You know, I don't consider myself much of a political person--I've never watched a political debate, I don't follow presidential races or individual candidates religiously, and I've voted outside of a presidential election only once. But, as an American who studied basic Political Science in college and who minored in History, I do understand the importance of casting informed votes, so I try to pay attention to the news and vote for who I feel would make the best leader for our country based on their principles, morals, and platforms.
The trouble is, I just don't know who I can really trust.
Maybe I've read too much John Grisham, but part of me just feels like it's all a game, a set-up, that the person with the most money will win despite what the American people want (can you say "recount"?). And those who don't have the big bucks will say or do anything to win votes. How do I know if these people are sincere? How do I know what's in their hearts? How am I supposed to choose between a bunch of marionettes up on stage saying what they think the majority of American people want to hear just so they can mark "Become the president of the United States" off of their bucket lists? Except for Trump who seems to say whatever comes to his mind giving further proof that he's as big of a sleezeball as we all thought he was. But besides him, who knows what anybody's really thinking?
Times are so scary. There's a terrorist in the White House determined to destroy this country, ISIS cowards are attacking us on our own soil and our government is doing nothing about it, liberalism seems to be outweighing the scale of our society, mothers are killing their unborn children just because it's too inconvenient to be blessed with a miracle right now, and on and on and on. Simply put, it's crazy.
I was reading in the Book of Jarom today, and this passage stood out to me: "And it came to pass that [the Lamanites] came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our hands, and began to fortify our cities, or whatsoever place of our inheritance" (1:7).
What a magnificent prospect! Political leaders who not only hold high values themselves but who actually teach them to their constituents! And it's because of these teachings that they are able to push the enemy out of their lands, build up the protection of their cities, and allow their people to prosper.
These are the kind of leaders we need today. If we are to overcome our enemies, stick together, and make this country as great as we know it should be, then we must have leaders who not only have the Lord in their lives, but who will be willing to teach His Word to the nation despite the chance that they might offend someone. Christ didn't seem to let that possibility hold him back from rebuking the Pharisees or Sadduccees or any other group of people who had fallen off the right path and needed to be corrected. We as Christians covenant to spread His Word in spite of all obstacles. Political leaders should not be the exception in that but the examplars.
Our world used to have great leaders who spread the Lord's truth without hesitation. Leaders like Roosevelt and Churchill. I bet our time isn't so different from the WWII era. The world was full of war-torn countries with refugees fleeing for their lives and in 1941, we had just experienced an attack in our own country. People were confused and scared and didn't know what to think or how to feel or what to do. But these two men stood up to the challenge and brought hope, courage, and inspiration to their people. Unlike our leader who spouts out ridiculouness things like being afraid, aiding the enemy, and disarming us to make us more vulnerable. Roosevelt and Churchill made two beautiful speeches on Christmas Eve and you can read them here and here. I'd highly encourage you to do so. These speeches are what our country needs to hear this Christmas Eve.
I wish we had a leader who felt the same way as these two men. I hope and pray that next year we will find a man who does to be our next president...if our country is still around by them.
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