Violence

Regarding the casting out and stoning of the prophets:

Much has been written equating modern excommunication from the LDS Church with "casting out and stoning the prophets". Individuals have been "cast out" of the Church and perhaps even metaphorically "stoned". But those terms, when used in scripture, have real implications. People were actually, not figuratively, cast out (of Jerusalem, Ammonihah, Nauvoo, etc.). They were physically assaulted, stoned, burned alive and slain.

We are still a long, long way from that.

The violent destructions that overtook the wicked (at various times throughout biblical, Book of Mormon and even modern Church history) befell a people who were, themselves, violent. They killed and, by passing judgment upon others, brought like judgments upon themselves. The righteous who were cast out and slain were permitted to suffered so that a righteous judgment might befall their wicked oppressors and killers.

Latter-day Saints, by and large, are a peaceful and God-fearing people. Physical violence is far from the thoughts and intents of their hearts. While violence and mayhem rage round us and people and cultures in this vineyard now commit great atrocities -- slaughtering, casting from towers, even burning alive those they deem "unworthy" to share existence in this world -- the vast majority on this planet would never think of doing such things.

The Lord has destroyed the world in times past when it has been filled with violence. The elders with whom Laban conspired to get gain thought nothing of taking the lives of those whom they legally could accuse and condemn. Likewise many have used -- and continue to use -- religious pretext to kill or cast out those who challenge or jeopardize authority, income, status or station. (The list is so long that Stephen lamented: "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?")

The United States is a nation filled with weapons -- over 300 million firearms alone! -- but relatively little violence. (So little, in fact, we must access movies, television, or the web to see it!) I, for one, have never witnessed gunplay or a knife fight first hand -- in my 53 years, even while living in "violent" places like Guatemala and Puerto Rico -- though I've come very close. It does happen. Still, murder is rare and not the cultural norm of our society...yet.

Until it is, I trust the Lord's judgments will be stayed. He has decreed, generally, that by the wicked the wicked are punished. It is a tribute to the general goodness of a people that violence is not a common feature of their culture. We are far from the destructions of 3 Nephi, Ammonihah, or even Sodom and Gomorrah -- though you may find "a more wretched hive of scum and villainy" here and there. Brazil is a basket case. Territories controlled by ISIS, the mafia, and drug lords have approached -- and passed over -- the line separating the "wicked" from the "righteous". Many countries in Africa and even whole sectors of cities in the United States and elsewhere have done likewise. We have reassurances from the Lord that He will remove the "most bitter" of elements from His vineyard from time to time until the good fruit is fully gathered and the whole vineyard is "ready" to be burned.

But if the Book of Mormon is any indication -- with its wars, intrigues, convolutions and upheavals, its near-universal deprivations and savagery -- then we have, unfortunately, a very long way to go. There is yet much suffering to be had by this people to prepare them for the coming of the Savior.

So that when He does come, those who have survived will acknowledge that He truly has saved them.

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Note: This essay does not take into account the violence, murder, and mayhem America exports through her myriad military exploits. The Nephites were condemned when, as a people, they authorized military aggression against others, venturing into foreign lands, waging wars of offense and not defense. America currently engages in unending conflict on multiple fronts, with soldiers on every continent, stationed in over 130 countries.