Violence

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve state, “…we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets” (read by President Gordon B. Hinckley, September 1995).

In recent months the question of random mass-shootings has divided America. In the past, boys owning and learning to using firearms rarely led to the kind of violence we see today. Some see easy access to weapons as the main problem, and ask how to limit such access to the wrong individuals. That might help to some extent.

A better question might be: how did we raise young men that perpetrate such horrendous crimes?

Spiritual Roots

The natural tendency of those who rely on the arm of the flesh, human wisdom, tools, willpower, etc., is to look for causes of problems and their solutions in empirical things. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, logic, reasoning—these are their primary resources in assessing problems.

The Gospel asks us to use an eye of faith and search in the light of Christ to see that which is invisible to the natural eye. There are spiritual roots to many of our problems, and legislators, pundits, and others who wish to be helpful, are effectively gagged, forbidden from mentioning any of them as they grapple with the issues that vex us.

It is helpful to recognize that, ultimately, virtues like love are gifts from God. Jesus Christ is “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:9), and we feel the influence of that light and see the results as people exhibit kindness and altruism.

It is possible to dim this light within individuals, through sin, and nations, through normalization of sin. The degradation of the family is coupled with the acceptance of sexual sin.

“Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning; and God having redeemed man from the fall, men became again, in their infant state, innocent before God.

“And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers” (D&C 93:38-39).

If we break one commandment, we are more likely to break others because we dim the light of Christ within us. That light empowers and promotes good behavior, and in its absence, cruelty will eventually proliferate.

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:12). Sexual sin is rampant in America today, and it drains its participants generally of spiritual light. Acceptance of such sin is now as prevalent as sin itself. As a nation, we cannot help but expect to witness an increase in unkindness, contempt, bickering, even brutality. Some might ask—what’s the connection? Divine light we receive, or lose.

Warnings

The Book of Mormon does many things. One of its purposes is to warn the inhabitants of the Americas about God’s rules and expectations for this land.

Recent archaeological discoveries have shown that hundreds of buildings lay covered by the jungles of Meso-America. Advanced civilizations have a hard time getting and keeping a permanent toehold in North and South America. Asia and Europe and Africa each have examples of more or less permanently occupied settlements; why is that not the case in the Americas?

“And he had sworn in his wrath…that whoso should possess this land of promise…should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fulness of his wrath should come upon them.

“For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off” (Ether 2:9-10).

Lest critics declare that God is being cruel Himself, we can read further to discover how peoples are actually swept off from the face of this land: They destroy themselves. God simply gets out of their way, withdraws His Spirit, and Satan takes charge. And the people then begin to destroy each other.

Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd. When we sin, we move ourselves further from His protection, and closer to the wolf, to Satan. When we reject the Lord through sin, we do not move onto neutral ground; another influence takes the place of His light—darkness. There is no such thing as a spiritual vacuum.

Led Carefully to Hell

Immediately when we come under Satan’s influence, he and his angels will encourage us to think, feel, believe, and behave in destructive ways. Health and hygiene and sleep patterns and order may disappear from our lives. Suddenly we cannot stand life or feel internal peace without various destructive substances and behaviors. Loud music damages our hearing, yet we crave it. Money seems to slip through our fingers. Honesty and kindness become ancillary to our personal aggrandizement. Patience melts into anger. Joy turns to sarcasm and mocking and depression.

All these things are visible results of being under a negative spiritual influence—if, through sin, we forsake the good influence.

“For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction…” (2Ne. 26:11). There is a wrestling match between us and the Spirit of the Lord—trying to get us to accept God’s will. But perpetually refusing to follow those promptings means the Spirit will withdraw, and we are then vulnerable to Satan.

What is the spiritual origin of violence?

“For the kingdom of the devil must shake, and they which belong to it must needs be stirred up unto repentance, or the devil will grasp them with his everlasting chains, and they be stirred up to anger, and perish…” (2Ne. 28:19). Hot, irrational anger is our lot when we refuse to repent.

“For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

“And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them carefully down to hell” (2Ne. 28:20-21).

