LOOKING FOR NOBLE AND GREAT LEADERS

During our breakfast time together on the morning I was scheduled to write this Thought, our morning conversation was dominated by two subjects.

Kathleen had encouraged me to read an article by a BYU associate professor on the problem of maintaining one’s individuality while attempting to put on the perfections of Heavenly Father and Jesus the Christ. Which of course we both really enjoyed since it was in tune with many of our own feelings and beliefs. We were able to share some additional understandings we had on that subject.

The second came from the lead story in the Deseret News supplement which comes with the Church News. This edition being the first of the new year, started what the editors said would be their main theme of 2019. This issue was on honesty and integrity and the growth in peoples’ increased tolerance in accepting lies and untruths in the leaders they elect along with being more accepting of the general lack of integrity in society.

Amazingly, or maybe the way everyday should happen, when I started reading the chapters in the book of Mosiah I only got as far as the 23rd chapter before I was reading Alma’s admonition on what kind of person people should seek to lead them.

ALMAS COUNSEL

I have taken the liberty of adjusting Alma’s words which were spoken in a day when male leadership was dominant and present his advise in a genderless manner.

Should be a just person.

Should be a person of God.

Should walk in the ways of God.

Should keep the commandments of God.

Should teach people to love their neighbors.

Should teach people to have no contentions among them.

Should nourish people with things pertaining to righteousness.

ALMAS WARNINGS

Wicked leaders will oppress nations.

Beware of leaders who esteem themselves above others.

Remember the suffering brought about by the iniquity of evil leaders.

Evil leaders often cause the people to be caught in the snare of iniquity.

People caught in the snare of iniquity will be as bound with that entrapping band.

During the later decades of my life I became a self proclaimed charter member of the Non Political Party Party (N3P). Every so often
someone would ask me what were the beliefs of the N3P and I would say off handedly something about common sense and integrity, but if
I were ever to be nailed down and had to declare in all honesty I would have to say that the major platforms of the N3P are found in section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.

We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.

We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.

We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.

We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws of such governments; and that sedition and rebellion are unbecoming every citizen thus protected, and should be punished accordingly; and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest; at the same time, however, holding sacred the freedom of conscience.

We believe that every man should be honored in his station, rulers and magistrates as such, being placed for the protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty; and that to the laws all men owe respect and deference, as without them peace and harmony
would be supplanted by anarchy and terror; human laws being instituted for the express purpose of regulating our interests as individuals and nations, between man and man; and divine laws given of heaven, prescribing rules on spiritual concerns, for faith and worship, both to be answered by man to his Maker.

We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy.

We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of that government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment.

We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.

We believe that all religious societies have a right to deal with their members for disorderly conduct, according to the rules and regulations of such societies; provided that such dealings be for fellowship and good standing; but we do not believe that any religious society has authority to try men on the right of property or life, to take from them this world’s goods, or to put them in jeopardy of either life or limb, or to inflict any physical punishment upon them. They can only excommunicate them from their society, and withdraw from them their fellowship.

We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.

We believe it just to preach the gospel to the nations of the earth, and warn the righteous to save themselves from the corruption of the world...

In the simplest of terms I have always hoped the N3P would somehow be seen by others as a Party for those who stand for integrity, truth, love, peace and follow the principles found in the 13th Article of Faith; We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I am well aware that many will consider the beliefs about leaders which the members of N3P have to be pie in the sky wishes and that we need to pull our heads out of the sand and see the world as it really is, but I find that peace attends me and resides in our home when I view the world as it would be if we had leaders such as Alma showing us the way to find and live the Plan of Happiness.

Although we may not see much evidence of it in those who lead the governments of the world today, we ought not despair because the Lord has given us hope in these words found in the Pearl of Great Price.

Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; and God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. (Abraham 3: 22, 23)


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY