An Easter Post - Of bunnies and children and eternity

Yesterday I (or rather the Primary) put on a big brunch and Easter egg hunt for the ward.  It was great - 50 kids showed up with their families.  Everyone said it was a wonderful time.  The kids were writhing with excitement all through the brunch.  Peeking around the barriers to try to spy eggs as the rain prevented an outside hunt.  Then reveling in the finding of candy filled eggs.  Still, I feel a tug of guilt about making an official activity commemorating the most important religious event ever such a heathen activity.
(On a separate note, it is a fairly easy and quick activity - eat, quick egg hunt, clean up all done in under 2 hours.  Get in, party, get out.  I consider that a successful activity.)

I felt that I had to apologetically promise the parents that our Sunday lesson in Primary would be spiritual.  I promise, Bishop, I promise, parents - the children of this ward do know the true reason we celebrate Easter!  And tomorrow they will remember once more!

Today for sharing time I brought a big box with a bow on it and discussed the gifts our Heavenly Father has given us.  I told them the story of their lives.  How excited they were in Heaven to come to Earth and get a body (remember that next time you stub your toe).  I reminded them that when Jesus was born they were part of the "multitude of the heavenly host" (Luke 2:13) who sang for joy.  But this moment was just the beginning.  Like that moment you hold your breath because you know something good is coming - it has begun.

We reviewed the final evening of Christ's life, how he suffered in Gethsemane for the sins of everyone who ever has or will live.  He bled because I told lies and I was mean to other people.  How he was crucified and we all were part of the heavens that wept.

And then I told them that the happiest, most excited day of their whole existence happened before they were born, but when they feel excited about the story of Jesus they are remembering it.  How they heavens shouted for joy as Christ left the tomb - it is accomplished!  Physical and spiritual death are conquered, the way is prepared for all people to return to Heaven.  This was the moment we had held our breath for and it happened!

The best gift we have ever been given is an empty tomb.  (John 3:16)
Happy Easter!

ALB

Politics and Religion

I suspect I am a socialist.

The more I read the scriptures, the more I am struck that every time people were most devoted to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, "there were no poor among them." (Moses 7:18)  In the book of Acts it describes how the saints sold their possessions and gave all they had to the church.  Or apparently were struck dead if they didn't.  (Acts 5:1-11)  Certainly the United Order asked similar things of the saints in these latter-days. (D&C 78:3-7)  Though I don't think death was on the line.  OK, spiritual death was on the line but not physical death.  The Nephites, after the resurrected Christ established this church among them, "had all things common among them."  (4 Nephi 1:2-3)
While the Nephites at the time of King Benjamin don't appear to be living the law of consecration, Mosiah 4:16-26 is a very powerful sermon on giving to those in need.

Given that the ideal society, in the eyes of God, involves us taking care of each other so that there are no poor, what is wrong with having a system of government that has that as its goal?


Some people say that the difference is in agency.  When the Lord asks you to do it you are free to say no.  When the government asks you to do it you are not so free to refuse.  But what if we use our agency to vote for a government that has taking care of the poor and needy as it's goal?  Many people live, quite happily, in socialist systems for which they have voted.  They are not evil and socialism is not evil.  I might even argue that if our goal is to produce a government that will be similar to what things will be like in the millennium then they are further along than we.

Go ahead, tell me that if I like socialism so much maybe I should leave America and move to a socialist country.  Tempting, very tempting.  Instead I will stay here to defend those who think government should be used to better the lives of it's people and be a safety net to get them back on their feet when they stumble.
I do not advocate lifetime government support and I do feel people need a path to success.  Don't get me started on how a system of education that allows 30% of it's children to enter adulthood without a high school diploma is dysfunctional!

OK, so I'm a socialist.  Though the more I think about it, the more I suspect I may be a communist libertarian.