The Gospel and Politics

[Bobbieaware]

38 minutes ago, longview said:

Very much so, even though Book of Mormon describes the "Reign of the Judges" (a setup some ways similar to American Constitutional Republic) as having a inter-dependent relationship with the Church, they had their own areas of responsibilities.  The people knew they had to sustain each other in their offices.  If a member of your family were to advocate greater dependency on the "Elite Few" with adoption of coercive government policies, then it would be incumbent on you to teach correct principles.  While our families are important, Jesus said the following regarding what our priorities should be:

Matt 10:
 32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  (this has political overtones)
 35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
 36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
 39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Here are the verses in connection with Captain Moroni's "Title of Liberty" -

Alma 46:
 12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
 13 And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
 16 And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
 18 And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
 19 And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
 20 Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
 21 And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
 22 Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.

Exvellent!

One of the most noteworthy things Ezra Taft Benson ever said about the Elders of Isreal needing to get involved in the struggle to preserve the Constitution is that it's unlikely the Church leaders will ever command or direct the members to engage in the fight. Rather, he said that without having to be commanded in all things the members will lhave to figure out for themselves they need to be anxiously engaged in defending the Constitution and saving the country from the modern-day Gadiantons.

[Teancum]

13 hours ago, BCSpace said:

I agree on the priority of the home, but politics is an important area where one's religious practice and beliefs are on display and have a profound affect on people's lives and spirituality.  Religious views are impossible to separate from political views.  They are one and the same.

See 6E... .as long as you have LDS members like this, and they are many, who preach the restored gospel of conservative politics your wish will never come to be.

It seems for many that the be a good Mormon is to be a good conservative US republican. 

[thesometimesaint]

14 minutes ago, Teancum said:

See 6E... .as long as you have LDS members like this, and they are many, who preach the restored gospel of conservative politics your wish will never come to be.

It seems for many that the be a good Mormon is to be a good conservative US republican. 

Which is a shame really. Goodness knows no political party. You'll find good and bad in all political parties.

[Calm]

There are some extreme political parties I would say what good in them is so overshadowed by the bad, that I would not include them in your last comment, but in general I agree.

[6EQUJ5]

21 hours ago, Teancum said:

See 6E... .as long as you have LDS members like this, and they are many, who preach the restored gospel of conservative politics your wish will never come to be.

It seems for many that the be a good Mormon is to be a good conservative US republican. 

Call me Q.

I can see from this thread how eager some Saints are to mingle the things of the world with the Kingdom.  Funny thing is I probably agree politically with many/most of the posters here.  

But that doesn't change the fact that the best political activism we can ever do is to embrace the Gospel, live moral lives, and encourage our family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.  I guess I understand why people resist this idea.  It is easy to post angrily about politics on the internet and feel like you have actually accomplished something.

#SaveOurGirls

#BundyIsANutter

#TRUMP

[volgadon]

8 minutes ago, 6EQUJ5 said:

Call me Q.

I can see from this thread how eager some Saints are to mingle the things of the world with the Kingdom.  Funny thing is I probably agree politically with many/most of the posters here.  

But that doesn't change the fact that the best political activism we can ever do is to embrace the Gospel, live moral lives, and encourage our family, friends, and neighbors to do the same.  I guess I understand why people resist this idea.  It is easy to post angrily about politics on the internet and feel like you have actually accomplished something.

#SaveOurGirls

#BundyIsANutter

#TRUMP

Q, you still have a CFR to answer.

[thesometimesaint]

19 hours ago, Calm said:

There are some extreme political parties I would say what good in them is so overshadowed by the bad, that I would not include them in your last comment, but in general I agree.

I find good wherever it is even in political parties I vehemently disagree with.

[6EQUJ5]

3 hours ago, volgadon said:

Q, you still have a CFR to answer.

As do you.

That has nothing to do with your obligation. If you do not provide documentation when asked you will be removed from the thread. Next point: we do not allow discussion of politics.

[Rain]

22 hours ago, Teancum said:

See 6E... .as long as you have LDS members like this, and they are many, who preach the restored gospel of conservative politics your wish will never come to be.

It seems for many that the be a good Mormon is to be a good conservative US republican. 

I do think that religion and politics are connected. We are taught that this isn't just a Sunday thing, but that God should always be a part of our lives. 

Someone once asked on a message board how Mormons could be on both sides of the political realm. I responded that with abortion a conservative may be against legalization because of taking a life. A liberal could be against abortion and for legalization because of agency.  A conservative may be against some forms of welfare because of teaching consequences and a liberal may be for it because of charity.

I don't think you really can separate your religion from politics  - if part of your religion is staying close to God always. That is true no matter where you stand politically. Some are just more specific/vocal about it.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Rain