Hey Gramps,
I am an active member of the LDS church and I’m looking for answers/comfort regarding some of the atrocities I’ve learned about effecting large groups of children. Specifically, a recent TED talk by Sunitha Krishnan exposed the systemic selling of children into sexual slavery. This is not a one-off sort of arrangement, it’s masses of children as young as 4 being sold into unimaginable situations. I am paralyzed by this information. I’ve sought out LDS discussion of the Holocaust, but there is a wide gap of information about children in hideous circumstances. It is hard for me to believe in a God who does not or cannot or will not protect the scores of innocents. How do I maintain my faith in a loving God?
LC
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LC,
In scripture, one of the most prominent voices emphasizing God’s love for his children is during the dialogue with Enoch in Moses chapters 6 and 7.
Moses 6:43, “why counsel ye yourselves, and deny the God of heaven?” This question is not rhetorical, but a question even you ask yourself right now. Why do we personally make decisions to “deny” or loose our faith in God?
Moses 7:28, “And it came to pass that the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept…” The Lord even weeps as a result of the wickedness due to the choices of his children. Would a God, who is not loving, weep at the sins of his children? And then Enoch asks a poignant question for all of us to ponder, “How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?”
The Lord answers Enoch’s question, “Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands…. “and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood;”
This hate blossoms despite the commandment to love our God, and to love our neighbor. This hate for their own blood has lead many of God’s children to perform and force despicable actions against children, women, and men.
In the Book of Mormon, at the end of the history of the Nephites we read about hatred again, despite the commandment to “love one another.” The children of men, instead of seeking God began again to be lover’s of pleasure and lover’s of themselves. Even the Nephites, who were taught righteousness, entered into despicable acts against the daughters of the Lamanites who were held captive.
In light of this experience, Mormon shared these words with his son which I have found to be very comforting regarding exercising our faith in God, Moroni 9:25-26.
“My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.
“And may the grace of God the Father, whose throne is high in the heavens, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who sitteth on the aright hand of his power, until all things shall become subject unto him, be, and abide with you forever. Amen.”
This counsel was a personal letter to his son Moroni, but Moroni despite the feeling that he wouldn’t write anymore wrote down these words from his loving father, which have been given to us from our loving Father in heaven. Please heed Mormon’s counsel.
Gramps
