A recent Tribune story quoted LDS President Russell M. Nelson making what appears to be a heartfelt and very timely call for more civility in our daily life and especially politics.
“Our relations with one another, especially in the political realm, are far too angry, too coarse, too hateful. Too lacking in Christian — or, simply, human — kindness and charity.”
Who can argue with that? Well, I and many others can. Simply PR blabber meant to burnish the church’s image in the non-LDSpublic’s eye and to make his followers smug and proud of themselves. It likely does more damage than it does good.
It’s been acknowledged in The Tribune that most of the church’s leaders vote solidly Republican — including, most likely, Russell himself and certainly a large majority of his flock.
Donald Trump is wildly acknowledged to be the least respectful and least civil of all our presidents and almost all the free world’s leaders. As just one example, look at how his polite and civil recent presidential opponent was treated by him: “She’s ugly” (She isn’t and always dresses appropriately). “She’s stupid!” (Well, she graduated with honors from a prestigious school, earned a law degree and was elected twice as a prosecuting attorney and as a senator in one of our largest states and cities, and never paid anyone to take her tests for her like President Trump). Those are just two things he has said that no other president from either party would ever say.
And yet President Nelson and his followers overwhelmingly support Trump and all his appointees who are also, for the most part, uncivil, following their leader’s style and tactics. Sounds pretty hypocritical to me. And to many others of other faiths and beliefs as well. “Do as I say … Not as I do.” President Nelson? “Walk the talk.” President Nelson?
Kim T. Bené, West Valley City
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