Equality = Equalness?

The cry for equality sounds loudly and clearly from both sides of the aisle right now.

"The claim to equality, outside the strictly political field, is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior."

--The Screwtape Letters

 Equality under the law has one meaning, Constitutionally-derived. Equalness has a very different connotation. Equalness is used here as the antithesis of Equality. They are two very different terms.
Equalness draws its power from the illegitimate use of the word "fairness". If one person claims that something is not fair, than it must not be equal. Fairness is unfortunately a subjective term. Equalness results from fairness. Fairness in the current political dialogue means equality in outcome, which cannot be legislated, forced or adjudicated.
If one person has more through his own industry and thrift, should he be required under the law to give up the fruits of his labors that the slothful should have an equal amount? Such is not fair from the perspective of the laborer. But if the laborer has more than the slothful, he who has not worked esteems that discrepancy as unfair. This cannot be resolved adequately between the two of them. There are two directly opposing philosophies that cannot be reconciled. It requires a third entity to step in as a mediator.
That mediator is the Law. Equality under the law means that all men are judged the same way under the same law. No preference is given based on the standard criteria by which we define ourselves. A worker is entitled to the rights of property, privacy, expression, petition for redress of grievances, and so forth. A person who takes of the laborer's earnings is judged as a thief. They are dealt with under the constraints of the Law.
The government has as its sole responsibility the protection of the rights of the people under the Law. The specifics are laid out in the Constitution of the United States of America. No government, at any level, whether public, private, institutionalized or religious, should ever be in the business of making people feel good about themselves. Governments are instituted to enforce laws, statutes and guidelines. They are to protect those they serve, they are not entities unto themselves.
To draw this full circle back to the quote by CS Lewis, "The claim to equality ... is made only by those who feel themselves to be in some way inferior." Let's look at the stars. Some are brighter than others. Why? There are several possible explanations for this difference in brightness.

• One star is farther away than another.
• One star is larger than another.
• One star is actually brighter than another.

Much of the brightness depends on the perspective of the viewer. The man who mops floors may be overlooked by the executives and the white collars that drive the business. This same man who works all day may receive honor, praise and thanks when he comes home to his family. A child may think his father a hero, no matter if he mops floors, shuffles papers, or seals deals. 

So apparent difference in brightness may be imagined through differences in perspective, or it may be accurate. What's wrong with a person being superior to another? The moral trap enters when one assumes that they are destined to superiority. 

Just as the man with the mop may be promoted, so too the CEO may be fired. We are all in a constant flow up, down, sideways. Some days I may be equal to you, other days you may be superior to me. We look to heroes as being greater than ourselves. That superiority of our heroes gives us attributes to strive to obtain in ourselves. The inferiority of others gives us opportunity to lend a hand, teach, share and lift.

Equality does not equal Equalness. The Utopian ideal of equality in possessions, knowledge, wisdom and power does not exist in this world. The closest that we can get is a free-market system with limited government regulation to protect the rights of the people. In this system, the worker gets what he earns. The marketplace of his peers decide through the power of their purchases if the product/service/idea is of worth. Worthwhile ideas find success. Poor ideas do not find success but failure.

The freedom and liberty we strive for engenders equality, which is equal parts success and failure. Some days you win, and some days you lose. When you lose, you work harder the next day, and you get what you earn. You keep what you earn. That is fairness. That is equality. That is liberty.

Driven to Our Knees

“The Prayer at Valley Forge” by Arnold Friberg 

Only when America willingly drops to her knees in deference to the Almighty Author of Liberty will the chains of captivity around her neck be loosed.
American Exceptionalism is merely one aspect of Human Exceptionalism. Being children of a loving Heavenly Father, we are of noble lineage. Exceptionalism is the expectation.
When America is strong in her faith, the world prospers. When America is weakened, the world trembles. Liberty is threatened, and men are driven to their knees by tyrants.

God bless America. May she always look to her God and be that shining city on a hill that cannot be hid. May America always wave the banner to which the nations flock. May the remembrance of the captivity of our fathers, before this nation was, drive us to our knees in humility, that we may rise in strength and stand in the Liberty wherewith God has made us free.

