Character, Liberty, and National Survival
“Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free.” ~Edmund Burke
An Atheist Tyrant Learns the Secret to Liberty
Once, in ancient Meso-America, there was a king who ruled
over many lands, but there was no peace. He and his armies were always fighting
with other native American peoples, resulting in much death and destruction.
It came to pass that his son Lamoni was visited by some
missionaries from another land. Notwithstanding that the missionary was from an
enemy nation, Lamoni became converted to Christianity. One day Lamoni and his
missionary friend Ammon were setting out for the land of Middoni, and they met
Lamoni’s father, the king of Middoni. The old king was furious with his son for
consorting with the enemy, and sought to kill Ammon with his sword. But Ammon
bested him with excellent swordsmanship. Fearing for his life, the king
promised Ammon anything, up to half his kingdom. All Ammon wanted was for
Lamoni to have freedom to worship according to his newfound faith.
The king was so astonished that his anger vanished. He
released Ammon’s brother Aaron from prison, and invited him for a visit. “If
thou sayest that there is a God, behold I will believe.”
“Behold,” replied Aaron, “assuredly as thou livest, O king,
there is a God.”
Aaron taught the king about the creation of the earth, and
the fall of Adam. He explained that the only way to overcome his fallen nature
and be saved from death was to stop sinning, or in other words, repent.
“What shall I do,” asked the king, “that I may be born of
God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit,
that I may be filled with joy? Behold, I will give up all that I possess, yea,
I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.”
Aaron told him that if he would repent of all his sins, and
call on God in faith, he would receive that hope.
When he heard Aaron’s words, the king knelt down and cried
mightily, saying: “O God . . . if there is a God, wilt thou make thyself known
unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee.”
God heard his prayers and the king became a new man. He
proclaimed religious liberty throughout all the land, and all the people lived
in peace. (Alma 22:6-18) The old king changed his heart because he desired
something better than the way he was living. He exchanged his pride for
humility, and he became accountable to God, instead of a law unto himself.
World history is a vast chronicle of the rise and fall of
nations, according to the good or bad character of their leaders. The fact is
that in most nations, democracy does not seem to survive any longer than 50
years, or one generation. Now dictators have come to power in America because
of pride and lust for power, threatening our cherished freedom. They want to
command and control every aspect of people’s lives, without being accountable
to God or to the people who granted them the power.
Governments are a product of the character of their people.
The less “internal government” achieved by leaders who cannot control their
lust for power, or by people with an entitlement mentality, the more external
laws that seem to be required.
“Society cannot exist unless a controlling power upon will
and appetite be placed somewhere, and the less of it there is within the more
there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things,
that men of intemperate minds cannot be free.” ~Edmund Burke
How can we prepare the rising generation for principled
leadership in tomorrow’s world?
