Following the Prophet

Lehi the prophet informs his sons that the Lord wants them to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. Laman and Lemuel murmur at the counsel of the prophet, but Nephi responds faithfully saying, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

What is the "way" that is prepared for us to do as the prophet counsels? When the Lord asks us to do something, should it really be that difficult to just do it? Is it sometimes harder to know what the Lord is commanding us to do, than it is to do as He commands?

In Nephi's case, Lehi told him exactly what to do, "Go and get the plates..." but fulfilling that direction eventually required a great deal of effort. This was a directive from the Lord, but many obstacles had to be overcome before Nephi could fulfill the command. The "going and doing" was actually quite complicated.

The brother's first attempt was based on casting lots, relying on some element of chance. Didn't work. The second attempt involved using worldly possessions to trade for the plates. Didn't work. Before the third attempt, Nephi had to endure significant persecution and abuse from his brothers. Why did he have to go through that when all he was doing was what the Lord asked him to do?

The third attempt was carried out solely by Nephi and required significant reliance upon the Holy Ghost. Without being led by the Spirit, Nephi would not have been able to accomplish the Lord's command. In a sense, it was necessary for Nephi to receive additional, personal commandments in order for him to fulfill the prophet's original counsel.

Blind faith will never be enough. Our circumstances, just like Nephi's, set us up for personal growth as we try to do what the prophet says. It is not enough to be 100% willing to follow the prophet, we each have to learn to endure seemingly unjustified hardship and learn to follow the Holy Ghost. In order for us to be able to follow the prophet, we have to be able to follow the Spirit, there is no way around it.

We must be familiar with the general directions we have been given. We need to know His words, so that we are engaged in the work that will merit further, personal commandments from the Holy Ghost.

Isolation / Perspective

The other common theme I heard coming through from my corruption email was the feeling of loneliness. Loneliness in the sense that people felt that they were only one of the few that really cared about the state of their country. Some made the statement that they very much wanted to see the corruption removed but that they didn't think people in general cared enough about it.

The proposal that a large number of people don't really care about politics is certainly supported by my own experience, but the idea that most people don't care enough about the country to make a difference, I have to disagree with, or at least, I strongly question. Though, I completely understand the feeling. In fact, the first post of this blog was an expression of frustration with people for their lack of engagement in the issues.

Why do we sometimes feel like we are the only ones that care? Why do those who are dissatisfied with their representation and leadership often feel in the minority?

One answer to this question struck me while sitting in a hospital room all day watching the news. It was the day or two after news broke about a little boy being stuck in a homemade hot air balloon that was flying through the sky. They had found the boy and he was alright, yet multiple news agencies were spending hours and hours covering whether or not the family was lying about thinking the boy was in the balloon. The story was going on and on, I began to wonder why this was so important. After a while I got frustrated, "Who cares about whether or not this family made it up?" "What does it matter to the rest of the country?" "Isn't there something else more relevant to report on?"

Naturally, since it was on TV and getting so much air time, I figured that most people must care about this. They wouldn't report on it if it wasn't what the general public cared about, right?

Another recent instance of these circumstances was the story from an MTV awards program. I am sure you heard about Kanye West (sp?) stealing the microphone away from some other singer and commenting on Beyonce's (sp?) music video. Frustration set in that time too, "Who are these people?" "Who cares about what he said or she said?" "Is this relevant enough to be covering on a national news station?" "What does it matter to the rest of the country?" As with the balloon story, I figured that the national news agency wouldn't cover it if most people didn't care about it, right?

This perspective ultimately results in me wondering why my neighbor cares about such pointless information. "Why is my neighbor, who must be watching and caring about these stories, concerned about such insignificant matters when our country is being steered by an out of control government body? I must be surrounded by a bunch of idiots! I am definitely one of the few who cares about the important stuff."

Well, the idea that news agencies only cover stories that most people care about is a fallacy. We can't let our confidence be based on what the crowd "appears" to be concerned with.

You and I know that most people we associate with are good. Most people want good for this country. They just feel isolated and don't know what to do about it. The best way to prevent the media from having this affect on us is by talking to each other. Speaking up about important issues on a regular basis will help us all realize that we are in the majority.

On a Different Note

I will forgo my plans for the follow up post to discuss something a little more important. Yes, even more important than politics. The blog is called, "Religion and Politics", and I thought it could use a little more religion. You can tell me what you think.

Elder Richard G. Scott gave a very inspiring talk, as usual, at the past General Conference. Some of his statements have caused me to contemplate the fundamental principles of faith.

He said, "Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them". Wait a minute, I thought it was a good thing to become "ever more dependent on Them"? The implications of his statement deserve deep consideration.

Never does our reliance upon the Lord relieve us of our responsibility. Never does our dependence upon Them justify a lack of effort on our part. There are things to act, and things to be acted upon (2 Ne 2). We are not here on earth just to be God's pawns, we have a sphere of influence. God uses His servants, He uses His friends, not pawns, to accomplish His work.

What actions are we not taking today, which, if taken, would bless the life of another? What invitation are we not offering today, which, if offered, would result in a less active friend or neighbor joining us at Church this Sunday? I wonder if the power to work miracles lies within us more often than it does in another? Does God depend on us to bless His children?

The Lord has made great promises to His faithful saints, they don't all need to be repeated here. He says, "signs follow those which believe" (D&C 63:9). Are we living in a manner that would produce such "signs"? Do we ever take action that draws the Lord into our lives because our action demonstrates our faith in His promises? Or do we live in a manner that doesn't necessarily include Him or require His intervention and support? Do we even think about it?

