Evil Is Not Resolved by More Evil

In light of all the rioting, looting, and violence going on in our country over the past few days, our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson put out the following statement yesterday:

"We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because of the color of his or her skin. 

We are also saddened when these assaults on human dignity lead to escalating violence and unrest. 

The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent! 

During the Savior’s earthly mission, He constantly ministered to those who were excluded, marginalized, judged, overlooked, abused, and discounted. As His followers, can we do anything less? The answer is no! We believe in freedom, kindness, and fairness for all of God’s children! 

Let us be clear. We are brothers and sisters, each of us the child of a loving Father in Heaven. His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, invites all to come unto Him—“black and white, bond and free, male and female,” (2 Nephi 26:33). It behooves each of us to do whatever we can in our spheres of influence to preserve the dignity and respect every son and daughter of God deserves. 

Any nation can only be as great as its people. That requires citizens to cultivate a moral compass that helps them distinguish between right and wrong. 

Illegal acts such as looting, defacing, or destroying public or private property cannot be tolerated. Never has one wrong been corrected by a second wrong. Evil has never been resolved by more evil. 

We need to foster our faith in the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. 

We need to foster a fundamental respect for the human dignity of every human soul, regardless of their color, creed, or cause. 

And we need to work tirelessly to build bridges of understanding rather than creating walls of segregation. 

I plead with us to work together for peace, for mutual respect, and for an outpouring of love for all of God’s children." -- President Russell M. Nelson, June 1, 2020

It's sad that he even had to put out such a statement.  This should be common sense knowledge to, at least all members of the Church, if not everybody.

What's even more sad is when people -- especially members of the Church -- defy the Prophet.  By vocally opposing the Prophet's statement or by claiming the Church or its people are racist, people are showing their ignorance and are rebelling against God.

The Prophet's words are God's words.  The Church has always taught that we are all children of God.  There will always be bad people who use their agency to do bad things -- including murder.  It has nothing to do with race.  To the rioters: explain to me how destroying and stealing things corrects an evil police officer who murdered a man?  Like President Nelson said, "Evil has never been resolved by more evil."

And all these people who are calling for blackouts and the black lives matter movement etc. it is all just more racism.  It is dividing not uniting.  Every human being is a child of God.  That is how we should define ourselves.  Not by the color of our skin, sexual orientation, social status, or any of the myriad ways we divide ourselves.

These are crazy times we live in.  Many people are so confused.  Many people are very fearful.  Many people are extremely angry.  Satan has so many people bamboozled into believing his philosophies.  What is Satan's ultimate goal?  To make everybody miserable -- as miserable as he is.  His plan is working beautifully.  Unfortunately.

If people truly understood The Gospel of Jesus Christ and who they really are -- a son or daughter of God -- everyone would be much happier and content with themselves and more tolerant of others' shortcomings.

Listen to the Prophet.  Follow his counsel.  Get on and stay on the covenant path.  There will be no confusion, fear or anger.  Your life will be much happier.  Yes, there will always be trials and ups and downs as we navigate mortality.  But even in those trying times -- there is peace and happiness in following the covenant path.

That's my two cents.