Stirred to Anger

 

 

Here in the United States we are entering an election year. I must confess that I face this election cycle with some trepidation. While I do have some concerns about the future of my country and its government, what worries me most is the propensity for political discourse to turn contentious and downright nasty. I worry our own anger sometimes clouds our judgement. And more troubling still, I worry that there are those who seek to take advantage of and even inflame our feelings of anger for their own benefit.

Alma chapter 48 of the Book of Mormon is chilling to me. At this time in the book there were two nations, the Nephites and Lamanites. The usurper Amalickiah ruled over the Lamanites and wanted to do battle with the Nephites. In the previous chapter, we read that the majority of the Lamanites didn't want to fight (see Alma 47:2). After seizing control of the their army however, Amalickiah appointed men "to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites" (Alma 48:1). What's chilling is that, in time, this tactic of stirring up the Lamanites to anger actually worked. Their hearts were hardened, their minds were blinded, and they submitted to being led to battle, thus kicking off a war that would last over fifteen years and cause the loss of many lives on both sides.

Even more troubling are the parallels one can see in our own day. There are many who use our own "towers" today to broadcast messages of anger and hatred across the airwaves, often with the purpose of inciting their listeners to believe, say, and do things that they otherwise wouldn't. I'm sure that many examples easily come to mind; any of us could easily think of "that politician," "that podcast," "that news network," or "that influencer" who is clearly just trying to make people mad. But I would encourage us all to think critically, to ask "Lord, is it I?" and to be on guard for examples in our own lives.

In Defense of Anger

I don't want to give the impression that anger is, in and of itself, a bad or evil emotion. None of our emotions are inherently good or bad. Rather, our emotions are signals that tell us how our mind is processing what we experience in the world. Anger, in particular, seems to be tasked with alerting us when something isn't right, and that aggressive action is needed to fix it. And certainly there are many things wrong with the world today that need to be fixed. If you find yourself feeling angry about acts of injustice, there's nothing wrong with you. It shows that you care and you want it to change!

There are those who point at the anger of another and use it as a point of criticism. They might say, "They're such an angry person!" as if to define the individual solely by the emotion. The anger itself is seen as a moral failing, thus giving license to ignore what the person has to say, or the issue that has gotten them so upset. On the other hand, there are others who view anger as a moral strength. "They're so passionate about this topic!" they might say, and as long as it's a topic they too see as important, they use this perceived strength to overlook inappropriate words and actions they may have said or done.

Again, it isn't the emotion that is good or bad; what matters are the decisions we make. And while anger is great at motivating us to take action, it isn't so great at helping us to determine what the best course of action is. Based on my own experience, it doesn't seem to matter whether I'm angry about something important or something inconsequential; decisions I've made in the heat of the moment have been rarely optimal, and often harmful.

When we feel angry about something, we shouldn't ignore that feeling. But neither should we allow our anger to dictate our actions. Perhaps the best decision we can make when angry is to allow ourselves time to process our feelings, and resolve to make a decision about what to do next after the intensity of those feelings have passed and we are able to think more clearly and rationally.

Rage-mongers

While there may not be anything inherently wrong with feeling angry, it is wrong to deliberately stir someone up to anger, or to do so through careless words or actions. While everyone will be accountable for their own decisions, we also have the responsibility to not make it more difficult for others to make those decisions. And as discussed, feeling angry makes it harder to make a rational decision.

This is not to say that we should shy away from telling unpleasant truths when appropriate, even when they might cause someone to feel angry. However, there are those who seek to profit from our anger, either by causing us to pay them more attention, or by putting us in a state where we can be more easily manipulated. Sometimes they do this by lying, other times by focusing on only part of the truth. Often they employ contempt, creating parodies of their enemies and opponents and sometimes entire groups of people by reducing them solely to those qualities their followers find most offensive.

In the political sphere, there is no party that is completely innocent of this tactic, and it is naive to assume that only one side does it, while everything the other side says is accurate. It is ubiquitous because it works. And because it is ubiquitous, we can't simply disengage from any party that is found guilty of it. To do so would be to let them have their way, and to allow those who give in to anger to make all the decisions, thus perpetuating the cycle. No political leader is perfect in this or any other regard. My purpose isn't to tell anyone who they should vote for, or even who they shouldn't vote for. My hope is that we will all strive to be mindful of those who attempt to manipulate our emotions. And I would suggest we be extra mindful when it comes from a source we are generally favorable towards.