In the end, it will avail us little to try to teach kindness in an environment where other forms of sin are so enthusiastically endorsed, if not tacitly approved. We can teach each other to be kind and empathetic, but if we leave the door open to sin, violence will still be our societal lot.

“…others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains…” (2Ne. 28:22). In the name of reason, we are being asked to throw our faith overboard; once dispensed with, the mounting problems will baffle the very people who demanded eliminating that solution.

The Arm of Flesh

How do we prevent violence? 

Some advocate stricter regulations and controls for deadly weapons, and this entails the destruction of freedom. Is safety more important than freedom? Shall we ban and regulate anything that can be weaponized or is potentially lethal? Following this line of thinking leads us down a dark path. The only perfectly safe environment we can imagine resembles a prison. Is physical safety worth creating a dystopia?

Limiting weapon access of mentally disturbed individuals is wise; how can we do that without disarming everyone?

Others insist that distributing more weapons, arming everyone, is the solution. Again, following this line of reasoning to its ultimate conclusion leads to potentially unsavory scenarios. Is this the world we want?

This highlights the attempt to solve spiritual problems through worldly, human means. It leads us down blind alleys and contradictory dead ends. If the problem is comparable to a weed, these types of proposed solutions amount to hacking at the leaves.

The Solution

Repentance and faith in Christ are the way individuals experience a change of heart, receive the Spirit. These things cannot be enforced; they must be chosen of an individual’s own free will.

“…redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth…

“…Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth…” (2Ne. 2:6, 8).

He alone has the power to change our individual natures, and thereby create a society free from violence and sin.

Voluntary Disarming

Ammon and his brothers went to the Lamanites, a murderous and violent people, to teach them the Gospel. Some people rejected their message, while others accepted it. Those who accepted this message were purged of their hatred and violent tendencies to the point that they became pacifists, totally disposing of their weaponry, lest they be tempted to kill again.

“Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.

“Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers.

“And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts…

“…And now it came to pass that…all the people…took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth” (Alma 24:6-7, 17).

The people disarmed themselves willingly, at their king’s request. No legal compulsion needed; no hypocrisy of enforcing non-violence with threats of violence.

Hate is a horrible burden to carry; seeking revenge can lead to a cycle of retaliation. Ammon reflects on the burden the Lord took away from the Lamanites:

“Blessed be the name of our God…

“For if we had not [taught them the Gospel], our…brethren, who have so dearly beloved us, would still have been racked with hatred against us, yea, and they would also have been strangers to God” (Alma 26:8-9).

A “rack” inflicts pain. Hate is a burden, even when the feeling is justified. Hurting the people who hurt us might be just or fair, but it does not heal our wounds.

Forgiveness keeps the ripples of hate from spreading. Hate ends when any party decides to relent their death-grip on justice, and offer forgiveness.

The Lamanites who disarmed paid the ultimate price. Theirs was no cheap lip-service extolling kindness.

They “prostrated themselves before [their enemies] to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when [their enemies] began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword” (Alma 24:21).

A thousand and five died without any resistance. But it softens their attackers:

“Now when [they] saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done.

“And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them.

“And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved” (Alma 24:23-26).

Without faith in the afterlife, in the justice and mercy and plan of God, we will be incapable of ridding ourselves as a society of retribution. Valuing our own physical safety above all else makes it harder to show the courage that is a prerequisite for real forgiveness and kindness.

As Satan tells the Lord, “Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life” (Job 2:4). Satan’s notion is still sold and believed by many today—that rational thought leads to the disbelief that we are eternal beings. Only those with faith and hope in the next world (the life Lord has prepared for us) are able to effectively forgive and not retaliate.

Job is known for his patience, not lashing out or blaming God or anyone else for his misfortunes. Where did his immense forbearance originate?

“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

“And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God…” (Job 19:25).

To eliminate violence, we must repent of other gross sins, receive the Spirit, and experience a change of heart ourselves to remove hate and retribution. Then we can offer authentic forgiveness and patience to others. Those who receive such kindness will be more likely to reciprocate it.

Agency and Offerings

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asks each member to pay ten percent of personal income, along with as generous an offering to the poor as we can give. Critics have snorted at the idea that God would ask people to part with money. Why does God need our cash?

While we can point at Temples, chapels, institute buildings, and an impressive program for helping the poor and assisting in times of natural disaster or other need, there is an essential reason for paying tithing that is not as obvious. It has been said that we pay tithing, not with our money, but with faith.

If it would be nice to have the extra money, or we are in a pinch financially, yet we still tithe and donate faithfully, it shows everyone—God, angels, mortals, and ourselves—where our priorities truly are. It demonstrates where are hearts are located.

Our ownership of things is illusory; God is the actual owner of the materials of this world, and they obey Him. When we make sacrifices of time, talents, or possessions, we are giving back to God things He already owns. There is only one unique possession we truly own that we can offer to God: our free will—our agency—in other words, our hearts.

Sincere Offerings

Summary notes on one of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s sermons included the following idea:

“God would not exert any compulsory means [upon us], and the devil could not…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 187). He will not override our agency—we are agents unto ourselves, to act and not be acted upon. So all obedience, sacrifices, etc., that we offer to God are really demonstrations of how we choose to commit ourselves. They reflect the true orientation of our free will, our hearts.

“…I the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men…

“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:22, 34).

We Latter-day Saints hear the word “willing” each week in the sacrament prayers. It is possible to keep the commandments grudgingly. What we intend, plan, hope, are ready, wanting, waiting, willing to do—that is what the Lord cares about most. Willingness is an internal state; we witness to God that we are willing, not grudging, when we partake of the sacrament each week.

“…for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing.

“For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.

“For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God” (Moroni 7:6-8). Yes, it is safer to keep the commandment, even if we hate doing so, but in the long-term that mode of being and doing will fall short and deny us the blessings that come from having the faith to trust that God knows what He is doing, the faith to obey Him more willingly.

What about times when we are willing, when we are truly motivated to obedience by our love for God? When we sacrifice whatever He asks of us, externally and internally?

“And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost…” (3Ne. 9:20). When we offer our whole selves to God, not just a convenient percentage, then we have really given Him what He wants.

Because our agency is out of His way, He can do whatever He wants with us. He wants to baptize us with His Spirit, to change our natures and make us into new beings. This cannot happen if obedience is grudging or perfunctory or apathetic.

Our love for God must at least approximate His intense love for us. Sacrifices allow us to show that we care more about Him than whatever is on the altar. They demonstrate the magnitude of our love.

Mechanics

Agency requires a few elements, internal and external, to exist. One is knowledge of what our choices will lead to. If we are ignorant of consequences, we do not have agency. Another other is actual options, good and bad. We also need the freedom to choose between those options. One standing at a crossroads needs the ability to actually move in order to walk the right or left path.

God telling us the consequences of our actions is not the same thing as forcing us to do anything. He forewarns us of consequences of our actions for our benefit. He gives us enough information, and sets us loose to act for ourselves.

Agency Misconstrued

Cain gloried in murdering Abel, declaring “I am free” (Moses 5:33). His ability to choose joy was quickly lost, however.

“And the Lord said: What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s blood cries unto me from the ground” (Moses 5:36).

Cain goes from exultation to whining in a few verses:

“My punishment is more than I can bear.

“Behold thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the Lord, and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that he that findeth me will slay me, because of mine iniquities, for these things are not hid from the Lord” (Moses 5:38-39).

Notice Cain’s selfish bent—he goes from self-determination proponent to insisting that others modify their behavior, become his keeper. He thought anonymity would prevail, but his secret murder was publicized, and is to this day. He gloried in murder, but laments that others will kill or ostracize him out of self-preservation.

Should those who exploit others also expect acceptance from people they intend to exploit? Or will people avoid them? Hypocrisy and secrecy and double-standard thinking always follow sin (whether or not it is as extreme as Cain murdering his brother).

