About a year and a half ago, I had what I like to call a “political awakening.” I have always abhorred politics and current events in general. However, I couldn’t help but act on the increasing promptings I was getting to find out about the current political race for the presidency. I won’t get too deep into details at the moment but acting on these promptings lead me down a path that has opened my eyes to understanding more about eternal principles than I had ever learned in a short time, aside from my mission. I came to realize how extremely important it is to not only study, but to be active in standing up for freedom. I came to understand how central the idea of freedom (free agency) is to every other aspect of our lives, including religion, family, economics, and politics. As LDS members, we believe that we fought a war in heaven before coming to this earth for the very idea of freedom. Various church leaders have taught us that that war is still going on and that we are to continue to stand up for the idea of freedom for ourselves and all mankind. I’ve often wondered where I was during that original battle in heaven. Was I off to the side with my friends and family simply saying, “No need to get involved. Whatever the Lord wants to happen is going to happen anyways”? I’d like to think I was at the forefront of the battle, trying to persuade all those I possibly could that free agency (freedom), was the ideal choice for all of God’s children.
I don’t know where I was in that battle in the preexistence, but I do know what side I ultimately chose, and that as that battle rages on again in this life, I will be as active in the fight for freedom as I can be. We have been taught by the scriptures and our church leaders that we must stand up for freedom and liberty. To say that we haven’t been warned about those that seek to enslave us is to ignore one of the core teachings of the Book of Mormon (see Ether 8:20-25, for example). To say that it isn’t necessary to be actively engaged in the cause of freedom is to also ignore the teachings of our current prophets. Just yesterday, the church put up this clip from Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the quorum of the twelve apostles, stating the civic duty of Mormons:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB6RynMMK7I[/youtube]
He says we must be “actively involved in the political process” and warns that it is “dangerous for people to sit back and say ‘well let somebody else worry about it’.” Good people who understand sound principles cannot let others decide for them. Other modern day prophets have giving us similar admonition:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehD390q9G3k[/youtube]
Just as we know the result of the previous war in heaven, we too, know the result of this current war. We know which side wins, and because of that, we can be comforted in knowing that our fight is not in vain. When the Savior returns, which side of the battle do you want to be on? Just as I am uncomfortable with the idea that I was complacent in the previous war in heaven, I am also uncomfortable with the idea of remaining so now. The admonition from our former prophet bears repreating:
No American is worthy of citizenship in this great land who refuses to take an active interest in these important matters. Stand up for freedom, no matter what the cost. It can help to save your soul, and maybe your country. May God give us the wisdom to recognize the dangers of complacency, the threat to our freedom, and the strength to meet this danger courageously.
-President Ezra Taft Benson
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