Judge Not

 

In today's hyper-connected world, it's tempting to think that it's easier than ever to get to know someone, and whether they are a good person or not. The truth, however, is that we often get only fleeting glimpses, which are incomplete at best, or skewed and misleading at worst.

It is interesting to note that in this passage, Jesus doesn't just admonish His followers not to judge others, but clarifies that we are to "judge righteous judgement." Clearly, we have a responsibility to judge certain behaviors as right or wrong. But what are we to do when it comes to judging other people? At minimum, we should take pains to ensure that any judgement of another's character is not done hastily or without an unbiased view of the facts. Even that minimum standard is a tall order in today's culture of hot takes and moral absolutism. But here are a few principles I've found to be helpful to keep in mind:

• "Righteous judgement" doesn't only mean being right or fair. It also means treating others with compassion and grace who we might otherwise seek to judge.
  
• Don't underestimate our propensity to get things wrong. Many reputations and even livelihoods have been destroyed by the spreading of rumors that were untrue. The more certain we find ourselves about our judgement of a particular person, the more we should examine whether that certainty is warranted, or whether we should take more time to examine the facts.
• Don't underestimate the ability of others to get things right. Sometimes, we dismiss what others say out of hand because of differences in political affiliation, religion, education level, or other factors. But different life experiences can lead to legitimate insights that we might otherwise miss out on.
  
• Remember that people are complex. No one is 100% right or 100% wrong. No one is defined by their worst attributes or their strangest beliefs. In addition, people often behave differently when feeling stressed, threatened, or vulnerable than they would under ordinary circumstances.
  
• Judging intent is a much harder than judging actions. Even when we object to something someone says or does, we should avoid the trap of assuming it's because they are either evil or stupid. Give people the benefit of the doubt that their motives are sincere, and that to them, they have good and even moral reasons for what they do.
  
• Giving the benefit of the doubt doesn't mean giving your trust. You can believe that someone is sincere about their views of right and wrong without adopting those same views yourself.
  
• Lastly, it's okay to defer judgement. It sometimes feels like everyone is under pressure to make split-second judgement calls, and to have an unshakeable opinion about everything under the sun. But when we are doing our best to have an accurate picture of someone, and we still feel it is incomplete, it's okay to take time to contemplate. While it is common to regret jumping to conclusions, it is rare to regret the opposite.
  

True Witness

 

When we think of the commandment to not bear false witness, we often think of it as a commandment not to lie, and that is one valid application. However, we should do more than just avoid deliberately spreading false information; we should also strive to avoid unintentionally doing so as well.

When I was a kid, I remember watching Muppet Classic Theater, in which the Muppets performed several classic fairy tails. One of the stories they told was The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but with one key difference. In the original fairy tale, the shepherd boy is bored, so he pranks the townspeople multiple times by claiming he saw a wolf when there was none. In the Muppets version however, the shepherd (played by Gonzo) isn't deliberately dishonest. Instead, he just overreacts to tiny things and jumps to conclusions rather than getting all the facts straight, rushing to warn the townspeople about some impending disaster (including flood, earthquake, and plagues of insects) that then never materializes. In both the original and the Muppet version of the story, when the wolf eventually does show up, the shepherd runs to warn the town, but they don't trust him. But in Gonzo's case, his character flaw was not that of lying, but of not making sure what he was saying was true before telling it to others.

If we're not careful, we too can fall into the trap of unintentionally spreading false information. We naturally want to warn others when we suspect something might be wrong. But in the heat of the moment it's easy to forget that we don't always see things accurately. And while we might have good intentions, the consequences of being careless about the truth can be just as damaging as if we had intentionally lied. Spreading false information can damage reputations or or encourage harmful actions. And even if we happen to get it right, developing a habit of carelessness increases the chances of getting things wrong in the future.

Being careless about the truth could manifest in a number of ways:

• Assuming that someone is guilty before learning all the facts,
• Assuming that someone's actions are motivated by malicious intent,
• Sharing a fact, quote, or statistic without checking its source,
  
• Sharing a news story or article without verifying that it is accurate,
• Sharing a news story or article without even reading it,
• Presenting something as established fact when it is actually a matter of opinion or still being researched,
• Implying another source is unreliable without providing a valid reason for skepticism,
• Etc.
  

