Charity in Politics

19 August 2008 @ 12:32 am | 2 comments

J. shares Heber J. Grant’s thoughts on politics:

I regret exceedingly that in political controversies men seem to lack that courtesy and that respect for their opponents that I believe all Latter-day Saints ought to have. I have never yet heard a Democrat make a political speech that I felt was fair to the Republicans. Being a Democrat, I shall not say anything about what I think of the speeches of Republicans regarding Democrats…From my own personal contact with dear and near friends, Republicans and Democrats, I have not been able to discover the exercise of what you might call charity, if you like, for the opinions of others who oppose them politically; at least not as much charity as should exist among our people.

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  1. David B’s avatar

    David B on 19 August 2008 at 7:38 pm

    I still remember substitute-teaching a priesthood lesson with the Brigham Young manual. One of the quotes in it said that (paraphrased) it didn’t matter to him whether someone was a Democrat or a Republican, as long as they were good people.

    There were also ellipsis points, which i checked on and saw that he included 19th-century terms that basically meant communists and fascists and anarchists and such in his list, so i pointed that out.

    The response? Most in the class had no response (surprise!), and a couple thought it was a really cool idea, but a couple people had comments of the “Of course it’s true, but some political affiliations it’s easier to be righteous.” (And then there were references to abortion–wonder what political affiliation they thought was best?)

    Yeah, we’ve got a ways to go before we’re ready for Zion, i think.

  2. David H. Sundwall’s avatar

    David H. Sundwall on 19 August 2008 at 8:11 pm

    I’m sure you’ll love my next post then.

    ;-)