The immediate cool down of the political primary season reminded me of Hugh Nibley's candor: "Modern men and women feel they are too busy for the rigors of serious discussion necessary for genuine politics. ... How could it be otherwise. Politics by its very nature is superficial: the practitioner can never go into depth because too many things have to be considered."
Many Americans are overwhelmed at the complicated structure and workings of government.
Notwithstanding, Nibley left us with this charge and inquiry regarding political involvement: "Let us by all means retain the drive and dedication of politics, but do we still need the placards and the bands, the serpentine parades, funny hats, confetti, squabbling committees, canned speeches, shopworn clichés, patriotic exhibitionism, Madison Avenue slogans, to say nothing of the...poisonous rhetoric, the dirty tricks and shady deals, payoffs, betrayals, the blighted loyalties, the scheming young men on the make...the manipulated ovations?"
Genuine politics of course comes from genuine candidates, elected officials, and more so, a genuine electorate. Our frustration with the plastic political process can only be shattered by a genuine course correction. This requires public servants and those seeking office to say things that people at first will not want to hear, yet will be willing to accept. The day of flattery is going to have to give way to the day of warning.
What Hyrum Smith charged young elders setting out to preach the gospel in the 1840s may rightly apply to our representatives and those honestly seeking public office: "Say what God says and say no more!" Men of the world will have to confess the government is upon God's shoulders. He should have a say in government. His course for sound, comprehensible, and efficient government should be sought.
I am convinced such a message will resonate with the majority. There are more and more growing indifferent to religion and turning cold spiritually. But very few really want to reduce our God's work and glory to billboards and bumper stickers. Americans are a religious people; we just need a good preaching to once and awhile.
Public servants, parents, and religious leaders need to preach against "all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and reviling, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness." They need to boldly declare "that these things ought not so to be." People are tired of the misery and sadness caused by these ills. People want spokesmen to step forward with untold moral courage and help us cling to virtue rather than the arm of government. Maybe we need more elected leaders speaking as genuine fathers and mothers rather than supposed experts in professions.
John Harmer, a statesmen and close friend to President Ronald Reagan, conveyed that the president believed "somewhere in the American republic there is [an] obscure boy in whom the hand of deity is instilling the same principles and virtues that were his core character." And "when the time of crisis comes, that boy will appear on the American scene...prepared with a vision and able to provide the leadership and courage to see that vision become a reality."
Something tells me the boy in whom President Reagan foresaw will rise above the nonsense described by Nibley. Perhaps when he comes to the forefront it will be through unexplainable events and divine circumstances. Perhaps he will get in the back door, like Joseph of Egypt or Daniel in Babylon. At an appointed time he will say what God says - and no more. This will be a refreshing message after years of superficial political rhetoric.
Jenkins lives in Layton.
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