When a politician, candidate, or news organization says something that makes us angry, we should acknowledge the feeling, and try to examine why it makes us feel that way. We should ask ourselves, is what they're saying totally accurate? Is it backed up by other credible and unbiased sources? Was any key information left out that might cause it to seem different? Does the speaker have anything to gain by making me feel angry? Could they have conveyed the same information in a way that would make it more likely for listeners to think about it clearly and rationally? And most importantly, what is the course of action that is most likely lead to a favorable outcome, and should I take some time to calm my emotions before deciding on such an action?

God has blessed us all with agency. He wants us to use our ability to think and reason to make decisions that will benefit us and His other children. But there are those who don't want us to think too hard and instead act impulsively. We can choose the former by being mindful of our emotions and those who try to manipulate them.

More powerful than the sword

 

For much of the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a people who were followers of God and believed in the coming of Christ. The Zoramites however had separated themselves from the Nephites and formed their own city and their own religion that denied Christ. To further complicate things, the Nephites worried that the Zoramites might join forces with their enemies, the Lamanites. There may have been those who wanted to use military might to ensure such an alliance never happened. However, Alma decided to "try the virtue of the word of God."

Elder Boyd K. Packer taught that "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior," and again, "The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior." (Little Children, Ensign, November 1986)

Behavioral therapy, discipline, goal setting, etc. all have their place. But the most important thing is to apply the word of God.

A portion of His Spirit

 

A birthday gift for a boy in our Sunday School class who really likes the story of Ammon from the Book of Mormon! Ammon said these words to the Lamanite king when asked how he was able to withstand the attacks from so many enemies earlier. Ammon gave all the credit to God, explaining that His Spirit gave him both knowledge and power as long as he was faithful. We too can be powerful like Ammon when we trust in the Lord.

It mattereth not

 

The Book of Mormon tells the story of a lengthy war between the Nephite and Lamanite nations. Moroni, captain over the Nephite forces, sent a strongly worded letter to Pahoran, chief judge over the Nephites, for not sending enough supplies and reinforcements for him to be able to adequately defend his people. In this letter (contained in Alma 60), Moroni did the following:

• he insulted Pahoran (v. 7),
• he blamed Pahoran for the deaths of thousands of his people (v. 10, 28),
• he accused Pahoran of seeking power and authority, and of being a traitor to his country (v. 18),
• he judged Pahoran, assuming he didn't care about those perishing in battle because of his own position of security (v. 19),
• he threatened to spark an insurrection against the government and to destroy Pahoran (v. 27, 29-30),
• he claimed that Pahoran knew he was transgressing the laws of God (v. 33).
   

Alma 61 contains Pahoran's response, in which he explains that there was an insurrection at the Nephite capital, which had prevented him from being able to send aid. Pahoran could have finished his letter by scolding Moroni for the assumptions and false accusations he made. But instead, he quickly forgave him. Not only that, he chose to see the good in Moroni's heart; Moroni's strong words were evidence of how much he cared for his country and the freedom of his people. Pahoran recognized and acknowledged an important truth: they were both on the same side.

We will certainly encounter those who believe things that aren't true. Sometimes those beliefs may even cause them to lash out at us. We can respond by choosing to see the goodness in their hearts. That's not to say we shouldn't stand up for ourselves and correct misunderstandings when they arise. But recognizing that, deep down, we are all ultimately on the same side can help us to know the best way to respond and help us to forgive more quickly.

I will go and do

Another commission gifted to a friend. We will quite often be called upon to do hard things. God does not give us commandments that we cannot accomplish. But He may give us commandments that will require us to depend on Him to succeed.

One Wicked King

These are the words of a man named Mosiah, who was a good king in the Book of Mormon. He ruled his people justly. However, near the end of his life, he had no one to confer the kingdom upon. In addition, he worried about the possibility of a future king ruling in wickedness. And so he proposed a new system of government that would give more power and responsibility to the people (see Mosiah 29). King Mosiah's speech bears some similarities to that of Samuel the prophet to the people of Israel when they demanded of him that he anoint a king over them (see 1 Samuel 8). Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon contain numerous examples of wicked kings. But there are also examples of good ones. It isn't the office of "king" specifically that is the problem. Indeed, Latter-day Saints "believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers," etc. (Articles of Faith 1:12). But when any would-be ruler seeks to take or keep power by force--be they king, queen, president, or dictator--they become a tyrant.