This is not to absolve others from their own responsibility to vet the accuracy of what they see, read, or hear. But we make that task easier by not inadvertently giving false information further paths to spread. We don't need to have absolute certainty before sharing something. And even the most careful individual will make mistakes. But by making a conscious effort to spread truth and not error, our ability to discern what is truth will grow stronger with time.

Feed My Sheep

 

After His glorious Resurrection and before ascending again into Heaven, Jesus met with his apostles and commissioned them to take His gospel to the world. In St John 21:15-17 we read that he told Peter, "Feed my lambs," and "Feed my sheep".

We too have been called to feed the Lord's sheep in our day (see for example D&C 50:13-14). To effectively do so ourselves, it is instructive to consider how a shepherd would feed his own sheep. Does he give every sheep exactly the same food? Does he feed them all in exactly the same way? If there is a lamb that is reluctant to eat, does he mock or belittle them? Does he perhaps try to force the food down their throats, or just abandon them to fend for themselves?

I think it's clear that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, would not only be supremely patient with each and every lamb, but would also know exactly what each one needs and feed each one in whatever way would be most beneficial for them. Likewise, each one of us requires spiritual nourishment at the time and in the manner that will be of most benefit to us. That means progressing a little at a time, "milk before meat" (1 Corinthians 3:2), or "line upon line" (Isaiah 28:10, 2 Nephi 28:30).

Some lambs need to be bottle fed, and aren't yet able to handle grain or grass. Likewise, those who are new to the Gospel, including children and recent converts, might rely heavily on parents and teachers to learn and grow their understanding.

As the sheep mature, they are led to safe pastures where they can graze for themselves, though their diet may occasionally be supplemented by hay, oats, and other foods for added nutrition. So can we, after they have developed their own testimonies of the Gospel, provide environments where we, along with fellow followers of Christ, can continue to learn for ourselves on a daily basis, while still receiving specialized instruction from time to time.

Finally, some sheep may not always eat when they are expected to. A caring shepherd will learn the difference between a sheep that is sick and in need of special treatment, and one who simply needs a little more time to feel hungry enough to start grazing. If there is someone in our lives who seems reluctant to receive the spiritual nourishment of the Gospel, we can  still provide them with a spiritually safe and judgement-free environment, ample opportunities to participate in and learn the gospel, and reassurance that they are loved no matter what.

The principles of the Gospel are the same for all of God's sheep. But we all benefit from personalized, one-on-one care and instruction.

No divisions

At times, it feels as if our world has never been more divided. Such divisions may be superficial, political, religious, or ideological in nature. It's easy to justify divisiveness when we convince ourselves that the other side is wrong, misguided, stupid, or even evil. But what does God want for us?

During His great Intercessory Prayer, Jesus prayed to the Father that He would "keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are" (St. John 17:11, emphasis added). In the Pauline epistles, we find numerous admonitions to be united in Christ (see for example 2 Corinthians 13:11, Galatians 3:28, and Ephesians 4:3-5). And members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have similarly been warned, "If ye are not one, ye are not mine" (D&C 38:27, emphasis added).

Certainly God wants us to remain separate from incorrect doctrines and harmful traditions. But there are many things that we can unite on:

• Christians of different denominations may disagree on certain teachings about the nature of God and the precise interpretations of His commandments, but we can agree on the importance of accepting Christ as our Savior and seeking to know and do His will.
• Members of different political parties may have very different ideas of what is best for the future of our nation, but we can agree on certain desirable outcomes, such as a strong economy, healthy population, protection of personal freedoms, etc. and we can work together to determine the best way to secure these outcomes.
• Parents sometimes have different opinions about the best way to raise, teach, or discipline their children, but they can still be united in their love for their children and their desire to find whatever methods work best for their children.
• And so on.

This is, of course, a two-way street; if we encounter someone who isn't willing to put a good-faith effort into being more united, our own efforts alone will not be enough to bridge the divide. But even then, we can do our part to not open any existing divides even further.

Why then is unity so important? I can think of at least two reasons: avoiding the damage that comes from a lack of unity, and harnessing the power that comes from embracing it.

