Fear, Frustration, Peace and Hope

[MtnDesertMama]

As we progress more and more into President Barak Obama's 1st term I find myself growing more and more concerned, and yet more hopeful too. Though it seems a dichotomy to be both afraid and hopeful it isn't when you understand why.

This administration seems hell bent on destroying the basic freedoms for which this country was founded. The freedom to succeed or fail at your business is one of our freedoms for which many have fought and died for. But President Obama feels the need to take over private businesses and then work to destroy that business. Capitalism made this country the best country in the world for over 200 years. Now I don't pretend that President Bush was a saint and the perfect President. He wasn't! There was much he did wrong, but, what President Obama is doing has tripled our national debt. Before long our taxes will take nearly all our paychecks.

New York city just raised their taxes by 12.2%, AND made them retroactive back to the 1st of January. That along with State and Federal taxes makes many of the more affluent New Yorkers have a tax rate of 70%! That's right, of every dollar that they make there government takes 70 cents. How long before that is the norm for all of us? States are going bankrupt all over this country from not living within the means that the citizens can support. This problem comes from the government thinking it needs to regulate all aspects of our lives. Right now they are considering removing Nyquil from store shelves because some people....not the majority mind you, just some people.....are addicted or abuse the acetaminophen in that medicine. So they are willing to destroy an entire industry because some can not control themselves. The money it takes to control every aspect of our lives comes from you and me, not from the government. The government has no money!!!, the government takes from us to give back to us? How crazy is that??

I fear for what life will be like for my son if this path towards socialism continues. Will he be able to serve a mission? Will he be able to choose his path in life or will the government try to choose for him? I fear for what kind of things they teach in the school and how I can deprogram him each night. I have to work, I can't homeschool him, so I rely on the government controlled schools to teach him. But what kind of education is he getting if they spend much their time telling him how to teach his parents to go green? These thoughts plauge me at night. But in all of this I still have reason to be at peace and find hope.

I have been reading in the Book of Helaman in the Book of Mormon. Starting in Chapter 4 the story of the Nephites and Lamanites continues, they have just gone through several years of peace and prosperity. They defeted the Gadianton robbers and have turned to God and live in righteousness. But now dissenters have left and joined the unrighteous Lamanites. They have taken the land of Zarahemla and are now working to destroy the church, which dwindles because of wickedness. The people become weak, they look to their government to provide everything for them. (Sound familiar?) Despite the preaching of Nephi and Lehi and the small amount of peace that seems to start, Satan's hold on the Gaddianton robbers takes over and they, through deciet, murder and wickeness take over the government. The people go through several ups and downs, first they are righteous and follow God, then they slid into wickeness. Through all of this the Gaddianton robbers become entrenched in the land. Let's look at that work...entrenched, it means to encroach, infringe, or trespass.

The Gaddianton robbers had encroached on peoples lives, they infringed on their rights and they trespassed on their freedoms. All of these actions I see in our country today, all of these I see this administration striving to do to us! Yes I do see them as Gaddianton Robbers!! So why do I feel peace? Why do I have hope? Because the Nephites did gain their liberty over these robbers, they DID win. They went to battle (no I don't suggest we go to war physically, just figurativly) with them and the result? The Nephite armies defeat the Gadianton robbers—Giddianhi is slain, and his successor, Zemnarihah, is hanged. The Nephites repent and forsake their sins, then what happens after that?? Chapter 11 of 3rd Nephi answers that question:

1 And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude ^agathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple which was in the land ^bBountiful; and they were marveling and wondering one with another, and were showing one to another the ^cgreat and marvelous change which had taken place.

2 And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the ^asign had been given concerning his death.

3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a ^avoice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a ^bsmall voice it did ^cpierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they ^aunderstood it not.

5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did ^aopen their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

7 Behold my ^aBeloved Son, ^bin whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

8 And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they ^asaw a Man ^bdescending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

9 And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying:

10 Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world.

11 And behold, I am the ^alight and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter ^bcup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ^ctaking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the ^dwill of the Father in all things from the beginning.

12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude ^afell to the earth;

Christ came. He showed himself unto all those in the land of Zarahemla. He taught them, healed them, and set aright the affairs of his kingdom again. Peace reined in the land for 400 years!

Yes I have hope, I have peace. I know that the time grows closer and closer till He comes again. 1 Nephi 22:17 says "....Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved...." I have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. I have hope in what is to come. Yes times will be hard but they are there for the refinment of us, they are there for our OWN good. I know that if I stand strong and teach my son well we will be blessed. I fear not the arm of man, but glory in the peace of my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

[chickaboom73]

Jul. 4, 2009 at 1:41 PM

But Christ did not sit and wait; Nor does He expect us to do so.

It is my God given right to have a voice. I have to save my children.

I am a granddaughter to a Daughter of the American Revolution.

We were there. I can prove it. Therefore I must fight. For all of us.....

[ocsosomom]

Jul. 6, 2009 at 5:19 PM

Well said. 

[nacarmom06]

Jul. 8, 2009 at 9:01 AM

Amen I agree with all you said. Maybe I am naive but how do we even begin to fight back? what is the first step!

[Jambo4]

Jul. 9, 2009 at 4:15 PM

Sorry beck that i am just getting to this, but what a good read. :o)