Do Latter-day Saints save their nations?
| We've had some sad anniversaries recently (60 years after Hiroshima/Nagasaki etc.), so it's good to see some happy Mormon celebrations doing the rounds, like the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith's birth, and....the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Korea for the preaching of the Gospel. Meridian has a nice write-up on President Hinckley's recent visit. President Hinckley reminisced about earlier visits to Korea: “The people then were so poor, they lived under the worst of circumstances. I saw one living in a piano box, and they were poorly dressed. Now, all that has changed. You look prosperous. The Lord has blessed you, and has blessed this land because of you. There is security and peace.” The implication here, if I understand this correctly, is that nations are blessed because of the Latter-day Saints within. That is quite a bold statement. Does it mean that Mormons who live their religion (like good people everywhere), have an impact for good on their respective societies? Or is there something more cosmic going on? |
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 3:20 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 3:36 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 3:46 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 4:25 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 6:10 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 9:22 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 17, 2005 11:35 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 19, 2005 3:44 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 24, 2005 3:04 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 24, 2005 3:14 PM)
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Anonymous said ... (August 25, 2005 3:30 PM)
post a commentThe Russian Orthodox have a tradition that every city must have at least 10 righteous people in it, because of this .
I just thought it applied.
Posted by John C.
I think that there is something bigger than mormons being civic-minded. I think that John's on the right track. The promise that Lehi obtained is also pertinant, I think.
Posted by Brock
I wonder how one decides who's righteous? I think Baltimore has 9, so we're in trouble. (It went to 9 after John C. left, so we're on borrowed time.)
(P.S. Are you the Brock?)
Posted by Ronan
I am sure that the arrival of Mary more than made up for my absence.
Posted by John C.
I'm with the larger story here also; We know there will be wars and rumors thereof in the last days; yet...God's kingdom isn't going to fall; hence, it would seem that he is under some type of obligation to protect the Saints in their Stakes of Zion.
Posted by lyle stamps
1 Nephi 22:17
17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
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This is an interesting prophecy in the Book of Mormon. The context is very interesting too. I believe the "righteous," whoever they are, can protect a nation against destruction, at least for a while. When a nation becomes wicked enough, they will drive out the righteous from among them even if it means killing those who refuse to leave. Thank heavens the USA is not yet to that stage of ripeness yet. It sure seems like we keep getting closer ever year, though. We see widespread public acceptance of things today that would have been considered abomination by previous generations of Americans, legalized abortion, pornography and the unprovoked invasion of Iraq being just a few of them.
Posted by Anonymous
Well, I've never been referred to as the Brock, but I guess that works.
Regarding the righteous protecting nations against destruction, I'd have to say that I agree with what's been said. It seems that "back on my mission" I had the text to the prayer offered by Elder Nelson when he dedicated the country for the preaching of the gospel. In it, I'm pretty sure he promised that the nation would be blessed for having the gospel there. (Digging out the exact text would probably result in waking up 2 kids and making my wife very grumpy, so you'll have to trust my memory.) At any rate, Elder Nelson told the chairman of the Council of Religious Affairs that "I had offered a special apostolic prayer for his country and for its people." (link )
I am indeed glad that I don't have to decide who does and does not qualify as righteous, although I think I would put the tally in Baltimore a bit higher than 9. Especially since Mary is back from summer holiday.
Posted by Brock
I think Baltimore loses a few points just for proximity to Washington, though
Posted by rob
I wonder if the protection/prosperity benefit of members in any given locale is a specific result of member outreach. Not just (as John C.) points out, plain civic-mindedness, although that's important, but a specific effort by the righteous in the city to reaching out for their fellowcitizens.
I think of Enos praying for his people as well as for the Lamanites, and wonder if saints in a city/country praying not only for themselves and the Church but for their patrias brings Heavenly Father's benevolence to bear.
Posted by Justin H
Well, Justin, to be honest I don't really know how it works. But we probably shouldn't worry about how ; instead we should work out what we can do to improve our communities. Enos's example is good. I like that. Also, we need to be involved. It's difficult because church keeps us so busy internally, but I fail to see how we can bless our nations unless we are a part of them. Expecting God to lift up the homeless on our account, if we are unwilling to lift them up ourselves seems contradictory to that wonderful Mormon pragmatism.
Posted by Ronan
I was kind of hoping we'd all just hunker down and let our nations blow each other up, and then we can emerge from our bunkers and claim what's left. You mean it doesn't work like that?
Posted by rob