This scripture so resonates with me:
Alma 46
12And 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.
13And 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—
Yet, this Article of Faith begs the question, When do we take up the title of liberty and stop being subjects?
Articles of Faith
12We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Oliver DeMille sends out social leader daily emails. I think he's been studying Democracy in America by Tocqueville lately as there have been frequent quotes from it. Today's message was:
Tocqueville was surprised that Americans did not believe that the federal government had any right whatsoever to intervene in state issues, and indeed he said:I lament: when did this change? Why did this change? Now mass media portrays people with that mindset as crazy but that is how it should be.
"...among the inhabitants of New England I believe that not a man is to be found who would acknowledge that the state has any right to interfere in their town affairs."
Enough said.
I get periodic emails from LatterDayConservative.com one article was titled, "The Political Pride Cycle and Other Thoughts"
In Ezra Taft Benson's message "The Price of Liberty: Eternal Vigilance", he spoke of a political cycle very much similar to the pride cycle Latter-day Saints are familiar with, from reading the Book of Mormon:
"...Great nations do not usually fall by external aggression; they first erode and decay inwardly, so that, like rotten fruit, they fall of themselves. The history of nations shows that the cycle of the body politic slowly but surely undergoes change. It progresses—"—From bondage to spiritual faith—From spiritual faith to courage—From courage to freedom—From freedom to abundance—From abundance to selfishness—From selfishness to complacency—From complacency to apathy—From apathy to fear—From fear to dependency—From dependency to bondage."
Ezra Taft Benson's message certainly remains true today. 30 and 40 years ago Benson was warning us of the dangers of complacency and apathy. Unfortunately today it seems America, and many other countries, now find themselves in the stages of dependency and bondage. While there is still an illusion of freedom that exists, the hard truth is that the entire system is corrupt, Secret Combinations are prevalent, and Satan has control now to a great extent.
Fortunately for those of us who have chosen to stand up for freedom, the next stage is out of bondage to spiritual faith, and so on into freedom, but we may have many more years of bondage until that point. As W. Cleon Skousen liked to point out, so optimistically, "I read the book, and in the end, we win". I think it's up to each of us to do our part in standing up for Liberty, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so that we can be counted among his sheep. Let us not be complacent and apathetic which only leads to further bondage. We know that there are troubling times ahead, individually we can still experience much liberty and joy as we follow Christ. We know that eventually Christ will return, and that the Kingdom of God will be established on this earth. It's better to be found on Christ's side now rather than later when circumstances humble us to do so.
...Brother Skousen spoke ... of the Founding Father's and how in some of their correspondence they spoke of living God's law in America, establishing a system similar to that established by Moses, and that one day this would come to America, but not during the time of the Founder's.
Brother Skousen also mentioned a meeting he attended in which President David O. McKay stated that "our country isn't getting prepared for this great opportunity and it will come in a time of crisis." He told Brother Skousen that the Founder's knew that America would collapse and they also knew how to solve the problem. Brother Skousen finally found these writings from the Founding Fathers and his research eventually became the book "The Majesty of God's Law".
So...what do you think? Where do we go from here? Are you spiritually prepared? I'm not ready. I need to refocus and it begins now.
*I know one of the people in the situation and don't believe the charges to be true. More on the situation found here. Update: Newest news found here and here.
**I changed the title of this, my husband just informed me the formal title (My Struggle) is what Mein Kampf by Hitler means.
2 comments:
Regarding the Article of Faith: The US Constitution was established by God, "and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh..." (D&C 101:77). Sanctioned by God, it becomes a reflection of His law! The Constitution itself says that it "shall be the supreme law of the land". Any 'laws' beyond the limits of the US Constitution are not laws, and we should always stand up and fight, but wisely. There is no reason to die or be imprisoned until we can do a greater good suffering death or imprisonment. We are better off fighting for the liberty of future generations through education than throwing off all obedience to the powers that be and being stopped. Here's some additional quotes:
"An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; affords no protection; it creates no office; it is in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed."
(-Norton vs. Shelby County, 118 US 425 p. 442)
"No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it.
(16 Am Jur 2nd, Sec 177 late 2d, Sec 256)
"All acts of every department of government, within the constitutional bounds of powers, are valid; all beyond bounds are 'irritum et inane' - null and void.
(11 Cranch, 391 [176-1178])
"Behold, I am the law..."
(Jesus, 3 Nephi 15:9)
"I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law..." (Jesus, 3 Nephi 15:10)
"We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life."
(D&C 134:2)
Thank you Michael. I was talking to Chelsea and she suggested I re-read D & C 98 which she felt applied to the debate. Additionally, Kim pointed out something that stood out to her in Oliver DeMilles seminar on the Coming Aristocracy in which he specifically stated that we should focus on educating but not on formerly organizing against the established government. I think that the organizing point is what prompted escalation in the situation I referenced for I am aware that there are many out there educating who have not faced confrontation with the law.
Post a Comment