Now a days it is getting harder to
judge good from evil. At least the wisdom of the world clouds this
line and calls evil good and good evil. I want to bear testimony
that we have knowledge and truth given to us by God to discern good
from evil. An example of this cloudy judgment is happening in the
news right now. There is a story of a man who wrote a manifesto
explaining his actions He allegedly killed 3 people, ran from police,
and while hiding from police tied up two women and stole their
vehicle, shot at cops chasing him, killed one officer and badly
wounded another. He wanted to kill more. In his manifesto he said
he was taking it upon himself to cleanse the LAPD of their
corruption, killing them is the only way. He tells his story about
how he was fired from the force for reporting an excessive force
incident. Only his firing took place almost a year after the report
was filed.
Now I was interested in his story and
thought the LAPD sounds like it has some major corruption problems,
which are most likely true, but then Dorner goes on to tell a story
of traveling in a 12 passenger van with many officers, he thought he
heard someone in the back use the word “nigger”, not being sure
he sat and listened then he heard it again. Now that he had confirmed
the word was used, he told the officer not to say that word. Well
the “punk” officer said something like “I'll say whatever I
want” so Dorner jumped over his seat and other officers and started
choking the man and yelled at him to stop. They were pulled apart by
other officers and he said in his manifesto he should have pulled out
his gun and shot two officers bringing the problem to a quick
resolution. I stopped reading the manifesto right there. He was
ready to kill two people for saying a word not even directed at him.
Now I am not condoning use of this word it is very wrong for people
to use it and it is hurtful for African Americans, but that does not
make it okay to choke someone and then to wish you would have killed
them.
People have read this manifesto
and have sided with Dorner against the police. The problem with
manifestos is that they are one person's side of the story. I like
to think that there are two sides to every story and that the truth
is somewhere in the middle. Is there some truth to Dorner's story of
corruption in the LAPD? My guess is there most likely is. Are all
of LAPD corrupt? Of course not.
Is it one's man job then to wipe out
the corruption through murder and terrifying communities? NO!
Others have written manifestos to
justify their violent, horrific actions. Osama Bin Ladin wrote a
manifesto before September 11th, 2001. He felt he was justified in
his actions against America. I am sure he made a case for himself.
I do not care to read it nor do I think he was justified in any way
for the atrocities of 9/11. Just because he thought he was justified
does not make it right.
The Lamanites in the Book of Mormon
thought they were justified in constantly fighting with the Nephites.
It was written in many manifestos or epistles. In Alma 54:17 “For
behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did
rob them of their rights to the government when it rightly belonged
unto them.” This is Ammoron, King of the Lamanites, writing to
Moroni, captain of the armies of the Nephites. In 3 Nephi 3:4,
Giddianhi leader of the Gadianton robbers tells Lachoneus, leader of
the Nephites, “And I, knowing of their unconquerable spirit”
(speaking of his men) “having proved them in the field of battle,
and knowing of their everlasting hatred towards you because of the
many wrongs which ye have done unto them, therefore if they should
come down against you they would visit you with utter destruction.”
What was their justification? In Mosiah 10:12-17 it explains why
the Lamanites believe they have been wronged by the Nephites,
speaking of the Lamanites it says “They were a wild, and ferocious,
and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the traditions of their
fathers, which is this-- Believing that they were driven out of the
land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and
that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they
were also wronged while crossing the sea; And again, that they were
wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had
crossed the sea, and all this because Nephi was more faithful in
keeping the commandments of the Lord-- therefore he was favored of
the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he
took the lead of their journey in the wilderness. And his brethren
were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the
Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they had
hardened their hearts against the Lord. And again, they were wroth
with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they
said that he had taken the ruling of the people our of their hands;
and they sought to kill him. And again, they were wroth with him
because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded
him. And took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass,
for they said that he robbed them. And thus they have taught their
children that they should hate them, and that they should murder
them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they
could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards
the Children of Nephi.”
Yes, there are many instances where
violent acts are justified in the minds of those who carry them out.
Rarely does this make it right or good. It is our job to discern what
is good and what is not and the Book of Mormon teaches us how to do
this. In Moroni 7:12-17 “Wherefore, all things which are good
cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the
devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and
inviteth and inticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil
continually, But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth
to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and
enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired
of God. Wherefore, take heed my beloved brethren, that ye do not
judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of
God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto
you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge
is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the
daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is
given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I
show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do
good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the
power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect
knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do
evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God,
then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for
after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do
good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject
themselves unto him.
May we use the gifts God has given to judge righteously. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.
