Your Cause is Just
On November 29, 1839 Joseph Smith went to the White House to meet with President Martin Van Buren. It had been a terrible stretch of years for the members of the new church in Missouri. They had been denied the right to vote, beaten in the streets, dragged out of their homes and killed despite surrendering. Certainly mobs were a problem, but even more egregious were abuses from the state militia, and from the police, because those were the people who should have protected the saints. Joseph Smith and several other church leaders had been wrongfully imprisoned for months on end. He met with the president with hope for relief but was sent home empty-handed. The saints tried to get justice through the court system and were denied. Joseph appealed to Van Buren a second time who rebuffed him with the words, "Your cause is just, but I cannot help you." (historyisnow) Five years later Joseph Smith was dead, murdered in police custody.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we made a covenant with God that we would take His name, do His work. We should be the first to defend innocent people who are being mistreated by the systems that are supposed to protect them. We should be first to understand that it is not unpatriotic to root out corruption and rebuild organizations that are not providing justice for all.
There were good people in Missouri, people who would have been horrified at the thought of an 8 year old boy being executed in the street. There were people who taught their children to love everyone and hoped that would be enough. But that is not enough. It isn't enough because not everyone is teaching their children that. Some people do not love everyone, and they will commit violence against the people they hate. If you are teaching your children to love everyone but not to actively stand between innocent people and injustice those "bad apples" will bend systems to protect themselves. Because of the silence of the good people in Missouri Martin Van Buren was not motivated to take actions that were absolutely in his power.
As members of the church we know what it feels like to be misrepresented in the media, to have people getting all their information from our detractors instead of talking to us directly. We should be first to seek out first-person accounts. We are a religion dedicated to asking questions. The catalyst for everything Joseph Smith did was a question. We should be first to seek understanding and not be afraid to ask questions, especially to question ourselves. We are fortunate that for most of us, the effects of our church’s persecution are far enough in our past that we don’t feel them, we can pick them up and put them down whenever we want. But for our black brothers and sisters, members and nonmembers, who are suffering from the effects of racism it is still a daily force in their lives. They have been trying to tell us about injustice, what will it take for us to listen to them?
It's too late to be first. I wasn't first. I am embarrassingly late to this party, but now that I'm here, I am here. It's not too late for you to come too. Our doctrine defines repentance this way, "It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world." When was the last time you had a fresh view? Doesn't it sound amazing? Changing your mind and your heart is a blessing and an honor from God, and as members of the church we should be eagerly looking for opportunities to use the atonement of Jesus Christ.
I wish I had been first, or at least sooner than I was, but I'm not going to let old mistakes and misunderstandings stop me from getting a fresh view. I love the perspective of Ibram X. Kendi:
"The good news is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be racist one minute and an antiracist the next. What we say about race, what we do about race, in each moment, determines what--not who--we are. I used to be racist most of the time. I am changing." (How to Be an Antiracist)
There is so much grace in this, so much that reminds me of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
There is momentum right now like there was with Frederick Douglass, like there was with Martin Luther King, like there was with Rodney King. But if the good quiet people of this country do not join in to help make lasting changes we will find ourselves here again and again, having done too little. Our black brothers and sisters don't need us to lead the charge, they need us to listen to them and join the fight that they have been fighting. It's a fight that they don't have the luxury of setting aside because they feel overwhelmed, or tired.
So what can we do? First, we need to ask questions. What does "Defund the Police" mean? Are people really saying blue lives don't matter? Why are people so upset? It's important to research these questions, but also... how do we do that? My friend Mariana Chrisney has a degree in Communications with a news media emphasis, and she put together this quick guide:
You’ll hear people shouting, commenting, and chanting “fake news” left and right to the point where they are crying wolf. What is fake news? News stations rely on revenue to keep running and they use various tactics to get your clicks. Once you become more aware of what to look out for you can avoid being sucked into the “fake news” trap. The truth is, finding the right source isn’t the easiest process, but by checking website names, cross-referencing articles, and going straight to the source, you can not only formulate a well-rounded opinion on any issue, but you will get the full picture of what’s going on and ultimately make decisions on your own views.
The best place to start is by questioning and analyzing each website/source you visit. Look at the website name, for instance; if it ends in .com.co, chances are they are fake versions of real sources. If the story isn’t being covered by multiple websites, the chances of it being a hoax are higher. A lot of news stations, sadly, have a bias, but the rule of thumb is that if it isn’t covered by at least three other reputable websites, then it is fake.
Cross reference news stories with other websites. Why would you want to read three different articles that tell the same story? Each article will tell you the same story, but there are always different angles, perspectives, and sources that one website won’t have. Especially make an effort to look for sources with different political views to avoid getting too much of one spin.
Go straight to the source: Still have any doubts about what's going on? Go to the direct source! Reputable articles will always link their sources, so you can see for yourself if something is real or not (or even if it's taken out of context). Most news articles rely on wires like the Associated Press. News stories also use Twitter as a storytelling tool because they are first-hand accounts. For example, you can use Twitter as a source to follow reporters and witnesses covering major news events that are trending. Reading what others experience will help you understand how they see the world and give you a perspective that not every reporter will catch. Of course, use your best judgement when you are on Twitter because false information can easily be spread on there (tip: follow HoaxEye).
You don't have to agree with every plan or idea. After you have heard from people who are actually being affected, not just their detractors, you will probably have some ideas about actions you can take. There are websites like Campaign Zero, and the ACLU which are full of information and opportunities to donate, representatives to contact, and other opportunities to participate. The church has a wonderful relationship with the NAACP and you can be a more active part of that.
