It Does NOT Matter Who You Vote For

"My Dear Wormwood,

Be sure that the patient remains completely fixated on politics. Arguments, political gossip, and obsessing on the faults of people they have never met serves as an excellent distraction from advancing in personal virtue, character, and the things the patient can control. Make sure to keep the patient in a constant state of angst, frustration and general disdain towards the rest of the human race in order to avoid any kind of charity or inner peace from further developing. Ensure that the patient continues to believe that the problem is “out there” in the “broken system” rather than recognizing there is a problem with himself.

Keep up the good work,
Uncle Screwtape" 

C.S. Lewis 

(My friend posted this on facebook today and it prompted this post.) 

Have you not noticed that politics are treated like a religion? Party lines are drawn in the sand and if one stands against the other, it's BLASPHEME! It is offensive, it is a call to ARMS for those who disagree. The current election has become an excuse to be butt-heads to our fellow men and women.

Here's the thing:

Despite who is elected in three weeks, this country WILL march on. Things like Roe Vs Wade, which are such hot, firey topics that garner anger and insults and destroy friendships will NOT simply cease to exist if the "conservative" candidate is elected. The borders will not suddenly be open to any and all if the "liberal" candidate wins. It's not how this all works. Despite promises from both sides to make America "great" or whatever, it takes a long time to make changes like the ones they are promising you. If you'd like a refresher, here is a school house rock video on how laws are made:

Additionally, let's not forget about the House of Representatives and the Senate and yes, even that terribly important SCOTUS that keep the president from being the KING. (Or queen.)

So, Remembering that the reality is that no matter who wins, America is going to have issues, deficts, debts we can not pay, people who need jobs, people who need health insurance, people who have cancer, people who can't buy food, people who suffer. There will also be people who prosper. It's the way of our country.

Let's focus, rather, on things that DO matter.

You should vote.

D&C 134:1 states: We believe that governments were instituted by God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and adminstering them for the good and safety of society. 

It's our job to exercise our rights in government. What is the point of living in a place that lets us vote if we don't bother? Be informed and make a choice.

But, please make a choice that you wouldn't be ashamed of, if Jesus was at the polls watching. I am NOT going to tell you what that means. That is between you and the Lord.

What else should we be doing instead of fighting about politcs and ranting about candidates and stances and demanding that supreme court rulings are what matters most?

We could be working toward change. Changes of heart, changes of faith, of believe and of behavior.

REAL change.

What does that mean?

Donate. Donate of your time, energy and resources to worthy causes.

Help your neighbor.

Serve in your church positons.

Teach your children the gospel.

Look for opportunities to lift others in words and in action.

Help out a friend.

Read and ponder your scriptures.

Post uplifting and helpful things on social media. Promote causes that make a difference. Show people that there is GOOD in the world.

Stop relying on a PERSON (arguably any one of our choices is not exactly perfect) or a PARTY to solve your issues. Be proactive. Stand for what you believe and vote that way. But remember that no matter WHO wins it's OUR job to be the good.

It makes literally ZERO difference who wins on November 8th.

YOU have the power to make America a good, kind place. YOU.

Wouldn't it be lovely if everyone would just stop posting lies, vitrol, unkind memes, and other things that accomplish nothing but making someone feel better about their choice and more sure that the other is made of evil?

Instead, show patience, understanding and love.

And act like a representative of Jesus.

We must act NOW. Things are only going to get worse!

Spencer W. Kimball said in 1976: 

"We are a warlike people, easily distracted from our assignment of preparing for the coming of the Lord. When enemies rise up, we commit vast resources to the fabrication of gods of stone and steel—ships, planes, missiles, fortifications—and depend on them for protection and deliverance. When threatened, we become antienemy instead of pro-kingdom of God; we train a man in the art of war and call him a patriot, thus, in the manner of Satan’s counterfeit of true patriotism, perverting the Savior’s teaching."

I'm not perfect, I'm far from a poster-child for all the things I'm saying. But I am trying. And if we ALL tried a little harder, then wouldn't we ALL have a country we could be proud of, despite who POTUS ends up being?

Stand up for good. And do something about it.