Truth Against Error

If you have noticed the recent national dialog on Mormonism, and have sensed the tension increasing, you may be interested in what Elder Ballard has suggested we do.

Elder Ballard’s remarks are timely for me since I have felt conflicted lately. I remember when anti-Mormonism became fairly intense for a couple of years during the eighties. Boyd K. Packer gave us the wise counsel of ignoring it as a strong draft horse would try and ignore pesky flies. They are irritating but they do no real damage. I have thought about that council since we have joined with friends to start a political blog that calls for bringing together those with shared values. We are concerned with the current trend of cultural fractionalism. The following article by M. Russell Ballard relieved my concerns over raising my voice in the national dialog. At the same time, it also disturbs me that the political climate has changed so drastically to make such a call to action
necessary from an Apostle of the Lord.

Apostle Urges Students to Use New Media

LAIE, Hawaii 15 December 2007 Two hundred graduating students at Brigham Young University-Hawaii were urged today to use the Internet — including blogs and other forms of “new media” — to contribute to a national conversation about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Elder M. Russell Ballard, a senior apostle in the Church, told the mostly Mormon student body that conversations about the Church would take place whether or not Church members decided to participate in them.

“We cannot stand on the sidelines while others, including our critics, attempt to define what the Church teaches,” he said.

“While some conversations have audiences in the thousands or even millions, most are much, much smaller. But all conversations have an impact on those who participate in them. Perceptions of the Church are established one conversation at a time.”

Church leaders have publicly expressed concern that while much of the recent extensive news reporting on the Church has been balanced and accurate, some has been trivial, distorted or without context.

Elder Ballard said there were too many conversations going on about the Church for Church representatives to respond to each individually, and that Church leaders “can’t answer every question, satisfy every inquiry and respond to every inaccuracy that exists.”

He said students should consider sharing their views on blogs, responding to online news reports and using the “new media” in other ways.

But he cautioned against arguing with others about their beliefs. “There is no need to become defensive or belligerent,” he said.

END

For those who want to follow Elder Ballard’s advise but have not put their finger on how the religious fervor is connected to politics, the following blog entry may be helpful to put it into perspective.

The following blog is posted at: www.ingodwetrustblog.com

For Mature Audiences Only

In recent months, most of us have sensed political and religious turmoil roiling beneath the surface of our culture. Since Mitt Romney’s speech on values, that tension has broken like a tidal wave across America. The good news is, there are still many, including a few other candidates who believe in the Judeo-Christian tenants this nation was built on. To stand and voice those beliefs takes thought and conviction. Only those with courage will be able to withstand the mob mentality that is insisting on a new creed of tolerance. What is that destructive creed? In effect it is as follows:

We will be tolerant of the weak and the poor, showing our kind and gentle natures…BUT, to all else, we will call you intolerant if you persist in disagreeing with our beliefs. We will use intimidating labels and emotional haranguing until you either agree with us, or you are silenced so we can institute our agenda.

What is truly disturbing is that this new creed is coming from both many on the left, and also some factions in the far right. It is in different forms but both will result in a fracturing of our nation. The gloves have come off as all pretense at even-handed reporting by the press has given way to blatant bias. Romney dared to quote our founding fathers who believed in a values-based government. The press simply will not tolerate that kind of insubordination. They are outraged that fear of their verbal reprisal was not enough to keep Romney in line with the modern day religion of secularism. Many have accused Mitt of intolerance toward atheists as a result of his speech, but the reality is this; history shows that only a society that believes in some moral absolutes will have the determination to preserve the rights of choice for all their citizens. When the majority devolves into a relativistic mindset, they begin to enforce their creed and freedom is lost. The political climate is changing and now, right now…if the silent majority does not stand up and speak out, they will be silenced for good and be the majority no longer.

Some in the far right have shown equal intolerance as the left. I have read hundreds of comments on forums lately that basically state that if Romney is stupid enough not to believe exactly the same as them, then he is unfit to be in pubic office. Many posters are showing they do not understand the difference between doctrines and values.

Shared values are the ties that have bound this country since its inception. The celebration of diversity is good unless it is stretched to the point where there is no commonality left. If that occurs, then we will fly apart, and believe me, there are those waiting in the wings who will quickly pick up the pieces and reform our society in the image they desire.

Verbal aggressors find easy targets through the internet. Many studies have shown that internet bullies are on the increase because there is a sense of safety in smiting one’s opponent from the cold distance of cyberspace. Teenagers are feeling these effects, but it is becoming obvious that adults are also following this pattern. It becomes even easier when the bullies join together on a forum and attack those who are different or believe differently than they.

There is an immediate and addictive reward for giving in to anger as endorphins flood the brain with agitated pleasure. This emotional trigger is what gives mob mentality its power. It is something that is very easy to get caught up in and it is no fun to listen to someone like me who wants to ruin the fun. We have become caught up in a war of words in this country, and even though we don’t see the bloody effects of that war, the end results will show its ravages. It is so hard to stand against that tide and be peacemakers, but I am asking men and women of courage, to use reasoning and patience against blind emotionalism. Join in the political dialog of peace and help heal a nation.

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