June 19th or Juneteenth is the anniversary of slavery ending in our country, with slaves being freed in Texas two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Progress for equality has been slow moving. Let this Juneteenth commemorate the year that you put your shoulder to the wheel and pushed equality and justice forward.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we made a covenant with God that we would take His name, do His work. We should be the first to defend innocent people who are being mistreated by the systems that are supposed to protect them. We should be first to understand that it is not unpatriotic to root out corruption and rebuild organizations that are not providing justice for all.
There were good people in Missouri, people who would have been horrified at the thought of an 8 year old boy being executed in the street. There were people who taught their children to love everyone and hoped that would be enough. But that is not enough. It isn't enough because not everyone is teaching their children that. Some people do not love everyone, and they will commit violence against the people they hate. If you are teaching your children to love everyone but not to actively stand between innocent people and injustice those "bad apples" will bend systems to protect themselves. Because of the silence of the good people in Missouri Martin Van Buren was not motivated to take actions that were absolutely in his power.
As members of the church we know what it feels like to be misrepresented in the media, to have people getting all their information from our detractors instead of talking to us directly. We should be first to seek out first-person accounts. We are a religion dedicated to asking questions. The catalyst for everything Joseph Smith did was a question. We should be first to seek understanding and not be afraid to ask questions, especially to question ourselves. We are fortunate that for most of us, the effects of our church’s persecution are far enough in our past that we don’t feel them, we can pick them up and put them down whenever we want. But for our black brothers and sisters, members and nonmembers, who are suffering from the effects of racism it is still a daily force in their lives. They have been trying to tell us about injustice, what will it take for us to listen to them?
It's too late to be first. I wasn't first. I am embarrassingly late to this party, but now that I'm here, I am here. It's not too late for you to come too. Our doctrine defines repentance this way, "It is a change of mind and heart that gives us a fresh view about God, about ourselves, and about the world." When was the last time you had a fresh view? Doesn't it sound amazing? Changing your mind and your heart is a blessing and an honor from God, and as members of the church we should be eagerly looking for opportunities to use the atonement of Jesus Christ.
I wish I had been first, or at least sooner than I was, but I'm not going to let old mistakes and misunderstandings stop me from getting a fresh view. I love the perspective of Ibram X. Kendi:
"The good news is that racist and antiracist are not fixed identities. We can be racist one minute and an antiracist the next. What we say about race, what we do about race, in each moment, determines what--not who--we are. I used to be racist most of the time. I am changing." (How to Be an Antiracist)
There is so much grace in this, so much that reminds me of Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
There is momentum right now like there was with Frederick Douglass, like there was with Martin Luther King, like there was with Rodney King. But if the good quiet people of this country do not join in to help make lasting changes we will find ourselves here again and again, having done too little. Our black brothers and sisters don't need us to lead the charge, they need us to listen to them and join the fight that they have been fighting. It's a fight that they don't have the luxury of setting aside because they feel overwhelmed, or tired.
So what can we do? First, we need to ask questions. What does "Defund the Police" mean? Are people really saying blue lives don't matter? Why are people so upset? It's important to research these questions, but also... how do we do that? My friend Mariana Chrisney has a degree in Communications with a news media emphasis, and she put together this quick guide:
You’ll hear people shouting, commenting, and chanting “fake news” left and right to the point where they are crying wolf. What is fake news? News stations rely on revenue to keep running and they use various tactics to get your clicks. Once you become more aware of what to look out for you can avoid being sucked into the “fake news” trap. The truth is, finding the right source isn’t the easiest process, but by checking website names, cross-referencing articles, and going straight to the source, you can not only formulate a well-rounded opinion on any issue, but you will get the full picture of what’s going on and ultimately make decisions on your own views.
The best place to start is by questioning and analyzing each website/source you visit. Look at the website name, for instance; if it ends in .com.co, chances are they are fake versions of real sources. If the story isn’t being covered by multiple websites, the chances of it being a hoax are higher. A lot of news stations, sadly, have a bias, but the rule of thumb is that if it isn’t covered by at least three other reputable websites, then it is fake.
Cross reference news stories with other websites. Why would you want to read three different articles that tell the same story? Each article will tell you the same story, but there are always different angles, perspectives, and sources that one website won’t have. Especially make an effort to look for sources with different political views to avoid getting too much of one spin.
Go straight to the source: Still have any doubts about what's going on? Go to the direct source! Reputable articles will always link their sources, so you can see for yourself if something is real or not (or even if it's taken out of context). Most news articles rely on wires like the Associated Press. News stories also use Twitter as a storytelling tool because they are first-hand accounts. For example, you can use Twitter as a source to follow reporters and witnesses covering major news events that are trending. Reading what others experience will help you understand how they see the world and give you a perspective that not every reporter will catch. Of course, use your best judgement when you are on Twitter because false information can easily be spread on there (tip: follow HoaxEye).
You don't have to agree with every plan or idea. After you have heard from people who are actually being affected, not just their detractors, you will probably have some ideas about actions you can take. There are websites like Campaign Zero, and the ACLU which are full of information and opportunities to donate, representatives to contact, and other opportunities to participate. The church has a wonderful relationship with the NAACP and you can be a more active part of that.
June 19th or Juneteenth is the anniversary of slavery ending in our country, with slaves being freed in Texas two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Progress for equality has been slow moving. Let this Juneteenth commemorate the year that you put your shoulder to the wheel and pushed equality and justice forward.
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