A Much Bigger and More Important Picture

Realizing that not every Latter-day Saint would have voted for Mitt Romney makes any discussion about the election a sensitive endeavor.  Therefore, I have tried to present this as thoughtfully as possible to show the huge benefits of the Romney family representing their values even though the November election turned out the way it did for them.

The basic idea for this blog came from a Forum post by Celeste-2013 seen at http://www.lds.net/forums/general-discussion/49949-comfort-romney-supporters.html.  I have used some of that post in this Blog.

"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." (D&C 88:73). If the Lord's "work" is to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39), and if that process begins by hearing about the Church and seeing its members, then the sooner and the faster the greatest number of people can see and hear about the Latter-day Saints---especially about exemplary Saints like the Romney’s. Then more of God’s work will hasten. Though the Church has 55,000+ missionaries who are quietly roaming the world knocking on doors, the Lord has brought the LDS Governor and his LDS family into the very homes of millions of people around the U.S. and the world via TV, radio, and Internet for more than a year now. 

Many people who might never have received or accepted the missionaries or LDS neighbors, have learned about the LDS way of life. Now, they have listened, watched, and learned, and many of them will likely be more curious and receptive to the missionaries in the future. Moreover, that goes for many of the Evangelicals, Protestants, and Catholics who locked arms with the Latter-Day Saints (thanks to Glenn Beck) during this long presidential campaign.

Bottom line: Mitt Romney lost a hard-fought political battle, but he---and the Church---won a decisive, long-awaited cultural and spiritual victory in opening the minds and hearts of millions.

The following is a quotation made by President Harold B. Lee.

“Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. … This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all.  I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in the entire world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.” (Ye Are the Light of the World, p. 350-351 Harold B. Lee, 11th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Lord is preparing our country and the world for the Second Coming. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney has done wonders for exposing the church to the world. Very few people can now say they have never heard of the Mormon Church. As we are preparing missionaries to serve at younger ages and changing curriculum to meet that need, it doesn't seem coincidental. Mass exposure to the church and a major upswing in the number of missionaries serving represents a hastening of the work.

If Mitt had won, automatically nearly 50% of the country would reject the missionaries when they knock on their door. As if their job isn't hard enough, and then the defeated and angry losing party would have a wholesome and healthy target on which to take their frustrations out. Could the Lord afford to lose 50% of potential converts at a time when the work is ramping up? I don't think so.   

Mitt lost with grace and election night. The world saw a man, humbled by defeat but courteous, kind, cheerful... in other words, being the Boy Scout we have always known and would expect him to be.  

If he had won, the world media would have over the next four years, taken everything we consider sacred and defiled it, making it the punch line of every joke on the late night TV circuit. How would that have accomplished the Lord's purpose? I don't think it would have.

I take solace in knowing that there are 15 men called as prophets, seers, and revelators and that their response was sincere, kind and a class move. They aren't concerned about the state of politics; they are concerned about the state of men's souls. If the state of the economy continues to spiral downward that will humble the proud and when their government fails them, they may be willing to turn to their Creator. I find comfort in realizing that we are raising a generation that will "bring the world His truth" and I think that Mitt losing, as painful as it was, may just have been the launching off point for the greatest conversion cycle in LDS Church history. 

There is a much bigger and more important picture to consider.

Tags: Faith RuntoTomorrow Missionaries Patience

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