Entropy

Entropy is the process by which the universe becomes more disorganized over time. Physicists tell us that the universe is expanding, and that the rate of expansion is accelerating. Eventually, everything will be moving away from each other so fast that not even light will be able to travel from one body to another without being completely lost. As galaxies, stars, planets, and eventually individual particles continue to move further and further apart from each other, eventually the universe will reach a point where there is no more interaction between anything at all. All the same mass and energy will be there, but it will be completely disorganized. Homogeneous. Inert. Dead. Unable to ever do anything useful or interesting ever again.

While this eventual "heat death" of the universe may be countless billions of years away, we can see its parallels in our lives today. The farther apart two people, political parties, or organizations drift from one another, the less likely they are to interact in a way that produces positive change. In addition, once two groups have separated from each other, schisms often begin to appear within the groups themselves, further reducing their effectiveness.

Entropy is accelerated by heat. When particles are heated up, they break apart and spread out much faster than particles in a more stable environment. "Social entropy" is also caused by a type of heat; when we treat one another with contempt rather than compassion, we move farther apart. Eventually we reach a point where we lack the cohesion required to achieve a desirable outcome; so much energy is spent on generating heat rather than results.

Energy

Many of the forces that cause divisiveness come naturally. However, it's also tempting at times to deliberately fan the flames. Anger and hatred have been used to motivate the masses to take action. Historical and even scriptural accounts are full of examples. While the outcomes may not have always been positive, it can't be denied that they were frequently powerful. Much like splitting an atom, stirring up people to anger releases a tremendous amount of energy that can be harnessed towards accomplishing one's desires. Unfortunately, there are dangers in this approach. The nuclear reaction required to split an atom may be powerful, but they are also dangerous. Under certain conditions, a nuclear reaction could get out of control, causing a tremendous amount of damage. Also, even when the process goes smoothly, the byproduct is toxic nuclear waste that damages anyone who so much as gets close to it.

But we don't need to sacrifice effectiveness in the name of "keeping the peace". Consider the opposite of splitting an atom; that is, nuclear fusion instead of fission. Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two atoms into one. It produces much less radioactive waste. In spite of this, we don't currently have any power plants that produce energy by nuclear fusion. That's because the process is difficult to sustain for long periods of time. But scientists are still looking for a way to pull it off, because the nuclear fusion releases many times the amount of energy released from fission, making it a highly sought after source of abundant, clean energy.

Finding a way to work together may take a lot more effort than splitting people apart. But the times when we've managed it in the past, we've accomplished amazing things. Our potential for accomplishing good is much greater, and the risk of doing harm is greatly reduced.

We can accomplish the work that God wants us to do much more effectively when we make the effort to do it together.

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.

Direct Thy Paths

 

Another birthday gift! I've done a drawing based on this passage of scripture before, but it was requested specifically because it is the Primary theme for next year. This version emphasizes the fact that while the world may appear to have many enticing gifts to offer, when we follow the path the Lord has shown us, we will find even greater riches. Even though we will need to work harder to get them, they will last much longer.

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.

For your good

 

We will face many a heartbreak during our mortal lives. Even so, we know that God is just and merciful. It may be difficult to reconcile this in our minds when so much that happens in our lives seems unfair and tragic. But if we will trust God, we will one day find that He never allowed us to experience anything that wouldn't eventually be for our good. That isn't to minimize the pain that we feel the moment heartbreak occurs. Rather, it gives us hope that one day our broken hearts will be healed. It also gives us perspective to think that every experience, even the bad ones, can help us draw nearer to God. In order to do so, we must strive to climb out from the burden of bitterness and self-pity, and look and reach upwards.

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.

Ye shall not teach

 

Saints in the early Church needed frequent reminders (as do we all) that there's a difference between the Lord's way of teaching, and the way that often comes naturally. Disciples of Christ have received a divine mandate to preach His Gospel to all the world (see Matthew 28:19-20). However, as important as it is to be willing to boldly declare the word to others, it's just as important to know when to stay silent.

