Every year before election day in Sacrament Meeting, a statement is read by the First Presidency reminding us of our responsibility to vote. So, for me, withholding my vote is not an option. I believe there is always one candidate who will better serve our country than another. It is not hard for me to make my choice. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I will never support in any way a candidate who belongs to a political party who supports abortion (other than situations to save the life of the mother, or rape). How can a nation so richly blessed by God casually accept such a heinous sin? This nation has allowed the slaughter of millions of the innocent unborn. No wonder the Lord's sword is "bathed in heaven," ready to fall. I believe that those who in ANY way support candidates or political parties who think abortion is a "right" will one day stand accountable before God.
Andrew GroftNovember 5, 2024
Nice work, Stephen. I like your use of Plutarch’s Cincinnatus. Publius Valarius was this kind of leader, as well. Come to think of it, Donald Trump might fit the mold, rough around the edges as he seems. But the Roman and Greek heroes didn’t face the level of vitriol and constructed division America faces today. It is unpopular in some circles to admit Trump is a modern hero, and more palatable if you add that you don’t like his tweets, or he’s our best of two bad choices. But Trump left his plough, he relinquished power even when we knew the 2020 election was questionable. He puts up with horrible abuse, and puts his life on the line for his service. There is truth to be found. There are great men and women—greater even that in Plutarch’s annals. The truth may be more difficult to find, but it is only because the equal and opposite darkness comes with the great light of this greatest human awakening. As lighter, comes darker.
It’s no surprise to me that the namesake of Stephen Earl and the prodigy of Dan and Julie Earley could make such mature and insightful observations. Thank you, friend.
BIHNovember 4, 2024
I think the writer would have been wise to stick with President Lincoln as a president who is universally admired in our modern age. Despite what some people like to think, we members of the church were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and not into the Republican party. President Reagan was not particularly one whom I admired although I voted for him the first time.
Corey D.November 2, 2024
Wow, 17 yrs old, hope he wants to run for office, might be the answer to my daily prayer and plea that more decent, moral, honest and humble people will be inspired to run for office. What an intelligent well written article.
SimplicioNovember 1, 2024
Time and again the Book of Mormon warns us of ambitious men and political leaders who "stir up unto anger" their people for the purpose of gaining power and influence, often resulting in conflict, even war. (Alma 48:3;51:9;63:14.)
Lamanite kings are not the only ones who employ such tactics. There is no virtue in knee-jerk politics.
"It is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto [riot or] bloodshed." -Mormon 4:5
Don't vote Lamanite!
Dave HallNovember 1, 2024
Excellent article. Wise advice. Though I would add a couple of points about this longing for "a nostalgic time when Americans chose from people that were truly admired—like Lincoln, or perhaps Reagan."
First, during his time, Lincoln was widely vilified--Reagan more so during his. Remember, Lincoln was assassinated by a man who considered him evil. Reagan was the victim of an assassination attempt. But, now dead, they are widely admired, analogous to the ancient Jewish admiration of the dead prophets.
Second, today, our view of candidates and public officials is obscured by a media that has become less and less trusted and has become less dedicated to reporting the news to us and, in most cases, obsessed with skewing their reporting to promote their own political agenda. Many sources apparently have no qualms about even lying to portray the world as they wish us to see it. This new philosophy of advocacy journalism is actually openly taught in most journalism schools. It takes some work and some wisdom to ferret out sources we can count on to accurately report what is actually going on. This strongly colors the views of many about the character of political figures.
KathleenNovember 1, 2024
Wise for your years.
Mary Ann JohnsonOctober 31, 2024
Wow. So well said. Now if I could just figure out how to sort out what each did in their term. LOL
ShannaOctober 31, 2024
Excellent article. Thank you for your wise words.
ScottHOctober 31, 2024
Surprisingly mature for the thoughts of a 17-year-old. Yet I disagree with the proposition that votes for a third-party candidate do nothing more than support the winning candidate. These votes still signify diminished trust in the mainstream party candidates, letting parties know that they need to do a better job of surfacing and promoting quality candidates. I am also not persuaded that selling one's soul on the altar of political power simply to be said to have voted for a candidate with a higher likelihood of winning is worth the bargain.
