Current Lessons
Principles of Good Government No. Nine
If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear
More than 70 percent of all young Americans ages 17 to 24 do not qualify for military service due to problems of obesity, education, drug abuse, or crime. (Information from the Department of Defense) Furthermore, if a young person cannot qualify for military service they likely cannot qualify as peace officers or for many other important jobs our country relies on. This declining number of young adults who are not “citizen ready” is a serious threat to every significant sector of American society.
Data shows that young Americans and young Utahns are struggling to become productive members of society on multiple measures. While today’s young adults are better educated than those of previous generations, over 14% of young adults ages 16 to 24 are not employed or in school. In addition, more than 25% of young adults have an arrest record – the majority drug related. Significantly, half as many young adults ages 18 to 32 are getting married compared to previous generations.
Mission: Readiness is a nonprofit, nonpartisan national security organization of more than 600 retired generals and admirals. Mission: Readiness published the above statistics on a State-by-State basis in the 2016 Citizen-Readiness Index Infographic which can be seen by opening the following link. https://www.strongnation.org/articles/159-2016-citizen-readiness-index-infographic
On February 21, 2017 I was invited to represent Mission: Readiness on KSL Radio on the Doug Wright Show. The following is a link to an MP3 recording of that show.
On the same date, Mission: Readiness held a panel discussion on these issues in the Utah State Capitol Building Rotunda. Panelists included Chief Mike Brown of the Salt Lake City Police Department representing law enforcement; Lane Battie, President of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce representing the business community; Nolan Karras, a past Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and leader in on-going efforts to improve education; Senator Curt Bramble a leader in the Utah Legislature; I was the military representative on the panel. The moderator was LaVarr Webb who is a well-known and popular Utah journalist. Utah Governor Gary Herbert was the concluding speaker. A picture of this panel is found below.
Living the gospel of Jesus Christ prepares us in every dimension of our lives – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints emphasizes self-reliance and personal and family preparedness. The following statements can be found at lds.org:
“Self-reliance is the ability, commitment, and effort to provide the spiritual and temporal necessities of life for self and family. As members become self-reliant, they are also better able to serve and care for others”
“Church members are responsible for their own spiritual and temporal well-being. Blessed with the gift of agency, they have the privilege and duty to set their own course, solve their own problems, and strive to become self-reliant. Members do this under the inspiration of the Lord and with the labor of their own hands.”
The following are some of the areas in which members should become self-reliant:
“Health – The Lord has commanded members to take care of their minds and bodies. They should obey the Word of Wisdom, eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, control their weight and get adequate sleep. They should shun substances or practices that abuse their bodies or minds…”
Education – Education provides understanding and skills that can help people develop self-reliance. Church members should study the scriptures and other good books. They should improve in their ability to read, write, and do basic mathematics. They should obtain as much education as they can, including formal and technical schooling where possible. This will help them develop their talents, find suitable employment, and make a valuable contribution to their families, the Church, and the community.”
Employment – Work is the foundation upon which self-reliance and temporal well-being rest. Members should prepare for and carefully select a suitable occupation or self-employment that will provide for their own and their families’ needs. They should become skilled at their work, be diligent and trustworthy, and give honest work for the pay and benefits they receive.”
Testimony – I have learned from personal experience the truthfulness of the Lord’s statement that “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). Whenever, we are not adequately prepared, whether at school, or at work, or in life in general we lose confidence in ourselves and in the future.
Conversely, when we are prepared our confidence in ourselves begins to increase. Regarding moral and spiritual preparedness the Lord said that if we “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45).
I can think of nothing that is more important than being so prepared that we can have confidence when we are brought into the presence of the Lord to make an accounting of our lives.