In the Rough - The Blog of Joel McDonald Jr.

Love is written of often in the New Testament.

John writes about the reason for Christ’s birth. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

And then he continues by writing, ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

It was also written, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:7-12).

God loved us first. He doesn’t wait for us to love Him before He loves us.

Jesus instructed his disciples, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).

We should love as God loves us. We should love first without first being loved. This is truly the love of God, us living through Christ and Christ living in us. No man may have seen God, but many have seen the love of God working through others.
Christ was once asked, “which is the great commandment in the law?” To this question, he replied, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:38-40).

Surely, having heard all these things, we should remember the love of God towards us this Christmas season. Love is the greatest law.

Peace is the result of love.

For as the gospel is the result of love; peace is the result of love as well.

Christ’s gospel was peace. For those looking for the messiah to come to rescue Israel, they were looking for one anointed by God to free their nation and bring them everlasting peace.

Israel was not a free nation, nor was it a peaceful nation. Israel was ruled by the Romans, whose iron fist saw to is that no uprisings lasted long. Many so-called messiahs gained followers and attempted to free their nations unsuccessfully.

Christ had no army. He taught that peace could be found in meekness. He sought to change the hearts of his followers.

Consider the things in your life which keep you from finding peace. What foreign power rules your soul?

Remember that peace is the result of love. The iron fist of that which binds you will melt in the presence of the love of God.
Let the love of God lead you to peace.

It is truly amazing how a babe in swaddling clothes lying in a manger changed the world. For all the wrongs committed in his name, there are a thousand rights. Remembering Jesus, and all he represented, will be a guiding light for us all. May this Christmas season aid us in doing so.

In a speech delivered Thursday, December 6th, 2007, in Texas, presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, attempted to ease the concerns of many voters about his Mormonism while also stressing that he will not separate himself from his faith for political gain.To the majority of listeners, there seemed nothing amiss in what he said. However, to the knowing Latter-day Saint, current or former, two areas of his speech seemed to be a departure from the beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One such statement was that the authority of the leadership of the Mormon Church is, “theirs within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.” For those unaware, Mormons believe that the leadership of their church are prophets of God. In the lesson manual used by the LDS Church to teach new members, of visitors, the basics of church beliefs, Gospel Principles, we find that Mormon’s belief that, “A prophet is a man called by God to be his representative on earth. When a prophet speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking” (p. 47). Further, the head of the Mormon Church is known as the President of the Church  who, “can receive God’s will for the membership of the Church” (p. 49). As a faithful Latter-day Saint, Romney has been instructed that he , “should follow his [the prophet’s] inspired teachings completely. We should not choose to follow part of his inspired counsel and discard that which is unpleasant or difficult”  (p. 49).

As a Mormon, Romney has been commanded to, and expected to, obey the counsels of the leadership of the Church. This commitment does not end, ever. Not even if he were elected as President of the United States. If elected, he would still be expected to follow the instructions of Mormon leadership with the same obligation as he would if God himself were personally delivering such instructions.

The LDS Church does not hesitate to become involved in national issues if such issues are connected to the practices of the church. In May, 2006, Mormon leaders sent a letter to all LDS congregations to be read from the pulpit to encourage church members to express their opinions to their elected officials in support of the failed marriage amendment. In addition, Russell M. Nelson, believed by Mormons to be a prophet, visited Washington D.C. to speak in support of a constitutional amendment protecting marriage, and did so at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol building. The Mormon church is not a quiet little church that doesn’t seek to influence the politics of the United States.

During his speech, Romney also declared that, if elected, the Oath of Office will be his “highest promise to God”. According to Mormon theology, this is a false statement. Faithful Latter-day Saints who prove their worthiness are able to take part in temple ceremonies where they make a series of promises, oaths, and covenants to God in return for “all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary…after…this life…to walk back to the presence of the Father, passing the angels who stand as sentinels…and gain your eternal exaltation in spite of earth and hell” (Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 416).

 One such oath that Romney made in a Mormon temple during his endowment ceremony was that he would “consecrate [himself], [his] time, talents, and everything with which the Lord has blessed [him], or with which he may bless [him], to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and for the establishment of Zion”. Romney has promised everything to the Mormon church. His becoming President does not end his obligation according to this oath. One must wonder if Romney’s statement meant that being elected as president is more important than his salvation, or if this is a bold attempt to downplay his obligation to the church.

All this being said, I am doubtful that the LDS Church would make an attempt to influence Romney’s decisions if he were elected president. I do know that, as much as the church publicizes their political neutrality, a Mormon in the White House would embolden the church with a sense legitimacy, but I don’t think this would lead to any actions in connection with the presidency that many are concerned about. On the other hand, I could be wrong. If Romney is a devout Mormon, he believes that the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the mouthpiece of God. We can’t be certain that Romney will not obey his God, through the commands of his church’s president.

What are your thoughts? Do you think Romney’s Mormonism matters?

I should be over this,
Over the torment of thinking of you,
And the torture of all the unknowns.
I should be over this,
Alone in the dark with deafening thoughts,
Of you and me and all that was.
I should be over this,
Fettered to the past of confliction,
Where you and I once were.
I should be over this,
Hopelessly frozen in time,
To relive all that went wrong.
I should be over this.
I should be over this.
I should be over this.