CJOctober 31, 2024
Well said!! Thank You
MaggieOctober 31, 2024
Thank you for your insights as a young person. It's interesting you can't vote yet
I think we have a few other helps when picking and vetting a candidate.
We need to do our due diligent.
We can study it out then pray about it.
We need to remember that Satan calls evil different names to make them look more enticing and acceptable. We need to call them what they are.
Remember in the Book of Mormon the Lord used "unrighteous" men to make things happen. Omni
I agree. We don't know people's hearts.
Please choose wisely because the future of our nation and our lives depend on it.
Use your right to vote.
It will make a difference.
Terry DickensOctober 31, 2024
This is an important article. Candidates are typically flawed. If you're concerned about selecting the best or the worst, consider what their positions are on issues that are important to you: Controlling the border, inflation and the cost of living, killing unborn babies, religious freedom, and so many others. The choice becomes clearer if we ask these types of questions.
Robert StarlingOctober 31, 2024
"Out of the mouths of babes ....." It's amazing that a 17 year-old can have such wisdom, and can express it so eloquently. I agree wholeheartedly. In essence, we should ignore the mean tweets, the extreme accusations, the name-calling, and the personalities of the candidates. Those qualities (or lack thereof) will not be what governs our nation for the next four years and beyond. It is the POLICIES and the VALUES of two opposing philosophies that we are choosing with our vote, just as we did in the War in Heaven. Forget the candidates. Look at the bigger picture. Look at the RECORDS and the VALUES of the Donkey plan for mankind vs the Elephant plan, and vote accordingly.
Jan KuesterOctober 31, 2024
What a brilliant and greatly needed explanation of how to choose a candidate to support and vote for. I have struggled mightily for many years, feeling as though I had to choose between the devil or the deep blue sea when voting and yes, having done my civic duty, feeling guilty having made that choice. THANK YOU!!
L KinderOctober 31, 2024
Republican Democracy IS a messy process, but the good news is that the longest we have to put up with the new team is 4 to 8 years. Then we have another "bloodless revolution" with a new election. As I read the scriptures, politics has always been messy, whether it's judges or kings. I'm just grateful that we AREN'T voting for Head of the Church. We're JUST voting for President. Eventually the donkeys and the elephants will yield to the Lamb, and there will be peace on earth for a thousand years. None of this is a surprise to God. In the meantime, s/he who keeps his/her peace wins.
Phil SnowOctober 31, 2024
This is an admirable essay from a young man. But we need to remember that while Lincoln is universally admired now, he was hated by perhaps half of the country in 1860, so we should look at that election from the viewpoint of that day and age, not from our present perspective.
Also, no potential President will be "perfect." They all have flaws. So we need to decide based on their policy positions, such as abortion, border security, economy, foreign relations, use of our vast energy resources, etc. Looking at the current election from that perspective makes the decision easy in my opinion.
erikpeterhansenOctober 31, 2024
Well don't both sides have policies we don't agree with and policies we do agree with? It's not just all or none, black and white. This makes it even harder to go with either. What can we do? The Spirit says to me pick the candidate that has parts of an agenda that stick out to you as most important. I don't see either agenda as pure and right. What a problem! I love our country but our country's system could be improved.
CJOctober 31, 2024
We’ll said!! Thank you!
Ken MathiasOctober 31, 2024
This man is going far in this life! I can't recall reading anything this well written and I never could have written something this well versed. Well done.
ClaireOctober 31, 2024
In years past those admired men and women did not have personal lives exposed as they are now, would I have voted fir JFK had his immoral weaknesses been widely known?
Thank you Senator Lee for your comments about political leaders do not look like our Christian leaders. Even those are not perfect. None of us are…..
Angie KivettOctober 31, 2024
Wow! Very insightful, wise and classy article. Great thoughts and advice. Thanks Stephen!
Ann De FrancisOctober 31, 2024
I was truly surprised to learn that this well thought out and beautifully written piece was composed by a 17-year-old from my own state of Arizona. Well done! Much here that’s worth pondering with open minds and hearts as we head to the ballot box.
