In Sunday School class I presented several questions as a review of the Doctrine of Covenants. One of the questions provoked quite a discussion. “What would you do if a mob pointed a gun at your child’s head and said they would shoot unless you denied your faith?”
This is a question that has been asked over the ages, and certainly to those Saints traveling west to a safe Zion. And, while being asked this question every day in various ways, we will be forced to answer again in the future.
The argument was between whether it is ever appropriate to lie to save yourself and your family, or to have faith that God will get you out of every situation. The consensus proved interesting and spiritually revealing.
Several scriptural examples were brought up:
1) Abraham said Sarah was his sister on two occasions, instead of his wife, in order to save their lives. (Genesis 12 & 20)
2) Abraham is commanded to kill Isaac on an altar, similar to what Abraham had escaped from his father’s belief, an idea that must have brought repugnant memories to Abraham. (Genesis 22)
3) In Rev 2:10 God commands us to be “faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
4) Joseph F. Smith was confronted by a mob and proudly yelled, “Yes, siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.’ The leader grasped him by the hand and said: ‘Well, you are the (blankity, blank) pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions.’ (Life of Joseph F. Smith, p. 188–89)
I believe the most important words in the Old Testament are “Here Am I”. In all of the places these words are found, we see examples of those who would turn their life to God, letting go of fears, concerns, wills, and allow God to do what must be done at that particular moment.
The class decided God’s will can dictate in any direction, for any situation. We may be tested unto death, we may be tested unto great sacrifice. Mostly, we will be tested as to our willingness to give in, in a worst case scenario, perhaps to be ultimately saved at the last moment, or not.
As I said, this idea is not new. Yet, we tend to see it only in a historic sense. I found an article about this very thing happening in India only last year (Oct. 2008):
“Hundreds of Christians in the Indian state of Orissa have been forced to renounce their religion and become Hindus after lynch mobs issued them with a stark ultimatum: convert or die.
The wave of forced conversions marks a dramatic escalation in a two-month orgy of sectarian violence which has left at least 59 people dead, 50,000 homeless and thousands of houses and churches burnt to the ground. As neighbour has turned on neighbour, thousands more Christians have sought sanctuary in refugee camps, unable to return to the wreckage of their homes unless they, too, agree to abandon their faith. “
Every day our choices determine what we are willing to sacrifice for the Lord. The “gun to our child’s head” can come in many forms. Is our conviction strong enough? Do we feel it is important even to have conviction? Do we even question our choices? And this is the question that haunts me: Are we teaching our children to have enough faith to stand there and say “Here Am I, Lord. I will do whatever thou commandest, even at the threat of my own, and my family’s, life.”