Where I live, the question is less whether one should vote for Romney or Obama, and more whether voting for Romney or either Goode or Johnson is better, on principle.
Romney, at least, will start us on those steps that Benson begged us to do, and I'm confident that he'll make some headway with Congress and the Senate. And he might even encourage the people to be righteous. He might not be the best candidate, but it looks like he's the best candidate for the circumstances.
Either way, our next duty, after we vote tomorrow, is to be among those teaching the Lord's way to our neighbors and everyone within our sphere of influence. Share the Gospel, teach of how the Savior is truly that- our savior, the one who saves. That's how we can regain our liberties, maybe half of them. The rest we have to leave to the Lord, through whatever miracle he will provide.
I've been thinking through this, too, and two things have jumped out at me. One is something that Ezra Taft Benson said forty years ago about course corrections, the other is a chapter in Helaman.
Here's what Benson said in 1968:
How is it possible to cut out the various welfare-state features of our government which have already fastened themselves like cancer cells onto the body politic?
...Obviously, not all welfare-state programs currently in force can be dropped simultaneously without causing tremendous economic and social upheaval. To try to do so would be like finding oneself at the controls of a hijacked airplane and attempting to return it by simply cutting off the engines in flight. It must be flown back, lowered in altitude, gradually reduced in speed and brought in for a smooth landing. Translated into practical terms, this means that the first step toward restoring the limited concept of government should be to freeze all welfare-state programs at their present level, making sure that no new ones are added. The next step would be to allow all present programs to run out their term with absolutely no renewal. The third step would involve the gradual phasing-out of those programs which are indefinite in their term. (The Proper Role of Government)
As much as we'd like to completely solve the problem now, that is not an available option. Mitt Romney will at least freeze or cut back on programs. He was not my first choice for the Republican candidate, but he is very talented in the financial area.
Second, Helaman chapter 4. There are two columns in that chapter that have been my focus of study for 2-3 weeks now.
As you read through verses 12-26, substitute the word "freedoms" whenever it says "lands".
The situation was that the Nephites had lost "almost all their lands". Moronihah, who was the chief captain, stopped trying to regain them because he learned it was futile at that point. Wouldn't many of the Nephites been upset with him? Wouldn't they say he'd sold them short? If it was an elected position, I can just imagine the opposition's campaign ads.
He had become aware that they lost so much because of their wickedness: focusing on what they owned and earned, being self-centered, treating lightly or disregarding what was sacred, ridiculing those who were humble, "denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering (sanctions, foreign wars, abortion), plundering (REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH!), lying, stealing, committing adultery" as well as "boasting in their own strength".
The solution was not more battles, not more money for the army, not even having someone more determined to restore their lands.
The solution was to preach, and to prophesy.
To preach is to teach the Lord's way, or to teach natural laws and consequences in view of our Creator's plan and care. To prophesy is to predict an outcome, which we can do when we understand correct principles and the attached consequences of either embracing or disregarding those principles. The Apostle Paul says, "covet [be eager] to prophesy", that this helps edify [build, strengthen] all of us.
Moronihah himself devoted time to do this. So did Nephi and Lehi (the sons of Helaman).
If another person- we'll call him Virgilhah- aspired to Moronihah's position, and campaigned on regaining all of their lands (liberties), wouldn't some people have thought him the best choice? Yet he was not the best man for the circumstances.
Through the teaching, though, as the people started becoming convinced of The Way, the Lord's Plan of Happiness, and turning to the Lord and their neighbors, Moronihah was able to regain a city at a time from the Lamanites.
It could not be done politically. They tried that. It had to come through teaching love, duty, and responsibility.
Eventually he managed to get back half of their lands. Half. That's all they could feasibly do themselves. But a chapter later, the Lord gave them the miracle they wanted. As the Nephites became more righteous, and as Nephi and Lehi continued to teach the people, it spread to the Lamanites. The Lamanites became converted, too- and then the miracle: the Lamanites returned the rest of the lands and cities to the Nephites.
Could this have happened any other way?
Doubtful.
Could this have happened with Virgilhah as chief captain?
No, the people were not ready.
