The Voice of the People
Yesterday I was reading Mosiah 29, where King Mosiah writes to convince his people to have judges instead of kings.
First, in verse 25 they were to elect their judges "by the voice" of the people.
"25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the claws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord."
It's clear that "the voice of the people" must refer to the majority, because in verse 26 implies there's a difference between "the voice of the people" and the "lesser part of the people."
"26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people."
It seems like the Nephites were moving into a form of democracy, as it would seem that any major law was to be implemented by the voice of the people. However, their elected judges were to judge based on their laws, so the people were not involved with every decision.
Verse 27 is the warning.
"27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."
The Constitutional Republic, which is what the United States of America is, is a representative form of government, not a true democracy. With the three branches of government the government is also set up to protect the rights of the minority, but it was supposed to be set up so the minorities could not overpower the majority and force what they want on the majority.
Unfortunately, very vocal minorities (not racial minorities but those who "desire that which is not right"), with very powerful and wealthy supporters, have pushed their agenda onto the majority.
As a result more and more of the "voice of the people" are tolerating, supporting, and even advocating for laws that uphold wickedness.
In an earlier post, I quoted Brigham Young
http://fulnessoftimes.blogspot.com/2016/11/when-majority-of-members-turn-away-from.html
"...we read that war, pestilence, plagues, famine, etc. will be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth; but if distress through the judgments of God comes upon this people, it will be because the majority have turned away from the Lord. Let the majority of the people turn away from the Holy Commandments which the Lord has delivered to us, and cease to hold the balance of power in the Church, and we may expect the judgments of God to come upon us; but while six-tenths or three-fourths of this people will keep the commandments of God, the curse and judgments of the Almighty , will never come upon them, though we will have trials of various kinds, and the elements to contend with--natural and spiritual elements. While this people will strive to serve God according to the best of their abilities, they will fare better, have more to eat and to wear, have better houses to live in, better associations, and enjoy themselves better than the wicked ever do or ever will do." (quoted from Journal of Discourses, 10:335-336)."
It is because the voice of the people has chosen what is right that America has had few devastating calamities and judgments.
But that is changing, and changing very quickly.
Consider this article, "Mormon growth rate falls to lowest level in 80 years, but ups and downs vary by region," http://www.sltrib.com/home/5381411-155/mormon-growth-rate-falls-to-lowest.
Here's a few quotes from the article:
Utah is growing economically. A november 16, 2016, Forbes article states:
"Leading the way for the third straight year is Utah, which also ranked on top between 2010 and 2012. Only Virginia in 2013 interrupted Utah’s reign this decade as the Best State for Business."
Time is short until judgments will come on Utah and the Nation.
It may be another 20 years or more before widespread devastation and destruction happen, but I'm not sure if I can be that optimistic about people repenting and returning to God. It would be really nice if they did as we'd see some remarkable and amazing technologies get developed during that time.
Realistically, I'm thinking more along the line of another 7 years. However, there are times when I wonder how we can survive another 3 years before facing God's judgments on the nation.
First, in verse 25 they were to elect their judges "by the voice" of the people.
"25 Therefore, choose you by the voice of this people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the claws which have been given you by our fathers, which are correct, and which were given them by the hand of the Lord."
It's clear that "the voice of the people" must refer to the majority, because in verse 26 implies there's a difference between "the voice of the people" and the "lesser part of the people."
"26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people."
It seems like the Nephites were moving into a form of democracy, as it would seem that any major law was to be implemented by the voice of the people. However, their elected judges were to judge based on their laws, so the people were not involved with every decision.
Verse 27 is the warning.
"27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."
The Constitutional Republic, which is what the United States of America is, is a representative form of government, not a true democracy. With the three branches of government the government is also set up to protect the rights of the minority, but it was supposed to be set up so the minorities could not overpower the majority and force what they want on the majority.
Unfortunately, very vocal minorities (not racial minorities but those who "desire that which is not right"), with very powerful and wealthy supporters, have pushed their agenda onto the majority.
As a result more and more of the "voice of the people" are tolerating, supporting, and even advocating for laws that uphold wickedness.
In an earlier post, I quoted Brigham Young
http://fulnessoftimes.blogspot.com/2016/11/when-majority-of-members-turn-away-from.html
"...we read that war, pestilence, plagues, famine, etc. will be visited upon the inhabitants of the earth; but if distress through the judgments of God comes upon this people, it will be because the majority have turned away from the Lord. Let the majority of the people turn away from the Holy Commandments which the Lord has delivered to us, and cease to hold the balance of power in the Church, and we may expect the judgments of God to come upon us; but while six-tenths or three-fourths of this people will keep the commandments of God, the curse and judgments of the Almighty , will never come upon them, though we will have trials of various kinds, and the elements to contend with--natural and spiritual elements. While this people will strive to serve God according to the best of their abilities, they will fare better, have more to eat and to wear, have better houses to live in, better associations, and enjoy themselves better than the wicked ever do or ever will do." (quoted from Journal of Discourses, 10:335-336)."
