FAIR's Rising Generation

Karl Marx is somewhat of a hero in my mind. No, that’s not a typo. He saw a problem, a problem the Book of Mormon itself had a lot to say about–that of class inequality, and he wasn’t afraid to stand up to a great evil of his day.

In fact, one familiar with Marxist ideology may find King Benjamin’s sermon strikingly familiar. “From each according to his ability; to each according to his needs” is both a maxim of Socialism and what could be termed Mormon Consecrationism.*

Of course, Marx was a Secularist and levelled a number of criticisms against religion. It may surprise you that I agree with most of them.

Which is why critics aren’t always a bad thing, and I think Mormon apologists are wise to recognize that. If I hold an incorrect belief, I hope someone out there will take the time to enlighten me, and I am grateful towards those who do–critic of the Church or not.

Marx stated that religion was the opiate of the masses. His criticism was that people were taking so much stock in the promise of a glorious afterlife, that they were unwilling to address the problems of the “here and now.” And…he was right!

When God commanded Lehi to send his sons to retrieve the Brass Plates, he didn’t map out every minute detail of how to do it. Nephi and his brothers failed twice before Nephi finally succeeded.

We can’t wait on God to solve our problems. More importantly, we can’t assume that everything that happens to us is God’s will. The late self-help superstar M. Scott Peck bluntly proclaimed in one of his books, “Everyone gets creamed eventually”–not scientifically proven, but he may be right nonetheless. And when it happens, the victim may react one of two ways: He or she forsakes God or accepts it as God’s will.

What if Nephi had resigned himself to these two options? What if he had merely shrugged his shoulders and decided that their initial failures were a sign from God that God didn’t want them to retrieve the Brass Plates afterall or that He had let them off the hook? “He must have a different plan for me?” or “God works in mysterious ways” are perhaps excuses we use far too often.

If our trials are meant to bring us closer to Christ–not drive us further away–then I think God would rather us demand an accounting from him than wallow in isolation and bitterness or accept an outcome that we simply don’t understand.

Would these words have resonated with Karl Marx, supposing I could travel back in time and…buy him a drink? Probably not, but I feel confident that Mormonism handily refutes his criticisms.

I have a Testimony of the God of the Old Testament…the God who spoke to Moses as one man speaks to another. Furthermore, I have a Testimony of the importance of making and keeping Covenants with God…that if we submit to be his children, he will be our watchful Father; if we strive for the Kingdom, he will strive for us.

The Point? Well, it has something to do with works, which is somewhat of a swearword among our christian brothers (brothers sure like to fight, don’t they?). God gives us the raw materials we need to grow spriritually, just as he graces us with rain and sunshine, gifts from the heavens. We take these gifts, and we work–we build our selves, families, friends, neighbors, and communities.

And of course, we grow, and as we grow, the Lord in turn invests in us more abundantly. Marx may not have believed in God, and chances are, God didn’t believe in Marx’s ideology, but perhaps they agreed on one thing: Never take it lying down. To borrow somewhat from Moroni, you’ve got to fight for your liberty, your religion, and your family. And even though Eternal Life is not something that can be bought or earned, it is something one must prove worthy of. So be a Mormon, and be proud (but not prideful…gulp). Work. Fight. And don’t back down.

*No, they are not the same.