Sent To the Principles

Every day we face many challenges. The world is a clever place. It keeps throwing things at you that are both unanticipated and tempting. How is the best way to deal with this barrage of media images and ideas?
The only way comes from the scriptures. We must be built on a solid foundation of principles. When we are, we can trust in the following:

 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Jesus Christ is the true foundation upon which we can build. A solid foundation of truth will anchor us in this maelstrom of information that pummels us each day.
What principles should we learn? Let’s end with a list, given by Joseph Smith in The Articles of Faith. (Articles of Faith 1:13)

Honesty, Truthfulness, Chastity, Benvolence, Virtue, Doing Good to All Men, Believing [truth], Hope, Endurance, Seeking after that which is Virtuous, Lovely, of Good Report or Praiseworthy.

Following these inspired words will give us our principled foundation upon which we can make our decisions. When new situations arise that may or may not be good, compare them to the principles listed above. If the idea or temptation doesn’t fit, get rid of it.

So the best way to deal with unruly ideas? Send them to the principles.

Having Your Feet Shod

The New Testament advises that we put on the whole armor of God. Part of that is having our feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Whether we wear ancient sandals or modern boots, let us shod our feet with footwear that will run us toward truth and light and turn away from darkness and evil. Only a fool wants war. Good men and women know their duty to protect peace, even if it comes to war.
In the Book of Mormon, a military leader said of their enemies in war, "We would not go to war if they would leave us alone."
So, too, is the case with defenders of liberty today. If we could live in a world that would respect our right to worship, to raise our families, and to govern our lives according to the dictates of our own conscience, we would not seek conflict. We know where we stand.
Let us put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17 ) and stand against the storm.

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/eph/6/13)

There are organizations that give support to defenders of liberty by wearing combat boots. Keep this in mind. We only achieve peace through strength. Let us therefore prepare for the gospel of peace by defending liberty today.

Real Men Defend Freedom

In 1863 talented sculptor Thomas Crawford was commissioned by the United States government to create several statues for the Nation's capitol. He created a statue called Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace. This is the embodiment of freedom as a woman. It stands atop the Capitol Dome in Washington D.C.

In the photos below you can see what she looks like.

Official photo from the Architect of the Capitol  taken during the 1993 restoration of the Capitol Building, where the statue was taken down for a time.

http://www.aoc.gov/cc/photo-gallery/statue_of_freedom.cfm - page of thumbnails.

The statue of freedom crowns the dome of the Capitol building in Washington D.C. This statue was created by Thomas Crawford. This is the full-sized plaster model that stands in Emancipation Hall.

Why is freedom personified as a woman?

In classical sculpture, virtuous ideals and concepts are personified as women. Take the nine Muses of Greek mythology, and more recently, the statues of History and Justice as examples.  

Man is not complete without Woman. Man looks to woman for beauty, inspiration and fulfillment. No good man will stand idly by and allow a woman to be injured when he himself can do something about it. A man will defend a good woman to his dying breath because it is the right thing to do.

Notice the sculpture. Freedom has on her head a helmet, in her left hand the shield of the United States. Her right hand rests on the hilt of her sword. I think it significant that Freedom does not have her sword drawn. Freedom is not a tyrant ruling by the sword, but rather a beautiful woman who owns the tools of defense.

Freedom and her sister Liberty do not impose themselves on others. They stand waiting for good men and women to recognize their virtue, and like a light on a hill, all are drawn to it.

  

Neither of these symbolic women personify vengeance or tyranny. It is notable that the symbolic elements that we hold so dear are personified as women. As stated earlier, Man looks to Freedom and Liberty for beauty, inspiration and fulfillment. No good man will stand idly by and allow Freedom and Liberty be injured when he himself can do something about it. A man will defend a Freedom and Liberty, and, by extension, all virtues, to his dying breath because it is the right thing to do. 

Real Men defend Freedom. Always.

The Second Coming of Lazarus, part 1

America was born into a world waiting for freedom. The history of civilization has been slavery and oppression. There never had been a place like America. This great American Experiment revolutionized the world. Such power and wealth had never before been amassed by one people. The spark of freedom ignited a fire that lit the entire earth.
For a time, everything was good. Then the serpents, with their subtle whisperings, insinuated themselves into positions of power and lulled the populace into a false sense of security. Because it had always been free, it would always be so. This is similar to the story of Lazarus, in the New Testament. Each person take life, and each other's lives, for granted. Life has always been here - we don't remember anything different - and so it seems like it always will be.
Lazarus was a friend to Jesus. But even he died. His sisters mourned and wept. The voice of Lazarus could no longer be heard. When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, still he stayed in the town where he was for two days. He knew that the sickness of Lazarus was to illustrate the glory of God. Lazarus and his sisters were in an unfriendly town called Judea. When Jesus said that he was going back to Judea, his disciples tried to warn him away, reminding him that the Jews there tried to stone him. Jesus said that Lazarus was sleeping, and his disciples, not understanding the figurative language, thought that was good for him.

"Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." (John 11:14)

Despite the dangerous circumstances, and knowing that their lives could very well be in danger, Thomas Didymus (who would later be called Doubting Thomas for refusing to believe in the resurrected Lord until he saw for himself), expressed great faith in the Savior by saying, "Let us go also, that we may die with him." (John 11:16)
When Jesus and the disciples came near to the town of Bethany, the body of Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, heard that Jesus was coming and went to meet him. She told of the situation, and Jesus assured her that her brother would live.

Let us compare the story thus far with the current state of the United States of America.
America has been infected with a deadly sickness. The aforementioned serpents have inserted poisons of all kinds into our society. What was once a prosperous, moral nation, has sickened, and in a very real sense, died. Moral decay, corruption at all levels, including the highest levels of power, pride and idol worship have killed the America that once was. Our Founding Fathers knew that this was a risk in establishing this nation under God. Freedom always comes with a price. When lulled into false security, sickness infects and slowly kills. But there was no other way to establish the purposes of God, except to establish a land of liberty and freedom, where the gospel could go forth to all corners of the world.
There are those who hear the voice of freedom and walk in the Light. These re-founders are much like Thomas Didymus, mentioned above, who know that there are those who will mock, persecute and even try to kill them. Nevertheless, they go with the Light, the Lord Jesus, who is the God of this Land. No matter the faith or creed, there are noble patriots rising up in these days who proclaim liberty, no matter the personal cost. These are noble and great souls, saved for these last days, when the gates of hell pour forth blackness, to stand as bulwarks against the raging storm, that freedom may awaken again in the hearts of men.
America has been placed in a tomb by those who do not understand. Life goes on, progresses, and so the dead must be laid to rest. The dead has been bound, hand and foot, and has their jaw bound, so they cannot speak. They have been immobilized and silenced. But this is not permanent, for as we will see in the next segment, the Lord Jesus Christ can command, and even the dead come forth.
In the next post, we will complete the story of Lazarus and compare the awakening of America.

Maintaining a Thoroughfare of Freedom

“Oh beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat across the wilderness!
America, America, God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law.”
- text by Katherine Lee Bates, 1859-1929

What is a Thoroughfare of Freedom?

Thoroughfare (as defined by http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thoroughfare)
1. A main road or public highway.
2.
a. A place of passage from one location to another.
b. Right to such passage.
3. A heavily traveled passage, such as a waterway, strait, or channel.

The world in which we live has not had a history of freedom. In fact, from one generation to the next, nearly the whole of human experience has been oppression and tyranny. America is the exception. America is the road to freedom and liberty for all.
This land is a special place. It has been protected and preserved under the Hand of the Almighty for this time. It is a place where the gospel of Jesus Christ can flourish and can go out into all the world.
We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before. Their feet beat the path in the uncharted wilderness to create this great thoroughfare, this symbol to the world of freedom and liberty for all. God has shed his grace on this nation. But that does not mean we are free from responsibility. The land we live in rages under the storms of human pride.
“America, God mend thine every flaw.” This nation, once again, needs to turn to Him so He can heal us and mend our flaws.
When we turn as a nation away from the things of this world and direct ourselves to God, He will confirm our soul in self-control. The soul of man is spirit and body. So how can we “confirm our soul in self-control?”

Confirm (as defined by http://www.thefreedictionary.com/confirm)
1. To support or establish the certainty or validity of; verify.
2. To make firmer; strengthen: Working on the campaign confirmed her intention to go into politics.
3. To make valid or binding by a formal or legal act; ratify.
4. To administer the religious rite of confirmation to.

If the spirit and the body must be united, we must not only think righteously, but we must do righteously. The spirit (mind) of man must direct the body of man to do good. Only when we are acting properly and we are anxiously engaged in a good cause, controlling ourselves and turning away from our weaknesses, are we strengthened and supported by the powers of Heaven.
There is freedom and liberty when we follow the law. We believe in the Constitutional law of the land. We uphold that, and all of the principles upon which it is founded. We owe it to those who have come before to make sure this thoroughfare of freedom is not closed down, and is in good repair, for those who follow in our footsteps.