Monday, October 23, 2006

What is a Liberal?

There's a post on Woods Cross Citizen that talks about a local candidate distancing himself from the national party. The thing about the post that interests me is one of it's comments...

The Angel Liberal said...
James 1: 5
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Let's remember the true meaning of liberal, not the Sean Hannity assassination of the word.

Alma 1: 30
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were thirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Alma 6: 5
5 Now I would that ye should understand that the word of God was liberal unto all, that none were deprived of the privilege of assembling themselves together to hear the word of God.

D&C 46: 7
7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.

Think about it.


Brings new meaning to the term "bleeding liberal" doesn't it.

I was talking with my dad the other night about how we in our suburbia get so comfortable. We have nice couches, and we drive nice cars. We don't have to think about people who are starving or people who don't have places to live because we don't see it. We get caught up with soccer games and pot luck dinners and all the little things in our lives that seem so important, but we forget about taking care of others who are not as blessed as we are.

Perhaps we all ought to be a little more liberal.

2 comments:

derekstaff said...

Keen observation, Allie. I often make the same observation to my conservative family and friends. "Ever notice that the scriptures tell us that God gives unto men LIBERALLY, but he doesn't bother to mention being conservative a single time?"

That's why I started my own blog: aliberalmormon.wordpress.com

Nice to hear another alternative voice from among the faithful!

alisonwonderland said...

my 10-year-old daughter asked me what a liberal was, so we looked the word up in the dictionary. what we found was this--

liberalism: a political philosophy based on belief in progress, the essential goodness of the human race, and the autonomy of the individual and standing for the protection of political and civil liberties

my daughter couldn't understand why anyone would want to be anything other than a liberal!