We are not without example from the master teacher Himself. There were numerous occasions when Jesus remained silent, at times even refusing to answer a direct question (for example, Matthew 26:63, St John 19:9, Luke 23:9). The pattern for these cases seems to be that the listener or questioner was not spiritually prepared to receive instruction. In addition to this possibility, we have our own spiritual preparedness to be concerned about. Hatred, pride, or anger can impede our own ability to teach. If at any time we feel that the Holy Spirit is not present to carry the truth into the hearts of of those with whom we are speaking, it is better to exercise restraint and forbear.

The statement that we "shall not teach" if we receive not the Spirit could be seen as both a commandment and a warning. We are commanded not to teach if we receive not the Spirit, and we are warned that if we attempt to do so anyway, we won't teach, because the one we are trying to teach won't learn anything. After all, no one can be forced to understand, much less accept truth. And attempting to force it can actually create a stumbling block, making it more difficult to reach someone in the future.

There may be times when we are speaking to one who is not receptive, and yet we feel prompted to continue teaching. It could be that they will remember the words taught to them at a later time when they are more open to it. There may be others present who need to hear it. Or it may simply be for our own benefit, to strengthen our testimonies and help plant the seeds of truth even deeper into our own hearts. If we suspect that this may be the case, we should examine our hearts and motives, and sense whether the Spirit is indeed present. When in doubt, we can be bold and speak up, provided we do so with humility and love. But when we can tell the Spirit is not present, we should save our teaching for a time when He is.

Troubled about many things

 

There are many demands on our time. It sometimes feels like there's too much to do and not enough time to do it. And on top of all that, God wants us to do those things that will bring us closer to Him: reading our scriptures, attending temple and other worship services, serving others, etc. It's not hard to understand why we sometimes let those things slide. But when we prioritize them, they help all the other activities in our lives to fall into their proper place.

When Jesus told Martha that "one thing is needful," He was not implying that the other things she was trying to do were unimportant or not worthwhile. Rather, He was pointing out that at that time, Martha's desire to learn from Him in order to draw nearer to God was more important. Concerning herself with keeping house and serving her guests was a worthy desire. But Christ would only be with them for a short time, and they were better served by taking advantage of His presence.

This doesn't mean every second of every day needs to be spent on studying the Gospel. We need to take care of our mortal bodies (which includes appropriate intervals of rest and recreation), maintain close relationships with those we love, and contribute to our communities and society at large. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). If we ever feel overwhelmed with all the things we need to do, or are ever unsure of what to do next, we can take some time to ponder what one thing is most needful in that moment.

Cast on the right

 

After Christ was risen, His disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They had toiled all night and caught nothing. That morning they heard someone calling out to them, inquiring whether they had caught anything. After reporting that they had not, the stranger told them to cast their nets on the right side of the ship. They did so, and caught so many fish they couldn't hold them all. They then recognized that the One who had told them to cast on the right side was none other than Jesus Himself. (See St. John 26.)

Perhaps the fishermen thought the advice was silly. They had been casting their nets all night to no avail. What difference would it make to cast them one more time on the other side of the ship? But as soon as they did, they had success. What difference did it make? The difference was they did the same thing they were doing, but they did it the Lord's way.

So much of Christ's ministry was spent instructing and demonstrating to His followers how to do things the right way: the right way to teach, the right way to serve, the right way to worship, the right way to seek reconciliation, the right way to treat others. There are, of course, many things the Lord taught us not to do. But it is often the case that rather than stopping what we are doing altogether, we simply need to do it another way: the right way. His way.

The beauty of doing things the Lord's way is that it multiplies rather than limits our efforts. For example, Christ taught that those in positions of authority should be humble and seek to serve rather than to be served. That doesn't mean they can't teach or correct those under their stewardship. Rather, it means that teaching and correction should be done with love and genuine regard for those they lead and serve. And by showing that love and regard, they will be more likely to win their loyalty, which will in turn enhance their ability to lead.

There are many other potential applications as well. When our worthy goals aren't being met with success, it may be worth examining our methods, and considering if we are indeed doing things the Lord's way. A simple change in our approach may be all that we need.

Greater Love

During His final moments with his apostles, Jesus taught, "love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). To be clear, He didn't just instruct us to love one another, but to do so as He loved us. How exactly did He love us? He declares in the very next verse, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Not long after this, He would indeed lay down His life for all of mankind.

