Comparing Obama to the Zarahemla King-men

[Fiyero]

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/090903disease.html

Six years.

In the thousand-year span of the Nephite people, that’s the time on stage for a prideful group known as the king-men.

The last fourth of the book of Alma, in which the king-men story is imbedded, is a sharp break from the doctrine-laden chapters of the first three-fourths of the book, as Mormon turns to stories about war strategy and political happenings.

Why did Mormon include this story of arrogance? Is it a parallel for our time, a warning, something we should learn?

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[DU Ute]

About the Author:
Gary Lawrence is a California-based pollster and author of “How Americans View Mormonism; Seven Steps to Improve Our Image”

I think a great way to improve our image is to suggest the political leanings of millions of Americans are incompatible with our beliefs and are leading to the destruction of our way of life.

[I.J. Reilly]

Gary hits the nail on the head with this:

Can we spot king-men today by their attitudes? Apply these questions to those in power:

Are they proud or ashamed of their nation?
Are they anxious to share American values?
Do they favor or oppose a robust military?
Do they support or oppose defense innovations, such as missile defense?
Do they demonize domestic opponents but apologize to foreign enemies?
Do they allow interrogators to extract intelligence from sworn enemies to save American lives, or do they prosecute them for their efforts?
Do they respect debate or do they attempt to intimidate and silence critics?

A would-be dictator stirs people to anger, but upon achieving power wants silent obedience.

Smell familiar?

[DU Ute]

Gary hits the nail on the head with this:

The king-men scoffed at missile defense.

[RobinFinderson]

Holy Mother of All Shark Jumps!

[wuapinmon]

I know this guy. He's been in every elders quorum of the Church I've ever attended in the US.

[I.J. Reilly]

I know this guy. He's been in every elders quorum of the Church I've ever attended in the US.

He's from Southern California. There is a good chance that someone on this board actually does know him.

[landpoke]

I'm officially changing my stance on you folks from "Man you people creep me out sometimes" to "Man you people creep me out."

[YOhio]

I'm officially changing my stance on you folks from "Man you people creep me out sometimes" to "Man you people creep me out."

Bigot.

[landpoke]

Bigot.

I give you an opening and this is how you respond? Every member a missionary my ass.

[Solon]

http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/090903disease.html

Maybe this guy is crazy, but I found the article refreshingly well written for this kind of jeremiad. I'm glad that this guy is able to make scripture relevant to his life.

But banging on the government is such an easy target. This guy needs to realize they're all crooks, not just the dems (e.g. there's more to suggest that the Bushes are a "royal American family" than the Clintons). Also, the railing against an "intellectual nobility" betrays socialist tendencies, no? This guy should iron out his ideology a little more before continuing