Tone of Discourse

I was asked to speak in church this last week based on a comment I made in Bishopric meeting. Thats what I get for opening my mouth right? Who am I kidding, I enjoy speaking in church. But, I have to admit, I was more nervous about this talk than any before. I actually wrote the whole thing out, instead of just having an outline. I wanted to make sure that the things I was saying were not just my opinions, but that they were doctrine. So, I reined in some of the things I wanted to say, and kept it very specifically from conference talks, and the scriptures. After two youth speakers and an intermediate hymn, I still had 30-35 minutes to talk. So, what was my talk about? It was about working towards Zion, with a particular focus on being unified. It all blossomed from thoughts I have had about the level of political discourse, on all levels of society today.

I have been very disappointed over the last few months as I have watched this new wave of angry citizens use their collective political might. Its not so much their political stances (which I don't particularly agree with), its more in the tone. And don't for a second think that I believe that the tea partiers, or any specific group is solely responsible for political tone, I don't, but the current atmosphere is just a great example of where we have come to. And where we are is a place I am uncomfortable with.

In a talk entitled, "Instruments of the Lord's Peace" Elder Robert Wood of the Seventy asked the following,

"Have we who have taken upon us the name of Christ slipped unknowingly into patterns of slander, evil speaking, and bitter stereotyping? Have personal or partisan or business or religious differences been translated into a kind of demonizing of those of different views? Do we pause to understand the seemingly different positions of others and seek, where possible, common ground?"

How often do we get email forwards filled with jokes about those who disagree with us, and not really funny ha ha jokes, but jokes that are filled with cruel stereotypes or vicious denunciations? How often do we assume and attribute the worst motives of human nature to those on the other side of an issue, instead of giving the benefit of the doubt that though we disagree, others motives are as sincere as our own?

Elder Wood went on to say,

"We should avoid caricaturing the positions of others, constructing “straw men,” if you will, and casting unwarranted aspersions on their motivations and character. We need, as the Lord counseled, to uphold honest, wise, and good men and women wherever they are found and to recognize that there are “among all sects, parties, and denominations” those who are “kept from the truth [of the gospel] because they know not where to find it.” Would we hide that light because we have entered into the culture of slander, of stereotyping, of giving and seeking offense?"

Those of us in the church hear ever election season the letter from the First Presidency stating that the Church does not support or endorse any candidate, party, or platform, and that we should support good men and women, and that they can be found in all parties. Do we believe it? I'm serious, how many people tune out when that letter is read, because they have heard it before. I think it may contain some of the most important counsel for us today we could have. It is too easy to assume that because our personal opinions coincide with one political party or another, that that is the party where truth and right are, that these are the good stances, and the other side is bad, wrong, and evil.

For those of us that are members of the church, it may be instructive to go to lds.org and look at the church's political stances. There aren't many, which should be incredibly telling. It is easy to slip into the idea that because the church is conservative on several major social issues, that conservatism is the way of the church. It is not. The gospel of Christ is not bound by such man made labels. It deals in eternal principles, not these things. Examples, do I think that taxes should be low, and that a more free market system is better for a country and an economy? Yes, does the gospel require, or suggest that? Not anywhere I can see. Embryonic stem cell research? Thats a hot button topic for a lot of people. Surely it is a moral question, right? Well, check out the website, the church is neutral on it.

It may seem that I am picking on more republican leaning people, and that is probably because members are usually right leaning, but it can go both ways. How about when the church has come out with a stance, and it disagrees with what we have come to believe? Gay marriage, abortion, mothers staying home to care for their children?

The problem that we must watch for is when our political beliefs, those temporary temporal subjects that hold little to no eternal value become so important in our lives that they overshadow those things that are eternally important. One such eternal value is unity. The Lord said in Doctrine and Covenants 38:27 ". . .be one; and if ye are not one, ye are not mind."

We can't be unified if our hearts are filled with animosity towards those who think differently politically. Elder Wood counseled in his talk,

"President George Albert Smith observed, “Whenever your politics cause you to speak unkindly of your brethren, know this, that you are upon dangerous ground.” Speaking of the great mission of the latter-day kingdom, he counseled: “This is not a militant church to which we belong. This is a church that holds out peace to the world. It is not our duty to go into the world and find fault with others, neither to criticize men because they do not understand. But it is our privilege, in kindness and love, to go among them and divide with them the truth that the Lord has revealed in this latter day.”"

Also, quoting President Hinckley,

“Now, there is much that we can and must do in these perilous times. We can give our opinions on the merit of the situation as we see it, but never let us become a party to words or works of evil concerning our brothers and sisters in various nations on one side or the other. Political differences never justify hatred or ill will. I hope that the Lord’s people may be at peace one with another during times of trouble, regardless of what loyalties they may have to different governments or parties.”

I used to be so interested in politics. I was kind of a junkie, and constantly read and kept up on everything, and consequently, had very strong opinions that I would argue tooth and nail. I can't do it anymore. Politics, for the most part, leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I am grateful for any good man/woman who can get involved and serve with integrity, but so much of it has become so distasteful. And I don't think we have anyone to blame but ourselves. Conservative or liberal, both sides inject so much vitriol to gain ground, to one up the other. We must learn to do differently if we are to be one.