Come Follow Me (Mosiah 1-3)
Mosiah 2:17 is almost iconic in its universal recognition and application:
“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”
Rare is the Latter-Day Saint talk on service which doesn’t include this scripture. It succinctly connects the first and second great commandments and reaffirms Jesus’ statement:
“…Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)
But to read verse 17 in context with the preceding six verses, this statement becomes the ideal mission statement for anyone seeking to hold public office. Translation: Serve. The Public.
These verses read like a resume of public service from this ancient king. As you read them, ask yourself this question, “Would I vote for this man?”
Verse 11: “[I] have been kept and preserved by [God’s] matchless power, to serve you with all the might, mind and strength which the Lord hath granted unto me.”
This statement underscores public service is different than ruling - and this from a king, mind you. This concept is nearly completely lost when someone seeks office in the modern world. Perhaps we could bring this idea back into popularity by only voting for the incumbent in the rarest of circumstances, forcing those in office to never assume their position once there.
Okay, that was quixotic. If not making the idea popular - could we at least with our voting make it a more commonly understood principle of common sense? Short terms imposed at the ballot box where they belong emphasize public service, and help dispel the notion that politics is a career.
Verse 12: “…[I] have not sought gold nor silver nor any manner of riches of you.”
The inevitable cause-and-effect truth of public service is that those paying you - those whom you serve - must collectively make more money than you - or they can't sustain your income. So the fact that our public servants come out of public service multi-millionaires is wrong, and frankly, smells like last week's fish. Oh, wait. See verse 11. Don't. Stay.
Verse 13: "Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or stead, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord..."
An ideal public servant doesn't attempt to imprison the people unjustly - meaning the rule of law applies equally to all citizens. Laws aren't enacted that violate individual rights of some in favor of others.
And here's the real kicker - the best public policy upholds the Ten Commandments. In today's world, we're going to have to work a long time to restore the idea that these ten commandments are for producing the best-ordered societies that experience maximum freedom, prosperity, and peace, regardless of anyone's personal belief in their Source.
Verse 14: "And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne..."
Wouldn't it be refreshing if we knew our taxes were just - that they didn't go towards anything unnecessary, frivolous, or especially corrupt or immoral? This ancient king didn't live on the backs of his people; wouldn't it be a relief if our public servants didn't either?
In verse 15 and 16, King Benjamin reiterates that he doesn't tell the people these things to boast in any way, but rather to witness before them that he's done his best to dispense his duty to God, and to them. Imagine this kind of accountability today - a public servant reporting back to his/her constituents on his record.
Which now puts verse 17 in this powerful context: imagine a public servant, after making an accounting of that service, saying:
"...I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God."
Is that why public servants take an oath of office? Will they one day make an accounting before God of how they "served" their fellow man in public office?
There could be some interesting interviews forthcoming...
So there's a short list of ideal qualifications to best earn the public's votes - a love letter akin to Jane and Michael Banks' letter of advertisement that produced the marvelous Mary Poppins. Perhaps I'll print this, tear it up, and throw it into my fireplace.
Oh, that it would work.
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