Helaman 6:2-3

For behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hardened and impenitent and grossly wicked, insomuch that they did reject the word of God and all the preaching and prophesying which did come among them.

Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the Church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

These two verses reminded me that our lives are lived in a dual realm - the first being our communities and the politics that govern them and secondly, we have the things that really matter which are experienced on a more personal level. It is as if we lived in a bubble that is in a larger bubble inside an even larger one.

I remember once creating a timeline for my parents and grandparents. That timeline showed the family births, deaths and marriages interspersed with world wars, elections, the great depression, man landing on the moon. There were all these historic events that made the news and are recorded in the histories of nations but the events that meant the most to me not the ones in the history books. My family is everything to me! Our lives here on earth find meaning in relationships.

Yet those larger events affect us. They affect us deeply. Family life is disrupted by the affairs of state. As we continue reading in the book of Helaman, we are about to see the Nephite nation self destruct - all that really matters subject to the forces at play in a corrupt government.

That is why we must engage in our political systems. We cannot go merrily on our way assuming life will always be good. People are too easily corrupted. Government is too easily tainted by money and special interests. It takes vigilance on the part of citizens to hold elected officials responsible for providing us with the freedoms and opportunities we need so that we can enjoy our lives and so that our families can flourish.

We have seen how easily our own government has become corrupt and lawless under the Trump administration. It will take a lot of work to end his presidency and the chaos he has brought to our lives. May God bless our efforts to get him out of office and replace him with honest and decent leaders!

Now in the midst of these two parts of human existence - our families and our communities - we also have the church. And for this discussion, that includes all religions and religious leaders. They have the important role of helping us find meaning and encouraging us to live by truths that bring happiness to our lives. They remind us of what truly matters and help us put mortality into a larger perspective. They remind us of the God who is the Father of all and of the common brotherhood of man. Religion gives us an opportunity to rise above nationalism and to embrace all people in our circle of love and concern. Our great religions teach us to be moral individuals for whom service to others overrides our own selfish concerns.

I am so grateful for my own faith, for knowing I have loving Heavenly Parents who watch over me and are able to strengthen me, comfort me, and help me with all the challenges of life.  My life is more meaningful and more beautiful because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.