If you’re a reader of my blog then you probably already know that I’m a big fan of the concept of civil discourse,  both for practical and moral reasons.  And the decline in quality of our political dialogue stresses me more than pretty much anything else in the realm of politics right now.  I’m not just talking about recent events.  In many ways the anger, distrust, fear, misinformation, and outright hatred we’ve seen on display recently are just the natural result of several decades of steadily crumbling communities and increasingly isolated and individualistic lifestyles.  And quite frankly, new technological methods of communication that allow anybody with an internet connection to appear to be as credible as actual experts, that facilitate the specialization of news so that citizens can wrap themselves in a cocoon of their own perspective, and which enable people to say increasingly inflammatory things while hiding behind a veil of anonymity are just accelerating the degradation.

So can you imagine my delight to find that my church has chosen to speak out against this very problem.  The LDS church put out a press release a week or so go entitled “The Mormon Ethic of Civility” that I thought was well-written, insightful, and extremely relevant.  While it’s written by LDS leaders, it should be an interesting read for Non-LDS readers as well.  It can be found here on the original LDS newsroom website, but I’ve also posted the full text after the jump.

The Mormon Ethic of Civility

SALT LAKE CITY 16 October 2009

The political world is astir. Economies are faltering. Public trust is waning. Individuals feel vulnerable. And social cohesion wears thin. Meanwhile, stories of rage and agitation fill our airwaves, streets and town halls. Where are the voices of balance and moderation in these extreme times?

During a recent address given in an interfaith setting, Church President Thomas S. Monson declared: “When a spirit of goodwill prompts our thinking and when united effort goes to work on a common problem, the results can be most gratifying.” Further, former Church President Gordon B. Hinckley once said that living “together in communities with respect and concern one for another” is “the hallmark of civilization.” That hallmark is under increasing threat.

So many of the habits and conventions of modern culture — ubiquitous media, anonymous and unsourced online participation, politicization of the routine, fractured community and family life — undermine the virtues and manners that

make peaceful coexistence in a pluralist society possible. The fabric of civil society tears when stretched thin by its extremities. Civility, then, becomes the measure of our collective and individual character as citizens of a democracy.

A healthy democracy maintains equilibrium through diverse means, including a patchwork of competing interests and an effective system of governmental checks. Nevertheless, this order ultimately relies on the integrity of the people. Speaking

at general conference, a semiannual worldwide gathering of the Church, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asserted: “In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal

with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay.” Likewise, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton emphasized that the virtues of fidelity, charity, generosity, humility and responsibility “form the foundation of a Christian life and are the outward manifestation of the inner man.” Thus, moral virtues blend into civic virtues.

The seriousness of our common challenges calls for an equally serious engagement with reasonable ideas and solutions. What we need is rigorous debate, not rancorous altercations.

Civility is not only a matter of discourse. It is primarily a mode of engagement. The technological interconnectedness of society has made isolation impossible. Of all the institutions in the modern world, religion has had perhaps the greatest

difficulty adjusting to the reality of give and take with the public.

Today, and throughout its history, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continuously encounters the legitimate interests of various stakeholders in its interaction with the public. Rather than exempting itself from the rules of law and civility, the Church has sought the path of cooperative engagement and avoided the perils of acrimonious confrontation.

Echoing this mode of civil engagement, President Monson declared: “As a church we reach out not only to our own people but also to those people of goodwill throughout the world in that spirit of brotherhood which comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Speaking of civility on a personal level, Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught Latter- day Saints how to respond to criticism: “Some people mistakenly think responses such as silence, meekness, forgiveness, and bearing humble testimony are passive or weak. But, to ‘love [our] enemies, bless them that curse [us], do good to them that hate [us], and pray for them which despitefully use [us], and persecute [us]’ (Matthew 5:44) takes faith, strength, and, most of all, Christian courage.”

The moral basis of civility is the Golden Rule, taught by a broad range of cultures and individuals, perhaps most popularly by Jesus Christ: “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). This ethic of

reciprocity reminds us all of our responsibility toward one another and reinforces the communal nature of human life.  Similarly, the Book of Mormon tells a sober story of civilizational decline in which various peoples repeat the cycle of

prosperity, pride and fall. In almost every case, the seeds of decay begin with the violation of the simple rules of civility. Cooperation, humility and empathy gradually give way to contention, strife and malice.

The need for civility is perhaps most relevant in the realm of partisan politics. As the Church operates in countries around the world, it embraces the richness of pluralism. Thus, the political diversity of Latter-day Saints spans the ideological

spectrum. Individual members are free to choose their own political philosophy and affiliation. Moreover, the Church itself is not aligned with any particular political ideology or movement. It defies category. Its moral values may be expressed in a number of parties and ideologies.

