Mormon Democrats need to stand as witnesses

What is the ethical and moral responsibility of a person who sees and understands the truth when others do not? What if those who do not see the truth criticize and ridicule the one who does? What if the blind ones actively persecute the one who sees?

Knowing the truth

Joseph Smith had this problem as a teenager. He had a vision, and was severely persecuted for simply telling others what had happened.

I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religion, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase;

Joseph Smith—History 1:22

Joseph later reflected that his situation reminded him of Paul before King Agrippa in the New Testament (Acts 26). No amount of persecution could make him deny what he knew to be true.

Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen?

Joseph Smith—History 1:25

Do we in the church today have the courage and strength to stand up for what we know to be true? Even if we are persecuted and ridiculed? Even if we are persecuted and ridiculed by other members of our own church?

Bearing one another’s burdens

… and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord … ?

Mosiah 18:8-10

In America today, who are the people willing to “bear one another’s burdens” and “comfort those that stand in need of comfort”? It certainly isn’t the Republicans.

In response to the February 2021 deep freeze in Texas, Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) raised $5 million in relief money. Texas Senator Ted Cruz (R) flew to Cancun for a vacation.

President Biden’s much needed Coronavirus relief package, The American Rescue Plan, had to be steered through an arcane legislative process known as “reconciliation.” This is because, even though Democrats hold the Senate majority, they knew they couldn’t get even ten Republican votes to break the filibuster.

Republicans unanimously opposed the bill. They said it was because the bill provides financial relief for cities and states. They politicized the issue by claiming that the money was a “bail out” for “liberal cities.” Congressional Republicans don’t like to spend money to help people in need unless they get some personal political payback.

Stubborn blindness

I am a Mormon Democrat. Many of my friends are Mormon Democrats. We have long been puzzled how any believing member of the Church of Jesus Christ could vote for, or support the policies of, big money corporate Republicans. Many of us had hoped that the recent experience with Donald Trump in the White House would wake up the Saints to the inhumane policies, deceptive language, and deep corruption of the Republican Party.

Instead, many Mormon Republicans have doubled down on their stubborn blindness and have resurrected the outdated, discredited, paranoid, anti-communist teachings of Ezra Taft Benson (when he was an Apostle, not as Church President) to try to justify their position.

The Republican party, with its close ties to big money, its militarism, its street thugs, and its hero worship of Trump, has essentially become a Fascist party. And those members of the Church who support authoritarian ultranationalism, who believe the lies of Trump, FoxNews, OAN, and NewsMax, and who defend racism, classism, and sexism, are most certainly NOT Christians — no matter what they may claim.

Standing tall

It is not an easy time to be a Democrat in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many members of the Church are proclaiming unwavering fealty to insane nonsense. If one speaks up for common sense (such as wearing a mask during a pandemic), one may quickly find oneself on the receiving end of ridicule (or worse). Such treatment makes it difficult for some of us to find fellowship in our own LDS wards (local congregations).

I understand it is not easy, but I am asking Democrats and other left-leaning members of the Church to stand tall. Do not be moved out of your place. Speak up when you can have some influence and hold your peace when faced with stubborn blindness.

Do not let those who have been deceived undermine your faith in God and Jesus Christ. Remain humble. Do not let pride control you as it has many Republicans. They will reap what they have sown. We Democrats need to stay strong in the church, despite the persecution, to stand as witnesses against those who profess Christ but do not know Him.

Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

Mormon 8:35-36

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Sources
Shawna Mizelle, Natasha Chen and Kevin Conlon, “AOC raises nearly $5 million in Texas relief efforts,” CNN, February 21,2021.
Joey Garrison, “Do states and cities ‘need’ Biden’s $350 billion in direct COVID-19 relief? It depends where you’re asking,” USA Today, February 8, 2021.