Even the Best Can Fall

April 8, 2009: Deputy U.S. Marshals and U.S. Postal Inspectors seize an automobile
from the home of Shawn R. Merriman in Aurora, Colo

Last Tuesday, the SEC filed a lawsuit against a former LDS bishop in an attempt to recover funds that had been embezzled in a ponzi scheme over the last 13 years. Shawn Merriman is accused of milking almost $20 million from investors as his scheme grew.

The real importance of this story is not that that there is another person that has been caught stealing money from others, rather who that person was, a religious leader. I have often come across those who feel there comes a time in life when a person becomes so righteous that they are no longer tempted to do things which may be unethical or even illegal. At a certain point, a righteous member of their religion is free from the trials that face the rest of us. That could not be any farther from the truth.

Each member of society is responsible for their actions. That does not change with age or position. The only thing that does change with age is our ability to make a bad decision. As we are given more responsibility in life, we are also given the change to succeed or fail. If we fail to act with a basic level of morality, then we are failing in our responsibility as members of our community. These decisions can be very small at first. They may come out of desperation. Merriman was at one time trying to do some legitimate investing, however, after losing $400,000 of his investors money, he turned to a dishonest practice to cover up the losses.

They may come from greed, but they well come given enough time.

What may be upsetting to many is that Merriman was a respected member of his community. He was not simply a "banker on Wall Street", but was a religious leader and respected by many of his neighbors.

We must remember that each one of us has the potential to be the next victim of a bad decision. The choices we make effect others in ways we may not be able to see, and the consequences of those decisions may last for years. While it may be easier to think that there is an easy way out, or that if I go to church, then it won't happen to me, we need to understand that it can and does happen to the best of us, bishop or CEO or member of the congregation.

If we truly want to live in a peaceful society, we must recognize that the problem exists, and that we will be forced to face it from time to time. When we are prepared for the challenge, regardless of who we are and what positions we may hold in our community, they we will be well on our way to living in our own personal Zion.

Enjoy It While It Lasts

In an unexpected move, today the Iowa Supreme Court struck down a state law that banned same-sex marriage. In the unanimous decision, the court effectively ruled that same-sex marriages were legal in the state, making Iowa the third state to allow same sex marriages. The new rules will come into effect in as soon as 3 weeks.
While this may seem like a win for the gay community, I beg to differ. Iowa is a very conservative state, and while the law as ruled down, it was passed in the first place. The people of Iowa are mostly corn farmers who hold their beliefs and value systems in high regard. They may not be the most educated state in the country, but I would argue that it is one of the smartest states in the country. Iowa know how to use the system. There is a reason that they are the first state to hold their primary presidential elections, and refuse to move to Super Tuesday. They know that the government wants to keep the voters happy so the Iowa people will keep them in office come election time. This comes out in numerous subsidies that the corn industry receives.
Moving back to the issue at hand, The people of Iowa know how to get things done. They first passed the law to ban same-sex marriage. That has now been struck down. Do the people of Iowa give up and allow something that they came together as a people to ban, absolutely not. They will come together again and change their constitution.
Is this possible? If it is, will it happen? Yes! How can we know that? It has happened already. Iowa's neighbor to the west, Nebraska, went through this a few years ago. I would know, I lived there. Initiative 416 was the movement to change the Nebraska Constitution to effectively ban gay marriage. Was 416 contested? Yes. Were there hateful actions preformed on both sides of the issues? Of course. Was I called out at school in the middle of class and yelled at by a girl throwing out labels like bigot? You bet, but 416 still passed. Not only did it pass, it passed by a large margin. As much hate that came my way, including people destroying my property and dumping their cigarette trays in my driveway, the people made a decision and did not let the screaming of a few influence the laws that bind everyone.
Will this be the case in Iowa? Most likely it will be. The religious component of Iowa is very strong. Not only will the small churches push for the change, but the larger churches are willing to add their support. The ruling from the Supreme Court is not planed to be contested, but I would be very surprised if the constitution was not changed to override the Courts. It may seem a victory for now, but the people will undoubtedly come together and show the they still disagree with gay marriage, don't want to allow it, and will do what it takes to make their "quiet voices" heard.

We live in Zion Times

The world is changing, I believe that we all know that. Things that were abhorred only twenty years ago are now embraced and praised. Is this change bad? Not always. There have been some changes that have been for the better. My wife was able to get a degree in a field of study that only a few years ago was almost entirely composed of men. These changes should be looked at as a success in society, but other changes may be much more destructive. For example, the effect of not having a parent in the home to raise young children, mother or father, has had measurable negative effects on society.
In these wavering times we find failures in society as well as reasons for rejoicing. But simply watching the news while you get ready in the morning or reading major news websites does not fulfill the responsibility of each person to participate in their community; local or national. Nor does begrudgingly going to the voting booths on a Tuesday in November. Each citizen has the responsibility and the right to be truly informed, not merely the ability to simply repeat what they hear on Fox News or read in the New York Times. They need to have a true grasp on the world around them and give their own opinion, even if it happens to be the same as what they read on the web.
The world we live in is what we make of it. We live in Zion Times. We have the chance to make our communities into a shelter from the world. We may not have the power to change what is happening in Washington, but we do have the opportunity to change the communities that we live in into our very own Zion. To do that, we must understand what is happening around us. Understand the controversy around us. It's fine if we disagree. I may not feel the same way you do, but working together we can all have a part in making a better world, however small that world may be.
Lets create a world where in uncertain times, expression is not reserved for only those with the loudest voice. The quite voice has the power to change. Together, let us call for truth.