I was intrigued. So I clicked on the link, downloaded his dissertation, and started to read. Lots of King's research wasn't interesting to me- it is research-based, and much of his dissertation is the arguments between the two philosophers, and we've come a long ways with our knowledge of God, so I don't really care- but the conclusions that King draws from the discord between religious philosophers are fascinating to me because he gets so close to the truths that we have in the restored gospel.
It's fascinating to me because I see the gospel as very logical. I'm a fairly rational person, sometimes to a fault- to me, the gospel is true because it makes sense. (Of course, I say that with some qualifications. Knowing the gospel is true requires desire, work, and confirmation. My confirmation, after my desire-induced efforts, comes in rational ideas and simple lines of logic.) So watching the thought process of Dr. King is not only interesting to me as an educational endeavor, but it's incredible to me to watch how the Spirit works in someone else. Really, really cool.
After reviewing this dissertation (I say review because it's 209 pages. Nope, I didn't read every page), I found a transcript of King's "I Have A Dream" speech.
It's incredibly inspiring. And ridiculously impressive.
Of course, he is a reverend, but I was still impressed with how frequently King refers to God in his feelings about race and equality (King's feelings, not God's). First of all, nobody refers to God anymore. Not in the political, public arena like that, anyway. Secondly, King's references to God are always about His children. "...when all of God's children will sing with new meaning [our national anthem,]" and "Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children" for example. Reverend King understood how God feels about His children. "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."
D. Todd Christofferson taught, "It is God's will that we be free men and women enabled to rise to our full potential both temporally and spiritually." This will of God hasn't changed. God wants us to be free. He sees us all as equals. And He loves us all with equal and infinite love.
As I read Reverend King's speech, I was reminded of the cries of inequality we have in our day. In the LDS church, we have members who bemoan the seeming lack of equality between genders. In US society, we have people who cry for equality in rights for both homo- and heterosexuals.
It occurred to me that these different groups might use this, Reverend King's speech, as a rallying cry for their cause. Reverend King complained, in a sense, and spoke for change, and, eventually, change occurred. But these groups don't use the same arguments. Of course, every group's specific complaint against injustice is not identical, but King referred to justice in rights clearly spelled out in the Constitution and protected by God. That's not the debate in any arena.
It's a good question for me to think about. I drew a lot of conclusions that weren't entirely fair and unbiased, so this draft in my head is still going through edits. And it will be as the debate continues. But I think it's important to have that draft influenced by the right things. Making statements around my unfair conclusions only contributes to the problem.
In his historical speech, Dr. King said, "Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children...The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges." The bright day of justice, sadly, is no closer in our day than it was in his. The Church held a news conference yesterday to make a call to the nation to be tolerant and fair to both sides in the debate about LGBT rights and religious rights. During the news conference, Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “those who seek the protection of religious conscience and expression and for the free exercise of their religion look with alarm at the steady erosion of treasured freedoms that are guaranteed in the United States Constitution...When religious people are publicly intimidated, retaliated against, forced from employment or made to suffer personal loss because they have raised their voice in the public square, donated to a cause or participated in an election, our democracy is the loser."
It is incredibly important to understand both sides of the debate, but especially when the freedoms of our country are in question. I don't think anyone can truly show understanding and tolerance by just trying to make their voice louder than everyone else's. This is about action. These cries of inequality are a call to action. But an intelligent, deliberate call to action. We know we can't just make claims and tell someone they're wrong or right. But we also can't sit idly by and hope other people figure it out. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to be better than that.
"Why does the Lord allow the evil speaking to chase after the good? One reason is that opposition against the things of God sends seekers of truth to their knees for answers." I know that nothing is too minor or detailed for us to ask God about, and I am grateful for those that do seek His wisdom in complex and unconventional situations, especially before they speak or act, to give me an example. We need to find ways to act and be involved, by voting, by talking to people we might just avoid, by teaching our children. That's how we make change. I've resolved to find better ways for me, personally, to do so, and I'm excited and scared about stepping out of my comfort zone. But isn't that what this life is about? Learning and doing scary things and growing? I'm grateful to be able to celebrate that freedom to progress!
And I'm grateful for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, for the reminder of just what I'm celebrating.
[title from go do by jonsi]
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