Furthermore, the Church views with concern the politics of fear and rhetorical extremism that render civil discussion impossible. As the Church begins to rise in prominence and its members achieve a higher public profile, a diversity of voices and opinions naturally follows. Some may even mistake these voices as being authoritative or representative of the Church. However, individual members think and speak for themselves. Only the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles

speak for the whole Church.

Latter-day Saint ethical life requires members to treat their neighbors with respect, regardless of the situation. Behavior in a religious setting should be consistent with behavior in a secular setting. The Church hopes that our democratic system will facilitate kinder and more reasoned exchanges among fellow Americans than we are now seeing.

In his inaugural press conference President Monson emphasized the importance of cooperation in civic endeavors: “We have a responsibility to be active in the communities where we live, all Latter-day Saints, and to work cooperatively with other churches and organizations. My objective there is … that we eliminate the weakness of one standing alone and substitute for it the strength of people working together.”

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Breaking News!  Tomorrow morning Pres. Obama is expected to announce that he has chosen John Huntsman Jr., governor of Utah and moderate republican as the new ambassador to China.  And sources say Governor Huntsman has accepted the ambassador position.  He learned Chinese while serving a mission for the church in Taiwan and he has an adopted daughter from China.  He also served as Ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and worked in the Reagan Whitehouse.  I’ve always liked Gov. Huntsman and he seems to be extremely qualified for this position.  And I’m pleased to see Pres. Obama reaching across party lines to appoint more Republicans to important positions.  The full article follows:

SALT LAKE CITY — President Barack Obama intends to name Utah’s Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman, seen by many as a potential GOP presidential contender, to be ambassador to China, a source close to the governor said Friday night.

The popular moderate governor has accepted the appointment, said the source, who would speak only on condition of anonymity ahead of a White House announcement expected Saturday. Repeated messages to Huntsman’s spokeswoman and other staffers went unreturned Friday. The White House would not confirm the nomination.

Huntsman, a two-term governor, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan. One of his seven children, Gracie Mei, was adopted from China in 1999 after she was abandoned in a vegetable market.  He made headlines recently for encouraging the Republican Party to swing in a more moderate direction if it wanted to bounce back from the 2008 elections, angering some conservatives.

Obama’s 2008 campaign manager, David Plouffe, said Huntsman is a Republican who “seems to understand the party has to adjust _ not stubbornly believe that everything is OK and it is the country that has to change.”  Huntsman’s positions on the environment and other issues have led some to consider him a potential contender for president in 2012.

He signed an initiative that would set a regional cap-and-trade effort to reduce global warming. In a 2006 speech at Shanghai Normal University, Huntsman spoke of the need for China and the U.S. to work together on environmental issues.  ”The United States and China must be good examples and stewards of the Earth. We must match economic progress with environmental stewardship. The effects of industrialization are felt worldwide,” Huntsman said then.

Throughout his tenure as governor, Huntsman’s background as a diplomat has been evident. He preferred to win over opponents in private meetings rather than using his bully pulpit to give rousing speeches.

One of his most significant achievements was loosening the state’s restrictive liquor laws over the objections of many in heavily Mormon Utah in an effort to make the state more appealing for visitors. It was a feat many here didn’t think would be possible in Huntsman’s lifetime.  However, Huntsman has drawn the most attention for stating he favors civil unions for gay couples even though he backed a state constitutional amendment passed in 2004 that prohibited same-sex marriage.  Huntsman’s comments on civil unions drew the ire of conservatives in his own state and elsewhere.

Officials in Michigan last month canceled a GOP county fundraiser where Huntsman was to speak; they said he had abandoned important party principles.

Huntsman’s career began as a staff assistant in the Ronald Reagan administration and he also served as ambassador to Singapore under President George H.W. Bush and as a deputy U.S. trade representative and U.S. trade ambassador under President George W. Bush.  Utah’s only Democratic member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Jim Matheson, said he was pleased with the appointment. “It’s a great bipartisan appointment by the president,” he said.

Before becoming governor in 2005, Huntsman made millions serving as chairman and CEO of his family chemical company.  If confirmed by the Senate, Huntsman will succeed Clark Randt as U.S. ambassador to China.

Randt, a classmate of former President George W. Bush at Yale University, served as Washington’s top envoy to Beijing from July 2001 until January, making him the longest-serving U.S. ambassador to China since the two nations established diplomatic ties.

Utah Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert would become governor until a special election in 2010.

-Huffington Post

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Thanks to Joel for this tip.  It turns out my old stake president from my Glenwood days, Larry Echohawk, just got asked to head up the bureau of indian affairs!  Here’s a portion of the Salt Lake Tribune article about it:

President Barack Obama on Friday picked Brigham Young University law professor Larry EchoHawk to lead the Bureau of Indian Affairs, making him the first high-profile Mormon and first Utahn to join the administration’s senior ranks.

EchoHawk, a member of the Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma, has lived and worked throughout the West. He made history in 1990 as the first American Indian elected to statewide office when he won Idaho’s attorney general race. After a failed bid for Gem State governor, EchoHawk, a Democrat, relocated to Utah, where he started teaching courses on criminal law and federal Indian law at BYU.

“Larry EchoHawk has the right leadership abilities, legislative experience and legal expertise,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, “to bring about the transformative improvements we all seek for Indian country.”

The rest of the article can be found after the jump.

EchoHawk’s official title — if the Senate confirms him — would be assistant secretary for Indian affairs within Interior. He would lead the bureau responsible for providing services to 1.7 million American Indians and Alaskan natives and for managing 66 million acres held in trust by the United States for tribes. ”I, for one, have been anxiously awaiting this appointment,” said Forrest Cuch, director of the Utah Division of Indian Affairs, “and I was wondering why it was taking so long.”

For months, rumors of EchoHawk’s impending selection have been bandied about among Indian communities. The Salt Lake Tribune first reported his likely nomination in early February. But some tribes objected to the choice because of his previous stance on Indian gaming.

While he served as Idaho’s attorney general, EchoHawk suggested changing that state’s constitution to prevent gaming on tribal lands. In recent weeks, he has reached out to tribal leaders in Idaho, saying he regretted those actions, according to Indian Country Today. Cuch said the dispute has been “blown out of proportion.”  ”Larry is a very reasonable person. He is going to work with all the factions and all groups, simple as that,” he said. “And he is very diplomatic in working with state and other entities, and that is what tribes must do.”

His BYU colleagues also credited EchoHawk, 60, for his judgment and willingness to delve into difficult issues.  ”His scholarship has focused in practical problems like juvenile justice on the reservation,” said former law school dean Kevin Worthen, now BYU’s vice president for advancement. “He can make headway on even the most difficult challenges.”

EchoHawk also is involved in a Pocatello, Idaho, law office that bears his name. His sons, Paul and Mark, work there as well.  ”We are very proud of him,” Paul EchoHawk said moments after hearing of his father’s nomination, “and we’re very excited about the positive things he can do in that position for Indian country.”

Larry EchoHawk, a former U.S. Marine, earned a bachelor’s degree at BYU, where he also played football, and a law degree at the University of Utah.  He and his wife, Terry, have six children and 22 grandchildren. He also is the president of an LDS stake.

mcanham@sltrib.com

Tribune reporter Brian Maffly contributed to this story.

From Article: Utahn picked for Indian Post

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Michelangelo's Jonah from the Sistine Chapel

Well its been a while since the last post, but I assure you its not because my blogging enthusiasm is waning.  Our son Jonah was born last Saturday, and that combined with an unusually packed school schedule has left me with less free time than usual.  Not that I’m complaining though.  Jonah is happy, healthy, incredibly cute, and just about the most amiable baby anyone could ask for.  You can see videos and pictures of him at our family blog GayLynnAndRyan.Blogspot.Com.  Now I said when I started this blog that it wouldn’t be one of those “online diary” kind of blogs and I’m still committed to that idea.  But I can’t let something as life-changing as the birth of our first child go by without some kind of acknowledgement on this website.  And I thought a good way to approach this would be to provide a little bit of insight into our choice of the name “Jonah” for our son, since we’ve had a few questions about it.

Of course there’s a lot that goes into choosing a name for a child.  Its got to sound nice when paired with the last name, its got to be something that isn’t too easy for kids to make fun of, it needs to be a name that won’t be considered a “grandpa name” or something like that when he’s still in high school, and of course there’s also the meaning of the name to consider.  The sound of a name is a subjective judgement and we personally think its got a nice ring to it, and we liked it because its unique while not being unpronounceable or difficult to spell.  The meaning of the name initially gave us pause but after much contemplation its become one of my favorite aspects of his name.  Let me explain…

So most readers are probably at least somewhat familiar with the scriptural Jonah. His story is told in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim texts.  He was a prophet, but he was kind of an unusual prophet, in that his story as presented in the scriptures doesn’t necessarily portray him in a very favorable light.  For those who need a refresher, here’s a summary from Wikipedia:

According to the book of Jonah, he was the son of Amittai (meaning ‘My Truth’). God orders Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh to prophesy against it “for their great wickedness is come up before me”. Jonah seeks to flee from “the presence of the Lord” by going to Jaffa and sailing to Tarshish. A huge storm arises and the sailors, realizing this is no ordinary storm, cast lots and learn that Jonah is to blame. Jonah admits this and states that if he is thrown overboard the storm will cease. The sailors try to get the ship to the shore but in failing feel forced to throw him overboard, at which point the sea calms. Jonah is miraculously saved by being swallowed by a large fish specially prepared by God where he spent three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17). In chapter two, while in the great fish, Jonah prays to God in his affliction and commits to thanksgiving and to paying what he has vowed. God commands the fish to vomit Jonah out.