Comments | Return to Story
MaryannNovember 6, 2024
Every year before election day in Sacrament Meeting, a statement is read by the First Presidency reminding us of our responsibility to vote. So, for me, withholding my vote is not an option. I believe there is always one candidate who will better serve our country than another. It is not hard for me to make my choice. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I will never support in any way a candidate who belongs to a political party who supports abortion (other than situations to save the life of the mother, or rape). How can a nation so richly blessed by God casually accept such a heinous sin? This nation has allowed the slaughter of millions of the innocent unborn. No wonder the Lord's sword is "bathed in heaven," ready to fall. I believe that those who in ANY way support candidates or political parties who think abortion is a "right" will one day stand accountable before God.
Andrew GroftNovember 5, 2024
Nice work, Stephen. I like your use of Plutarch’s Cincinnatus. Publius Valarius was this kind of leader, as well. Come to think of it, Donald Trump might fit the mold, rough around the edges as he seems. But the Roman and Greek heroes didn’t face the level of vitriol and constructed division America faces today. It is unpopular in some circles to admit Trump is a modern hero, and more palatable if you add that you don’t like his tweets, or he’s our best of two bad choices. But Trump left his plough, he relinquished power even when we knew the 2020 election was questionable. He puts up with horrible abuse, and puts his life on the line for his service. There is truth to be found. There are great men and women—greater even that in Plutarch’s annals. The truth may be more difficult to find, but it is only because the equal and opposite darkness comes with the great light of this greatest human awakening. As lighter, comes darker. It’s no surprise to me that the namesake of Stephen Earl and the prodigy of Dan and Julie Earley could make such mature and insightful observations. Thank you, friend.
BIHNovember 4, 2024
I think the writer would have been wise to stick with President Lincoln as a president who is universally admired in our modern age. Despite what some people like to think, we members of the church were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and not into the Republican party. President Reagan was not particularly one whom I admired although I voted for him the first time.
Corey D.November 2, 2024
Wow, 17 yrs old, hope he wants to run for office, might be the answer to my daily prayer and plea that more decent, moral, honest and humble people will be inspired to run for office. What an intelligent well written article.
SimplicioNovember 1, 2024
Time and again the Book of Mormon warns us of ambitious men and political leaders who "stir up unto anger" their people for the purpose of gaining power and influence, often resulting in conflict, even war. (Alma 48:3;51:9;63:14.) Lamanite kings are not the only ones who employ such tactics. There is no virtue in knee-jerk politics. "It is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto [riot or] bloodshed." -Mormon 4:5 Don't vote Lamanite!
Dave HallNovember 1, 2024
Excellent article. Wise advice. Though I would add a couple of points about this longing for "a nostalgic time when Americans chose from people that were truly admired—like Lincoln, or perhaps Reagan." First, during his time, Lincoln was widely vilified--Reagan more so during his. Remember, Lincoln was assassinated by a man who considered him evil. Reagan was the victim of an assassination attempt. But, now dead, they are widely admired, analogous to the ancient Jewish admiration of the dead prophets. Second, today, our view of candidates and public officials is obscured by a media that has become less and less trusted and has become less dedicated to reporting the news to us and, in most cases, obsessed with skewing their reporting to promote their own political agenda. Many sources apparently have no qualms about even lying to portray the world as they wish us to see it. This new philosophy of advocacy journalism is actually openly taught in most journalism schools. It takes some work and some wisdom to ferret out sources we can count on to accurately report what is actually going on. This strongly colors the views of many about the character of political figures.
KathleenNovember 1, 2024
Wise for your years.
Mary Ann JohnsonOctober 31, 2024
Wow. So well said. Now if I could just figure out how to sort out what each did in their term. LOL
ShannaOctober 31, 2024
Excellent article. Thank you for your wise words.
ScottHOctober 31, 2024
Surprisingly mature for the thoughts of a 17-year-old. Yet I disagree with the proposition that votes for a third-party candidate do nothing more than support the winning candidate. These votes still signify diminished trust in the mainstream party candidates, letting parties know that they need to do a better job of surfacing and promoting quality candidates. I am also not persuaded that selling one's soul on the altar of political power simply to be said to have voted for a candidate with a higher likelihood of winning is worth the bargain.
