Recently in the news there has been so much turmoil. Wars and rumors of wars. Scandals and heartbreak. Yet there have been a few good things too. Among all of the media there has been a story I have been following on a group of people some in Oregon who were fighting for a cause they believed in regarding a dispute of lands. There will always be judgement and speculation when justice is delivered. Men will not always be perfect in giving justice either. I am surprised to see members of the church rallying around and supporting these people who disregarded the law by force to demand their desires. Some look at them as martyrs when they placed themselves in the situation which lead to their demise and endangered those around them by their extreme actions.
The scriptures warn of false prophets. I believe those who cannot honor the laws of the land, especially a land which is founded on freedom, to promote their cause is someone we should be wary of. We live in a country of many freedoms, we have a political system where we can help make decisions of whom will be our leaders will be both locally and on a national scale. We can write letters, call & meet with local leaders to accomplish our desires. We can get our message out via social media and other resources.
I have a friend and I would like to share some of his experiences. There was a time his country was covered in war. Many freedoms were being taken from them by groups of people who sought to establish their own will across the land. The government could not protect villages in outlying areas and they were threatened daily of being attacked. The attackers were merciless and if they gained advantage they would force the children to kill their parents or die themselves. He was forced to fight and wonder each night if he would wake up alive or if these enemies would come and destroy them in the night. He lived in fear and in turmoil. That was a country where freedoms were gone, that is a country where you must defend yourself by arms. That is not the case in America, we have so much freedom and so many blessings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released this statement concerning the events in Oregon. momromnewsroom link
I share that story to show the contrast of someone who fought because he had to defend his life and those he loved because they were first attacked by those who sought to rule over them. In the book of Mormon we learn that one may fight for their protection and their freedom but we also learn of people who went to war to take back land which they thought was their's but inasmuch as they took arms against their enemies they were not supported of the Lord and they fell. It was a time for them to submit themselves to their trials and trust in the Lord that another way would be provided. It is my belief the Lord always wants us to seek a peaceful way to resolve our disputes. I ask you if this is the case in Oregon? Who were the people to take up arms first? Who were the people to disregard the laws of the land? Who sought to enforce what they perceived the law of the land in their own ways? I may live in the west but the days of the Wild West is far behind us lands have been given and declared. There are no cowboys who can come with a gun and take what they think is theirs. I am grateful that my taxes pay for my protection against those who become so extreme and dangerous to those around them. I am grateful to a father who has been an officer for many years who has put his life on the line multiple times to protect those around him. I am grateful to family who have died in the service to protect our nation.
I believe in gun rights but when we have cases like these of people abusing the freedoms they have been given it puts in danger the freedoms for everyone. Do you see that?
Their are consequences all around us. For writing this blog I will have some people who are frustrated with the point of view I have expressed. When we disregard the law and threaten others with weapons then we also have consequences. Whether you believe they were correct about the land dispute or not I hope you can recognize that their other ways to accomplish those goals.