I see our current situation as similar. Even though Johnson and Goode are closer to the truth, in some cases, about restoring our country as the Founders set it up, the Congress and Senate are not enlightened enough to work with them. With the system's inherent checks and balances, the lawmakers would block most every effort.
Here's what Benson said in 1968:
How is it possible to cut out the various welfare-state features of our government which have already fastened themselves like cancer cells onto the body politic?
...Obviously, not all welfare-state programs currently in force can be dropped simultaneously without causing tremendous economic and social upheaval. To try to do so would be like finding oneself at the controls of a hijacked airplane and attempting to return it by simply cutting off the engines in flight. It must be flown back, lowered in altitude, gradually reduced in speed and brought in for a smooth landing. Translated into practical terms, this means that the first step toward restoring the limited concept of government should be to freeze all welfare-state programs at their present level, making sure that no new ones are added. The next step would be to allow all present programs to run out their term with absolutely no renewal. The third step would involve the gradual phasing-out of those programs which are indefinite in their term. (The Proper Role of Government)
As much as we'd like to completely solve the problem now, that is not an available option. Mitt Romney will at least freeze or cut back on programs. He was not my first choice for the Republican candidate, but he is very talented in the financial area.
Second, Helaman chapter 4. There are two columns in that chapter that have been my focus of study for 2-3 weeks now.
As you read through verses 12-26, substitute the word "freedoms" whenever it says "lands".
The situation was that the Nephites had lost "almost all their lands". Moronihah, who was the chief captain, stopped trying to regain them because he learned it was futile at that point. Wouldn't many of the Nephites been upset with him? Wouldn't they say he'd sold them short? If it was an elected position, I can just imagine the opposition's campaign ads.
He had become aware that they lost so much because of their wickedness: focusing on what they owned and earned, being self-centered, treating lightly or disregarding what was sacred, ridiculing those who were humble, "denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering (sanctions, foreign wars, abortion), plundering (REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH!), lying, stealing, committing adultery" as well as "boasting in their own strength".
The solution was not more battles, not more money for the army, not even having someone more determined to restore their lands.
The solution was to preach, and to prophesy.
To preach is to teach the Lord's way, or to teach natural laws and consequences in view of our Creator's plan and care. To prophesy is to predict an outcome, which we can do when we understand correct principles and the attached consequences of either embracing or disregarding those principles. The Apostle Paul says, "covet [be eager] to prophesy", that this helps edify [build, strengthen] all of us.
Moronihah himself devoted time to do this. So did Nephi and Lehi (the sons of Helaman).
If another person- we'll call him Virgilhah- aspired to Moronihah's position, and campaigned on regaining all of their lands (liberties), wouldn't some people have thought him the best choice? Yet he was not the best man for the circumstances.
Through the teaching, though, as the people started becoming convinced of The Way, the Lord's Plan of Happiness, and turning to the Lord and their neighbors, Moronihah was able to regain a city at a time from the Lamanites.
It could not be done politically. They tried that. It had to come through teaching love, duty, and responsibility.
Eventually he managed to get back half of their lands. Half. That's all they could feasibly do themselves. But a chapter later, the Lord gave them the miracle they wanted. As the Nephites became more righteous, and as Nephi and Lehi continued to teach the people, it spread to the Lamanites. The Lamanites became converted, too- and then the miracle: the Lamanites returned the rest of the lands and cities to the Nephites.
Could this have happened any other way?
Doubtful.
Could this have happened with Virgilhah as chief captain?
No, the people were not ready.
I see our current situation as similar. Even though Johnson and Goode are closer to the truth, in some cases, about restoring our country as the Founders set it up, the Congress and Senate are not enlightened enough to work with them. With the system's inherent checks and balances, the lawmakers would block most every effort.
Romney, at least, will start us on those steps that Benson begged us to do, and I'm confident that he'll make some headway with Congress and the Senate. And he might even encourage the people to be righteous. He might not be the best candidate, but it looks like he's the best candidate for the circumstances.
Either way, our next duty, after we vote tomorrow, is to be among those teaching the Lord's way to our neighbors and everyone within our sphere of influence. Share the Gospel, teach of how the Savior is truly that- our savior, the one who saves. That's how we can regain our liberties, maybe half of them. The rest we have to leave to the Lord, through whatever miracle he will provide.
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