The much repeated slogan of President Hinckley's life comes to mind. I repeat it here once again but with a few added words for emphasis of what I believe he was teaching. "Pray as if everything depends on the Lord, because it does. Go to work as if everything depends on you, because it does."

A Flawed System?

Recently I have had some interesting discussions with friends and acquaintances regarding corruption in our federal government. My frustration with the lack of conversation on religion and politics, as described in my previous post, resulted in a minor outburst on my part. I decided to see if I could drum up some talk by sending a shotgun email out to just about everybody in my contact list. I included everyone from old bosses to college friends I haven't spoken to in years. In the email I asked simple questions about the recipients' views on corruption in our government. In all I sent the email to 94 people and got 15 responses.

There were two main themes in the discussions which ensued, which I think are probably fairly accurate indicators of how most people are feeling.

One common thread was that we have a flawed system. The idea that any time you have individuals in positions of power, greed and pride will enter in and prevent true representation. Even if good people get in, they will ultimately do whatever it takes to get reelected and become corrupt.

With the proposition that our system is not perfect, I agree. We know that until Christ reigns there will be no perfect system. However, I believe it is worth taking a closer look at the flaws in the system and what it is that is going to make Christ's kingdom perfect. That said, I reject the proposal that our flawed system is what got us here. The responsibility for that lies with we the people.

Truly, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion." (D&C 121:39) But leadership does not create the problems. The granting and exercising of authority prevent things from working as they should.

Evidence of this is found in the amazing men who established this nation. They had a moment of opportunity unlike any other. In the process of founding a government they could have granted themselves power, but they chose to spread it out. George Washington refused to serve a third presidential term of his own accord. He and the others exemplified the principles demonstrated by Mosiah and his sons. "Neither would Aaron take upon him the kingdom, neither were any of the sons of Mosiah willing to take upon them the kingdom." For they knew that "if it were possible that you could have just men to be your kings, who would establish the laws of God...then it would be expedient that ye should always have kings to rule over you." "For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!" (Mosiah 29)

I suppose then that the "flaw" is that "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." (John Adams) Yes, it is unfortunate that the founding fathers could not put something together that would prevent a wicked and adulterous nation from destroying itself. If the weakness of our Constitution is that unrighteous people can prevent it from working, then Christ's system is equally "flawed", is it not? Zionlike nations can only be founded and maintained by righteous individuals. This doesn't make the system of Zion weak, it actually makes it perfect. "The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness." (Moses 7:18)

No, the Constitutional system does not provide an excuse for corruption just because it cannot accommodate pride and sin. No societal organization, which allows for any degree agency, will ever really work until each individual dwelling therein is living righteous principles.

I thank the four people who read my last post. Though I don't really write for your sake, I find it motivating. I still don't know how three of you found out about it, but thank you for the kind comments.

The next post will contain the second common thread from my shotgun email.

Religion and Politics

Saturday I went for a run with a few neighbors. The conversation at the beginning was about some of the movies that were favorites of those present. Lines were repeated and jokes were made, you know that enjoyable discussion. I felt a little out of place as I did not have much to contribute, I don't think I had seen one of the many movies they were talking about. After about ten minutes, one of the guys prodded me to speak up as I am sure my silence was annoying them. "I guess I don't watch enough movies" I said. "Well, what do you want to talk about?" I thought about what it is I felt most like discussing, and honestly, it was politics. I tried stimulating an exchange about health care and stuff, but it really went nowhere. Looking back, my attempt was not very conducive to discussion so I don't blame the guys for immediately changing the subject.

You know how they say that religion and politics are impolite conversation, unfortunately, that is what I spend 90% of my free time thinking about. I am beginning to realize that this makes me somewhat of an anti-social. It is strange, even among members of my own church there is sometimes an awkwardness about discussing religion outside of the church building. And I have rarely been able to successfully bring up what is going on with our nation's government without feeling completely out of place. Why is this?

I felt like starting to document my thoughts and feelings about what is going on in the world because I don't get to talk about them enough with those around me. My guess is that many people feel like talking about certain events and issues but shy away from it because they are afraid of being judged as a conspiracy theorist weirdo. I confess, some of the thoughts I have had make me wonder if I am going off the deep end, however, I find comfort in realizing by that standard, the scriptures are already over the edge. We are in good company when we are in the company of prophets and apostles.

There are things written in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants, that if you said them out loud in a public forum would sound crazy and very politically incorrect. Thankfully those who wrote these books felt it more important to tell the truth than to please the people.

A passage from the Book of Ether recently struck me with magnified importance. Chapter 8 verses 23 through 26 discuss the gentiles in the latter days and the secret combinations that will exist around them.

"O ye Gentiles, it is wisom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain-and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be."

"Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you..."

"For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies..."

"Wherefore, I, Moroni, and commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men..."

No one in this world would deny whether or not there are people in this world seeking for power and to overthrow freedom. But for some reason, they may be hesitant to claim that there are people in our government seeking for such. If not in our government, then where? I believe those who are seeking for power and gain through political means are, whether they know it or not, by default seeking to overthrow the freedom of others, and ultimately, great destruction will follow.

Our objective then is to do as the Lord commands, awake to a sense of our awful situation, repent, and prevent these things from getting above us. Can a blog help accomplish this?