2 Nephi 26

5 And they that kill the prophets, and the saints, the depths of the earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:5)

I read this, thinking...the prophets were so graphic in their writings...crushing, screaming, blood, etc. And we worry about violence in our children's literature? Yet we should teach our children the scriptures. Here's the thing, I know that studies have shown that when violence is written we cope with it much differently than when it is on TV, or in a game, so I've been a little more lax in what we read, meaning, I don't cover up what happened in the scriptures. And we talk about it. I think that is the key point: We talk about it. The kids are not left to wonder what I think, or if what they feel is right or wrong. We discuss. Two way communication.

24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:24 - 27) (my emphasis added)

This scripture is quoted to me sometimes by those who were once members, saying that those of us who are active need to be more accepting. Usually, I concede (because, well, we do) BUT after reading the italicized part, I realized something. We may be accepting, but it is still everyone's job to encourage people to repent, and telling someone that they need to repent is never seen as being accepting, even if you don't feel un-accepting toward them. Someone may love you, but do you really feel loved when they tell you that there are things that need to change? Not usually at the moment, and that is when pride takes over. Do you stop and think about what they've said, or do you get angry and tell them they are just a biased "saint" who is holier than thou and needs to get off your back? Hmmm? I used to do the latter. But it's making me think, reading this. Guess this is why we get to read regularly, eh?

Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:30)

So, politically, how do we solve this problem? If we tax the businesses, to give more to the poor, the businesses do worse, making fewer jobs available, so then there are more poor. If we don't and business folk get greedy, then there are more jobs, but less income. If we set a higher minimum wage, then all wages go up, and then so do prices. Arrrg! I really don't think this is a solvable problem. At least not within our finite minds. Am I giving up on our civiliazation? No, I hope we survive, but I've been thinking...most big civilizations only lasted a few hundred years as they entered the pride cycle.

that they should not contend one with another;
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:32)
President Monson spoke of contention today. I was glad he did, because I'd been feeling a lot of it toward my neighbors who were voting opposite me. A lot of comments come up about politics this time of year, and it is always a sore spot. I need to calm my inner self. I need to realize that they have every right to a different point of view, and not snap back at them when they say that only stupid people are conservative. I need to take the higher road, and be my educated self, with my educated opinions and do my best, even if we disagree. It is so hard. Hard to be kind to friends who have different points of view. But I must, or else, will I have friends?