 8 in California and in some other circumstances as well.
Why the strong stance on the political scene if we believe so much in personal responsibility?
The "Voice of the People"
In the time of the Book of Mormon there was a government established much like our current government today. There was a "chief judge" and system of "lesser judges" to keep the power in check. Everything was established by the "voice of the people."
Mosiah the prophet-king who established this system of government gave this warning to the people: "And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land." (Mosiah 29:27, emphasis added)
Now, we have to make an important distinction between the "voice of the people" and the individual choices of people. Every time "voice of the people" is mentioned in scripture it refers specifically to voting, such as electing officials, establishing laws, establishing policies, military actions, petitions, and trials. Therefore, a very clear and important distinction is drawn as to what people vote for and what actions they make personally.
There are those who chose to not vote on issues such as this. Perhaps they wish, as Pilate did, to "wash their hands" of the matter and sit comfortably in their arm chairs, choosing not to intervene as the "voice of the people" releases Barabbas and crucifies Jesus. I have many things to say about these types of people, but I'll say merely this: Choosing to not vote, or otherwise contribute your political voice, does not abstain you from the responsibility and the consequences of decisions you might have influenced.
This is why I choose, on a legal and political level, to oppose those things which I know are "wrong." This is not very popular in a time where anything other than complete tolerance, no, complete acceptance, of every opposing value and belief system is practically forced upon us. I do this because I want myself, and most of all my future children, to live in a nation not condemned to destruction and the judgements of God.
I fully realize this concept might be very uncomfortable, and perhaps offensive, to those reading this. How dare I imply that by merely voting for one thing or another has the potential to bring our entire nation under condemnation? First of all, it wasn't implied, it was stated. Second, it wasn't me. I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God to us in these latter-days as a type and shadow of what is to come. I'm just quoting His word.
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| Click here to read the full text. |
In addition to politically opposing certain movements we have this stern warning from our modern prophets about sustaining the sanctity and importance of families: "We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets" (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 8).
Again, in order to protect our nations and communities from the disasters prophesied we must take a stand politically, not just lie down and "let what may happen happen." The warning and call is for us as responsible citizens to "promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society" (The Family, paragraph 9).
Enough shrugging shoulders and occasional comment about how "the world's going downhill" while doing nothing about it. Enough thinking that we can have no influence on the outcome of political issues! Enough standing idly by as the vocal minority tells us what will be in our country! Or, gosh, even if the opposing view is the vocal majority! We already know that the numbers of those supporting Christ will be few, outnumbered by far by those who oppose us! But we will be given power if we are worthy of it.
"And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few... nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth... And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory." (1 Nephi 14:12-14)
We will receive great power from the Lord to combat the evils of our day, but we will not be given this power until we prove ourselves worthy of it by taking a stand today. Here. Now.
The Elected
When was the last time you went and voted on an issue? Like went and voted on what should be done on certain matters. Probably never. Or at least very seldomly. With the structure of government we have in the USA we mostly vote on elected officials, and then let them vote on specific issues. While this has a lot of upsides, there are also some significant difficulties that arise.
The most obvious problem here is that if we choose to elect someone to office whose policies we
don't really know. In this day of easily digestible headlines and caring more about celebs than our representatives it's easy to follow the "fluff" advertizing and elect someone based on their charisma rather than their morals.
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| Don't let advertisements provide the basis of your political knowledge. |
The other problem we might face is the possibility of those officials changing where they stand on issues after being elected into office. This is on them and they will face the consequences of misrepresenting their constituents, hopefully sooner rather than later. We should fight against this kind of deceit so as to ensure that those elected officials correctly represent our ideals.
This is a unique time when the presidential election begins to come onto the national scene. The speeches and tours begin, the clouds of advertizing des
cend, and everyone is talking about their "favorite" candidates... Or so you'd think.
I recently asked a few handfuls of people I've come in contact with (people my own age, early 20s) about which candidates they support and why. Only three of them could even name more than two current presidential candidates, much less specific stances candidates take on certain issues.
That's sad. Like really sad. Is my generation really just going to give up their agency and right to representation that easily? If Satan can keep us ignorantly in the dark concerning politics and national issues then he doesn't have to even fight another battle there! Wake up saints! All is not well in Zion. The world is in turmoil and our ignorance and apathy will be our downfall. We must get informed, and make a stand for what we know is morally right, and oppose what is morally wrong.
Love
"Tolerance" has been preached and stretched to the point of unrecognition. I won't speak of tolerance, I'll speak rather of love.
There is a saying "You can't please everyone" and it's more than true. There will always be people who oppose you no matter where you stand on any given issue. The thing we must do is be able to love them without condoning those actions which are wrong.
Christ gave us the commandment to love one another. As well we should. But let us not take this commandment out of context either from the Lord who physically cast the moneychangers out of the temple. No one would say that Christ loved those merchants any less, but it was their actions and their desecration of something sacred that caused the Lord's actions against their craft.Steering into this topic of how to appropriately show love and acceptance of people without accepting and/or condoning their beliefs or life choices is not the purpose of this particular article. Perhaps another day I can address that topic, but for the time being I'll leave it to your personal study and pondering.
Purpose
Let me clarify a little bit on the "fire and brimstone" destruction bit as well as the purpose behind this article.
I don't mean to be a doomsdayer here. I don't want anyone reading this to walk away thinking the world is minutes away from armageddon. I also don't want anyone to think I'm telling them what to vote for and threatening them with destruction if they don't.
I tried to state very clearly at the beginning of the article what question I was here to answer. I am not here to side with one issue or another. This is not the venue for individual political battles. I have tried to keep this blog as free from those as possible, spending time devoted to the scriptures and words of living prophets and church leaders.
Conclusion
So here's what I hope you get from this:
- Understanding of why I, and others like me, oppose so adamantly legalization of things which I/we see to be wrong.
- Motivation to get involved and informed politically.
- Courage to stand for your beliefs and to vote accordingly. Not to believe one thing and vote/support another. This includes electing officials that represent your beliefs.
- Seeking and anticipating the power promised you of God as you make a stand in what and whom to support.
We live in unique and challenging times. The temptation is to curl up and not share our opinion for fear of being ridiculed or lashed out at. Well the time for apathy is past. You will find, as you make a stand, that there are those on both sides of the veil who are ready and willing to support you and stand by you. But first you must stand.
Keep Pushing On
Andrew
3 comments:
I was just thinking about this last night after reading through the last 4 Chapters of 3rd Nephi, 4th Nephi and part of Mormon. If there is any doubt of the perils of today's choices just look at the very issues we have compared to 1938. I am sickened. My own children and grand kids see it too but like many I fear will not heed to warning voices of our times. Read your patriarchal blessings. Enough said.
Though I don't share your view exactly, I think this post is really well-written and well-explained. I respect your take on the subject and feel like I understand it much better. Thanks!
These reasons, scriptures, and proclamations are the motivating forces behind my decision to be an active advocate for laws that are compatible with righteous living. Well said!
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