Our 'First Freedom'

I was reading this morning in Alma 2:2-8 and realized that these verses correlate exactly with what is currently happening in the news from yesterday when Elder Oaks spoke to the students at BYU-I. The verses state:


2 Now this Amlici had, by his cunning, drawn away much people after him; even so much that they began to be very powerful; and they began to endeavor to establish Amlici to be a king over the people.

3 Now this was alarming to the people of the church, and also to all those who had not been drawn away after the persuasions of Amlici; for they knew that according to their law that such things must be established by the voice of the people.

4 Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God.

5 And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another.

6 And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.

7 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.

8 Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.

Take a look at this article in the newspaper. Elder Oaks states:

• "The contest is of eternal importance, and it is your generation that must understand the issues and make the efforts to prevail."
• "Religious values and political realities are so interlinked in the origin and perpetuation of this nation that we cannot lose the influence of Christianity in the public square without seriously jeopardizing our freedoms," he said.
  "I maintain that this is a political fact, well qualified for argument in the public square by religious people whose freedom to believe and act must always be protected by what is properly called our 'First Freedom,' the free exercise of religion."
  "A second threat to religious freedom," he said, "is from those who perceive it to be in conflict with the newly alleged 'civil right' of same-gender couples to enjoy the privileges of marriage."
• "The real issue in the Proposition 8 debate — an issue that will not go away in years to come and for whose resolution it is critical that we protect every one's freedom of speech and the equally important freedom to stand for religious beliefs — is whether the opponents of Proposition 8 should be allowed to change the vital institution of marriage itself
• "The supporters of Proposition 8 were exercising their constitutional right to defend the institution of marriage — an institution of transcendent importance that they, along with countless others of many persuasions, feel conscientiously obliged to protect," he said.
  "Any such effort to have governments invade religion to override religious doctrines or practices should be resisted by all believers."

The former University of Chicago law professor, Brigham Young University president and Utah Supreme Court justice acknowledged during his devotional talk Tuesday afternoon at BYU-Idaho's Hart Auditorium that, thanks to the Internet age, his message would be received by an even wider, more diverse audience.

For me, once again these parallels reaffirm that the Book of Mormon is truly for our time.

Once again I realize that this is the fight of our generation. It's not to force our beliefs off on others, it's to preserve the time honored definition and sanctity of what constitutes a marriage.

Once again I'm grateful for the free exercise of religion — as protected by the U.S. Constitution - and I'm happy to be among those who are being called upon to rally in its defense.

It's one thing to look at statues and plaques and to read the historical significance of what transpired at different times and places. It's another thing entirely to stand in defense of something I believe in, even if it's unpopular and criticized by Senator Harry Reid.