1 response
The Value of Accountability We dare not, on pain of our eternal salvation, look solely out to the faults of others and comfort ourselves that we are not so bad or deceived as they may be, and therefore we are acceptable. * A share of their sins are ours if we do not run our family and community affairs upon the principles taught through Joseph, governed by a spirit of love, expressed as valuing and respecting each member. We ARE our brother’s/sister’s keeper, or we are not one with our Savior. * A share of their sins is ours if we have inequality of privilege anywhere among us. * A share of their sins is ours if we remain silent and unmoved at the distress of the victims of abuse among us who are yet in a prison of their own minds created by the damage of psychological injury. That crying inside is magnified when no one cares, no one acknowledges, no one attempts even in a token gesture to have truth prevail, to make things right, to bring them home. We must see ourselves as God sees us, or we will never be one with Him. The world wants us to have compassion on war veterans and appreciate the severity of their mental wounds caused by an unequal contest with overwhelming terror, and/or the wearing down of mental strength due to prolonged stressful suffering. It is from the world that we learn that children suffer the same kind of wounds when they are victims of sexual exploitation. We, who are supposed to be a light unto the world, what are we? If we have this sin being practiced among us, we need to remedy it while the open wound gapes and oozes. “And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” (Mk. 9:47) If we are systematically unequal in our administration of wealth, will the Lord hold us guiltless in our stewardships? If we take it upon ourselves to wreck the highest form of marriage without the utmost care in attempting to repent, reconcile, and heal, who will be our judge? If we seek to “profit” from the distress of others in that most sacred of relationships [via adultery cloaked in a judicial process,] what do we have to do with Jesus, or he with us? (2 Nephi 28:8-11) Bro. Steve brings us back, time and time again, to the application of justice and law. Looking at our present condition, it should be obvious why our affairs should be firmly anchored in respect for and adherence to the principles by which our leaders should exercise the powers entrusted to them. One law for the rulers and another for the ruled is not how the Kingdom of God is governed. (That’s what I mean by inequality of privilege.) But justice and law are not enough to make a Celestial society; the Spirit has to have precedence. The law is described as a schoolmaster to prepare us to recognize and employ the spirit of Christ through these mechanisms. Neither of these stands alone in God’s kingdom; neither stands without the other. We learn about God’s love through application of principles, such as, “Do unto others as ye would have others do unto you.” (Rendered from Mt. 7:12) How can we say we reverence Joseph and the principles he gave his life to seal upon us, a society organized for the terrestrial seeking the celestial, when we submit ourselves to the lawless and the uncaring, and the unloving? “. . . and I did eat.” (Moses 4:18) This is not a call to rush to judgment or to condemn, rather the rush must be to be aware, examine, pray for guidance, choose the right and follow that. The choice will be difficult because there are many fragmented truths to be weighed and put into perspective, like the tiles that make up a mosaic picture. The choice will be difficult precisely because the oracles of God are not held in power among us. We must choose in what to believe and wherein lies the truth. Principles are presented on both sides of this divide in how we shall govern ourselves and be governed by those who are shown to be worthy of that responsibility. Joseph, recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, presented a detailed outline as to who would hold authority in the face of offices made vacant. Unhappily, the possibility of that circumstance is what confronts us now. We are in a place similar to the panel on the “To Tell the Truth” program. “Will the real (servants of God) please stand up?” We have the right and the responsibility to seek and know the way, the truth, and the life in this matter. It is one of the test-challenges we, in our generation, are privileged to undertake in order to advance in our progression and restore ourselves and our forebears with us in a millennial birth of godliness. If we accept and overcome, we shall gain that much more in oneness with the spirit of our Father and be able to stand with our Elder Brother in Zion. If we do not, we shall remain without. (Rev. 21:8, 27 &22:15) It’s that important. We, who know better, must do better. We have a higher, not a lesser standard to live by. Accountability is like a mariner’s compass. Used correctly, it keeps us on course. Used correctly with a map, it serves to show us where we are, so we can better know how to get where we’re supposed to be going. If we don’t feel we can trust others to the extant that we can reveal ourselves to them, what sort of united brethren are we? Just what sort of model kingdom of Heaven have we been working towards? Are we ignoring the obvious? Is God ignoring the obvious? * * * Somewhere in all of this there has to be a hallowed place for friendship. Meeting mutually-shared obligations can be a cold thing, but friendship is a warm thing. The more of a positive experience we can make our Work be, the greater the reserve of strength and creativity and resilience we will have to meet all the storms ahead. • Friends respect each other. • Friends value each other. • Friends share with each other. • Friends seek agreement with each other. • Friends trust each other. • Friends sacrifice for each other. • Friends forgive each other. Being worthy to be known as a friend and having worthy friends is as good a start as any to communion with the Savor. “I call you my friends,” he said to his disciples. Friendship has a special place with the Savior of the world. Friendship is not a bad way to prepare for and conduct a marriage, either.
— A posthaven user