I recently had a conversation with a young woman who is
studying government on a college level. It is apparent that she has never
before wrestled with the questions of freedom vs. order, rights vs.
responsibility, and who has the obligation of charity. She was telling me about
a debate which took place in her college classroom. A young man said he thought
the principles of socialism sounded just about right to him. “After all,” he
explained, “Isn’t whether or not it’s voluntary really the only difference
between socialism and the United Order?” After telling me about the
conversation, this young woman looked at me and asked, “Is that really the only
difference?”
I find it interesting how small most people see this
distinction. Is free agency really the only difference? It made me reflect on
another time when we all probably asked ourselves this exact question. We were
all part of a great council. Our beloved Heavenly Father presented a plan for
our salvation and progression. Our elder brother, Lucifer, presented another.
The two plans were very similar. They both involved a mortal experience. They
both prepared a way for us to return to God. We must have talked at length
about the pros and cons of each plan. But, at the end of the day, when we had
cut through all the details, I’m certain we looked at each other and asked, “Is
free agency really the only
difference?”
The irony is that while Lucifer’s plan certainly made it
possible for us to return to God, it would not have worked for the goal of our
eternal progression. In order to progress, we had to learn and grow. We had to
become sanctified and freely consecrate our lives to the work of saving our
brothers and sisters. We had to make mistakes and forsake them. We had to
choose Christ. By taking away the chance at failure, Satan was also denying us
the chance to grow. This growth was absolutely necessary in order to make it
possible for us to become more than we were. We needed agency to become better
people. We needed to become like God.
I certainly don’t believe there are no other differences
between socialism and the United Order. I simply believe that all the other
differences extend from this one basic distinction. I see the way, in socialist
societies, charity turns into a tool for political power. I see how our opportunities
to serve are turned into obligations. I see a group of men and women who, like
Lucifer, are willing to barter everything that is sanctifying for love of control
and glory. And I feel like I can honestly answer that question with, “Yes, the
only difference is free agency, which difference puts one group on a path to exaltation
and the other on a path to damnation.” Every. Time.
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