Freedom is liberty; it is not being under someone else's control. It is having the right, and the responsibility, to take a stand on issues that affect our nation. There is no greater way to exercise our freedom, to ensure that freedom, than to vote. Nevertheless, many Americans do not take that freedom seriously.
According to an article entitled, "Students Should take Advantage of Right to Vote in November," written by John Huffman, it is estimated that only 36 percent of eligible students aged 18 to 26 voted in the 2000 Presidential election.
It is the responsibility of members of the church to teach their children the importance of understanding their role in choosing their leaders, laws and taxable obligations. Of course the best way to get this lesson across is to be a proactive role model. Talk about laws and elections at the dinner table. Let them know how you felt about your choices on voting day.
Many people, yes, even members of the church, skirt their obligation to vote. They use a variety of excuses to rationalize why they don’t vote. Some say it is because courts select jurors from registered voters, and they don’t want to serve on jury duty. Some say that they are too busy to vote. Still others say they don’t vote because one vote won’t matter at all. There are also those Americans who do not vote, because they simply are not concerned about doing so. I say, if you don’t take part in the choice, you have no right to complain about the outcome.
Our beliefs regarding earthly governments and laws are summarized in section 134 of the Doctrine and Covenants
D&C 134: 1-2, 5
1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.
In other words we are going to be held responsible for the making of the laws. we need to know what the ramification of a law will be before we decide whether or not we support it.
2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.
We need to ask ourselves “Does our preferred candidate support life? Do they Support our right to control our own property?”
5 We believe that all men are bound to sustain and uphold the respective governments in which they reside, while protected in their inherent and inalienable rights by the laws … and that all governments have a right to enact such laws as in their own judgments are best calculated to secure the public interest.
President Ezra Taft Benson wrote:
Unfortunately, we as a nation have apostatized in various degrees from different Constitutional principles as proclaimed by the inspired founders. We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: “Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction”
On voting day it is up to us to do our part to ensure righteous laws and leaders who have morals and ethics most in line with those of the gospel.