This is the inevitable course of sin—fleeting pleasure at first, followed by the loss of light, disillusionment, the hung-over morning after feeling, the regret, the dull ache or pervasive misery that lingers (until we repent). It becomes obvious to others that we have sinned, and shame cripples our interactions with others, and with God.

Righteousness, following the instructions of God, tends to have the opposite effect—difficulty at first, followed by an increase of light, communion with God, blessings both spiritual and temporal, and a deep, abiding sense of peace and assurance that everything will turn out alright. Virtue enables us to look others in the face without flinching, and even be open and kind and confident with them, and with God.

Help to Choose Well

While the Lord does not compel anyone, He does help those who strive to keep His commandments to clear the bar He has set for them.

“…the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1Ne. 3:7).

Whatever barrier we face in keeping His commandments, the Lord prepares a way to overcome it.

This assistance can come directly from Him; it can come in the form of a messenger sent by Him; it can come as grace from Him.

Dispelling Darkness

Consider a much more joyful account than Cain’s. Moroni explains that,

“Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (Ether 12:14).

Nephi and Lehi were brothers and missionary companions who went to teach the Lamanites, who then threw them into prison.

“And after they had been cast into prison many days without food, behold, they went forth into the prison to take them that they might slay them.

“And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi were encircled about as if by fire, even insomuch that they durst not lay their hands upon them for fear lest they should be burned. Nevertheless, Nephi and Lehi were not burned; and they were as standing in the midst of fire and were not burned” (Helaman 5:22-23).

This is the point in our modern fictional tales when the heroes would inflict vengeance upon their foes, destroy them (or at least humiliate them). But that is not what happens; as emissaries of Jesus Christ their goal is to save, not destroy, sinners—even the ones who jailed them, starved them, and intend to kill them.

“And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did stand forth and began to speak unto them, saying: Fear not, for behold, it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing, in the which is shown unto you that ye cannot lay your hands on us to slay us” (Helaman 5:26).

The earth shakes, a cloud of darkness suddenly encircles the Lamanites, but then they receive instruction from the Lord Himself:

“And it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye, and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent unto you to declare good tidings” (Helaman 5:29). Instead of condemnation, the Lord offers them repentance and forgiveness, good news.

“And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul…” (v. 30).

The Voice tells them again to repent, and the walls of the prison shake, but the cloud of darkness around them remains. Then one of the Lamanites, Aminidab, a believer who had dissented, turned toward Nephi and Lehi,

“…and behold, he saw through the cloud of darkness the faces of Nephi and Lehi; and behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels…

“…And it came to pass that this man did cry unto the multitude, that they might turn and look. And behold, there was power given unto them that they did turn and look; and they did behold the faces of Nephi and Lehi” (v. 36-37).

In a state of darkness, shock, and fear, they were paralyzed by the miraculous things they were experiencing, but God gave them power to turn and look. They saw the faces of Nephi and Lehi as they conversed with the angels of God.

They cried, “What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?

“And Aminadab (the dissenter who was once a believer) said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you [by previous missionaries of God]; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.

“And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice…even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed.

“…they saw that they were encircled about, yea every soul, by a pillar of fire” (v. 40-43).

This is an extremely generous God they are dealing with. They imprison and starve, and then intend to murder, Lehi and Nephi, but after they have repented and prayed for forgiveness, the Lord has encircled them with the same glory as Nephi and Lehi. These same people

“…were filled with that joy which is unspeakable and full of glory” (v. 44).

The voice of God again assures them:

“Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world” (v. 47).

Angels then minister to these same Lamanites, and

“…they did go forth, and did minister unto the people…insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received” (v. 50).

Whether an actual or figurative cloud of darkness is settled upon us, we can cry to God our Father for forgiveness. We can choose repentance. We can leave behind our sins (and any who encourage us to sin). We can have power given to us to turn and look—to look to Christ, to see things from the perspective of faith God wants us to have.

Faith in Jesus Christ will allow us to break free from sin, if we will choose it. If the offering seems too big for us to make, we can receive power from God to turn and look, to make that offering.