At the time of this writing, the United States is nearing election day. However, it is not my intention to use this post to endorse or condemn any specific candidate. While I, of course, have my own opinions about  who should be entrusted with the office of President, I think it is ultimately more useful to call attention to troubling behaviors rather than to call out specific individuals. No U.S. President in recent memory nor candidate who stood a chance of winning has been completely free from tyrannical tendencies. It's as if "as soon as they get a little authority... they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion" (D&C 121: 39). But that doesn't mean we should defend or ignore their actions because"nobody's  perfect." Holding our leaders accountable is one crucial way of keeping potential abuses of power in check.

These are just a few of the troubling behaviors that I've seen from Presidents, congressman, and other politicians from both major U.S. political parties, as well as from leaders of other countries:

• A tyrant seeks to silence opposition rather than addressing it head on. When they can't  remove opposition entirely, they rely instead on threats, mockery, insults, and defamation.
• A tyrant restricts the rights or abilities of a people to speak their minds, peaceably protest, and spread facts and opinions that may cast them in an unfavorable light.
• A tyrant applauds, encourages, or fails to condemn words or acts of violence or hatred against those who oppose them.
  
• A tyrant seeks to increase their own power and authority at the expense of the people they lead.
• A tyrant tries to make it more difficult for others to run against them instead of winning based on their own merits.
• A tyrant seeks to change rules and systems designed to keep their power in check.
• A tyrant defies the authority of those in other positions who lead alongside them and interferes in affairs outside of their own authority.
• A tyrant values loyalty to their own party more highly than loyalty to the country or to one's personal values.
• A tyrant makes promises they have no intention or ability to keep and breaks promises they view as no longer expedient.
• A tyrant ignores or contradicts the advice and warnings of domain experts.
  
• A tyrant does not accept the results of elections, initiatives, or other democratic processes when they don't go their way.
• A tyrant never willingly gives up power, even when mandated by the laws of the land.
  
• A tyrant withholds necessary information and actively spreads incorrect, misleading, or unverified information.
• A tyrant betrays their allies when it serves their goals.
• A tyrant never takes the blame when things go wrong but always takes credit when things go right.
• A tyrant assumes or claims that opposition is always merely partisan while never admitting to partisanship themselves.
• A tyrant portrays their opposition as objectively wrong or even evil instead of addressing the multifaceted, nuanced nature of their positions.
• A tyrant sees themselves as the ultimate authority rather than as a servant of the people.
• A tyrant inspires these and other tendencies in their followers.
  

I recognize the unfortunate fact that no politician, candidate, or president is perfect. For that reason, it's up to us to keep our eyes wide open and hold our leaders accountable. So when one of our elected or aspiring leaders exhibits any of these or other tyrannical tendencies, we mustn't stay silent! We may never have a leader who is perfectly just until the coming of the one true and perfect King. But while we wait for His eventual return, it is our responsibility to not stand idly by and allow wickedness to increase within the ranks of our leaders and rulers.

If you reside in the U.S., please make a plan to vote in this upcoming and future elections. If you are outside the U.S., please participate however you can in the political process of your own nation.

Thanks for reading!

Hardened or Softened

One section of the Book of Mormon tells of a lengthy conflict between two nations. It lasted many years. As this verse says, it affected different people in different ways, even those belonging to the same nation and who were suffering the same hardships.

The pandemic we are currently experiencing is comparable to a war, or any other long-term event that causes widespread suffering, and we see the same pattern repeat itself: some are of those affected are becoming hardened, cynical, hopeless, or selfish, while others are becoming more softened, caring, sensitive, and generous. We should all strive for the latter. To be clear, allowing ourselves to be "softened" doesn't mean we won't suffer, nor does it mean we don't take care of or protect ourselves and our families. Rather, it means that when we do suffer, we don't allow ourselves to become bitter and we remember to take care of others around us, to the extent possible. This has the added benefit of reinforcing a sense of control over our situation, which in turn empowers us to grow from our trials. If we ever feel ourselves becoming hardened by our trials, one of the best remedies is to serve others who are also suffering. By so doing, we'll be helping them and ourselves.

Stay hopeful. This current trial won't last for ever. Neither will any others that will come in the future. We have the ability to come out the other side better than we were before it started.

