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A Christian Nation - or Why Glenn Beck is Wrong

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It is important to note these verses as recently Glenn Beck, a shock jock that has used the right-wing so-called Tea Parties to boost his viewership. Beck is a member of this same Church. Though Beck has spoken out against the government, it is clear by the scripture above that the Church does not share his views. Governments are for the benefit of man, for a good and safe society. It is also clear that the Church values the protection of life.

According to Deseret News,

Beck said on his March 2 TV show: "I beg you, look for the words 'social justice' or 'economic justice' on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words."

Later in the article we read:

Beck is a Mormon, but a church spokesman said Beck's comments are his own.

"Public figures who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints represent their own views and do not speak for the church," Scott Trotter said.

Like Beck, I am a lay member and have no right to speak for the Church. It is my view that heath care protects life by giving health care to all. It also does not allow abortions to be preformed with government money - this again fulfills the requirements in my views. What the Church thinks of the issue we do not know. In the past, Church leaders have been vocal on key issues. But on health care they are silent up to this point. They have nether publicly praised LDS Republican representatives for opposing it, nor publicly chastened LDS Democratic representatives for supporting it as those like Beck have. This means that as members we should look to God and each other for guidance.

According to the New York Times,

Philip Barlow, the Arrington Professor of Mormon History and Culture at Utah State University, said: "One way to read the Book of Mormon is that it's a vast tract on social justice. It's ubiquitous in the Book of Mormon to have the prophetic figures, much like in the Hebrew Bible, calling out those who are insensitive to injustices.

"A lot of Latter-day Saints would think that Beck was asking them to leave their own church."

Mr. Barlow said that Mr. Beck's comments were particularly ill-timed because just this year, the church's highest authority, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, issued a new "Handbook of Instructions" to church leaders in which they revised the church's "three-fold mission" and added a fourth mission statement: care for the poor.

Caring for the poor seems right up this bill's alley. But does the government have the right to do God's work? The Lord Himself spoke to Joesph Smith on this topic.

"And now, verily I say unto you concerning the laws of the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things whatsoever I command them. And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil. I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free. Nevertheless, when the wicked rule the people mourn. Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil." (Doctrine and Covenants section 98: 4-10)

This is making a few points, the first being that the Lord wants us to be active citizens, he wants us to vote. He also wants the laws of the land to follow the Constitution, which would make sense as it is the supreme law. However, it does not state that we should fight those who reject the Constitution, other than to vote against them, and that we mourn if the wicked rule. So is health care Constitutional?

According to Article 1 Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution,

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States . . ."

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A graduate of Franklin University with a degree in Digital Communications, David is the co-president of the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational Latter Day Saint/Mormon movement. In the past, he was a full time (more...)
 

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