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Continue ShoppingDear Latter-day Saints: "Stop The Judgements, Stop the Hate, Love One Another"
“We should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate,” said President Dallin H. Oaks, first counselor in the governing First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “There are many political issues, and no party, platform or individual candidate can satisfy all personal preferences.”
President Oaks in his talk during General Conference in April 2021, asked Latter-day Saint members to not judge or create contention with members and others who had different political views. Whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, or a Conservative or a Liberal. It doesn't matter. Stop the judgments, stop the hate, and learn to love one another.
“Each citizen must therefore decide which issues are most important to him or her at any particular time,” Oaks said. “Then, members should seek inspiration on how to exercise their influence according to their individual priorities. This process will not be easy. It may require changing party support or candidate choices, even from election to election.”
Regardless of your political views, know that members of the Church can be part of any political party that they want and it doesn't matter in terms of their standing with the Church. Just because someone is a member of the Democratic party doesn't mean they believe 100% all the talking points that are being brought up, and vice versa with being a Republican, or Libertarian, etc. Everyone has a reason for their beliefs and their decisions. Maybe instead of pointing fingers, we can start to listen, learn, and love one another.
President Russell M. Nelson's challenge in 2020 was to #givethanks on social media. This movement was used to give social media users a positive feed and opportunities to be humbled by the many experiences of others and empathic of those that live different life experiences than themselves.
The only way that we can move forward as a country and to ultimately be the people our Heavenly Father wants us to be, is to follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. We can do this by loving one another and using the beattitudes! The Beatitudes give us the formula for coming unto Christ. We can use them as a foundation as we seek for a Christ-centered life.
The beattitude I want to specifically focus on is found in Matthew 5:9 which says:
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matt. 5:9.)
In talk given by Elder O. Leslie Stone given in the 1974 General Conference, he said:
Peacemakers are those who try to save themselves and their fellows from strife. Our Heavenly Father delights in peace, and all who seek to bring about peace shall be like God in that respect and shall be called the children of God.
Was not Christ the great peacemaker? He encouraged men to love and understand each other so that they could live together in peace.
The Lord has commanded us to love all men, including our enemies. He expects us to be peacemakers. He asks us to work out a reconciliation in a Christlike manner with those with whom we have difficulties or misunderstandings. It is his will that we should tolerate abuse rather than retaliate in a spirit of anger. It is better to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile, to give our coat and our cloak also, than to offend.
As we gather with our families for the holidays, or commune with others socially or through digital means, let's continue to follow the Savior's example to be peacemakers, meek, and humble. As we do this, we will be able to unlock the blessings that are in store for us.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments!
** The opinions and views expressed herein belong solely to Tyler Carpenter and do not necessarily represent the opinions or views of Cedar Fort, Inc.