Mourn and Comfort

Followers of Christ have pledged to serve others. That includes bearing their burdens, visiting them in times of sickness or loneliness, providing for their physical and spiritual needs, and in short, loving them as Jesus would love them. Perhaps one of the more difficult things we've been asked to do is to mourn with those that mourn. We'd much rather try to cheer someone up than watch them be sad and even partake of their sadness. However, this is often what is most helpful to one who is struggling emotionally.

Consider the story of the raising of Lazarus. As always, Jesus is the perfect example for us. Even though He knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He wept with those who were grieving (see John 11:33, 35). When we encounter those who are sad, even if we believe the cause of their sadness to be trivial or short-lived, we should acknowledge their feelings and allow them to express those feelings, even if seeing their pain causes us to feel pain ourselves. When we do so, we are, in a small way, emulating our Savior who took upon Himself our own pains.

Strength to Run

It can be discouraging to look at the progress and accomplishments of others and feel like we're being left behind. Just remember that everyone has their own unique set of abilities and challenges. God is pleased with whatever you can give, however large or small our offering may appear. And if we have means to spare, He's especially pleased when we lend what we have to others!

A Labor to Perform

This was written by Mormon to his son Moroni near the end of the civilization of their people, the Nephites. They had grown exceedingly wicked, to the point that they were on the verge of destruction. In only a few more years, the Nephites would be completely wiped out because they refused to repent. Mormon knew this. And yet he told his son not to give up or stop laboring. No matter how bleak or hopeless their future seemed, they were still on the earth, which meant they still had a work to do. We are indebted to them for their continued labors in spite of the hardness of the hearts of those around them. Because of it, we have the Book of Mormon, which is an account of their people, but more importantly another testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ.

We too should not give up hope, nor should we stop trying to make the world better. It's tempting sometimes to look at all the things wrong with the world and decide to just let everything burn while we wait for the Second Coming. But God does not want us to stand idly by. If we can make life better for even a single person, then our efforts have meaning.

Intent of the Law

A commission. Jarom is an oft-overlooked book in the Book of Mormon. It briefly summarizes a period of Nephite history, including the teaching of the people. In this verse, Jarom explains that the people were taught the Law of Moses, but also the intent of the law. That is, they were taught that the law helped them to look forward to the coming of their Savior and His atoning sacrifice. We too should diligently teach, not only the commandments of God and the laws of the land but also the reasons that they were given. Doing so will help us and those we teach to internalize the principles upon which those laws are based.

If you would like your own commission illustrating a favorite scripture or inspirational quote, check out my Commissions page for more info!

All Beggars

The righteous King Benjamin reminds us all that we are all beggars. There is not a single one of us who has not required and benefitted from the generous blessings supplied to us by God. Even those who do not believe in God must acknowledge that they have received boons which they did not work for and cannot claim to have "earned". It would be hypocritical therefore to look down upon those who need help from time to time, whether that be financial, emotional, or spiritual help. We should be generous with what we have, for it is not ours to keep. Everything we have came from another Source.

As Precious in His Sight

In the middle of Jacob's sermon to his people, he rebuked them for their pride in thinking themselves better than those who were poorer or otherwise less fortunate than they. In the middle of his stinging words we encounter this phrase, which serves as a chastisement to the wicked, but also a comfort to those who may feel forgotten or cast out. Society may look at some with a critical eye; those who are not beautiful, rich, educated, or simply normal enough. But remember that God loves all His children equally. Every one of His children is precious to Him. We ought to remember the Golden Rule and treat them as such: the way we would want to be treated, and the way we know God would treat us.

This is my second Sour Peppers commission. If you would like a scripture or other inspirational quote illustrated similar to the one above, check out my commissions page.

Title of Liberty

Thousands of years ago, a man wrote these words on a cloth that he affixed to a pole. It has since come to be known as the "Title of Liberty." There were those in the land who sought to take their freedom away. There were also those who should have been allies to the cause of freedom, but who refused to defend their country, hoping to benefit from the political turmoil that would result if their enemies succeeded in overthrowing the government. Moroni--the man who erected the Title of Liberty--reminded his countryman of the things they held dear; things that were worth protecting and fighting for. Things far to dear to be given away, let alone for something so cheap as spite or the chance to gain power.

