Religious Freedom

I like to take  few moments and comment on religious freedom and the advantages that a religious society have.

Religion in society provides us with a basis or background from which we can judge our own action.  I know you will say that in as much as we have the 10 commandments many in the government doe not follow them.  Rightfully so,  you can claim that.  But, it does provide a standard by which we can judge ourselves.

There are quite a few times that we see from the Book of Mormon how the society (Nephites) here in the Americas deteriorated as the people in general dwindled in unbelief.   Their turning away from the Gospel and falling into wickedness eventually lead to their down fall.  The other part of society (i.e the enemy or Lamanites) came in and via war, bloodshed and contention wiped them out.


As the people relied on their own strength and did not recognize the hand of God in their lives they began to fail and fall.   They entered into a phase in the circular cycle.  This cycle goes from 1. humbling ones self and recognizing God in our lives, 2. being blessed and prospering, 3. becoming prideful, etc, and finally 4. being humbled by the Lord.

So can we see that as we turn away from our religious roots we begin to rely more on "the arm of the flesh" and begin to become a loathsome and abominable people.

But, what then does this have to do with religious freedom?
When we begin to persecute those of other faiths be they Christian or not we begin to suppress religion in general.  When religion in general is no longer tolerated we begin to lose our way and enter in the pride portion of the cycle.  Thus some that would say that we must be tolerant of all and thus we can not have anything that appears religious in any shape or form associated with government are actually promoting the opposite.

At that point they are basically denying the existence of a supreme being.  This is thus very dangerous.  But, at the same time we have to be careful that we are not promoting one religion over another.

I love the fact that at many town and city council meetings they have a prayer at the begin of the meeting.  Usually, a pastor or other leader of a local church is called in to over this prayer.  Every time it is rotated around to someone new.  Thus no on religion, denomination or faith is promoted over another.  But, in some instances this is being pushed aside.

We are setting aside our standards, changing our moral compass.  All in the claim that we must be more inclusive and/or tolerant of those around us.  But, in the end we are denying our maker and moving away from our foundation of faith.

Will societies ills be fixed over night as we promote religion in any of it's forms?  No, it will not but, take communities where there is lack of a family unit, morals are lacks or no existent, and honest is a thing rarely seen.  Imagine how much better this community would be if there were people striving to live a moral life, uphold the family unit, and be honest and neighborly to one another.  This surely would improve life in the neighborhood.

Sometimes they state that you can take the people out of the ghetto but, not the ghetto out of the people.   Imagine if you took the ghetto out of the people.... Religion can provide the basis for which to do this.  So we have to adamantly promote religion in all its forms.

Since it is easy to see that spiritual, no less the physical benefits of religion in our society.  So thank the next person you see for being religiously involved and for standing up for their faith and religious rights.  Let us stand bold such that our little ones will not think we are those that "Do not believe in Jesus" - or basically lack any religious orientation.

We definitely do not want to end up like Nazi Germany or the fall of the Nephite Civilization as recounted by Mormon to his son Moroni-


7 And now I write somewhat concerning the sufferings of this people. For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, behold, the Lamanites have many prisoners, which they took from the tower of Sherrizah; and there were men, women, and children.

 8 And the husbands and fathers of those women and children they have slain; and they feed the women upon the ^aflesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.

 9 And notwithstanding this great ^aabomination of the Lamanites, it doth not exceed that of our people in Moriantum. For behold, many of the daughters of the Lamanites have they taken prisoners; and after ^bdepriving them of that which was most dear and precious above all things, which is ^cchastity and ^dvirtue—

 10 And after they had done this thing, they did murder them in a most ^acruel manner, torturing their bodies even unto death; and after they have done this, they devour their flesh like unto wild beasts, because of the hardness of their hearts; and they do it for a token of bravery.

 11 O my beloved son, how can a people like this, that are without civilization—

 12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)

 13 But O my son, how can a people like this, whose ^adelight is in so much abomination—

 14 How can we expect that God will ^astay his hand in judgment against us?

Moroni 9: 7-14 

Buaidh - NO - Bas