CJOctober 31, 2024
Well said!! Thank You
MaggieOctober 31, 2024
Thank you for your insights as a young person. It's interesting you can't vote yet I think we have a few other helps when picking and vetting a candidate. We need to do our due diligent. We can study it out then pray about it. We need to remember that Satan calls evil different names to make them look more enticing and acceptable. We need to call them what they are. Remember in the Book of Mormon the Lord used "unrighteous" men to make things happen. Omni I agree. We don't know people's hearts. Please choose wisely because the future of our nation and our lives depend on it. Use your right to vote. It will make a difference.
Terry DickensOctober 31, 2024
This is an important article. Candidates are typically flawed. If you're concerned about selecting the best or the worst, consider what their positions are on issues that are important to you: Controlling the border, inflation and the cost of living, killing unborn babies, religious freedom, and so many others. The choice becomes clearer if we ask these types of questions.
Robert StarlingOctober 31, 2024
"Out of the mouths of babes ....." It's amazing that a 17 year-old can have such wisdom, and can express it so eloquently. I agree wholeheartedly. In essence, we should ignore the mean tweets, the extreme accusations, the name-calling, and the personalities of the candidates. Those qualities (or lack thereof) will not be what governs our nation for the next four years and beyond. It is the POLICIES and the VALUES of two opposing philosophies that we are choosing with our vote, just as we did in the War in Heaven. Forget the candidates. Look at the bigger picture. Look at the RECORDS and the VALUES of the Donkey plan for mankind vs the Elephant plan, and vote accordingly.
Jan KuesterOctober 31, 2024
What a brilliant and greatly needed explanation of how to choose a candidate to support and vote for. I have struggled mightily for many years, feeling as though I had to choose between the devil or the deep blue sea when voting and yes, having done my civic duty, feeling guilty having made that choice. THANK YOU!!
L KinderOctober 31, 2024
Republican Democracy IS a messy process, but the good news is that the longest we have to put up with the new team is 4 to 8 years. Then we have another "bloodless revolution" with a new election. As I read the scriptures, politics has always been messy, whether it's judges or kings. I'm just grateful that we AREN'T voting for Head of the Church. We're JUST voting for President. Eventually the donkeys and the elephants will yield to the Lamb, and there will be peace on earth for a thousand years. None of this is a surprise to God. In the meantime, s/he who keeps his/her peace wins.
Phil SnowOctober 31, 2024
This is an admirable essay from a young man. But we need to remember that while Lincoln is universally admired now, he was hated by perhaps half of the country in 1860, so we should look at that election from the viewpoint of that day and age, not from our present perspective. Also, no potential President will be "perfect." They all have flaws. So we need to decide based on their policy positions, such as abortion, border security, economy, foreign relations, use of our vast energy resources, etc. Looking at the current election from that perspective makes the decision easy in my opinion.
erikpeterhansenOctober 31, 2024
Well don't both sides have policies we don't agree with and policies we do agree with? It's not just all or none, black and white. This makes it even harder to go with either. What can we do? The Spirit says to me pick the candidate that has parts of an agenda that stick out to you as most important. I don't see either agenda as pure and right. What a problem! I love our country but our country's system could be improved.
CJOctober 31, 2024
We’ll said!! Thank you!
Ken MathiasOctober 31, 2024
This man is going far in this life! I can't recall reading anything this well written and I never could have written something this well versed. Well done.
ClaireOctober 31, 2024
In years past those admired men and women did not have personal lives exposed as they are now, would I have voted fir JFK had his immoral weaknesses been widely known? Thank you Senator Lee for your comments about political leaders do not look like our Christian leaders. Even those are not perfect. None of us are…..
Angie KivettOctober 31, 2024
Wow! Very insightful, wise and classy article. Great thoughts and advice. Thanks Stephen!
Ann De FrancisOctober 31, 2024
I was truly surprised to learn that this well thought out and beautifully written piece was composed by a 17-year-old from my own state of Arizona. Well done! Much here that’s worth pondering with open minds and hearts as we head to the ballot box.
Myrna T AndersonOctober 31, 2024
Well written, Young One!
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