There are influences in the world today that threaten to take away our own liberties. We mustn't be fooled into thinking those influences come from only one person, political party, country, etc. It is often tempting to trade principles of liberty, fairness, compassion, and loyalty for personal or political gain. But remember the things our ancestors fought for, and remember that they still need defending.

Happy Independence Day! It may be an "American-centric" holiday, but independence from any influence that would seek to limit our liberty is worth striving for and celebrating, no matter where one may live.

A Wise Purpose

My first Sour Peppers commission! If you'd like to commission me to make a Sour Peppers entry to your specifications, check out my commissions page here.

Sometimes we are commanded to do things that may not seem to make sense according to our limited understanding. They may even be difficult or require sacrifice in order to do them. But we should remember that God knows all things. He knows how life will play out. Which is why we should listen when He speaks to us, and follow His guidance. It may be that He is helping us prepare for something bad that we don't know is coming. Or there may be an unseen reward later on. Mormon for example, the one writing this passage, was commanded to include the smaller record of Nephi to his abridgment. He may not have understood why, especially since the record of Lehi apparently included much of the same material. But it turned out to be a good thing that he did since the book of Lehi was lost. We are indebted to him for heeding the whisperings of the Spirit so that we have access to the many lessons taught by Nephi and his brethren. And of course, we are indebted to God for inspiring him to include the record. We should all likewise heed the promptings received from the Spirit, even when we don't understand why.

Our Escape

Death and Hell--or Physical Death and Spiritual Death--are very aptly compared to a terrible monster, which we cannot hope to escape on our own. Thankfully, God prepared a way for us to escape. It is only through His Son, Jesus Christ, that we are able to escape. Because He laid down his life and took it up again, all mankind will be Resurrected one day; physical death will be conquered, and will have claim over us for only a short time before we too will be resurrected, our bodies perfected and reunited with our spirits, never to be parted again. Because He took upon Himself the sins and pains of the entire world in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Way has been prepared for our liberation from spiritual death as well. All we need to do is take hold, and not let go.

More or Less

We are blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way we can overcome the effects of this fallen existence and achieve lasting happiness. However, we are sometimes guilty of not accepting that precious gift as it is. How often do we sometimes pick and choose which parts of the Gospel we will focus on, or which of God's commandments we will obey, while discarding or at least neglecting the rest? Or how often do we add our own opinions, traditions, and ideologies, elevating them to the point where we give them the same level of importance, if not more? When we do these things, we are not living the Gospel the way God intended, and we fall short of our potential. Every piece of the revealed Gospel is of great value to us, especially the pieces that may be the most difficult for us to understand or accept. And while our own opinions and traditions may not necessarily be "evil," they can distract us from the truth and cause us to look "beyond the mark" (Jacob 4:14).

Spirit of Contention

Whatever your religion, whatever your ideology, attacking those who disagree with you doesn't help your cause. That's not to say we shouldn't defend our beliefs. But we can do so without being awful to one another.

Sure Foundation

It's been a while since the last Ponderize. I don't have much to add for this one, other than to say that the way we build the "foundation" mentioned in Helaman 5:12 is through the things we talk about in church all the time: earnest prayer, diligent scripture study, regular church and temple attendance, sincere service to others, etc. These things do not earn us our salvation. But they do strengthen our conviction and increase our resilience to sin and trials.
When the devil's whirlwind is raging, it is the rock of our Savior--not any earthly power--that will stand. And if we are firmly anchored to Him, then so shall we.

Saved By Grace

Many members (and even non-members) are familiar with this scripture from 2 Nephi, or at least the last part. But I think we often misinterpret it. We read "it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do," and we think it means "I am only saved by grace after I have done all that I can do; if I don't do all I can do, I won't be saved." In reality, we should interpret it to mean, "Even after all I can do, it is grace that saves me, not my own works."
In the grand scheme of things, our all, our very best and most valiant efforts are pitiful compared to the great debt we owe our Heavenly Father, both because of all He has given us, and because of our own disobedience and unworthiness. Luckily, it is not our good works that pays our debt. Rather, it is by our good works that we show our faith (see James 2:18). It is an act of faith to humbly make our paltry offering, in spite of the great debt we owe. Such faith will ultimately be rewarded by the great gift of our Savior's Grace, which is sufficient to pay the debts of every person who has ever lived and ever will live. We will never be able to repay our Savior for that gift. And if we will accept Him and exercise faith in Him, we'll never have to.