Thursday, February 5, 2009

Gun Ownership in the Last Days

I have been pondering this subject a lot lately. As Obama was elected president, and we have a liberal anti-gun majority taking over Congress as well, the gun shops around the country saw exponential increases in sales. People were not only buying guns but were buying huge stockpiles of ammunition. I found this to be true with some church members as well. I even stocked up on ammo. I basicaly have a lifetime supply.

But I have been thinking about some of the prophecies of the last days, and comparing them to my current attitudes. Who would I use all of that ammo against, burglars and gang members? Or do I think I will use it against the oppression of my government? Many people think the latter. Joseph Smith set an example by always submitting himself to the authorities, even on bogus charges. Of course this was done in the name of the Lord - "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." (Matthew 5:11)

George Albert Smith has been quoted as prophesying that the guns of the people will be taken away in the US right before a great war begins. So if the government wants to confiscate our guns, should we give them up? Here is a question with a dilemma: The Second Amendment of the Constitution states that "the right of the people to keep and bear arm shall not be infringed". The twelfth Article of Faith, says "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law".

So what is the law? If Congress or the president decides to confiscate our guns, do we give them up? The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and no act of the legislative or executive branch, other than a legally adopted amendment or repeal of an amendment, can overrule the Constitution. So to obey the supreme law of the land would make it OK to disregard any order to disarm that is short of a constitutional amendment. Right?

They way I have been viewing it lately, I am beginning to believe that worrying about having guns and lots of ammo for the last days is like 'putting my trust in the arm of flesh', rather than trusting the Lord and accepting the last days as they are. Further, do I want to live with the thought that I might kill someone, even a gang punk trying to hurt my family? Am I not better off just trusting the Lord under the circumstances, continually praying with faith for His protection? Besides, if it comes down to defending my faith, the use of guns would not be appropriate. One friend brought up the fact that the Nephites were commanded to defend themselves. True, but they were commanded to defend themselves not because their weapons were being confiscated by the government, but because the Lamanites wanted to destroy them. It was also because the Lord wanted to preserve the Nephite people, and their records, for the fulfillment of his prophecies. Different situation and reasons.

It seems that the less we worry about what government does to take away our rights and usurp power over us, and the more we just turn to the Lord and trust Him, the sooner we will be ready to establish Zion. It may not make the Second Coming happen any faster, but we will not need to fear if we have truly put our strength and trust in the Lord.

I would welcome other comments and opinions on this.

2 comments:

Heidi A. said...

I love what you think about!
I've given the matter quite a bit of thought myself. A few yrs. ago we were living in a condo and I didn't feel safe. I thought about taking a gun-safety class and purchasing one but never did; and then we moved. But, my 12 yr. old scout did it last year and I told him to learn as much as he could. :) We ought to be as prepared as we can.

But, I've also been reading a lot about the times of destruction and how the Lord often sets (sends) his people apart from the larger group in order to do so (Noah, Lehi and Nephi, Waters of Mormon, Early Saints, Abraham etc.)

In this months Ensign there is a great article by Pres. Romney. It's extemely applicable to what's happening THIS WEEK in our govt. and was written nearly 30 yrs. ago.

And, as I've been rereading last Gen. Conf. looking for these types of things I've gained some new insights and been reminded of what I already knew. We follow our promptings as to how and what to prepare. If that includes a gun --- then so be it.

I taught Enrichment last week on 'Simplifying'. These are some great quotes that I found. They give us the reason why we let go of 'worldly' and 'material' things in order to prepare in the Lord's way. Sorry this is so long -- but I thought you might like the quotes!

“Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church – and the need for that cleansing seems to be increasing – a famine in this land of one year’s duration could wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned”. -- Pres. Benson

“When we get into really hard times, where food is scarce or there is none at all, and so with clothing and shelter, money may be no good for there may be nothing to buy, and you cannot eat money, you cannot get enough of it to burn to keep warm, and you cannot wear it.” - Pres. J. Reuben Clark

“By and by there will be a gulf between the righteous and the wicked so that they can not trade with each other, and national intercourse will cease…..are we not required to sustain ourselves and to manufacture that which we consume”. -Brigham Young

“Lay up your stores, and take your fine silks and fine things, and exchange them for grain and such things as you need, and the time will come when we will be obliged to depend upon our own resources; for the time is not far distant when the curtain will be dropped between us and the United States. When that time comes, brethren and sisters, you will wish you can commenced sooner to make your own clothing. I tell you, God requires us to go into home manufacture; and prolong it as much as you like, you have got to do it.” -- Heber C. Kimball

"The only safety that we can expect in this or any other calamitous times lies in our conformity to gospel requirements." -John A. Widstoe

God Bless!!!
Heidi

(would you like me to add you to our list www.MormonMomsWhoBlog.blogspot.com?
Your sites are SO great and need to be read by others. I'd figure out a way to add you as a 'guest speaker' or something :) if you're open to it. You bless lives!

Rick Carpenter said...

Thank you Heidi. Yes, feel free to add me to whatever you want. I'll contribute and help any way I can.