Ray's comments on another thread brought a phrase to my mind, and so I re-read Helaman 5. A couple of verses:
2 For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.
4 And it came to pass that Nephi had become weary because of their iniquity; and he yielded up the judgment-seat, and took it upon him to preach the word of God all the remainder of his days, and his brother Lehi also, all the remainder of his days;
I have stated before my devotion to the Constitution of the United States, and that I believe it to be the foundational political document for the Kingdom of God.
With each passing year, however, I find it more difficult to engage in losing political battles, and at this point, the only causes worth fighting for seem to be the lost ones. In many cases, they who choose evil are more numerous than they who choose good. The foundation of liberty and justice established by the constitution has been steadily eroded by all three branches of government.
If we're not there, we're getting close.
So is the answer to disengage from all things political, watch the country ripen for destruction, and preach the word of God?
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The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life. - Julie Beck
I'm a fighter. I won't give up on the cause of righteousness. I may have to change my tactics. For example, contacting Barbara Boxer and Diane Fienstein to support my causes is a lost cause but I can support rightous causes with other candidates. I don't think we withdraw but at some point certain actions with certain individuals will not make a difference. Trying to get Barney Frank to vote to keep marriage between a man and a woman would be like trying to stare at a fence post in order to make it erupt in flames. It isn't gonna work.
Joseph Smith was a strong believer in the principles of this nation's founding, even though it certainly didn't appear to treat him fairly. TO consider that he even tried running for President to get consideration and help from people he fundamentally believed could be appealed to on a civil level, gives me hope as well. We need to make our points both politically and religiously.
Civilization is religion. The influence of God upon even the most hardened heart to restrain from acts of selfish plunder, self-destruction, oppression of the many by the few, and anarky. It is worth fighting for... on a religious level and a civil one, because they really can't be seperated.
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I have to agree with Ropers assessment, but I'll keep fighting even though I think the battle has been lost. As Clint Smith once said about running out of ammo:
"If pointing an empty gun at your opponent makes him duck, you may live for an extra two seconds-and who knows? I may find another gun, the bad guy may give up, or the ammo fairy may drop me a magazine."
When all seems useless, I call to mind this scripture--
Moroni 9:6 "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."
This was Mormon writing to Moroni shortly before the utter destruction of their people. Not much hope there, I'd say. And yet, Mormon teaches his son that "notwithstanding their hardness" which to me means, even though this is a losing battle, even though there is zero hope of converting these devils, even though the cause is indeed lost, "let us labor diligently." And one of my favorite phrases, "for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay." We have our own battle going on inside ourselves. The battle for our own soul and a battle to safeguard our own eternal reward. We get to a point where the "outside" battle may look like a "done deal" but as it was said, we must never, never, never give up. (That's for victory, btw)
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I have to agree with Ropers assessment, but I'll keep fighting even though I think the battle has been lost. As Clint Smith once said about running out of ammo:
"If pointing an empty gun at your opponent makes him duck, you may live for an extra two seconds-and who knows? I may find another gun, the bad guy may give up, or the ammo fairy may drop me a magazine."
The question was: Helaman 5: Are we there yet?I hope that collective "we" doesn't include me, or my family. However, I do think that the nation is quickly going down that road.
Moroni 9:6 "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."I can quit when the Lord takes over and tells me I've done all I can do. Until then, I will do all I can to perserve and protect the land he gave me and mine. Its a valuable gift after all.
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The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones
Welcome, Convert! Please feel free to introduce yourself in the Introductions area. Regarding the original post, I definitely think we're there, but then I firmly believe that we're in end times. I've even started preserving my own meat to add to my year's supply.
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If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen! - Samuel Adams
Yes, I fear for my children's future more so than my own. I can always arm up and head into the woods if things go totally nuts. Heck, I even worry about my grandkids that haven't even been born yet!
but we still have to live through all of this... and for those of us with little ones it gets scary at times.
I understand that. I have 9 grandchildren with a 10th on the way. Plus so far only 2 of my 5 have given us any grandchildren as of yet. So we have many more yet to make an appearance.
Part of the reason things are as bad as they are is that previous generations dropped the ball. Now its in our court. Today's generation has the capactiy to do whatever is needed. We may lose the fight, but not the war. And I'm not talking about terrorism.
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The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones
Despite isolated and often outrageous anecdotes, we are still protected in our freedom of conscious and practice of religion. That is the most important freedom and one I will quickly fight for.
There are many other rights I am willing to fight for, such as the destruction of property rights by the supreme court in its Kelo decision. The thought of money, ease, power, and convenience too often permanently pervert our former rights.
(That's for victory, btw) 