God again orders Jonah to visit Nineveh and to prophesy to its inhabitants. This time he goes and enters the city crying, “In forty days Nineveh shall be overthrown.” Probably to Jonah’s surprise, the people of Nineveh believed his word and proclaimed a fast. The king of Nineveh put on sackcloth and sat in ashes and made a proclamation to decree fasting, sackcloth, prayer, and repentance. God saw their works and spared the city at that time .

Displeased by this, Jonah tries to excuse his earlier flight to Tarshish and asserts that, since God is merciful, it was inevitable that God would turn from the threatened calamities. He then leaves the city and makes himself a shelter, waiting to see whether or not the city will be destroyed.

God causes a plant (in Hebrew a kikayon) to grow over Jonah’s shelter to give him some shade from the sun. Later, God causes a worm to bite the plant’s root and it withers. Jonah, now being exposed to the full force of the sun, becomes faint and desires that God take him out of the world.

But God says to him,

“Are you really so very angry about the little plant?” (or “The good is what you are angry at!” – according to a traditional Jewish translation)

“You were upset about this little plant, something for which you have not worked nor did you do anything to make it grow. It grew up overnight and died the next day. Should I not be even more concerned about Nineveh, this enormous city? There are more than one hundred twenty thousand people in it who do not know right from wrong, as well as many animals!” (Jonah 4:9-11 NET)

So basically Jonah is commanded to go do some prophesying, he runs away, repents while in the belly of a fish, prophesies, gets angry when the people actually do repent, then pouts in the wilderness, spites God, and wishes he was dead.  So is that really the kind of person we want to name our son after?

Well first off I think its important to remember that Jonah, despite his very apparent flaws, was a prophet, and so was obviously a pretty stellar individual overall.  We’re only getting a very small glimpse of his life, and we’ve just happened to catch him during a moment of weakness.  Similarly its pretty safe to assume that most, if not all, of the other prophets in recorded scriptures had similar faults.   They were, after all, imperfect human beings.  But in the end it wasn’t the person of Jonah, but the story of Jonah that we found inspiring.  I guess we named him Jonah, not with the intent that he emulate Jonah’s actions, but with the hope that he would remember the lessons that the story of Jonah teaches.

I think one of the biggest lessons we can draw from the story of Jonah is that God is patient and merciful.  Its really a strikingly merciful story if you think about it, especially for its era.  The city of Ninevah is really quite wicked, yet God wants to give them another chance.  When Jonah runs away and is cast into the sea, God sends a fish to swallow him, not as a punishment, but as a protection.  When Jonah sulks in the wilderness God sends a plant to give him shade.  I mean Jonah is repeatedly blessed, even while he’s in the act of defying God.  And its often that way with us as well.  The story of Jonah really highlights God’s great mercy towards us, even when we mess up repeatedly, and it can hopefully help us recognize and be thankful for those acts of mercy in our lives and inspire us to be similarly merciful to our fellowmen.

Another big lesson from the story of Jonah is that nobody’s perfect.  I think there are really two ways your progression can be halted in this life, the first is by not caring enough about becoming a better person, and the second is to paralyze yourself with unrealistic expectations.  And I think sometimes our (inaccurate) conception of ancient prophets as near-perfect demigods can fuel our unrealistic standards and lead to depression and hopelessness.  The story of Jonah, on the other hand, provides an unflinching and thorough report of the pretty significant faults of a prophet.  I think this can serve as a reminder that if this imperfect man can be used as a tool in the hands of God, then we shouldn’t think that our many imperfections disqualify us from being his servants either.

Which isn’t to say that you can go off and reject God’s will outright and not expect consequences, but in reality its important to remember that we all reject God’s will on a daily basis.  Everytime we think a bitter or hateful thought about someone, display a lack of charity, allow ourselves to be lifted up in pride, pine for some new material thing, refuse to forgive completely, act selfishly, show a lack of love towards anyone including our enemies, take it upon ourselves to judge others, or betray our integrity, we’ve rejected God’s will.  But as was outlined in the paragraph above God is patient and merciful, and I think this story teaches us that we can still be used as a tool for good in the world despite our imperfections, if we have a humble heart and are striving to be better.

The other reason we really like the name Jonah is because of its definition.  Now it has multiple translations and the most literal meaning is “dove” or something like that but the meaning we like best is “man of peace”.  The world is often a tumultuous place, and there are few problems more universal these days than a lack of personal and familial peace.  We hope that Jonah’s name will be a reminder to him of the importance of peace and being a peacemaker in his community, his family, and in all his relationships.

So I hope that gives some insight into our name choice.  Choosing a name for our son was difficult for us, but we were finally able to agree on a name that we both felt was unique, practical, and meaningful.  Plus we think it sounds really cool.

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