Not everyone is called upon to die in order to save the life of another. Relatively few will even have the opportunity. But there are other ways one might lay down his or her life for their friends. Any time we sacrifice our time, talents, and resources to help another, we are laying down a piece of ourselves to give to another.

This Valentine's Day, remember that the truest expression of love is giving of oneself, just as Christ, the greatest of all, gave of Himself for us.

Lord, is it I?

When Jesus announced to his Apostles that one of them would betray him, they did not begin to accuse one another. Instead, they all began to ask him, "Lord, is it I?"

It is entirely too easy to see the faults in others while neglecting our own self-improvement (see Luke 6:41-42). If we never look inwards at ourselves, we miss opportunities to grow and become more like the disciples Christ wants us to become. We often have the unfortunate tendency to see in others the very shortcomings that we have in ourselves. It is also in our natures to deflect any perceived criticism onto others instead of seeking to learn from it. The remedy is a humble heart that is ready to be taught and corrected, and to seek first to correct ourselves before correcting others.

I'm not proud to admit it, but when I first had the idea for this entry, I was thinking that it was something I wished other people would take to heart more often. Then I realized my mistake, and I commit to do better! I invite everyone to do so along with me. My challenge to you is for one week, try to notice anytime you have a critical thought about another person or group of people, no matter how true or justified the thought may be or appear to be. Then ask, "Lord, is it I?" Humbly ask the Lord to help you identify whether the fault you see in others is in any way manifest in yourself.

The purpose of this exercise is not to ignore legitimate concerns about the behavior of others, nor to become more self-critical. Rather it is to remind ourselves to look inwards at least as often as we look outward. As we do so, we will become less quick to judge and more receptive to the still small voice.

Small and simple things

There are a number of things that are seemingly simple and yet, given enough time, lead to impressive and dramatic results, like an acorn eventually growing into a mighty oak. But often we neglect these small and simple things. The reasons vary. Sometimes we just forget positive actions that fly under our radar due to their simplicity:

• contacting a friend or relative,
• performing small acts of kindness,
• spiritual nourishment through daily prayer and study,
• etc. 

Other times, there are things we know we should do, but that are difficult to form into regular habits:

• healthy sleeping, eating, and exercise routines,
• putting important tasks first instead of procrastinating,
• responding to setbacks and frustrations with patience,
• etc.

And then there are solutions to difficult problems that are nonetheless neglected because they just seem too simple to work. For example:

• Daily expressions of gratitude for the things we have leads to greater happiness more reliably than the acquisition of goods.
  
• Patiently listening and validating the feelings of another is more helpful than telling them how to fix their problems.
• Loving our enemies and treating them how we want to be treated leads to lasting positive change in them more often than retaliation and humiliation does.
  
• etc.

Whatever the reason for not doing the small and simple things, we can increase our diligence by learning about the promised benefits or blessings that come from doing them or by looking to others who do them consistently as examples. But the simplest solution of all is to simply... do it! We can learn by our own experience that a seed is good by planting it and seeing what grows. When it does begin to grow, however, we need to continue with patience and keep doing the small and simple things that nourish it.

Those who love

 

This was a commission someone ordered for a friend. God often blesses His children through others. So by showing love and kindness to others, we are doing His work. ♥

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.

All in our power

At the time of this writing the world is currently experiencing a pandemic of the novel corona virus. Many schools, businesses, and places of worship and recreation have shut down. It's true that there are many other things in the world that cause significantly more suffering and death. However, perhaps what's most distressing about this present challenge is a feeling of lack of control. This virus doesn't discriminate and isn't caused by any lifestyle choice beyond the simple act of going about our normal day-to-day lives and interacting with those around us. It can feel like an unstoppable force. It can feel as if we can do little more than wait for the storm to pass and hope it does as little damage as possible.

And yet, during this and other challenges, there are still things we can do. There are things we can control. No matter how frightening or insurmountable things may seem, let us focus on the small things we can do to improve our situation and that of others, and let us ask God to show us what those things are. For, if our God is able to multiply five loaves and two fishes into a banquet for over five thousand, He can surely multiply our meager efforts to the blessing of our lives and those of our friends, family, and neighbors.