“Of the many distinguishing doctrines of the Latter-day Saints, there is one of overriding significance in the present day struggle against the powers of collectivism. This doctrine called “Free agency, was clearly defined in a great pre-mortal struggle that all of us were involved in, which the Bible refers to as the “War In Heaven.” (Revelations 12: 7)

Mormons believe that men existed as distinct individuals with spirit bodies before they came to earth to receive their additional mortal bodies. In fact, our Father in Heaven realized that His spirit children, which we are, could not have a fulness of joy unless they received a mortal body.

We had progressed far enough in our pre-mortal state that our Heavenly Father felt we were ready for this physical body and the great opportunities of growth and development that mortality provides. Mortality would be a testing ground to see if we would choose to keep the various commandments of our Heavenly Father. And being free to prove ourselves, we could, if we desired, choose God’s way of life and eventually become like Him. The greatest of our Father’s children, Jesus Christ, offered to show His brothers and sisters the pattern we must follow here in mortality if we want to live with God eternally.

There was another spirit of some brilliance. He reasoned that if God’s children were sent to mortality and were free to choose or not to choose God’s type of life, many would not choose it. If this should happen, he properly concluded, they would miss the greatest blessing of all — to become like God, with all of its attendant happiness. Now to prevent this, his proposal was to force all of God’s children to do the right thing, in mortality, in order that not one soul would be lost from enjoying a God-like life. As the author of this program he also asked for great honor and authority that would have rivaled our Heavenly Father. The name of this spirit was Lucifer.

Lucifer’s end desire — that all men should live the God-like life — was commendable. But there was only one tragic means that could guarantee this course — force. Much as our Heavenly Father wanted His children to enjoy the blessings of His type of life, He would not force it upon them. So Lucifer’s plan was rejected by God because it violated the basic eternal principle of free agency, the right of men to freely choose the type of life they want to live.

And Lucifer rebelled and there was war in Heaven. One-third of the children of our Father in Heaven supported Lucifer and his program of forced righteousness. (Bible, Revelations 12:4, 7-8) The other two-thirds to a greater or lesser extent supported free agency as advocated by God and Jesus Christ.

Because of their rebellion, Lucifer, whom we also know as Satan or the Devil, and his followers were cast out of Heaven. (Bible, Luke 10:18) They were denied the blessing and advantages of receiving a mortal body. Since then Satan’s hosts have been enticing mortal men to also rebel against God. And men have a choice — and are choosing. (See Pearl of Great Price, Moses 4: 1-4, Abraham 3:24-28; and Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-39)

When Mormons fully appreciate the significance of the War in Heaven, they immediately realize the similarity between the forced righteousness program of Lucifer and the program of the collectivists — or government interventionists — whether they are welfare staters, Fabians, socialists, fascists, or communists.  For the essence of the collectivist philosophy is that the majority of the people are not intelligent enough to do voluntarily what the collectivists feel should be done. To remedy this, the collectivists (who feel they are the intelligent ones) seek for the power to force the rest of mankind to follow their so-called “enlightened” programs. And whether the ends of their human programs are intended to be good or bad — and they are often bad — the state planners must, like Lucifer, use the means of force to accomplish their ends. The collectivists do not like to hazard the possibility that if we had a choice we might reject what they, honestly or otherwise, claim is for our best welfare.

But even God, whose plan of happiness for mankind is the greatest program of all, does not compel compliance as does the collectivist. God lets men freely choose if they want to accept the plan of happiness, even though God knows that some of His children will freely choose the path that leads to misery and Hell.

Once one understands the great struggle over free agency that occurred in the War in Heaven, he has the key for understanding the greatest conflict of our age, which is now taking place. It is the struggle of free men against the all encompassing and supposedly all-wise state. This state needs compulsion to enforce its multitudinous but supposedly all-wise directives — and eventually ends up becoming a dictatorship.

Mormons among all people should be the most dedicated fighters for freedom. They should be able to see that the War in Heaven is continuing to be fought out here on earth for the bodies and souls of men. Can any Mormon be true to his faith and support the coercive programs or the promoters of government collectivism and interventionism or designs leading in that direction?”

Comment one:

“I’m a Mormon too, and Glenn Beck is a dose or fresh air for this hater of Collectivism. He understands exactly what is at stake and what “religious” posers like Jim Wallis have done to their congregations as covert Marxists who use Jesus Christs Message to cover for Communist and Socialistic Ideologies and principles.

I wrote this on my blog the other day regarding the controversy: http://naturalfamilyblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/16/glenn-beck-to-jim-wallis-the-hammer-is-coming/

Social Justice a part of every Mormon Congregation? HOGWASH! The difference between Social Justice as practiced by Collectivists and the Welfare Program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is this: Collectivists do their collecting at the point of a gun. If you don’t pay the government, you go to jail. The Marxist creed “From each according to his ability to each according to his need” sounds so social justice like, but it is in fact parasitic looting at the government level with a gun in your face if you don’t “Contribute”.

Mormons donate to the welfare program of the Church as a sacred part of the Covenant relationship we all share together. We voluntarily “share” the funds from fasting once a month with the Bishop in the form of Fast Offerings and he uses discretion and spiritual insight as to how to distribute those funds to the ward members.”

Comment 2

“My mind set? I shared the truth. Collectivism is force, and as it was practiced under Stalin, Mao, and even Sadaam Hussein innocents were murdered, locked up, and property stolen all for the “Masses”.

The Mormon Welfare program is voluntary. No guns, no force, no compulsion beyond sunday meeting talks that encourage and educate about the Law of the Fast and the blessings that result with the paying of Fast Offerings/Tithing. If a family chooses not to pay they are not excommunicated, shunned, or even kept out of sunday services.

I am all about Freedom, and if you spent some time listening to Glenn, he is too. Wallis and religious leaders like him are the Poverty Pimps of our day who use religion as a cover to indoctrinate their congregations with Marxism.

The Book of Mormon is all about Freedom too.

And if you took some time to thoughtfully read it, you would realize that it contains the principles that will enable individuals, families, and nations to live Free. I would challenge you to make a thoughtful study of 2nd Nephi 2: 11 – http://scriptures.lds.org/en/2_ne/2 it is my favorite passage in the BOM that outlines the principles of Freedom.”

Comment 3

“WRONG!

I am a Mormon and the Law of Consecration is entered into willingly and with the full consent of those who choose to live it. Socialism is the government FORCING collectivism on the people at the point of a gun and with the threat of prison or worse if they don’t comply. Every country that has entered into a Socialistic/Communistic Framework at some point locks up those who refuse to participate.

For those Mormons who choose to enter into that covenant they are free to leave at any time, no financial penalties whatsoever. The same cannot be said of Collectivism.

To say that the teachings of our first Prophet were Socialistic is to show a complete misunderstanding of the Law.

Covenant relationships are NOT forced Communistic Living. If Joseph was alive today the vast majority of the Saints would literally throw theirs arms around him in thanks for what he restored to the earth. And when he was alive, he ran for President of the US, so he was a political candidate back then and the people loved him. The haters murdered him and many today completely misunderstand and misrepresent who he was and what he taught.”