I loved the stories of the Ammonites in the Book of Mormon. Growing up they were my heroes. Fearless in the face of death, they laid their weapons down and refused to lift them up while all around them friends, daughters, sons, fathers, mothers - everyone they knew, were dying. Then when the same people who were killing them asked for their forgiveness, they welcomed them with open arms.
When refugees came knocking at their doors, they opened them. Their economy grew and they were able to welcome even more. Their selflessness and Christlike love is one of the most powerful I know. All around them is war. All around are enemies and terrorists. Yet they focused their money and energy on helping the least. Lifting the poor. Giving land and new life to those in need.
Growing up, I thought America was like that. We give to the poor, we welcome refugees, we lift up the least among us. The past few weeks I’ve come to realize just how far away from that ideal we are.
On September 23, 2021 the United States passed a spending bill to fund the military. Guns, bombs, bullets, soldiers, training, etc. were all in there. The cost is $768 billion which is roughly $7.68 trillion over 10 years. The bill had little opposition. An amendment to decrease the cost by 10% was quickly discarded. No questions were asked about how we would pay for it. It’s the military, so of course it will go through.
Currently (as of October 5, 2021) the Senate is debating a bill that costs less than half that amount, that is 100% funded. What’s in the bill? Lifting the poor. Examples include funding medicaid, creating affordable housing, paid parental leave, creating more education opportunities for the poor, giving to Native Americans funds they can use for housing, energy, and water. In other words giving a chance and new life to those in need.
I’ve come to realize that our priorities in the United States are not even close to Christlike priorities. When a bill that isn't paid for and costs $7.68 trillion passes easily and another bill that is paid for and costs $3.5 trillion is hard to pass, it's not about money. It’s about priorities and our priorities are war and violence first no matter the cost. Lifting the poor can come much later, if at all.
We can do better.
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You may have loved the story of the Ammonites growing up but have you looked at it lately. I think you missed one of the points in the story. In Alma 27:24 one of the conditions to receiving the land from the Nephites was and I quote, "and we will guard them from their enemies with our armies, on condition that they will give us a portion of their substance to assist us that we may maintain our armies. Also Alma 43:13 and I quote, “and the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites.” So you are arguing that we should let communist Russia, China, North Korea, and Islamic Iran nuke and murder the American people because you haven’t looked at the story of the Ammonites since you were a kid. Or even worse because you ignored the truth to make the political point that wasteful government spending is better. Last point, the L
ord says that no greater love than this that one lay down their life for another John 15:13. That is why the military is called the service. The Nephites and our military personnel that lay their lives down for us are doing the greatest service possible.