It is because the voice of the people has chosen what is right that America has had few devastating calamities and judgments.
But that is changing, and changing very quickly.
Consider this article, "Mormon growth rate falls to lowest level in 80 years, but ups and downs vary by region," http://www.sltrib.com/home/5381411-155/mormon-growth-rate-falls-to-lowest.
Here's a few quotes from the article:
- "Last year's growth rate [for the Church] was the lowest since 1937"
- "Mormon congregations near downtown Salt Lake City are closing, while Utah County wards are booming."
- "Individuals are eschewing the LDS Church — indeed, any faith group — for 'the same reasons as why others are leaving,' she [Marie Cornwall] says. 'They don't see the relevance.'"
- "Even in Mormonism's capital, fluid demographics have prompted disruptions. Leaders have combined congregations in parts of Salt Lake City while adding wards in the southern Salt Lake Valley."
- "The Colorado Springs researcher blames the decline on 'ineffective proselytism tactics, lack of engagement of ordinary members in missionary activity, increasing secularism and materialism, and decades of low convert-retention problems.'"
- "Christian Anderson, a biostatistician living in San Diego, pins some of the downturn on disaffection."
- "The LDS Church is hardly alone in attracting fewer members or losing ones they already have, says Cincinnati-based Mormon writer and researcher Jana Riess. Such defections, she says, are 'mirrored in almost every religious tradition in America today.'
- "'Throughout American generally,' she adds, '39 percent of the millennial generation has no religious affiliation ... the highest it has been in recorded history.'"
Utah is growing economically. A november 16, 2016, Forbes article states:
"Leading the way for the third straight year is Utah, which also ranked on top between 2010 and 2012. Only Virginia in 2013 interrupted Utah’s reign this decade as the Best State for Business."
And it is apparent that many more members of the Church are getting caught in materialism and the cares of the world.
This US News article, https://usnews.newsvine.com/_news/2012/01/10/10097194-gayest-us-town-surprise-its-salt-lake-city, lists Salt Lake City as the "gayest city in the U.S."
And this KSL article, https://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=960&sid=33908353, ranks Salt Lake City as having the "7-th highest percentage of adults who identify as LGBT in the nation."
Acting on LGBT inclinations is certainly not the only classification of sin, but it's fairly easily to put some kind of measurement on.
There are all manner of things which are "not right" before God, and it can be difficult to identify when the "voice of the people" chooses iniquity.
This is a big reason I think the legalization of medical marijuana in Utah might herald the coming of the first big earthquake.
Government legislation often lags behind what the majority of the people want, or at least behind what the most vocal are advocating. So, I think it would be safe to say that, at least along the Wasatch Front, when medical marijuana is legalized in Utah, the majority support it.
I'm not saying medical marijuana is bad. There appears to be some legitimate uses for marijuana. But, the truth is legalizing medical marijuana is the first step towards legalizing recreational use, and it is indicative of the tolerance and acceptance within society of drug use.
On a similar vein, it's been a while since I did much travelling, but over the past few years I've noticed a concerning trend, particularly in the Salt Lake valley, but it is also evident in Utah, Davis, and Weber counties. What I've noticed is the increasing amount of immodesty, homelessness, disrespect for others, tobacco use, gang activity, and other worldly indicators of the people turning from God.
There are also signs of drug promotion and use, though most are disguised (I attended a class at a public safety summit where we were shown some of the common drug promoting images and designs, which look may look cool, but are drug related).
Laws are changed, and being changed, to allow increased amount of alcohol consumption, partly to attract more business to the area.
Interestingly, it also seems that more places are looking run down, even while more construction and "growth" occurs.
In short, there are many places along the Wasatch Front which are looking very much like other cities in America. The darkness has infiltrated the area and is now spreading quickly.
Time is short until judgments will come on Utah and the Nation.
It may be another 20 years or more before widespread devastation and destruction happen, but I'm not sure if I can be that optimistic about people repenting and returning to God. It would be really nice if they did as we'd see some remarkable and amazing technologies get developed during that time.
Realistically, I'm thinking more along the line of another 7 years. However, there are times when I wonder how we can survive another 3 years before facing God's judgments on the nation.
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