Governing Ourselves, Part 1

Joseph aspired to the notion that he could teach his people correct principles and they could govern themselves. 

Unfortunately, some of those people never learned even the first principles of self-governance. 

“There were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore, by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God, therefore the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel, but in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” (T&C 101:2)

Their inability to learn and apply correct principles taught by a true servant, led to their rejection as a church and a people and to the untimely, tragic deaths of Hyrum and Joseph… along with the forfeiture of Zion… and the onset of pestilence, loss of property, death, murder, blindness, and whoredoms. 

In a community of believers, and finding ourselves similarly situated to those in Joseph’s day, we’d all sincerely hope we could do better. After all, our lives and the lives of our loved ones may actually depend on it. That we could be firm minded. Peaceful. Harmless. Wise. Hardworking. Honest. Avoiding jarrings and contentions and strife. Able to discern between truth and error. Able to protect our community from unrepentant harmful people… In other words, become a community that attracts those souls looking for the truth as the church and government fail them and as the days of trouble fast approach us. 

The first principles of proper conduct 

“Self-government implies self-discipline. Freedom requires self-restraint in conduct and speech. People are free to say whatever they want, but when they want to say things that endanger others, then you have to consider limiting speech. That is always unfortunate. Ultimately, unless people share common values, common beliefs, and a common sense of proper conduct you cannot have “freedom” and “self-government” because it will end in violence.

When everyone agrees on first principles, there is little need for speech-limiting laws. When, however, something is deeply offensive and insulting to one group, and valued highly by another, cycles of debate end in cycles of violence. 

The United States’ Constitutional form of government presupposes an agreement on fundamental first principles. As that common consensus diminishes on fundamental principles, our form of government is increasingly less likely to work. If the “Elders of Israel” are going to save the Constitution [or if we are going to succeed in building Zion], it will not be through legislation or litigation, but by conversion of people back to a common set of beliefs.  Only then Constitutional government has a chance to survive.” (From the desk of Denver Snuffer)

We have had predators, pedophiles, adulterers, violent abusers, liars, fraudsters, fornicators, false prophets and even false Christs among us. When these people have exposed themselves and remain defiantly unrepentant of their iniquity, do we seek to nuance and litigate and defend them rather than unite in our shared common beliefs and common sense of proper conduct? I.e. “The first principles”? The latter pursuit would be so much easier in the long run but I think too often some of us mistake weak mindedness for empathy and in doing so we enable abusive individuals and ironically, keep them from repenting.

The standard for dealing with the unrepentant soul causing contentions in a community and for ensuring that common sense shared values are upheld is set forth in the Book of Mormon:

“And they were strict to observe that there should be no iniquity among them. And whoso was found to commit iniquity, and three witnesses of the church did condemn them before the elders, and if they repented not and confessed not, their names were blotted out and they were not numbered among the people of Christ. But as oft as they repented and sought forgiveness with real intent, they were forgiven.” (Moroni 6:2 RE)

Today, the law of witnesses still applies to us and ought to be followed. We also have the blessing of some of our Elders being comprised of Councils of Women, who tend to be wiser in discerning matters affecting the peace of a community. Although their current jurisdiction is limited by only being able to remove a man’s priesthood certificate, their collective judgment can and should inspire courage in dealing with difficult people and situations. They can send a message to a community that certain offenses are unacceptable and could serve, I suppose, as a basis for warning the community and casting someone out.

For those who worry that maybe different rules should apply to some the Lord tells us:

“Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men, for although a man may have many revelations and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.” (T&C 2:2)

Of course, the commandment to forgive the repentant sinner is the most hopeful principle to remember. We are all sinners and we all fall short of truly being worthy to be a part of Zion. 

When witnesses (friends, brothers, sisters, spouses, children) try to sustain us by making us aware of a personal failure that may be disrupting the peace of the community, thus causing harm and contention, it would be a shame if we disregarded the courage of those witnesses  and refused to be humble enough to repent.

The result of that unwillingness to repent, and the result of not agreeing upon “first principles” and the law of witnesses, to hold each other accountable, will obviously be a source for jarrings and contentions and strifes and violence.