Henry David Thoreau once said "There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the roots." We have all heard the story of George Washington chopping down the cherry tree, and after honestly admitting to it, planting anew. That is not the tree I wish to mention here. The figurative tree I wish to mention, is that "Grand Old Tree" which our founding fathers planted. That tree which was founded in freedom and watered with the blood of those who cared for it. It seems as though the good tree our founders planted continues to grow. However, somewhere along the line another group, grafted into the good root, a corrupt branch. This corrupt branch has grown and gained strength, and seems as though it will overtake the good root. So the problem we now face, is how to rid ourselves of this corrupt branch, without destroying the good root our fathers planted.
It seems during this past few years we have been reaping the rewards of a tree that has become increasingly corrupt. Now comes election year and we see many candidates for office all promising to change things in government; to, "reform social security", "end government corruption" and a list of others. But this is a "government of the people for the people and by the people." If the government has started to produce sour fruit that is hard to eat, do we not have to look at ourselves? The thought might come that we are not the cause of corruption, and our officials lie continually to us. These are valid thoughts, but do we not continually allow these lairs into office? How many of us justify lies in our own lives, steal minor things from our work, cheat on our spouses, and the list goes on. Yet when one of these elected officials should "do as we do" we sound the self-righteous trumpet. Now this does not apply to all people, for there are many good honest people in this conflict. However, it is an important to note that in this corrupt branch does not have roots of its own. It relies on the good root to get its nourishment. So these truly good people are having to bare the burden of many associated with the corrupt branch.
There surely is a conflict raging on the inside of this tree. The conflict is between the old root and the corrupt branch. In the bible dictionary we read about a similar war-The war in Heaven.
"This term arises out of Rev. 12: 7 and refers to the conflict that took place in the premortal existence among the spirit children of God. The war was primarily over how and in what manner the plan of salvation would be administered to the forthcoming human family upon the earth.
The warfare is continued in mortality in the conflict between right and wrong; between the gospel and false principles, etc. The same contestants and the same issues are doing battle, and the same salvation is at stake.
Although one-third of the spirits became devils, the remaining two-thirds were not all equally valiant, there being every degree of devotion to Christ and the Father among them. The most diligent were chosen to be rulers in the kingdom (Abr. 3: 22-23). The nature of the conflict, however, is such that there could be no neutrals, then or now (Matt. 12: 30; 1 Ne. 14: 10; Alma 5: 38-40)."
The above quote was taken from the LDS Bible Dictionary.(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/w/2)
For those of you who are familiar with the Prophet Mormon you can remember this passage "12 And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people. But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives."(Mormon 2:12-14).
So my question is: How do we rid ourselves of this corrupt branch and heal the "Grand old Tree"?
