The last paragraph in the Proclamation on the Family is a plea from the first presidency. It is a request for me and for you to act.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
Now, I have to be honest with you. I am a political black hole. I live a life that . And within that blissful bubble, few political issues enter. And those that I do become aware of, I rarely give my attention or thoughtful time to consider. And it’s a shame.
It’s a shame because in the Young Women program of the church, my daughter is learning that she needs to prepare herself to strengthen home and family. The first presidency has asked that I, a responsible citizen, promote measures designed to strengthen families. And I don’t think I’ve been doing a very good job of it.
Unfortunately, one of the issues that my brain has happened to stop upon in those few moments when I have considered that while I strengthening my own family, I am not necessarily “promoting measures” designed to strengthen families, is that I have a felt a little awkward imposing my moral standards and religious values on others who don’t share my beliefs. Those who might disagree with me would say that I am “intolerant” or that I don’t support “diversity.” And in this day and age, it’s a stigma and social faux pas to not be “politically correct.”
But today I stumbled across an article written by Dallin H. Oaks (Dallin H. Oaks, “Weightier Matters,” Ensign, Jan 2001, 13). He argues that because we as latter-day saints value our moral agency (our right to choose) so highly, we hesitate to take a firm stance on issues because it might rob someone else of their right to choose. But Elder Oaks says that just because there are unwelcome consequences enacted for certain choices, does not take away a person’s agency to make that choice.
In a discussion about abortion, Elder Oaks says:
If we say we are anti-abortion in our personal life but pro-choice in public policy, we are saying that we will not use our influence to establish public policies that encourage righteous choices on matters God’s servants have defined as serious sins. I urge Latter-day Saints who have taken that position to ask themselves which other grievous sins should be decriminalized or smiled on by the law due to this theory that persons should not be hampered in their choices. Should we decriminalize or lighten the legal consequences of child abuse? of cruelty to animals? of pollution? of fraud? of fathers who choose to abandon their families for greater freedom or convenience?
Similarly, some reach the pro-choice position by saying we should not legislate morality. Those who take this position should realize that the law of crimes legislates nothing but morality. Should we repeal all laws with a moral basis so that our government will not punish any choices some persons consider immoral? Such an action would wipe out virtually all of the laws against crimes.
Similarly, regarding the call for diversity, Elder Oaks reminds us that not all kinds of diversity are something to be desired. And that anytime “diversity” is being touted as the ultimate achievement,we need to ask ourselves if that diversity is actually something that will help us achieve some kind of goal. As latter-day saints, will this type of diversity help us achieve our eternal goals?
He says:
Strong calls for diversity in the public sector sometimes have the effect of pressuring those holding majority opinions to abandon fundamental values to accommodate the diverse positions of those in the minority. Usually this does not substitute a minority value for a majority one. Rather, it seeks to achieve “diversity” by abandoning the official value position altogether, so that no one’s value will be contradicted by an official or semiofficial position. The result of this abandonment is not a diversity of values but an official anarchy of values.
We as women, leaders of the home, cannot afford to idly and ignorantly sit by while political and social forces are at work in the world to destroy the family. We can no longer afford to shrink from our convictions because we are afraid of being labeled, closed-minded or intolerant. Like Amalackiah in the Book of Mormon, there is a power in the world that uses cunning devices and flattering words to lead “away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake.”
But we must take a stand for truth and righteousness wherever and however we can. We need to be like Moroni:
who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
And he fastened on his head-plate, and hisbreastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored…
And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments. (see Alma 46)
We need to be the ones to bear the Title of Liberty in our own communities and stand boldly to protect the sanctity of families. We can be the rallying point where others in our community may flock and strengthen themselves to fight the fight with us.
